Michelle Obama on Diversity, Comfort Zones, and America

People like MIchelle, white or black , it makes no difference; are so self righteous, that all they can do is trash everyone else, lecture everyone else. Michelle, and Obama might want to give a long look in the mirror, and search their own souls.

I am not impressed.

I think that so many people are over-simplifying the Obamas' relationship with Rev. Wright. Is he wrong? YES, in a lot of ways. Is his attitude full of irrational fervor, paranoia and hate? YES. Is any of it based on truth, proven by history? YES. Tuskeegee Experiments- Black men were knowledgeably allowed to progressively deteriorate from a disease that they thought they were being treated for by a government sanctioned, funded and managed clinic. The original breaking of the levees in New Orleans, not the Katrina version but the version where the government intentionally blew up the levees and flooded the Ninth Ward to protect the more affluent areas of New Orleans. Did both of these events happen? YES.
LOOK people. Obama is close to this man like family, but please name a single person that doesn't have a family member who harbors political, religious or just general life views that they don't agree with his or her self. I'm sure that plenty of the people jumping on the 'Obama is bad because he has a familial relationship with a person with bad views' band wagon have the exact same problem. I know for a fact that one white young man that I openly dated had family members that use the N word. Did he? NO. Did he agree with them using it? NO. If he did I'm sure he wouldn't have been dating me. But back to the main point, when you accept people into your family you accept the good, the bad and the ugly. You can't control family member's actions. And honestly, I side with Obama in his refusal to abandon one of the only paternal role models and mentors that he has had in his life. If he'd distanced his self from Rev. Wright too quickly people would have been complaining about him lacking loyalty. Because I personally mistrust anyone that spends years with a person and then denies that relationship because the other person has said or done something (excluding criminal acts of course) they didn't agree with or made them look bad for the blood sucking, mud raking press. The Obamas aren't necessarily bad people because Uncle Wright said some crazy things in his declining years. Or wait is that explanation only valid for white people and families?

Please forgive all the typos and grammatical errors. I was writing from pure emotion and while at work. Back to the grind...

