La Reyna

This is how I see it. Some of these White lady journalists may well be suffering from an acute, undiagnosed case of Fantasiesius Interruptus.

If they were being truthful, we’d have already seen an article by now entitled – to paraphrase the great song – It Shoulda Been Me (Or At Least A Woman That Looks Like Me).

After all, dark complexioned Black women in Western society are quite a long way off being considered The Princess or The Prize. (A few years back I remember reading an interview in which a White lady journalist interviewing Mike Tyson pointedly asked him whether he ONLY dated Black women (he didn’t take at all kindly to the question…). There was also a little time after Nelson Mandela’s release when the writer of another piece “helpfully” offered the opinion that with all of the changes in South Africa, the great man was now free to marry White women and swim in White swimming pools….).

If Michelle was just a mere some time or one time bedwarmer for Barack, a plaything that had to shinny up the drainpipe to let herself in through a window that someone forgot to close or squeeze through the catflap to gain access to him, for some this would be understandable…and acceptable.

That Barack put a ring on Michelle’s finger, chose her to have his name, proudly has her as the mother of his children, and (most disturbing of all for some) clearly still can’t get enough of her after almost 16 years of marriage is clearly driving not a few to distraction.

Well, I for one, am glad. With a nod to Barack’s wife and lady and also the Jamaican half of me, all that’s left to say is gwa’an Michelle!

That this

Oh well, on the “acting white” thing–I guess I need to turn off my Iron Maiden and put down the Jane Austen and not finish my unagi don.

Is this what we are going to have to sit through the next four years if the Obamas go to the White House? Silly White people writing about topics that they know nothing about, and saying offensive things under the banner of “journalism”.

Barack, for the most part, got a pass by Grigoriadis.

However, Grigoriadis seems convinced that Michelle Obama is not quite what she seems and is up to something. Grigoriadis studied every eye flicker, head turn, smile, laugh, breath, and piece of clothing of Michelle’s to get the “real story” of what made this Black, Black, Black, Blaaaaaaack woman tick.

But why?

It comes down to a phenomena that is not new. Someone who is an ethnic (say Irish, Italian, or GREEK) immigrant or the daughter of ethnic immigrants, arrives to North American. Immediately, to deflect attention away from their own ethnicity, they quickly “other” African Americans, in order to solidify their own ethnic identity with White identity. You Black People sure are strange to All Us White People!

Vanessa Griogaridis, she of the recently arrived to North America Greek heritage, has gone extremely far out of her way to “other” Michelle Obama, she whose ancestors have likely been North American since there was a North America. Griogaridis wants her readers to understand that Obama is a foreign, strange, Black creature who’s every movement and nuance has to be explained to terrified, helpless, clueless White America.

Fortunately, the latest Essence is out and reading that gave me an understanding of why Michelle Obama remains serene and upbeat despite reporting that would have driven another woman indoors.

Apparently, Michelle’s mother has a philosophy that just because someone calls you a dog, that doesn’t mean you don’t get down on all fours and start barking. No. You keep going and doing what you were doing before the idiot stepped to you.

So, truthfully, I’ve come to the conclusion that the article Grigoriadis wrote tells us MUCH more about Grigoriadis and her insecurity with her own identity, as a Greek and perhaps as a woman outdone when faced with a more powerful woman.

I think the reporting on Michelle will become more shrill, catty, and resentful as the convention draws near. It will take a woman pretty confident in herself to report on Michelle Obama.

acting white is britney spears shaving her head because her husband who she supported refused to remain faithful to her.

acting white is cindy mccain stealing drugs from her own charity to get high and not serving any time for doing it.

acting white is living your life as if your views and opinions are the only ones that matter.

What is “acting white” anyway? Because she likes baked fish and pasta as opposed to fatback and chittlins?? Because she likes a nice Merlot instead of red kool-aid? Is it because she likes watching HGTV instead of “The Parkers” reruns? I swear….this reminds me of the time my co-workers looked at me like I had two heads simply because I said I could play the piano and no that did not mean Sister Jenkins at the church taught me on the side, but that I was a classically trained pianist and had 14 years of formal lessons. It was like I was telling these folks I was from planet Orgut in the galaxy of Nepazul. I swear I think they really believe we are all either living versions of The Color Purple or Good Times, but that Cosby Show…well…that was just MADE UP.

I’ll. Be. Damned.

The whole idea that Michelle “acts White” during certain functions makes me sick.

How many White folks go home and act like baboons but come to work looking and acting their Sunday Best? Are they “acting” when it comes to those two faces, or recognizing that “there is a time and a place for everything?” If they’re “acting white” in both cases, why aren’t we “acting Black” when having social fun and then in our Sunday Best? The underlying reasoning is that Blacks can never own reasonable and professional behavior, so “acting White” can be the only explanation.

I don’t think I’ll finish reading that article right now. Like Lynne, I have a workday to get through… ::sigh::