What Michelle Can Teach Us

Besides being a flaming racist, yeah, she's great. Funny--I don't recall Claire Huxtable whining about the world is so unfair like Mrs. Chosen One.

As a white woman with irish grandparents, i want to say something about the concept of race first of all:
Our phenotypes (body types and skin color) reflect our ancestry and the way the evolutionary process
shaped our bodies over time.

The process of evolution shaped our body to adapt to wherever humans lived on the planet. A longer body stays cooler. A short, stocky body will stay warmer. Needing more Vitamin D (sunlight) favors a northern, white skin. Needing less Vitamin D favors a darker skin. This is not a static process, but an evolving process.

Cultural meaning is superficially placed on top of that.
The concept of 'race' has no substance apart from what is culturally constructed.

This aside, Michelle Obama is totally stunning on every level i can think of and am so glad she is to be our First Lady.

I liked the article and I look forward to seeing how Mrs. Obama will make the role of First Lady uniquely her own. While she is closer to an average Black woman that Halle Barry, Oprah or Beyonce, she is still extraoridnary in a couple of other ways-she has a Harvard and Princeton education and she pulled down over $200K as a lawyer. Honestly, I don't know anyone like that. Too bad she wasn't a teacher or nurse, good professions but much more work-a-day average. But both of the Obama's have the most "average" backgrounds to occupy the White House in any number of years.

Before the election I was in an airport when Michelle Obama walked through. She's tall, especially in three inch heels, and looks like a model. The confidence, grace, strength, and good energy coming off that woman stunned people as she passed them. She was almost floating by. Some people who were I'd say frightened of her glowing personality reacted by leaning away. Men in particular. I suspect from some of the comments here that those types of people are here, but I'm happy to read other more positive comments. She's a positive and glowing example of how many of my black women friends are and have always been. She's educated, so nay sayers call her elitist. She's intelligent so they call her feisty or warn her not to use it so people can feel safer around her. She's got her own opinions so for some reason that translates to being racist or angry. She's a black woman and for some reason people still hold on to the fact that she's dangerous in some way. Fact is, she's an amazing, wife, professional, mother and will be an excellent first lady. Everybody better get ready to learn some things and watch how the rest of the world reacts positively to us for the first time in eight years.

I find it sad to think that anyone would criticize her for how she styles her daughters' hair, although I know it will come. I was a horrible mother for allowing my son to dye his hair blue! In this time in history, we all, every race, need to learn how to live and work with everone else, without the focus being on race. I have known and dealt with those who hate me because I'm white, and there have been racially motivated crimes commited against every race I can think of. When do we become people, as opposed to races?

Who really cares, I thought all this was to go away, but if color continues to come up (especially black) what has been accomplished. MLK said a person should not be Judged by his or her skin color, then maybe the other side of the coin is also worthy of remembering or practicing. Stop repeating the same mistakes. Do we want it to go away, should it go away? Then practice what has been preached by your own revered , quit trying to become superior or have a double standard and punish those white folk's until you have gotten your revenge. Just look at how many organizations are for black only, schools for black only, and many others have come into being out of revenge. I believe GOD said , "Vengeance is Mine". Let stop this on going hate tit for tot ! Grow up , get a life .

Wow - the ignorance of some of these posters like Pudbert and Rocky 2001. What proof do you have that she is an angry racist black woman other than her skin is dark? Or that all she can teach you is how to make Kool-aid?

Americans still have a lot to overcome.

A beautiful and intelligent black woman steps into prominence, and all they (and others like them) can see are caricatures and stereotypes - how sad!

She taught me that an angry racist black woman can get away with the black double standard of racism.

I already know how to make Kool-Aid...so I'm good. Thanks anyway.

reading this article, i feel deeply bothered that anyone whould feel this way. when i read that town and country actually printed that for mrs. obama to take as advice. its ridiclous, does the writer think that mrs. obama needs her advice on how to behave if she got to the white house. it really gets under my skin when all people can see is a color as aposed to who the person is. i am 29 and white, i grew up in a very white community. i was raised not to be racist by my mother, but my father told me never to bring a black man home. my father and stepmother believe that the world will come to an end with a black family in the white house. i feel quite the opposite. race never had anything to do with this election for me. it reminds me how different everyone sees things, or people. i am glad that you see a role model for the world in michelle obama. people young and old have problems with understanding the differences between us all. i for one have no problems with difference. i am sorry that still in 2008, it needs to be addressed and discussed. i also wanted to say i did enjoy this article and its great to see in newsweek. these things need to be out and brought to the forefront of discussions. i dont want my 2 year old son to ever think the way some do, and will do all i can to encourage him to be open to all races and opinions. anything is possible by anyone.

Thank you Allison Samuels, I don't understand why the media refuses to admit that there are many many African American women in this county who are sucessful and not walking in shame. I grew up in the rural in the south and in my hometown education, education was the big thing. After high school most of us went to some type of school/college. Where I live in the south now, (not Atlanta), we have a high number of educated African American women and men. We have a large number of African Americans who are married, loving their children, and taking care of their families. It is sad, in that if they don't showcase women like the ones depicted in CNN's special, then they will showcase only one whose accomplishments seem to be unreachable, such as Condoleezza Rice, nothing wrong with her. ( I mean on the one hand, they will depict an Afr. Am. women who seems to be on the far end of the success spectum, not an ordinary person who is successful in regular day to day life and there are many). There seems to be a spirit that wants to leave our women without hope and without dreams. There is a spirit out there that wants to continue to spread and to feed the pervailing stereotypes about African American women and men. America needs to see and know that African Americans don't have to be entertainers, rappers or politians to be success. I am a living witness that it is true and that your hopes and your dreams can come true.
But, to the contrary, there are many many African American women who are middle class women who may be married housewives, or trained in a profession, or college educated, and successful at it.

Ann

I am curious why Condoleezza Rice doesn't get more credit as a strong role model for young black girls? Is it because she's a Republican? Unmarried? Maybe her role doesn't get a lot of attention domestically, but I believe leaders the world over have a very posivite opinion of the potential of black women from her example.

Job well done Allison. I too see that this will be a challenge for white journalists to cover a woman like Michelle I was listening to "Broadminded" on XM radio this week. Kyra Phillips from CNN was on and was talking about the similarities of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Michelle Obama. A comparison that is well-received. However, The Broads or perhaps it was Kyra, made a lame joke saying "We had Jackie-0, now I guess we have Blackie-O" Wow. I don't think it was racist. It was a lame attempt at a joke. Not realizing how many Black women would take offense to be calling Blackie. - BW - http://www.trailblazer-firstlady.blogspot.com/

Both of my early-teen sons are white. If it's okay with you haters, I would like Michelle to be their role model too.

Which Jerry Springer have you been watching? From what I reacall, Jerry Springer had toothless trash people whom barely have any clothe on. Hmm. I am Asian and whenever I see Michelle Obama, I am stunned by her beauty and grace. She's somebody whom I definitely picture as First Lady. Inspirational, intelligent, well spoken, achieved, fair, kind hearted and confident. I voted for Barak but Michelle is the one who really helped her husband to earn my vote.