As I type I am asking the Lord to guide my words.
Michelle's words struck so deeply in me--- not just because I find it to be identical to my experience, but also that she was willing to say it in front of "other" people. These are the conversations that black people are having in America and truth be told, these are the conversations that white, latino and asian people are having too, if they ever think about the subject-- at least they were in the highschool and colleges I attended. As a black woman who grew up in the Midwest as a daughter of two hard Christian working blue collar (and later college- educated) Southerners who lived through segregation and Jim Crow I have always been taught that love and tolerance is the key to change BUT that being realistic about the world I was facing was the only way to survive. When I was younger and came home crying because my white classmates had called me out of my name, told me my hair was nappy, told me I was too "white" to really be black, told me I was too smart to really be black, asked me if my mother was really my mother because she was "really dark" (which is funny because she's so not) or asked how I "got such long hair"-- when I came home and brought all this to my mother she said, "Do not hate people because they are ignorant. Pray for them. But do not succumb to their ignorance. You are not inferior. You are beautiful. You are smart and deserve to be here."
This is the message that is prevalent in most black churches. That is afrocentric. There are so many places where we are not represented-- in tv, in magazines, at school, in our jobs. In these places were are told our natural hair isn't professional, our music is ignorant, our people are to blame for their lot in life...the list goes on, and it is hard to not feel inferior. Afrocentric is not anti-white. It is a lesson in self-love. I have heard for years and continue to read that when black people want more people blacks in media, more blacks in representative gov't, more blacks in leadership roles, there is a contention of white people who say, "You want it so bad, then go get your own." But when we do, go get our own universities, churches, tv channels, clothing lines, music labels, magazines....it is called separtist and racist. The message in most of these black churches is not "no white people"-- I go to a church of more than 5000 and at least 1000 members are white-- the message is, "black people you can be yourself here." Now, we talk about hate speech-- It is HATE for what we encounter on a regular basis. It is not hate for the people who, sometimes ignorantly, radiate racism. Even at 25 I have encountered both blatant and systematic racism in the deep South where I attended undergrad and in the Midwest where I graduated from law school and attend grad school. In hick towns and metropolis'. And it makes me ANGRY-- but to avoid stooping to the level of my transgressors I vent in and to my circle of peers and in my church home. Rev. Wright's message is not one of HATE for white people as a whole. It is disdain for a culture of "white america" that continues to be stuck in the past. There is the same disdain for "black folks" who won't let go of that same past. Please don't pretend like you don't know (or haven't yourself) anyone who has every said "black people" in the context of something negative and did not mean ALL black people. I wouldn't call you or that person racist if you meant some black people. People feel comfortable doing that when they are with people of the same race because it is accepted and the context is understood. This is what Michelle was referring to. We all might have friends outside our race but feel more comfortable with those who are from the same "experience". This does not ring true for all people, but I for the vast majority of Americans is does. THAT IS AMERICA! Why is it exclusive to America---because we are such a melting pot. There is no nation in the world who COULD have so many segregate groups because the populations simply do not exist. The outliers would just join in with other groups. For most black people who are dealing in the present and seeing racism on a regular basis (and b/c of circumstances alot of black people don't) the need to talk about it is vital to our sanity. Michelle's comments are so true. I recently befriended a white guy at work. He's never really been around black people, even though he went to a college where at least 25% of the population is black. I am a very candid person and asked him straight out why he'd never had any black friends. He said, "I didn't think I understood black people and we (white kids) just had our own group. They (blacks) had their own group. The asians did too. It's like that everywhere." He even discussed having negative feelings about the white kids who hung out with or dated black people. Then I asked him, "Why do you like me. I'm black and I hang out with mostly black people." His response was, "I think if I knew more black people like you, I would have more (black) friends." Did he mean "educated", "non-ghetto" or those who don't seem "angry". "Yeah" he said. I thought for a second and said, "I do get angry, but I don't let it consume me- but believe me when I am in private I VENT!" It isn't fake or phony of Barack and Michelle to want change but also acknowledge reality. It isn't hypocritical for them to go to a place that has been the sounding board and a place to vent in the black community since blacks have been in America. It doesn't mean that they support EVERYTHING being said in the church, but it is understandable to me at least that they wouldn't run away from a few sermons because they made them a bit uncomfortable when they feel like it is one of the only places to where true understanding is attained. They didn't throw the baby out with the dishwater---. I know this is long. But is just saddens me that truth and candor such as Michelle's will never be understood by some people because it will always be taken out of context--- And this is because the context in where it is so "on point" is so far away from the context in which it comes off as condescending and racist. The only way to bridge that gap between the two worlds is to be OPEN and UPFRONT about it. If you don't want change--- please be honest enough to admit it. If you do, please stop condemning people for taking the makeup off and showing true faces. It is a humbling experience and it is scary and it will be for awhile if America is really going to be the great nation it could be---. But eventually WE can get past all of this-- and the "thems" won't be black people or white people (or asian, latino or those of middle-eastern descent)--- We will shake our heads in disgust and pity at THEM, those who were too ignorant and scared to confront the truth and work to move past it. And for the poster who is in your senior year in college--- you might have a mixed group of friends but there are both whites and blacks who wouldn't hang with you for that very reason-- they aren't racist-- they just aren't comfortable.

How can we have respect for someone who takes their children to a church that uses such hateful language both the old and the new.

Geez, Michelle, and I thought you said you were really proud of America. Just words.

How dare she lecture America. What arrogance! She and Barack chose to do nothing about the hate speech that was spewed by "Uncle" Jeremiah for years and years, and now they want to lecture America and say that we are ignorant?

I reject that kind of politics. And so will America.

Josie, one more point. The church is not only for blacks. But it is celebrating blacks. I realize that whites don't realize the amount of pain that still exist in the blk community. Some of it is related to slavery and Jim Crow. Some of it is self-inflicted. But there is a drive among black leaders- church and political- to promote black love and self love among blacks. This goes back to what Michelle said. We can not know this stuff about each other unless we talk about it.

Josie, I fully realize that the CLIPS that have circulating on the internet of Rev Wright are hateful. However, they are clips. I have listened to the full sermons associated with the clips. Rev Wright said some things in those clips that I do not agree with. However, some of the things were true. The much maligned clip of the 9/11 sermon turned out to be a beautiful sermon. He was quoting a former ambassodor when he talked about "chickens coming home to roost". The media showed that part- knowing that it would garner attention and anger people. But they did not say that Rev Wright was quoting someone. They did not show him praying for the victims. They did not show him calling for himself and the congregation to come closer to God and each other as a result of this "tragedy" (his words). Why is the media not required to report on the this story with balance and responsibility?

People can not assume to know this man or this church w/o doing some research. How many of us really want to be judged based on the actions of our worst days?

