I've had an issue with this for years and I'm now taking the time to address it to my public.
Since Barack Obama became President of the United States back in 2008, many prominent black women have put his wife & first lady, Michelle Obama on a pedestal. Some black women praise her so much I get the idea that they think Black women weren't of any importance until she came along.
Yes, she is the first-first lady of color and has accomplished a lot in her life. However, what really is the big deal about her? Where was all this love when Condaleeza Rice was around? hmmm. It's a bit ridiculous to me that there are grown middle aged women who are in awe of Michelle Obama like she is a rare species; as if Black women weren't beautiful and successful before her.
If she wasn't the first lady would we really even care about her? I don't want to take away from her personal achievements because the issue is not her, it is our own people who look down at our race.
When you look in the mirror do you not see a beautiful, respectful woman? If so, there is no reason to idolize another human being who puts her pants suit on one leg at a time like the rest of us.
What has her actions done for the country, for our community that will have a lasting impact? Besides her recent attempt to eliminate childhood obesity in the country, I'm not exactly sure why she is the example and the epitome of a successful black woman.
Maybe it's the generation I was born into or maybe it was how I was raised but growing up I had many wonderful examples of classy, successful Black women.
When it comes to uplifting our community and our culture I feel that sometimes it is our own people who fail to see the beauty in it. I think women of color who put Michelle Obama on such a high level are ones who cannot see the beauty within themselves as a [black] woman; their worth is put into a woman they don't even know.
My parents raised me to understand that I can accomplish anything I set my heart on so having a Black President and first lady of color is something that I thought was the norm. We are a creative, intelligent people who are capable of any and everything. If you lack the understanding of the richness and intelligence that is the Black woman google: Sojourner Truth, Madame C.J. Walker, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Mae C. Jemison, Condaleeza Rice, and look at YOURSELF and realize what you represent and what you are about.
5 comments:
SMH... I sense a little jealousy in this post... probably because you're a self-proclaimed conservative & Republican & you don't like to see black community (or anyone) praise the Obama's because they're Democracts. Which is why you mentioned Condaleeza Rice right off the bat but failed to mention the most culturally prominent & successful black women of our time, Oprah Winfrey, you know the first Black female billionaire? Winfrey has been praised for decades, long before Michelle rose to prominence, and therefore it's grossly inaccurate for you to say that everyone is acting like "Black women weren't beautiful and successful before (Michelle)".. That just makes you sound jealous (which you probably are).. Especially when you yourself ignore the most prominent example of black female business & philanthropical success in recent history..
AND why did you fail Oprah Winfrey, because she's not a conservative & she supports the Obama's and Democratic supporter. Something you also can't stand..
You have the nerve to say.... "I think women of color who put Michelle Obama on such a high level are ones who cannot see the beauty within themselves as a [black] woman" WOW.. REALLY.. SMH.. So people aren't allowed to admire one another anymore? Or are they just not allowed to admire Michelle? SMH.. That ridiculous comment just exemplifies your jealousy.. It's as if I said you don't see beauty in yourself because you have a female role model.. DUMB..
LASTLY you asked.. "What has (Michelle's) actions done for the country, for our community that will have a lasting impact?" Well allow me to answer...
You don't have to be extraordinary to be considered successful or to do things for the community.. Michelle has law degree.. and was lawyer, such an accomplishment in & of itself is generally good enough to have one considered successful.. but I guess you're holding this sister to a higher standard...
SO... know that she's also worked in chicago for a non-profit organization that encourage young people to work on social issues... & set fund raising records for that non-profit organization..
AND... She helped develop the Community Service Center at University of Chicago which emphasizes community participate & outreach in Chicago.. (keyword there is COMMUNITY service center, since that word was in your question) you can browse the CSC's wesbite for yourself http://ucsc.uchicago.edu/about/our-unique-history/
AND... she continues to promote public service, volunteerism, & community involvement.. (have you volunteered lately?)
She also host events & supports military families
and... nutrition... and the arts education..
So just because YOU don't know doesn't mean she hasn't been doing things for our community.
Jealous..of what ? It's an opinion. I never said Michelle Obama was the issue, but you didnt read that huh? You seem to "know" my politics ..you are attacking my politics on something that has nothing to do with that.Lol
Start my own blog, nah I'd rather comment on yours.. I mean thats why you have a blog right? for people to read your post & comment... that's how blogs kinda work.. So you voiced your opinion & I voiced mine.. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean I can't comment on it when you're the one who has made it public.. Or maybe you feel it's okay for you criticize others but it's not okay for others to criticize you or your critique of others... smh.. that would be hypocritical..
So you said that Oprah Winfrey is "not someone (you) personally look up to" & why is that? don't you aspire to be in media & have your own show too (although in a difference genre)? so why don't you look up to the most successful black female media example? The answer probably has to do with the that she politically active in the party you don't support.. Your politics clearly shape & mold your world view and your opinions of others.. you can deny it all you want.. but it's pretty clear when one analyzes who you choose to criticize (Michelle) & who you choose to elevate (Condaleeza)...
