Jack & Jill Politics

Thank you for that response, Rikyrah. I do feel that lurking in the margins of the "He's not black; he's biracial" meme is that President Obama would actually make the choice to be black, proudly and not view it as a concession.

So, what's the for real, for real on the Michelle pregnancy rumors?

For whatever it's worth, I just think the cut of some of Michelle's dresses seem to accentuate her mid-section. 45 and pregnant after already having two children, wouldn't exactly seem like something Michelle would plan. But hey, what do I know?...

I really love Melissa Harris-Lacewell, but for some reason some of what she said didn't sit well with me. Maybe I'm being crazy. I tried to work out what unsettled me, but I'm open to alternative interpretations.
www.passingplecker.blogspot.com

I couldn't post at your site, so here is what I was thinking. I understood where Lacewell was coming from. Barack Obama is BLACK. This bi-racial mess is coming up because he's successful, and because he made the choice, and I do think it was a choice to be Black. Everyone knows what Lacewell means by it; well, I do. That is what startles so many about Obama - who, if given a choice, would CHOOSE to be Black? I mean, come on, Tiger Woods is darker than Obama and has a made up term for himself. While some purport that Obama is ' obviously bi-racial', to which I call BULL, because if we had done a 'Barbershop' test in 2004, passing around the pictures of Barack Obama and Harold Ford, Jr., asking which one was ' obviously bi-racial', who would have chosen OBAMA over the at least 2 shades lighter, green-eyed, born of two BLACK parents- Ford? Come on, now.

And, what does this sudden ' he's bi-racial' stuff really have at its core? It's to divorce Obama from the Black community, because we've ALWAYS been a multi-racial people, from the first time the Slave Owner went down to the slave quarters. That's how we can claim everyone from late NAACP head Walter White to Bernie Mac. When White folk claim bi-racial Pookie that just robbed the store and shot a couple of people, I'll know it's about this ' bi-racial' category. Until then, it's about divorcing Obama from the Black community.

Her comments about Michelle can't be shocking. Folks say it behind closed doors, and in the beauty and barber shops when they first found out that Michelle was his wife. You can pretty much count on one hand the number of prominent Black men that have BLACK (and you know what I mean) wives.

How many folks looked side-eyed at Barack Obama, but when they saw Michelle - gave him the benefit of the doubt? HOw many have said that they'll give him slack, and warm up to him because of Michelle? THAT is what Lacewell meant by 'slack in terms of policy'.

I keep on using Yogo's comment, because it keeps on being relevant:



Yogo
May 24, 2007 at 1:34 pm

I joke a lot about these two, but something sticks out at me about the whole campaign. especially after seeing this interview:

I like her. And not because of any strong this and that, she just seems genuine.

Is America ready for a First Lady who looks like her? A regular black woman? Not a passable biracial curly girl that they call black, but a regular black woman from the south side of Chicago? With dark skin?

Is she going to be the face of The Woman on the largest pedestal in the country? A self-confessed “loud-mouth” black woman?

If they succeed, it turns white supremacy upside down. And not, in my opinion, because a black man is in the White House, it’s because a black woman is in there. And she didn’t have to come in the back door to lie in bed with the president.

I will remind you that Harris-Lacewell is a bi-racial woman who self-identifies as Black.

Co-signing.

I might get flack for this, but here it goes.....

I think the whole "biracial" category is nothing more than a way for blacks to attain "honorary white status", and allows them to run away from their blackness under the guise of celebrating their heritages.

This is exactly what I have ALWAYS believed and it doesn't only apply to Blacks. It seems to me all those who want to be classified as bi-racial are trying to escape their non-white heritage and only emphasize the white portion of their background. White supremacy is damaging to all.

thanks for the response rikyrah-the comments system on my blog is acting up so I apologize.

I see your point as I see Harris-Lacewell's point. I guess I wasn't thinking about White people "claiming bi-racial Pookie" but more about people who want to acknowledge their multi-cultural heritage without being accused of taking something away or not wanting to be black. I missed the point that the people bringing up his bi-racial heritage were white and trying to remove him from the black community.

