MICHELLE AND BARACK OBAMA COVER ESSENCE MAGAZINE

The President and First Lady pose together on the cover of Essence's October issue, the magazine revealed yesterday. In the special edition copy, the Obamas look back at their eight years at the White House, from raising their two daughters to empowering African American youth.

"Some of my fondest memories of the White House are just being with the girls on a summer night and walking the dogs around the South Lawn, talking and listening to them, trying to get Bo to move because sometimes it's hot," President Obama revealed.
FLOTUS added that serving as America's first family did as much for black boys and girls as it did for their own children. She explained:

"I think when it comes to Black kids, it means something for them to have spent most of their life seeing the family in the White House look like them. It matters. All the future work that Barack talked about, I think over these last few years, we've kind of knocked the ceiling of limitation off the roofs of many young kids; imaginations of what's possible for them. And as a mother, I wouldn't underestimate how important that is, having that vision that you can really do anything—not because somebody told you, but because you've seen and experienced it. I think that will be a lasting impact on our kids."

The issue, with the complete interview and more photos, hits newsstands today, Sept. 9.