Michelle Obama: So 21st Century

DENVER -- Back in the dreary days just before the New Hampshire primary, an immigration activist had this to say about Barack Obama's candidacy and racial politics in America: the real test of the nation's evolution on race in the presidential race come when Americans wake up and realize that a President Obama delivers to the nation a black first lady. The White House redecorated by a black woman. The White House Christmas tree decorated at the direction of a black woman. State dinners presided over by a black woman -- a black woman from the South Side of Chicago. I think my friend was onto something.

The first lady role has always been an expression of a particular ideal of womanhood: demure, soft-spoken, sexless, harmless. First ladies who deviated from that narrative -- Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton -- suffered endless derision. Michelle Obama, with her impressive accomplishments, deep intelligence and confident presence will no doubt agitate the same sneering chorus of frightened men.

That's before we even consider our national pathologies around race. To begin with, the attributes ascribed to African-American women by our media and national mythology stand in direct opposition to the demure, soft-spoken, sexless ideal. Add in Michelle Obama's physical stature and unaffected mannerisms, and the chorus of scaredy tomcats who today make their home in right-wing media will no doubt be driven to an elevated level of madness.

But tonight's speech by Michelle Obama to the Democratic National Convention should go a long way to reassuring Joe Average, if not Joe Wingnut, that Michelle Obama has figured out how to be a first lady for her time. Never before in recent memory has a potential first lady seemed so confident and comfortable in the glare of the spotlight. Not only did she deliver a speech with an effective message (family, family, family), but she delivered it flawlessly. In her delivery (if less in substance), Ms. Obama revealed a great deal about herself -- not least of all, her unwillngness to diminish herself and her gifts to fit a sexist ideal. Yet, her message proved the perfect foil to her strong and flawless presentation, much as, in her sense of style, Michelle Obama's evocation of Jacqueline Kennedy does the same. (I want that green/blue dress.)

Michelle Obama tonight set out to convey to the American people a set of values reassuring in its evocation of traditional notions of family: Michelle Obama raised by a father who was "our provider," a stay-at-home mom and a protective older brother. Still, a glimmering of our transitional moment in gender roles and relations is found in Ms. Obama's expressed appreciation not only for her mother's caring nature, but also in her assertion that she saw in her daughters' eyes her mother's intelligence. And she permitted her father's finer qualities to be attributed, in her brother's introduction, to her.

Michelle Obama tonight also spoke a truth that has yet to be addressed in the story of this historic election: the unique situation of African-American women in the 2008 primary. Every insulting remark with a racial tinge aimed at Barack Obama, and every sexist depiction of Hillary Clinton -- all these were felt by African-American women in ways not imaginable by those who have not endured those harms as their own.

While Ms. Obama did not address that very particular situation head-on, she did allude to it in a more celebratory guise:

It is because of their will and determination that this week, we celebrate two anniversaries: the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote, and the 45th anniversary of that hot summer day when Dr. King lifted our sights and our hearts with his dream for our nation.

I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history -- knowing that my piece of the American Dream is a blessing hard-won by those who came before me.

If you look at Michelle Obama's valedictory tonight, you can take it at face value , and hear a message about the value of traditional family, laced with the sort of mythologizing with which political storying is rife. But read a bit between the lines, and you'll see something more nuanced, something a little paradoxical, a little mischievous.

Hillary Clinton, whom Michelle Obama rightfully appreciated tonight in her speech, cleared part of Michelle Obama's path for her: an educated woman, a career woman, an attorney, no less, serving the nation as helpmeet to the man in charge. But there's a good bit more of the brush to be cleared, and Michelle Obama tonight left the distinct impression that she's up to the job.

For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.

Follow Adele Stan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/addiestan

Comments

[AC500]

I love the way Michelle had Barack's back by so naturally and authentically in front of the whole convention no less corrected him by having Sasha clarify what city he was in when Michelle knew he had misspoken. What a great team.

[deminmo]

Michelle Obama proved one thing with her speech, good men
have educated powerful women standing beside them. I was
very impressed with the potential First Lady. She also brings
a sense of "every-person" to the campaign, and not the haughtyness
of someone who is in an upper income level. So, now I am much
more hopeful that Senator Obama will be the President for all the
people. I think their youngest daughter might be in the limelight
some day, she's very outspoken and bold!

[gabass]

You allude in your article to "Joe Average." In this segmented world, there really isn't much of a Joe Average except for those too lazy to escape the convenience of labeling. Whether Michelle Obama's speech will prove reassuring or not will be decided at the polls and through general speculation.

