“Becoming” (2018) is the book where Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the US from 2009 to 2017, tells the story of her life thus far.
It has been a huge bestseller in North America, the bestselling book in the US in 2018. At Goodreads it got 4.60 stars out of five (92%) based on 271,064 reviews – no mean feat. The waiting list at my library was so long that I am getting the book only now.
I read the last 15 pages of chapter 17 – the most interesting part, to see if I would like it. It goes from February to July 2008, when her husband was running for president and the press was demonizing her. I wanted to hear her side of it.
Michelle Obama on the media:
“It was as if there were some cartoon version of me out there wreaking havoc, a woman I kept hearing about but didn’t know – a too-tall, too-forceful, ready-to-emasculate Godzilla of a political wife named Michelle Obama.”
On the Angry Black Woman stereotype:
“I was female, black, and strong, which to certain people, maintaining a certain mind-set, translated only to ‘angry.’ It was another damaging cliche, one that’s been forever used to sweep minority women to the perimeter of every room, an unconscious signal not to listen to what we’ve got to say.”
On her shining moment in 2008 when she said:
“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country.”
she says that was taken out of context.
On the Reverend Wright affair:
“Barack and I were dismayed to see this, a reflection of the worst and most paranoid parts of the man who’d married us and baptized our children. Both of us had grown up with family members who viewed race through a lens of cranky mistrust. I’d experienced Dandy’s simmering resentment over the decades he’d spent being passed by professionally because of his skin color, as well as Southside’s worries that his grandkids weren’t safe in white neighborhoods. Barack, meanwhile, had listened to Toot, his white grandmother, make offhanded ethnic generalizations and even confess to her black grandson that she sometimes felt afraid when running into a black man on the street. We had lived for years with the narrow-mindedness of some of our elders, having accepted that no one is perfect, particularly those who’d come of age in a time of segregation. Perhaps this had caused us to overlook the more absurd parts of Reverend Wright’s spitfire preaching, even if we hadn’t been present for any of the sermons in question. Seeing an extreme version of his vitriol broadcast in the news, though, we were appalled. The whole affair was a reminder of how our country’s distortions about race could be two-sided – that the suspicion and stereotyping ran both ways.”
Because righteous anger at White racism is just as bad as White racism itself.
Overall: She (or more likely a ghostwriter) is a good writer – I cried at Malia’s birthday party when she turned ten – but the book seems too Whitewashed.
– Abagond, 2019.
Sources: Goodreads (2019).
See also:
- Michelle Obama – written February 1st 2008
- February to July 2008:
- The Sapphire stereotype – the Angry Black Woman thing
- In defence of Michelle Obama – of her shining moment
- The Reverend Wright affair
- Obama’s Race Speech – her husband’s speech on the affair
- whitey
- Michelle Obama’s Afro
- Gratuitous Obama picture – shows Barack and Malia Obama on her tenth birthday, July 4th 2008
- Can Michelle Obama be her true Black self: the remix
- Obama retrospective – written January 26th 2017
- other memoirs of Black women:
- How to find a good book: the 15 Year Rule – we will not know how good this book truly is till 2033
627
“Because righteous anger at White racism is just as bad as White racism itself.”
I’ve got the whitewashed vibe, after only just reading the snippets you posted.
I’m not surprised….her husband didn’t pass any policies for black people, she didn’t do anything for black people, either.
The entire obama presidency was whitewashed from the very beginning.
We as black people fell for the okey doke. We got hoodwinked, hornswoggled, bamboozled!
Kamala Devi Harris, thought you could fool black people again by taking from the Obama playbook, did you?
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The most beautiful woman on the planet. I love you Michelle!
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“We as black people fell for the okey doke. We got hoodwinked, hornswoggled, bamboozled!”
Nonsense, show me where he ever promised to do anything for black people? Blacks lied to themselves because they wanted the vicarious thrill of being “the most powerful man in the world”. Obama delivered on that, but he never promised it.
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Reblogged this on Project ENGAGE.
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Lots of black ladies were excited about this book. And I know folks that spent a lot of money to see FLOTUS Michelle Obama when she did her book tour. I didn’t have the finances for the event at the time. Her tour was on Beyonce level. Lots of my friends are enjoying the book as well.
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I am happy FLOTUS Obama is enjoying her life post White House.
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i don’t want it!
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I got the white-washed vibe, but she did put her style and grace to the role of FLOTUS. I enjoyed her book, she gave her perspective on things being the first AA FLOTUS, she had a lot extra criticism heaped upon her. Michelle Obama is a force to be reckon with, I’m not going to slight her if she doesn’t live up to some Black standard how she should have been in the White House. She didn’t ask to be apart of the political world, but she was a great partner to have Obama’s back. Overall I would give the memoir 8 out of ten. The book is great inspiration to all the young AA living in America and would highly recommend for that audience. Abagond, why don’t you think she wrote her own memoir? She did go to Yale, after all.
