If voters are hungry for more information about presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, this should be more appetizing.

Stephen Black

Central Catholic graduate Stephen Black has written a biography about Obama by looking at the food he eats. Black supports Obama.

“I want to present the life of Barack Obama in a unique and simple way,” Black said in an e-mail interview from Singapore, where he lives. “I also hope to increase cultural understanding among Americans. That is why the recipe section is so important. Once you have eaten the food of another culture, understanding is easier.

“I hope the book will appeal to both an American and an international audience. The food and cultures of Hawaii, Chicago, Kenya and Indonesia are represented and discussed in terms of how they have shaped Obama’s life,” he stated.

The book “Obama Jalan Jalan” is quite serious at times, but it is not meant to be a dry academic political biography, Black said. Food was chosen as the theme because it is understood by everyone and it also reveals information about the person who is eating. The title means “easy strolling” or “walking calmly.”

“I am very happy to have the input of chef Ryan Clift, a new star on the international food scene. His chapter centers on the 10-course meal that he would prepare for Barack Obama. Fine dining is a culture unto itself and it gives yet another dimension to the amazing life that Obama has. Imagine a dinner with Barbra Streisand that costs $28,500 a plate and you are the featured guest and speaker.”

To promote the book, Black produces and directs a video on YouTube highlighting Obama’s first date with his wife, Michelle.

“I photographed the background when I was in Chicago last summer. I wrote the script and made the storyboard, selected the music and worked with the artists and animators.”

Black returns to Toledo as often as he can to see his family.

“I have a great bunch of aunts and uncles and cousins, but everybody moves around a lot,” he said. “It’s good to see old neighborhood friends and people I went to school with.”

“Obama Jalan Jalan” is available at www.obamajalanjalan.com, with the video about Barack Obama’s first date with wife, Michelle.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 24th, 2008 at 2:48 am and is filed under Community, Election 2008.
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