Published:
NEWSWEEK Cover: The Meaning of Michelle
NEW YORK, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Without even stepping into the White
House, Michelle Obama has already accomplished a great deal in raising the
profile of African-American women, Newsweek National Correspondent Allison
Samuels writes in the December 1 cover, "The Meaning of Michelle" (on
newsstands Monday, November 24). "When her husband raises his hand to take
the oath of office, Michelle will become the world's most visible African-
American woman," Samuels writes. "The new First Lady will have the chance to
knock down ugly stereotypes about black women and educate the world about
American black culture more generally. But perhaps more important -- even
apart from what her husband can do -- Michelle has the power to change the way
African-Americans see ourselves, our lives and our possibilities."
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081123/NYSU003 )
Michelle Obama challenges the typical stereotype of African-American
women, including what is beautiful. Often, the standard of beauty for black
women has meant fair skin, and dainty facial features, a limited scope that
has had a profound effect on the self-esteem of many African-American women.
Michelle Obama puts a new face on the standard of beauty. "Michelle is not
only African-American, but brown. Real brown," Samuels writes. "In an era
where beauty is often defined on television, in magazines and in movies as
fair or white skin, long straight hair and keen features, Michelle looks
nothing like the supermodels who rule the catwalks or the porcelain-faced
actresses who hawk must-have cosmetics. Yet now she's going to grace the March
cover of Vogue magazine -- the ultimate affirmation of beauty."
It remains to be seen what Michelle Obama will accomplish if she takes on
substantial issues. "I'm hoping the whole "Mom-in-Chief" role will leave
plenty of room for Michelle to tackle significant, meaty issues even if she's
not clamoring for a West Wing office, Samuels writes. "But she'll have
another dimension to worry about: if she focuses on the black
community -- helping urban schools, say -- will her interests be viewed as too
parochial? And while every First Lady -- and plenty of professional women --
walk the line between being confident and seeming like a bitch, African-
American women are especially wary that being called 'strong' is just another
word for 'angry'."
(Read cover article at www.Newsweek.com)
Cover: http://www.newsweek.com/id/170383
SOURCE Newsweek
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