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@Lifelearner: Good to read you. It’s been a long time.
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I’ve not read the book — and I don’t plan to. I liked the post because your reading it gave me a glimpse of what I wasn’t missing. I got no love for the Obamas, particularly after their Rev. Wright denunciation.
Did she talk about her SC roots in it? Only time she has, to my knowledge, in his whole eight years, was for the optics when they paraded Ty’Sheoma Bethea from SC’s “Corridor of Shame” in 2010 (https://lets-be-clear.blogspot.com/search?q=Ty%27Sheoma+Bethea%2C). SMDH at that, and Jim Clyburn still to this day!
I’m with gro jo on this one sondis — Black folk lied to their damned selves about the Changeling. All the more reason to critically think NOW, about who’s best going serve our interests and no — neither Cory nor Kamala are the one. As Zora Neale Hurston said, “”All my skinfolk ain’t my kinfolk!”
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I like Michelle. I’ve tried reading the book and listening to the audiobook on separate occasions and just can’t get through it. On my way home from Africa today, we stopped in Dubai and a White woman was reading it in the airport. I was tempted to ask her thoughts, but decided I really wasn’t that interested. I’m glad the book has done well, but I don’t think I’ll pick it up again.
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“The whole affair was a reminder of how our country’s distortions about race could be two-sided – that the suspicion and stereotyping ran both ways.”- Michelle Obama
Balderdash much! There are clear delineations and/or demarcations in Amerika as it relates to “distortions about race” and “suspicions and stereotyping.” More specifically, and for one, so-called African Americans have never been suspected of having a mob mentality such as whites.
Additionally, within this country’s deplorable history, never have there been an epoch or time period of incidents that resulted in the lynching of white people in general and the frequent raping of white women by groups of Black people that were never prosecuted for their crimes. Never happened!
Consequently, it is most certainly wrong for Michelle to even state that race could in fact be “two-sided.” Perhaps it could be “two-sided” but not in the context in which her argument is brought. Why? Because we as so-called African-Americans are for the vast majority of instances are reactionary to white racism and not the aggressor nor initiators of demonic behaviour.
Therefore, the social parallel or as Michelle asserted that race could be “two-sided” does not exist and if they do exist, it’s not on the same level and most definitely pales in comparison.
Moreover, as far as her take on “suspicion and stereotyping ran both ways”, again, this appears to be total folly. For example, I seriously doubt that the average Black man would feel threatened by merely meeting Justin Bieber in a dark alley at 3am.
I have not read this book, nor will I be purchasing it. However, judging from what I could extrapolate here, Michelle (or ghost writer) are doing or has done a great disservice to Black people.
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@blakksage
Good points.
The “two-sided” race comments are directed at her true intended audience—–White people in general and affluent White Liberals in particular. She was ‘dog whistling’ to them and throwing all of those adoring Black people who still buy into her family’s BS under the bus, yet again.
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@ Deb
Good to hear from you again.
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@Afrofem…Same here, Sis! I tell you, from 2014, to now (just got back from upstate NY Thursday, helping the husband and fam clean out his Mom’s house to put on the market after having to put her in a home) — life, death and everything in between just keeps happening! I’ve not written, nor even commented on a whole lot for quite some time now. Hope to get back on track real soon!
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Say what you mean folks! Let l!
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Meh! Typical white liberal bullshit!
Michelle and her Huband can go kick rocks with their white progressive cronies!
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Say what you mean! I have a new slogan; Kerchief Heads of the World Unite!
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**V
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“…For example, I seriously doubt that the average Black man would feel threatened by merely meeting Justin Bieber in a dark alley at 3am.”
That’s what allowed Dylan Roof to successfully carry out his attack.
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@gro jo & blakksage…““…For example, I seriously doubt that the average Black man would feel threatened by merely meeting Justin Bieber in a dark alley at 3am.”
That’s what allowed Dylan Roof to successfully carry out his attack.”
You’re both EXACTLY right!! There was no “suspicion and stereotyping ran both ways” NOTHIN’ when that prayer group in Mother Emmanuel INVITED HIS ASS INTO THE CHURCH — TO PRAY WITH THEM!
Forgive my screaming there Sisters, but that was one of those, “life and death and everything in between” things I was talking about. I was living IN Charleston when that massacre happened. I was on the way to a Black Lives Matter meeting when we all got a text to re-route to the church. I went to high school with 26 year-old Tywanza Sanders’ Dad (we had a high school reunion a few months after his son died. I talked to him. He was there, but not really). My brother, who still lives at home knows them all. I’ve been trying to write that post since June 17, 2015 (my oldest son’s birthday).
As Cherry Boy said upthread, “Michelle and her Husband can go kick rocks with their white progressive cronies!”
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Gro jo said: “That’s what allowed Dylan Roof to successfully carry out his attack.”
