In The Light We Carry, Obama develops a theme on differentness and belonging. Through anecdotes from her own life, as well as those of her friends, family, and public figures, she demonstrates how feeling different from others can exact an ongoing mental toll on people and offers advice on how to cope with this difficult challenge. Harnessing American society’s burgeoning discourse on inclusivity, Obama wrestles with the myriad reasons that people may feel excluded, unseen, or different. She acknowledges that everyone may experience differentness from time to time, but for some people it’s a constant challenge:

But for those of us who are perceived as different—whether due to our race, ethnicity, body size, gender, queerness, disability, neurodivergence, or in any number of other ways, in any number of combinations—these feelings don’t just come and go, they can be acute and unrelenting (89).

Obama often refers to this pain throughout her work as she builds her theme. Her analysis engages and resonates with those who can identify with the pain of “differentness” and provides insight and an empathetic lens for those who haven’t had such an experience. Obama shares her personal anecdotes about feeling “different,” pointing to her father’s chronic illness and disability.