- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 0
-
Sparkle (0)
One Thanksgiving, a neice of mine, raised and stewed in privilege, went around the dinner table flipping out the labels of each guest's clothing and delivering comments such as "okay" or "ewwwww....." Twenty years later, she's adopted two kids from Africa but only in part because Angelina Jolie says it is cool to do so.
Kids adopted from Africa now are labled "kewl".
Every day politicians and pundits, still primarily men, go to their closets to pick out the piece of cloth they will tie tightly around their necks as a symbol of belonging to the tribe. This symbol of belonging is like a tribal headdress or a bone-in-the-nose or a lip-stretcher or a powdered wig.
Folks want to give fashion advice to Michelle Obama. They want to judge her not on the color of her skin, nor the content of her character, but rather on the piece of cloth she chooses to swaddle her body.
Forgive when I gag when Hollywood actresses wear dresses which cost half of what the average American pays for a car and then the same Hollywood actress tries to proclaim solidarity with the poor people of the world. A $10,000 investment could set some families up for life.
Forgive when I gag when male pundits, who sometimes comment on other male pundits' ties, pretend to be astonished and amused by fashion advice to Michelle Obama. These pundits appear to believe one should not be judged on the content of one's character nor by their shoes but by the piece of cloth tied around one's neck.
Forgive me when I gag when folks still believe what you wear defines who you are and how well you will perform.
Dear Michelle Obama: Pay no attention to those people behind the curtain who believe in flash, dash, and no content. No one who cares about substance and content gives a crap about designer, label, trendy colors or pieces of cloth tied tightly around the neck. Give us American-made clothes, from American-made fabrics (huh--try to find those), in designs enabling all woman to do what we have to do.
Leave the tribal posturing to the neck-tie crowd. You know those guys--Rush Limbaugh made millions on ties designed to play to the me-first crowd. Some tribal posturers wear flag pins and send poor men's sons to fight rich men's wars.
Don't buy into tribal symbols, Michelle. Just be you. Wise folks will judge you on the content of your character.
