Comments on: Will the real Michelle Obama Please Stand Up?: Random thoughts about the weird line high-profile black women have to walk to achieve success

By: Michelle DeCola

Michelle DeCola — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:52:46 +0000

Thank you for starting this dialogue (even though I’ve come in late). Women who are strong, assertive and self-confident have notoriously been criticized by others who are threatened by their strength. How is hostility and bitterness synonomous with assertiveness?

Now, she is being knocked for her choice in clothes? Why does she need to cover up? Is there something shameful about showing her arms or legs? A first lady shouldn’t wear sleeveless dresses?

Yikes.

By: Althea Marscene

Althea Marscene — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:26:45 +0000

Her image on the show was not impressive to me at all. Speaking form the stand point of working in front of the camera as a talent myself.

By: Tracey English

Tracey English — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:54:44 +0000

When I saw Michelle Obama showing her stockingless thighs (gams, I might add) in a too short dress on the front page of the Sun-Times this morning, I wondered who’s handling who. Obviously, she doesn’t have the appropriate handlers with the wisdom, class and guts to say to Mrs. Obama, “Less is more. And, “Cover up! and act like the first lady you’re meant to be!” Shoot me for sounding prudish, but my heart sank this morning since I don’t think it was becoming of the first lady-to-be. I’m tired of seeing her sleeveless though fit arms, low-cut dresses, back-outs and tight dresses showing her butt print as she did center stage during the primary in that red tweed outfit. The media is comparing her to Jackie 0, the epitome of style of grace. That’s the image I hope Michelle achieves or a similar version. She has all the characteristics to become one of the most influential and stylish first ladies of our time. I think the public wants to like Michelle, but there’s this disconnect between the “I’m going be me and keep it real” Michelle and this off-target PR handling of her. That said, I’m certainly not knocking her brains. I’d like to hear her speak more on the issues and realities of high-profile professional women, striking peace and balance.

By: Stephanie Chandler

Stephanie Chandler — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:51:33 +0000

This is an interesting post, to say the least! I think it comes down to a woman issue, regardless of race, age, status or position. Hillary received an incredible amount of negative press. Generally speaking, I think Michelle Obama is well-liked. I like her and would love to have coffee with her! She comes across as genuine and real and I hope she keeps it that way. This is an exciting, historical election and I look forward to casting my vote.

I also try not to spend too much time or energy worrying about public perception. I am a Silicon Valley refugee. I played in the boys club on a daily basis and though I have many stories to tell, I held my own and it only made me stronger. I think the message for all of us is to live an authentic life, respect each other, and support each other.

By: Anonymous12

Anonymous12 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:38:51 +0000

I don’t think it has anything to do with her being a Black woman. She is a hostile, bitter personality that happens to be in a body with African-American genetics and a female form. Michelle Obama’s personality is the problem. It would be a problem if she were the candidate and her husband the spouse.

By: Jaki White

Jaki White — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:06:21 +0000

I watched the entire show to see if Michelle would be given the same opportunities as did Cindy McCain, and she was. She was a ‘co-host’ and she was splendid, honest, forthright, articulate and displayed herself as a woman of power and elegance. Whatever people think of her, they cannot deny who she really is. They can state in their myopic stutterings how afraid of her they really are. She did not appear to soften her image if that was what anyone was looking for; she was just Michelle Obama – wife, mother, intelligent, well-educated and able to hold her own woman. Barak and Michelle are well matched and that is by GOD’s design as is this campaign.

By: Sheila Brown

Sheila Brown — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:16:10 +0000

I think showing Michelle Obama’s “softer side” was to appeal to the white male voters. Women, of all races, are looking for strong women as a role model. We applaud Michelle for being a strong women and realize that a large part of who Barak is, is because of who she is.

I think her words “I am proud of my country for the first time” has been completely blown out of porportion by the media. Are we surprised? Look at any reality TV show and if there is a black women on there she is portrayed as hard to get along with and not a team player. Our image is under attack. Thanks for bring up this topic and bringing awareness to an important issue.

By: CCuller

CCuller — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:34:19 +0000

As always, with everything in this country, different people are held to different standards. It is not a secret that in every aspect (sports, politics, academia, etc) people of color have to go above and beyond to be considered effective. In so doing, a woman particularly, is viewed as being “bull- doggish” (used to avoid the other “b” word). Michelle Obama is no different then any other first lady; she is a person with her views and opinions. Prayerfully and most likely, those things she believes in will overall benefit ALL Americans and possibly have widespread global effects as well. Can we just move on. What I’m more concerned about is who is Obama going to choose as his running mate.

By: Arlene

Arlene — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:54:52 +0000

Loved your comments Mo. It’s a shame that in America everything is reduced to “sound byte” journalism. We will miss the thought provoking, well researched kind of questioning that Tim Russert used to do. Stations like Fox with their ignorant and mostly racist viewers love to pick up a word or two, sentence or two and misuse it as they did with the Michelle Obama quote about being really proud of America for the first time in her adult life. We knew what she meant. I think the appearance on the View with its large audience will help the uninformed public get to know Michelle. Fox has tried to ghettoize her and the family to make them appear scary to many whites. One minute they ghettoize and the next they call the Obama’s elitists, opposite ends of the spectrum. On The view they can at least see she is a beautiful, intelligent human being, neither ghetto nor elitist. She looked like a first lady which is what other folks needed to see. We know who were are but other America doesn’t really. We know how we fell but the other America is afraid and unready to hear it. It is interesting that McCain has that “straight talk” bus when most Americans can’t handle and don’t want to hear straight talk. ..Just as Michelle Obama, Rev. Wright and Father Flagher.

By: dowl

dowl — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:10:36 +0000

Hey Mo,

Because I don’t personally know Michelle Obama, what I seem to feel that I know from the View’s ’softer side’ episode is that Michelle is perfectly poised to be the first lady of this country. We can be as strong as we need to be IF and WHEN we are willing to collectively bear the brunt of of even marginally powerful men (black, white, indifferent) and still rise.

Double-consciousness in this culture has its advantages when used to address issues that would otherwise remain outside the media radar. Michelle Obama potentially has the power to do the work that she has been called to do for this nation.