Former First Lady Michelle Obama is a rock star in her own right. With a sold out arena in Chicago’s United Center, the venue was packed with a diverse set of people who support Michelle and her message in her newly released memoir, Becoming.
It was an honor to attend with my Aunt Tamarah and her closest friends as we entered the United Center to listen in on an intimate conversation with Mrs. Obama moderated by THE Oprah Winfrey. It was what I’d like to call “Auntie Night” lol!
When you walk in you may mistake the venue’s evening for any other sold out concert. She had Michelle Obama tshirts, mugs and more for sale, people were taking pictures with the signage, and the music was an energizing selection of R&B and pop hits.
At the beginning of the conversation a video played and we could hear Michelle’s voice ask:
Who are you becoming?
Moments later Oprah appeared and greeted the crowd in the town where she gained prestige in TV history. It was a standing ovation for Michelle as she wore an off-the-shoulder sequined long sleeve top and white paper bag trousers, with hot pink heels to set the look off.
The audience laughed, cheered, nodded in agreement, and paused in personal reflection throughout their candid conversation on stage. Oprah has named Becoming as part of her book club, “not that she needed any help, people are going to buy these books,” Oprah joked. Both ladies were funny, and Michelle was unapologetically herself up there, sharing that she was very open in her book on things we have never heard of her before. Michelle said that was purposed because she didn’t want to be a distraction in the White House years (2009-2017). Now that she is a former First Lady, she can share more openly her story, and she is way more relatable than we could imagine.
“What connects us is our stories…”
Oprah asked her great questions and Michelle was open about her last day at the White House and what it’s really like to live there. She touched on the day of the Trump Inauguration and how she couldn’t keep a facade of smiling for long that day. She shared that she sobbed in the Marine One for about 30 minutes, not a sad sobbing, but releasing the tears of relief from having to be perfect all those years. All of that time being scrutinized for every little thing because of who she was and is. I’m sure not just public figures can relate to this.
Michelle also touched on code switching, impostor syndrome, finding identity as a woman in the 21st century, fighting doubts that tried to take root via her own college counselor in high school. She talked about being focused despite opposition, not getting caught up in petty drama:
“Going high doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt…I learned from my husband and in this role [to ask] ‘what’s the goal?’ Take your ego out of it. Going low speaks to a selfish need for revenge. Speaking from that place doesn’t move the conversation.”
She also took time to talk about her marriage to Barack Obama, how they met and how he helped her at a very hard time in her life in her twenties. One of points she made was:
“Our union gave me permission to find joy in what I was passionate about doing.”
That, my friends, is what being married to a mate that helps you pursue your purpose. No Barack isn’t perfect, and no one like Michelle can attest to that, but they are a purposed fit for each other in terms of their ambitions and balancing personalities. That in the midst of their marriage being highlighted, even on this blog, as one to look up to, Michelle doesn’t exclude that hard work and even counseling were involved to keep it going in the right direction. To the fellas reading this, be sure to get a copy of the book or audio version for the lady in your life, it is a great gift idea for any woman.
Towards the end Michelle shared that her story is our story, another testimony of the American Dream. Whatever your story is, she shared that it’s what will help breakdown the walls between people and we can’t be afraid to speak up, especially as women. “All of my story makes me more valuable to the conversation than it doesn’t. If we get at those tables and we are silent because we are afraid, nothing changes.” In a world today that seeks to judge unfairly, Michelle’s hope is for unity and not division, especially in America: “I pray that we seek to find that empathy in each other…”
Missed Michelle in Chicago? Her tour will cover across the country with moderators ranging from A-list celebs to her colleagues in government and more:
Who are you becoming? Share below in the comments!
Great post! Wish she was coming to Atlanta! Can’t wait to get my hands on this book.
Thanks Constance! Yes, it’s going to be a great read!