How is ray from similar to and different from obama? Why is ray an important character in chapter 4?

Ray is Obama's first African American friend and a fellow student-athlete at Punahou Academy, where Obama went to high school. Obama's relationship with Ray is at times contentious because Ray is skeptical of Obama's commitment to African American identity. Ray's own struggles with his race and racism are important in the memoir because they convince Obama that African American identity is primarily defined by victimization by whites. Ray is likely based on Keith Kakugawa, a multiracial friend of Obama's during his years in Hawaii.