The former "First Lady" was Monday in London to present her book "Becoming" ("Becoming" in its French version) to a largely female audience, but also to address topics that are particularly dear to her heart, such as the education of girls.
Love, marriage, girls' education and advice to young black women: former "First Lady" Michelle Obama answered Monday questions to Nigerian feminist writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie presenting her memoirs in London sold out in front of an audience conquered in advance.
His childhood and education in a modest suburb of Chicago? "We had to excel . " His life at the White House? "Only part of what defines me" . The death of his father: "there is still a void in me" . Michelle Robinson Obama, 54, responded frankly to the sometimes very personal questions of the Nigerian writer, but did not directly address politics.
"Let's talk about the beautiful party"
It was rather for the former First Lady, as in her book "Becoming" ( "To become" in its French version), to transmit a lesson of life by insisting on the importance of the education of the girls, theme which is particularly important to him.
The evening took place in the packed Southbank Theater, where London Mayor Sadiq Khan rubbed shoulders with young black women in sparkling dresses, with a largely female audience.
"Let's talk about the beautiful party," Chimamanda said of Barack, the former US president, whose name has been roused by shouts of enthusiasm in the audience. "He does not play games, guys, it's a very attractive quality , " replied Michelle, causing laughter and enthusiastic applause.
"Demonized"
Chimamanda then asked Michelle what her message was to young black women. The "First Lady" recalled the harsh attacks that she was subjected to during the election campaign: "What happens to black women is that you become a caricature (...) you are demonized: angry , too noisy, too much ... So get that out of your head. And you say: I am good as I am .
She laughed often, humorously assuring that she had supported her husband during her first campaign because she thought he would not win. Or by mentioning her relationship problems and the use of a marriage counselor because "sometimes you want to swing it out the window" .
But the tone was more serious to say she would continue to "work on girls' education the rest of [her] life" .
Michelle Obama had started the day by visiting a school in North London, where she came as First Lady in 2009.
In 2009, after just over two months in the White House, I was blown away by a visit to @EGA_School in London. It was a day that shaped who I became as First Lady. Today, I returned to catch up with the girls from EGA and @MulberryTH, and came away just as hopeful. #IAmBecoming pic.twitter.com/TTRgPGTY6x
- Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) December 3, 2018Translated into 31 languages
She will have made a direct reference to politics - "the bitterness and wickedness you see in politics" - without mentioning the name of President Donald Trump.
In her book, however, she tackles her mystery, astonished that the women were able to vote for him and explained that she would never "forgive" the controversy over her husband's birthplace.
According to its publisher Penguin Random House (PRH), "Becoming" has already sold more than two million copies in the United States and Canada in just two weeks. Already translated into 31 languages, it leads the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and France, according to PRH.
The author, after touring the United States, had to postpone the other two stages of her European tour, Paris and Berlin, to attend the funeral of former President George HW Bush, who died on Friday.