The latest & greatest Blog Post from the Head Diva!

http://clutchmagonline.com/2011/05/the-rising-attacks-on-black-women-since-the-presence-of-michelle-obama/ (click the link or the image to read the original article)

After reading this powerful article I had to write about it and sent in a post to a discussion group in which I participate.

Given the rise of Barack Obama w/ Michelle at his side, the powers that be want to keep more Black Men from realizing their true potential, so they are attacking the beauty,femininity, & desirableness of strong, educated, powerful Black women. They know that if a Black Man hooks up with and builds a life a woman like this he will flourish and together they will be the Kings& Queens in the world (no not like rule the world, but be powerful, influential and transformative). Strong, professional, opinionated, powerful women push their mates to do more than he ever imagined. Quiet, mild-mannered, under-achieving women help their mates be satisfied with mediocrity. If a man wants to soar, he has to find an eagle with which to fly.

Don’t believe the hype Brothas, hurry and find your true equal so you can rise& shine! We’re waiting. –>Kania

(I posted a version of the above and got an interesting reply, see below)

“Given the rise of Barack Obama w/ Michelle at his side, the powers that be want to keep more Black Men from realizing their true potential” So, this just happened with with rise of Barack Obama? So, when Ray Ray was out looking for a job …and he was told there were none you accused him of making excuses now you all can see it. Some of our people are so pathetic when it comes to the poor and suffering of our people there’s no room for them to make a statement like this but the uppity negros can

He did not finish his response, so I am not sure where he was going with it, but based on what he did write I then responded:

M*** I am not sure what you’re talking about. This is a commentary on the overt attacks on women like Michelle Obama b/c we (yes I apologetically include myself in this category) are key to Black men rising up to their true station in life. This is about why all of a sudden in the past few years we are seeing news stories and articles on why educated black women “can’t get married” and lately why Black women are physically unattractive.

If you read the article, it points out how Michelle Obama’s existence reality defies all the stereotypes and criticisms of Black Women and in particular highly educated Black Women.

She is an accomplished career woman and executive who at some point in their relationship OUT EARNED and OUT RANKED Barack Obama and SOMEHOW he managed to pursue and date her in spite of the fact that he had less money and less status. She is in shape, supportive of her man (even though she, OMG, “challenged” him in public from time to time), and an awesome mother. They are example of what happens when a man with boundless potential seeks out a woman who may temporarily be “above” him in the material/physical world yet is equal in the material, intellectual, and spiritual world. They are an example of what happens when you choose a mate who is your equal vs someone you can dominate and control or who can “take care of you” financially. What happens when a man gets with a woman who can challenge him and push him to the next level vs simply accept him settling for where he is now. And what happens when a woman evaluates a man based on his character vs his checking account.

However on this page (a Facebook discussion group) we have people obsessed with how soon a woman should “give it up” and whether or not men should get pedicures on a regular basis as measures of their worth and datability (yes I made up a word). REALLY?

EVERY single man on this page who is not breaking his neck to connect with a woman who can go toe-to-toe with him in the professional arena is selling himself short. His is putting a cap on what he can accomplish b/c as far as he can go on his own, he will go 10x’s further with his complement by his side. Whether or not she is actively in the workplace (ie Michelle Obama is not working a job right now (for a paycheck), BUT she is working everyday towards improving out community, not at home cooking and cleaning) gentlemen you need to make it a priority to date and marry a woman who you know could do just as good if not a better job than you if she chose. This is who you want to be your life partner, someone just like you, and maybe even a little smarter b/c a true genius surrounds him/herself with people better than themselves so they can rise even higher.

There is nothing to be wary of b/c in reality, we will support you b/c you are a reflection of us and we know that when you shine we shine. Women like us have no problem falling back and supporting you when you’re ready to make your move (ie Michelle taking a leave from her job to support Barack on the campaign and in the White House). We have no problem supporting you TEMPORARILY financially while you strategically make moves and plan to be the best! We are excited to be by your side encouraging and sometimes behind you gently (or not so gently) pushing you forward. When the time is right, we look forward to leaving the workplace and working in service to our community vs worrying about a paycheck. We are grateful when you come into your greatness in the physical/material world b/c we ALWAY knew you would b/c we saw the greatness in you character when you had little to nothing and knew it was just a matter of time.

Do you know how to spot, court, and keep such a woman? I say not b/c in reality over 70% of us are single and our 1# complaint is that the men who approach us simply do not treat us the way we want to be treated.

Ray Ray out looking for a job is not a Barack Obama caliber man. If he was he would say “Screw you and your job, I’m going to start a business and find a strong educated woman with a background in entrepreneurship to build it with me.” He would not be depressed b/c “the man” won’t give him a chance. He won’t feel “emasculated” b/c his woman makes more than him or he’s in a temporary financial bind. He won’t seek out a mousy, quiet woman to stroke his ego and tell him he’s great when he’s being a punk. He will know in his heart that no matter what his bank balance or employment status that he is a king and he will seek out a woman who is worthy of his TRUE SELF.

But hey, let’s keep talking about whether or not its okay for a man to use coupons on the first date and why a woman with more than 1 Baby Daddy doesn’t deserve a man with no kids. LOL

****end tirade

There is not much more to say other than it is important for Black people not to fall into this trap of letting the media dictate how we perceive and think of one another. We have to actively refute the statistics they put out there and stay vigilant about who we say we are vs what the world wants us to believe about ourselves and each other.

If you’re not a part of the Chris Nolen KIR community, you should join b/c its a lot of fun!