In support of #BlackHERstory Month, we’ll be posting about one current black feminist leader or organization each weekday in February. Tune in daily to learn more about black women’s history, feminism, and the reproductive justice movement!
It’s Presidents Day, but rather than paying homage to any of our 44 male presidents, we want to spotlight First Lady Michelle Obama.
First Lady Michelle Obama studied sociology and African-American studies at Princeton University, and went on to attend Harvard Law School where she graduated in 1988. After finishing school Mrs. Obama joined the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she would later meet her husband Barack.
After a short period at the law firm Mrs. Obama decided to follow her interest of working with communities in the planning and development sector of Chicago’s City Hall. She joined the University of Chicago in 1996 as Associate Dean of Student Services and created the university’s first community service program to promote volunteerism. As the current First Lady, Mrs. Obama has used her platform to launch several initiatives to educate and empower young people. Let’s Move! is Mrs. Obama’s campaign to integrate educators, parents, and medical professionals to address the issue of childhood obesity. In 2014 she launched the Reach Higher Initiative to empower young Americans to seek higher education by exposing high school students to career and college opportunities.
Mrs. Obama continues pursuing her passion of supporting military families, aiding children to lead healthy lives, and working with young people to increase their options through higher education.
