Becoming

Barack and Michelle get married in Chicago, surrounded by people from their different but equally loving families and friends. Surrounded by so many people she loves, Michelle feels the gravity of the commitment they’re making, but she also knows she’s making the right choice: “I had faith in this union, faith in this man” (165). Michelle and Barack honeymoon in Northern California, needing the break after a busy year. Barack puts off writing a book he is under contract to finish to join Project VOTE!, a campaign trying to get unregistered black voters to vote in the upcoming election. Barack feels passionately about the project and throws himself into the work, resulting in over a hundred thousand new voters in Chicago.

Michelle has also been working at city hall and learning about the “elaborate and unending” issues in government (167). Michelle feels inspired by her supervisor, Valerie, and another mentor, Susan Sher, both of whom are single mothers who prioritize both work and family and make sure their voices are heard. Because Barack gets distracted by Project VOTE!, he misses his writing deadline, which results in his book contract being canceled and him owing the publisher $40,000. Because Barack doesn’t panic about it, Michelle also doesn’t panic, knowing by now that he has a way of thriving off anarchy: “Chaos agitated me, but it seemed to invigorate Barack” (169).