British black women respond to Michelle Obama on race

Michelle Obama has spoken out about overcoming negative racial perceptions en route to becoming First Lady of the United States.

Speaking to an audience of predominantly black graduates at Tuskegee University founded by civil rights forefather Booker T Washington – the First Lady told the crowd:

“As potentially the first African-American first lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations, conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others.”

In the past Obama had been satirised as a black militant and had been called derogatory comments in the press such as a “baby momma”.

Obama received a strong applause at the historically black college after telling the crowd ‘the road would not be easy’.

The First Lady of the United States is considered an icon for African-American women but do a generation of trailblazing Black British women also agree that racist perceptions will hold them back?

These black British women from the class of 2015 gave their response:

Sonia Meggie

Founder of Inspirational U

I don’t think she [Michelle Obama] has been portrayed negatively.

Right now there are a lot of role models for young black women and we can achieve and we are achieving.

I was having a conversation about Sandie Okoro at HSBC and one of the things she’s very clear about is mentoring. There is also Jacky White at Microsoft. A black female vice-president. You have to have visible role models in sectors that are predominantly male.

There are fewer women in senior roles here and you do not see as many prominent women in the public domain

Success is still about your network and now we have a global playing field and are not restricted by geography.

Although as a black woman rises – we are often judged on our race.

Simone Powderly, 25

Hair blogger

I relate to it (what she said) and there is pressure. I think she (Obama) has had to work hard to be respected and that’s why I like her because she’s strong.

When you are black you cannot slip up. We have to stay on the ball.

My dad always told me to be well spoken. Don’t speak slang and dress well. There is a lot of pressure in the black community to behave in a way so we do not get [negatively] judged.

We feel we have to overcompensate. I know that growing up I didn’t want to be stereotyped

Being mixed race the stereotype is that I am easy, stupid or self absorbed or fatherless.

When I had my hair in braids my work colleagues said I look harsh or that I had attitude. When I have it out curly or in an afro I am told that I should tame it but when I have it straight nothing happens. I’m told ‘it looks nice’.

The perception is Afro hair is not ‘normal’ hair.

Tashi Skervin, 23

Fitness blogger

I’ve never really seen racial prejudice and stereotypes hold me back. My parents have always taught me to work hard and now we have so many black role models.

As a black woman I know I can go far because there are so many women who have done it.

There are so many other factors that hold you back more than race – like competition.

I don’t feel that because I am, black I have to work harder – I have to work hard anyway. I have never felt judged.

Perhaps its because [Obama] she’s in America but as a black person living in England I am really privileged. I can do something without being judged and it gives me the confidence to do what I want to do.

Samantha Asamadu, 35

Founder of Media Diversified and film maker

I think Michelle Obama is the most high profile black woman in the world next to Oprah. Her fame is an important step for every black woman in the west.

We as black women have to navigate a triple oppression. As a woman and as a black woman.

I think every single one of us has had to mute or completely change our behaviour in order to fit the white normative gaze. I myself have been called angry, bullish even shrill. As far as I’m concerned is me just speaking my mind.

Who stole all the black women from Britain? In the cultural landscape of Britain we are very much invisible.

Her words have merit even more so here in Britain. In the US there are visibly high profile women and they are trail blazers. In the UK although trailblazers exist we don’t know their names and they are not visible.