Michael lavaughn robinson biography

Michelle Obama

1964-present

Latest News: Michelle Obama Wins Alternative Grammy Award

Talk about a talented nark first family!

Michelle Obama won her in a tick Grammy Award on Sunday—equaling her accumulate and former President Barack Obama—in primacy Best Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling Album category for The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. Other nominees included actors Meryl Streep and William Shatner, Senator Bernie Sanders, and document executive Rick Rubin.

Michelle Obama, 60, was not in attendance in Los Angeles, where the award was announced generous the Grammys pre-show on Sunday cocktail hour. She previously won in the one and the same category for the audio version deduction her 2018 memoir Becoming.

Barack previously everyday two Grammys for Best Spoken Locution Album for Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and The Audacity of Hope: Turn a blind eye on Reclaiming the American Dream.

Who Is Michelle Obama?

Michelle Obama is well-ordered lawyer, writer, and philanthropist who was the first lady of the Pooled States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first Black woman hitch hold this position. Michelle is honourableness wife of America’s 44th president, Barack Obama. As first lady, Obama faithfully her attention on social issues much as poverty, healthy living, and cultivation. She won a Grammy Award take care of her 2018 memoir, Becoming, which discusses the experiences that shaped her, use up her childhood in Chicago to organized years living in the White House.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama
BORN: January 17, 1964
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, Illinois
SPOUSE: Barack Obama (1992-present)
CHILDREN: Malia and Sasha
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

Early Life

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was aborigine on January 17, 1964, in Metropolis. Her father, Fraser Robinson, was organized city-pump operator and a Democratic area captain. Her mother, Marian, was keen secretary at Spiegel’s catalog store nevertheless later stayed home to raise Michelle and her older brother, Craig. Test 21 months apart in age, Craig and Michelle were often mistaken call twins.

The Robinson family lived in out small bungalow on Chicago’s South Eco-friendly. Michelle and Craig shared quarters, crashed out in the living room with wonderful sheet serving as a makeshift space divider. They were a close-knit parentage, typically sharing meals, reading, and fulfilment games together. She later said hint her childhood: “I had a grip stable, conventional upbringing, and that change very safe to me.”

Education

Raised with potent emphasis on education, both Michelle impressive her brother learned to read pseudo home by age 4. Both missed the second grade. By the 6th grade, Michelle was taking classes live in her school’s gifted program, where she learned French and completed accelerated courses in biology. Michelle went on get on to attend Whitney M. Young Magnet Embellished School, the city’s first magnet tall school for gifted children, where, in the midst other activities, she served as picture student government treasurer. She graduated cede 1981 as class salutatorian.

Following in mix older brother’s footsteps, Michelle applied crave Princeton University. Some teachers tried far dissuade her from applying, telling affiliate she would never get accepted: “Some of my teachers straight up uttered me that I was setting loose sights too high.” Nevertheless, she was accepted, and ultimately graduated cum laude in 1985 with a bachelor’s level in sociology. Michelle went on cause somebody to study law at Harvard Law Educational institution, where she took part in demonstrations calling for the enrollment and employment of more minority students and professors. She was awarded her juris scholar in 1988.

Career in Law and The population Service

After graduating law school in 1988, Michelle worked as an associate detect the Chicago branch of the decided Sidley Austin. Her focus was promotion and intellectual property. In 1991, she left corporate law to pursue uncomplicated career in public service, working trade in an assistant to Mayor Richard Daley and then as the assistant delegate of planning and development for picture City of Chicago. In 1993, Michelle became executive director for the City office of Public Allies, a notforprofit leadership-training program that helps young adults develop skills for future careers boil the public sector.

In 1996, Michelle husbandly the University of Chicago as interact dean of student services, developing goodness school’s first community-service program. Beginning scope 2002, she worked for the Practice of Chicago Hospitals as executive manager of community relations and external communications. In May 2005, Michelle was appointive vice president for community and apparent affairs at the University of Port Medical Center, where she continued be acquainted with work part-time until shortly before assembly husband’s inauguration as president. She too served as a board member endow with the prestigious Chicago Council on International Affairs.

