Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls

317 Pages·2018·3.94 MB·English

by  Michelle Duster

M I C H E L L E
Edited by
O B A M A ’ S Michelle Duster
Paula Marie Seniors
Impact on African
Rose C. Thevenin
American Women
and Girls
Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American
Women and Girls
“An engaging, multi-dimensional commentary on embracing power with poise
and grace. Michelle Obama simply lives the American brand with a secure humil-
ity that should be replicated in all of our leaders. This collection of essays serves
as an Obama encore. I want more!”
—Robert J. Benz, Co-Founder, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives
“A timely and insightful work, Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American
Women and Girls is an impactful piece. It is one that should be read for ALL
generations to come. Kudos to the authors who heeded the call and contributed
to this thought-provoking book.”
—Sharron Goodman-Hill, Instructor of Mass Communications,
Rust College and Host, WURC’s Straight Talk Live
“This timely collection reminds us all how the character of our national lead-
ers profoundly shapes our everyday lives and aspirations. In engaging and heart-
felt contributions, these authors show how Michelle Obama not only influenced
national policy initiatives, but how her character sets a legacy of integrity, energy
and intelligence that continues to inspire and guide millions of Americans.”
—Marilyn Krogh, Associate Professor of Sociology, Loyola University Chicago
“This lively, personal, and insightful anthology makes abundantly clear the
far-reaching and multi-faceted impact of Michelle Obama. In the work of these
authors, the First Lady’s legacy will nourish and challenge future generations of
Americans to come. I welcome and celebrate this book!”
—Patricia A. Schechter, Professor of History, Portland State University
“It is necessary and inspiring to read these insightful and powerful reflections
on the legacy of Michelle Obama. America’s only African American First Lady
made an extraordinary impression around the world during her eight years in the
White House. From her stylish emergence in 2008 to her powerful oratory at
the Democratic National Convention in 2016, she has energized people around
the globe. This marvelous collection of essays and reflections is a beautiful and
critically important documentation of Michelle Obama’s impact and a thoughtful
exploration of the issues her leadership has shaped.”
—Bryan Stevenson, Director, Equal Justice Initiative and Professor of Law,
New York University and best-selling author of Just Mercy
“This collection of the myriad voices of Black women from all fields pays tribute
to the inspiring, eloquent, and elegant former First Lady, Michelle Obama. The
contents of this compelling and provocative book, more than a mere compilation
of essays and poems, are rather deeply felt personal, heartfelt reflections on Mrs.
Obama’s legacy. No need to read in chronological order, from beginning to end;
treat it like a literary smorgasbord; a tasting menu; but do read it all! Completely
satisfying, engaging and all together spiritually nourishing. A true keepsake.”
—Tazewell Thompson, Award-winning Playwright,
Theatre and Opera Director
Michelle Duster · Paula Marie Seniors
Rose C. Thevenin
Editors
Michelle Obama’s
Impact on African
American Women
and Girls
Editors
Michelle Duster Rose C. Thevenin
Columbia College Chicago Department of Social Sciences
Chicago, IL, USA Florida Memorial University
Miami Gardens, FL, USA
Paula Marie Seniors
Africana Studies
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University
Blacksburg, VA, USA
ISBN 978-3-319-92467-0 ISBN 978-3-319-92468-7 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92468-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018942885
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018
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Cover credit: Courtesy of The Obama Presidential Library/The U.S. National Archives
and Records Administration
Cover design by Fatima Jamadar
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Womanity, Cheryl Green
The juxtaposition of stability and the diversity in texture, color and
movement are synonymous with the personality of our country’s First
Lady, Michelle Obama. She embodies the example of what an all-
American woman should be. Her combination of warmth, candor, intelli-
gence, stability and colorful personality brings out the humanity in those
she comes in contact with, a distinction that has made her the subject
of admiration, curiosity and even controversy. She embodies the quali-
ties of the kind of daughter, mother, wife, business partner and/or friend
that you would want or hope to have in your life. Her confidence is what
allows her to be so natural and poised, and her American experience is so
relatable that she inspired a sense of energy within myself to follow my
passion, count my blessings, be true to myself and stay grounded.
To my parents Donald and Maxine Duster, who always believed in my
brothers and me. Thank you for being creative about stretching modest
resources to provide amazing opportunities and experiences.
—Michelle Duster
I dedicate this book to my daughter Shakeila and to my present students at
Virginia Tech, and former students from Florida Memorial College and
The College of New Jersey. May you soar like Michelle Obama!
—Paula Marie Seniors
In loving memory of three phenomenal women. Marie Jacqueline Thevenin,
Francine Barthelemy and Annanie Charlo whose nurturing, love and
support will always remain unmatched.
—Rose C. Thevenin
A
cknowledgements
We wholeheartedly thank Shaun Vigil, the film cultural and media stud-
ies editor at Palgrave Macmillan for having complete confidence in
Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls from
the moment we contacted him. Thank you, Shaun for your grace, your
unstinting kindness, support and patience with us. Thank you also Glenn
Ramirez the cultural, media and communications assistant editor for
your hard work in getting our book published.
