Michelle Obama: The Public Intellectual
We all know Michelle Obama for being the First Lady of the United States. Maybe you know her for her infamous push for cleaner eating in public schools. But what else do we know about her? Not many people know of her vast and charitable work that she has done for multiple communities and social issues, and not everyone recognizes her great intelligence and class. I want to highlight a few of the important reasons that she is classified as a public intellectual, and the effect that she has had on America for more reasons than being married to President Obama.
Michelle Obama has done a lot of impactful and beneficial work when it comes to public schools. Most of her work has been related to the promotion of health, education, and the success of students who are often underprivileged. In 2010, Michelle started the Let’s Move! Initiative. This was a campaign to help prevent childhood obesity and improve the public school lunch standards. This is really impactful because a lot of young kids that go to public schools often do not have access to healthy and clean foods. Another impactful act that she supported was the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010. She publicly supported this act, which essentially helped many schools serve healthier meals to millions of students across America. This act also helped to provide funding for healthy meal programs and education in schools. One more of the many and important things that Michelle Obama campaigned for regarding public schools is her constant support for school counselors. She publicly talked about the importance and necessity of the role of school counselors in public institutions. She also spoke at the National School Counselor of the Year awards at the White House which recognized all of the school counselors and their importance.
Michelle Obama has been an overall positive influence for women and girls all over America She has not only done her work with education and public schools, but has also been an advocate for females in many different ways. In regards to education, she advocated for the “Let Girls Learn” initiative which helped women receive education not only in America but all over the world. She also promotes confidence and self-worth to young women. One of her most famous and impactful quotes was when she said “your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own”. This encourages young women to embrace themselves and be their own person. As a first lady, Michelle Obama always presented herself with grace and composed herself very well in public. She handled criticism from the public very well and always focused on positivity rather than negativity. Another one of her famous quotes that has inspired millions of young women is “when they go low, we go high”. Furthermore, Michelle Obama has constantly lived her life spreading kindness and positivity. She has been involved in various charities relating to supporting young women, military families, and she always gives back to the community.
Based on the characteristics that I highlighted in this blog it is clear that Michelle Obama exemplifies the role of public intellectual through things like her advocacy, leadership, and inspiring motivational speeches of change. With her initiatives and acts that she has constantly advocated for, she has been able to impact individuals to feel more confident and has been able to help young children in public schools receive better health and education. She has always been the type of woman to uplift others and push them to strive for excellence, become the best version of themselves, and has never been scared to speak on important public social issues. She continues to help change the public's view on issues and inspires meaningful change. She has made a lasting impact and change on the lives of many.
Sources:
https://www.obamalibrary.gov/obamas/first-lady-michelle-obama
This is a thoughtful and well-researched post that does a great job of shedding light on Michelle Obama’s contributions beyond her role as First Lady. I really appreciate how you highlight her initiatives in public education and health, especially the Let’s Move! campaign and her support for the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. These efforts clearly show her commitment to improving the lives of underprivileged students, and your explanation makes the impact easy to understand and appreciate. You also do a great job emphasizing her support for school counselors, which is often an overlooked but vital aspect of student success. I like how your post challenges the idea that Michelle Obama’s influence is only tied to her husband, and instead frames her as a public intellectual and advocate in her own right. Overall, your writing is engaging and informative, and it successfully elevates the conversation around her legacy and long-lasting impact on American communities.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great argument for Michelle Obama as a public intellectual. Your choice to highlight her specific work in education and young women clearly shows her dedication to making a positive difference. I like how you framed her work as her contributions as a well-educated and a leader, and not just her fulfilling her role as First Lady. By including her “Let Girls Learn” initiative, the post shows not only her impact on the United States but her global impact.
ReplyDelete