Although there has been some negative criticism of Michelle Obama’s fashion choices for the Inaugural activities (especially the floral Tracy Feith dress she wore to church on Wednesday), overall the reaction to the way our new First Lady looked as over overwhelmingly postive. Until now. Yesterday, Jezebel had an article about how black designers are disappointed in the choices the First Lady has made because she didn’t include an African American designer. Cue violins here because the unnecessary drama has officially begun.
Amanu Eele, co-founder of The Black Artist’s Association (whose actual purpose is a mystery to me) is writing an appeal to the office of The First Lady expressing her disappointed. Here are here comments:
“It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and ‘We Are the World’ by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?”
I think Ms. Eele needs to slow her roll. It is not like these three events are the only time we are going to see the First Lady of the United States in the next four years. Furthermore, the outrage is not coming from the notable designers themselves (or maybe she is their mouthpiece). Michelle Obama’s clothing choices thus far have been a mystery to everyone. So who knows what is to come. More importantly, although our First Lady is one of us she also belongs to all of America and her choices are going to reflect that. She doesn’t owe us something special, neither does the President. And let’s get real, she has more on her mind than what she wears. But I have a feeling this is just the beginning.
But Eele is right about one thing: The President and The First Lady do bring to mind a “We Are The World” excitement into the air. But if we are trying to be inclusive, the tit for tat and the counting up which ethnic groups get what needs to stop. Seriously. This whole thing is bigger than just us.
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Amen to that. The curt and criticism is unnecessary and ridiculous. In all instances I think First Lady Obama looked truly wonderful. She a reflection of an amazingly strong and confident woman who chooses what she likes and it looks darn great on her.
am depressed and entertained by this post.. it is going to be a long four years for some in our community.. ms ele.. (cannot help thinking of dallas!) is way off key and very patronising.. who does she think she is talking to? throwing shade at the first lady will not help her cause or whatever it is she thinks she is doing on behalf of black people..
michelle would have stopped reading at:
“It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and ‘We Are the World’ by representing all different countries.”
methinks…ms ele has now had her 15mins and should go back to her obscurity…
Lawd, Please! Here comes the crabs in the barrel syndrome. When Fannie Lou Hamer spoke in front of Congress, HER dress was criticized! A wise woman had enough sense to say, “Yeah, but she’s on the Congressional Floor in her “dowdy” dress and we’re out here in all our finery!” President and First Lady Obama are about the business of running the country; they are not an starring in an episode of Project Runway, sheesh!!!
I so agree. Thank you for this. I am sickened by such small-mindedness. Like the First Lady won’t have the opportunity to wear a Black designer in the next four years. Ludicrous.
I agree that we should relax and see what is coming down the road with Michelle’s fashion choices. She will surprise and amaze us as always. Great post.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
I wonder how Mr. Song the milliner feels about Ellen wearing Aretha’s hat
i agree and disagree with many of all the posted blogs i’ve read. if Mrs. Obama consciously chose to showcase a Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu design to be inclusive or whatever then i respect and understand Ms. Obama. but, at the same time i respect Ms. Eele’s point. why not include an african american designer? there is absolutely nothing wrong with Ms. Eele’s statement. honestly speaking, it would have been nice to see Mrs. Obama sporting at least one african american creation, especially on such an historical occasion.
now, if Ms. Eele’s sole purpose was to get a few minutes of fame by putting Mrs. Obama on blast, then shame on her. yes, realistically it was Mrs. Obama’s moment. not only was it not an african american moment, it also wasn’t a cuban american or asian american moment either (let’s be inclusive).
many many successful african americans feel as though being accepted by other people means excluding their own people. all in all, why beat Ms. Eele down for speaking out. perhaps she could have chosen a different forum in which to voice her concerns, but it is what it is.
…and just maybe Mrs. Obama felt that sense of obligation to be inclusive of others.
Seventh West I like your post. I actually read the WWD article and according to Eele there were 7 major slots Mrs. Obama had an opportunity to wear couture design. I think Ms. Eele is simply trying to say why not have one of those slots represented by a talented African American designer. I have read several threads on other websites and blogs concerning this issue. And I feel most people don’t get it.
If women could collectively be upset with Sarah Palin for not representing women and women’s interests, then I don’t see people up in arms in an African American critiquing another African American in her choices. I fail to see the difference.
Of course Michlle has right to choose what she wants to wear as Sarah Palin has the freedom to choose her beliefs on issues concerning women. But we as women didn’t like what she represented. I think Eele is simply saying, hey Michelle don’t forget about us.
Besides like someone said on another site, a lot of these “AMERICAN” designers just clamoring to dress Mrs. Obama, are the same desiners THAT WON’T CAST AFRICAN AMERICAN MODELS TO WEAR THEIR CLOTHING ON THE RUNWAY. LOL!!!! So really, they should get first pick? I know that she has four years to wear black designs but it would have been nice to see a qualified and talented black designer’s career take off like Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu. The fashion industry is very racist and not diverse. From Black designers, to Black models still NOT having had their due. I think people forget that the fashion industry is just as every other facet of being black you have to fight sometimes two and three times as hard to get your due, while your counterparts of other races don’t, snd Michelle is not immune to this!
A message from Amnau Eele of Black Artists Asoociation:
I have been reading all of the negative comments that are being posted about me all over the internet and in publications around the world.
I appreciate some of the comments about this being a “Media Lynching” of myself and my organization BAA.
I only do interviews by e-mail, because i never want to be mis-understood or mis-quoted.
