About Michelle Obama Watchers
Gina, Founder-in-Chief
I started Michelle Obama Watch to avoid being overrun by emails at my blog, What About Our Daughters. WAOD often serves as a 911 and 411 related to the negative portrayal of African American women in popular culture. Whenever my readers see something that troubles them about the media’s depiction or treatment of another African American woman. I often get an email. Predicting that Michelle Obama would be the target of an unprecedented level of media scrutiny over the months leading to the general election, I decided to provide a separate blog to deal exclusively with the media and Michelle so that I could continue to use WAOD to highlight other troublesome issues related to African American women such as the cases of Private Lavena Johnson, Dunbar Village, Romona Moore and other horrific atrocities committed against Black women and girls in the country that often go unreported by mainstream media. I don’t have time to cover Michelle Obama 24/7, but a group of contributors volunteer their time to try to keep up. I have three rules we try to stick to A) No electioneering- I don’t care who you vote for; B) No Attacks and C) Be Brief.
You can read more about the development of Michelle Obama Watch at What About Our Daughters: “Michelle Obama Watch Goes Live”
Current Contributors
Michelle Obama Watch is run by a group of dedicated volunteer bloggers.
Aminah Hanan, Managing Editor
I spend my days being a wife to my husband of nine years and working as a health care professional and research assistant. In my mind I’m the next J California Cooper, with a dash of Octavia Butler, and the soul and vocation of Nikki Giovanni. To make my mind’s life a reality I spend a few days a week as a university student.
I was born, raised, and continue to make my home on the Southside of Chicago, birth place of the First Lady & weeMichelles, so I was excited about the opportunity to contribute to MOW. I am a firm believer that we must not only be committed to defending the First Lady, weeMichelles, and Mrs Robinson when they are attacked in the media, but we must also shine a bright light on their positive portrayals. Because when they “Google their names” 8 years from now, they should find a place dedicated to uplifting positive images of the women and girls in our First Family.
An opinionated down to earth African American expressing thoughts and opinions on current events and this thing called life. Sometimes funny sometimes serious, but always real. AJ runs the blog OverAnalyzeIt which is an eclectic mix of thoughts regarding politics, social issues, family, strange news and everything in between.
I am a Web Editor by day for a major college website and a freelance writer/blogger by night. I have been on the Michelle Obama bandwagon since I first heard her speak at a rally. I enjoy chronicling her journey. I consider it an honor to contribute to MOW as well as to provide my own commentary on my blog. I’m happily married with 4 boys and a fiesty Shih Tzu mix named, Uncle Earl. I enjoy writing, reading, cooking and grilling on my grill, Sweet Bee. I am also active with my sorority and my church. I stay encouraged by meditating on Matthew 6:26.
Patty Jones, Contributor
Patty Jones is a southern gal who loves to blog about politics and global political events. She studies the impact of global events on local cultures and is currently writing a book. She finds the FLOTUS to be fascinating and wants to be a part of history. Patty is an entrepreneur who believes in education and uplifting women to help other women.
Nisa Muhammad, Washington, DC Correspondent
Nisa Muhammad is a senior staff writer for The Final Call Newspaper and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She has written for Newsday, The Washington Informer, Azizah Magazine and politicallyblack.com. Ms Muhammad is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She was a Scripps Howard University Fellow at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and a fellow at the Delaware State University Institute for Advanced Studies in Journalism. Her work has taken her to Cuba twice where she interviewed exiled Assata Shakur and wrote an in depth story on the Cuban Medical School offering scholarships to Black and low income students.
In her other life, when she’s not reporting and writing, she’s helping teens, singles and couples develop healthy relationships and healthy marriages to better the outcomes for children with her organization Wedded Bliss Foundation. One of her programs, Basic Training for Couples was featured on CNN’s Black in America 2. She also organizes communities around the country to celebrate Black Marriage Day every year in March.
Michelle Obama Watch Alumni
The following bloggers were the original Michelle Obama Watchers. Their efforts helped launch this blog, and it would not exist without their contributions LONG BEFORE Michelle Obama became First Lady. Back in the waning days of the Democratic primary! They are all Trail Blazers.
Nichelle Gainer is the Founder of Anovelista Media, home of the beauty and fashion blog 55 Secret Street and Revenge of the Curves, a fitness, health and lifestyle blog. Her personal blog, Anovelista.com, covers the intersection between contemporary culture, history, politics and the arts. A veteran magazine writer, her work has appeared in GQ, In Style, Glamour, Self and Essence.com.
Nichelle is contributing to Michelle Obama Watch because she believes that when and where Michelle Obama enters, black womanhood enters with her – even though she hasn’t asked for it. It’s “too heavy a load” for Michelle to carry alone so, in the tradition of “Black women in defense of themselves”, Nichelle is here to help.