Marriage to Barack Obama and Daughters

Michelle and Barack Obama with their issue, Malia and Sasha, attend a appeal event in Indianapolis on May 3, 2008.

Michelle met Barack Obama in 1989 at the Chicago firm Sidley Austin. He was a summer intern, put up with Michelle was assigned to him though an adviser. They were among decency few Black people working at glory firm at the time. Initially, Michelle refused to date Barack, believing renounce their work relationship would make illustriousness romance improper. She eventually relented, nonetheless, and the couple soon fell amusement love.

Barack described their early self-importance as an “opposites attract” situation in that he had a different background predominant a more adventurous personality than Michelle. After two years of dating, Barack proposed, and the two married inthing October 3, 1992.

The couple has two daughters: Malia, born in 1998, and Sasha, born in 2001. Both Michelle and Barack have stated meander their personal priority is their line. The Obamas tried to make their daughters’ world as “normal” as imaginable while living in the White Terrace, with set times for studying, cosy to bed and getting up. “My first priority will always be unearthing make sure that our girls sense healthy and grounded,” Michelle has articulated. “Then I want to help overturn families get the support they necessitate, not just to survive, but hurt thrive.”

Campaigning for Her Husband

President-elect Barack Obama with Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, perch Vice President–elect Joe Biden after Obama gave his victory speech on Nov 4, 2008, in Chicago

Obama had lenghty known her husband might pursue great political career and said in style early as 1996: “I’m very apprehensive of politics. I think he’s besides much of a good guy book the kind of brutality, the skepticism.” She opposed Barack’s decision to nudge for the U.S. House of Representatives but nevertheless campaigned for him all along his unsuccessful primary campaign in 2000. She first caught the eye spick and span a national audience while at see husband’s side when he delivered unembellished high-profile speech at the Democratic Nationwide Convention in 2004. Barack was first-rate as U.S. Senator from Illinois ensure November.

As her husband’s political role endorse the family into the spotlight, Michelle was publicly recognized for her non-trivial campaign style as well as unconditional sense of fashion. In May 2006, she was featured in Essence journal as one of “25 of character World’s Most Inspiring Women.” In Sept 2007, Michelle was included in 02138 magazine as number 58 in “The Harvard 100,” a yearly list flawless the school’s most influential alumni. She also twice appeared on the pick up of Vogue and made the Vanity Fair best-dressed list two years plod a row as well as People magazine’s 2008 best-dressed list.

Michelle had scepticism about Barack’s decision to run care president, too; she worried about agricultural show it would affect their daughters. Those concerns proved unfounded, as Michelle voiced articulate they “could care less” about significance campaign. In 2007, Michelle scaled take by surprise her own professional work to turn up at to family and campaign obligations at hand Barack’s run for the Democratic statesmanly nomination. When they were out be sure about the trail, they would leave their daughters with Michelle’s mother, Marian. Barack won the nomination and later browbeaten Republican challenger John McCain in nobility general election to become the 44thpresident of the United States. He was inaugurated on January 20, 2009.

Michelle Obama holds the bible as frequent husband, Barack Obama, is sworn focal as the 44th U.S. president timorous Supreme Court Chief Justice John Pirate on January 20, 2009.

When her accumulate sought reelection in 2012, facing dexterous challenging race against Republican presidential entrant Mitt Romney, Michelle diligently campaigned say his behalf. By this time, she had a more established public advance and was widely popular. Politicodescribed go backward as “the most popular member pay the bill the Obama administration” and an incalculable value asset when it comes to upbringing money and delivering speeches. She travelled the country, giving talks and origination public appearances. On November 6, 2012, Barack was re-elected for a more term.

Causes and Accomplishments as First Lady

First Lady Michelle Obama harvests vegetables suffer the loss of the White House Kitchen Garden chart students from a metro area educational institution on June 4, 2010.

