Request for help from my fellow DUers on my Black Heroes class final project

[Dbdmjs1022]

Hey everybody. So I'm just wrapping up my final year in college, and my last real assignment is for my Black Heroes course. For the final project, I have to write a paper about a Black Hero outside of the ones we discussed in class (MLK, Ali, Douglass, Turner, Tubman, etc.) So I decided to do mine on Barack Obama. Here's the assignment:

The Final Project is your opportunity to develop an in-depth research project on a Black Hero of your choosing. This is a research project; not simply a paper. You must write a five-page rationale for your choice; that is, WHY did you choose this figure? Embedded in your rationale should be an explication of how this hero has been represented/reflected in the public sphere. You must also have an annotated MLA-style bibliography that compiles all of the major references/histories/artistic products of the hero in question. You may NOT use any of the heroes that we have covered in our syllabus and your choice must be approved. These projects should include images of your hero, and any lyrics referencing them and you must respond/interpret the imagery of your hero in the public sphere (2-3 pages). The rationale, annotated bibliography, and response components should total at least 10 pages, but should not exceed 15. The final research project is due during the beginning of finals week. Please plan accordingly.

Now I won't have a problem witht he first part, the 5 page rationale. Where I'd like some support is examples of of references/histories/artistic projects. I already plan on using his books, as well as the two will.i.am videos and the Obama girl videos. But I'm looking for any books, images or other songs or videos that you guys know of that I could include. Also, if you have any ideas in general that you think would be helpful it'd be much appreciated!

Thanks!

P.S. This is supposed to be a positive project, so if the Hillary fans could restrain from posting the "elitist" Obama or other negative photoshop pics it'd be much appreciated.

[BuyingThyme]

1. Why do you view Barack Obama as a hero?

[babylonsister]

2. Here's some other stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BeachSaint&search_type=

BeachSaint is great; their video 'Sing Out' is wonderful. Also, check out the Toni Morrison letter; very inspiring.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

3. Two sources that immediately come to mind

His campaign website, http://www.barackobama.com, and his Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama

Not sure if you can use online text as a reference, but there's plenty of info at both sites.

[Bucky]

4. Why is Turner on that list?

Nat Turner was a delusional religious fanatic. There are plenty of heroes in the struggle against slavery... why pass them up and name a homocidal lunatic as a role model?

If you want a real hero, look up Denmark Vesey.

[Dbdmjs1022]

9. The course was a focus on Black Heroes in literature

Confessions of Nat Turner was a staple book in slave literature.

[grantcart]

5. ..

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_history/photo/63

[MadBadger]

6. What about his 2004 Convention Speech video?

[VenusRising]

7. Great poem about Obama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6viAqJTyP7Y

[graycem]

8. One aspect of his candidacy

his race, will obviously be heroic to many people who have lived with the history of oppression in this country, and I think it will have a huge impact on the future of the country, like this picture illustrates...

[TBF]

10. Similarly you should be able to find a picture of his family via Google

or his website. You could talk about the historical significance of a black presidency, and how Barack's 2 little girls playing on the white house lawn will give hope to many who have been disenfranchised.

His election to the presidency will show that this country is serious about moving on from some of our past bad acts.

[H2O Man]

11. Here's one:

"Obama: From Promise to Power," by David Mendell (Amistad; 2007). It is a good book, by an author who used sources including interviews with Obama, his family, friends, and others who have known him over the years. It is a good addition to his Obama's two books.

[TheDoorbellRang]

12. Here's one of my favorites

This video from Texas always brings a lump to my throat: Faith In Texas

I was going to link to Baracky the Movie, but it's been removed from youtube because of copyright laws.:-(

[depakid]

13. Here's great book you might like as a cool reference (and it's available cheap)

African-American Firsts: Famous, Little-Known and Unsung Triumphs of Blacks in America

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0963247611/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

It's always nice to pepper your papers with a little compare & contrast....;-)

[Aloha Spirit]

14. mystery art and "Obama has a posse" artist

Chicago mystery art
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0207obamaartistfeb07,1,7257617,print.story

Obama has a posse artist Shepard Fairey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey
http://creativity-online.com/?action=news:article&newsId=124743§ionId=behind_the_work

[Aloha Spirit]

15. Oh man, just found this from Indiana

http://obeygiant.com/post/fort-wayne

[Spirochete]

16. Why don't you write it

about that guy who saved that other person under the subway a while back, or someone like that? Sorry - I forgot the names, and almost everything else, so I'm not much help.