DISQUS

I read the full article and came away with a sense that the author, Vanessa Grigoriadis, was pretty catty and somewhat insecure in her own identity as a Greek woman.

Barack, for the most part, got a pass by Grigoriadis.

However, Grigoriadis seems convinced that Michelle Obama is not quite what she seems and is up to something. Grigoriadis studied every eye flicker, head turn, smile, laugh, breath, and piece of clothing of Michelle’s to get the “real story” of what made this Black, Black, Black, Blaaaaaaack woman tick.

But why?

It comes down to a phenomena that is not new. Someone who is an ethnic (say Irish, Italian, or GREEK) immigrant or the daughter of ethnic immigrants, arrives to North American. Immediately, to deflect attention away from their own ethnicity, they quickly “other” African Americans, in order to solidify their own ethnic identity with White identity. You Black People sure are strange to All Us White People!

Vanessa Griogaridis, she of the recently arrived to North America Greek heritage, has gone extremely far out of her way to “other” Michelle Obama, she whose ancestors have likely been North American since there was a North America. Griogaridis wants her readers to understand that Obama is a foreign, strange, Black creature who’s every movement and nuance has to be explained to terrified, helpless, clueless White America.

Fortunately, the latest Essence is out and reading that gave me an understanding of why Michelle Obama remains serene and upbeat despite reporting that would have driven another woman indoors.

Apparently, Michelle’s mother has a philosophy that just because someone calls you a dog, that doesn’t mean you don’t get down on all fours and start barking. No. You keep going and doing what you were doing before the idiot stepped to you.

So, truthfully, I’ve come to the conclusion that the article Grigoriadis wrote tells us MUCH more about Grigoriadis and her insecurity with her own identity, as a Greek and perhaps as a woman outdone when faced with a more powerful woman.

I think the reporting on Michelle will become more shrill, catty, and resentful as the convention draws near. It will take a woman pretty confident in herself to report on Michelle Obama... Grigoriadis is not that woman.