Bary O's Rising Star: Seize The Night

Don't Sleep on Barry O is a humorous Key and Peele sketch that depicts a young Barack Obama during his college years, specifically focusing on his past drug use. The skit offers a comedic take on Obama's attendance at a miscellaneous college party, presenting him in a different light from his public image. While Obama has admitted to smoking marijuana during his teenage years and early college days, the sketch highlights the contrast between his past actions and his eventual success as a politician. Don't Sleep on Barry O serves as a reminder that people can make mistakes in their youth but still grow up to become successful and influential adults.

Obama's past drug use

Barack Obama has been open about his past drug use, using it as a cautionary tale and a way to connect with young audiences. In his 1995 memoir, *Dreams from my Father*, Obama wrote about his drug-filled years, saying:

> "You might just be bored, or alone. Everybody was welcome into the club of disaffection. And if the high didn't solve whatever it was that was getting you down, it could at least help you laugh at the world's ongoing folly and see through all the hypocrisy and bullshit and cheap moralism."

During a 2014 Tumblr Q&A at the White House, Obama alluded to his high school years, saying:

> "I actually loved math and science until I got into high school. And then I misspent those years."

The audience erupted with laughter, understanding the allusion to his years spent smoking joints with friends in Hawaii.

Obama's openness about his past drug use coincides with evolving national attitudes toward drugs. Since his re-election, several states have legalised or decriminalised marijuana possession.

Obama has used his past drug use to push for reforms and reach young people. During his second term, he pushed for reforms to sentencing laws, urging judges to avoid mandatory minimums. He also called for the repeal of laws that disenfranchised former prisoners.

Barry O

"Barry O" is a nickname for Barack Obama, derived from his first name, "Barack", and the first letter of his last name, "O".

The comedic portrayal by Key and Peele

Key and Peele's physical comedy and exaggerated accents bring Bary O to life. They emphasize his boisterous laughter, wild hand gestures, and animated facial expressions, instantly creating a memorable and comedic character. The duo's impeccable timing and delivery of Bary O's infamous catchphrase, "Don't sleep on Bary O!" with its playful rhyme and rhythm, instantly hook the audience and become the sketch's comedic centerpiece.

The portrayal of Bary O is a brilliant caricature, a larger-than-life figure with a childlike enthusiasm for his own power. He is depicted as a playful, mischievous character, almost like a comedic supervillain. With his outlandish uniform, complete with medals and an oversized hat, Bary O embodies a comedic take on the stereotypical African dictator.

The sketch also employs satire to great effect, poking fun at the idea of a dictator being concerned with his public image and popularity, almost like a celebrity. Bary O's obsession with being noticed and respected, even in the context of his oppressive regime, is a darkly comedic twist that highlights the absurdity of dictatorial power.

Key and Peele's comedic portrayal of Bary O is a masterpiece of character comedy. Through their brilliant writing, physical comedy, and satirical commentary, they have created an iconic and memorable character that has left a lasting impression on audiences.

Obama's first-hand experience with marijuana

Barack Obama, or "Barry O", was America's first black president and its first Generation X president. But he was also the first president to have been, even briefly, a legitimate stoner. Obama's time spent hanging with the Choom Gang back on Oahu, intercepting joints mid-session and hotboxing Volkswagen vans, proved that if marijuana is a gateway drug, it can lead to the White House.

Obama's candour about his drug use added to his appeal as a presidential candidate. He was hardly the first prominent politician to acknowledge youthful indiscretions involving illegal drugs. In fact, many of his predecessors, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Newt Gingrich, John Kerry, and George W. Bush, had also admitted to similar experiences.

During his presidency, Obama's government eased enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states permitting cannabis use. This was in line with the policies of previous administrations, including that of Richard Nixon. However, there were also instances where the Obama administration cracked down on medical marijuana dispensaries and growers, similar to the policies of the George W. Bush administration.

In summary, while Obama's personal experience with marijuana may have influenced his stance on drug policy reform, his administration's approach to marijuana enforcement was mixed. At times, he allowed states to legalise and regulate the drug, while at other times, his administration took a harder line on enforcement.

The accurate impersonation of Obama by Keegan Peele

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele of "Key & Peele" fame rose to prominence with their accurate impersonation of former US President Barack Obama. The Comedy Central show featured a recurring sketch that attempted to decipher the 44th president's actual thoughts, with Peele playing Obama and Key portraying his anger translator, Luther. The premise revolved around Obama's struggle to communicate his true feelings, with Luther expressing the president's indignation. This bit was so successful that it led to a performance at the Annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2015.

While Key's impression of Obama received praise, it was Peele's impersonation that truly stood out. Peele's portrayal of Obama in the "Anger Translator" sketches on "Key & Peele" offered a clever and illuminating interpretation of the president. Rather than merely mimicking Obama's appearance or speech patterns, Peele's take on the president delved deeper into the challenges faced by a Black man in the Oval Office.

One notable aspect of Peele's impersonation was its exploration of Obama's even-tempered nature and his willingness to acknowledge the validity of opposing arguments. This tendency sometimes disappointed Obama's fervent supporters, who expected more outward displays of anger or passion. Peele's interpretation allowed audiences to draw their own conclusions about the president's true sentiments.

In addition to their comedic portrayal, Key and Peele also used their platform to address serious issues. In a video collaboration with BuzzFeed, Peele returned to his Obama impression to deliver an important message about fake news. The video, titled "You Won't Believe What Obama Says In This Video!," started as a formal address by the former president, warning viewers about the dangers of fake news and how easily information can be manipulated.

The accurate impersonation of Obama by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele on "Key & Peele" not only provided comedic relief but also offered insightful commentary on the challenges faced by the first Black president of the United States. By exploring Obama's struggles with communication and the complexities of his even-tempered nature, they created a nuanced and illuminating portrayal that resonated with audiences.

The message of the skit

The message of the Key and Peele skit, "Obama – The College Years", is twofold. Firstly, it serves as a humorous take on a past period of Barack Obama's life that he has expressed regret over. By portraying Obama in a comedic light at a college party, the skit offers a contrast to the image the public is accustomed to seeing. This is highlighted by Obama's discussion of "righteous bud" and "bodacious jock babes", which sharply diverges from his usual political speeches.

The second message of the skit relates to Obama's views on marijuana legalization. Despite his past drug use, Obama initially held a stance against legalization in his political career. However, he has since changed his position to support complete legalization. The skit reinforces this shift in perspective by depicting Obama, played by Keegan Peele, as a college-aged male smoking weed and campaigning for a party. Peele's accurate impersonation of Obama adds to the humor and believability of the skit, making it easy for viewers to imagine a young Obama taking charge of a party and giving a speech on rolling joints.

The skit also addresses the issue of marijuana use being treated as a criminal problem, particularly within minority communities. With Obama being the only minority attendee at the party, it highlights the disproportionate rate of minority marijuana offenders compared to equal use across all races. This aligns with Obama's statement that "we've treated this exclusively as a criminal problem... and it has been devastating in a lot of minority communities."

Overall, the skit conveys a message of maturity and recognition of past mistakes, as well as a call for a change in perspective on marijuana legalization and the associated criminal justice issues.

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