Close, .. but not quite correct. For clarification purposes, I said Justin Bieber, not Dylan Roof. The latter would obviously require a different set of preparation. To me, contextualization is everything!
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@blakksage…Gro jo said: “That’s what allowed Dylan Roof to successfully carry out his attack.”
Close, .. but not quite correct. For clarification purposes, I said Justin Bieber, not Dylan Roof. The latter would obviously require a different set of preparation.”
But it sounds correct to my mind though, Sis — because to those people in that prayer meeting, Roof might just as well have been Justin Bieber in a dark alley at 3 a.m.! They didn’t feel threatened either, which is why he was so successful in murdering them. I could be slow (cuz I’m old), but I thought your conceptualization was everything. 🤔😊
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@Deb
I call it the Opie Taylor syndrome.
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@Mitch…Like I said to blakksage, I’m slow. Please ‘splain to me the Opie Taylor syndrome (since I’m old, I should get it, but I don’t, Brother).
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“But it sounds correct to my mind though, Sis — because to those people in that prayer meeting, Roof might just as well have been Justin Bieber in a dark alley at 3 a.m.! They didn’t feel threatened either, which is why he was so successful in murdering them. I could be slow (cuz I’m old), but I thought your conceptualization was everything?” – Sista Deb
Charleston SC is also my hometown and that tragedy really resonated with me. However, with that being said, the people at that church failed to keep the commandments of Yah. He told US in Deuteronomy 28:68 that the people who took our ancestors into slavery on ships are in fact our “enemies”.
He also told US in Psalm 10:9-10 to be leery of people who come around us and pretend to be our friend. Didn’t Dylan Roof sat amongst the parishioners prior to opening fire? They failed to read that idiot’s spirit and they didn’t know if he was either Archie or Adam; ih he wanted some words of comfort or if he secretly held “war in his heart.” Moreover, he shouldn’t even had been allowed in the church.
Deuteronomy 28:68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
Psalm 10:9-10 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
Psalm 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Now, back to Justin Bieber. We all know him as somply having the spirit a crooner or one of those “yo baby” non-threatening white boys pretending to be from the hood.
On the other hand, Dylan Roof spirit held some funk from the very outset. The folks their should’ve been much, much more cautious with him.
Besides, the folks at the church had a white Jesus on either the wall or the stain painted windows. In any event, in Deuteronomy 7:25 it states to burn images other than the depictions in the Bible.
Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
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@blakksage..Sister, I was born and raised in the Black, Baptist tradition. Can I come back with other Scripture that rebukes you — no I cannot (because man-made sh*t ain’t my thing). And neither do I need to. I stopped believing in white Jesus and that Book a long time ago.
When I Iived in Panama years ago (91-93) and saw them parade Black Jesus on Easter — it changed me: https://africasacountry.com/2019/08/beyond-white-jesus
http://www.coloncity.com/blackchrist.html: https://africasacountry.com/2019/08/beyond-white-jesus
http://www.coloncity.com/blackchrist.html
It made my born Baptist, became Catholic, person, question everything I’d been taught (read, indoctrinated). Whatever works for you Sister works for you. But you might want think about the folk you tryin’ to reach with your words…
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@Sista Deb, there are plenty of things I could say here regarding your post, but I won’t. However, what I will say is that I am a MALE, not a female. Have a bless day Deb!
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@blakksage…My sincerest apologies for that error, Brother (don’t know why I got that so twisted)! Won’t happen again. As to the “plenty things” you could say, whether you should or not is solely on you. Thanks for wishing me a “blessed day.” I take that gift whenever I can get it and from whomever wishes to cover me with it. Peace…
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“My sincerest apologies for that error, Brother (don’t know why I got that so twisted)! Won’t happen again. – Deb
@Sista Deb, your apology is accepted!
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@Deb
Opie Taylor from Mayberry. The sweet innocence looking white boy who is incapable of doing harm to anyone or anything. The same as a choir boy. I do believe, may be wrong, Opie Taylor was mentioned in “White Men Can’t Jump” in reference to the Woody Harrelson character.
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he wouldn’t leave.
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@ Lifelearner
It is possible. I would say there is a 20% chance she wrote it. But from what I read of it it seems more like a bunch of taped interviews stitched together into a book by a ghostwriter, a good one, not the outpourings of a literate soul.
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why interrail?
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I DON’T UNDERSTAND BARAK
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THEY SHOULDN’T INJECTED.
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Lol, wow only 20% I will say 50%, now you got me thinking. Either way, she put First Lady on a whole other level. I’m definitely a fangirl! In my eyes she can do no wrong.
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She was a classy and fun FLOTUS.
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—– Forwarded Message —– From: YHVH To: News From Alibaba Group Sent: Sat Jan 11 2020 11:52:47 GMT+0000 (GMT Standard Time)Subject: Re: This Week at Alibaba – Jan. 10, 2020 he’s a quarter chinese
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