Thank you to all of my readers who sent me images of Michelle and Barack Obama doing a fist bump or pound or dap, or whatever in the heck you call that in your neck of the woods, but before you get too giddy, might we pause to address how this simple hand expression is being portrayed in the media. What is cute today will surely become annoying in the not so near future. Here is a piece from MSNBC on the “First Bump”
Its our job to analyze these things so I am not a killjoy, I thought it was cute and a sign that they are friends not just husband and wife, so that’s nice, but the media’s obsession with that small gesture plays into the fact (IMHO) that the most ordinary of things to Black folks even after being in this country since before its founding, is somehow EXOTIC.
Right now I am rocking braids. While it no longer annoys me, you would be surprised how many non-black folks are entranced by my hair and feel the need to comment on it. As if hair braiding is witchcraft or voodoo.
Be careful about basking in the first pound because if this much attention got paid to the first pound, just wait until the weeMichelles decide they want to take swimming lessons or something and they start rocking cornrows. Just wait until everything that they do that may somehow be “ethnic” gets cooed over and psychoanalyzed. The “First Pound” is cute and all right now, but is every single thing that the Obamas do that is “different” get dissected , it is going to get really old really fast.
BTW, did y’all recognize the reporter that did this video for MSNBC? It is our old friend, Maria, the online/interactive reporter that was involved in the that anti-black woman propaganda NBC Nightly News put out last year called African American Women Where They Stand or as we called it last year: Black Women It Sucks to be YOU!. If you missed our coverage from last year, make sure you visit the archives for the month of November 2007 to read all of the posts (AND THE COMMENTS), the series started running on November 24th or so. To new readers, you will notice that back in those days we were much rowdier than we are now.
Y’all think this stuff is cute today, but I can assure you, it won’t be cute after five months of “The First Pound,” ” The First Cornrows,” “The First Relaxer,” “The First Braids,” I can’t wait until Cindy McCain and Michelle start battling over recipe’s. If Michelle uses walnuts instead of pecans, is that going to be “Exotic”?
Sampling of blog Reports about “First Pound” or “First Bump”
Barack Obama – A Brief History of the Fist Bump
| 2 hours ago by blukor08 Michelle and Barack Obama. Barack and Michelle Obama bump fists before his victory appearance Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s a hand gesture normally associated with sporting events and Bud Lite commercials. … Daily News – http://blukor08.blogspot.com/ |
| 10 hours ago by Dan Smolen But I have to say that the intimacy displayed Tuesday night between Michelle and Barack Obama is, well, the likes of which I’ve never seen. May we introduce you to…the fist bump. Before the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for … Fred2Blue – http://fred2blue.wordpress.com |
| 12 hours ago by andwhysee “But by far, our favorite headlines topped the flurry of earnest reports about the “fist bump heard round the world.” Not only does the intimate gesture between Michelle and Barack Obama, exchanged on Tuesday night in front of thousands … andwhysee – http://andwhysee.wordpress.com |
Mainstream media confused as hell over Obama’s fist bump [Politics …
| 13 hours ago by cranberryzero But when Michelle and Barack Obama exchanged fist bumps at his victory speech in St. Paul the other day, it never occurred to me that it would cause incredible bafflement by most of the mainstream media. I mean, they have young people … I Heart Chaos – http://www.iheartchaos.com |
Obama Pound: In Historic Moment, White People Exposed To “Fist …
| 15 hours ago by Katie The Obama pound, exchanged between Michelle and Barack on Tuesday night, marked a historic moment. Yeah, there’s that whole first black nominee for president thing. But more significant, is the fact that the greeting which has been … Katie Halper – Katie Halper Dot Com – http://katiehalper.com |
Barack & Michelle’s Moment and Generosity
| 4 Jun 2008 by Cassandra Marcella Brian Williams showed Barack Obama a still photo of this fist bump, which was so cool, and apparently, he gave a broad smile and Obama said “right there, that right there, that moment is what I love most about my wife. … Memos to Mom – http://www.memos2mom.com/ |
| 9 hours ago by Amber The Daily News suggests it is “a fist bump of hope” which shows the Obama marriage as hip, silly and genuine, while the Washington Post notes it as a nod to black culture. The YouTube video above has been viewed over 110000 times … Let Us Go Then, You and I – http://letusgothen.blogspot.com/ |
