My First Essay on Michelle Obama

Two Magic Moments:
Why We’re Praising Barack Obama
By April R. Silver | July 28, 2004

By Tuesday afternoon the build up toward Barack Obama’s keynote address at the Democratic National Convention had just approached overkill. The mass media machine heeded alerts from DNC spin masters and, in full concert, heralded Obama as the “new face of the Democratic Party.” After so much of it, I grew nervous for him. Who could live up to all this hype?

I sat cautiously, praying that disappointment wouldn’t visit here tonight. I perked up when Keep On Pushin’ (by The Impressions) started as the theme song. Then the magic unfolded. Obama was electric! This humbly confident yet powerful man seemed too good to be true. He did more for Black pride in one speech than some leaders do their entire political careers. And who knew, but there was more magic to come. After the speech and with a single gesture, Obama would ignite as much happy chatter in the community because of who he stood with, as what he stood for.

During the speech, however, I was convinced that Obama was worth supporting. Though I was familiar with his senatorial campaign in Illinois, I’d never heard him speak. After a little more research on the issues (noting his landmark legislative reform on the death penalty in Illinois, as well as his positions on domestic violence, reproductive rights, and racial profiling), I was clear that I’d witnessed the new poster boy for American political possibility. Even my brother, a staunch Bush-supporting Black republican was impressed enough to offer his support for Obama.

Obama spoke unashamedly of his African name (his first name Barack means “blessed”). He affirmed that folks in “inner city neighborhoods” know that “government alone can’t teach our kids to learn…that children can’t achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white…” He put forth that a “change in priorities” would give every child a decent shot at life. If that change in priority is a shift from America’s love affair with White men - a sacred union that politely tolerates others, but mostly crushes outsiders - then I’m on board. I appreciated him recalling the Declaration of Independence, with its praiseworthy values and truths: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Because America’s long storied gross betrayals can blur one’s vision, it’s important to note that these values and truths are universal and pre-date the white men/founding fathers that organized them onto paper. One part of Obama’s speech, however, caused me pause. He claimed that “There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America - there’s the United States of America.” That was too naïve for my blood.

Now the national African American political landscape has been jolted. Obama, a keeper, seems more genuine than Jesse Jackson, yet as crisp in his analysis as Al Sharpton. He’s all-embracing, but clearly distinctive; grassroots and polished…and financed. And I couldn’t help but think: “That’s a wrap for Jesse. Obama didn’t rhyme, not one time to get his point across.” The very energy that Obama unleashed at the DNC was once under Jackson’s domain…nearly two decades ago.

But Barack had more magic working and it had nothing to do with electoral politics or the fact that if elected, he would be only the fifth Black senator in US history (including from the reconstruction era). My heart soared highest when I watched Barack finish his speech and go over to hug this Black woman - of the darker hue. My brain almost short circuited! My rapid default response: That’s not his wife…maybe a campaign manager; but not his wife. Logic: He’s too polite to be a radical departure from the norm. Surely he would uphold the social order for men of his pedigree: successful Black man equals white woman on arm. Conclusion: This dark woman must be a top aide who wandered onto stage.

Then, as if in slow motion, all in the course of a mili-second, I came to see that this sister was indeed his wife! I jumped for the phones but couldn’t stand to miss this glorious moment for Black women. “Brown Skin Lady” (by Black Star) was all I could hum for the rest of the night! What a delicious 2-for-1: a powerful Black man that chose a partner for life who not only isn’t a white woman, but doesn’t conjure up images of them. That’s a profound significance that only brown skinned and darker women can fully understand. “Barack and Michelle Obama” is just as important a message as any.




About April R. Silver

April R. Silver is a nationally respected social entrepreneur, writer, and activist. She is also the editor of the critically acclaimed anthology Be a Father to Your Child: Real Talk from Black Men on Family, Love, and Fatherhood (Soft Skull Press). She founded AKILA WORKSONGS in 1993 - a leading communications agency that services artists, activists, advocates, and various institutions.

Silver received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Howard University. There, she helped lead the historic student protest of 1989. During her term, Silver also doubled as the founding president of The Cultural Initiative, Inc. (CI) and co-produced the nation's first hip hop conference. The groundbreaking annual event also ignited long-lasting changes in the positioning of hip hop within academia.

An active volunteer, Silver has or continues to serve on many boards and honorary committees, including the International African Arts Festival and the historic Hip Hop Nation exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. She also founded the artist-activist organization Co-Motion (in response to NYPD’s brutal killing of Amadou Diallo) and co-founded HipHop Speaks! (townhall meetings and performance showcases conceived by Kevin Powell). Ms. Silver has lectured, moderated, or facilitated workshops at over two hundred public schools, colleges, universities, and conferences across the country.

Her business leadership has bought her to the front cover of Network Journal and to the attention Essence, where she was profiled in 2002. She has also been featured, profiled, or quoted in or on CNN, BET News, Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Ebony, Ms. Magazine. NY1 News, and many other local and national outlets. Internationally, she has appeared in ADLIB and Black Music Review (Japan), Black Echoes (London), and on Radio Netherlands.

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For speaking engagements, contact Drake R. Holliday at drake@akilaworksongs.com or call 718.756.8501. Visit the website at www.akilaworksongs.com or Facebook.com