The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times

Obama reflects on the aspirational media coverage of wealthy, successful women who seem to perfectly balance their personal and professional lives. She claims that all successful people have to rely on help from others, and she credits many assistants for helping her thrive as First Lady. Obama recalls how her assistant Chynna became especially important to her as her chief of staff and her friend. She recalls how Chynna revealed to her that her father had been incarcerated, which made her nervous and ashamed. Obama reassured Chynna that she shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about her family’s past, and Obama admired the “resilience” and “independence” that Chynna developed through her experiences (222). Relieved, Chynna felt that her conversation with Obama helped her overcome her sense of imposter syndrome in her workplace. She became more willing to open up to others, no longer feeling that she had to hide things about her childhood. Later, when Chynna shared her story on Obama’s podcast, she received many positive and supportive messages from listeners who identified with her experience. Obama uses this story to argue that what may be perceived as a weakness can actually reveal someone’s strength (227).

Obama transitions to describing the events of January 6, 2021, when a mob of rioters broke into the Senate to protest the 2020 election results.