The Obama Fist Pound…the beginning of the end…11 hours ago by mekka
I think that Michelle and Barack look like a genuine couple when they interact. Their pictures also look sincere and unrehearsed…. However, as went the way of the ‘running man’ and ‘high five’ …the fist bump…is officially on life …
talk | baltimoresun.com – http://www.baltimoresun2.com/talk
News Reporting on “First Pound”
Seattle Times, United States -
By The Washington Post and Newhouse News Service As Sen. Barack Obama walked onstage in St. Paul, Minn., after clinching the Democratic nomination Tuesday …
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That’s a bare-knuckles kiss
Baltimore Sun, United States - Gesture by Obama and his wife is ‘dap,’ short for ‘dignity and pride.’ It’s a black thing, at least for now By Jill Rosen | Sun reporter When Barack Obama … |
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In Historic Moment, White People Exposed To ‘Fist Bump” for First Time
AlterNet, CA - By Katie Halper, KatieHalper.com. Posted June 6, 2008. The Obama pound, exchanged between Michelle and Barack on Tuesday night, marked a historic moment. … |
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A small gesture that spoke volumes
Globe and Mail, Canada - It was a small gesture that spoke volumes. As presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama took to the podium in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday night, … |
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Have you seen the Barack Obama fist bump video?
Socialite Report, NY - Barack and Michelle Obama made the media giddy with their little fist bump on Tuesday night when Senator Obama claimed victory over the Democratic … |
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Barack and Michelle Obama: Cool because they fist bump? (+video)
Gay Socialites, NY - It is stuff like this little Obama family fist bump (and ass smack to follow) that has the media and general teen population in love with Barack and … |
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The fist pound
WNWO, OH - By Rob Packard TOLEDO — A historic move in the campaign for president has a lot of viewers talking today, it was a first of it’s kind moment on a political … |
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Barack and Michelle Obama’s ‘fist bump of hope’ shows them silly …
New York Daily News, NY - BY LARRY MCSHANE Barack and Michelle Obama show that you don’t have to be a teenager or and athlete to look cool while executing a fist bump. … |
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Dap Politics
The Plank on TNR.com, DC - On the lighter side of my earlier post on race spokesmanship in American politics–the accompanying photo has exposed a seam in the almost-smooth transition … |
myfoxny.com, NY -
Last week President Bush chest-bumped an Air Force Academy grad, a moment that was captured on camera and circulated far and wide across the Internet. …
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28 comments ↓
I can’t believe how much analysis the “pound heard ’round the world” has gotten. After I got up off the floor from doubling over in laughter at the absurdity of it all, I also started to wonder if every little “different” thing the Obamas do will get this much coverage. Mercy me, mainstream media can be d@mned clueless. You would think with the infusion of the hip-hop/urban culture into the mainstream, things like that wouldn’t be considered so…..foreign. Sigh.
Oh God. So much of what we do is overanalyzed. What’s with the fascination?
I think the average Black American is going to be in for a rude awakening. White America is going to show its racist claws more and more as the November election draws closer. Of course they will hide behind being rational, but already the barbs Mrs. Obama has taken is dripping in racist ideology. You think it’s bad now, as the old saying goes: Honey, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Jazine,
And some folks are just basking in this First Pound and don’t get that this is the beginning of something that could be SO NOT A GOOD THING.
IF you let them define the Obamas as OTHER or EXOTIC, where does it end?
I dunno, I think we need decide if we really want a black president or not. This is the nature of the beast. Is the MSM beyond stupid? Of course they are, but they’ve been this way for a minute and are unlikely to change anytime soon.
They overanalyze EVERYTHING. Everything trivial, that is. In this era of ‘infotainment/tabloidization’ the banal leads because they’re convinced that hard news doesn’t sell.
Who could forget the endless discussion of Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits and ‘cankles’ when she campaigned for Bill? And her hairstyles and everything else about her.
