Why, I ask, is it that people do not feel the need to racially modify the woman in that equation?! A Black man and a white woman. Not, to quote Seinfeld, that there's anything wrong with that, but I think it's important that we remain mindful of the fact that a white woman (and especially a former First Lady) contesting the nomination is not the same as a woman of color contesting the nomination. Now when and if that ever happens, well... I hope I'm alive to see it.
Which brings me to the interesting issue of Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama, who now stands poised (and indeed she is wonderfully poised) on the historical precipice of becoming America's first Black First Lady. Damn - just those five words strung together make you realize what a radical reality that would be for this country. I mean, we've already heard - albeit in a slightly mind-bending context - the words "America's first Black President" used liberally (no pun intended) to describe none other than William Jefferson Clinton. But "America's first Black First Lady?!" This is unheard of ya'all!
And wouldn't it be something.
So here is Michelle Obama, now coming under scrutiny, and probably about to become the most scrutinized Black woman ever to walk the planet. This, no doubt, will be a very interesting process to observe.
And in the meantime, I have one magic bullet suggestion. Michelle Obama is scheduled to co-host "The View" next week in order to reach out and grab white women, whose support seems to be eluding the Obama campaign thus far. I say, have at it and knock 'em dead, which I'm confident she will if they aren't too intimidated by her intellect and composure.
But let's cut to the chase: Who is it that commands the attention - and indeed the largest market share - of so many women in general in this country? That's right: Oprah Winfrey. So... Oprah needs to (and no doubt will) invite Michelle Obama on her show to give her a forum for making herself known to an audience that apparently is having trouble warming up to the Obamas. We've seen the power of Oprah's endorsement of Obama. Now let's see what an appearance on her show can do for his wife. Make it so, Oprah!
And I think it's important to clarify that it isn't that Michelle Obama has a likeability problem, but rather that by and large the American public are not accustomed to having a Black woman attached to such high stakes. And that includes Condoleezza Rice. After all, Michelle Obama represents revolution. Condoleezza Rice represents... well, to tell you the truth I still don't get what the hell she represents. She is completely mystifying to me. But the bottom line is that she has helped George Bush to fuck things up completely, and Michelle Obama represents the antithesis of that - indeed the antidote to it - in the public imagination. In my opinion, Condoleezza Rice has never represented hope to the American people. She has been a spin doctor and an apologist and a mouthpiece and no doubt at times a ventriloquist for George W. Bush. And any one of those offenses is unforgivable. Put them all together and you've got something very wrong.
T-shirt for sale on Venice Beach, April 2008.
January 20th, 2009.