I I have learned so much from reading your varied posts condemning the so - called "race- baiting" Obama family. Wow, talk about over the top!!! First, this was a comment someone dug up from Jan. of 2008 - which explains not only HER previous shortcomings but something that should be fairly common of the students from Mrs. Obama's era; many of US,BLACK,WHITE, ASIAN,etc tended to segregate ourselves in public areas. ( i.e. dining halls,etc) Michelle is CORRECT! WE WOULD HAVE SEMINARS WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD ALL GET ALONG!! IT WAS SIMPLY AN ACCURATE OBSERVATION; AND YET SHE IS BEING ATTACKED!!! LET'S SLOW DOWN
AND TRY TO TALK TO EACH OTHER!! OH YEAH, AS IT WAS A FRUITLESS DREAM THEN; I GUESS YOU FOLKS CONTINUE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT IT IS INDEED HOPELESS; WHY
BOTHER, YOU ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN HILLARY WINNING! LIKE BILL CLINTON INFERRED, IF SHE'S THE CANDIDATE YOU WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS RACE STUFF!

Michelle Obama is a racist and Anti-American. I would be too if I had listened to Rev. Wright for 20 years.

Stacey ,

If the church was devoted to White this and that, would that be racist? I think saying the US of KKK A is racist. I think saying that whites injected black people with AIDS is racist and crazy. Who would follow this man...no one I want as president.

I don't like McCain at all but I will never vote for Obama. I will protest against Obama if he is the nominee. He will make this country and this world just like the church he has attended for the past 20 years --hate filled. I know a lot of you Obama supporters would like that.

For the lif of me, I can't understand why every word a person says has to be scrutinzed and commented on. Is that was this country has become. It amazes me. I'm sick and tired if this whole campaign and can't wait till it's over. Things were good in the 90's when Bill was in office, however, this is not the 90's and jobs are not as plentiful as they were back then, at least not in Ohio. New jobs need to be created but how do you do that when every time you look up, another company is shuting down or the work is being sent to other countries. All you die-hard, so called patriots are full of crap. The U.S. is a great country, but it also has its problems. What is so wrong with someone pointing the problems with this country. Did it occur to you that just because things are going great for you, for others, it's not so great. Sometimes you have to look at life through the lenses of others, which most are not willing to do because do do so would mean you would have to admit that maybe some things need to change so that everyone can be properous and not just a select few. People are poor, not because they want to be but because the system is designed to keep them that way via poor public school systems to start. If everyone was properly educated, then you wouldn't have a need for social services and some of these other organizations that make a living off the backs of poor, under educated people of all races. My point is, don't think Hillary can bring back the good ole days of the 90's. They are long gone.

Peace........

Bill38112,
If the church that you attend is racially mixed- beyond having a few blacks or whites, then your church is truly in the minority. Both whites and blacks agree that the most segregated hour in America is 11am on Sunday.

Trinity's mission statement is about celebrating black people. The church is open to all people. Afrocentric is not racist. However, I am finding out that many white people think that any thing celebrating black people is anti-white. That is simply not true!

While Mrs. Obama is critical of an America where ethnic groups choose to associate with their own members, she has chosen to perpetuate this segregation by virtue of membership in a church community which promotes an Afrocentric agenda.

I believe most Americans belong to churches that have no racial identity codified in mission statements or any other religious tract. That's the America I live in. If the Obamas want to be my President and First Lady, they need to affiliate themselves with a church that represents the America we all want, not the America we want to leave behind.

To view people and situations critically is not demonizing. It's expressing an opinion. I think Michelle Obamo has a way to go in presenting herself as first lady material. For one thing, she really wasn't carrying off the 1960ish Jackie Kennedy look too well.

We need to look at the larger point. We don't understand each other because we don't spend time with each other. We directly or indirectly by our actions teach our children that they should stick to their own kind. If people continue to hang on every word- looking for something to demonize people over, we will never ever ever get to a point of unity. Isn't that the goal?

Anything, anything, anything to bring Michelle and Barack Obama down. The media and others will do anything... Yea, this is America, but I have forgotten how beautiful America is, because our racism and bigotry is just plain ugly. It has stained us to the core of our ignorance.
We love you Michelle Obama, because you are one of the most beautiful American women.

Conservative commentators believe in free speech for themselves. Everything Michelle Obama said makes sense, from the perspective of a black woman in America. They as (mostly old white) men like to complain about her comments but she's saying from her perspective. They seem to think free speech is a one way street. Frankly, more comments like hers and Pastor Wright need to heard.
Folks need to wake up.

This was from Jan. 08. At least since the Wright controversy, she's more reticent and cautious. On the You Tube link, in her typical manner, she chastises her listeners while offering the redemptive hope of her husband. Hopefully, her rhetoric will stay toned down.