President Obama recommends:

 


Hey Black Independent,


You probably know that President Obama shares his summer reading lists each year, but have you ever wondered why those specific books made the cut?


This year, in addition to his summer reading list, we’re excited to include President Obama’s handwritten notes that will give you a little insight into his recent reads and why he picked them up. Check out President Obama’s notes here!


"See all of President Obama's notes" with photos of a few of the notes on the right


Check out President Obama’s reading list

Next year, you’ll be able to check out President Obama’s favorite books in person when the newest Chicago Public Library branch opens at the Obama Presidential Center!


Learn more about the 19.3-acre campus here; we can’t wait to open our doors to welcome visitors from around the corner and around the world.

Learn more about the Obama Presidential Center

–The Obama Foundation

Trending Political Issues.

Jon Carson: fewer dangerous people will be able to obtain guns. Period.

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Robert -- Something big happened in the Senate this week: The Judiciary Committee voted to move forward on a bill that would make universal background checks the law for all gun sales. That's hugely important for one simple reason: If Congress goes on to pass this bill, fewer dangerous people will be able to obtain guns. Period. It should be a no-brainer. This is something that 92 percent of Americans -- and a whopping 74 percent of NRA members -- support. So let's get this done. We're going to need to keep the pressure on our elected officials by raising our voices together and saying "It's time." Add your name and say that you're not going to let Congress drag their heels on this one: http://my.barackobama.com/Fight-to-Reduce-Gun-Violence Thanks for taking a stand today. If and when President Obama signs this bill into law, you'll be able to say you helped make it happen. Jon Jon Carson Executive Director Organizing for Action P.S. -- There's ...
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Mark Pryor: This is a promise we need to keep.

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Robert, America was built on a promise that with honest, hard work comes a chance to earn a decent living and support our families. This is a promise we need to keep. That’s why I’m supporting the ballot initiative to raise Arkansas’ minimum wage to $8.50 an hour. It has been more than seven years since the state minimum wage was raised – years that included the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, even as the cost of living continued to climb. Raising the minimum wage is simply the right thing to do.  I’m proud to be working with Give Arkansas a Raise Now, the interfaith alliance spearheading this effort, but we need you with us. Will you add your voice to ours and sign the petition supporting this critical issue? Click here to show your support for giving Arkansas a raise. Stand with the hundreds of thousands of Arkansas families who work hard and deserve a fighting chance at the American Dream. No Arkansan should be forced to choose between feed...
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Emily's List: they can't buy elections

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Robert, Can you believe we're already into March? 2014 is really speeding right along. February was just non-stop action  -- new EMILY's List candidate endorsements like Wendy Greuel in California and Kathleen Rice in New York, massive spending by the GOP and outside groups run by Karl Rove and the Koch brothers, House retirements, milestones in our Political Opportunity Program… the list goes on and on. We're so proud that you're standing with us. Seriously -- without your support, we wouldn't have a 29 year history of electing powerful pro-choice Democratic women to office up and down the ballot. Women who aren't afraid to fight the tough battles. Women who are willing to put literally everything on the line to protect our rights. We're so glad you're a part of our community!  Check out just a few of the things you've helped accomplish this month below.  And really -- thanks for donating in support of our pro-choice Democratic women...
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Ayanna: letter to President Joe Biden

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  Black, Representative Cori Bush and I, in partnership with dozens of our House colleagues, recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to commute every single federal death sentence and abolish the death penalty once and for all. Will you add your name right now to our petition to Joe Biden calling on him to commute every federal death sentence and abolish the death penalty? Every signature will be sent to President Biden’s team, so your voice will make a difference. Add Your Name Our criminal INJUSTICE system is racist, xenophobic, rogue, and fundamentally broken.  State-sanctioned murder is not justice, and it never will be. President Biden has the power and moral authority to act: he can commute the sentences of every person who is currently sentenced to death under federal law and finally end the death penalty once and for all. Together we will make sure that no more Americans are condemned to die at the hands of our criminal injustice system. Add your name ...
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Momnibus Act would take important measures to protect Black pregnant parent’s lives.

