View Points
Why I Love Michelle Obama
The First Lady of the United States of America, thumb Michelle Obama, vialis 40mg could be President. It is not difficult to imagine, vialis 40mg given
her extensive qualifications and impeccable reputation as a citizen, public servant and patriot. As a role model, she most definitely exceeds the highest standards one could apply. The FLOTUS is an accomplished attorney in her own right, was an exemplary student graduating from two ivy league institutions at the top of her class, and has been, by all accounts, a wonderful mother, supportive and loving wife, while maintaining herself as an extraordinary humanitarian in the face of intense public scrutiny and pretty extreme partisan political character bashing. Michelle Obama has preserved her personal integrity, firm moral and ethical convictions while serving as our nation’s First Lady with an incredible sense of grace, style and balance.
For the past six years, Michelle Obama has generously shared herself with an American public whose preconceptions and misinterpretations of her have, at times, been painfully reminiscent of an historic legacy steeped in the perception of Black women within a certain set of social constructs. Here are three of the aforementioned “types.” The angry black woman, emasculating and sharped tongued, has been most commonly attributed to our First Lady. This construct attempts to challenge her intellectual prowess and ability to fully embrace her blackness without shame or fear. Often perceived as being “uppity” by those for whom the self-determination espoused by Michelle Obama’s very presence creates an on-the-spot deconstruction of the “myth of white supremacy.” Her formidable intellect intimidates those challenged by it, particularly when she stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the leader of the free world, her husband, the President of the United States.
The Mammy is another construct in which Michelle Obama is framed. Not only is the character of the Mammy constructed as the “Help”, she is also drawn with exaggerated stereotypical features such as large lips, wide hips, big breasts and very dark skin as a complete contrast to the “traditional” white and delicate more “wifely” mistresses of White Houses of the past. In Civil War times, The White House was often referred to as the largest plantation house in Washington. Although other first ladies may have been mischaracterized for the optics they presented in public, Michelle Obama has been scrutinized and objectified in ways that can only be attributed to a racialized narrative. And yet, Michelle Obama’s ability to define high fashion and current contemporary trends in style, boldly contradicts the legacy of the Mammy that some would want to attribute to her.
Lastly, the highly sexualized racial construct of the Jezebel or Sapphire interjects itself into the discourse, and descriptions that have been publically attributed to Black women have also found their way into media discussions of Michelle Obama. Like no other First Lady before her, her body parts have been publically discussed on network television and social media outlets. She has been jokingly referred to as “Obama’s Baby Mamma” on network news and, still, this phenomenal woman has maintained with dignity and grace, the utmost integrity and humility of spirit.
In the face of a nation that espouses liberty, freedom and justice for ALL, having Black people in The White House as our First Family has proven to be a difficult challenge for many. Michelle Obama, that is why I love you, because in the face of all that you have been confronted by, you have been the woman for the job! Bravo!
Up Next Week: We’re the Cops of the World?
1 comment
An excellent article. I verbalize – almost word for word – this viewpoint every chance I get. She is one of the greats amongst First Lady’s. Thank you for putting it out there.
Comments are closed.