Former First Lady Michelle Obama stops by Houston’s Toyota Center for ‘Becoming’ book tour

Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama made a stop at Houston’s Toyota Center March 2 as part of the second leg for her “Becoming” book tour. The autobiography, which sold over 1.4 million copies in the first week it was released, tells of Obama’s upbringing on the South Side of Chicago, her marriage to Former President of the United States Barack Obama, and her journey of being part of the nation’s first African-American First Family.

Prior to Obama stepping onto the stage at the Toyota Center, a playlist featuring hits from Janet Jackson to Aretha Franklin to Kelly Clarkson kept the incoming audience’s energy high. At around 8 p.m. sharp, video packages featuring highlights of Obama’s television appearances began to play on the large screens at the front of the stage and in the middle of the arena, above the audience.

As “An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama” began to approach, the lights of the arena were turned off and a video package featuring Barack Obama, their daughters Sasha and Malia, and Michelle’s mother and brother provided perspective on who Michelle Obama is beyond her title as Former First Lady.

When it was time for the conversation to begin, moderator for the evening, Michele Norris, journalist and curator of The Race Card Project, introduced the nation’s “Forever First Lady” to thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the diverse audience. Once the cheers subsided, a raw and real discussion of her life’s journey up to the present began.

The evening consisted of stories ending in laughter, tears and hard truths about race in America. With the same bluntness she uses in the book, Obama did not waver or sugarcoat the trials and triumphs her family has faced. From learning to be an advocate for oneself to using one’s position of power to spark change, Obama talked of how her story is a relatable one to millions.

From a young age, Obama learned to speak up for herself, especially as a person of color. One particular story recalled when as a second grader, Michelle recognized her teacher was not investing in the students. After talking it over with friends, while her mother listened in, she was soon moved to another class. Obama paused to recognize that this action taken by her mother was a form of advocacy children across the nation might not have. Speaking directly to the younger audience members, Obama emphasized that if one doesn’t speak up for his or herself, no one else will, and one must seek out help rather than sit in the corner waiting for it to appear. Furthering her point, Obama spoke to the adults in the audience and urged them to catch themselves before cutting a child’s dream short.

“Don’t let someone’s limited expectations stop you from being all you can be,” Obama said.

As the conversation turned toward her time as the first African-American First Lady, Obama clearly laid out how she felt being under the microscope of the world’s eye. She noted, as she does in her book, how those within and speaking to the press criticized her appearance, personality and actions.

“I wanted people to remember that that’s what we do to each other,” Obama said. “We make assumptions based on no information. We decide who we like and who we don’t like based on skin color and things we are taught. And if we’re doing that to me, we’re doing that to each other, and we’re often wrong in our assumptions on both sides.”

Continuing, Obama stated how those who criticized her did not care about her upbringing or her family values. She stressed how as a nation Americans must stop assuming the worst about each other because on both sides it is wrong.

As the topic of kids came up, Obama, appearing teary-eyed, talked about how it breaks her heart when discussing children in the United States. She talked of how they do not need much beyond a little care, a little kindness and a chance.

“The fact that we fail so many [kids] is heartbreaking,” Obama said. “Kids mean everything to me because they often times can still be helped. They aren’t jaded and stagnate. They aren’t drowning in ‘isms.’ They can still see the truth and the light right there before you. Before the world messes them up.”

Nearing the end of the conversation, Norris asked Obama questions taken from Twitter earlier in the day. One question asked, “I was just wondering how she always seemed to find the perfect staffers?”

Obama jokingly replied the inquiry had been submitted by one of her own staffers, in talking about her staff, Obama called them family. She mentioned how their credentials and where they went to college were not what was looked for in the hiring process. What took precedence over resumes was the candidate’s treatment of others and the ability to “figure something out.”

“I don’t care what school you went to,” Obama said. “I really don’t care what your degree is because how you operate in the world really tells me who you are.”

Obama concluded the conversation by expressing hope that her autobiography “Becoming” would encourage more inward conversations of how one got to where he or she is today. Obama hopes that reflection will spark more conversations amongst people to better understand who other people are and who they are becoming.

“This also gave me a year to reflect on my life in a deep, deep way,” Obama said. “It’s like, ‘How did I get here?’”

For more information on Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” book tour, “An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama,” head to www.becomingmichelleobama.com.