Most importantly... you're right Michelle was not the issue.. I simply wondered & hypothesized about why you choose to critique her specifically & not other prominent black women.. or women in general who choose to look up to less dignified public figures..
BUT as mentioned in my original comment, your post primarily tried to insinuates that just because people (primarily black women) choose to look up to Michelle.. that it somehow means they have a personal image problem.. to quote you AGAIN you said "I think women of color who put Michelle Obama on such a high level are ones who cannot see the beauty within themselves as a [black] woman." That's like saying anyone who idolizes someone else does so at their own deficit because they don't feel good about themselves..
Or like if someone said they think you a put Condaleeza Rice (someone you don't really know) on such a high level because you can't see the beauty within yourself as a [black] woman.
HOW RIDICULOUS DOES THAT SOUND..?
Are people not allowed to have role models they don't know? If that's the case we should scrap the whole history book because none of us will know those dead people that the book exemplifies... complete nonsense...
Just because someone looks up to a person they don't know doesn't mean they have a self image problem... So your assertion is unfounded, uninformed & ignorant..
So I'm left to wonder.. why did you choose to make this ridiculous assertion as it pertains to Michelle only.. and not as it pertains to any other black woman people idolize but don't know? my hypothesis is again that... it's formed by your personal politics..
That's secondary tho... The MAIN POINT is that the notion that people who look up to someone they don't is because they have personal image problem is ABSURD!!! So was the quote I inserted above!
The only reason I mentioned Condaleeza Rice is to insinuate that people didnt go overboard with her like they do Michelle Obama because of HER politics. To be honest I dont find Condaleeza Rice very attractive..she's an intelligent woman but as far as an all around role model, beautiful she is not the best candidate. But let me ask you, you want to hop on me for my politics but do you bash Bush and his wife because of yours? Dont be so quick with the double standard. The Obamas are not off limits to criticism because they are black nor do they deserve more praise because of so. It seems like you were quick to attack ME because of my politics (which you THINK you know) so arent you doing the same thing that you say I'm doing? Does that make you JEALOUS or is it simply an opinion? The media acts as if Michele Obama was the first and only pretty black woman and she's not all that. She's not.esp compared to women around her own age (Angela Basset, Stacey Dash, etc.)
now, I didnt mention Oprah because I did not care to? I dont see the big deal. Yes I want to be in the media, however, why do you care so much if she's not someone I look up to? and It has NOTHING to do with her politics. I never watched the Oprah show. Honestly, I did not like how she catered to everyone but black women on her show. Audience, white, guests, white. Yes I know she of COURSE had black guests but I feel with all the crap black actors, entertainers, etc have to do with in Hollywood she could do more to bring light to them. She does a lot of work in Africa, I give her credit for that..but all around I do not admire her. I don't admire too many women in the media to be honest. I dont want to be the next anyone but the first ERIN GIDDENS.
I would have appreciated your second post as it made more sense than to attack me personally when my politics had NOTHING to do with it. If you "know" my politics then you must follow me on Twitter and/or a friend on FB. So for someone to know me or at least my name and would attack me personally shows a bit of a coward. Dont be so quick to label someone "jealous" or name call but hide behind Anonymous,especially if you know me. However, thanks for your comment. I respect all opinions that are formed behind intelligent thought not just name calling or anger.
It may be your opinion but the conclusions you draw should still be based in some type of FACTUAL ARGUMENT.. Nowhere in your post do you give one legitimate reason why Michelle doesn't deserve the attention & admiration she is getting..
Instead you attack her by asking a bunch of speculative questions that imply that Michelle is undeserving of the admiration & attention she is getting.. Questions like... "What really is the big deal about her?" and.. "If she wasn't the first lady would we really even care about her?" that just makes you sound like a HATER! It's like asking if kobe weren't an NBA players would we really even care about him? ahh NO we probably wouldn't know who he was.. But guess what, he is in the NBA & she is the first the lady... So ultimately you come off sounding bitter, jealous, resentful that she is the first lady and, as such, she gets more attention than those you admire..
Then you tried to diminish her many contributions by asking this question.. "What has her actions done for the country, for our community that will have a lasting impact?" Which is why I spent the last paragraph of my first post, inserting facts not opinion, that answer that question..
Nowhere in your post do you make any attempt to provide the readers with any REAL reasoning why Michelle shouldn't or doesn't deserve to be admired.. you only try to suggest it by attempting to diminish the work she has done in our community..
So as a reader I'm left wondering... why shouldn't people (black women) look up to Michelle? Why doesn't she deserve the admiration & attention she is getting?
You're post should have at least included one factual reason why.. but it doesn't.. & from what you've shown so far you can't even provide the reader with one serious fault that Michelle has that shows she doesn't deserve their admiration..
So maybe you should work on your opinion writing skills by basing it in at least a little bit of fact so that the reader can see why you have that opinion.. that would definitely be to your journalistic benefit.. otherwise, without legitimate facts & reasoning, your critiques come off sounding petty, resentful, & jealous like..
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