Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama , born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, emerged from humble beginnings to become a prominent lawyer, writer, and the first African American First Lady of the United States. Her journey from the South Side of Chicago to the White House is a testament to her dedication, resilience, and commitment to public service. Early Life and Education Michelle was raised in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood by her parents, Fraser Robinson III and Marian Shields Robinson. Her father worked as a city pump operator, and her mother was a homemaker. The Robinsons emphasized the importance of education and hard work, values that Michelle and her older brother, Craig, embraced wholeheartedly. A bright student, Michelle skipped the second grade and attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago's first magnet high school, where she was involved in student government and the National Honor Society. After graduating as class salutatorian in 1981, sh...