With the return of the First Lady & the weeMichelles to the White House, MOW comes home to the United States.
Last week was definitely a week to watch, as Mrs O traveled to Russia, Italy, & Ghana. Even though she charmed the Russians and met the Pope, the First Lady was an undeniable hit in Ghana. Robin Givhan, of the Washington Post, expressed these sentiments in her article Full Family Circle, The Land of Her Ancestors Claims Michelle Obama as A Favorite Daughter:
“…here in Africa, while the details of her résumé are not known and her pet projects such as community service and nutrition remain a mystery, she is, for the folks here, a hometown girl, a sort of distant cousin who has made good, and whom they’ve been anxious to meet.
Michelle Obama’s ancestry can be traced back to slaves, many of whom were launched into subjugation from this West African nation…”Michelle is from Ghana because her ancestors were from Ghana,” said Helena Botchey…
…the first lady symbolizes how much of a painful history has been overcome. For many residents here, she is the embodiment of optimism, proof that the past is not destiny.
…in Accra, Michelle Obama’s presence — her silent, smiling, brown-skinned presence — delivered a powerful message. The only complaint is that they wanted to see more of her — and hear her, too. “She should speak more publicly and talk about how women can be on our own whether we are married or not married. We don’t have to stop at any level,” said Mawuena Charity Ati … “It’s important for the community and the continent at large.”
The first couple had breakfast with Ghanaian President John Atta-Mills at Osu Castle
“The most resonant moment of that African kinship was when the first lady visited the Cape Coast Castle – the former slave factory … With her family, she toured the site where so many Africans were separated from their families and embarked on the Middle Passage…”
The Obamas standing at the “The Door Of No Return”
The Obamas visiting the the Cape Coast Castle
The First Lady and the President also toured La General Hospital.
“Their tour guide was a nurse named… Mercy … Mercy Kotey introduced the first couple to a group of about 20 pregnant women. And in a manner that was more like a mother to mothers-to-be, rather than VIP to fans, Michelle Obama inquired after their health and encouraged the women to take care of themselves…”
“But when it came time for those last handshakes along the rope lines, it was the first lady who lingered.”
“She brought up the rear, her head barely visible above the crowd. Her husband slowed to wait for her. She had a wide smile on her face — as history caught up with the future.”
Posted by Aminah Hanan
23 Comments, Comment or Ping
Erica Rosette
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!
Jul 13th, 2009
rikyrah
Good post. Loved the pics.
And Givhan drank less haterade with this article..LOL
Jul 13th, 2009
liz
love michelle’s natural-ness,
what more do the people want other than real-ness?
we commend you
Jul 13th, 2009
Kenny Akinola
I luv michelle.
Jul 13th, 2009
Kenny Akinola
I luv the aura around her. She is just natural and real. I haven’t seen anything artificial about her.
Jul 13th, 2009
Babs
With dignity, they’ve done us proud!!!
Jul 13th, 2009
Shabby chic furniture
I’m not surprised people in Ghana would have wanted to see more of Mrs O. She was great in Ghana, and the fact that her ancestors were from Ghana makes her visit even more emotional and special.
Jul 13th, 2009
tonya
I will never understand how folks hate this woman. GO MICHELLE!
Jul 13th, 2009
anar
I really like the way president is looking at her in one of the photos.
Jul 13th, 2009
A. Darton
TONYA……………Let’s be honest here, most of these people hate Mrs. O because she is Black. That is the truth, nothing but the truth.
Jul 13th, 2009
A. Darton
I think we have a wonderful First Lady, and the Prez ain’t to bad either. I’m just amaze at how people think the President should have this economy turn around in six months, when it took Bush eight years to get us in this mess.
Jul 13th, 2009
Cee Cee
I believe that every wife of a President has the right to shape what she feel the role of the First Lady should be for them. People’s negative judgment on Mrs. Obama’s role as the First Lady is wrong because every First Lady is different. Right now I do believe that Mrs.Obama is kind of holding back what she would like to do with her role as First Lady based on the negative attitudes she is facing by others about what her role should be. Contently being compared to previous First Ladies like Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Jackie O.
Though history many First Ladies have had positive impacts on policies to better improved lives here in America. Abigail Adams voiced her opinions to her husband (President Adam) and Congress on views like women rights and slavery, Dolley Madison advocated on behalf of orphans and women, Bird Johnson was a “pioneer for growing environmental protection and urban renewal movements”, and the list can go on about the impact that First Ladies always had on American policies.
http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2008/September/20080926162204naneerg0.8945886.html
First Lady Michelle Obama should be no different, but of course for the right-wing it should. I think Mrs.Obama influence in the White House could and should have a impact on policy making towards people lives here and abroad just like other First Ladies and based on African American’s history here in the States.
We just have to wait till she is ready to impose on them.
Jul 13th, 2009
Aminah Hanan
@ RIKYRAH I thought the same, less haterade. As a Southside Girl myself, like the First Lady, I can identify with the pride many of the Ghanaian women feel. Every time I see her my heart bursts with pride.
Jul 13th, 2009
olive
People stop HATING, and appreciate what GOD is doing! Do you know what this means to people around the world to have a black couple doing it at this level! Let’s continue to PRAY that this couple be mightily used of GOD and bring GOD’s Purpose for America and the World into pass that lives might be changed. Educationally, Michelle Obama is a Mentor to many from near and far. Emotionally, She is an uplifter because she let many women know that ALL things are possible to those who believe! For if God can do it for her, HE is able and willing to do the same for others. Physically, she is a coach! She shows you what manner health and not sexiness, as a result her grace and charisma render her BEAUTIFUL! Thank You Lord for using this couple as a tool to show ONCE AGAIN your GREATNESS!
