“The women’s words are being compiled into a book, “Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women’s Letters to the New First Lady,” by Barbara Seals Nevergold, and Peggy Brooks-Bertram, senior educational specialists and co-founders of the Uncrowned Queens Institute for Research and Education on Women at UB.The book will be published in January by SUNY Press/Excelsior Editions. The goal is to have the book in Michelle Obama’s hands by Inauguration Day—Jan. 20, 2009.
The project had its genesis, Nevergold explains, in the 2008 presidential campaign as she watched President-elect Barack Obama’s journey to the White House gather momentum and his wife, Michelle, come into her own as a presidential candidate’s wife.”
Michelle has moved so many people all over the country by being simply who she is. She has a tremendous responsibility and at times, the load will be heavy. What advice or words of encouragement would you offer to Michelle? Posted by Bridgette of http://www.trailblazer-firstlady.blogspot.com/ . *Photo courtesy of SUNY Press.
11 Comments, Comment or Ping
joy mooney
first of all i’m not a black lady in this country. i’m an american indian and i just want to say that michelle is a breath of fresh air….i’m so proud to say that she will be the “first lady” of this great country we live in..the feeling that she is comfortable with who she is..feels good to me…i really didn’t know for alot of years who i was….i just hope she has time for a bubble bath every once in a while to stay connected to who she is….michelle, pls don’t loose that…..your are my hero….you are giving the women, children, and even the men of our country a reason to watch the evening news. you are our princress Diana…such a compliment!!!
Jan 7th, 2009
lgilmore
I would offer Michelle Obama the advice of staying true to herself. I think it’s important that we all take time to refuel our spirit especially in a world that is so demanding. So being that Michelle’s world will be more demanding than ever before, I would tell her to take time out for herself and her family. Staying connected to those you love is so important to our daily journey. I am so proud to have witnessed Michelle and her family as they enter the White House and I can’t wait to take this journey with them. Please take a look at my website that is dedicated to the self-empowerment of women and girls who are inspired by the life and values of Michelle Obama at http://www.iammichelleobama.com I have a link to Michelle Obama Watch because I love the information that this site provides about Michelle and her family!!
Jan 7th, 2009
Tisha
I would tell Michelle, that we LOVE you and we are SO proud of you. Don’t worry everynight millions of people are praying for you and your beautiful family.
Jan 8th, 2009
Carla Ross
At first I was encouraged by the thought of your book. Then I heard, and this is not a direct quote, “Michelle is not a light skinned blue eyed black woman” as if that were a bad thing. Well, I agree she is not, but I am a light skinned brown eyed black woman and it is also very clear that I am light skinned and that I am a black woman. I am not African American, I am an American black woman that has been shaped by many influences and I do not choose to be a black woman I am a black woman. There is no escaping it. Michelle I agree is a strong confident black woman with an identity of her own apart from her husband. That is what I like about her, she has been able to strike that balance. She has been able to be a strong black woman and her husband is a strong black man. That can be a very difficult thing for black woman to do. It has nothing to do with her skin color, it’s her orientation, and it’s her upbringing and her desire to success and do well for her family and her community. It is finally time to stop disqualifying or qualifying by skin color. Michelle is a woman that has made some good decisions in her life, and those decisions have paid off.
Jan 8th, 2009
Brooke
Michelle, it is important that you know that we love you and that we pray for you and your family. You make all of us proud. You are a role model for little black girls especially the browner and darker skinned girls. You break the stereotype that you have to be light and wavy to be married to the most powerful black men. Well you are a darker skinned sister from the hood and you are married to the most powerful man in the world (black or white). Like myself, you were raised in a two parent home with a strong, hardworking, black male model of a man for a father. You and your husband are a true soul sister and brother because you are going into the white house and not forgeting where you come from. You choose to reach out to the DC community around you and you dont even have to to. That makes me love you even more. You are down to earth. You guys are “down” period. Barack could have chosen (like OJ) and totally assimilated into the white world. He could have dwelled on the fact that he is biracial (to his advantage and to separate himself from) “regular” blacks.. That is no big deal to him. He could have had the down town ritzy job. He chose community activism. He could have lived in the beautiful area of Chicago. He chose the South Side. He could have chose the bi-racial or light woman. He chose the dark skinned sister. He could have become an elitist because of his education and because of the fact that he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. He is down to earth. He lets those fools in our race know that it is okay to be black and to like black people. What a breath of fresh air!!!
Jan 8th, 2009
Nichelle
Carla,
I left a related comment in the response to this post, ““GO Tell Michelle” Authors on National Public Radio- What I would Tell Michelle Obama” but I will leave it for you.
