"One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals."
Book Review
Becoming
‘Michelle
Obama’s memoir, ‘Becoming’ celebrates the diversity of thought. She invites the readers
into her world to have an up-close look at her life. The book takes the readers
seamlessly through three distinct phases of her life. It includes her
incredible journey from humble beginnings in the less glamorous South Side of
Chicago to the grandeur of the White House and her life as America’s first
African-American First Lady. Michelle Obama, the first lady of the United
States of America, has emerged as one of the most compelling women of our era.
She became an advocate for women's rights in the U.S. and around the world.
The
memoir recounts deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling of her early life,
education, relationships, her time in the White House, and her impactful public
health campaign. Her journey continues as she is on her way to the next phase
of her life. She has not become what she aspires to be; she is still becoming.
The
book begins with her reminiscences regarding her childhood days. The first
phase is termed as Becoming Me in her
memoir. Recounting
her childhood events of innocence and exasperation, she narrated that during
the era of 1960s, the South Side of Chicago experienced severe political
instability and bloodshed where she grew up.
Her small family learned to cope with adversities and lived with
simplicity. They resided in Parkway Gardens; it was an affordable housing
project to help out the post–World War II housing shortage for black
working-class families. After few years, the housing project was abandoned so
they began to live in the neighborhood of their old friends, Robbie and Terry. When
Michelle turned four, she developed an interest in learning music. Craig was
already taking music lessons from Robbie. Learning music with Robbie
was an exciting experience for Michelle; it aroused her passion to study music
in depth. She believed that playing music gave her an enchanting feeling and
helped her find deep relaxation.
The
same year Robbie organised a thrilling live performance on Michigan Avenue in
Chicago. A long drive to the place was enjoyable and fascinating for the whole
family as Michelle recalled her fond memories. Recollecting the
time when reached downtown for the piano recital, she was perplexed and anxious
as she had to perform among a big audience. Wearing a beautiful dress with
leather shoes and her hair in ponytails, she looked pretty and elegant.
Regaining her nerves, she concentrated on the piano keys. The young Michelle
enthralled the music lovers out there.The year 1969 reflects her childhood
memories at Bryn Mawr Elementary School, where she began her kindergarten
studies. Remembering her spelling activities, Michelle spelled out all the colours
well except for the colour white that she found a bit difficult to pronounce.
Being a sensitive she felt embarrassed about her inability to speak the word
correctly in front of her classmates. Therefore, she practiced spelling several
times while lying in her bed at night. The next morning she articulated the
word with perfection. Mrs. Burroughs was overwhelmed by the confidence and
devotion the little black girl showed while taking her lessons.
This
part elucidates the family values and the quality time the family spends
together. As Michelle recalled that her parents used to discuss different
issues with their children. When she reached her teenage, her parents conferred
on more serious issues about life choices, relationships, social and political issues. Michelle
grew more mature and sensible as she reached the age of adolescence. The
year 1981 depicted the fond memories of Michelle with her father driving across
the flat highways towards Princeton University. She had to attend a special
three-week summer orientation program at the university. Her engaging life at
Princeton campus continued.
In
the early 1980s, Michelle availed the hostel accommodation. She concentrated
more on her studies, aiming to improve her knowledge and skills. To
manage university expenditures, Michelle never expected her parents to help
her, instead she found a work-study job at TWC, Czerny Brasuell. The job helped
her to meet the financial expenses. At the same time, she decided to acquire a
unique profession in the future. Therefore, she opted to study law from Harvard
Law School. After graduating from law school, Michelle joined a law firm called
Sidley & Austin. It is at the office of Sidley & Austin, she happened
to meet her future husband, Barack Obama.
"Choose people who lift you up." said
Michelle Obama
The
second part of the book, Becoming Us
deals with Michelle and Barak Obama’s friendship that bolstered closeness
and intimacy between them. She introduced Barack Obama to her family. Barack
was pleased to meet her family and had a little chat with Michelle’s father. To
Michelle’s father, Barack was a practical-minded, sensible, and mature man.The
same year, 1989, at Christmas time, Barack Obama took Michelle to Hawaii to
meet his family. She felt comfortable with them and was impressed by their
modest family background.
