As her role evolves from first mom to first gardener and now President Obama’s chief campaign surrogate, first lady Michelle Obama is also turning to encouraging a class of Americans she has a special connection to–young African-American girls.
More than others because of her own modest background and current job as role model, Obama is eager to encourage young black girls, especially the underprivileged, to better themselves and their home and schooling situation just as she did.
“There’s no question that she feels a responsibility,” said an Obama friend.
Her role came up at a recent National Archives conference where aides to first ladies talked about their bosses. Mrs. Obama’s friend and former chief of staff, Susan Sher, said that when Obama addresses young black audiences, she tries to send a message of encouragement.
“When she sees girls who come from the inner city and are not privileged, she fees it is so important to say to them, you know, ‘I just didn’t start thinking I was going to be the first lady. I come from a situation not that different from yours. Yes, I was fortunate that I had two loving parents, but I have to say it was their love and a lot of hard work, and I want you all to know that you can do it too,’” said Sher at the Archives conference. The Archives provided Washington Secrets with a video of the event.
Sher added that Obama, who regularly hosts school children at the White House for events like planting the vegetable garden, “feels a special responsibility, not just to African-American girls, but young people who don’t have privileged backgrounds, to understand what they can achieve.”