—Michelle Duster, Paula Marie Seniors and Rose C. Thevenin
Thank you to my fellow editors Paula Marie Seniors and Rose C.
Thevenin for your scholarship, friendship and inspiration. Thank you
to the women in my life who taught and showed me by example how
to navigate the world with grace, intellect, pride and a sense of humor:
Norma Bean, Barbara Brown, Erma Bruce, Eloise Cornelius, Jacqueline
Duster, Murrell Duster, Alfreda Ferrell, Alma Henley, Charlotte Martin,
Carole Savage, Marva Watkins, and Alma Wyatt.
Never-ending thanks for support and encouragement from my broth-
ers David and Daniel Duster and my uncle Troy Duster. And my cous-
ins: Denise Bland, Hal Bland, Frank Carroll, Roy Carroll, Troy Carroll,
Charles Cross, Horace Cross, Charles Duster, Jr., Jon Duster, Carlla
Franklin, Connie Hicks, Cecelia Hunt, Marin Heiskell, Michael Heiskell,
Nicole Porter, Charles Smith, Racheal Walker, and Patricia Woods.
And all of my wonderful friends: Debra Almgren-Horwitz, Kyra
Auslander, Lance Brown, Lemar Brown, Michael Brown, Stephanie Carr,
ix
x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Jennie Chen, Todd Cranford, Margaret Eaglin, Crystal Fencke, Robin
Florzak, Sophie Folly, Pat Fuller, Gina Gayle, Jeanne Gills, Carole
Green, Cheryl Green, Herb Hardwick, Deborah Hayden, Camilla
Hudson, Marilyn Jackson, Veronica Jenkins, Jen Cullerton Johnson,
Eric Kearney, Adrienne Lotson, Karyn Marsh, Ervin Martin, Rena
Henderson Mason, Adrienne McCue, Sonia Myrick, Tracey Newsome,
Christy Niezgodski, Jerome Ratliffe, Michael Ratliffe, Marvin Rochelle,
Alejandro Rodriguez, Tracey Salmon-Smith, Kenneth Scott, Howard
Shavers, Casey Smith, Trina Sotira, Daina Staisiunas, Paul Stoner.
Maurice Sykes, Julie Taylor, Bernard Turner, Ernestine Weaver, Chamille
Weddington, Ganiyu Williams, and Quentin Wyatt. Thank you for help-
ing me make it through this unforgettable six-year journey!
—Michelle Duster
At the beginning of our collaboration, Michelle Duster worked tire-
lessly with Rose and me on Michelle Obama’s Impact on African
American Women and Girls while simultaneously advocating to keep
her great-grandmother, anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells legacy alive.
When we began this book, Rose Thevenin and I longed silently and in
my case desperately for motherhood. With the books completion, Rose
and I are proud single mothers of feisty African American girls who
we will raise to aspire to greatness. I thank Michelle and Rose for their
friendship and their commitment to our book.
I am grateful to my father Clarence Henry Seniors for his unbend-
ing love, support and encouragement. I am grateful to the Virginia
Foundation for the Humanities for granting me space to think for
two years with the South Atlantic Humanities Faculty Fellow, South
Atlantic Humanities Award, and the sabbatical year. I would especially
like to thank Dr. Joanne Gabbin, Ann Spencer, Hillary Holladay, Jeanne
Nicholson Siler and Rob Vaughan for the awards. I am ever thank-
ful for my VFH friends Judy Moody and Jeanne Palin for their every-
day encouragement, supportive words and friendship. I would also
like to thank my VFH comrades for their friendship and conversations
Caroline R. Cades, Jeanne Siler, Elliott Majerczyk, Sarah McConnell,
Ramona Marcia, Jamal Millner, Diana Williams, Emily Gadek and Brigid
McCarthy. I am also ever appreciative of the fellows.
I want to express my gratitude to all the contributors, especially my
former Virginia Tech students graduate student Daveisha Gibson and
undergraduate students Suzannah Grace
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xi
Sese-khalid Jones, and Yasmine Huggins. I am so grateful to the
strong women who came before me, my mother Audrey Proctor Seniors
(deceased), my Aunt Doris Proctor, self-defense activist Mae Mallory and
her daughter educator/activist Patricia Oduba. I am also thankful for my
friends Verna Hampton, Antoinette Thomas, Charlotte Houston, Laura
Clark, Nadine Saxton, Adriene Hughes, Marianne Kubik, Nichole Rustin
Paschal, Janet Splitter, Keith Driver and Lucy. I am forever grateful and
thankful to my mentors and friends Dr. Gloria Dickinson (deceased),
Dr. Carole Boyce Davies, Dr. Carol Bailey and Dr. Joanne Gabbin.
—Paula Marie Seniors
I thank God for all His blessings. I thank my family whose love and sup-
port have brought me this far, Pierre, Regine, Mitchell, Nancy, Stanley,
Stella and Jeff. Mere words cannot adequately express how much you all
mean to me. A very, very special thanks to Regine, thanks for everything.
To my children whose beaming smiles light up my days, may this volume
inspire your journeys and pathways.
I would like to thank all of the people who taught me the histori-
an’s craft, and I remain humble and grateful for your guidance, encour-
agement and never-ending support especially the late Monroe Fordham,
Whittington B. Johnson, Wilma King, Darlene Clark Hine, Harry Reed,
Richard Thomas and the late Victor Barthelemy. I can never find enough
words to thank all of you for your never-ending faith in my work. My
most sincere thanks to Dr. David A. Carson, and the history and social
sciences departments at the State University College at Buffalo, the
University of Miami, and Michigan State University especially Leslie
Moch, Lewis Seigelbaum, Maxi Jackson and Patrick McConeghy.
Special thanks to William Perry, Robert Labadie and Thomas Bynum.
Special thanks to the MSU “crew” for your friendship and encour-
agement especially Marshanda Smith. Thanks to Karl S. Wright and
Mary Williams at Claflin University and a very special thanks to Sandra
Thompson, Monique Earl Lewis and my colleagues at Florida Memorial
University. Special thanks to the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. for
your sisterly love and strong support. To Beatrice Rabel, Yves Gachette
and Patricia Lieba, “ours” is one that has withstood the test of time.
I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank the men and
women of the U.S. military, thank you for all that you do to keep our
nation safe. My essay “A Quiet Story” is an attempt to illuminate some