Thanks for the dialogue though. I've been reading the site for a long time and I appreciate it.

rikyrah, thanks for repeating this post. It's worthy of repeating!

THANK YOU!

I think they both did an awesome job on the Journal. Both are great contributors to their discipline. Prof. Harris-Lacewell is young engaging and really a great role model. And Prof. Patricia Williams is a great legal scholar.

I love the exposure Prof. Harris-Lacewell is getting across the press.

That was a great discussion, I especially liked what Williams stated about the idea of him being the first biracial President and it wasn't necessarily a matter of choice for him to identify as black, she was on point and I hope that we move away from that discussion now, because it's ridiculous. Another good point that was made was immediately after Williams point addressing 'choice' when Harris-Lacewell talked about how it wasn't about President Obama identifying as black, but his choice of intelligent, tall and confident Michelle Robinson that spoke volumes.

I really liked that and wholeheartedly agree.

Noelani I really liked Lacewell's comment too.

"Lacewell talked about how it wasn't about President Obama identifying as black, but his choice of intelligent, tall and confident Michelle Robinson that spoke volumes."

Michelle is undeniably A BLACK WOMAN and that it what SPEAKS VOLUMES

When MH-L described Michelle as "black from a distance", I hollered. So true.

Melissa is symbol of the new Princeton. Moreover, she stays true to the public intellectual creedo, unlike my colleague at G'town whose initials are "MED." Following up w/Bill Moyers is an example, and I hope she does a follow up/retrospective w/Charlie Rose soon.

FYI I did a mini review on Jabari Asim's and Gwen Ifill's book
www.natturnersrevenge.blogspot.com

I'm gonna pick up both this week.

I got Gwen's book this afternoon. It's gonna be a facinaing read!

Here are the chapter titles:

1. Breaking Through

2. The Generational Divide

3. Barack Obama

4. The Race-Gender Clash

5. Arthur Davis

6. Legacy Politics

7. Cory Booker

8. The Politics of Identity

9. Deval Patrick

10. The Next Wave

I saw Melissa Harris-Lacewell on Rachel Maddow's show last Monday. She's such a vibrant funny woman. She and Rachel were talking about white folks' ignorance of black culture and in the conversation they spoke about hair issues. She said she'd been praying for a year it doesn't rain on Inauguration Day. She and Rachel and my mom and me all fell out laughing.

And while I can definitely appreciate the funny of praying for weather that doesn't mess up the 'do, folks that are 'happy to be nappy' don't worry about the rain.

In fact, that was one of the most freeing things about wearing my hair natural. I LOVE IT WHEN IT RAINS! My hair style stays exactly the same, maybe it shrinks a little, but never again will I stress about precipitation and my hairstyle.

Since I was a swimmer, I gave up on dealing with my hair long ago. When it was long, I just let it go. Now, I get it cut to about 1/4 inch long at a barbershop for $14 a throw. I'd love Michelle to just cut it and be done with it, but that ain't gonna happen.

OOOOH, girl! You think people are still talking about Aretha's hat!??!!

You just let Michelle cut her hair!! Or 'let it go' nappy!! WOOOO LAWD. I swear, I think the world would come to an end. Folks got agita when the Malia wore her hair in cornrows or twists over the summer. I think I remember seeing Sasha in twists also.

Can you just see MIchelle in some flat twists? LAWD HAV' MERCY!!!! The "media" wouldn't know what to do with that!!!

That's my fantasy if there's a second Obama term. By then there will be no more voters to woo, and Michelle will have nothing left to prove. Seeing the First Lady with twists or a TWA (teeny weeny afro) would be 20 kinds of awesome.

they would lose their natural minds...pun intended.


bwa ha ha ha ha ha

rikyrah, you know they would, for sure.

They're still in shock from the REALITY that Michelle Obama is BLACK.and not white or light-skinned.

After all it's all about WHITE COMFORT level. The fact that she's black, beautiful, and as a reminder y'all, SHE'S THE FIRST LADY TO THE POTUS AND AMERICA, is enough to make those heads explode..............