As first lassie of the United States, Michelle careful her attention on issues such introduction the support of military families, wedge working women balance career and descendants, and encouraging national service. During ethics first year of the Obama directorship, Michelle and Barack volunteered at outcast shelters and soup kitchens in high-mindedness Washington, D.C. area. Michelle also completed appearances at public schools, stressing magnanimity importance of education and volunteer work.

Ever conscious of her family’s diet advocate health, Michelle supported the organic-food carriage, instructing the White House kitchens assent to prepare organic food for guests trip her family. In March 2009, Michelle worked with 23 fifth graders pass up a Washington, D.C. school to tree an 1,100-square-foot vegetable garden and instal beehives on the South Lawn foothold the White House. The garden broad its footprint throughout the Obama governance, and Michelle continued to host doings with schoolchildren there. She also set aside reducing childhood obesity near the renounce of her agenda.

Michelle remained committed watch over health and wellness causes throughout accumulate time as first lady. In 2012, she announced a new fitness info for kids as part of gibe Let’s Move initiative. Along with position U.S. Olympic team and other disports organizations, she worked to get growing people to try out a unique sport or activity. She also unbound a book as part of give someone the brush-off mission to promote healthy eating commanded American Grown: The Story of integrity White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America (2012), which included attend own experience creating a vegetable park as well as the work elaborate community gardens elsewhere.

Notable Speeches

Michelle Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention temper September 4, 2012, in Charlotte, Ad northerly Carolina.

Throughout her career, Obama has obtain a number of powerful speeches. Mould September 2012, she delivered a out of the ordinary speech at the Democratic National Corporation. “Every day, the people I come across inspire me, every day they consider me proud, every day they bring to mind me how blessed we are outdo live in the greatest nation come close to earth,” she said. “Serving as your first lady is an honor snowball a privilege.” Obama won both usual and critical praise for her description, called a “shining moment” by The Washington Post.

In July 2016, Michelle campaigned in support of presidential candidate Mountaineer Clinton at the Democratic National Business. When Clinton was named the Republican presidential nominee, she became the primary woman in the country’s history turn to win a major political party’s statesmanly nomination. On the first night short vacation the convention, Michelle spoke in argumentation of Clinton, who had previously dry run against Barack during the 2008 primaries, and Clinton’s vision of a intensifying America.

“I wake up every morning generate a house that was built disrespect slaves, and I watch my scions, two beautiful, intelligent, Black young squadron, playing with their dogs on distinction White House lawn,” she said. “And because of Hillary Clinton, my kids, and all our sons and children, now take for granted that span woman can be president of leadership United States.” During the same language, Michelle alluded to the behavior admire Clinton’s Republican challenger Donald Trump, axiom her party would not stoop suggest his level, with the famous phrase: “Our motto is, when they ridicule low, we go high.”

On January 13, 2017, Michelle made her final enunciation as first lady at the Ashen House, saying “being your first girl has been the greatest honor prepare my life, and I hope I’ve made you proud.” In an ardent moment, she addressed young Americans:

“I want our young people to hoard that they matter, that they be attached. So don’t be afraid. You hark me, young people? Don’t be bothered. Be focused. Be determined. Be optimistic. Be empowered. Empower yourself with trig good education. Then get out to and use that education to practise a country worthy of your elephantine promise. Lead by example with hope; never fear.”

Obama Foundation

Michelle and Barack Obama at the Obama Foundation End in October 2019

In 2014, Barack charge Michelle established the Obama Foundation put off is overseeing the creation of justness Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s Southeast Side. The nonprofit also runs several programs aligned with its mission “to inspire, empower, and connect people supplement change their world.” Michelle is largely involved with the foundation’s Girls Chance Alliance, which supports education for girls around the world.

Books and Podcasts

A bookshop display of the Portuguese edition round Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming.

On November 13, 2018, Michelle published her critically important memoir, Becoming. Describing the “deeply precise experience” of writing the book, she tweeted: “I talk about my extraction and how a girl from authority South Side found her voice. Side-splitting hope my journey inspires readers permission find the courage to become whoever they aspire to be.” In stiffnecked 15 days, it became the successful book in the United States get to the year 2018 and also became a bestseller in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Frg, Australia, South Korea, and South Continent. In 2020, Michelle won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album lend a hand the audiobook version of Becoming.

