Michelle Obama: A Biography

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It shed light on another side of Michelle and Barack. I'm a big Obama fan and it's nice to see what they went through during the campaigns and how hard it was to decide if Barack should run or not. She is a strong person and a great role model for women and girls. I have enjoyed seeing a loving family in the White House who are more like normal America than in previous years. Mar 16, Carol Storm rated it liked it.

Well-written and detailed, but it tells you a lot more about Michelle Obama's achievements than it does about her personality. Every chapter reads like a list of reasons why people should respect the First Lady, without any suggestion that anyone actually likes her. I'd love to know which Supremes song is her favorite! But that's exactl Well-written and detailed, but it tells you a lot more about Michelle Obama's achievements than it does about her personality. But that's exactly the kind of thing this book won't tell you. I received this book as a birthday gift from a gracious house guest.

I think he chose it for me because he knew of my strong interest in civil rights issues. Although this is actually out of my wheelhouse, I decided to read it, and I was surprised how much of it I enjoyed. Of particular interest was the beginning of the book, where a surprising amount of the narrative was devoted to African-American history, especially in Chicago. I I received this book as a birthday gift from a gracious house guest.

After all, nobody was paying her a salary, so she had some choices. Reading of how her parents struggled in order to get Michelle and her brother excellent educations, and of the tenacity with which Michelle approached school, social justice issues, and her career, I found myself feeling strangely sorry for her. Before her husband decided to pursue politics, her career outshone his. She was in demand and had a lot of choices. When she headed to the Ivy League, her classmates and professors were almost all white people, and the pressure was on her not only to succeed, but to be the one African-American that would be the example, the cultural education for a whole lot of privileged white people.

That kind of hot spotlight would undo some people, make them decide to go on home and enroll at a school closer to home, but Obama—then Robinson—did it and did it well, and then she went back to her hometown, Chicago, to find ways to use her education to serve her community. Her career had been ascending like a rocket, and she took what will likely be a permanent leave of absence in order to keep her family well tended. Occupying the Oval Office would change that.

If it came down to her career versus their development, she was determined to be there for them. Slavin is not an official biographer; in fact, after leaving the White House, Michelle plans to publish memoirs of her own. Because whereas this memoir is about her more than him, a fair amount of the president works its way into the text. Their lives are joined, after all. And it does seem a little myopic not to have addressed the elephant in the room: So if you are an admirer of the Obamas, this is not a bad book certainly. I recommend this memoir to those with an interest in Michelle Obama.

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Interesting, but not necessarily novel. Michelle Obama is quite remarkable, and this is a pretty good introduction to the story of her personal and professional lives. Slevin is limited by access. There's almost none of it from the First Family, and what there is from friends and admirers is second-hand. His portrayal of the young Michelle is strong and vivid though. Worth your time for that. Jul 29, Gowdy Cannon rated it really liked it. There are obviously biblical political positions with the Obamas that I cannot support but I deeply appreciate what she has done for countless people in this country in bettering their lives.

Dec 05, Linda rated it it was ok. I was hoping for a book about Michelle Obama, the person. Instead I got a book about Michelle Obama, her curriculum vitae. Sep 29, StMargarets rated it really liked it Shelves: An interesting overview of Michelle Obama's life and how her achievements fit in the larger picture of American history. The author gave a detailed account of the Great Migration in the early 20th Century that included both sides of Michelle's family. Because of the sweeping scope of the narrative, there is very little about Michelle, the person.

She is Michelle, historical figure. Not that I minded, or was surprised. She is still occupying the White House and I doubt any author would be able to An interesting overview of Michelle Obama's life and how her achievements fit in the larger picture of American history. She is still occupying the White House and I doubt any author would be able to have access to her or her closest friends until after Obama's term is over.

This is a meticulously researched book. This would be a solid source for any student writing a paper about the first lady. The added bonus is that student would be inspired to stay in school and continue to do their personal best because this message is repeated over and over again in this book. Jul 22, Rachel rated it it was amazing. This book is a fascinating look at the life of Michelle Obama, and the rich history of her family as well.

Inspiring and enlightening, and quite well researched. Sep 30, Claudia Iglesias rated it liked it. I'm a bit torn as to how to grade this book. On the one part it was quite dense, I had to force myself to finish it. The author offers a thorough description on Michell Obama's life, but rather than give a warm and anecdotic narrative it comes through as a difficult and almost impossible to read essay.

But, there are some parts that inevitably get you, I choked up more than once, her vision, her strength does come through the many historical references. And just finishing the book I couldn't help I'm a bit torn as to how to grade this book. And just finishing the book I couldn't help but feel empowered as a woman and to forget any excuse I tend to create to feel scared, to not allow myself to have the goals I want to have, and to go get them.

It touched my heart. Or maybe it was just her. I'm not saying I agree with her politics but I definitely admire her as woman and a person. Jan 30, Sarah rated it liked it Shelves: It was definitely interesting to read a biography of someone who is still well-known and in the position which got a biography to be written about her in the first place. It was also a rather strange experience to read about events and developments that have have happened in my own remembrance That being said, I love the overall story arc here - the focus on Michelle as a woman in her own right, not as the wife of the president It was definitely interesting to read a biography of someone who is still well-known and in the position which got a biography to be written about her in the first place.

