Comments on: Valerie Jarrett -Michelle Obama Will Bear ” Extra Burden”

By: Regina A Beverly

Regina A Beverly — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:39:41 +0000

We have a lot more to be concerned with than how Malia wears her hair. Valerie Jarrett and Michelle Obama are both very smart, strong women and I have NO doubt they will bear what ever burdens they must. Women have been doing it for centuries. They will carry on just like all the rest of us do in our daily lives. They must do it with the forever ,everywhere watchful eye of the public. Yet I have No doubt in their capablities.

By: Dee

Dee — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:39:08 +0000

Betty Chambers, I’ve been thinking that, perhaps, Ms. Gillespie had some additional insights to offer other than those on the neck snap stereotype, and maybe they just didn’t make it into the article. At the very least, some thoughts on how/why the stereotype came about, and some example(s) that offered a stronge rebuttal could have been the route to go down. Disappointing…

Thank goodness for Valerie Jarrett’s comments.

I’m still wondering how the non-issue of Malia wearing her hair braided at times became an issue enough for someone to ever wonder whether she would “continue” to wear this hairstyle. Why wouldn’t she? I expect, since it’s a style that she obviously loves she will “continue” to wear it. Good, say I!

By: Betty Chambers

Betty Chambers — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:25:34 +0000

I don’t know where the strange baggage placed at Michelle Obama’s feet to carry is coming from. Is Gillespie projecting her own issues? Sometimes the worst stereotypes of black women can come from other black women. We expect them to know better.

Nevertheless, this article strikes me as an attempt to silence the future First Lady before she’s given a chance to articulate a position on anything. Having a voice and an opinion shouldn’t have her cast as a belligerent person at all.

It’s a matter of control – outspoken black women are viewed as a problem. Popular cultural pollution is demanding that we have no right to voice our opinions, frankly, that is what needs to stop.

By: rikyrah

rikyrah — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:57:22 +0000

Dee,

I agree with your list. But, we will have to face that some…ok, a lot of folks..are stuck on stupid.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:51:27 +0000

Good Morning….
Thank you Valerie Jarrett. The citizens of these United States should read up on the history of the African American culture. Our girls have had their hair corn rowed and braided because that is what our parents did and there is nothing wrong with it. It was not popular until Bo Derek wore them in that movie. Some white women are trying to wear the cornrows and braids now and they do not look good because of the texture of their hair. Everyone needs to wear the hair style that they want and look good in. I have gone through relaxer, hair broke out, natural, back to relaxer, hair broke out again. I am now back to the natural with a little texturizer so I will be able to comb it, my hair is very tight. Michelle, please do contunie to cornrow Malia’s hair if you want to. Nothing wrong with it.

By: Brooke

Brooke — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:33:57 +0000

God please let them continue to braid Malia’s hair. I would bet you that Barack would actually love it if Michelle wore her hair natural. The irony of it all is that he was raised by a white woman who taught him that black is beautiful.

By: Dee

Dee — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:10:52 +0000

Sigh…… Here we go again, with yet another article determined to accentuate the negatives, and just plain, flat out ignore all the many, many positives.

I’m still waiting to see a thoughtful, well written piece out here that acknowledges, the:

a) stellar job Michelle’s parents did in raising her to be such an accomplished, self-confident and all around decent human being;
b) the fact that this feat is by no means exceptional among Black families despite the lack of visibility of such families in the White media;
c) the all important role that Michelle played in helping to lovingly steer her husband to the position that he now has, and how she complements him so very well;
d) the graciousness with which she has dealt with often harsh and unfair criticism from not a few quarters, and how this bodes well for her in her new role.

(This is by no means an exhaustive list!)

Instead, we get nonsense about neck snaps, the same pointlessly regurgitated fact that Michelle is a descendant of slaves, and silly musings on what might or might not happen to Malia’s hair in the future. To cornrow, or not to cornrow…that apparently is the burning question! Sigh…..

By: Les

Les — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:07:21 +0000

Continue to let Malia wear cornrows?

Has she NOT been wearing them up until this point? I get the feeling the Obama’s are not a family that is overly concerned with not appearing too black.

By: ltdunn

ltdunn — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:05:36 +0000

The irony is that Andra Gillespie is a beautiful, young black professor of African American Politics. I’d like to say that maybe her words were taken out of context but she ought to have said what Valerie Jarrett said.

http://polisci.emory.edu/faculty%20pages/gillespie.htm

Could it also be a bit competitive? Who knows, certainly Michelle Obama is in an envious position, being who she is, and with a husband like that, and those adorable kids.

By: rikyrah

rikyrah — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:08:02 +0000

the ignorance keeps on shining through. Man, we are going to roll our eyes for a good TWO YEARS…so, buckle up, folks. The ignorance has just begun in earnest.