I have all the e-mail interviews that i did with the WWD writer Rosemary Feitelberg, and in none of those e-mails do I use the quotes of “We are the World”, “Kumbaya” or “This was our moment”.
I don’t think or speak like that, it’s just not my style.
We don’t have a website and we don’t want one!
We like helping people in private and we are different.
We are comfortable with being different and not operating like anyone else.
we prefer to remain private.
That’s what life is all about, doing YOU.
ABC ‘s “NightLine has called my office requesting a camera interview about this media firestorm, if given the opportunity I will show all of the WWD e-mails on camera at ABC and I will share with you all, the work that we do at Black Artists Association.
Message to all the young people out there:
Never give anyone the power to make you react to something you don’t have all the full details about.
to react in a hateful way to lies is harmful to your spirit and the spirit of all people.
You can not build a better world that way.
none of these negative comments have hurt me and my work will continue of helping people and being of service to those with no voice or help.
many young African Americans have been inspired to pull up their pants, go to school and study hard.
President Obama made that happen, why? because when young black males saw that a black man could become the president of America, they now had hope.
The same process can be used for black designers. if young black kids and kids of all races see black, latino, asian and all races being designing, then black, latino, asian and white youth etc.. think “I Can Do It”!!
That is the message we gave WWD.
young people need to see people that look like them having a better life.
What’s wrong with putting beautiful asian models on the cover of vogue magazine?
Where are they?
even supermodel Chanel Iman said there are no asian models on the cover of vogue in last sunday’s ny post page -six magazine. ( google it)?
Asian women are educated, smart, beautiful , savvy, chic and they have money to shop!!
so why are they not on the cover of American vogue?
Is vogue Racist?
you tell us.
should BAA shut up about this injustice against asian models, because we’re not asian?
superstar actress Gong Li on the cover of American Vogue, would ROCK!!
and BAA would fight for her right to be there!!
We support people, not color.
We named our organization BAA , because we saw a segement with Bill Oreilly where he couldn’t name five black artists that paint, but he could name five rappers that have been to prison.
Thus the birth of Black Artists Association, we wanted to let Bill and the world know that black people can paint on canvas, as artists..
please don’t bothering posting well it’s not about color!
it has been about color for the last 232 presidents of America.
as someone else posted: the last 232 presidents of america were white, the last 232 first ladies of America were white, the last 232 mothers of the last 232 presidents were white, including the white mother of the first black president Obama.
All of the dresses worn by the last 232 first ladies have been designed by white and non-black designers, including the dresses of the first black lady.
232 years of white rule and the world goes crazy when BAA asked where are the black designers?
Why is that?
where was that anger toward white people for the last 232 years?
Are you more angry with Baa or the last ” all white 232 years” of America?
well…. change came with Mr. Obama right?
It did,
but “change” still has not come for the black designer at the white House.
well… the black designer still has 4 more years, maybe Mrs. Obama will wear a design by a black designer in a few years.
So black designer, remember what Jesse Jackson said: “Keep hope alive”.
until then, Mrs. Obama has the right to wear what she wants, and she is not obligated to wear clothes made by black designers. she should wear what she likes and what makes her feel comfortable and look good.
BAA told WWD that, but that quote didn’t make it into the article in WWD.
That quote does not sell papers or make people angry.
Question for today’s youth?
so after 232 years of all white rule, what do we say to the 6 year old little black girl or boy that wants to design and have the first lady wear her clothes?
Question for today’s youth?
Is it right that Sasha and Mali know about Jason Wu the asian designer, before they know about the legendary black designer Arthur Mc Gee?
Is that the type of education you’d want for your daughters?
it took the Met museum in NYC a few nights ago to honor this great black designer Mr. mcGee,
And guess what?
this designer whom is worthy of being feted at the museum in not in the closets at the white house and I’m sure Jay Z received an invite to the white House before Mr. McGee did.
Question for today’s youth?
Should rappers that call women B,,, and H,,,, ‘s and black people the N ,,,word get an invite to the Obama White House before a elegant well educated legendary black designer that would never use this type of language?
wait, we know the answer: “AMNAU EELE SHOULD SHUT UP!! THE OBAMA’S CAN INVITE WHOMEVER THEY WANT TO THE WHITE HOUSE”.”
Strange,,, when amnau eele was a little girl, she once asked why do we have to sit on the back of the bus mommy?
and a old white lady said to amnau, “you better sit down and sit where we tell you n….’s to sit”.” your black mammy should have taught you your place, little n…!!”
that’s how whites used to talk to little girls like amanu eele in 1966 and that liile girl amnau eele went on to walk for all the best designers in the world in 1982-1996.
iI did it !! and i knew i could do it, because I had photos of all the black designers and models on my bedroom walls from the 70′s to encourage me.
As someone said on one of these blogs, Nas the rapper made you look, but WWD made you all react.
That means someone at WWD has a lot of power over you.
Take the power back and think for yourself.
Stay free and stay Bold.
Black Artists Association
Amnau Eele
Amnau Eele can be reached at: [email protected]
feel free to send all of your comments, I welcome them.
Do you.
get over it please. i think that she looked amazing and people need to stop critizing everything. haters were saying her dress was a mustard color which it wasnt – it was a mild gold or lemongrass. and the jason wu dress was beautiful. they’ve done a great deal just getting to the top and we dont need anymore UNECESSARY negative critisism. just live ur lives damn!
Can you spell ‘opportunist’? I really wish someone would put all that intense passion into more important issues in our community, such as teenage pregnancy. Or where have all the fathers gone? If we ignore her, she’ll go away…
First Lady Michelle Obama is great