Chic. Sophisticated. Grounded.Educated.Poised. All words I have read and heard used countless number of times to describe our First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama, and she is fully deserving of all those descriptions, however I want people to say more about her and her work as First Lady when all is said and done.
Anytime I look to read anything about her, the focus of the piece is always on her appearance and demeanor, and then there will be small reference to the actual work and purpose behind what she was doing. She recently got a new hair-do and its been all over the news…but It did not mention where she was or what she was doing when that picture was taken. Earlier in the year, when she went with several Senator’s wives and Mrs. Biden included, to give out food to underprivileged people, all the media focused on was her shoes. Her fucking shoes. Why they cost so much and who was paying for it.
I want to question why the media has not ventured deeper into understanding our First Lady. I feel that its important to veer away from the fashion, looks, hair-dos, accessories and start to focus in on the actual work she has been doing prior to become First Lady and her first couple months holding that title. I find it is starting to get absurd that every time Michelle is conducting a social project, whether that be planting a garden on the White House lawn, or giving out food to the underprivileged or even visiting the Vatican alongside her husband, all the attention only goes to her attire and appearance. Most times comments are positive and a few times not so much. The point is, I want people to adore her just as much as I do for not just her great style and poise but also for what she is actually doing as The First Lady. I do not want another Jackie-O reference made. Yes, yes I get it Jackie was Chic and the epitome of a lady, but what did she actually DO thats remembered even now? I personally cannot think of one thing. Quite frankly, I did not even know she was a college-educated woman until I saw a dorm named after her on my GWU campus. In all fairness, I am sure she was an accomplished woman but at the end of the day the only thing that is remembered about her is her classic fashion style and her prominent husbands. I want more for a First Lady. I definitely want more for this First Lady. I want her to be placed in same category as Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton. Strong, highly educated, opinionated and passionate women who are actually remembered as such. The parties, the galas, the personalized designer duds are all great and well-deserved but there just has to be more…substance, gusto, initiating & creating.
Don’t get it twisted, I am in no way criticizing her. I love her! I think she is great. What I am asking is that her team reevaluate what sort of legacy they want to leave surrounding her name and this presidency. I do not want another typical First Lady who is only seen throwing parties, schmoozing with foreign dignitaries, and donning latest styles. At same time, I do not want a quiet White House closed off from rest of world, as we have seen from the last presidency. All I am asking is that the media and her team emphasize her work whether that be visiting a school, giving a speech to soldiers, or lending a helping hand at local shelter.
Quite frankly, I feel like she is being muted. On so many levels. Most of you may not agree with me, few may, but I am just shedding light on this trend I am noticing going on in the media and perhaps done intentionally so by her team of people around her. I feel that its okay now to let her speak up and let her be more vocal about more issues besides what I consider “safe topics” such as family, health and education. I feel that talking about what she is wearing and her different looks is great and should be done. But that is not all to her legacy. I refuse to let it be just that.
So I will remain hopeful that there will come a turning point in which news of her philanthropic work and educated views and opinions about various matters will outshine and precede talks of her glamour and style choices.
Soon after graduating last year I began to fully immerse myself in arts scene here in DMV area and one of the places I was fortunate enough to come across early on was Civilian Art Projects, located in Chinatown-406 7th Street NW. When I first attended it was on the top 3rd floor of a small and admittedly unoticeable building on that block in bustling streets of Chinatown. In that same building you can find Touchstone Gallery on second floor, right below Civilian. At the time, the space was a bit different in that the flow of the room was interrupted by this huge 8ft wide column, which at times served to be a great space for large pieces to be displayed on but for most part seemed to take up alot of room. Nonetheless, I loved the space and I loved the high cielings, ultra bright white walls and perfect lighting and of course free endless glasses of wine doesnt hurt either.
I have attended several events held there from Seth Adelsberger- Semi Final Frontiers:
Christopher Sims-Guantanamo Bay: Photographs:
Last winter’s Media.Mix:21st Century Collage:
And last week’s Ryan Hill:Everything Must Go:
All of have been different on so many levels from the different topics covered, different mediums used, different forms of display and background stories of each artist. And as of late one major aspect had changed as well: Civilian had moved
Not far.Actually only to the 2nd floor of same building. The space is bigger and no large column breaking up flow of the room. And also one less flight of stairs to go up (if you have ever been there, then you know its not a joke trying to hike up those stairs).
Scene is still same too. As much as I despise the word, it is essentially the “Hipster” crowd of folks, but don’t worry everyone seems quite laxed and really there to hang out with friends, make some new ones and check out some fresh art while enjoying bottomless glasses of wine.
Can’t really complain too much. Definitely the makings of a great night especially for those of us on the come-up struggling to make ends meet and still trying to soak up everything the DMV arts world has to offer.
