Yesterday First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated International Women’s Day at the White House. Since 1911 International Women’s Day has celebrated the economic, political, and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future. It seemed only fitting that we usher in a new era of Michelle Obama Watch by making blogosphere history and sending our very first Washington, DC Correspondent to the White House. We are the first Black owned and operated (all by women) blog to send a Correspondent to the White House that is strictly dedicated to covering the East Wing. Girls truly do make the world go round.
“Look At me And Adore me.”
That’s what the First Lady said to her husband, the President, as they greeted a standing room only crowd at the White House, March 8, for Women’s International Day. When he gave her a look, she said, “Sincerely, look at me adoringly.” He responded with a smile, “I do adore you.” There was a collective sigh in the audience. We all want a man who adores us. We want him to look at us and utter those pleasing words.
That’s the picture perfect love that the Obamas exude whenever you see them together. At one point during the program the President casually put his arm around his wife while they were sitting and scored another one for how to love a Black woman.
Today is International Women’s Day and I’m Nisa Muhammad the newly assigned Washington Correspondent for the Michelle Obama Watch Blog. What a great job! I got to go to the White House today.
I waited in line with the rest of the press corps,
walked past the west wing, and made my way to the waiting area with the rest of the reports and photographers. I immediately noticed the step stools. What were they for? I didn’t have one. Were they for sitting down? There definitely weren’t any seats where we were waiting. Step stools?
Then it was time to go in and the mad dash took off. The wire service press corps always go in first. But since I just so happened to be sitting on the very steps they use, there I was, going with crowd, going in with them…in the front! So off we go into the White House but we have to remain behind the golden rope.
The royal… er… Presidential couple and their guests were like part of a museum exhibit. If I had a step stool like the others, I could have had a better view and taken better camera shots. It didn’t matter though, because I was there and I did see Cynthia Gordon who blogs about the First Family for Essence. Mostly everyone else was a photographer or part of a camera crew.
The afternoon was a who’s who of Black women. Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, in her last days on the job, was there taking care of business.
In attendance were Dr. Beverly Tatum, President of Spelman College, Civil Rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height, several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, and actress Kerry Washington who was the emcee for the afternoon.
Mrs. Obama spoke about the progress of women and girls. And guess what, when the President spoke he looked at Mrs. Obama and said, “I’m very sincere when I look at you adoringly.”
Believe it or not someone asked me if this blog was for stalkers. “Stalkers!?” I said, “We don’t stalk the First Lady. We just report and keep you informed.”
If you ever get the chance please go the White House. It’s a great place to see the Obamas up close and in person and they definitely look better in person than in the media.
Melanie Campbell, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Inc, described the afternoon as “incredible” and “indicative of Michelle Obama’s leadership”.
This was my first White House assignment. It was great. Check back later for more to come. This is Nisa Muhammad and I am your eyes and ears in Washington, DC.
