Your love for Michelle Obama isn't as pure as you think

The former First Lady delivered an inspiring speech on Monday night, but the praise of the left is conditional when it comes to Black women — and we should be honest about that

Danielle Campoamor
New York
Tuesday 18 August 2020 20:35 BST
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Michelle Obama delivered a pre-recorded speech from her home
Michelle Obama delivered a pre-recorded speech from her home

The opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention quickly turned to the Michelle Obama show after the former First Lady gave yet another iconic speech. Poetic, pragmatic, and powerful, Obama spoke to a nation divided, refusing to mince words as she said, plainly, that “Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country”; that he is “clearly in over his head”; that he “simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.”

The praise from the left was swift, some going so far to tweet that “Black women will save the United States” (as if it is the sole responsibility of Black women to rescue a sexist, racist society from itself). But inviting anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ Republicans to speak at a convention that will end the most diverse pool of Democratic presidential hopefuls in history with the nomination of another old white man makes the endless praise and public displays of admiration and devotion for Obama shallow at best. The attacks Senator and vice-presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has already endured — some from within the Democratic party, — is proof positive that we’ll love Michelle Obama right up until the moment she ever decides to seek an ounce of political power.

Our love for women in this country is conditional, and Black women even more so — they must remain in the background, happy to play a supporting role, lest they be branded “too ambitious,” “too calculating,” “too much.”

Obama herself hinted at this hard truth during her speech. After righteously criticizing Trump and his failed presidency, she said, “I understand that my message won’t be heard by some people. We live in a nation that is deeply divided, and I am a Black woman speaking at the Democratic Convention.” She then went on to seemingly assure listeners that she would not, in fact, be running for office in the future, saying “you know I hate politics.”

Because, in this country, when women step out of the shadows of their fathers or their husbands, their male bosses or male mentors, their loyalty is questioned, their intentions scrutinized, and their “likeability” carefully studied. Senator Elizabeth Warren was “too needy.” Senator Amy Klobuchar was a “calculating.” Stacey Abrams was “obsessively ambitious.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a “f**king b***h”.

And it’s not just right-wing politicians and foul-mouthed Republicans that women in politics must steal themselves against, particularly women of color. If Michelle Obama hates politics, it’s because she knows what it would do to her.

Michelle Obama: You cannot 'fake your way' through the presidency

And if we truly loved Michelle Obama as much as many of us trip over ourselves to publicly claim, we would stop pushing women, especially Black and brown women, to the back of the room. We would have nominated Senator Kamala Harris, or Senator Elizabeth Warren, or Senator Amy Klobuchar, or Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, for president of the United States, instead of asking a woman — and in this instance, a biracial Black woman — to settle for yet another supporting role.

We would talk less about a woman’s “likeability” and more about her qualifications.

We wouldn’t consider a woman’s capabilities to be a suitable reason to question her intentions or loyalty.

We would stop telling women that they should be grateful with the positions of power they currently hold, instead of vying for a bigger seat at the table they’ve already fought like hell to reach.

Donald Trump claims Michelle Obama's DNC speech was 'extremely divisive'

We would stop labeling Black women “angry” and Latinx women “fiery”. And we would stop asking women, especially Black women, to save this country when we’ve done everything we can to deter them from running for office and pursuing real power that would enable them to evoke real, lasting change. When we’ve done nothing but get in the way while simultaneously degrading and devaluing the Black women who have been responsible for every major catalyst for systemic change — the Gladys Bentleys and Marsha P Johnsons, the Shafia Monroes and the Monica Simpsons, the Alicia Garzas and Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometis and the Tarana Burkes — public professions of undying devotion are nothing if not hollow.

Donald Trump seems well aware of the power of women, particularly Black and brown women. He has attacked Senator Harris, calling her a “mad woman” and claiming she’s the “meanest Senator” and “disrespectful.” And, to no one’s surprise, he also attacked Michelle Obama for her speech, saying she was “extremely divisive” and “in over her head.”

The power of women is feared by the right and stifled by the left. So perhaps we should save our Michelle Obama love letters and, instead, do better by those she represents. Because a love letter to a woman with no political power sends a very strong message indeed.

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