Barbara Bush’s pearls and Nancy Reagan’s endless red suits. Don’t get me started on Miss Lillian and Billy Carter.
Then there’s JFK’s self-deprecating speech about the media’s focus on Jaqueline’s wardrobe.
Barack Obama and everything about him will be analyzed to the backteeth. He is a candidate for president. If we are uncomfortable with notion of media scrutiny, then clearly we’re a lot less ready for a black president than America is.
And could someone please tell me exactly what it is we’re hiding from? If we want the rest of the world to stop acting as though there’s something wrong with being black, it would help if we stop acting as though we’re hiding a crazy aunt in the attic. We’re here, and we’ve been here and we’re not going anywhere. Bring on their scrutiny. We’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.
In my opinion, it was honestly just a sign of affection or support for each other. I truly hope that the media will see this as something positive, which it is, instead of turning it into something negative.
I think it’ll probably be more aggravating than anything as we are deluged with a plethora of weddings that end with ‘you may pound the bride.’ But for the most part, I just don’t see it as a prophecy of doom.
They are a lovely couple and they are in connection with each other. I wish them all the way to the white house!
The amount of attention given to the “fist pound heard ’round the world” is insane. I hadn’t considered that this is only a taste of things to come. Lord the media is going to dissect every little ethinc nuance as cute, unusual or downright weird.
Shoot, wait until the first time Michelle or one of the girls gets caught out in the rain and their hair swells up. I’m with rozlips, though…Bring on their scrutiny. We’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.
That’s just the nature of the press. They do not have the intelligence to cover issues that matter, so they obsess on trivialities.
Remember Howard Dean’s ’scream heard round the world’? It lost him the primary. Remember Al Gore’s ‘kiss felt round the world’ of his wife? (BTW if that is the most passionate kiss that white people in the press can muster, then they’ve got major problems).
It comes with the territory and if Barack is as ready as he claims he is, then he should be prepared for it.
All Presidents and President-elects are skewered by the press. ALL of them… and Barack will be no exception. We should not get hypersensitive to that.
However, I WILL draw the line if they attempt to add Michelle or their kids to the roast. They should be off limits as far as I am concerned.
Did anyone else notice that, after the ‘first bump’, Obama smacked her behind as she walked away?
But they’ve already thrown Mrs. Obama under the bus. Her ordeal is just beginning, and it’s only in the embryonic stages. Of course they are going to go after the children if they can, look what the media did to Chelsea Clinton when she was an adolescent back in the early 90s.
The Obamas will not only have the regular lashing the media and their political competitors usually dish out to their white counterparts, they will also have to contend with the extra burden of racial dissection. So no, I don’t think this is business as usual.
Yes,
every presidentical candidate goes through scrutiny, but you would think that a mere garden variety fist bump was some strange alien language for all the newsprint that has been spilled on it.
I remember the Dean Scream, and Tipper and Al making out on the convention floor, this was a handshake not a scream or a public display of excessive affection.
I am just warning folks not to coo at every “neat” little thing they do because it WILL come back to bite them. They are normal, not space aliens.
Bring it on!
The Obamas appear very intelligent and strong as well as proud of their heritage. They know what they’ve chosen to get involved with. I wish that their two young daughters could be spared, and for the most part perhaps they will be sheltered from the rude realities of the media and the world.
I think if nothing else the scrutiny will reinforce what many minorities experience every day of their lives.
I have to say, that the “bump” looked very deliberate. Almost as if they wanted it to be noticed. It also didn’t look natural either. I almost think they want it to become synonomous with their campaign. I dont think the coverage of it matters now. If it spirals out of control, that is just one more item to keep them in the news, and on people’s mind. I mean, I da^n near forgot that there was a republican (presumptive) nominee for a sec.
AND UM, NOOOO, I didnt notice that he smacked her on the bum…it would be funny, yet questionable at the same time…sneaky dingo, LOL!!!
I don’t accept that the Obama supporting MSM or other White folks are just waiting to leap on Barack & Micvhelle. Look, they tear all leaders apart as others have said! That’s their business.