[DBMAC]

Even if the people the speech was supposed to reach, "Joe Wingnut" (and it is not just the Joes but the Jane Wingnuts too), will never be reached because they will never open their minds enough to consider a different viewpoint, for me who watched and listened to Michelle's speech, it was a really beautiful speech, delivered perfectly, down to the color of dress she had on that perfectly complimented her complexion. I felt profoundly grateful for her. I felt proud the Obama's have come along at this point in our history. We have a chance to elect this brilliant young couple to the White House. Barack and Michele Obama are graceful people. They don't need the stress, strife and danger of the job they are seeking, but you feel that they want to make the sacrifice so that they can continue to effect change. We will likely not get another chance to hire this couple because they have put their all into this race and if they do not win, I do not see them ever running again, so we need to elect them now.

[DrScientist]

I'm Joe Average, and I'm not impressed with Mrs. Obama in any way; all that I have heard in her speeches (up until the latest 'damage control' speech) was anger. Our nation, in her eyes, is bad, is mean, is not right. The same nation that gave her the privilege she enjoyes.

No, Joe Average will not be impressed. We aren't into the whole Black Liberation Theology Anger thing. Seriously. You'll see what I mean come election day.

[Pegi]

Why do you say she's angry, because Bill Orally says she's angry? she has presented herself as an average american working mom, doing an excellent job I must say1

[duck47]

I have watched at least ten of Michelle Obama's speeches from the primary season on C-span in their entirety. She primarily alternated between whining and complaining about how hard campaigning and being married to Obama was and what often bordered on deep anger and resentment toward just about everything. You need to go to c-span on line and watch these speeches before you just accept last night's version which was identified from dozens of sources as a damage control makeover.

I was very distracted during her speech by the fact that her army of handlers let her come on stage with the straps of her undergarments showing on the neckline of her dress. The dress was lovely but I thought it minimized her chest area while highlighting her disproportionately large back side. I don't mean to be overly critical, just honest.

[Tulka2]

You are poisoned by Fox news, my friend. When have you seen Michele Obama speak anywhere? What a lie. All television ever plays are sound bites and last night was your first good look at her. The Joe Average Americans i know are not afraid of fierce, gorgeous women. Real men are not afraid of strong women.

[ruthinking]

Joe Average/Dr­Scientist, your post reflects such a dreary view. Not impressed "in any way?" What does impress you? I shudder to think.

[cgpunker]

Dr. Scientist, with a name like that I'd expect you to think critically about Michelle Obama, her experiences and her words. Apparently, that's not possible.

[EasyCheese]

Although you have to remember that her words were most likely written by a professional speech writer...so not her words after all....

[deminmo]

DrScientist,
You mean you don"t get mad when you see a person get struck
by a car, people look on and do nothing? It happened not long ago.
Don't you get mad when despite the fact this is America, there are
people who still go hungry? Doesn't it make you mad when 14 year
old girls have babies all alone and abandon that child because they
are too frightened, or too immature to care for it? Yes we have a lot
in this country, but there is a lot that doesn't work, and a lot of systems
that need to be torn down and rebuilt. To me that is what Michelle talks
about. If you aren't getting mad, then maybe you are part of the problem.

[Pegi]

Michelle Obama was lovely!! She exudes caring, love for her country and her family and her children are well behaved and beautiful. They have done a wonderful job and they are a family who loves eachother deeply. I would be proud to have her as my first lady and Barack as my President.

[dapperd72]

Michelle graciously proved last night that a strong, independent woman can be both loyal and committed to her husband and children while firmly rooted in her personal principles and unconventional thoughts that transcend patriarchal stereotypes of traditional women's roles. I'd much rather have such a free spirit as First Lady (or President someday) than a Stepford wife as Cindy McCain certainly strikes me just as much as Laura Bush. Both are clearly intelligent and well-educated in their own right, but nevertheless seem to obey their husband's expectations unquestioningly. Michelle strikes the right balance between independence and devotion, unlike Hillary Rodham in 1992 when she quickly developed a reputation for angry defiance of male dominance, rebuking the Tammy Wynette mode of "Stand by your man." No one could ever reasonably stake claim to denouncing Michelle as any kind of racist, sexist or anti-American fanatic as the "New Yorker" magazine satire and Faux News pundits would have us believe.

[Tulka2]

I won't be the first to say that the sad difference between British politics and ours is that in England, there's a big difference between the "Head of State" is (the Queen) and their civil servants who they expect to deliever services. The Brits look at their Prime Ministers the way we look at our mailmen or policemen. They expect good service. Their Queen is regarded the way this article regards a potential Obama administration. It's crazy.

