President Obama’s inauguration marked a proud day for many Americans. I, like most of the country if not the world, set captivated as the events of the day unfolded. Call me catty but in addition to the majesty, there were moments where I was prompted to grab my cell, dial my best friend and gossip.

“Why is Jill Biden wearing bare-kneed boots?” I said.

“My sister said the same thing. I don’t have a problem with the boots, it’s cold.  Her dress is too short to be wearing with those boots though,” my friend replied.

Bidens Dress

Moments later I called again. “Can someone tell me why…WHY Jill Biden has on a short sleeve dress on in DC…in January…on inauguration day? She’s from Delaware. She should know better.”

My friend laughed and said, “You and Vaughn (her sister) think alike. She just said the same thing.”

This went on and on but no moment sparked as much controversy as the following question. “Is Craig Robinson (Michelle Obama’s brother) married to a White woman?”

Turns out, the answer is “yes.”  But I wonder why it matters?  I mean, I myself have dated a White man so who cares if his wife is White?  Why the double standard?

BLACK MEN, WHITE WOMEN

In the past, the argument was that as a Black man attained higher levels of education, his peers and colleagues invariably grew paler.  So it’d stand to reason that in such circles, one has a greater chance of finding love outside one’s own race.

Take the case of Frederick Douglass who married twice.  First to a Black woman (Anna) and then to a White one.  Anna was illiterate and shared little of Douglass’ intellect or interests.  Two years after she passed, Douglass remarried a White abolitionist (although he may have been hunching a different White woman prior to Anna’s death but  I digress).

Helen Douglass, Second Wife

Douglass’ marriage to his second wife was one where we can see an intellectual and philosophical bond that may not have easily been attained by marrying a Black woman during that period in American history…a period of slavery, segregation, ill or no-education for Blacks as a whole and gender disparities.

Today however there are far more sisters seeking and obtaining higher education.  So where years ago finding a Black woman of the same intellect and social standing may have been difficult, today, sisters are eclipsing brothers left and right.  Thus if it’s not intellect and barring the obvious factor, love (what the hell ever…men ain’t running to the alter so don’t give me that love crap), what makes a Black man gravitate toward non-Black women?

IF IT’S WHITE, IT’S ALRIGHT

[View with PicLens]

For many Black women the above images are maddening.  How many of you screamed, “WHY?!?!?!?”

I wonder, if the idea of having a White woman…a non-Black woman on one’s arm is akin to sporting a Rolex?  Are White women like charms where Black women, for some men, are akin to wearing a Swatch watch…reliable but socially boring?

THE RACIAL POWER OF MICHELLE OBAMA

What if Obama were married to a White woman?

What if Obama were married to a non-Black woman?

What if Obama were married to a lighter-skinned Black woman?

Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, her color, the depth of Michelle Obama’s color matters.

What does it say to Black women, Black girls across the world that arguably the most powerful man in the world is married to a Black woman? And not just a any Black woman…a chocolate one?  Ok, mocha-choco-latte…whatever, she ain’t “high yella” or “red bone” if you wanna go there and if you didn’t, I just did.

Where successful and inspirational Black couples exist in our communities and within our own homes in some cases, nothing does this Black woman’s heart good than to see a happy, healthy Black couple in the public eye.  In the end, I’m not sure how Michelle’s color impacts or will impact other Black females or males for that matter.   I just hope that for those men who have chosen to forsake, abandon, degrade and label Black women, the Obama’s serve as a wake up call.  You ain’t gotta go White to “make it,” show you’ve “made it” or prove you matter.