Black Man, White House: An Oral History of the Obama Years

by D.L. Hughley

New York Times Bestseller (Humor)

"The book everyone is laughing about!"--Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe

From legendary comedian D.L. Hughley comes a bitingly funny send-up of the Obama years, as “told” by the key political players on both sides of the aisle.

What do the Clintons, Republicans, fellow Democrats, and Obama’s own family really think of President Barack Obama? Finally, the truth is revealed in this raucously funny “oral history” parody.

There is no more astute—and hilarious—critic of politics, entertainment, and race in America than D. L. Hughley, famed comedian, radio star, and original member of the “Kings of Comedy.” In the vein of Jon Stewart’s The Book, Black Man, White House is an acerbic and witty take on Obama’s two terms, looking at the president’s accomplishments and foibles through the imagined eyes of those who saw history unfold.

Hughley draws upon satirical interviews with the most notorious public figures of our Mitt Romney (“What’s ‘poverty’? Is that some sort of rap jargon?”); Nancy Pelosi (“I play F**k/Marry/Kill, and there’s a lot more kills than fu**ks in Congress, believe me.”); Rod Blagojevich (“You can’t sell political offices on eBay; I discovered that personally.”); Joe Biden (“I like wrestling.”); and other politicians, media pundits, and buffoons. It is sure to be the most irreverent—and perhaps the most honest—look at American politics today.

Genres: Humor, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Biography, Ebooks

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Darryl Lynn "D.L." Hughley is an American actor, political commentator and stand-up comedian. He is perhaps best known as the star of the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy. Additionally, he has been the host of CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, a correspondent for The Jay Leno Show on NBC, and a local radio personality and interviewer in New York City.

Reviews

[Tiffany Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It normally doesn't take me this long to finish a book, but sometimes I gotta actually live life! LOL!! If you are a political junkie and a fan of satire, then this book will definitely keep your attention. Even though I laughed way too hard while reading this book there was a part of me that believed these hypothetical private thoughts and conversations could be real.

The last line (and the only time President Obama is given a "speaking" part) of the book is probably the most realistic as we wind down the current administration: "Fuck this city, fuck the Republicans, and fuck all this shit. I'm going back to Hawaii." Hughley was bold and quite innovative to make this concept of hypothetical conversations into a complete book. It definitely accurately mirrors how some of us felt what was going on behind the scenes during these past eight to nine years.

[Pat Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough one to rate. If I could have given it 3.5 stars, it would be a more accurate rating for me. It has some very funny moments and it was an interesting look back on the Obama years. But, there were the usual hackneyed Clinton bashing jokes and I was looking forward to a bit more humor. However he and his co-writer do catch the personalities of the political figures mentioned in the book. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I enjoy seeing DL on the Maher show, even if I don't always agree with him (he doesn't believe in evolution). I guess I just expected this book to be funnier.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general, this was a pretty funny book -- I laughed out loud several times, particularly at the Clintons' remarks. Of course, Michelle Obama is the voice of reason here, which is fine if you are a fan (I am) but will probably put off more conservative readers.

One joke in particular went, I think, a bridge too far. Making fun of a woman with a traumatic brain injury caused by being shot by some nut job? Yeah, that's freaking hilarious.

[Aubria L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought it was hilarious and often I laughed out loud! This is political satire at its best! A must read for anyone interested in a behind the scenes look at the White House during the Obama years (hypothetically speaking that is!)

[Kristen Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

D. L. Hughley has been one of my favorite comedians for years, so I knew this book would be great, and it is. It splices real events from President Obama's campaign and presidency with comedic "commentary" from those who were there. The voices chosen for each of the people represented (from Michelle Obama to Hillary Clinton to Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, to name a few) are true to the public persona they represent, and are very funny. The book is satire, but has some truth nuggets as well. It gave me a great escape from the current political landscape, for sure.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Received free hard back copy from Goodreads. Satirical oral history of Obama starting from the primaries through his last year in office. Told through the perspective of President Obama's friends, colleagues and rivals. Humor became repetitive and predictable early in the first chapter. Responses of rivals were canned and not overly cleaver. Blue humor become tiresome.

[Jonathan Tennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In times when laughing about politics is what’s needed, Hughley answers that call with this book. It’s well done satire and there are plenty of places that offer laugh out loud funny moments. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others.

[W. Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing

Good read to reground someone after the past 8 years. This is obviously comedic at points, but seems underlying the jokes was a good grasp on events and history.

[K2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GreatRead! Like a soap opera for politicals, it’s hilarious!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from goodreads first reads. Despite written in a no-holds-barred comedic way, it really managed to capture the history and feeling of what went on during the Obama administration. Even from my not too into politics layman's perspective it did a fantastic job of distilling what was going on how I remember it. It does not pull its punches and there were some things I couldn't believe it went there but it did. Honestly, much like with politics, I was exhausted from all the crazy shenanigans by the end.

[K2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Entertaining Read.....for giggles and chuckles

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I feel down about our current political climate, I like to watch some videos like this one and this one and even this one to put a smile on my face and give me a glimmer of hope that one day we will again have a President who can speak in full and coherent sentences.

So, when I saw this audiobook available on our local library's Overdrive site, I was eager to listen to more humor, even if it is a bit dated at this point.

The audiobook features a full cast and it's entertaining to hear the numerous imitations of the major political players in Washington D.C. of the time. The voices are very recognizable and I chuckled at many of the jokes.

interesting quotes (page numbers from hardcover edition with ISBN13 9780062399793):

[Rahm] "Emanuel: 'Scott Brown used to be a model. He looked like every type of douchebag guy who fucks a girl and then doesn't call her the next day. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is known for having the most douchebags per capita of any state in the union.'
[Mitt] Romney: 'The douchebag is our state bird. I know, it doesn't make sense to me, either.'" (p. 166)

"[Hillary] 'I've been waiting for men to get out of my way ever since I started menopause. It was finally my turn.'" (p. 322)

"" (p.)

