Michelle Obama's Legacy

Heralded by some as the “forever first lady,” Michelle Obama represents myriad things for Americans in the era of Donald Trump. For some, she is the epitome of grace, elegance, and courage. For others, Michelle Obama is an angry black woman who hates America. How can one woman embody different reactions from Americans? One simple response would be the intense partisan nature of contemporary politics. However, a deeper analysis would reveal that an intersectional approach is necessary to understand how Michelle Obama is perceived by Americans as well as how she sees herself. Her legacy is complicated, and therefore it requires political scientists to untangle the messy roles of race, class, gender, motherhood, presidential politics, public opinion, and (black) feminism in their analysis of Michelle Obama. This special issue of Politics & Gender undertakes such an analysis. Within these pages, authors pay particular attention to the intersectional intricacies that have marked Michelle Obama's years in the White House and beyond. To set the stage for this issue, this introduction provides some context to Michelle Obama and why she is a worthwhile subject for political analysis and discussion.