Jul 14th, 2009
Dee
I’ve enjoyed travelling to Russia, Italy and Ghana – in mind, if not in person, of course! – with the President, First Lady and family.
Ghana, was the absolute highlight for me. In so many of the pictures that I’ve seen, you could almost feel the warmth, intense pride and gracious hospitality of the Ghanaian people towards them, and I was so longing for an African voice or two to offer a glimpse of some aspect of the visit.
So, having spotted an article by Mr. Cameron Duodu in the sidebar, I didn’t want this piece to get “lost”. He makes many points that I agree with, and I can only imagine, Michelle….
http://www.modernghana.com/news/227274/1/how-obama-wept-in-ghana.html
Jul 14th, 2009
Kellie
Can you image the chills the First Family had on the photos of them walking on the red carpet as the ladies dances around them….it gave me chills. How thankful and humble they look!
Jul 15th, 2009
cathy lethbridge
Incredible trip…Iam always in awe of all Iam learning as a 56 year old
woman about the world, life, relations amongst the races from the Obamas..They shed much light on situations that need to be brought into the light. We are healing with them at the helm to light the way with their dedication, commitment and beauty
Jul 15th, 2009
Dee
Well, given that I’m still savouring this tasty trip as if it were an especially fondly remembered meal, it may be appropriate that I stumbled across the website for a lovely looking restaurant, which dishes up Ghanaian, Nigerian and Kenyan fare. I can feel a visit, coming on….!!
http://www.biazo.co.uk
Another thought I was thinking was how lovely – and, rare – it was to see a positive spotlight shone on Ghana, and by extension Africa, instead of the usual unbalanced and negative depictions….and this led to other thoughts about wanting to see some African perspectives on this very topic.
Racking my brain to remember the titles of some brilliant articles that I’d read in the past, I tracked one down, and it’s an eye-opener, indeed, written by Ms. Michelle Hakarta. The interesting and telling thing is, that even though this piece is from 2001, in terms of what it reveals about Western reporting of Africa, next to nothing has changed.
Home Truths
http://www.africasia.com/archive/na/01_0708/cover2.htm
Interesting!
Jul 16th, 2009
Dee
I see that the link to the Home Truths article doesn’t now seem to be working. No matter.
Basically, in essence, it was a number of European journalists “inadvertently” confirming many of the suspicions I’ve long held about the reasons behind the diabolically biased reporting on Africa, one of which is backward Western mindsets still clinging to redundant ideas about the continent dating from the 15th and 16th centuries!! Unbelievable.
Anyway, warming to my “Where-is-the-positive-stuff-about-Africa?!” theme, I’ve gone off to seek out some “hidden history” about Ghana and West Africa, and it’s been fascinating to learn from reading some stuff by Mr. Paul Barton that…..
“….. there were thriving trade and commercial activities between Ancient West Africa and the Americas long before Christopher Columbus (credited with the discovery of America) ever sat in a ship. There is ample evidence to show that West Africa of 1500 BC was at a level of civilisation approaching that of Ancient Egypt and Nubia-Kush.”
Okay, that got my attention! Then, there was more to consider……
“….there were similarities between the cultures of Nubia and West Africa, right down to the smaller-scaled hard brick clay burial pyramids built for West African kings at Kukia in pre-Islamic Ancient Ghana and their counterparts in Nubia, Egypt and Meso-America. Although West Africa is not commonly known for a culture of pyramid-building, such a culture existed – pyramids were created for the burial of kings and were made of hardened brick. This style of pyramid building was closer to those built by the Olmecs in Mexico. Even though today we don’t see pyramids of stone rising above the ground in West Africa, similar to those of Egypt, Nubia or Mexico, the fact remains they did exist in West Africa on a smaller scale and were transported to the Americas, where conditions made it far easier to build on a grander scale.”
Hands up, anyone, who learned any of this in school/college/university. Yep……if I wasn’t tapping away on my keyboard, my arms would be firmly plastered to my sides, too!!
Jul 19th, 2009
Dee
Before, I leave anyone interested in this fascinating stuff to go and do some digging themselves, this again from Mr. Barton, had to be quoted,
“During the early years of West African trade with the Americas, commercial seafarers made frequent voyages across the Atlantic. In fact, the oral history of a tradition of seafaring between the Americas and Africa is part of the history of the Washitaw People, an aboriginal black people who were the original inhabitants of the Mississippi Valley region, the former Louisiana Territories and parts of the southern United States.”
Oh, you learn something new every day….!
Jul 19th, 2009
LC
i think that michelle obama is the warmest 1st lady america has ever had.
i think it’s amazing that the 1st african american 1st couple traveled to africa!
Jul 19th, 2009
Mary
I love Mrs Obama for the natural ness in her.
Naturally she is awesome.
I am proud to profess that she is a very intelligent woman so does her Husband President Barack Obama.
PAPUA NEW GUINEAN
Jul 26th, 2009
Willtha
I am only sorry that Michelle and her aparty were not in Ghana long enugh to be outfitted in one of Ghanas beautiful Africans dresses and headpeices. I hope one day she will wear it , I know thy presented her with one.(smiles) Michelle is a beautiful blace woman that can wear any thing and be herself. I want to Thank her for being herself, I know its not easy ,but she knows she is the daughter of The King and He is with her In all that she does. She represents Him and can not fail in any thing she does
Jul 29th, 2009