She
writes about Obama,
“What
truly made me fall in love with Barack Obama was his character. You hear me? It
was his character. It was his decency, his honesty, his compassion and conviction."
“Barack
intrigued me. He was not like anyone I’d dated before, mainly because he seemed
so secure. He was openly affectionate. He told me I was beautiful. He made me
feel good. To me, he was sort of like a unicorn—unusual to the point of seeming
almost unreal. He never talked about material things, like buying a house or a
car or even new shoes. His money went largely toward books, which to him were
like sacred objects, providing ballast for his mind.”
We
came to know about a great tragedy that occurred in Michelle’s family. Her
father’s health deteriorated. The pain in his feet worsened and was admitted to
a hospital in Chicago. Michelle remembered the most nerve-wracking moments for
the whole family. Her dear father was sinking away. She helplessly watched him
in severe pain. Alas! Tears rolled down her cheeks, he kissed her hand, and
thus he breathes his last.
The
next year, October
1992, the marriage ceremony of Barack Obama and Michelle took place at Trinity
United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago. The wedding was attended
by their relatives, family friends, and colleagues. According to her,
"Marriage is a choice you make every day. You don’t do it because it’s easy. You do it because you believe in it. You believe in the other person."
Michelle
explained the challenges she faced during her married life. She resumed her
services at the city hall as an assistant commissioner. Her responsibility was
to get connected with the city’s departments, including health and human
services. Meanwhile, Barack Obama began a part-time teaching job at the
University of Chicago.
Besides
pursing their careers, the couple decided to go for a family way. It was in the
year 1998, the 4th of July, Michelle gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named
Malia. Michelle experienced memorable moments of motherhood in raising her
daughter, Malia. In the year, June 10, 2001, Michelle was blessed with the
second daughter named Natasha. Michelle continued to enjoy motherhood
activities and responsibilities and cherished the time spend with her toddlers.
As
she said, “When I get up and work out, I'm working out just as much for my girls
as I am for me, because I want them to see a mother who loves them dearly, who
invests in them, but who also invests in herself. It's just as much about
letting them know as young women that it is okay to put yourself a little
higher on your priority list.”
Being
a career-minded lady, Michelle planned to have a modern partnership with Barack
Obama that enabled them to manage their life, career, and family. Therefore,
she opted for a full-time job at the University Of Chicago Medical Center. She
worked as an executive director for community affairs, while her young babies
were looked after a full-time housekeeper. Working as a fulltime mother and
balancing work and home was indeed a challenging task for this energetic lady.
Sometimes, she lost patience and grew agitated since Barak was working in
Springfield, and she had to manage things alone.
"It
has to be a true partnership, and you have to really, really like and respect
the person you're married to because it is a hard road." — Michelle Obama
At
another moment she said, “That's what marriage is about. Not the big, splashy
stuff. It's just the little day-to-day sharing and routines and rituals that we
still have." — Michelle Obama
Expressing
his deepest love for Michelle, Barack Obama said,
"We’ve
been married now twenty years, and like every marriage you have your ups and
you have your downs, but if you work through the tough times, the respect and
love that you feel deepens." — Barack Obama
This
section also relates to Michelle’s experience of successfully managing election
campaigns held in February 2008 at Iowa, Wisconsin, and Texas. During
campaign in 2014 at Topeka High School commencement speech, she said,
"Every day, you have the power to choose our
better history — by opening your hearts and minds, by speaking up for what you
know is right."
On 4th November 2008, Barack Obama and
Michelle cast the vote at Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School in Chicago. The
election day seemed too long and nerve-racking for them. They desperately
watched the election results as though the initial results were relatively
confusing. It was around 10 pm the media announced the victory of Barack
Hussein Obama. He was officially declared as the
forty-fourth president of the United States. The victory was celebrated by more
than 200,000 people who excitedly waited at the park to meet their victorious
leader.