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  Robert, The United States has the worst mortality rate in the modern world, and Black women are three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy. This Black History Month, I am again reminded of how racism and sexism have continued to dominate the healthcare system. Black mothers deserve equal access to quality, anti-racist, and life saving healthcare. Will you add your name to become a citizen co-sponsor of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act? This critical legislation will save Black pregnant mother’s lives. Click here to sign on → SIGN ON Black women time and time again have not been believed when explaining their symptoms, and oftentimes only have access to low quality healthcare. This month and beyond, we must commit ourselves to ensuring that the Black community has equal access to critical infrastructure such as healthcare, and Black mothers feel heard when seeking out treatment. The Momnibus Act would take important measures to protect Black pregn...
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Medicaid expansion is good for our state

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  Black Independent party, Fifty-six years ago this week, Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law, the first step toward ensuring quality, affordable healthcare is provided to everyone. Since taking office, Laura's number one priority has been to expand Medicaid across the state so hard working Kansans can have access to affordable healthcare. But instead of taking real action to expand Medicaid, Kansas Republicans have committed to playing political games with the livelihood of everyday Kansans. This year they passed a "junk insurance" bill that wouldn't actually cover pre-existing conditions or provide consumer protections, putting Kansas families at risk of going bankrupt over medical bills. That's not what Laura is fighting for. Affordable healthcare should be a right for ALL Kansans and the only way to ensure that happens is if we continue the work started in 1965 and expand Medicaid coverage in Kansas NOW. Expanding Medicaid is not only the right thing to...
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We’ll be sharing the results of the survey with President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and other members of our leadership team

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I hope you, your family, and other loved ones are staying healthy during the ongoing pandemic. At the Clinton Foundation, we rely upon input from supporters and partners in our work to help guide our decision-making — and that includes you. As we mark the Foundation’s 20th anniversary, I hope you’ll take a moment to share your feedback on our work and where you want to see us focus our future efforts and resources. Please, take our new survey and tell us what you think. We’ll be sharing the results of the survey with President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and other members of our leadership team, so even if you’ve taken one of our surveys before, we want to hear what’s most important to you at this time. Please, take our new survey and tell us what you think. Our team is hoping to hear from a broad range of voices, including supporters like you, so I hope you’ll take a moment to respond. Thank you for being a member of the Clinton Foundation community. With best wishes, Kevin Thurm Chief ...
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newest episode of “Why Am I Telling You This?,” Stacey Abrams joined President Clinton

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  Dear Robert, On the newest episode of “Why Am I Telling You This?,”  Stacey Abrams  joined President Clinton for a conversation about the fight to protect and expand the right to vote; how we can repair and restore faith in democratic institutions, elections, and voting; and what we can all do to achieve real, meaningful change. This conversation was recorded as part of the  13th annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University , hosted in partnership with Howard University. This year’s class joins a network of more than 10,000 young leaders from all 50 states and 160 countries across the world who are taking action to address pressing challenges on their college campuses and in their communities. Meet seven of these students who are addressing the public health, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with support from the Clinton Foundation’s COVID-19 Student Action Fund  here . And in case you missed it,  Dr....
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Millions of transgender people still face discrimination

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    Friend, did you see the news? One of my first actions as a Congresswoman was to display a transgender pride flag outside my office. I did so to show the trans community -- which includes friends and family of mine -- that they are seen, heard, and not erased. Today, we must recommit our efforts toward protecting the rights of transgender Americans. Dangerous misinformation has been amplified by right-wing politicians and media figures, resulting in a disturbing series of state legislative actions across the country that target the healthcare and well-being of trans youth. Last month, I was named a co-chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, an arm of the Congressional LGTBQ+ Equality Caucus that is advocating for legislative and administrative action to ensure that the trans community is treated with dignity and respect. I look forward to using this role to continue advancing equality -- because now is not a time where we can afford silence from allies. Millions of tr...
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President Trump is taking action to FORCE insurers

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Robert, President Trump is taking action to FORCE insurers to follow the law and disclose whether or not your health plan includes a  hidden  abortion surcharge. But Planned Parenthood is quietly flooding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with as many comments as possible during the mandatory public submission period. We URGENTLY need you to speak up for the Pro-Life movement and combat the barrage of pro-abortion lies from Planned Parenthood that are trying to sabotage the President’s new rule. SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT >> There is simply no reason to oppose this commonsense rule. You, and every American, have the right to know if your insurance is secretly funding the killing of innocent unborn babies. So why would the abortion lobby be so afraid of this rule?  Because it arms Americans with the truth . As we know from Scripture, darkness is the Devil’s domain. But God’s glory is the light of truth. Planned Parenthood’s entire...
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