Michelle Obama: Challenges and Victories May 22, 2013Expert BlogsOff

Michelle Obama has created a tremendous amount of international excitement and dialogue. I find it interesting this is occurring as I do not recall such dialogue taking place about Mrs. Bush over the last eight years. Maybe I wasn’t interested or maybe it’s in fact a truth. Nevertheless, I continue to follow the dialogue surrounding Michelle ranging from fashion, home decor, politics, motherhood and a plethora of other topics and issues. Although, I may know the answer to the following question, I ask “why so much conversation about Michelle Obama?” While most of this dialogue is refreshing and exciting some of it is appalling and upsetting to include the negative images of her suggesting she looks like a monkey and so many others I refuse to exploit.

Indeed Michelle Obama is a remarkable woman in her own right and many of us know the challenges she will face as the first African American first lady. The reality is we know she will face the expected challenges simply because she is the first lady, however there are additional challenges she will face because she is an African-American woman. I have kept a close eye on the many appearances and events involving Michelle and must say I am pleased, proud and affirmed by the manner in which she responds to the nay sayers and critics.

Michelle Obama according to the white house website says first and foremost ” she is Malia and Sasha’s mom.” One thing I can say for sure is she is committed to her family and without a doubt the images we see as they engage with each other are true and genuine. Michelle Obama is a woman, a mother and a wife just like many other women who just happens to be in the spotlight. I am confident that she will have many victories over the next four years and one of the greatest victories is that of a wonderful, engaged and committed mother. I applaud her for exemplifying the thing many women desire, work-life balance. The one thing that is clear despite what critics may say is her children are a top priority.

According to the Chicago Tribune Michelle Obama’s first days as First Lady make her look a lot like “First Mom.” The article states “she flops down on the floor to read books to children in public and schedules games for the kids at White House parties. Every afternoon after school, she’s home to greet her daughters. She huddled with White House chefs in the kitchen to help preview Obama’s first state dinner. And she has placed an explicit priority on opening up the White House to people who have never been invited there before.”

I hope women across the nation will sift through the “madness” generated by the media and see Michelle for the extraordinary woman she is, give her credit for the accomplishments made prior to being the first lady and watch and learn from her way of holding such a prestigious position. I hope you will join me in supporting our new first lady and other women who are creating social change through activism and get involved in your own community. We can be the wind beneath their wings while being the wings beneath each other’s wings as we make 2009 a pivotal year for women. It’s time to walk the walk and be the change we want to see in the world.

I have been inspired to start a campaign called “Letters to our Sisters” (Vibrant Women International) a program/campaign dedicated to supporting the mission and work of amazing women (local and national) who are living to give! I encourage you to leave your comments on how you will begin to support our First Lady Michelle Obama. Please visit the White House site and leave your comments for Michelle Obama. All women are encouraged to participate and I am especially urging African American women to sign in and let your voice be heard. This is our opportunity to dramatically change how the world views, responds to and treats women of color and I believe Michelle Obama will be instrumental in making that a reality but she cannot do it alone. 

You can also write to Michelle:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

For more information on Letters to My Sisters contact me at [email protected] and or join the social network designed to bring socially conscious women together to create the change we want to see in the world. Visit Vibrant Women International.

By Catrice Jackson

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