Michelle Obama is an engaging woman with a brilliant mind who is also an exceptional public servant and an accomplished attorney. She is astute, more than politically proficient and a force to be reckoned with. But, when people ask Michelle to describe herself, she doesn’t hesitate — she’s Malia and Sasha’s mom.
We’ve watched as the classically coiffed and immaculately attired professional delivered eloquent speech after speech on her husband’s behalf. But it’s important that we connect with her on another level. She’s made her feelings about racial equality, the Iraq war, and children and families clear. And while these are supposedly sentiments the African American community shares, we have for the most part remained reluctant or relatively reserved from enthusiastically and overtly supporting Mrs. Obama. Why? She’s a dutiful daughter, a devoted wife and a doting mother –she’s one of us.
So at your next “Waiting to Exhale” session or in conversation with our husbands and lovers, let’s challenge them and each other to guard against falling prey to complacency and the “they don’t need my help” syndrome. Show some love and support by registering and voting. Who knows a black woman president could be right on the heels of a black man president. –roz edward
