doi:10.7916/c6hv-kf72Oral history interview with Allison S. Davis, 2020Davis, Allison, 1939-oral historiesmixed materialBlack people--Race identity--United StatesCampaign fundsPresidents--United StatesChicago (Ill.)Davis, Allison, 1939-Obama, BarackObama, Michelle, 1964-Harvard Law SchoolAllison S. Davis shares memories of his relationship with Barack Obama and reflects on the significance of Chicago to Obama's political career. Davis, a founding partner of the Chicago civil rights law firm then-known as Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, hired Obama to his first full-time job after his graduation from Harvard Law School and remembers Obamas charisma and interests during the mid-1990s. Davis outlines the character of the neighborhoods and communities in which Obama was living and working during this period, describes conversations with Obama about race and racial identity, and provides details about the political, economic, and cultural networks with which Obama was developing closer ties, and which would later provide important sources of campaign financing and political support. Davis also discusses introducing Barack and Michelle Obama to Black leaders in Chicago, Obama's knack for fundraising, and Obama's electoral success among white voters in downstate Illinois