What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates”s profile?

In this piece, Coate offers a unique perspective on Michelle Obama by providing her background, along with context on her view towards America’s racial stance.

Is there an overarching narrative?

Although the main purpose of the article is to explain Michelle Obama’s dynamic cultural views, it does so by introducing a larger historical context of black cultural views, and it’s dynamic nature as racial integration proceeds.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

As Coates puts it, “In all my years of watching black public figures,
I’d never heard one recall such an idyllic youth”. Essentially, what surprised
him was the unconventional perspective Obama displayed; relatably offering
the perspective of an average American.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Coates relates Michelle Obama’s experience to his own childhood by discussing the perspectives they had with relation to “black” as a culture. While Coates experienced his own culture explicitly in comparison to his white peers due to the racial integration in Baltimore, Michelle Obama was surrounded by a uni-racial neighborhood, and only knew of America’s multicultural nature as a concept.