MICHELLE OBAMA’s Beautiful Brown Biceps are Controversial?!! What the #&@k?!!
First Lady Michelle Obama is helping military families adjust, performing community service at homeless shelters, making standing room-only speeches to federal agencies, showing Americans how to shop inexpensively for the home, and for your wardrobe. She is supporting increased education funding and college affordability, giving high-profile celebrations of Women’s History Month and Black History Month, and is a role model to working parents everywhere.
But, of late, the story about Michelle Obama that has gotten the most press is the ridiculous controversy about her wearing sleeveless dresses. Yes, this is true. Mrs. Obama's signature fashion style is being debated by pundits on all the major networks, and is being given the same amount of coverage as the foreclosure crisis and job shortage.
It is much ado about nothing. If anything, Michelle Obama is continuing a fashion tradition that has been embraced by many first ladies for over two hundred years. First Ladies like Dolley Madison, Marry Todd Lincoln, Mamie Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy and even Nancy Reagan have shown some skin in the White House. This is all well-known to politicians and journalists. But it didn't stop New York Times writer David Brooks from saying, “Sometimes I think half the reason (President) Obama ran for president is so Michelle would have a platform to show off her biceps.” And even journalist Sandra McElwayne took a disgusting shot at the first lady in an article in The Daily Beast: "with all due respect to her, someone should tell Michelle to mix up her wardrobe and cover up from time to time. I’m beginning to think she has an Arnold Schwarzenegger complex."
It would be easy to dismiss these as the rantings of jealous individuals: jealous of the fact that the Obamas have the discipline to exercise and lift weights every day, and, jealous of the great, loving relationship they have and that so many Americans are now trying to imitate. This is entirely possible. But, I can't help believing that something else is at play here: race. Yes, race.
I believe this flap about her showing her biceps springs from a fear (by some) that millions of white kids will grow up to at least respect the beauty of black women in ways that many books, magazines, tv shows, and movies have failed to do for generations. Michelle Obama has broad hips, full lips, and dark chocolate skin - which is not exactly the portrait of "ideal beauty" American mass media likes to promote. Throw in the fact that this woman is 5'11" tall and, easily the most educated first lady in history, and you can understand why her lovely, toned biceps are unsettling to some people.
Let me put it bluntly: there is still a subset of whites in this country who will never vote for President Obama (under any circumstances), and this group is equally likely to believe that Michelle Obama's success means black female beauty standards will somehow replace white female beauty standards. But this is not about replacing any set of beauty standards with another one. That's a false choice. In this multi-cultural society, I believe there is (and should be) enough room on center stage for the beauty of every racial and ethnic group. To be clear, this about making sure this country has a central and functional concern for non-white beauty instead of the marginal and peripheral concern that it has historically had. Michelle Obama's presence as a woman walking rhythmically, powerfully, even confidently in her own skin will begin a sea change in the right direction.
So Mrs. Obama: keep flashing those chocolate guns!
**Update: Since this was posted on March 10th, a stream of similar posts have appeared online by African-American bloggers. Two of the best are from Kelli Goff, who wrote a piece on March 11th titled "Michelle Obama: Wonder Woman" and from Carlos Watson, who wrote a piece on March 16th titled "America's Skin-Deep Crush on Michelle Obama". Good reading!
2morrowknight is an internet strategist and community organizer who blogs at 2morrowknight.blogspot.com, and is author of a forthcoming children's book on President Obama. You can reach him at myspace.com/2morrowknight and twitter.com/2morrowknight.
Add a Comment
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Comment by 2morrowKnight on March 16, 2009 at 8:21pm -
Hey Sabrina...they will never stop. They'll never stop attacking Michelle or Barack. The Obamas have have inspired more people than they can even possibly know. They have billions of fans, supporters and admirers around the world. And that is a very unsettling reality to people who are resistant to change.
Michelle Obama is the type of First Lady this country needs at this time. So yes, the attacks will continue. And so will her transformational agenda.
