I am not sure if you saw the interview posted a few days ago where Nigerian-American author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie made the claim that in 2008 if First Lady Michelle Obama wore her natural hair, President Barack Obama would not have won. If not press play:
.@ChimamandaSays on why natural hair is political for black women.https://t.co/nvbcjaVMv4
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) August 9, 2016
According to Atlanta Blackstar:
In an Aug. 9 interview with Britain’s Channel 4 News, Nigerian-American author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says that Michelle Obama could not get away with natural hair because of the negative stereotypes associated with it.
In the clip from the 30-minute interview, the 38-year-old says that the first lady’s natural hair would prevent Sen. Barack Obama from being elected president in 2008.“I’ve often said that if Michelle Obama had natural hair when Barack Obama was running for president, he would not have won,” Adichie explains. “Because her natural hair would have signified certain things to people. It would signify that she’s some sort of militant, neo- Black Panther, frightening …”
Without getting into an entire political debate about her opinion, I understand where it comes from and I am pretty sure that these days mainstream media is not completely void of those ideas.
2008 was the year of great change. Natural hair was just catching on so maybe in that context she might have been right, but I am not entirely sure about him losing.
President Obama was the first black President to have a shot at the White House and I believe in my people enough to know that if Michelle Obama had natural hair that that would not have been a factor. We were way too determined to create history for the first time, and in our lifetime at that, to be distracted by natural hair.
At the end of the day if I were to be honest, I would have to wholeheartedly disagree with her opinion and as I look at media now I am proud to see black women rocking their natural hair everywhere. Not to mention, does she know Michelle like we know Michelle? That lady would have slayed natural hair like no other! Weigh in. Do you agree with the author would the President have won back in 2008 if Michelle Obama were natural?
Who cares!
Pure assumption….how do you know that?
I can understand what the author is saying, but I would say that the chances of Barack Obama being elected President if Michelle Obama were natural would at least have been 50/50. Would say it also depends on their history, experience, demeanor, etc.