A long time ago, I had a fascinating conversation with one of then candidate-Obama's staffers who just happened to be visiting a home I was staying at while on the campaign. I asked him about criticisms Obama had faced from Cornel West and other African-American commentators for his failure to attend the State of the Black Union forum hosted every year by Tavis Smiley. The aide explained to me that what some black intellectual leaders hadn't yet realized was that this time, it wasn't just a case of a black candidate running to represent black America. This was a black candidate who could actually win, and who had the opportunity to be president of all of America, not just a portion of it. As such, he didn't need to make all of the rounds that African-American candidates make when they are just trying to appeal to black voters.
I thought of this when I read the below story, especially this quote: "Why wasn't she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment." I'm not for a second going to dispute the fact that the election of Obama was massively significant for African-Americans in America, for nothing less than the fact that for once, I believe, blacks in the country felt as though they too were truly Americans, and could potentially be viewed as individuals -- as human beings -- by everyone. But if that is the case, then Michelle Obama shouldn't have to wear clothes by a black designer just because she is black. She should wear anything she wants. And the point of Obama's election is not that African-Americans had a singular moment on January 20th. The hope is that now, every day is their moment, because in Obama's America, everyone has a chance to succeed. Dismissing such a basic principal -- albeit one that has never been realized -- as nothing more than "Kumbaya" thinking reveals a mindset in which this election was just a fluke, and wasn't really representative of a fundamental shift in the thinking of the American electorate regarding race. We'll have to see how true this turns out to be, but for the time being, why not at least consider it to be a possibility?
Here's the related story:
FIRST LADY UNDER FIRE:
Amid all the praise of First Lady Michelle Obama's fashion choices for the inaugural festivities, the Black Artists Association is taking her to task for not wearing anything by an African American designer. Cofounder Amnau Eele said Wednesday she will make a formal appeal to the First Lady's office on behalf of the BAA. "It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are the World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?" Eele said. The BAA leader was a runway model in her own right for Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Bill Blass and others.Asked if perhaps the First Lady isn't looking at the world colorlessly, Eele said, "It's one thing to look at the world without color but she had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn't she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment."
A lot of people thought that America was racist...NOW there is a president of African descent (and by the way NOT a "black president"), thoughless minds still need to find scape goats for their own racism. It's no wonder a wise person once said that we only externalise our own fears and doubts.
I am not implying that racism doesn't exist, what I am saying is this :
the more you look after it, the more you are bound to witness it galore...
America (as a whole) is not stupid to choose somebody just because of the colour of their skins. It wouldn't be a superpower in the Whole World if it did accept such a puny mindframe.
As "propitiousmoment" below mentioned delightfully, America voted for Obama because of his ideals and positive ideas.....and I forgot to mention, he happened to be black :) .That's it!
Stay Blessed and keep Growing thoughless minds!
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt in what you stated, but there are ALOT of people who voted for BHO simply because of his skin color. I wished I had a quarter for everytime I've heard, mostly blacks say, "I voted for him because he's black, it is so wonderful to finally have a black President." And that was their reasoning for voting for him.
I could care less whether a President's skin color is black, white, green, or polka dot. The thing that is botherersome is the reverse racism of voting for BHO just because of his skin color. For those who did vote for him mainly because of his skin color, it lessens the "specialness" of a black man being our President.
Racism is foolish to begin with, and reverse racism is no different. If BHO was fully white, not as many black people would have voted for him.
It is very ignorant and stupid of Amnau Eele to judge Michelle Obama because of the skin color of the designer. They have learned nothing from the election. This is the chance for Barack Obama to put this country back on the right track for ALL people. The fact that Obama won the election is amazing in itself. And all these people can say is they don't like the skin color of Michelle's designers? Seriously?!
Then there is the possible influence of the Retailer/Stylist Ikram Goldman, who she alledgely worked with very closely to choose her attire for the inauguration events. What possible options was she shown by the stylist? Were any by black designers included?
My moneys on option one.
Also, the Black Artist are whining like victims...Why don't they submit some designs to the White House and be proactive in lieu of complaining after the fact. They should share in the excitement in "Firsts." I don't remember this organization complaining when previous First Ladies choose European designers all the time. At least She is keeping the $$$ in USA and promoting People of Color who live the American Dream when they arrived here from their foreign lands.
Give me a break...
As for Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, somewhere along the line, someone told them that they represented black America. THEY DON'T. Tavis is an opportunist and he doesn't represent me as a black woman, and Cornel West is an embarassment to black America. We don't look THAT raggedy. Both of these people, who happen to be black, only served to piss off the black community to the point that Tavis was getting death threats and thousands of hate mail. He deserved the community whooping he got because he doesn't speak for the masses. Nobody voted him into office. He's on PBS where the average viewer, black or otherwise, isn't turning to for their "news" or "current events".
He lost a lot of viewers and respect in the black community, and he will never be forgotten for what he did while we were all working, volunteering, hoping and praying that we'd elect our first black President. To the basement with BOTH he and West. They can't get any of my attention ever again.