Michelle Obama is a well-known and prominent figure in the U.S. political sphere. During her husband’s presidential campaign, she was a steadfast supporter and later launched her own initiatives in education, health, and support for military families. Michelle Obama is recognized as the first Black woman to hold the title of First Lady of the United States, as reported by “chicagovski.com“.
Childhood and Family
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born in Chicago on January 17, 1964. Her family was not wealthy, but from an early age, she grew up in an atmosphere of love and respect. Michelle’s father, Fraser Robinson III, worked at a local water purification plant. Her mother was a homemaker who dedicated herself to raising the children.
The family lived modestly, but her parents placed a strong emphasis on the education of Michelle and her older brother, Craig. As a result, she focused on her studies from childhood and demonstrated excellent results. Later, in numerous interviews, the First Lady recalled that her parents provided her with a stable and traditional upbringing.
Michelle graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and enrolled at Princeton University, majoring in sociology and African American studies. It’s worth noting that many of her high school teachers discouraged Michelle from applying to Princeton, suggesting she was setting her sights too high. However, the determined and talented young woman successfully joined the university’s student body.
Michelle Robinson’s senior thesis focused on racial inequality, specifically how life changes for a Black student upon entering a predominantly white institution. In 1985, she successfully completed her studies at Princeton University, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Michelle Robinson continued her education at Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. At Harvard, she was also an active participant in social movements and protests, advocating for social justice in society.
Early Career
Michelle Robinson began her career as a lawyer at the Chicago firm Sidley Austin. Her responsibilities included matters related to marketing and intellectual property. However, she soon realized that corporate law was not her passion and that she didn’t want to pursue it for her entire life.
It was during her time at Sidley Austin that she had a fateful meeting with her future husband, Barack Obama. He was a summer associate at the firm, and Michelle was assigned to be his mentor. Their professional relationship blossomed into a strong and lasting one. In 1992, the couple married.
The couple has two daughters, Malia and Sasha, who have always been their parents’ priority, despite their demanding schedules.
Shifting her focus to public service, Michelle Obama took a job in the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. In 1993, she became the founding executive director of Public Allies Chicago, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing leadership skills among local youth. Michelle Obama led the organization until 1996.
Barack Obama’s Path to the Presidency and Michelle’s Career
In 1996, Barack Obama’s political career took off when he was elected to the Illinois State Senate. That same year, Michelle Obama began working as an Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago. Her main priority in the new role was developing the university’s community service program.
Starting in 2002, Michelle Obama served as the Executive Director for Community Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Additionally, she was on the board of directors for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Her primary role was to build connections between the hospital and local residents and to improve the quality of medical services.
It’s worth noting that Michelle Obama held her position until her husband’s inauguration. However, even before his presidency, she was a well-known figure in Chicago. In both political circles and the community, she was regarded as an effective leader who successfully balanced her career, family life, and public duties.
First Lady of the United States
Michelle Obama had always believed her husband had a great political future ahead of him. However, she wasn’t thrilled with the idea and had opposed his run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. Despite her personal reservations, Michelle always supported her husband at public events.
Thanks to her impeccable style, she was frequently featured on various lists of the most influential and inspiring women in the world.
When Barack Obama decided to run for president, his wife expressed concerns about how it would affect the lives of their two young daughters. Yet, despite her fears, she actively supported her husband during his campaign and often gave speeches at events in support of Barack Obama.
To dedicate enough time to the campaign trail, Michelle Obama effectively put her own career on hold. She fully committed herself to political duties and her family.
Barack Obama’s main opponent for the U.S. presidency was the Republican nominee, John McCain. Ultimately, Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. The official inauguration of the newly elected head of state took place on January 20, 2009. Notably, it was Michelle Obama who held the Bible on which her husband took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts.
As First Lady, Michelle Obama focused her attention on supporting military families and women balancing career and family. During the first year of Barack Obama’s presidency, the couple volunteered together at homeless shelters in Washington, D.C.
Additionally, Michelle Obama advocated for healthy eating, with a particular interest in the nutrition of students in school cafeterias. During her time in the White House, the First Lady launched an initiative to grow organic produce. She established a vegetable garden and beehives on the White House grounds. Michelle Obama later shared her experience of growing fruits and vegetables in her book, “American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America.”
Michelle Obama often hosted various events for schoolchildren in the garden she had planted herself. Children’s health in America was a top priority for the First Lady. In 2012, she launched the “Let’s Move!” fitness program for kids. With the help of Olympic team members and famous athletes, Barack Obama’s wife worked to get children involved in sports.
Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term in 2012, once again defeating the Republican nominee. His second presidential term lasted until January 20, 2017.
In January 2017, Michelle Obama delivered her final speech at the White House, stating that being First Lady had been the greatest honor of her life.
Michelle Obama’s Creative Endeavors
After Barack Obama’s presidency ended, his wife focused not on a political career, but on creative projects. Specifically, in November 2018, her autobiography, “Becoming,” was published. In the book, Michelle Obama shared the challenging journey of a girl from Chicago who managed to realize all her dreams.
In less than two weeks, the former first lady’s autobiography became a bestseller in the United States. The book was also incredibly popular in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In 2020, Michelle Obama won a Grammy Award for the audiobook version of “Becoming.”
In 2022, the former first lady published a new book titled “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.” In this new publication, Michelle Obama addressed themes of navigating anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic and shared her own practical strategies that helped her successfully overcome difficult periods in her life. Subsequently, the audiobook for “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times” also received a Grammy Award.
In addition, Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company signed a deal with the popular service Netflix. In 2019, their first film, “American Factory,” was released on the streaming service. The documentary tells the story of a Chinese company’s glass factory operating in the United States.