http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/

http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/

Actually, that can't be right? Cause his father is on that video with him and his father also expressed how he 'hated' that hook as well. Yet this is supposedly now 'new generation black' mindset?

Lord help us!

Regarding that idiot on NPR…where do people get the idea that speaking correct English is 'speaking white'? Where do they get that.

Despite, my sons growing up in the burbs, they were ridiculed when we went to our parents neighborhood with that 'white speaking' crab.

When they repeated it to me. I told them their was no such thing as speaking white. They were in elemenatary at the time and I asked them did they want to be successful and achieve all their dreams. Did they want to be prosperous in America where capitalism rules. They said 'what's that' . I said do you want to make a lot of money based on your own achievement. They replied yes.

I said well there is no such thing as speaking white. There is only speaking poor and speaking affluent. If you speak poor, you remain poor. If you want to make money in this society you acquire the language of affluence.

I never heard another word about it. I am certain that both boys were able to tell there hecklers from then on that they way they spoke was the way folks with money speak in America, and that they chose not to be poor.

Two phrases that make me see red are 'acting white' and 'speaking white'

Cause they are total bull! Designed to keep our children from learning the social mores of mainstream society and to become educated.

Ignorance abounds in our neighborhoods and it needs to be called out whenEVA it rears it's heads….like in this Coates article!!

I agree with you that we don't often allow for diversity in our own community. I was listening to what seemed to be a reasonably well read, self described college educated black man on an NPR News and Notes interview … about interracial dating. He felt compelled to state that he was a black male, he said this, *not only* to explain how his race colored his views, but to point out his specialness he literally said some people might think he was white- because of his speaking voice (used standard English). Same goes for the /originator of the magic negro meme in the L.A Times who wrote: “The only mud that momentarily stuck was criticism (white and black alike) concerning Obama's alleged “inauthenticty,”[SIC] as compared to such sterling examples of “genuine” blackness as Al Sharpton and Snoop Dogg. Speaking as an African American whose last name has led to his racial “credentials” being challenged — often several times a day — I know how pesky this sort of thing can be.” End quote. This guy is an art/movie critic who travels to the South of France/Cannes film festival for a living, seems to be fluent in English etc, yet perpetuates the same garbage he claims to be a victim of.

Why is it that Coates as a black person bought into the stereotype of blacks being poor and ignorant to such a degree that he categorized what Michelle was saying as 'sounding like a white person'? What created that level of distortion in his mind as an educated black person, how could he have had those same stereotypes to the degree that he is perpetuating them with his article as so uncommon place that he as a black 'educated' male…thought Michelle was 'white'?

What is up with that mentality?

I suppose if I still feel critical later today, I'll take your advice and voice my concerns to Mr. Coates. Thanks again for another great tip!

I was quite ticked about how Coates rationale for why he was describing Michelle as a white woman. It highlighted for me what a huge cultural knowledge gap he has in terms of what life was like for blacks in the 60s. He came across as ignorant to the same degree as a white person. I had to ask myself why does a black person have such a skewed view of what it was like to be middle class and black in the 60s with ONE parent that worked and an intact family. Why is that? To me Coates sounded as ignorant as a white person.

His ignorance when it came to understanding that made me realize that had Michelle actually looked like Beyonce, Alicia Keys or Halle…he would have dissed them.

How can someone of his background have such a huge cultural gap…and he is college educated?! WTF?

I intially felt insulted when black plp would make this observation, and on a different blog- (non black) I acutally chided someone for making this point… paper bags are for sandwiches . But the reality is- for many of “us” it still has other uses. Some of the same people who get hot and bothered about white plp “claiming” Barack becuase of his mother- will in their very next breath utter some nonsense reasoning which is based in the logic of the sentiment you comment on ; lightbrightanddamnnearwhite..whoshethinksheis..ain'tnoblackfolkslivinglikethat.

Succinct idea from the article: “In all my years of watching black public figures, I’d never heard one recall such an idyllic youth. …and for years the rule was that all our bios must play on a dream deferred, must offer a nod to dilapidated public housing and mothers scrubbing white women’s floors. But Obama waved off Richard Wright. Instead, the blues she sang was the ballad for the modern woman. “

When I was little I saw a talk show interview- I really don't remember who the two people where – except one was a black guy (entertainer) and the interviewer was a white guy. The interviewer just point blank asked his guest if he was “poor” growing up-the black guy paused, and said, he wasn't sure- he would have to ask him mom. Loved it! Later, I do recall seeing B.B King on the Tonight Show(?) and literally tearing up about how happy and blessed he was coming from the cotton fields of where ever to his material success. It really had the feel of him doing *what was expected*- e.g. only in America, I'm so thankful blah blah blah. Fast forward to “we had it hard coming up, drugs gangs, blah blah”. I can't impose my reality on anyone else, and resent anyone imposing theirs on me: It's great to see our (normal) Americanness front and center, in the person of Michelle.

I agree with WhiteRoseBuddy that there are plenty of families like the Obamas in black America… PLENTY… they are not some rare and exquisite example of the black family. There are solid black families with two devoted parents who are raising wonderful and happy and well-behaved children who are thriving.

It is always a bit disconcerting for me to hear black people making comments that high-achieving black couples are just soooo stunningly unusual in their experience…

One thing that Michelle Obama's PR team has been trying to do is to dismantle the notion that a black person ONLY represents blacks and not the whole of America. It will take a lot for that message to sink in.

Michelle Obama IS an American not a “niche group” American that only “the niche” can identify with.

Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa

Site is made up of few feminists in their sixties, 9/11 conspiracy theorists and V for Vendetta fanwankers.

I am so tired of the paisley, petculli and tie dye. And yet most were Edwards supporters who had a real good senate term.

These heralds offer a deeper understanding of African American life, a greater appreciation of the bourgeois ordinariness of our experience. “People have never met a Michelle Obama,” the soon-to-be first lady said toward the end of our interview. “But what they’ll come to learn is that there are thousands and thousands of Michelle and Barack Obamas across America. You just don’t live next door to them, or there isn’t a TV show about them.”

There is now.

TRUTH!! [Right THERE!! ] As my fellow congregants say! :>) GREAT POINT!!