It is no question that Michelle Obama has become one of the most iconic and inspiring women of our era. As the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017– and the first African American to serve as such–Mrs. Obama helped to create the most inclusive and welcoming White House in history. She was a strong advocate for education for girls, women’s empowerment, and the health and wellbeing of American citizens. She stood strong with her husband as he led America through difficult times and sought to strengthen the American people as a whole.
Her memoir, “Becoming”, dives into the First Lady’s inner life - detailing through beautiful storytelling her childhood experiences, education, motherhood, the beginning of her husband’s political career, and her campaigns for health, equality, and education as First Lady. Published in November of 2018 - soon after the end of the Obamas’ time at the White House - and immediately receiving numerous rave reviews, “Becoming” is an eye-opening read that details the experiences and the people who made Michelle into the person she now is. Divided into three sections - “Becoming Me,” “Becoming Us,” and “Becoming More”– the book defines what the sometimes-ambiguous role of “First Lady” meant to her and explores how she used her position to inspire and encourage those around her.
In “Becoming Me,” Obama sets up a scene of her early life growing up on the South Side of Chicago with her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson. It was during these years that she began learning what it was to be an independent young woman under the care of her nurturing family. She explores her time at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, as well as her early career at the Sidley Austin law firm, where she met her future husband Barack Obama.
Through “Becoming Us” and “Becoming More,” Obama documents her journey from the beginning of her marriage, to Barack’s time as president, to the close of the Obama presidency. These sections provide an insightful look into her life as she balanced her duties as First Lady with her material and motherly commitments.
Nora Martin (freshman, English and psychology), a fan of both the former First Lady and her book, explained, “I really appreciated her including a description of how tough it was to be a working mom, particularly as she moved to the White House and had to negotiate her sometimes conflicting duties to country, family, and self.” A stirring picture of hard work and perseverance, the book provides many thoughtful reflections on her time in the White House and highlights various aspects of the Obamas’ lives as First Family.
With a current average rating of 4.52/5 on Goodreads and 4.9/5 on Audible.com (the audiobook version, which Obama narrates herself, is exceptionally well-done!), “Becoming” has also been turned into a Netflix documentary that was released in May 2020, which follows Obama as she embarks on her book tour and sheds more light on her eight years in the White House. New York Times critic Lovia Gyarkye says that the film “shows a familiar, albeit more carefree, former first lady” (NYTimes, 2020).
A picture of hope and inspiration, “Becoming” could be a wonderful addition to your Women’s History Month reading list.
Works Cited
“Becoming by Michelle Obama.” Goodreads, 13 Nov. 2018,
www.goodreads.com/book/show/38746485-becoming.
Hirsch, Afua. “Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – Race, Marriage and the Ugly Side of
Politics.” The Guardian, 14 Nov. 2018,
www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/14/michelle-obama-becoming-review-undoubtedly-political-book.
Runnels, Riley. “Here Are 8 Great Lessons through Michelle Obama Quotes in Netflix’s
‘Becoming.’” The Post Athens, 10 May 2020,
www.thepostathens.com/article/2020/05/number-takeaways-michelle-obama-netflix-docu
mentary-becoming.
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