Carmen D. writes daily at her site Allaboutrace.com and at AOL’s Black Voices/Black Spin blog. A former Emmy Award winning network news producer and media consultant, Carmen is increasingly focused on helping people talk about race productively. Carmen contributes to Michelle Obama watch because she says, “strong black women are called to stand up for other strong women.” Carmen D. resides in California with one husband and two canine kids.
I’m Meagan. I grew up in Los Angeles, and have lived in Brooklyn, New York, Washington, D.C, and most recently in Columbus, Ohio. I currently live in Chicago. I work in an office, where I read political blogs all day. I am an avid cyclist who hates cars and firmly believes in the two-wheeled revolution, as well as a shutterbug . I am a centrist/moderate, and I write for The Gaffe Watch , a blog that examines gaffes made by our elected officials at all ends of the political spectrum.”
MelodiousZ, Contributor
Zenobia (AKA MelodiousZ) is a single mother of two with a passion to improve the quality of life and way of thinking for her and other women. She gained this passion through her own personal experiences and while witnessing life-changing experiences of others.
She runs the blog “From the Battlefield ~*~Sisters, Let’s Talk~*~”. This blog is a place that invites conversation and brings awareness to a variety of topics. One may find poetry, rants and raves, questions that boggle the mind, testimony, a cry for help, news, jokes and politics there. It is a forum for women that are fighting the same battles and wish to encourage each other along the way.
Through research, observations, and many posts of sister bloggers, Zenobia became more aware of the disregard that society has for the plight of black women. She feels that the time of dissecting and discussing the issues has come to an end and a call to action is needed. As the Democratic nomination came within Obama’s reach, many (i.e. the public, government, and media) made their intentions of using stereotypes and negative connotations as a weapon to attack Michelle Obama, at the expense of black women’s images, integrity and ambitions, apparent. Against the idea of allowing such offenses to be swept under the usual rug of insignificance, Zenobia was more than willing to sign on as a volunteer contributor to the Michelle Obama Watch site.
Rhonda, Contributor
Rhonda, 28, is a blogger for Michelle Obama Watch. Among other interests, she is passionate about identifying the ways in which media and politics intersect, and how people of color and other marginalized communities (including immigrants and the poor) are impacted by those intersections. Rhonda has worked in higher education and in the non-profit sector since graduating college in 2002. Born in Seoul, Korea, she has lived in Los Angeles and the Seattle area, and currently resides in Washington, DC.
Originally from a small suburb outside of Chicago, I now reside in the wild, wild west where the bills get paid with a check provided by a university for services rendered as an administrator. As I say at Sojourner’s Place, I am an “African-American; Wife; Mother; Daughter; Christian; Professional & Soror just trying to make a difference before I die and retire.” African-American women cannot and must not allow others to define who we are or what we are. As such, I am proud to lend my eyes and ears to the Michelle Obama Watch.
African-American women cannot and must not allow others to define who we are or what we are. As such, I am proud to lend my eyes and ears to the Michelle Obama Watch. LorMarie, Contributor LorMarie is the highly opinionated author of the blog, LorMarie.com. Her favorite topics to write about are entertainment, politics, religious extremism, and everyday life experiences. The New York Metro area resident describes herself as William Shakespeare’s number one fan. “His work instilled a love of reading and writing within me. Had I not “devoured” a copy of Macbeth, I would not be an avid reader, writer, or blogger today.” LorMarie embraced the opportunity to contribute to Michelle Obama Watch because she admires the first lady. “Michelle Obama is a black woman who is now in one of the most important positions on the world stage. Joining Michelle Obama Watch is a way for me to support her.”
Sylvia/M blogs regularly at Problem Chylde on issues of race, gender, feminism, pop culture, literature and human rights. She is currently a J.D. candidate at the University of Baltimore. She joined the Michelle Obama Watch effort to play a part in illustrating that no matter how Election 2008 concludes, Michelle Obama will be remembered as a historical figure in her own right.
Hawa is the thirty-something author of the Fackin Truth blog. Her blog started as an outlet for surviving an unexpected divorce. and to discuss family life in general. Somewhere along the line, she caught the political bug, got engaged, and got her groove back. Everybody from the gas station attendant to John McCain represent fair targets of Hawa’s commentary.
“My decision to author at Michelle Obama Watch has more to do with my love for universal justice than unilateral support of a single race. I’m equally passionate about all the ugly xenophobic manifestations of injustice. If I can’t stand up for a white male or anybody else who doesn’t look like ‘me,’ I don’t deserve justice as a Black woman living in America.”
Hawa lives the cubicle life by day as a project manager. By night, she parties like it’s 1999 with two beautiful sons, a soon-to-be-husband, and friends who love bowling. Hawa resides in New Jersey near her parents who she regards as “the best mom and dad any person could think to ask for.”