No One’s Elite Enough For “Our Kind of People”

First Lady Michelle Obama with the wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.Snob reader Fanita was nice enough to point out to me this little bon mot I missed in the Martha’s Vineyard story from the New York. How did I miss this money quote?

Many blacks from Oak Bluffs are elated that the Only One–in–Chief may be joining them. “People are going to lose their minds!” Tonya Lewis Lee says. At the same time, there’s also a bit of wariness among the wealthiest ones, an uncertainty whether Obama will affirm them. “Obama is more a man of the people,” says a Vineyarder who’s part of black high society. “He doesn’t seem to identify with affluent black people. His wife definitely doesn’t; she is basically a ghetto girl. That’s what she says—I’m just being sociological. She grew up in the same place Jennifer Hudson did. She hasn’t reached out to the social community of Washington, and people are waiting to see what they’ll do about that.”

Um … what the?!?!

Rant after the jump!

All she is is the First Lady of the United States. NOT ELITE ENOUGH! You know? Just in case you didn’t know. Is this a paper bag test issue? New money issue? Not enough ass kissing to snooty patooties? Rolling eyes now. Rolling them right out of my head and onto the floor. For real.

Also … um, he’s the president and she’s the First Lady. Shouldn’t you be kissing their asses and begging to be in THEIR inner circle? Who the EFF are you people? Are YOU leader of the free world? Why do the Obamas have to reach out to you? You should be working the phones, harassing Desiree Rogers to get your name on the damn list, not bitching about how Michelle won’t show up at Cavalcade. Jack & Jill of America should be sending letters and gift baskets BEGGING for Sasha and Malia to join. You should be the one inviting him to organizations and events, like when the Alpha Kappa Alphas made Michelle an honorary member. You know? Because they’re not INSANE and they wanted to be down with the most famous black woman in America.

THE NERVE of some people. Again. Who the hell are you? What military do YOU command? Remove the stick from your ass and your mind will follow.

daniellebelton

106 responses to “No One’s Elite Enough For “Our Kind of People””

  1. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    Hmm…I’d have to look at the numbers and see. I think he got the majority of the white vote. It wasn’t news that he liked white women…he’d called off his engagement to the pretty black lawyer some time before. So I think his lack of his Michele O. was less of an issue then his black skin in a very southern state…They pulled a lot of commercials on Barack, but they never pulled the White Girl card, did they?Why not?Because of Michelle. If he’d had his own Michelle, standing right by his side, that commercial would have gone nowhere. It was the fact that he was unmarried.I’ve said it: no unmarried Black man is going further than Congressman. You need a wife. You see Artur Davis got one.

    Reply
  2. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    Harold and his addiction to white women is truly the death knell to his political career.As rikyrah said, Artur Davis got a black wife–quick. He knows politics. Harold thought that his pretty boyness(and I don’t even think he is that good looking) and his bowing to republicans would carry the day–it did not. I truly dislike him for how he treats black woman and am glad that he lost. May his MSNBC contract not be renewed.

    Reply
  3. Kaikou Avatar
    Kaikou

    Snob this will never end! People always want to make other people seem less then them. The proof is in the pudding.

    Reply
  4. Dina Avatar
    Dina

    Kind of pitiful of our people. This is a classic example of "white man disease," going to the ultimate extreme to emulate him.

    Reply
  5. starrie Avatar
    starrie

    jeepers…."obama is more a man of the people"…so the snootys of the vineyards are NOT people i take? again i have to say sometimes i can’t stand black folks…

    Reply
  6. Kandeezie Avatar
    Kandeezie

    …and we think this doesn’t happen within the inner circles of rich elite white people as well? Seriously. They’re just super snobby.

    Reply
  7. JJ Avatar
    JJ

    @kandeezie…and we think this doesn’t happen within the inner circles of rich elite white people as well? Seriously. They’re just super snobby.The difference is that the white power elite, actually have POWER. They are REAL movers and shakers and not wannabees. It might be worth the groveling and ass kissing to get in with hte Kennedy’s or Rockerfellers or Bush’s ’cause it could mean power and money beyond your wildest dreams.The Blck elite it just means you cna brag that your kids got the invite to jack and Jill and your husband is a member of the Bouler, but it doesn’t actually place you in the seat of power.Like I said earlier the exclusiveness isn’t the issue, but their belief that they are important enough to matter is.

    Reply
  8. JJ Avatar
    JJ

    They pulled a lot of commercials on Barack, but they never pulled the White Girl card, did they?Why not?Because of Michelle.If he’d had his own Michelle, standing right by his side, that commercial would have gone nowhere. It was the fact that he was unmarried.Agreed.I was wondering how he thought he was going to get a senate seat without a wife.