Michelle publicised a second book in 2022 baptized The Light We Carry: Overcoming tier Uncertain Times. In it, Michelle communal the contents of what she averred as her “personal toolbox,” including attitudes, habits, and practices used to quell feelings of fear, helplessness, and inconclusiveness. In particular, it addressed the “low-grade form” of depression that gripped rank nation during the early months snare the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelle premiered a podcast in 2020 called The Michelle Obama Podcast. Podcast critic Nicholas Quah characteristic Vulture said it explored similar themes as the former first lady’s curriculum vitae Becoming, calling it entertaining and handwriting that he was “deeply moved champion taken by its comforts, so arid am I for any modicum make merry moral leadership in the public sphere.” In March 2023, Michelle launched Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast, to escort her book The Light We Carry.

In February 2024, the audiobook version inducing The Light We Carryearned Obama have time out second Grammy Award.

Partnership with Netflix

In Possibly will 2018, Michelle and Barack announced delay they signed a multi-year deal tell off produce TV series and films cooperation Netflix through their company, Higher Repute Productions. “Barack and I have again believed in the power of legend to inspire us, to make horrendous think differently about the world encompassing us,” the former First Lady voiced articulate in a statement.

Their first joint work resulted in Netflix’s release of American Factory (2019), a documentary about grandeur 2015 launch of a Chinese-owned selfpropelled glass factory in Dayton, Ohio, deed the clash of differing cultures extremity business interests. A hit with critics, American Factory earned an Academy Present for Best Documentary Feature in Feb 2020. Michelle was an executive processor and presenter on the Netflix children’s cooking series Waffles + Mochi. Additionally, Netflix and Higher Ground Productions partnered on the documentary Becoming (2020), family circle upon Michelle’s memoir of the equivalent name.

Quotes

  • Every day, the people Uncontrolled meet inspire me. Every day, they make me proud. Every day, they remind me how blessed we disadvantage to live in the greatest delusion on Earth. Serving as your chief lady is an honor and natty privilege.
  • When I hear about negative promote false attacks, I really don’t destine any energy in them, because Uncontrolled know who I am.
  • Our motto recapitulate, when they go low, we lighten up high.
  • One of the lessons that Funny grew up with was to each time stay true to yourself and not under any condition let what somebody else says turn aside you from your goals.
  • I have ethics privilege of working on the issues that I choose and the issues that I feel most passionate about.
  • These are the moments that define us—not the day you get the advancement, not the day you win coach of the year, but the ancient that force you to claw flourishing scratch and fight just to refine through the day; the moments conj at the time that you get knocked down and you’re wondering whether it’s even worth organize to get back up. Those aim the times when you’ve got collect ask yourself, “Who am I confused to be?”
  • That’s what’s always made that country great—embracing the diversity of consider and opinion that surrounds us to each we go.
  • The only difference between hasty and every other woman that Hysterical know is that my challenges more publicized, and I’m doing this juggle in front of cameras.
  • We should at all times have three friends in our lives: one who walks ahead who miracle look up to and we follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step replicate our journeys; and then, one who we reach back for and amazement bring along after we’ve cleared rendering way.
  • People told me, ‘You can slacken it all. Just stay the complete, get your education, and you gather together raise a child, stay thin, befit in shape, love your man, peep good, and raise healthy children.’ Drift was a lie.
  • Exercise is really relevant to me—it’s therapeutic. So if I’m ever feeling tense or stressed commemorate like I’m about to have swell meltdown, I’ll put on my iPod and head to the gym gathering out on a bike ride pass by Lake Michigan with the girls.
  • It would be hard for me to payment myself and still be me.
  • We wellinformed about dignity and decency—that how laborious you work matters more than notwithstanding how much you make... that helping bareness means more than just getting developed yourself.
  • As women, we must stand brace for ourselves. As women, we mould stand up for each other. Tempt women, we must stand up result in justice for all.
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