Michelle Obama, Becoming
Becoming is here!
I remember after the Obamas left the White House, reports that Michelle had signed a book deal started circulating - it feels like a lifetime ago as we have been drowning in Brexit and Trump for two years. The good news is that Michelle Obama has given us Becoming as some relief and distraction from the current political turmoil.
In Becoming Michelle takes us on her journey from the South Side of Chicago to Princeton, to Harvard Law, back to Chicago, to the White House and then finally to the Obamas navigating their new life and home in DC. The way Michelle writes is very natural, it feels as if she’s sitting next to you telling you her story herself and it’s easy to get lost in the book for a few hours at a time.
What did I know about Michelle Obama before I read Becoming? Surprisingly little. I knew that she was from Chicago and that she went to Harvard Law, I was familiar with some of her White House campaigns (Beyoncé did a music video for the Let’s Move campaign so that was very much on my radar.) Michelle expresses frustration that during Barack’s presidential campaign she was usually referred to in the press as “Harvard-educated” but was rarely asked about her work. And for me, reading about Michelle’s work in Chicago was my favourite part of Becoming. At 25, Michelle Obama (then Michelle Robinson) was working at the law firm Sidley & Austin in Chicago with her own office and assistant. I’m about to turn 25 so at this point was trying my hardest not to start doing too much comparison in my head! But by 28 Michelle decides that she wants to move out of law and do work which was more meaningful to her and would have a direct impact on her community in Chicago. I am not going to spell out the career that Michelle creates for herself when she leaves Sidley & Austin because I think everyone should read the book.
The reality of being the first Black First Lady of the United States kicks in for Michelle early on the campaign trail and it’s painful to be reminded of the racism that she endured. There was one particular passage I found poignant in its universality for Women of Colour, when Michelle is reflecting on the challenge she is facing in her first few months as FLOTUS:
‘I understood already that I’d be measured by a different yardstick. As the only African American First Lady to set foot in the White House, I was “other” by default. If there was a presumed grace assigned to my white predecessors, I knew it wasn’t likely to be the same for me. I’d learned through the campaign stumbles that I had to be better, faster, smarter, and stronger than ever. My grace would need to earned.’
From watching Michelle Obama’s political speeches on the campaign trail, watching her being interviewed on the Ellen Show, reading Becoming - wherever and whenever we see the first African American First Lady it is utterly evident that she embodies grace and intelligence.
Michelle Obama on her Becoming book tour. Photograph from dailystar.com
The final thing I will say about what will stay with me from Becoming is Michelle’s phenomenal work ethic. From her determination at a young age to get into Princeton to Michelle as a mother of two young girls, working full time and fitting in workouts at 5am. Seriously. It’s all pretty inspiring.
Radio 4 had Becoming as their Book of the Week last week and you can listen to Michelle reading it here.
I’m sure many of you, as I did, attempted to get tickets to the evening with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Michelle Obama at the Southbank Centre which sold out in less than 10 minutes - it was worse than trying to get Glastonbury tickets - which I also failed at. Thankfully there are already many interviews online for us to watch and so I will leave you with Oprah and Michelle.