    Reply
  9. JJ Avatar
    JJ

    Hell..pardon the typos…sheesh…

    Reply
  10. Knoxus Avatar
    Knoxus

    Sad so many people feel that a place that people say affirms them is somehow an invention of the white man to bring the black race down. I’m an only one (office/neighborhood/fitness group/pet parent group) in Northern Va and I almost always have been in my life..but never intentionally. I’ve been that kid in my class who spoke too proper and didn’t have enough black friends. I can understand the attraction to a place where being black and affluent is celebrated…a place where the goal is not to be rich enough to buy a house in a white neighborhood but to just live a higher quality of life. On the rare occasions I do meet blacks in my circle we are excited to see one another and we make lasting connections. I get invites to lacrosse matches, dance recitals, summer houses, dinner parties, and the odd camping/hunting trip.The machine behind the Obamas have worked hard to push their brand to a wide audience…that means being the POTUS not the Black POTUS. That means playing down the accomplishments and playing up the everyday-ness of your life. They have worked really hard to downplay any allegations of black eliteness. The result is naturally that so-called elite blacks with whom one would assume they similar educations/memberships/associations suddenly don’t feel like they have so much in common. I don’t see any race or class baiting. I see the result of the Obama brand.

    Reply
  11. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    @JJI’m quite familiar with the political culture of the South. I’m a born and bred Southern girl, straight out of the Alabama cotton fields. I swear sweet tea runs in my veins. What you don’t understand is that black voters make the difference (esp. black female voters) in Southern elections. White people end up dividing their votes or end up not voting at all if they don’t care about the candidate. In that situation, whoever the majority of black people vote for wims.

    Reply
  12. Jandi Avatar
    Jandi

    What does LOG stand for?Apparently, a standing invitation with the Queen of England, just doesnt do what it used to for the lowly pedigree…lol..I am actually sad about the desire of the Black elite for secrecy. When we need them to serve as role models of success that have nothing to do with sports or music, they are busy playing games of fake aristocracy. White people can afford that because all their achievements-good and bad- are plenty obvious. But I feel like for us everyine should be doing something for our collective upliftment evenif it is just being visible so that they can inspire the little ones coming.

    Reply
  13. Jandi Avatar
    Jandi

    I was so not feeling Ford with or without Snowflake. I honestly feel like if he were an adept politician he would be able to float or sink his own boat.Michelle got her man a second look, he still had to close the deal….

    Reply
  14. Miranda Avatar
    Miranda

    Actually…I think THIS is the money quote from the full column:And the social scene in Oak Bluffs doesn’t exclude white islanders. Craig Hockmeyer, who owns a bicycle shop in nearby Vineyard Haven, says he spent many nights at Lola’s, which was, until its recent closing, a central part of the Vineyard black universe. “A bald white honky like me could go in there and feel totally comfortable and dance the night away with all the rich black folks, not a problem at all.”LMAO! Huh…..so a bald white honky is totally comfortable with all the rich black folks…..LOL! If that’s not a crashing back to Earth comment for the "Only Ones" I dont know what is!

    Reply
  15. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    What does LOG stand for?Lawrence Otis Graham, the author of Our Kind Of People.

    Reply
  16. TruthTeller Avatar
    TruthTeller

    Rikyrah,I believe they are referring to the "Black Women Blow the Trumpet" blog.

    Reply
  17. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    I think "L.O.G" is going to be the next big thing. It succinctly describes to a pretentious black person."Yes, he’s very L.O.G" or "That’s very L.O.G. of her."

    Reply
  18. Denise Avatar
    Denise

    Well, when the social currency of your group is light skin, lighter skin’ted children, and conspicuous consumption … what do you expect?These Negroes are just as responsible for our collective stagnation as Pookie and nem. Hollah!

    Reply
  19. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    Thank you, Truthteller. I shall go and dive into their archives.

    Reply
  20. JJ Avatar
    JJ

    @MonicaI’m good and from the south as well. Born, bred and still reside. And what I was saying was that I’m pretty sure Harold Ford got the majority of the black vote, which would mean black women had to vote for him since they make up the majority of the electorate in most southern states.I believe he won Memphis…and would have still needed significant white support to win..which he fell shy of.

    Reply
  21. tt Avatar
    tt

    The truth: the MV (Martha’s Vineyard) black snobs are mad because the Obamas have out played, out- witted and out shined them all! They’ve proved to blacks that you do not need to come from wealth, you do not need to join a black frat/soror, you do not need to come from a black social club like the links/jack and jill to be successful in this country. The Obamas did it the old fashioned way: they simply worked their butts off and got an excellent education. I love the way Michelle turned down the offer to join the AKA’s. She got this far without them, why does she need them now? They need her to make themselves feel more necessary and important. Yes, these black social clubs help the community, but they are way too elitest. I wonder how irrelevent the black snobs at MV feel now? Furthermore, anyone who refers to Michelle as ghetto can’t have that much class after all. There are so many ways to rephrase that, but these people folks have a strong need to put her down. Why?

