Ever-Expanding Democratic Imagination by Brittney Cooper - Essay Example

Ant I a Lady? Race Women, Michelle Obama, and the Ever-Expanding Democratic Imagination by Brittney Cooper This article is about discrimination and humiliation of black women. Struggle for black freedom and humanity prompted black women to do weird things. They performed weird things as a way of fighting back and gaining respect from the society and gain black freedom. Blacks’ need to seek freedom and their rights began long time ago and are directly linked with the election of the first black president Obama and Michelle to the status of the first lady. Black women’s position in the society is really put into the test considering the historical injustices they underwent such as enslavement to carry out masculine activities. Black and the female identity have been looked down upon by the society for a very long time. Women of color have had rough time in America but there is future for better public perception because of their ability to fight back and disapprove the public racist opinion. Black female’s role in the public domain is explained by sighting Michelle Obama’s fitness for the First Lady-hood. According to Cooper (2010) black women have always come out to use strategies such as Michelle Obama’s to defend their negative portrayals in public. These strategies play major role in ensuring democracy and Michelle Obama who attempts to eliminate some of the limiting factors has showed this, positively. There are several arguments by Cooper, Darlene Clark and Evelyn Brooks regarding bodily appearance of women in the public as well as their public self-representation. Some writers use the black man’s body to express their concern about racism as well as addressing some of the discriminatory and vulnerability issues that need to be addressed. Cooper (2010), attempts to give hope to black women who were initially subjected to sexual discrimination and other forms of exploitation. Black women were always worried about their role in the society with the development of racism, although this changed during the post Reconstruction period. Cooper views black female leadership as a huge step towards black female identity. According to Cooper (2010), there is a great improvement in terms of woman’s role in the society since they do not worry much regarding racism and their representation and this is central to American progressiveness. The American society is moving towards recognition of black women and the general black race. According to Cooper (2010), black women’s voices and bodies should be positively portrayed in the American public sphere. She considers race women as subjects and agents of both history and knowledge that liberates the black people. Cooper (2010) further draws from the bible to argue her points by saying that women’s role should concur with the scriptural requirements and that the church should treat people equally as Jesus did. Cooper asserts that people in power should always recognize the significance of other bodies’ social position. Michelle Obama is regarded as a contemporary figure that has revisited the past battle of lady-hood and further complicates the volatile history. It is doubtful that presence of Michelle Obama in the white house will greatly transform the past. The American public does not liken First Lady’s role in politics but Michelle seems to transform this position. She is a symbol of drastic challenges to the American conservatives who had different and strong opinions regarding both gender politics and race (Cooper, 2010). In regard to this, Michelle’s body and her image were symbolically tainted in the media and the public. She was said to be unpatriotic and angry black woman of the Sapphire variety amongst other negative responses. Michelle has gone against all odds to revise the black mothering politics which are purely based on politics of respectability which encourage black women to consider themselves worth. Michelle Obama is represented as a symbol of historic progress especially considering her sense of fashion, sleeveless dresses, and short pants. She happens to wear only what appeals to her and what she considers modest instead of concentrating on what the public define as immodest. Obama’s attitude towards her body and choice of her dresses is a sign of the kind of freedom that black women enjoy or should enjoy. Her muscular arms no longer represent a traditional black woman’s arm that was influenced by hard work but rather by a choice to stay healthy. This was very rear because a black woman was not even expected to eat healthy food and go to gym to shape her body. Brittney Cooper is a professor with vast experience in Women’s Studies thus proving the reliability of the article. Her experience as a black woman and as an expert in the women’s studies gives her article a lot of credibility. Moreover, she has pointed out and referenced several articles written by fellow women and black women rights’ campaigners. Cooper gathers several evidence ranging from the historical racism and black women’s position to the current events including public opinion regarding Michelle Obama’s rise to the White House (Cooper, 2010). She has also included her own practical experience as a black woman and encounters with the white people. There is a lot of evidence actually in this study that are generated from credible sources. The article is conclusive due to the quality of the evidence provided by Cooper. However, cooper did not carry out any research to prove her points. She would have used either questionnaire and survey forms to assess the black and white women’s opinions. Cooper and Michelle Obama are amongst the people who have come out to voice their opinion regarding the negative influence of racism. Michelle Obama has really had a great influence in the public sphere and this impact may not be well understood by the white women unless they understand black feminism. Black women have actually been able to define their own feminism within the context of America and even defined their own roles in the society. Black women have become even more supportive to their families as Michelle has publicly showed in her previous speeches and actions. Black women choices should be respected because they also have rights just like any other white woman. Michelle’s role as a black mother indeed adds a lot to the black motherhood especially her embodiment as a mother and a wife. There is tendency of relying on historical injustices while trying to improve or adjust on a particular culture. Generally, the blacks have never enjoyed their life in America fully and the past injustices and discrimination is still evident in their lives to date. Making choices and decisions out of race is very common in America and it has made some women of color not to make appropriate decisions since they feeling of inferiority complex. In fact, finding blacks in the social privilege programs is common because they are categorized as welfare dependent thus presenting them as the most vulnerable group in America. Interestingly, as many white women as black women that receive assistant from the government. Institutional and cultural racism has clearly shown how people in power manipulate others in the name of remaining in the elite position. Black woman’s role in future will certainly improve in America. Michelle Obama is certainly a role model who has played a vital role in transforming the position of women of color. Despite criticism, she has remained on top by leading as a great responsible black woman. Michelle’s heroine is not only attributed to the fact that she is the First Lady, but because of her previous achievements. Her role as a mother and a wife is actually incredible and every one can attest to this. Additionally, Michelle is a fashion icon who has really transformed many people from all races. She has also decided to do things her own ways with a clear focus on her role as a woman instead of concentrating on her race. The social and public perception regarding blacks is not expected to last longer because the women of color have taken course of unleashing their potential which was initially suppressed. Reference Cooper, Brittney. (2010). Ant I A Lady?: Race Women, Michelle Obama, and The Ever-Expanding Democratic Imagination.  Melus, 35 (4), 39-57. Read More