Instagram/@michelleobama
Michelle Obama is putting independent bookstores in the spotlight during this festive season. The former First Lady took a recent digital interaction as an opportunity not only to express gratitude to the bookstores that feature in her latest book, ‘The Look’, but also to highlight the nearby booksellers for the public.
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Michelle Obama acknowledged the independent bookstores for the thoughtful support in her emotional letter. By pointing out their different cultural backgrounds, she mentioned that they were the ones who made it easier for the communities to tell their stories. Obama’s words, which came along with the Small Business Saturday, were not only a great acknowledgment of the support that was given to her latest book but also an invitation to readers to do the same at their local bookstores. She wrote, ‘The support you gave to #TheLook in the last weeks has been incredibly important to me.’ She concluded her post by encouraging her audience to consider being customers of their local bookstores and to give them a shout-out!
The answer to the invitation was immediate. A barrage of comments emerged that showed a vibrant connection between readers and booksellers. A representative of a small women-owned business expressed her gratitude. ‘Thank you so much for supporting us and featuring our small women-owned business! The Look is definitely looking beautiful in our skylight room as seen in the first image,’ the post read, revealing the impact of Obama’s endorsement.
Many of the followers shared the stories of how they got the book. ‘Lucky to have watched you in the Talks with Tracee Ellis Ross and buy two of this fantastic book!’ someone commented, connecting the book to a bigger social event. Another one simply said, ‘Just got mine, thank you, Michelle. You are a beyond words inspiration!’ The feeling of being inspired was almost a universal reply with another person stating, ‘You are always the best michelle.’
The section for comments quickly turned into a list of favorite local bookstores. People were very eager to say which ones they liked the most, from the ‘@cindellesbooks’ bookstore in Plainfield, New Jersey, to ‘Underground Books in Oak Park (Sacramento), CA.’ One long post gave a ‘huge shout out today for these amazing, cozy, and friendly indie bookshops in Texas!!’ listing a bunch of them. This collective giving shows the kind of community-centric spirit that Obama was trying to create around her.
Some comments went beyond the book and its content to discuss Obama’s overall cultural influence. One daring statement said, ‘The best First Lady we’ve ever had,’ which received immediate agreement from a reply that confirmed the statement. The other, more futuristic comment, expressed a popular wish: ‘I hope you run for president #WhoRunTheWorldGirlsGirls.’
The aesthetic side of the book was also heavily emphasized. One person complimented the cover design saying, ‘THE PHOTOGRAPHER UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT WHEN THEY CAPTURED THE COVER OF YOUR BOOKS.’ This was supported by another user who posed a question to get more information who asked, ‘Please identify the beautiful blue dress on the cover- designer, period, textile- I can’t find any information about it-‘
The remarkable number of answers demonstrates that Michelle Obama is still a powerful influence in getting people to care about civic and cultural matters. By directing her platform towards independent booksellers she mixes the joy of reading with coming to the aid of small businesses economically. The widespread and positive participation of the audience is an indicator of the strong and deep tie that exists between her advocacy and the public.
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Michelle Obama’s partnership with independent bookstores coupled with the release of her new book has incited a countrywide conversation on the importance of community support and the benefits of local businesses. This discussion of her public role and influence often brings to mind the Barack Obama era. In a recent development, Grammy winner Pras Michel was sentenced for his involvement in a campaign finance scheme. Additionally, Michelle Obama and Kenan Thompson recently appeared together on a new podcast.
