"Isn't it interesting that he never talks about (the momentousness of being the first black President)? But in my book I definitely found a lot of examples of the everday experience of being the first African American family in that position. For example, when Marian Robinson (Mrs. O's mom) turned down an interview with Oprah, she told aides she liked being anonymous and laughed that the other shoppers at Filene's Basement (up the street from the White House) thought she was just another person who worked in the mansion. Meaning, she said they thought she was a housekeeper! Her story may be the most quietly dramatic in the whole family..."

joshsternberg:

NYT reporter, Jodi Kantor, holds a Reddit IAMA about her new book about the Obamas.