Its a choice and every choice has pros and cons. She wasn’t forced to abandon her career. She can still go back to practice law instead of going on tours and partying with Oprah and Beyoncé in make up done by her professional make up artist and fancy dresses by a personal stylist. She clearly enjoys the perks of being a political spouse. She is good at it and it worked well for herself and her family. In some ways she did waste magnet school seat, Princeton degree, financial aid, affirmative action seat and Harvard law degree. Someone else may have actually used those degrees, practiced law and won pro bono cases for poor people on Southside of Chicago.
On other hand, Obama wouldn’t be where he is without Michelle Obama. She did use her education and time to build a great life for herself, helped her husband reach the stars, raised her daughters, is a good daughter, sister, wife,mother and First Lady. This society undermines value of a strong anchor keeping powerful families functional and grounded. Being a paid worker bee isn’t the only way to contribute to the world
She had two good choices, she couldn’t have gone wrong with either. They could’ve had a great life as two worker family balancing two careers as well, probably he wouldn’t make president but they’ll be still better off than other 99.99% humans and making a difference in some other ways.
I met Barack Obama when he was first running for the primary for Illinois senate at a friends house for a fundraiser (he was not expected to win). He was stunningly charismatic; I’ve never had the kind of reaction to anyone in real life I had to him. But the only thing I remember about what he specifically said was that his wife had really not enjoyed his time in the state legislature and that he really appreciated her support for the senate run.
@Marian I agree with you. She didn’t waste anything. No one is obligated to use their education to win ‘pro bono cases for poor people’. It’s ridiculous, and unfair, to expect that. Michelle has probably done more good for more people with what she has done in her adult life than most other Harvard law grads who have won a few pro bono cases.
IMO, “career” and being a “worker family” doesn’t mean going to school for a specific occupation and sticking with it for 40+ years. I would also say that being President and First Lady (who wasn’t just holding social parties and getting her hair done) IS a “worker family”.
Academic education is about learning a subject and applying to real life situations - with or without a paycheck. I would have to feel pretty confident that Michelle’s background/education of law and social justice/needs for the underserved has come into play throughout her role as Michelle Obama mother/wife/advocate/educator/lawyer/role model/mentor…
There is more to education than getting employed. Every educated mind contributes to the world in many ways, it can be done in personal capacity or in an official capacity or both, whichever suits an individual, their family and their circumstances. This industrial revolution mentality that education=degree=pay check is unfortunate.
I really enjoyed the book – and recommend it to everyone – but I will say that Barack Obama’s “Dreams From My Father” is even better, deeper, more analytical. One of the better autobiographies I’ve read in a long time. And I read a lot of them.
What I liked about “Becoming” in no particular order - the warmth of its tone. That she’s critical of herself, in moments. The little personal anecdotes (when Malia Obama worried no one would come to her dad’s celebration after he won the presidency in 2008; Michelle Obama’s exhaustion on Inauguration night that had her leave the parties “early”) her candor at pressing Barack Obama to be more of a real partner at home.
What I wish more of in “Becoming” - indepth honesty. What it was like to be a black First Lady. What she really thought about her husband’s presidency. How she sees her future. How she sees the nation’s future, specifically its black middle class from which she came. One ot the impressions I always had about Michelle Obama, is that by nature she’s more passionate than her husband and that she was forced – or forced herself – to conceal her anger in order not to alienate white support. But if we as a society don’t see black anger, how are we to address the reasons for that anger?
Just some random thoughts on a snowy winter morning…
@katliamom I’m sure she concealed her anger many times ,and many times she wasn’t angry but was still accused of being the “angry black woman” because she didn’t smile. It’s a heavy load to bear, as I can attest. I’ve been in that position. Heck some in this CC have implied I’m angry.
When I worked full time outside of the home I was always the “only” in meetings. One time my manager told me that she was watching me and I needed to smile more during team/sept meetings. Needless to say I told her if she had that much free time to stare at me, she may want to look for another line of work.
I can’t imagine the number of times Michele but her tongue.
The Michelle Obama revealed in the book doesn’t seem like a Michelle Obama who wants to write a book about how angry she is. I’m not saying she isn’t angry, but the person who wrote that book doesn’t seem like a person who wants to write a book about anger. She’s optimistic.
^^I agree that while she isn’t going to candy coat things, she is an optimistic, “let’s find the right solution” type person. I saw her live in person on this book tour - she didn’t hesitate to talk about the state of the country and other not so perfect things affecting her or us, but it was usually also with a dose of action to move the negative forward.
I’m in the middle of this book now in anticipation of seeing her Thursday. Hoping that I can finish it before then. Really enjoying it and relate to a lot of it as a first-gen minority college-goer.
Jealous of you who have seen/will see her. She is coming to Nashville and D & I signed up to get in ticket lottery, but didn’t make it. The event in Nashville is at the Ryman which is a pretty small auditorium compared to the bigger venues she has been speaking in.
