‘Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union’ explores path, legacy of 44th president

The HBO documentary series “Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union,” arrives at a tumultuous time in American politics. It explores the formative years and presidency of Barack Obama, an era that seems both faraway and contemporary, with race relations continuing to define the public sphere. The three-part series premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Aug. 3, just in time for Obama's 60th birthday this week on Aug. 4. As part of the American Film Institute's AFI Docs 2021 documentary film festival, Political Theater host Jason Dick moderated a post-screening discussion with Peter Kunhardt, the director and producer of the series, and Jelani Cobb, staff writer for the New Yorker, also a producer and contributor to the series, as well as one of the country's prominent journalists covering race, culture and politics. Interview contents: AFI DOCS copyright 2021, courtesy of American Film Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices