In this brilliantly deliberate memoir, Obama reflects on the journey that is her life. She shares how an educationally-driven, middle-class, African-American girl from the south-side of Chicago could become First Lady of the United States. With the highest decency, she shares how she raised two girls while in the public eye and how she joined with her husband in carrying a difficult nation. Through her words, she courageously fights for the soul of a country, for decency and honor over pettiness and cynicism.
Obama contends that she never liked politics. She consistently turns her nose up at its ugliness and bitterness. She does not understand Republicans’ visceral recoil from her husband’s bold initiatives. At specific points, she hints at latent racism within the American soul. Yet she still admonishes readers to the value of education, learning, and working with the American system. Despite opposition, she clings to the reformist message. She is utterly reasonable even in the face of opposing hatred and strife.
Obama’s memoir hits all of the strengths of good reflective writing. Avoiding cliche, she digs deep into her own soul for her words. At times, she points the way forward; at other times, she lets others do the task for her. She does not over-intellectualize and treats her fellow travelers in life with foundational respect. In a balanced way, she seeks to understand more than to be understood, to listen to her neighbors rather than to pontificate. She exhibits the dignity of a black woman who has often been excluded and minimized from national discussions.
Although this book bears witness to the history of politics, it is relatively apolitical. Obama does not seek to settle disputes. Her most impactful assertion is that children need healthy diets – hardly a contentious issue. Instead, she tries to respect the worth of her journey and her integrity. Her feminine voice bespeaks strength without hiding behind a profession. She speaks to the house-mom who cares about the world around her.
I doubt a lot of conservatives will like this work or even read this work. In particular, readers should be aware that she speaks negatively about the rise of Donald Trump (though in a voice that reflects a firm parent more than a bitter rivalry). Conservatives’ visceral recoil is misplaced, though. Those who dislike Obama because of her political affiliation will miss out on a supreme and excellent character that reflects highly upon America, the black race, and the Obama family. Listening carefully to different viewpoints has always been a necessary part of democracy, and I hope that this practice continues to the next generation. Obama’s memoir is an appropriate place to begin such a journey.
Becoming
By Michelle Obama
Copyright (c) 2018
Crown
ISBN13 9781524763138
Audiobook
Genre: Memoir, American politics
www.amazon.com