For my second Black History Month 2024 pick, I chose an audiobook by a black author, read by that same author. I tend to try to go about life without getting too political, but I’m also fascinated by people who come to fame through politics. I’ve always been interested in reading this particular book, and I’m so glad I did!
Becoming
Author: Michelle Obama
Format: Audiobook
Length: 19 hours (approx)
Read by: Michelle Obama
Published: November 13, 2018
Original Publisher: Crown
View on Goodreads
Date Completed: February 16, 2024
My rating: 
Synopsis
Most people know who Michelle Obama is. For those who live under a bigger rock than I do, she was First Lady of the United States for eight years starting in January 2009.
Her memoir covers her life, growing up in Chicago’s south side, her education, her work as a lawyer, and her eventual rise to global prominence during her time in Washington, DC.
Thoughts
I hadn’t really known much of anything about Michelle Obama before diving into this book. Ever since it came out, it’s been on my radar. As I mentioned in the intro, I’m fascinated by politicians and their stories. Regardless of your political leanings, most politicians are the heroes of their own stories. I’m not saying that Michelle Obama is a politician. But when you’re talking about a person who lives in the White House, politics is the first thing that comes to mind.
She’s done a lot of amazing things in her life too. And as a black woman, things don’t always come easy. But from her telling, she didn’t take anything for granted. She did her best to get good grades to get into good schools, landing herself a job at a law firm.
When Barak Obama entered her life, it was pretty interesting. They didn’t seem like two people who would have gotten along. In fact, it sounds like she didn’t like him like him at first. But of course, as we all know, they got married. Shocker, right?!
As much as his life ended up driving hers, she made the best of it. For her time as FLOTUS, she did what she could to make the role her own and make positive impacts on the country. And I believe that she did. She made a lot of positive impacts and forward movement to curb childhood obesity. She taught the importance of nutrition, to the point of starting a vegetable garden on White House grounds that generated over 2,000 pounds of fresh produce each year.
She could have sat around and relished the life of luxury afforded to her by US taxpayers. Instead, she and her family often paid for things with their own funds. And when they saw the impact they had when just trying to have a quiet night out together, they sacrificed that part of their lives so as not to make a negative impact on the society around them.
Most of all, Michelle Obama made an impact not too dissimilar as that of Nichelle Nichols. She has become a role model for young black girls. With her and her husband’s portraits as FLOTUS and POTUS, young black children can look up and see their potential futures. That nothing is impossible, regardless of your social status, upbringing, or the color of your skin.
Conclusion
This book was so well-written, and well-read as an audiobook, I have to give it 5 stars. While the book does get quite political toward the end (how can it not?!), it is a great story of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
