No One's Elite Enough For "Our Kind of People"
Monday, June 22, 2009 at 11:00AM
First Lady Michelle Obama with the wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.Snob reader Fanita was nice enough to point out to me this little bon mot I missed in the Martha's Vineyard story from the New York. How did I miss this money quote?
Many blacks from Oak Bluffs are elated that the Only One–in–Chief may be joining them. “People are going to lose their minds!” Tonya Lewis Lee says. At the same time, there’s also a bit of wariness among the wealthiest ones, an uncertainty whether Obama will affirm them. “Obama is more a man of the people,” says a Vineyarder who’s part of black high society. “He doesn’t seem to identify with affluent black people. His wife definitely doesn’t; she is basically a ghetto girl. That’s what she says—I’m just being sociological. She grew up in the same place Jennifer Hudson did. She hasn’t reached out to the social community of Washington, and people are waiting to see what they’ll do about that.”
Um ... what the?!?!
All she is is the First Lady of the United States. NOT ELITE ENOUGH! You know? Just in case you didn't know. Is this a paper bag test issue? New money issue? Not enough ass kissing to snooty patooties? Rolling eyes now. Rolling them right out of my head and onto the floor. For real.
Also ... um, he's the president and she's the First Lady. Shouldn't you be kissing their asses and begging to be in THEIR inner circle? Who the EFF are you people? Are YOU leader of the free world? Why do the Obamas have to reach out to you? You should be working the phones, harassing Desiree Rogers to get your name on the damn list, not bitching about how Michelle won't show up at Cavalcade. Jack & Jill of America should be sending letters and gift baskets BEGGING for Sasha and Malia to join. You should be the one inviting him to organizations and events, like when the Alpha Kappa Alphas made Michelle an honorary member. You know? Because they're not INSANE and they wanted to be down with the most famous black woman in America.
THE NERVE of some people. Again. Who the hell are you? What military do YOU command? Remove the stick from your ass and your mind will follow.
Reader Comments (106)
My People, My people. This does not surprise me in the least. Bougie Black people have always prided themselves in being more exclusive and arrogant than the average white person. For the record, Jennifer Hudson grew up in Woodlawn, which is generally considered a rough area. Michelle grew up in South Shore which has a mix of middle class, bougie and working class. I sincerely doubt if Michelle has ever referred to herself as a ghetto girl although she has never looked down her nose at people for their economic circumstance. The Obamas do not need the Bougie class and I reeally wish they would spend some of that toxic energy "uplifting the race" instead of dragging it through the depths of hell.
ROTFLMBAO
All i can think of is the old Frank's Place" where he can't get into the club in NO because he can't pass the paper bag test. and then the girls are "Bebe's Kids"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0RfGKIqPH8
@Rikyrah
Well, like i said...I won't say. But if you're into musical instruments you should be able to guess:-)
"If the black elite wanted one of their own as the president and first lady. Trust me, they would've ran him or her by now. "
I call bullshit on this here (no offense to the poster).
I don't believe that for a second. They don't have the clout or the influence to run anybody for President of the Dogcatchers Association, let alone the United States. They are as dependent on white folks for their wealth as everybody else. If they were white, they wouldn't even be considered upper class, which is the truly hilarious part to me. The Kennedys and Rockefellers are looking at them like "Who are you people again?"
PLEASE.
President of the United States outranks the supposed "black elite" everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
They are as dependent on white folks for their wealth as everybody else. If they were white, they wouldn't even be considered upper class, which is the truly hilarious part to me.
And that my dear friends is the winning answer of the day.
I wrote a post along htose lines during the election when I realized much of the "black elite" were throwing their weight behind the Clinton's because the Clinton's and their friends kept them fed.
There isn't a single group more beholden to white folk then much of the black elite. Black folk don't have any real power in this country. You name me an "elite" black person and I'll name the white person signing their checks.
This essentially rules them irrelevant in the larger scheme of things, especially since most aren't even as charitable as say the Rockerfellers or Kennedy's. If they want someone to truly care about them then they would use some of that money and influence to raise the boats of the bulk of AA's in this country who are working class and poor and then you can be in a real position to wieldl power.
Otherwise you're just exclusive clique who want to keep folk out...which is fine...but stop pretending you matter.
@truth teller
Notice I never said that if one of the Black elite ran for POTUS they would actually win. I just said that if they had wanted their "own" in office they would've tried to get him there by now. The point of my comment was to say I disagreed with Sarah, I don't think that the black elite dislikes Michelle simply b/c of her skin color but the dislike is more about her upbringing and background.For some reason people tend to act like there aren't dark skinned black elite. In fact I think the point you made is correct. Hell, if one of them were to run they wouldn't win. B/c the majority of black people (and white ppl) don't give two sh*ts about the black elite...
Exactly JJ, they rely on corporate donors for donations. When you go to white colleges the rich alumni have buildings named after them. At black colleges, its folks that didn't even go there who give them money.
Oh they did try to get their own to the top--Harold Ford Jr. I'm glad that they failed.
Tx for posting this Snob. I read the rest of this article and this got me:
I don't know who the author of this article is but it smells of race and class-war baiting to me.The only place in America that makes them feel proud of black people?? Dealing with "condescension from blacks who think their education or class makes them inauthentic?"