I think alot of White people feel happy that the country did something good by electing a man of color. Now, the thing is, we haven’t got racism beat because of Barack, but we have a milestone. We made a step. There may be a falling away of some whites when harder anti-racist hrdles face the nation…But for now we should try to
build on the positive feelings of white, Latino, asian allies. Do you agree?
The Obamas are proof that authentic love can exist between a man and woman of the darker hue. Yes, there are married couples who actually love each other. I love it. I enjoy watching them.
Sidebar: Mike, I too saw the pat on Michelle’s derrière by President Obama. He was reminding her that it is “on” when they get home. LOL.
Congrats WAODs on getting credentialed for the DNC. I’m a black mother of two, been writing fiction a long time but now have a blog.
I think you and your readers will enjoy three of my articles that address black parenting issues:
- “I Kissed A Girl & Liked It: Raising A Daughter In Different Times”, (May 2008)
- “I Wept In The Courtroom”, (June 2008)
- “When Blackness & Therapy Collide”
These are my personal experiences as a black adoptive mother and a mental health therapist and uniquely presented. Check it out.
~ Kit
http://keepittrill.blogspot.com/
Don’t watch TV news news to speak of so I’m seeing it here first, but … this is a story?
My white, middle-class kids grew up doing that, copied from watching (black) athletes doing it on TV sports. It’s spread all through mainstream culture.
These newspeople need to get out more.
“Bring on their scrutiny. We’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.‘
Thank you.
“All Presidents and President-elects are skewered by the press. ALL of them… and Barack will be no exception. We should not get hypersensitive to that.“
Exactly.
“However, I WILL draw the line if they attempt to add Michelle or their kids to the roast. They should be off limits as far as I am concerned.“
Agreed. These would be the damaging jabs we should really be guarding against, not the trivial.
How I look at the “first bump”, it shows an important black man with his BLACK wife together as a team out in the open. It shows a beautiful, brilliant and loving black woman in support of, and working with her husband. You always hear the negative opposite in stereotypes. Be my guest, let them go spread that.
Right now…I’m just proud to see a happily married financially successful Black family on the national scene.
It’s so not trendy that the characters on Entourage do it now. It was a way for them to remind people in a non-obvious way that Black people are in the house! Plus the camera operator panning to the Frat guys.
To the white main stream media the fist pound is truly exotic–so much so that they ignored the slight arse pat Barack gave Michelle as she is walking out of their fist pounding, off of the stage. Perhaps it is better that they are focused on the fist pound, rather than on the arse pat. For god only knows how they would “report” on that! Probably along the lines that the Obamas are a stereotypical over-sexualised black couple.
If the white sex-symbol Angelina Jolie is catching so much media flak for her [recent] comment [during an interview] that Disney doesn’t have black princesses, I tell ya’: I ain’t looking forward to the general election campaign season, because it is going to be brutal and ugly and laced with subtle racism.
I think whatever black folks do -in the eyes of the ignorant- will always be seen as way high or way low.
As long as we don’t play into it -like if a co-worker asks about it, we can be non-chalant or we can play up the exoticness of it all.
We can beat MSM if we want to.
(I agree w/ Rozlips & Shecodes)
my first reaction to the more in-depth coverage- BWAHAHAHAHA
I saw it, though it was cute. Had NO idea it was getting this much press.
It’s sad and funny all at the same time. Especially the black guy giving the commentary. OMG.
Yesssss…. those bbbblack people are just sooo exotic…so different…so OTHER WORLDLY…kinda like Martians!! *LOL*
When I was in high school (a white high school), I wrote a paper called “The Black People Primer” to cover every stupid comment that a teacher or student had made to me since kindergarten and it included my witty responses.
My English teacher found this paper “incredibly fascinating”, gave me an A+ and then…proceeded to make copies and put one in every teacher’s mail box in the entire school….
{rolling eyes}
My sister has an expression that she uses whenever someone is annoying her:
“is there an aerosol spray I can buy that makes you go away?”
*LOL*
Lisa
Fox News was cited tonight for using a stupid teaser in regards to the Obama’s fist pound.
I thought about this post and had to come back to confirm that stupidity is at an all time high in the US, with heavy trading going on.
FOX news is already saying it’s a terrorist fist jab.