Ever wondered why everything Michelle Obama says gets dissected and scrutinized to the nines? Simple statements about her pride in this country somehow get misconstrued as un-patriotic statements that only the angry black wife of a “socialist” husband could make. But when Michele Bachmann makes similar comments, the media, the political pundits–everyone, plays stupid and ignores them. Why? A wack double standard that black women continue to endure that says sit down and shut up, or run the risk of being viewed as the stereotypical raging b***h.
Our friends over at theGrio analyzed this standard and questioned how and why Michele Bachmann gets to say whatever comes to her head with zero filter, but any formed opinions about policies and what U.S. citizens should be doing about their health by the FLOTUS are shunned. Writer Sophia A. Nelson breaks it down to a T:
“Black women in America, including Mrs. Obama, still have to deal with racial stereotypes, double-standards, and being viewed as “invisible” or better “kept in our place”…Let’s face it, America is far more comfortable seeing Mrs. Obama talk about growing gardens, dote on her husband, mother her kids, support our military families, and help our nation eat healthier, than we are seeing her discuss policy, form opinions, or speak her mind.”
Nelson makes some pretty deep points that you should check out, but do you agree? Do you think Michelle Obama’s words are held to a different standard than Bachmann’s because she is a strong black woman with opinions she likes to share rather than a meek woman in the public eye? Let us know!
To read the full story and hear how The Help plays into this double standard, click over to theGrio.com.
