Becoming

Archival Summary & Scope

Michelle Obama provides an intimate and inspiring account of the experiences that shaped her journey from the South Side of Chicago to the White House. This memoir chronicles her years as a high-reaching executive balancing motherhood and work, and her transformative tenure as the first African American First Lady of the United States.

With "unerring honesty and lively wit," she reflects on the triumphs and disappointments of her public and private life. From advocating for women and girls globally to promoting healthier lifestyles for families, Becoming is a deeply personal reckoning of a woman who has steadily defied expectations while raising her daughters under an unforgiving media spotlight.