Becoming

After Barack is elected as the President of the United States, the Obama family travels to Grant Park to celebrate with well-wishers. Seeing the empty streets that have been cleared by the secret service, Malia worries that no one will be at the park: “I don’t think anyone’s coming to your celebration” (278). Michelle and Barack reassure her that people will be waiting there, and once they reach the park, they see that over 200,000 people have shown up to give their support. Michelle also recalls “the comfort of more than sixty-nine million votes” that were cast for Barack (279). This moment of Malia’s doubt followed by a show of overwhelming support mirrors Michelle’s journey during Barack’s campaign.

In previous chapters, Michelle has expressed her concern that America isn’t ready for a black president. Veiled racism from media commentators and Barack’s opponents, coupled with criticism from the black community, increases Michelle’s skepticism that Barack can win. In Chapter 18, Michelle reiterates her fears that Barack will lose, despite leading the polls in popularity: “[…] when it came to minority candidates, voters often hid their prejudice from pollsters, expressing it only in the privacy of the voting booth” (275). Like Malia, Michelle fears that their family might be traveling toward an empty destination, with no one turning up to give their support when it really matters.

However, also like Malia, Michelle’s fears prove to be misplaced when Barack not only wins the popular and electoral vote, but also has droves of people turning up to support him in person. Michelle’s journey through Barack’s campaign has been fraught with difficulties, but in that moment of celebration at Grant Park, Michelle feels more connected than ever to Barack’s supporters: “It seemed almost as if I could make out every face in the crowd. There were tears in my eyes” (279). Overwhelmed by the love for Barack and for her family, Michelle realizes that everything they’ve worked for might be possible.

Barack’s inauguration represents a momentous day, and not just for the Obama family. Barack becoming the first black President of the United States represents a feat that would have been almost unimaginable in the not-so-distant past. Recognizing this, Barack carefully honors important figures from African American history, such as the Tuskegee Airmen, “the history-making African American pilots and ground crews who fought in World War II” (298). Also in attendance at the Inauguration are the Little Rock Nine, nine black students from Arkansas who enrolled at an all-white high school, “enduring many months of cruelty and abuse in the name of a higher principle” (298). These people represent some of the groundbreaking members of society whose roles helped to reshape the way that people of color are treated in the United States, and who in turn helped pave the path for Barack to become President.

Michelle also notes the incredible support they receive from millions of people who come from all over the country, and who represent a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. These people put their hopes and dreams into Barack’s hands, and they do their civic duty by casting their votes. All of these contributions help Barack get to his position, and Michelle recognizes the importance of that day; however, she also acknowledges in the rest of Chapter 19 that the racial struggles of black people in America are far from over. Even Michelle herself, the First Lady of the United States of America, knows she will be held to a different standard than her predecessors, as will the rest of her family: “As the first African American family in the White House, we were being viewed as representatives of our race. Any error or lapse in judgment, we knew, would be magnified” (294). Michelle recognizes how far the country has come but also marks how far it still must go. Becoming the First Family is a huge blessing, but Michelle also knows it comes with great responsibility and a healthy dose of inequality.

Though life at the White House can be daunting, Michelle tries to humanize the place; she also makes an effort to find the humanity in all the people she encounters in her role as the First Lady. Wanting to respect the history of the White House while also celebrating the way the country has progressed, Michelle and Barack do things like bring in more modern artwork from African American artists, as well as honoring important African American figures from history, like Martin Luther King Jr., by putting a bust of him in the Oval Office. Michelle and Barack also want to include a wider variety of people in the events held at the White House, so that the place is accessible to everyone and not just the rich and privileged. Michelle makes a point to let the girls play in the hallways, run around in the garden, and get snacks from the kitchen, so the place will feel more like a home than a museum.

The family also gets to know their staff, spending time with them in the kitchens, taking time to make small talk with the people who help them throughout their days. All these efforts help to create more warmth in the house, and Michelle firmly believes, “Life was better, always, when we could measure the warmth” (314). Michelle’s efforts don’t just extend to the White House itself, but also to some of the politicians and dignitaries she encounters along her way. Michelle and the Queen of England bond over wearing uncomfortable high heels: “we were just two tired ladies oppressed by our shoes” (317). At the G20 Summit, Michelle chats with world leaders like Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, soon learning that “even heads of state are capable of talking about their children and joking about the British weather” (317).

Michelle makes a rule for herself that in every place she visits as First Lady, she wanted to “have a chance to meet the people who actually lived there, not just those who governed them” (318). In the UK, this results in Michelle going to a school where she bonds with girls who in some ways come from different backgrounds from Michelle, but who also have much in common with her upbringing. By making these efforts, Michelle attempts to demystify the White House and her role as the First Lady, to break through the surface barrier and connect with people on a personal, emotional, human level. Michelle lists other contributions that she tried to make during her time as First Lady, but perhaps one of her most lasting legacies was her ability to reach across divides of class, race, and culture to unite people in conversation and understanding.