Taylor Williams

Becoming Michelle Obama is the best book I have read in a long time. She had me laughing through tears, sobbing in front of my classmates, stone cold sober, and mostly awed by her humanity. At first I thought to count the amount of times she said she was from Southside Chicago, a humorously numerous amount of times, but then it occurred to me how grateful I am that she stayed true to her roots throughout her best times. It amazes me that Michelle came from living in a small apartment to working her way to Princeton and Harvard, and eventually with Barak Obama in the White House. Even after having such an accomplished life, she resonates with me to my core. Back in high school, when Obama was sworn into office, I'd get told by strangers in passing that I looked like I could be Michelle Obama's daughter. My pride would be shot because for every time I heard that comment, I'd heard a dozen times how Michelle looked like a man, an ape in heels, or some other dehumanizing description. Now after reading how Michelle heard those awful remarks- felt that sting- and learned who she was as a person underneath the media circus, I've gained so much perspective. All along Michelle Robinson Obama has been "becoming". It is a privileged to take a look into her life.