Dreams from My Father: Epilogue Summary & Analysis

Barack stayed in Kenya for two weeks after that day. Before leaving, Barack and Auma decided to go see George, the Old Man’s last child. Zeituni drove them to a school and led a little boy over to them. Barack realized right away they’d made a mistake—he remembered his own fear when he first met the Old Man and had to confront that he was part of something bigger. That night, Auma took Barack to a friend of the Old Man’s, Dr. Rukia Odero. She was thrilled that Barack was leaving Kenya with questions and lamented that Black Americans romanticize Africa, just as young Africans romanticize America.

When Barack asked why many Black Americans are disappointed by visiting Africa, Rukia pointed out that they come looking for “the authentic”—but that doesn’t exist. For instance, their spices are from India and Kenyans love their tea, which is British. Rukia said that Black Americans’ desires are understandable—Europeans have historically treated everyone horribly, so the idea of pre-European Africa is exciting. Rukia suggested that the only way forward is to learn the truth and to look objectively at history and customs. To her, it’s necessary to try lots of things and choose what works. But still, Rukia feels connected to Africa and the culture. She laughed when she acknowledged that her daughter’s first language is English, and she emphasized that she is more interested in having a daughter who’s true to herself than who’s authentically African.

It’s been six years since Barack went to Kenya for the first time. At Harvard, Barack discovered that law can be disappointing—it seemed, at times, to just explain why some people have power and others don’t. But Barack sees that the law is also the nation’s memory. The law details who is part of the community and how people turn power into justice. Though Barack has faith in this process, it’s hard to sustain the faith—returning to Chicago, he found things in a worse state than when he left. In his legal practice, Barack works with community groups and occasionally takes discrimination cases.

Barack believes that he’s more patient now, mostly thanks to his wife, Michelle. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago and reminds Barack of Toot. After they get engaged, Barack took Michelle to Kenya. Everyone loved her. But life in Kenya seemed more difficult; Sarah and Kezia still weren’t speaking, and Bernard, Abo, and Sayid were still unemployed. Billy died of AIDS not long after their visit. Despite the deaths of Michelle’s father and Gramps, Michelle and Barack proceed with their wedding at Trinity, which is officiated by by Reverend Wright. Everyone from Barack’s past is there, from Johnnie and Scott to Angela, Shirley, Mona, and Auma.

Roy, however, makes Barack the proudest. He now goes by Abongo, has converted to Islam, and plans to move to Kenya and start a business when he has enough money. He still scolds Auma for her “European ways,” but he’s becoming more comfortable as a Black man—and his laughter is still magical. Abongo looks dignified and acts the part of the older brother at the wedding. Near the end of the reception, Barack sees him with his arms slung around Toot and Ann. He tells Barack that he has two new mothers now, and Toot says she has a new son. They drink to those who aren’t with them and dribble their drinks onto the floor.