Nov 17 2008
The OTHER Obama Effect
We have all heard the phrase “The Obama Effect.” This phrase is used in discussing politics and voting patterns.
photo credit: courant.com
I believe we are going to experience a whole other Obama Effect.
The Obama Effect I am referring to is two-fold.
First, the way America and the world view Black families and all that goes with that. There is talk of having President-Elect Obama as not only a role model, but the Commander in Chief, will show youth they CAN achieve anything as well as showing young black men what it means to be a father, even if they didn’t have one.
photo credit: courant.com
photo credit: courant.com
The second aspect, the one I am going to discuss, has more to do with the Obama ladies.
photo credit: nydailynews.com
Michelle Obama is obviously becoming a fashion icon. Stores sell out of clothes she is seen wearing and Sasha and Malia are becoming little fashion plates as well. I heard one of the girls has a line named after her. I will leave the fashion commentary to the experts, particularly one of my favorite blogs, Fashiona . The bigger effect is likely to be a shift in self-image among Black girls.
I took many psychology classes (I considered it as a major) including child psychology. I remember a study that was done which questioned many young Black girls about different images and ideas. They gave young Black girls a black doll and white doll asking which was good and which was bad. They overwhelmingly chose the black doll as bad and when asked which was like them, they picked the black doll. The conclusion being that Black girls believed themselves to be bad.
The initial study was done 6 decades ago, but it has been repeated over the years with the same results.
One would think that with more television shows and movies with positive roles representing Black women, the results might be different. Also with the change in the world of fashion models, news anchors and even the Secretary of State showing a broadened image, young girls would not think this way.
Last night, the local ABC news affiliate did a piece on this called Beautiful Black . The study was recently repeated and again, the girls chose the black doll as bad. One girl, when asked why the doll was bad, answered it was because she was black. Heartbreaking, really.
If you watch the video, you will see when asked which doll was like her, she hesitated and wanted to pick the white doll, which she said was the nice doll, but ended up choosing the black doll. You can see in her eyes how painful this was, especially after having just said the black doll was bad.
Although I have taken Black History courses and have read many books about Black History, I don’t think anything can convey this idea any better than Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye .
I have heard and read that there is prejudice within the Black community because of varying shades of skin, texture of hair and whatnot. I know there are prejudices within all races, so this is not surprising, yet it is sad. It is as sad as women knocking each other down rather then lifting each other up. We do this to each other with regard to jobs, men, clothes, looks and intelligence. I hope that one day we can all get passed this and find value in one another instead of demeaning and degrading each other.
Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama are beautiful, smart, fashionable females who undoubtedly will be excellent role models for young girls around the world. Only time will tell how far reaching The Obama Effect will be and what changes will be brought to the results of the study shown in the video.
I think the counter to this is that “white” people feel that they are at fault for slavery and racism. I know people who feel guilt for this.
I think this some form of the grass is always greener effect.
~Lou
agneim@gmail.com
Lou, I think it is time to let the “guilt” go. We as Black people are very proud of Obama’s accomplishments and we don’t blame White people for the actions of their forefathers. Most of us who identify as “Black” are really just mutts with more Native American and White than African blood anyway so our families are murky at best.
The doll story that Kelly shared is still relevant but with positive role models and American Doll, ethnic Barbies and Bratz… the tide is finally starting to turn.
Michelle wears what she wants and most of the time, I love it…but sometimes not. What I love about her and her daughters is their courage to be themselves even while the world is watching.
alicia
http://todaystyle.today.com/
I think it’s awesome that there is the potential for SO much more positive change than people realize - and you’ve highlighted some of it very well right here.
I LOVE this post, Kelly!
Living as a darker-skinned black American woman who attended an all-white Christian school, I know TOO well everything you posted about. I’ve been meaning to post about this Obama/Michelle-effect, but I’m trying to give the election stuff a break and let it sink in with people.
I’m 34 y/o and I can remember a time when there were no black people on tv, no black people driving luxury cars, and no positive black media images. Then there was the “Cosby Show” and people thought it was great, but unrealistic…So–we have come a long way.
People didn’t understand why black people were crying when Obama was elected President. It’s personal for us, who have watched things change ever so slightly, but can remember when racial slurs and discrimination were commonplace(I had a judge tell me something really ugly about being a black lawyer in her courtroom just 2 years ago). It’s personal to see someone who looks like you represent the nation…represent a strong family…represent a proud and involved parent…represent an educated/articulate leader… It’s just beautiful, inspiring, and well…about time.
Davida
Davida, I am so glad you enjoyed this post. I cried when Obama won too, because I could empathize. It IS about time!
Thank you all for your comments. Alicia is right, it’s time to let the guilt go! None of us were around during slavery. I may have to expand on this in another post.