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Obama's Half Bro Says Dad Beat Him, Mom

Autobiographical novel details abuse, doesn't mention president

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:24 PM CST

(Newser) – For Mark Ndesandjo, Barack Obama is something of a monster. Not the president, but their father, Barack Obama Sr. Ndesandjo, full name Mark Odoth Obama Ndesandjo, has just released an autobiographical novel depicting the Obama patriarch as a brilliant-but-violent drunk who beat him and his Jewish-American mother, and while some of the book is fictional, the abuse isn’t, he tells the Washington Post.

“I remember times in my house when I would hear the screams and I would hear my mother's pain,” he says. “I was a child. I could not protect her.” Ndesandjo so hated his father that he dropped his name and took that of his stepfather—until he saw the reaction to his brother’s election. “I became proud of being an Obama,” he says.

Mark Ndesandjo, one of President Barack Obama's half-siblings, attends a news conference for his new book "Nairobi to Shenzhen" in Guangzhou, southern city of China Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Mark Ndesandjo holds his new book "Nairobi to Shenzhen" during a news conference in Guangzhou. Ndesandjo is an American citizen, but lives in China with his wife. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Mark Ndesandjo, one of President Barack Obama's half-siblings, sheds a tear during a news conference for his new book "Nairobi to Shenzhen" in Guangzhou, southern city of China Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

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Obama's Half Bro Says Dad Beat Him, Mom

Autobiographical novel details abuse, doesn't mention president

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Autobiographical novel details abuse, doesn't mention president

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • autobiography • book • Barack Obama Sr. • Obama family • book deal • Mark Odoth Obama Ndesandjo

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Sandusky's Autobiography Helped Cops Find Victims

Questions fly over lengthy investigation

Palin Rips Obama Family Holiday Card

What, did you expect her to like it?

Obama's Dad Told Feds Baby Would Be Adopted Out

His father told immigrations officials he'd be given up at birth

Obama: Family Would Be 'Fine' With One Term

But says he's still got work left to do

Did Racism Get Obama's Father Booted From US?

A close reading of his immigration file suggests so, writes Andrew Rice

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?