BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
First Lady Michelle Obama, And The Meaning There In
November 11th, 2008
While we are all in awe of the history of a Black man having become president; I’ve found myself struck in the last few day by another reality that is a consequence of Obama’s election.
Michelle Obama, a Black woman, will be the first lady of the United States - the feminine face of the nation. In a culture where the Black feminine is underplayed, not regarded as ideal, who’s sexuality is relegated to beastly and exotic, and where missing black girls can get no media attention (I just spoke to the mother of one yesterday) while individual missing white girls can get years of attention; Michelle’s place is a possible watershed in turning the tide on how Black women are viewed.
Moreover, Michelle is a Black woman of more quintessentially associated Black features. I don’t see darker Black woman as more Black, nonetheless, it’s a reality that lighter Black women with more Eurocentric features are more excepted as beautiful in the greater culture, and unfortunately; often even in the Black community.
I think Michelle with her wide hips, brown skin, and facial features, means something being First Lady even more.
Sistah C wrote on similar notions in her post Michelle Obama: A Sistah In The House
The last couple of days - if not the last couple of months have been interesting…and I woke this morning with the thought that “Ummmm…a Sistah will be living in the white house…What does that mean?”…
What does it mean to have a Sistah in the white house? My friend Christa called on election night and said “Gurl, there are going to be five African women in the white house! Michelle, her mother, her two daughters and Oprah!” We laughed but then THAT IS A LOT OF SISTAH WOMB ENERGY IN ONE HOUSE! It has been said that a woman can change the feeling in a room using the power of her womb! I can’t say for sure what type of woman Michelle Obama is but I have read things she has written and listen to her speak and there is a part of me that senses she is present and watchful AND brothas know that when it comes down to it - this is the kind of Sistah your gonna want on your side. A Sistah who is down for you AND who is going to tell you the truth (the “real deal”) - one who is going to advise you.
Courtesy of Rueters
Maybe seeing Michelle in the white house will make more young Black girls want to be a lady rather than strive to be a “video ho”.
Also, in addition to the issue of physical features I mentioned above, I really believe that Michelle is one of us. She come from working class stock, and worked her way to the height’s of society. Her educational accomplishments model well the possibilities for Black children in this country starting from meager means.
Born on January 17, 1964, Michelle Robinson was raised in a one-bedroom apartment on Chicago’s South Shore.
Of note is that she shared a “bedroom” with her brother, but it wasn’t much of a bedroom. It was actually the living room with a divider down the middle. Michelle’s father died in 1990 two years before she married Barack, but her mother is still alive and living in the same one-bedroom apartment, protected by a burglar-proof wrought-iron door and secured windows.
After high school Michelle Robinson majored in sociology at Princeton University, graduating with cum laude honors in 1985. From there she attended Harvard where she earned her law degree in 1988, one year ahead of her husband-to-be, Barack, whom she hadn’t met yet but attended the same law school.
What do you think about my ideals on this?
posted in Cultural, Politics, Social Commentary | | | View blog reactions |
5 Responses to “First Lady Michelle Obama, And The Meaning There In”
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About The Blog
Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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Michelle is going to be a strong first lady. As an African American,who grew up in Chicago, Michelle will bring a broader understanding of America than the other first ladies. Let the haters underestimate Michelle, she is a fighter.
Michelle is good for Barack and will be good for America. They have a strong family. Her mother will live with them in the WH. Barack will do well because of these ladies.
Ya know Susan, I think she’s the first First Lady to come from the inner city, as well as the first to be Black. I think the former says as much as the latter.
Hillary was from Chicago too, uuuuh, but not exactly; form the suburbs of Chicago.
It is exceptionally significant for a women like Michelle Obama to have become the First Lady. The early campaign days when they tried to swiftboat Obama because of his spouse are very telling. “She angry.” “She’s unpatriotic.” These tactics were used because she is not the “preferred” image of a Black woman. (Read Lena Horne, Halle Berry, etc.) Michelle represents the “other Black woman” that America both reveres and fears.
She is the one who will not entertain you. She is the one competent enough to “steal” your God-given job. She is one people really worry about when they discuss affirmative action.
She is the revered no-nonsense lady who will tell it like it is. She is wise. She is the flip side of the woman Whites love and respect because someone like her was paid to raise them; was the only one they could rely upon; had a sense of her higher self and brought that sense to themselves. She carries all of that historic legacy.
I think the reason I always become weepy eyed when I see the first family is because it takes me to the Kennedy era. In spite of all of the compelling contrasts there are intersections between the two women. Where Jackie O represented the paragon of White femininity, Michelle O represents the paragon of Black femininity.
Jackie O was demure. Michelle is fierce. Jackie O was fashionable. Michelle has style. Jackie O provided support to her husband in matters related to the social networking, household and child-rearing. Michelle supports her husband by providing intellectual and critical feedback, managing the household, the children and her work. For Jackie O work was what she did for the family. For Michelle work is what she does to simultaneously fulfill her own sense of purpose and contribute to the financial goals of her family.
So, this has huge significance because it invtes the nation to examine to different standards of womanhood. We have known the value of ours for centuries. Perhaps, the time has come for White people to learn from us. (Or rather - not just hijack the entertaining things - but to embrace the deeply ingrained cultural values that the recent media and corporate interests have tried to erase.)
Very poignant observations Christina, especailly about the two standards, and the intersections between her and Jackie O.
I took note of the types of shots they were taking at her during the campaign and the real reasons behind it as well.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
holy cow!