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Re-Cap of the book discussion of Michelle Obama's Becoming

On Saturday Jan. 19th the Urban Life Experience Book Discussion Series delved into Becoming by Michelle Obama.


Eighteen people ended up in attendance, all in various stages of still reading, finished, or still listening to the audio-book. This is our all-time high for attendance!

 Almost everyone at the table could relate to the topics Mrs. Obama wrote about such as having grandparents who were part of the Great Migration of Southern Blacks to the North, the abandonment of the inner cities, and of having parents and grandparents who ended up giving up on their dreams due to lack of educational opportunities and being shut out of trade unions. 

Mary F. shared how her parents migrated to New Haven from Georgetown SC to look for a better life. They, like Michelle Obama's family witnessed their neighborhood's decline. Mary shared how she went away to college then came back to her old neighborhood to teach, really noticing the deterioration after being away. 

Martha shared how she grew up in Prince Edward County, one of the five districts that were included in the Supreme Court ruling of Brown vs. Board of Education. When the Supreme Court ordered the schools to integrate, the Prince Edward School District decided to close the schools instead. No students, black or white, received education for five years. She said, "I didn't get my education until after I was married and had three children. I went to night school three nights a week at Hillhouse High School for five years. I didn't want a GED, I wanted that diploma! After that I went to South Central Community College and received my Associates" Degree and later to Albertus Magnus College, where I received my Bachelors' Degree."

Shelara mentioned that Becoming mirrors other books we discussed in this series, specifically books by Ta Nehisi Coates in which he states that we didn't get into these situations by happenstance; we were preyed upon. Coates talked about the decline of neighborhoods.Martha shared how she and her husband decided to stay in their neighborhood and become community activists rather than turning away and moving to the suburbs.

Mary F. expressed that the way Michelle Obama told her story shows that she's so authentic and this draws people to hear what she has to say. Judy added, "she's so gracious, there's a lack of bitterness."

William wondered if that lack of being able to express anger causes depression. To which Mary F. replied that Mrs. Obama has become an advocate for so many causes and that this advocacy creates a positive outlet, where there might have been anger or depression.

We were fortunate to have Alma Hall with us at this discussion. She hosts a television show on CPTV, which in her own words "is to get positive information out to our community." She also could relate to Michelle Obama's story describing how her parents and grandparents migrated North. She stated, "I can relate to all the things in the book: the migration from down South, the changes in our community, but also how during the Vietnam War, the soldiers would knock on our neighbors' doors delivering the bad news about their loved one. This created darkness in our community. We are shut down in so many different ways."

Mary P. who is from Lesotho, a small land-locked country in the southern part of Africa said she was bewildered by our discussion. She stated, "I'm so surprised to hear all this...there's so much I have to digest...the oppression has you so bound."

 Perhaps the comments the women made around the table led her to believe that we were all suffering without a way out, but Michelle Obama's life story is the proof that there is a way out. Mrs. Obama's parents and grandparents may have had to settle for less in life than they wanted to, but they pushed their children to excel. Michelle Obama studied hard throughout her school years, attended Princeton University, then Harvard Law School, then landed a position at a prestigious law firm in Chicago, all before even meeting her soon to be famous husband.










Our next book discussion will be held on Saturday Feb. 23, 2019 at 12 noon. We are reading any biography of or book written by Ida B. Wells. Below are a few choices, but feel free to choose any others. 











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