The last part of the book, Becoming More describes
her experience at the white House, her political activities and community
development works. Michelle was overwhelmed to play her part as the First Lady
at the White House. Life at the White House was surprisingly different from the
lifestyle they lived in Chicago. It was an exalted experience for the president
and the First Lady to get a protocol at the White House. In
her memoir, she explained the pros and cons of VIP treatment and how it hampered
her private life. She aimed to live a normal and regular life like others such
as, enjoying Thanksgiving holiday, family dinners and attending social events
and recreational activities. She strongly opposed the publication of the photos
of her family on social media since it disturbed her privacy.
Some memorable foreign tours Michelle remembered that
highly fascinated her. The first international trip was made to meet the Queen
of England. Michelle was overwhelmed to meet the Queen and felt glorified for the
privilege provided to them at Buckingham Palace. She also remembered her visit
with Nelson Mandela Foundation headquarters in Johannesburg. It was a brief
yet, memorable meeting.
During the presidential phases of their life, Barack faced
various challenging tasks .Michelle supported the Barack administration in
meeting their tasks. The first priority was to capture Osama bin Laden and to
end up the economic crisis in the country. Speaking at G 20 Summit, she said,
“Whether
you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be
determined by your own confidence and fortitude."
She launched a health care awareness campaign for the
parents and helped the schools to access healthy and high-quality food for
children. Looking back to her fond memories in the year 2011, she remembered
her passionate vision of empowering young girls. She initiated a mentoring
program at the White House.
Her speech during her visit
to Africa in 2013 highlights her idea of girl’s empowerment. "When
girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous."
Another major
political event was the reelection of Barack Obama. He was elected to a second
presidential term on November 6th, 2012. The second term was more challenging
and, he vowed to take necessary steps to stop violence and protect US citizens.
Obama and Michelle initiated an educational campaign worldwide, known as Let
Girls Learn. The campaign aimed at providing greater access to education to
young girls and enabled them to choose a better career.
Speaking at the Summit
of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders 2014, she said, "No
country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and
deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens."
During
his last tenure in the year 2015, Barack Obama showed a strong commitment to
people. By
the year 2016, Barack Obama and Michelle moved to their new house in Washington
since Sasha had to complete her high school. While Malia was in her way to
finish her graduation. Michelle beheld that they were the forty-fourth First
Family who enjoyed blissful moments and had a splendid time at the White House.
Her
speech at Democratic National Convention 2012 depicts her love for her family. "My
most important title is "mom-in-chief". My daughters are still the
heart of my heart and the centre of my world."
At
a Democratic National Convention in 2016, she said,"With every word we utter,
with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents, are
their most important role models."
With
tears, they left the White House but continued to serve the nation with
devotion and fervor. They launched Let’s Move! Active Schools program to
improve the health of school-going kids. Furthermore, various foundations and
campaigns established by them are still providing social and educational
support to underprivileged girls across the world.
During
her final speech as a first lady, “You cannot take your freedoms for granted.
Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to
preserve and protect those freedoms... you need to be preparing yourself to add
your voice to our national conversation."
Ending her memoir with strong inner conviction,
she narrated that Barack Obama was a leader of leaders, his affiliation with
Americans has interminably grew with time. People still show great reverence to
him and wish to work and collaborate with him at every platform. Addressing the
nation, they said that they have lived as a nation and will continue their
efforts gracefully. With a sense of progress, the change Barack and Michelle
aspire to bring across the globe would hopefully yield astounding results in
the near future.
Becoming inspires the readers as
they found it a warm, intimate
coming-of-age story of a strong-minded girl who grew up to become one of the
most powerful and influential black women in the country. It is filled with
determination, love of family and many subtle and not-so-subtle lessons about
being female, black, and black and female in America. She talks openly about
things that many people are uncomfortable discussing. The
book shows her concerns as worries that derive from the universal anxieties of
marriage and motherhood. Still, Becoming is satisfying for the quiet
moments in which Mrs. Obama, the woman who supported a black man named Barack
all the way to the presidency, gets to let down her hair and breathe as
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side. Thus, Michelle Obama gives
us endearing, insightful, honest memories that taught us how to
attain the journey to success. This book was eye-opening and inspiring, giving
us a glimpse into how much effort it takes to lead a glorious successful life.
An
extract from her book, 'Becoming' says,
“Your
story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.”