That being said, I love the overall story arc here - the focus on Michelle as a woman in her own right, not as the wife of the president. I also like that the book didn't shy away from tricky issues, from acknowledging that there aren't easy answers, and from recognizing that the work is far from done. The caveat of course is that it was definitely written from a place of support - not only is negativity lacking which I appreciate , but also any true analysis of weaknesses or mistakes which I appreciate less.

In addition, at times I felt like the narrative was jumping around or was focusing in too much on Barack rather than Michelle. Most of the jumping around I think was due to trying to keep a sequential timeline, and so progress on initiatives was scattered throughout the book based on when it occurred rather than presenting a full picture of a project from start to finish. As for the sometimes too big focus on Barack, I suppose that's partially due to how big a role his political aspirations played in who she became, and also because it's probably hard to find material about somebody as an individual when they're playing a supporting role.

All that being said and done though, definitely a good book - I learned a lot about where Michelle came from and how that shaped who she is and what she's done, and certainly came to appreciate more fully the way in which she has navigated her role as first lady and taken up causes in which she believes. May 03, Penny McGill rated it it was ok Shelves: This reads like a quickly written People magzine article and would only have been worth my time if it had the same of pictures I see in a People magazine..

So, is it worth reading? I guess if you want to read everything you can about the Obama family and don't mind trudging through everything else.

The coverage he offers on different elements of their lives is imbalanced and I think he focused too much o This reads like a quickly written People magzine article and would only have been worth my time if it had the same of pictures I see in a People magazine.. The mother of a white roommate reportedly tried unsuccessfully to get her daughter reassigned because of Michelle's race.

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Robinson said that being at Princeton was the first time she became more aware of her ethnicity and, despite the willingness of her classmates and teachers to reach out to her, she still felt "like a visitor on campus. I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs. Fields Center , an academic and cultural group that supported minority students. She ran their day care center, which also offered after school tutoring for older children. Of the alumni to whom she sent the survey, fewer than 90 responded.

Her findings did not support her hope that the black alumni would still identify with the African-American community, even though they had attended an elite university and had the advantages that accrue to its graduates. Robinson pursued professional study, earning her Juris Doctor J.

Michelle Obama

At Harvard Robinson participated in demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who were members of minorities. Her father, Fraser C. Robinson III, died from complications from his illness in March These losses made her think of her contributions toward society and how well she was influencing the world from her law firm, in her first job after law school.

She considered this a turning point. Robinson met Barack Obama when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, Sidley Austin LLP she has sometimes said only two, although others have noted that there were others in different departments. Before meeting Obama, Michelle had told her mother she intended to focus solely on her career. He was elected to the state senate in , and to the US Senate in They chose to keep their residence in Chicago after Barack's election rather than to move to Washington, DC, as they felt it was better for their daughters.

Barack Obama wrote in his second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream , that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance. This resulted in a plan to expand the school to increase enrollment. She and Barack Obama were married there by Rev.

The Obama family attended several different Protestant churches after moving to Washington D. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property law.

Michelle Obama: A Life

In , she held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an Assistant to the Mayor , and as Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In , she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies , a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies.

She continued to hold the University of Chicago Hospitals position during the primary campaign of , but cut back to part-time in order to spend time with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election. Obama served as a salaried board member of TreeHouse Foods , Inc. During an interview in , Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career, but said she was "wary" of the process. She knew it meant their lives would be subject to scrutiny and she was intensely private.

Although she campaigned on her husband's behalf since early in his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish the activity at first. When she campaigned during her husband's run for United States House of Representatives , her boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied that visiting so many living rooms had given her some new decorating ideas.

At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters. In May , three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign. She attended thirty-three events in eight days. During the campaign, columnist Cal Thomas on Fox News described Michelle Obama as an " Angry Black Woman " [96] [97] [98] and some web sites attempted to promote this image.

When you're out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just take it in stride, and at the end of the day, I know that it comes with the territory. By the time of the Democratic National Convention in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of the race, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows such as The View and publications like Ladies' Home Journal rather than appearing on news programs.

The change was reflected in her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces. The presidential campaign was Obama's first exposure to the national political scene; she was considered the least famous of the candidates' spouses. New York Times op-ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote:. But it may not be smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam JFK into the mundane Gerald Ford , toasting his own English muffin.

If all Senator Obama is peddling is the Camelot mystique, why debunk this mystique? On the first night of the Democratic National Convention , Craig Robinson introduced his younger sister. She said that her husband's winning the nomination was a fairly strong indicator that it was. Hill referred to the fist bump shared by the Obamas on the night that he clinched the Democratic presidential nomination , describing it as a "terrorist fist jab". Hill was taken off air and the show was cancelled. Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election in Beginning in , Obama became more politically active than she had been since the election, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid.

Obama was considered a polarizing figure, having aroused both "sharp enmity and deep loyalty" from Americans, but she was also seen as having improved her image since when her husband first ran for the presidency. Prior to the first debate of the election cycle, Obama expressed confidence in her husband's debating skills.

Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states. During her early months as First Lady, Obama visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. She hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of Pay equity law. Some observers looked favorably upon her legislative activities, while others said that she should be less involved in politics.

According to her representatives, she intended to visit all United States Cabinet -level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington. Norris became a senior adviser to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Some initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama included advocating on behalf of military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, and promoting the arts and arts education. According to her aides, stories of the sacrifice these families make moved her to tears. The award is the highest honor given to homeless veteran advocates. In November , a Politico article by Michelle Cottle accusing Obama of being a "feminist nightmare" for not using her position and education to advocate for women's issues was sharply criticized across the political spectrum.

In May , Obama joined the campaign to bring back school girls who had been kidnapped in Nigeria. The First Lady tweeted a picture of herself holding a poster with the bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag. Over the course of the Obama presidency, particularly during the second term, Michelle Obama was subject to speculation over whether she would run for the presidency herself, similarly to predecessor Hillary Clinton. Jackson and James Clyburn. He responded, "There are three things that are certain in life: That I can tell you. Obama's predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush supported the organic movement by instructing the White House kitchens to buy organic food.

Obama extended their support of healthy eating by planting the White House Kitchen Garden , an organic garden, the first White House vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt served as First Lady. She also had bee hives installed on the South Lawn of the White House. The garden supplied organic produce and honey for the meals of the First Family and for state dinners and other official gatherings.

In January , Obama undertook her first lead role in an administration-wide initiative, which she named " Let's Move! Michelle Obama said that her goal was to make this effort her legacy: Several Republicans have critiqued or lampooned Obama's initiative. They have both opposed amendments proposed to ban same-sex marriage in the federal , California , and Florida constitutions.

Texas case and drew a connection between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights by saying, "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in the pursuit of a more perfect union. After the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell on September 20, , Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.

Prior to this, Michelle Obama had never publicly stated her position on this issue.

These are basic values that kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in all areas of their lives. And in a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right. It's as simple as that. In May , Obama delivered the commencement speech at a graduating ceremony at UC Merced in Merced County, California , the address being praised afterward by students who found her relatable. Kevin Fagan of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that there was chemistry between Obama and the students.

Positive attention was brought to Obama's attire, a black sleeveless dress with red flowers, designed by Tracy Reese. In March , Obama traveled to Selma, Alabama , with her family to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches. In October , Obama was joined by Jill Biden and Prince Harry in visiting a military base in Fort Belvoir, Virginia , an attempt on the prince's part to raise awareness to programs supporting harmed service members.

In April , Obama traveled to Mexico , her first solo visit to a nation. Obama was also involved with community events in the foreign countries. She met with Peng Liyuan , the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping , visited historic and cultural sites, as well as a university and two high schools.

She received criticism for not covering her head in a nation where women are forbidden from publicly not doing so, [] [] though Obama was defended for being a foreigner and thus not having to submit to Saudi Arabia's customs, [] even being praised in some corners. In June , Obama undertook a weeklong trip to London and three Italian cities. In London, she spoke with students about international education for adolescent girls and met with both British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Harry.

She was joined by her two daughters and mother. She continued advancing her initiative for international education for women by speaking at the World Innovation Summit for Education for her "Let Girls Learn" initiative in Doha, Qatar and touring a school in Amman, Jordan , where she met with female students. In Jordan, Obama had intended to visit an Amman school, which had been constructed with assistance from U. In March , Obama accompanied her husband and children to Cuba in a trip that was seen by the administration as having the possibility of positively impacting relations between the country and America.

Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, [] [] making her debut on the campaign trail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Los Angeles Times concluded that while Obama was indeed more popular than her husband, her "election scorecard proved no better than his, particularly in her home state. Obama was a participant in the midterm elections, held at a time where her popularity superseded her husband's to such an extent that it was theorized that she would receive a much larger outpour of support in campaigning.

Reporting her travel to Denver, Colorado , David Lightman wrote that while Democrats did not want President Obama to campaign for them, "the first lady is very popular". Obama's approach to campaigning in Georgia strayed from discussing current events and instead broadly stressed the importance of registering to vote and turning out during the elections. Senate had not sufficiently been supporters of her initiatives to end childhood obesity.

Obama endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and made several high-profile speeches in favor of her, including an address at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Her home-maker mother instilled in her a reverence for family values. She was a bright girl who performed well at school and went on to graduate from the Harvard Law School.

She was a successful lawyer when she met and married another lawyer, Barack Obama, and was soon juggling the roles of being a wife and mother along with being a professional. Quotes By Michelle Obama. By using this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Privacy Policy Manage Cookies. Identify Singers By Eyes.

Marian Shields Robinson siblings: Michelle Obama was born on 17 January, in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother Marian was a stay-at-home mother who considered it her priority to raise Michelle and her brother Craig. She received a conventional upbringing and her childhood was a happy one.

She was a bright student from an early age and joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School by the time she was in sixth grade. She graduated in as the salutatorian of her class. Then she went to the Princeton University where she majored in sociology and African-American studies. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in There she worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, assisting low-income tenants with housing cases. Michelle Obama was appointed as an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley Austin where she worked on marketing and intellectual property.

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