Rosa Parks, I would argue, was limited to a particular sphere of influence (civil rights), whereas the president's wife may have his ear directly, every day of his entire career, in every field, from diplomacy to economic development to national infrastructure to military strategy to civil rights, theoretically.
And then your son is also the president? Talk about power.
How about Rachel Carson or Louisa May Alcott? Sorry if this is off topic, but I find it fascinating how American history is increasingly viewed through the lens of race relations.
> Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something.
And potentially this one since she is clearly a political figure:
> Please don't use Hacker News primarily for political or ideological battle...
Again I don't agree with that, just speculating at reasons why.