[ij]

Not funny!!!

[ReGina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is for political junkies! If you are not one, I really can't imagine you would like this book. Beginning from his campaign to become an Illinois senator through his presidency, Hughley stacks political characters to describe the events and the reasons behind them. From Michelle Obama to Hillary Clinton to David Axelrod to Joe Biden to Sarah Palin to Alan Keyes to Gabby Giffords to Harry Reid, all of the political players at any point during Obama's tenure show up to share their accounts (including ones you probably forgot about like Henry Louis Gates and the Beer Summit). I cannot imagine reading this; I have to imagine it's much funnier listening to it. It can drone on at times, but the satire and wit stay true through the end.

[Black Butterfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

BLK MAN WHITE HOUSE 6/29 BORROWED/HARDCOVER 3*stars DL HUGLEY
I’VE LOVE DL HUGHLEY FROM THE FIRST TIME I SAW AND HAVE FOLLOWED HIS CAREER. I LOVE AND USAUALLY AGREE WITH WHAT HE SAYS, HIS NON-FILTERED HUMOR IS WILD. I FOUND THIS BOOK TIPICAL DL BUT I REALLY EXPECTED IT TO BE MORE FUNNY, IT WAS’NT. I STILL LOVE HIM BUT THIS BOOK (it had its moments) NOT SO MUCH, SORRY DL. ;]

[Lisa Forsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with another reviewer that I expected more humor and that 3.5 stars would be a more appropriate rating. I was impressed by the range of Washington players who showed up and the (satirical) authenticity of their voices. There were a couple of missteps that I believe crossed a line, but they are forgivable in context of a smart, fascinating review of the last eight years.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hilarious at times but also slow at times it for sure wasn't what I expected but yet I couldn't stop reading it. DL brought the politicians "to life"
And told the story of the Obama presidency and all things about it in a way only dl hughley
Can.

[Daniel Greer · Rating 1 out of 5]

decided about 10 pages into this book that i would not finish it....perhaps if i had been more knowledgeable about politics for decades, i would appreciate it....or perhaps if i had realized the name of the author, i would not have purchased it...jp

[Sattik Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept waiting for the funny part but it never came. This book is highly informative, but it can barely be considered a parody or satirical. The oral history format of the book reads more like a serious political science book, rather a satire.

[Brittney Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like...

If you like DL as a comedian you will like his run down of the Obama presidency. I enjoy politics and I enjoy comedy, best of both worlds.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, just a comedian's interpretation of the President's years in the white house.

[Krishan]

An entertaining and educational read. Definitely has a liberal slant, but that's to be expected. Overall a fun, quick overview of the Obama Presidency

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Great book!

[S A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more interesting than funny. Also funny. More a sense of a a more inside view and information of what went on.

[Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do NOT read this if you are easily offended. And since I'm not, I laughed out loud a lot.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of co-author Michael Malice, I bought this book on a whim. It kept me hilariously entertained and portrayed each character's personality well (at least as far as I know their personalities).

[Staci Suhy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite honnestly it's hard to peg this book! On one had, yea, it's very much so a piece of fiction and satire (with some very comical portrayals of public officials that are over the top). On the other hand, it actually goes over a lot of history from the end of the Bush Administration to most of the Obama years.... And includes portrayals of certain characters that actually feels like the kind of things they would say in an off-record conversation.

This combination of one-sided caricatures and complex realistic perspectives combines into a fairly effective piece of comedic historic fiction/nonfiction.

Really, what ties it all together is the fact that it's actually funny. Without that, the whole book would fall on its face (which thankfully it does not).

I would say that it's one-sided portrayals of certain characters (Hillary and Bill, Love, and Palin) get overused by the end of the book and take away from it's entertainment value.

4/5 stars. Get the audiobook, it's of a very high quality.

[Ian Scharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty entertaining. As a long time fan of Al Franken and Michael Moore's books "Stupid White Men" and "Liars and the Lying Lies They Tell" I went into this not expecting the same level of satire. Hughley delivered with pizzazz. This book is not for hard line conservatives and I don't expect any to read it. It is for those who are looking for a lighthearted, liberal-biased "account" of our 44th President's consecutive terms in office. Hidden amongst the profane and exaggerated comments from the various parties depicted are the author's very real opinions of some of these individual's thoughts and intentions. Using Michelle Obama as a sort of mouthpiece of sanity, Hughley coolly paints a picture of an administration that brought calm to the highest office in the land after one of the most tumultuous periods of American history in recent memory.
You don't have to take this seriously (and you shouldn't) but you may be surprised at the insight it accidentally imparts while describing your favorite heroes and villains of the American political scene.

[Jordan McPeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Satirical look at Obama's career using a documentary approach, splicing together clips of interviews with a wide range of characters on a given topic. Goes through notable events before and during his presidency and everyone gives their unvarnished thoughts. A lot of "Oh yeah, I remember that headline" moments. A good bit of laugh out loud moments. A lot of slow patches too. It's not all just jokes. Points are made, arguments are put forward, explanations for decisions offered. So it's a bit of history too although I wouldn't want to rely on this as a primary source to buttress any coffeeshop debates. Dems and Reps get lampooned equally and they both get to score points off each other at different times, but there is a general affection and understanding for Obama throughout. The audiobook is highly recommended. It uses a large cast of actors for the large cast of characters, and this is the kind of book that really benefits from the comic timing of the performers.