Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Obama meets 108-year-old grandson of slave in Indiana

Obama meets 108-year-old grandson of slave in Indiana
Copyright 
By Emma Beswick
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
ADVERTISEMENT

President of the United States, Barack Obama, on Wednesday (June 1) shook hands with 108-year-old Lester Townsend before a speech in Indiana.

This marked the first time that Townsend, the grandson of a slave, had met a serving president and he was clearly delighted about the audience, commenting: “The grandson of a slave, shaking the hand of the president of the United States.”

Obama also seemed impressed by the 108-year-old, replying that he hopes he looks half as good when he’s 100.

Obama is the 19th president to serve during Townsend’s lifetime and the first African American to sit in office.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Kamala Harris and Barack Obama target black voters in key battleground state of Georgia

Joe Biden becomes first US president to pay visit to Angola

What is a 'natural born' US citizen and who is allowed to run for president?