Thanks Rikyrah for the link to this article by Patricia J. Williams called The Politics of Michelle Obama’s Hair. Over at What About Our Daughters, I called it a garbled mess of an article, but some of my readers disagreed (SHOCKING!). Anyway, its an “interesting” article comparing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Michelle Obama with some Greek mythology, Black hair geopolitical politics, Halloween masks and a bunch of other stuff thrown in for good measure.

She seems unbothered by hair hang-ups, make-up issues, clothing crises. She always seems minimally but perfectly made up; she isn’t afraid to wear flats; she lends a certain class to the most inexpensive of outfits. And even her hair—usually such a politically fraught subject for women of color! Between the Scylla of Condoleezza Rice’s good-little-girl page-boy, and the Charybdis of Angela Davis’s 1960’s Afro, Michelle Obama’s looser style provides a breezy, refreshing kind of Golden Mean. Patricia J Williams

Read it for yourself at The Daily Beast. You can read my response over at What About Our Daughters (
Michelle Obama’s Hair and Pot Shots at Single Barren Black Women.

Posted by Gina.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 13th, 2008 at 6:23 am.
Categories: Uncategorized.

6 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Shannon

    I look forward to this article. I usually find Williams to be really smart on this kind of stuff. I have long been pondering Michelle’s hair. I realize she has no choice but a perm (even if she wanted something else, which she may not). There is no way a Black woman with natural hair could be first lady. But I was glad to see the girls sporting braids over the summer at least!

    I am sooo hopeful about this family being in the White House! Forget Disney, Sasha and Malia will be the real American princesses.

    Oct 15th, 2008

  2. hustleandfloe

    I do think that those two little girls will be another reason that this family changes the world or at least forces people worldwide to reconsider their black notions. The Obamas are powerfully and gracefully just good people.

    Oct 16th, 2008

  3. Ray

    Michelle Obama can do anything she wants with her hair. She is simply naturally gorgeous.
    She is a black exotic, intelligent woman and anything any woman black or white or any color wants to be.

    Oct 20th, 2008

  4. mari

    Actually, I believe that Michelle’s hair IS natural…it’s too healthy to be relaxed hair. All she has to do is keep it moisturized, pressed and wrapped; not exactly a hard thing. I also believe her daughters’ hair is natural. They all (Michelle included) have very healthy hair; it doesn’t have that relaxed look. My best friend has hair just like Michelle, and all she does it get her hair pressed, no relaxers. So, lol, I guess my point is that she probably is rocking a natural.

    Oct 24th, 2008

  5. diddy

    Mrs. Obama is natural, I read it on a news article. She just has a really good stylist. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/27590034.html

    Nov 1st, 2008

  6. fanchenett bennett

    I have been a cosmetologist for many years and I know soft hair I think michell needs more body with in her hair .Michell hair should move when she walks and not say still.I wish i had my chance at her hair.I look at some of her pictures and her edges are not layed for this hair dresser to be a pro he needs to stand back and look. She should look the best .Her hair should look better.

    Nov 12th, 2008

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