Forever (more than just a) First Lady By: Ken zi e O ’Da y
P HOTO BY DF ID/F LICKR
“I am from the south side of Chicago. That tells you as much about me as you need to know.” Michelle Obama came from working class roots. The former first lady earned two Ivy League degrees through hard work; a value instilled in her by her working-class family. Her legacy as First Lady comes from the fact that she was so open about her roots, something that everyone can share. Everyone came from somewhere, and by valuing her story, she made it acceptable for those around her to value theirs. As the wife of a former President, Michelle Obama is often associated with politics. A fair assumption, considering she worked with her husband during his campaign for the 2008 Presidential election, and has supported the political campaigns of Democrats such THE OBSERVER
as Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden. However, Michelle Obama is not a politician, and is known for saying she “doesn’t like politics.” Thus, her legacy is not a political one. But she made a tremendous impact on the lives of many with her campaigns during her husband’s Presidential terms: influencing the nation via her Let’s Move campaign, Reach Higher, Let Girls Learn, and Join Forces. The United States benefited greatly from the work she put into these initiatives, but the international community also benefited, and continues to benefit, from exposure to her character. She faced criticism with poise, stating in a commencement speech at Tuskegee University that when attacked with racist PAGE 10
