Posted on 06/07/2014 5:54:29 PM PDT by ilovesarah2012
Michelle Obama has largely ignored unflattering critiques of her physical appearance, often tinged with racial overtones, that have been lobbed by people who apparently still have not accepted the fact that African Americans inhabit the White House. At a memorial service Saturday for poet Maya Angelou, who died last week at age 86, Obama offered revealing insights about how she and other black women sometimes define their beauty in the context of the larger societys standards. The first time I read Phenomenal Woman, I was struck by how she celebrated black womens beauty like no one had ever dared to before. Our curves, our stride, our strength, our grace. Her words were clever and sassy; they were powerful and sexual and boastful. And in that one singular poem, Maya Angelou spoke to the essence of black women, but she also graced us with an anthem for all women a call for all of us to embrace our God-given beauty. And, oh, how desperately black girls needed that message. As a young woman, I needed that message. As a child, my first doll was Malibu Barbie. That was the standard for perfection. That was what the world told me to aspire to. But then I discovered Maya Angelou, and her words lifted me right out of my own little head. The first lady went on to say that Angelous empowering message has motivated her through school, career and family challenges throughout her life, words so powerful that they carried a little black girl from the South Side of Chicago all the way to the White House. Beauty is more than skin deep, especially for women of color. Whether we are seen as beautiful can have a huge impact on how we are treated, protected and loved
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
A horse, as opposed to a horse’s rear end.
Good Lord, what a barfer of an article..
Why do you say such things?
The Obamas are racists.
They are Huge racists.
We’re constantly being told that Michelle is the most beautiful, elegant and stylish First Lady since Jackie Kennedy. If the media didn’t constantly shove down our throats how stunning we should think she is, we might not mind her looks so much.
Moosechelle must've slept through that class.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Yep. It's as simple as that!
That Beauty is Skin Deep, but Ugly Goes all the Way to the bone.
And 9 times out of 10 she has a nasty look on her face.
First Lady of the United States of America
Makes one proud,doesn’t it?
.
Beauty?
The first one was as ugly as home-made soap.
The second one is as ugly as a mud fence, but nowhere near as useful.
Exactly!
Maya Angelou, God what a no talent hack...
Now we’ll never hear the end of her.
The horse?
Vanessa Williams, just like Kim Basinger is unusually attractive. Both of these over 50 y/o women outshine their daughters, even today. I think Kim had a harder life, having been married to Alec (bigbaby) Baldwin.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.