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Comment by sabrina on March 15, 2009 at 11:54pm - hater's, hater's that's all, they can't believe a beautiful BW is in such great fine shape! she's not beat up and old looking she still has her youth so of coarse she isn't going to be dressing in long sleeves past her fingers. I'm sure she know's how to dress for every occassion, I guess they will be talking about the kind of shoes she wears next, then the hairstyles,and etc...... when will they stop!
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Comment by Donna on March 15, 2009 at 6:45pm -
Thank you for posting this. I love our First Lady: she is spectacular! Intelligent, compassionate, strong, a firm but loving mother, a down-to-earth sister, supportive wife---and to top all of that off, she is fit and fantastic! I am the mother of two teenage daughters and I am overjoyed that they are growing up with such an excellent role model. Think about it: young girls all over the world are watching First Lady Michelle, and with any luck they will copy her and understand that beauty comes from within, first---from self-love, from healthy living, and from pride in your family and your upbringing.
First Lady, you rock!
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Comment by Sapphire04 on March 15, 2009 at 6:01pm -
I agree 2morrowKnight,
It is much more "nothing" and jealousy. People do not like that she is a quadruple threat: smart, beautiful, healthconscious and down to earth. But most of all because she has so many more gifts and talents to offer the world! They will get over it, they have no choice..can't stop change and it is now!
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Comment by 2morrowKnight on March 15, 2009 at 12:40am
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Hey LADY...
Yeah, she looks good to me too! Rather than make a big deal out of her fitness regimen, and about her dresses, people she celebrate the enormous skills that she brings to the table, and rejoice that we have a first lady who is tireless and productive.
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Comment by Shermaine Marshall on March 14, 2009 at 3:25am - You go Michelle, show off your genes and your arms. You are classy, intellegent, articulate and brillant to stand firm and tall and talk the talk and walk the walk. Show off what God gave you and to hell away with those who try to put you in a box. I am glad to see your realness. We got Waaaayyyyy more issues to disscuss with this economy than why your arms are so beautiful.
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Comment by 2morrowKnight on March 13, 2009 at 10:04pm
- Hey Nikki...I completely agree. Thanks for your contribution.
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Comment by Nikki Africa on March 13, 2009 at 9:28am -
How ridiculous! It is a waste of time to dwell on whether Michelle should cover up her arms. People should focus on the important issues at hand and what she is doing for the country. This is why sometimes I cannot soceity sometimes....here you have a woman who has all intention of helping out Barack to put America in a better state and people are concerned about her wardrobe!?@?#! She has a great fashion sense and she acutally brings a new sort of energy to the first lady position. Why is it that being the first lady the uniform is that you must wear tacky pant suits, that do absolutely nothing for the person wearing them - Sorry Hilary!
I think that people should put their focus to the issues at hand....there is an economic crisis going on people!
And also....mind yo business! Michelle can wear what she want and expose those pythons if she wants! :D
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Comment by MS.LEO on March 12, 2009 at 3:32pm - I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD MIND THERE OWN BUNSINESS. I THINK IF YOU GOT YOU SHOULD SHOW IT. GO MRS. FRIST LADY.
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Comment by Lela Jefferson on March 12, 2009 at 9:04am -
I see it all as this "no press equals bad press". Mrs. Obama is a beautiful intelligent black woman and if the only thing that they find to talk negatively about her is her attire more power to them. The media is just drawing more attention to what she is doing while wearing those "not so popular" in their eyes frocks.
As I am studying more and more about social media and its power. With blog posting like this the voice of the people will be and IS being heard. I must salute you 2morrow for your frankness in this article.
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Lela Jefferson is an aspiring writer and New Media Public Relations and Marketing Professional. She is the owner of Urban PR Connection – A New Media PR Firm. Lela is also working on her first book; her memoirs and editing a collection of her poetry scheduled for release winter 2009-10. You can learn more about Lela at her Memoirs Blog: http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com
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