This makes so little sense to me because most educated black people still tend to group with those with similar education, career, etc. And they dont go to Martha's Vineyard to do it. The whole way the article was presented just doesn't sit well with me. I don't know anyone rich enough to do the MV thing so I claim to know what they believe. But, the tone of this story is very much in the "divide and conquer" vain that mainstream media is always using with black folks. Pit men vs. women, rich vs. poor, light vs. dark against each other. Whenever I see stories like this, I just dismiss because they inevitably don't dig deep enough and just serve to reinforce the mainstream media image of black folks as their own worst enemy.
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@Kris
Aren't we all...
wow.
So what if she has a "ghetto background"? She is the FLOTUS!
Who da hell are you guys? I used to hear bout clowns like this but i never actually thought they existed. Dam shame. Nothing i despise more than self-loathing.
Ford overplayed his hand.
Ford also didn't pass the bar and would have a whole lot of other things to explain or dismiss on a campaign trail.
Well as a working class Black girl from Chicago with roots on the southside, I am proud as hell of Michelle. I now live in New England and have learned first hand that despite the fact I am here and an educated professional, I will never be in the inner circle of those people. So eff em! I read that book put out by Otis Graham years ago and nearly wanted to track that man down to give him a piece of my mind but thought better of it.
Like other posters we can be our own worst enemy, at the end of the day Michelle is the FLOTUS and laughing at them all. I am sure she thinks they can have the Vineyard and she will take Barry and the world.
She's good enough to be accepted and invited back to Buckingham Palace for a private visit with Queen Elizabeth but not for "our peopel" in Martha's Vineyard? Go figure.
That's a heavy quote to put in an article without naming the source.
@Bee
Ford didn't pass the Bar?
Damn.
His addiction to white women was going to be a problem as well.
He's effectively ruined his shots at gaining any office with the white wife he has now. That's just not going to play well in the south.
@ JJ
Nope, Ford didn't pass. I don't say that to point out that he didn't pass (and never tried again), but Ford comes from the black elite, while President Obama went to Harvard Law, became the first black to to be chief editor of Harvard law review, and PASSED the bar. However, Obama is still looked down on by some from Ford's circle / "people."
@JJ,
I have to point out Ford marrying a white women was a political death knell not with Southern white people but with black women. Let's not forget that support Obama received from black women because he married Michelle. Even with his qualifications, I truly don't believe Obama would have made it out of the Illinois House of Representatives, if he had a white wife.
Ford with his sense of entitlement, and his Republican a** kissing, will hold another elected political office.
@ 'blackgirlinmaine' - Trust me, I feel and smell ya! I've lived in Conn. for a good portion of my life, but when I tell you that these 3rd/4th generation black New Englander's are a different breed - Baby! It's difficult to describe as an outsider (I'm a Jersey girl, mama's from Va, daddy - Ga.). You're not exactly looked down upon, but you certainly know you aren't one of "them" either. I have a longtime friend from Hampton who grew up part of the "negratti" (in fact, she was in J&J w/"Baby Graham"!) - when her mother found out I was not one of "them" I thought for sure I'd be banned. 30+ yrs later, she still refers to me as "that girl"!
Barack/Michelle seem to be real cool w/their humble pedigrees, in fact I found his self-deprecating "mut" statement refreshing. I'd much rather prefer that kind of realness in leadership AND friendship.
Monica,
I had a hard time understanding why Michelle Obama didn't rank good enough to get a post over there. You sort of couldn't avoid it after he sealed the nomination. But, she got her post. All's well that ends well...LOL
@Monica
The reason he lost in TN is because they "white womaned" him. that infamous ad wa sa BIG deciding factor. Believe me it may not play well with Black women but it REALLY doesn't play well with southern white males in particular and white southerners in general.
There are still churches in TN you can't attend if you're black. All the republican ass kissing in the world isn't going to get him an elected office...in the south at least...however...he may get an appointed one.
Hmmm...I still can't beleive he didn't pass the bar. Talk about a disappointment.
I have to point out Ford marrying a white women was a political death knell not with Southern white people but with black women. Let's not forget that support Obama received from black women because he married Michelle. Even with his qualifications, I truly don't believe Obama would have made it out of the Illinois House of Representatives, if he had a white wife.
I've said this for forever. Without Michelle, Barack Obama wouldn't have made it to the U.S. Senate, let alone the White House. Plain and simple. Might be politically incorrect, but doesn't make me wrong....LOL
Ford with his sense of entitlement, and his Republican a** kissing, will hold another elected political office.
He might get an APPOINTED office, but elected office?
Not unless he moves to another state. Personally, I could never get past that he hid Snowflake in the basement like the 'Crazy Uncle' during his Senate Campaign.
Even with all his family problems (they're as crooked as the day is long), simply put, if he'd had his OWN Michelle Obama, he'd be in the U.S. Senate right now. Straight up, no chaser.
@rikyrah
Hmm...
I'd have to look at the numbers and see.
I think he got the majority of the white vote. It wasn't news that he liked white women...he'd called off his engagement to the pretty black lawyer some time before. So I think his lack of his Michele O. was less of an issue then his black skin in a very southern state...
that should read: I think he got the majority of the black vote.