First Lady Michelle Obama announced the release of her memoir "Becoming" and I couldn't be more excited. Yes, I said First Lady and not former because she is STILL my First Lady. Aunty Michelle has affectionately earned her title in almost every Black American household across these here United States. This love is even more deeply shared amongst Chicagoans, like me, because we are cut from the same cloth in a sense. I mean honestly what greater joy should you feel being from the same hometown as the FIRST Black President and First Lady? That amount of joy is unspeakable.
This memoir is one that is highly anticipated and audiences everywhere are ready to dig deep into the life of a woman with such poise and grace. In her February 25th twitter announcement of the release date of her book Aunty Michelle reveals that
"Writing BECOMING has been a deeply personal experience. I talk about my roots and how a girl from the South Side found her voice. I hope my journey inspires readers to find the courage to become whoever they aspire to be. I can't wait to share my story."-- And boy oh boy we can not wait to hear this story.
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Since this is the first biography from our legendary First Lady I came up with 4 things I expect to be discussed in this book.
1. Childhood trauma and how it shaped her
Growing up black and on the South Side of Chicago, it's almost impossible to escape some sort of childhood trauma. Knowing this, it's likely that our beloved First Lady experienced some herself. It's hard enough being a black girl in the world, but being a black girl in one of the nations roughest neighborhoods had to have brought about a different set of challenges.
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I'd really love for our Aunty to open up and let us into what her childhood was really like, both good and bad, and how the trauma she experienced in those moments pushed her to become THE Michelle Obama we know and love today.
2. How she really fell in love with President Obama
While we've all heard their love story several times, I would be completely disappointed if she didn't let her readers into the super intimate details of her evolution of love with her husband. The Obamas representblack love and the joy and example they set for other blacks are noble. Sharing that love story with us is something we will all find hope from and all fall even more deeply in love with the two.
3. Raising black daughters in the White House under constant media scrutiny
One thing that has always bothered me is the attention media places on children. It's unfair and unkind to scrutinize innocent children the way the media has done to the Obama daughters. I would love for Michelle to open up about the advice she gave her daughters and how she coached them to handle these situations.
While all children of the White House are watched and judged I felt the racist tension these two beautiful young girls received wasoften times unwarranted. As a mother, you want nothing more than to protect your children, so I can't imagine how hard these attacks were for Michelle herself. If she were to open up about this, I would feel even more connected to her.
4. Her understanding of racism in America after being the first black First Lady
Racism is nothing new to black people. At some point during your childhood, it's not uncommon to accept it as a part of life and develop an "it is what it is" attitude towards it. However, overt racism to the first family of the United States is something that Michelle had to handle on a day to day basis with grace and class.
That level of grace and class is admirable, and I'd love for our Aunty to invite us into her most intimate thoughts regarding such overt racism. I want her to share her disappointment, her anger, her shock, her sadness, her emotions as to how she navigated a racially divided America while trying her hardest to make an Inclusive America.
I'm sure as hell going to grab that book right off the shelf. Despite what your political views are or what disagreements you have with the former first family, Michelle Obama is a woman of unmatched sophistication and has always carried herself with a level of dignity and pride even in her most challenging moments. That in itself must be admired and respected.
SOURCES:
https://www.becomingmichelleobama.com
https://mashable.com/2018/02/25/becoming-michelle-obama-book-details/#T1ZcNx2eSkqo
Brandon Herring is a financial professional by day and ratchet scholar by night. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign his areas of specialty include personal finance, entrepreneurship, business, and marketing. He Is a self-proclaimed know it all with a love for his community, and seeks to contribute philanthropically through financial education amongst African Americans.