So definitely make sure to check out their site and keep a lookout for future posts I’ll probably do on the gallery and the artists featured there every month.
Michael Jackson passed away in the afternoon on Thursday, June 25, 2009.
That felt so weird to type out, let alone to even begin to digest. That Thursday afternoon was essentially the start of my trip to Miami (which was tons of fun may I add) and here I was rushing from work to go home, pack and make my way to Maryland to stay over a friend’s for the night before we flew out earllllly next day. As I was driving in my car, I hear the daily radio programmers interrupting the usual R&B crap we hear…that I admittedly dance to when I am out and about. And they said Michael Jackson had gone into cardiac arrest and was transported to the hospital.I was shocked to say the least. Because, well, cardiac arrest is no joke. Rarely does anyone survive from that and continue to be fully functional. BUT, I figured okay, this is Michael Jackson, c’mon this isn’t happening to him. Not now at least. So I untill I could get home and turn to CNN I relied on my blackberry and specifically, ubertwitter to help keep me posted. And twitter I gotta say kept me abreast, but it became way to much to digest. And having turned on CNN upon arrival at my house I became even more…well nervous really. And once TMZ reported he died (again I saw this via a tweet on Twitter), I refused to believe it.It started to feel like one of those moments where everything slows down to a halt.It almost felt like time actually stopped. Pretty bold statement to make perhaps, but it really felt like someone really close to me had just fallen ill and I had no clue what to do and how to find out factual information about it asap. So like most other folks, I waited till CNN told us. I figured they were the most credible and respected news network…or at least to me and surely a huge chunk of the world…so if anyone was going to break this news to me..then dammit let it be them.
And damn they did.
It was true. To me, It does not matter in the end who broke it first. Or who had what pictures or images of Michael either that day as he was being transported to the hospital or even this last rehearsal video that’s surfaced as of late.
In the midst of trying to digest the news of his death that afternoon, I tried to busy myself with packing and tried to go on the entire weekend avoiding this ever so present and growing sense of sadness and sorrow.
Now, for the record, I am not the emotional kinda person. Hell, I rarely ever let anyone even see me cry. Yes I do cry but just privately and try to keep it to a minimum. Perhaps a bit strange, but thats me. And I generally have a delayed emotional reaction to these sorts of things, perhaps its because I just don’t know how to deal with them really. So sure I got sad few times when I was out on vacation, especially when every dj at every bar and club in Miami felt the need to do a MJ tribute set. The flight to Miami had XM radio station dedicated entirely to MJ. All the papers had cover stories about it. All the network news talked about his death and of course all the controversy surrounding it and will likely continue to surround this incident.And then there was BET awards trying to somehow sprinkle in MJ tribute performances…although honestly speaking, I thought the show didnt go too well, but I understood and appreciated they tried considering his untimely death. And don’t even let me get into how saddened my family, especially my sister, was about his passing.
But it was not untill I was in the airport awaiting for our flight back home that I began to really read (via my trusty blackberry) and start to digest everything. And I think what hit a nerve and finally had me really feel something was when I saw Janet Jackson speak at the BET awards show.
Now she didn’t say a lot, but the little she did, spoke volumes to me. If that makes any sense.
Fast forward a few days, or well rather a week, that I really began to feel and accept that he was actually gone.
But I still couldn’t pin point why I was feeling so saddened about the death of a man I really had never met in person, unfortunately never will, and never really known. Was it because I love his music? Yea, sure. Was it because he was sucha huge international icon? Yea, sure. Was it because he was one of the first and for a long time only BLACK international icons? Yea, definitely.
But that still didn’t explain entirely what it was that made me so sad about his passing. Yes, Ed McMahon died night prior, Farrah Fawcett died morning of. And Billy Mays died that weekend after MJ passed.
However, I am sorry to say, but the news of his death unquestionably usurps all of theirs and still does. I don’t know If I will ever understand, at least now, why it is I feel so moved by his passing. But I feel like John Mayer stated it well: Michael’s career spanned over 3 generations of people. Myself included. So when Michael died, it is as if a part of my childhood died too.
The musical diety himself is no longer physically present . His death was a sobering reminder of our mortality. And even the greatest, most talented and iconic of them all will pass. Despite all the controversy surrounding his lifestyle, he still was and is loved by all for what he gave to the world through his music, style, personality and overall presence.
So yes, everytime I hear his songs, a part of me mourns a little bit, and I believe always will, but I find refuge in knowing I was witness for many years of musical greatness and history being made. We all have memories of where and what we were doing everytime he premiered a new video or new song or how we wanted to be IN his epic theatrical videos. In the end, despite the questionable physical changes he underwent or the many allegations he faced, I loved Michael Jackson, and always will.
So lets continue to rejoice knowing, that he has left us with all his great music reminding us of how powerful and moving music was and still can be. So thanks for the memories Michael.
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