By Georgio Sabino III (GS3), Photographer
From the electrifying moment a young Illinois senator stepped onto the national stage to his historic inauguration, this memoir-photography book chronicles one artist’s eyewitness journey through a campaign that changed America. As Senator Barack Obama rose to national prominence — beginning with his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention — Georgio Sabino III began following the story not as a bystander but as a documentarian, photographing the people, places, and private moments behind a movement. (Wikipedia) Link to the book Here
Over the course of the 2007–2008 campaign and the consequential election on November 4, 2008, Sabino captured the energy, the setbacks, and the triumphs of a candidacy that culminated in the first African American elected President of the United States. These images and first-person accounts trace the campaign trail — rallies, strategy spaces, late-night conversations, and the human faces of hope — offering readers both visual immediacy and contextual narrative. (Wikipedia)
The book culminates in the inauguration and the solemn transfer of power on January 20, 2009, a day that marked a profound national milestone and is remembered around the world. Sabino’s photographs from that period — paired with his reflections and carefully researched historical notes — place his work within the broader political and cultural significance of the moment. (Wikipedia)
Included here are never-before-published photographs, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and an intimate account of an unforgettable personal moment: President Barack Obama signing Sabino’s artwork. That signature — a tangible acknowledgment from the nation’s highest office — became for the artist a profound symbol of validation, pride, and the power of the arts within civic life. Sabino reflects on why that encounter mattered, both personally and as part of a larger story about recognition, representation, and American democracy.
The First Black American President: Obama & GS3 is at once a visual archive and a thoughtful testament — a book for history lovers, students of political culture, and anyone moved by the intersection of art and public life. Detailed captions, contextual timelines, and carefully checked historical references make this volume a reliable resource as well as a moving tribute to a singular chapter in American history. (The American Presidency Project)
This book captures my journey as photographer Georgio Sabino III GS3 as I followed Barack Obama from senator to the first Black American President. Through determination and a belief in the power of history I documented the national campaign from early rallies to the night America chose a new direction. Each photograph reflects the energy hope and movement that inspired millions. This work is both a personal record and a visual testimony to a turning point in our nation. One unforgettable moment was President Obama signing my artwork a gesture that filled me with pride honor and validation. It symbolized the value of art the importance of storytelling and the power of representation. This collection preserves the scenes emotions and experiences that shaped an extraordinary chapter in American history and my own life. It stands as a tribute to leadership progress and the spirit of possibility.
The First Black American President: Obama & GS3