I don’t see anything wrong with pointing it out that one of the reasons many Black women – especially dark-skinned women – are enamored with Michelle Obama is because they are happy to see a woman in her position who is “recognizably” black. No one would ever ask her the perennial biracial question: “So, what are you?”
Nothing wrong with being light – or biracial – lest I be accused of being “jealous” or “bitter” the way many dark-skinned black women are when they touch on this subject.
However, I can’t imagine that even light-skinned black women today do not notice that every woman’s magazine cover features a white woman unless she is a superstar like Beyonce, Halle or Rihanna. A “regular” or up and coming white star can get a cover but where is Kerry Washington for example? The only time you see darker black women on a cover that is not Essence, her butt is hanging out from one of the men’s magazines.
And you don’t have to be dark-skinned to notice that, by and large, prominent Black men (historically and presently) have married lighter-skinned women. Academic studies over the years, beginning in the early 20th century, bare this out so people who ignore this or criticize those who mention it are being disingenuous. We know that a darker-skinned educated, professional woman like Michelle is often one of the 43% of never married black women we hear so much about, so she stands out.
It is definitely “time to stop disqualifying or qualifying by skin color.” Unfortunately, generations of doing the exact opposite (even within the Black community) has a residual effect that can’t be ignored.
Jan 9th, 2009
jackie cox
I read where your husband is going to visit canada. I suggest you to read ” Ethnic Cleansing Anglos from Quebec ” I lived there and investigated this phenonema for 22 yeears of my life and have the data that can only be obtained from the viewpoint of an independent observer. The powers that be, are trying to separate quebec from the rest of canada, Quebec separates eastern canada from western canada ( Geophysically ) The reasons are very complicated and not the data you will receive from the forward intelligence community that resides there. I know these people but they are unaware of this. The contacted me over the years, trying to discover my intentions. I convinced then Their activities were of no interest to me. The embassy contacted me , I took the same approach. I had to because their ranks were infiltrated and any hint of my association with them would have resulted in my immediate deportation. As it were I forstalled untill 1994, living in their communities studying closely their activities for some 22 years. I now come forward with this intelligence and would volunteer my resources and the data obtained, which I feel would be of great interest to you and your husband—Yours Truely Jackie Cox. My phone number is 608 630 2790—If this information is deleted before reaching you I will continue to try and contact you in this matter of national interest—thank you
Jan 10th, 2009
Celia
i want to say that I admire Michelle Obama because of her beauty, ideals, intelligence, and extreme grace. She will make a fantastic first lady. She also appears to a very devoted wife and mother. I wish her, Barack and beautiful Malia and little Sasha all the best. I hope Black men and Black women will look at their union as proof of what two Black people filled with love can do. Though my love is not a Black man (he’s White), I am inspired by this most remarkable couple.
Jan 21st, 2009
Bohwe
I admire First Lady Obama because she is an example of poise, grace, sophistication and feminity. Characteristics that are never given to a woman of her complexion , let alone race. She is shattering those glass ceilings. And hopefully, black women will begin to admire these wonderful attibutes and want to conduct themselves as such.
Furthermore, I, too have noticed that Kerry Washington displays the same characteristics as First Lady Obama, and it’s sad that she basically goes unnoticed. Hopefully, the media will take notice of Kerry
Washington and she will begin to shine, she is absolutely a class act.
First Lady is truely my new role model, besides my mother. Love her.
I, just love Mrs. Obama, and hopefully black t.v. shows will create dark-brown complexion women as the sophisticated woman, majority of the time, it’s women of lighter complexion that plays those characters.
Jan 25th, 2009
Sylvia Mckinley
Dear First Lady Michelle, I am so very proud of you. I say this not only of your new position of First Lady but all of your accomplishments that you have aquired on your own. You are a wonderful example of a brillant, strong committed and passionate women of color. I see it in your eyes and I hear it in your voice every time you speak on television of your commitment and devotion to your marriage, children, family human and women rights and our country. I know the president thanks God for you each day. I have kept President Obama, you and your family in my prayers each day for your safety and God’s continued blessings to surround you throughout this political journey. Thank you for your beautiful representation of a beautiful Black Woman.
Jan 29th, 2009
jackie cox
I sent you a personal email, now I find it on the internet, Sercurity, or the lack of it is something you either don’t understand, or, understand very well and don’t care whom you endanger, or know whom you endanger, either case reveals a member whos time in the ranks of leaders of this great country are limited, and soon to dissappear entirely. Whats up with you people? Have you no respect?
Sep 12th, 2009