Look, if you want to talk about Michele Obama as Queen of the United States or even the United Nations of the Planet...? I am absolutly on-board. She is beautiful and fierce and wonderful and wow. My point is we are putting her in an almost impossible position.

We will fall to pieces if we don't incorporate a parlimentary system somehow soon.

[IstvanK]

It would be nice if Ms. Stan recognized that there is also a sneering chorus of frightened women and for every Joe Wingnut, there is a Ms. Wingnut as well.

[bioslois]

Even Michelle Obama's exceptional speech will not change the mind of some hateful people who post comments on various blogs. Do these people do anything else with their lives? It makes me wonder why even read (or respond to) these comments. Then there are reasonable, respectful comments and so this dialogue can be worthwhile.

Please let the Obama-Biden Administration begin to heal the hate and cruel anger that has been fomented by the Rovian mentality that has captured OUR country for too long.

[Tulka2]

Did you know that if you go to John McCain's website it will tell you what the "message of the day" is and gives you points for going to Democratic websites and leaving goofy "ditto head" messages? They get some kind of a prize for so many points. Check it out.

[Rescisco]

It was a "nice" speech, brilliantly delivered etc. I suppose it was even "necessary" on some politically retarded level. But I have never been a fan these sort of cliche presentations. Trying to appeal to "Joe Average, if not Joe Wingnut" is a waste of time. They were not watching. Also, making a presentation to please them is (from their perspective) admitting the validity of their criticisms. It validates their ignorance and prejudice rather than challenging it and, as such, gives it equal weight with reason and knowledge. My attitude is do not appeal to them, crush their sorry asses! Show the world what ugly fools they are. And now tonight, we will suffer through a keynote address appealing to bi-partisanship. "Nice." "Sweet." "Stupid." I still say crush their sorry asses! Sweetness and reason, and "values" speeches never work for Democrats. No more surrender, no retreat! Stand and fight!

[rwe]

Michelle and Barack have had to repackage themselves to America...Michelles speech was the antithesis of the feminists mantra... She came just short of saying she is pro life which she probably is in her heart of hearts

[repearwo]

One can be pro-life and pro-choice, I am. They are not the same issue, as much as the right wing wants you to think they are.

[burndtdan]

i believe the correct response to your comment is "lol wut"

[cgpunker]

Antithesis? I'm not sure you know what that word means.

Michelle's speech was about the American dream - a great, happy, healthy life and family. What's so anti feminst about celebrating family and values?

How does being a successful woman, with a satisfying career AND a great family make her an anti feminist?

[gaebolgaes]

meine leibling...almost all blacks are pro life...but we know that the rabid pro lifers are also pro death penalty and pro war and they are racists to boot.blacks believe that once a girl is pregnant...its kinfolk.bu­t...sadly.­..we would rather ;ose a few relatives than side with the racists and warmongers...and those who would try teenagers as adults and give them the death penalty. if michelle obama or reverend wright or any black person..in their rage...fru­stration..­.and pain has said something unpatriotic ...ask yourself how you would feel if your history was enslavemen­t...jimcro­w and undeserved persecution.we always knew...that if one of us ever ran for president...that we would never get the KKK and/or various assorted racists to give us their vote.if obama s skin was white..even with his so called lack of experience...a doddering old mentally disabled elderly man would not even be considered as competition for a young healthy vibrant mentally sharp harvard law professor.it would be a no brainer.

[zofy]

The First Lady's role is not policy making!

[repearwo]

And Michelle, unlike Hillary, does not require it be that.

[lencho73]

Last night I listened to Michelle Obama the speech on NPR and it truly moved me by her words and her story. This morning I watch the same speech and was disturbed by Fox news video pool coverage. If I had only watched the speech I would have been left with the impression that the If I only attending the speech on television was a bunch of board white people and a few happy black people. How could the democrats let the partisan hacks @ fox control the images seen at their convention.

[OB08]

That's why you watch CSPAN and MSNBC. Fox is trash and their ratings are low and behind all the other networks.

[tuttlemsm]

Not only did Michelle Obama comport herself with her usual aplomb, but she also raised the bar for the inevitable comparisons. What, if anything, of substance or value does Cindy McCain have to say to the American people?

Let them drink beer?

[mikegoodyearaz85338]

Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain are not running for office. Who cares?

[mabinog]

The Presidency ceased being about a single man many years ago my friend. It is about his wife, his VP, and who he chooses for his cabinet. The Executive is not run by one man. That one man is the ultimate decision maker and is ultimately responsible but the Presidency is about a group of people.

If you really want to reduce it to one man. Probably the best you can do is say that his judgment in selecting the people he surrounds himself with the most important thing.