How Did This Moment Make You Feel?
Happy? Proud? Hopeful? Or the opposite? Last night I felt immeasurable pride and warmth at the news, and I thought his speech was electrifying.
But still, I realize there are those who would disagree in the harshest terms. Take for example, the woman I saw on CNN’s Headline News this morning, a self-described Democrat who proudly said she’d rather vote for McCain than see Obama in the White House. A little smirk played around her lips as she said, “I just don’t think America is ready for a black president.”
Where I saw love and support between a fine, upstanding couple, there are those who read between lines and find racist undertones — peep these Newsweek comments, where a reader says “Did you see the little fist bump between them (on national TV mind you) right before his speech last night? NO BHO on my ticket, I’ll vote for the rat that admits he’s a rat.”
FYI, it’s called a dap. Or a pound. It’s even got its own Wikipedia definition. It isn’t a subversive gesture, or a “‘Hezbollah’ style fist-jabbing”, as Human Events described the greeting (hat tip to Slate by way of PostBourgie for that tidbit of knowledge). For additional analysis on Barack and Michelle’s “fist bump,” read this interesting article on Know The Ledge.
In case you missed the moment last night, here’s a video. LOVING that color on Michelle, BTW. Gracias to Stereohyped for the photo.
How did you feel about last night? How do you feel about the journey to November? Happy? Proud? Hopeful? Or the opposite?
Category: Famous Faces, Issues
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this is a day for celebration for every black person (especially-of course- in america)in the world. Sen. Obama did it!!!!!
Congratulations and the best wishes i have for Sen. Obama and everyone who is supporting him. The dap was beautiful, this small gesture shows so much love and respect and closeness between Michelle an Barack Obama. Love to see them on a official visit in germany after november( i will pray for this to happen!!!). they both will enrich the international political and cultural landscape.sorry my english is not so good but i hope you can understand what i want to say.
Love and greetings from the african diaspora in germany. so many people around here are supporting Sen. Obama- not with their votes, but with their love, appreciation and their spirits.
Great moment. A beautiful sight to see a black couple in all their glory, one step away from the highest office in the land.
Words can not express how proud I am of Barack Obama and his family. I saw them do the little “pound it” gesture and I nearly died laughing I thought it was SO cute. Of course there are ignorant people out there who are going to criticize, as if it was some kind of “secret handshake of the hood” that only black people do, but I saw it as a strong black couple showing not only that they love each other but that they are in complete support of one another and are totally in sync. They are the cutest couple. <3 OBAMA ’08!!
p.s. I was disturbed that Hillary Clinton barely acknowledged the historic state of Obama’s nomination.
I love the Obamas!
I especially love the way Michelle has modeled for black women that you CAN BE an ambitious, strong, independent black woman and STILL choose to leave your stellar career in order to support your man and it doesn’t mean you have lost your feminist card!
Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa
I was very happy when I saw it. The way she looked at him and that little pat on the back her gave her were adorable gestures of a loving connection and genuine happiness. To me it symbolized a great couple who are strong together and still in love.
I think it’s funny that he’s not “black” enough and yet he still managed to throw “mainstream” media for a loop with a simple “black” hand gesture.
Very endearing…
The dap was fun! It showed them as a team, and it was perfect for a public event where other gestures would have been inappropriate.
I’m excited that a black man has made it further than any before him, but I’m not all too thrilled with this particular black man. The more I watch his speeches and interviews, the more I begin to realize that he’s just good at playing the politics game. He’s not even extremely good at it (he says “uh” pretty much every other word), but he gives a few good soundbytes every time, and everyone remembers the moments when he comes across as most intelligent, rather than the ones where he appears to be floundering helplessly.
I also wish he hadn’t been a member of that church for 22 years. Now, every time a black politician enters the national scene, people will scrutinize his church (if he belongs to one) looking for racist remarks along the lines of those made at Obama’s church.
Oh well, eventually a qualified black man will be where Obama is today, and in the meantime we can be glad that Obama has made the journey easier for him!
Sorry guys, but I was disturbed by the fist bump. This is the future President of the US. He’s not at home hanging out with the guys. He’s about to become the most powerful man in the WORLD and it was inappropriate, unprofessional and a little too ghetto for my ‘preppy’ taste. Not all African Americans find fist bumping cute or endearing. I felt myself CRINGE when it happened. Come on! Can you imagine Obama bumping fists with the President of France or with the Queen of England? He shouldn’t bump fists with his wife, our future First Lady, either. Keep it professional Obama! Don’t give those nasty Republicans any ammo against you!!
WOW to Corrinne above me. Really, you thought the dap was a little too ghetto? Would a high 5 or a simple hug have been better? Does it not mean the same thing? No I cannot imagine Obama dapping with the President of France or with the Queen of England but neither of those people his wife and life partner. Nor are they his close personal friends. Obama has kept it more than professional the entire time he has been running for president and will do nothing but keep it professional after he wins the race for presidency. Regardless of what he does or does not do someone will have a problem with him for whatever reason they find fit, but you cannot change others opinion of you.
I thought the dap was great. It showed that they stuck together and did the best that they could and achieved their goal. And I think that they are a great example of Black love!!
LOL Cheetara! Yes, my example of the Queen of England went a little too far, but I just wanted to show the appropriateness of the gesture.
The dap is NOT symbolic of “Black Love”, spousal closeness or sticking together. In any case, it’s more of a casual gesture. A simple hug between them would have been fine and would have been more symbolic of their love. It also would have kept the ‘ghetto’ comments from coming up in the first place.
I’ve bumped fists in the past (rarely) but NEVER in a formal setting. I wouldn’t be caught dead doing it during a presidential campaign and least of all, with my husband.
When I saw the video, I just had to smile. It was so funny that all these relationship experts were trying to analyse this so-called ‘Display of African-American Appreciation’ like this was the first time it had been done, lol. I need to make a t-shirt with that image on it. It was like even though he’s a political nominee the Obama’s can get down.
Corrine, Corrine. *sigh*