Sunday, January 22, 2012

Crossroads

Watching a show this morning at 11am called Crossroads with host Melanie Lawson on channel 13; my spirit was definitely jolted about the misinformation and to be quite frank-ignorance of the interviewees.
The topic was: A recent book written about the Obama's, with the same name, portraying First Lady, Michelle Obama as an "angry black woman" because of her influence and supposed personality. Three women, Mia Wright, Crystal Washington and Alexis Jones were asked to speak on the claims and give their opinion on the issue of the "angry black women" syndrome.
Mia Wright seems to believe Michelle Obama is the first black woman that has ever had influence over the White House and this was one of the reasons for her portrayal as an "angry black women". Citing that anyone strong and outspoken could be called an "angry black women".
That is absolutely untrue!! Did she and the remainder of the panel forget about Condoleezza Rice?! Rice just happened to be a political scientist and diplomat whom served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, under the administration of George W. Bush. Rice was the first female Black Secretary of State. If that's not an influential black women in the White House, I don't know what is!!! Do you?!
Alexis Jones felt the moniker had to do with race, but she didn't clearly define her stance merely agreeing with Wright. Crystal Washington, on the other hand whole-heartedly believed that the First Lady's tag of "angry black women" had absolutely nothing to do with race, but instead, insisted it had everything to do with gender! Huh?!
I understand that Washington is a social media strategist and Afro puff aficionado, but that logic is simply ill-prepared and wreaks of a lack of understanding into race matters or more importantly the history of First Lady's. Let's do a history check shall we:
Michelle Obama is NOT the first WOMAN( wife) and undoubtedly won't be the last to have influence over her husband or POTUS and his administration. Have we forgotten Eleanor Roosevelt, Laura Bush, and I know, you can't forget Hilary Clinton?!
These are just three women my feeble mind (excuse my sarcasm) can list off the top of my head!
Each of these women were and have been noted as outspoken, assertive, strong, pioneering First Lady's. They were instrumental and on SIDE of their husbands throughout their administration and NEVER, not once was a negative connotation thrown their way in regards to their actions, dispositions, or contributions. In fact Hilary, whom some might argue as notably the MOST aggressive, headstrong and independent of those before her was applauded and ENCOURAGED to run for POTUS!! Did we forget that?! I don't remember anyone calling them out as "angry"! It has nothing to do with gender, and clearly everything to do with RACE!
I'm sorry, but it really chokes my chicken when a racial innuendo is given or assumed and so-called politicos or those given a platform to speak up about it brush it under the rug, call it any other name but the truth, divert your attention from the matter and on top of all that; misinform the general public, that may not accurately know their history, and spew out these so-called facts that are inaccurate!
By the way, Michelle Obama isn't even that vocal throughout this administration, she above all wants to be the First Mom!

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