The Other Obama

Michelle Obama is someone readers want to know more about. She is a role model for African-American women, but one letter writer called focusing on race "a great disservice." Another underscored how she bridges demographics, adding, "The modern American woman—race notwithstanding—has arrived."

America 's New First Lady
Thanks to Allison Samuels for her insightful article on Michelle Obama and her role-model status for African-American women ("What Michelle Means to Us," Dec. 1). I am a white, 40-something woman, and Michelle Obama is a role model for my demographic as well. I, too, came from a working-class family in a diverse neighborhood and put myself through college. I've spent years in corporate boardrooms, and I've gotten into trouble now and then for speaking my mind. I, too, put my child first while trying to balance motherhood and career. We may have a different skin color, but I feel a strange, strong kinship with Michelle Obama. The modern American woman—race notwithstanding—has arrived.
Kate Ditewig
Peoria, Illinois

I disagree with the way Allison Samuels so bluntly divides the American constituency into being either African-American or "everyone else." The statement is irresponsible not only because it ignores the fact that blacks haven't been the only American minority group for a long time, but also because it's at odds with Barack Obama's inclusive philosophy.
Grace Rodriguez
Laguna Niguel, California

While I didn't vote for Barack Obama, I realize Michelle Obama will be a historic and dynamic First Lady. Yet reading "What Michelle Means to Us" made me think, here we go again. What if Michelle were lighter-skinned, Asian or Caucasian (as her husband's mother was)? Would Allison Samuels and her friends be less smitten by Michelle? Do her accomplishments matter more because she's "brown, real brown"? What if the opposite were true? Would she be less of a "girlfriend" or "regular sista"? So, following that logic, Michelle's skin tone makes her black enough and better at understanding and relating to other black people. Really? This topic has been studied, reported and debated ad infinitum. The color of our skin, texture of our hair and features on our faces are out of anyone's control. Why it keeps coming up in articles like this is because we black folks—or African-Americans, if you prefer—keep the stereotypes alive.
Victoria Ashford
Helena, Alabama

As a white South African who became a United States citizen in 1956, I read Allison Samuels's article with a sense of "wait a minute." The African women I grew up with for 25 years did not differentiate themselves according to how brown they were. Before apartheid, so-called Coloreds (the result of the early European settlements in the Cape in the 1600s) were treated better than the Africans, but it had nothing to do with how brown they were; they were simply not considered African. What the blacks needed to do, and finally accomplished, was to get rid of us, the white people, as the ones in authority. The American blacks, however, who had been ripped from their lands, shipped to a foreign country and sold into slavery, had only one way out. That was to become as white as possible so they could eventually "pass" as one of them. I urge Samuels and her "sistas" to revel in the moment. One of yours has finally made it—brown as she is—to the top of the social pyramid. Millions like me across the world are ecstatic that this has happened.
Barbara Pleskow
Weston, Connecticut

Allison Samuels's profile of Michelle Obama is disappointing. My husband and I worked diligently for the election of the Obama-Biden team. We believe they will lead us to be respected leaders in the world once again. We are not African-American, but we worked side by side with many wonderful people of all ethnic and economic backgrounds. Never once did I hear anyone talk about what either Barack or Michelle was going to do for the black community. I heard of the need to help children of poverty—all children; of the need to assist all young adults who have the desire and will to obtain college education; of the need to create stronger families of all races; to create jobs and provide medical insurance to all Americans. The list goes on and on. Michelle is an extremely capable, educated and spirited woman and will make an incredible First Lady for all Americans. But to focus on her as a "brown" woman or to somehow separate her from the "white" woman status quo does her and us a great disservice. She is so much more than that. Her husband believes in bringing everyone together, not focusing on differences.
Karen King Manrique
Lansing, Michigan