Becoming
An intimate exploration of Michelle Obama’s life, from Chicago to the White House.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- Childhood and upbringing in Chicago
- Early professional career
- Marriage with Barack Obama
- Journey as a mother
- Life in the White House
- Advocacy for health and education
- Reflections on race and gender
key point 1 of 7
Childhood and upbringing in Chicago
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, to a middle-class family. Her father, Fraser Robinson III, worked at the city’s water plant, while her mother, Marian Shields Robinson, was a homemaker. The family lived in a small bungalow on Chicago’s South Side. Michelle shared a bedroom with her older brother, Craig, and the family valued hard work, education, and integrity…Read&Listen More
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Early professional career
From her early professional career, she was defined by her tenacity and determination. Working in several law firms, she showed an impressive ability to understand and navigate complex legal issues. Her meticulousness and attention to detail stood out among her peers. She would spend hours preparing for cases, pouring over legal documents and researching every angle. She saw each case not just as a legal issue, but as a story of real people with their own struggles and dreams, which motivated her to work even harder…Read&Listen More
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Marriage with Barack Obama
Michelle Obama’s perspective on her marriage with Barack Obama is interwoven with an intricate balance of love, respect, and compromise. She highlights the strength of their partnership, forged by shared ideals, mutual respect and an indelible bond of love. To Michelle, Barack is a dedicated family man who, in spite of his busy schedule, always made family his top priority. She recalls instances where Barack would rush home from work to have dinner with his family, reinforcing the importance of family unity. Although their time together was often interrupted by his demanding job, she perceived this as an opportunity for them to appreciate the moments they did have together, reinforcing the strength of their bond…Read&Listen More
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Journey as a mother
Embarking on the journey of motherhood was a transformative phase in her life. The birth of her daughters introduced a refreshing perspective of life, filled with joy, anxiety, and responsibility. As a working woman, she had always been high achieving, striving for success and fulfillment in her career. However, being a mother introduced a new set of challenges and rewards. It was not just about raising children, but also about nurturing them into well-rounded individuals. The task was daunting but filled her with immense joy and satisfaction…Read&Listen More
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Life in the White House
In ‘Becoming’, the White House, from the perspective of Michelle Obama, was portrayed not just as an institution but also as a home for her family. The residence, steeped in history and emblematic of political power, was, to the Obamas, a paradoxical mix of the publicly ceremonial and intimately personal. It was where state dinners and meetings with world leaders took place, but it was also where Malia and Sasha, their daughters, did their homework and played with their dog, Bo. The staff that maintained the White House were not faceless employees but became a part of the Obama family’s lives, sharing in their triumphs and comforting them in times of stress. The daily routine in the White House was a negotiation between the demands of the presidency and the needs of a family. The Obamas strove to keep the personal and public aspects of their lives separate, but constantly found the two intertwining in unexpected ways…Read&Listen More
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Advocacy for health and education
In ‘Becoming’, the strong advocacy for health and education is presented as a fundamental part of the narrative. The book underscores the belief that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, should have access to quality education and healthcare. This perspective is largely drawn from the author’s personal experiences and observations growing up in a working-class family, where education was highly valued and health was often compromised due to financial constraints. The book emphasizes the potential of education as a tool to break the cycle of poverty and the critical role of health in enabling individuals to fully participate in society…Read&Listen More
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Reflections on race and gender
Michelle Obama, in her memoir, explores the constructs of race and gender in considerable depth, offering her unique perspective as an individual who has not only observed but experienced their impacts. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, a predominantly African-American community, her experiences were intrinsically influenced by her race. She describes the racial bias she faced, subtle and not-so-subtle, as a young black girl in America. Her narrative delves into the quiet, often overlooked aspects of racism – the under-resourced schools she attended, the low expectations people had of her due to her color, the constant battle against stereotypes, and the pervasive feeling of being ‘othered’ in a society dominated by white culture…Read&Listen More