Michelle Obama - A Biography
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Born on 17 Jan1964 in Chicago Illinois, Michelle Obama’s mother Marian was a secretary, and father Fraser Robinson a city water plant worker. She was raised in a conservative home, alongside older brother Craig. Michelle’s father’s high morals and levels of expectations are qualities she has carried with her. Brother Craig is also a success story, with a checkered history in men’s basketball.
Listed in 2006 among “25 of the World’s Most Inspiring Women” by Essence magazine, Michelle Obama followed up in 2007 with Vanity Fair magazine nominating her as one of the “World’s Ten Best Dressed People.”
Again in 2007, she entered “The Harvard 100″ - ranking 58th on a list of the prior year’s most influential Harvard alumni, with her husband Barack ranked fourth. She also keeps good company, having made two campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey (at the time of writing this).
Following Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Michelle went to Princeton University, graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in African American studies. She then continued at Harvard Law School, earning her law degree in 1988. Following law school, Michelle Obama worked as an Associate in the field of marketing and intellectual property at the Chicago law firm, Sidley and Austin. It was at Sidley and Austin that she met Barack Obama.
After leaving the corporate law world in 1991 to pursue a career in the public service, Michelle Obama worked as an assistant to the Mayor of Chicago, and then as the Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago. Michelle served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago In 1996, where she developed the Universitys first Community Service Program.
During 2002, Michelle Obama began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as an Executive Director for Community Affairs, and then as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. She now works this position part-time, to enable her to spend more time with her two young daughters.
She became “Michelle Obama” in 1992 after marrying Barack; they now have two daughters, Malia Obama (born 1999) and Natasha Obama (born 2001). In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization helping young adults develop skills for careers in the public sector.
Three months after her husband declared his Presidential Candidacy, she reduced her professional responsibilities by eighty percent. Accepting the role of aspiring First Lady, she travels the country with her husband, giving speeches and attending events - making sure she is not away from her daughters for too long. Michelle Obama is described as focused, tough, steely, and has a sharp sense of humor.
Life for both Barack and Michelle Obama has changed for ever. Secret Service protection is now a way of life, with Michelle having her own dedicated team, as they face the fears of extremist action.
Michelle Obama compliments her husband Barack well; she is naturally competitive, intelligent, does not take things for granted and has a direct, practical approach toward politics. She likes to keep things calm, keeping Barack focused, with his feet firmly planted on the ground. She displays a determined passion for his campaign, and may well be the best asset Barack Obama has. However, Michelle herself is increasingly being targeted; whether the dirty politics of America will turn on their pre-teen children remains to be seen.