    Reply
  22. sarah Avatar
    sarah

    @ JJ and Monica, I live here in TN and Harold Ford won Shelby co (Memphis) and Davidson Co (Nashville). He was doing pretty good and was even polling ahead of Corker at one point. Ford had developed this strategy of attacking Corker’s connections to Big Energy and at the time gas was almost $4 a gallon so people were pissed. But it all went down hill when rumors started of him attending a playboy superbowl party surrounded by white girls and not too long after that they put out the infamous commercial with the blond at the end saying "call me Harold". Like you all said with no black wife to stand beside and all the white girl rumors it was pretty much over for him. Ford could have had a great political career if he had married a black woman. He decided to marry a white lady last year…she is educated and accomplished…but there are not too many southern white men that are going to vote for a democrat, let alone a black one, let alone one married to white woman. So unless he plans on moving to another state he can pretty much give it up in TN. I don’t even think he could get elected to dog catcher down here. He really screwed himself.

    Reply
  23. We Shall Overcome...In Couture! Avatar
    We Shall Overcome…In Couture!

    If the so called "Black Elite" would channel this energy into doing something positive for the black community, we’d be a force to be reckoned with.

    Reply
  24. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    @Sarah, thanks for the low-down on what really happened.@tt, Actually Michelle did not turn down the offer, she has not been initiated yet. When (and if) she completes the process, her honorary membership would give her the rights and privileges of any other member.

    Reply
  25. tt Avatar
    tt

    @Monica, Thanks for the correction, but here’s the point. She’s the most powerful woman in the world, and she made it without the social clubs. If she does accept the offer, it’s only because she is being nice and doing them a favor by making them look good. Not the other way around. They still need her to look more relevant, powerful, influential, etc.

    Reply
  26. DD Avatar
    DD

    I grew up part of the so called "Black Elite" and I must say that It is an honor to see how classy the Obama’s are. The notion that they are not classy enough to be part of the club is just ridiculous. I was raised to never judge people based on the color of their skin or what they have or don’t have, because it’s plain wrong. I love the way Michelle Obama carries herself–she is neither materialistic or overtly arrogant and a true representation of a strong highly educated African American woman.How dare anyone call her or Jennifer Hudson ghetto. Just because they grew up on the South Side of Chicago doesn’t mean that they are ghetto. We are not all born with silver spoons in are mouths–some have to work to pull themselves out of meager circumstances. Jennifer has won an Oscar and Grammy, and is at the height of her game. She is talented and worked to get where she is today despite being told that she wasn’t good enough. Michelle is also the ultimate success story–Princeton and Harvard educated. Most of the Black Elite have never graced the halls of either of these elite institutions.The Oaks Bluff crowd needs a serious wake up call.

    Reply
  27. BlackWomenBlowTheTrumpet Avatar
    BlackWomenBlowTheTrumpet

    @ Truth TellerMy think tank does NOT focus on Michelle Obama or on the activities of the Obamas… The two posts that were SPECIFICALLY about Michelle Obama at my think tank are as follows:"The Influential Black Woman and The Tightrope""The Michelle/Oprah Factor: How We Forge Powerful Alliances"I have mentioned Michelle in other discussions but THOSE are the only posts (in the last 15 months that my forum has existed!) that are about Michelle! How hilarious that someone IMPLIED that I focus on Michelle’s behavior at my forum! *LOL*My forum is about collective empowerment… it doesn’t FIXATE on one person! *LOL*While I am happy to write about the class landscape at my forum and encourage others to analyze it carefully, my focus on the class landscape has nothing to do with Michelle Obama and everything to do with the need for black women to master the class dynamics in different spheres of influence. Anyone who visits my forum knows that I will present class issues constructively and coherently.They can visit the forum and see for themselves!

    Reply
  28. tt Avatar
    tt

    @DD, Well said. What’s sad is the fact that it even needs to be said. This article had shined a spotlight on a little ugly spot in our culture. No matter that we’re all black, we still enjoy looking down at one another. Where were these affluent black folks during the civil rights movement? Were they walking next to educated, intelligent, strong leaders like MLK? No. They were on the sidelines, probably secretly donating money, but staying safe and waiting for the smoke to clear so they could reap the benefits. I wonder if MLK would be considered "good enough" in their book? Probably not because he did not come from old money and could not pass the BPB (brown paper bag) test or some other stupid test. This is why they are a joke to me. MLK did more for them (at Martha’s Vineyard) than they were ever able to do for themselves in spite of their status, yet, since he didn’t come from old money he couldn’t ever be considered to be one of them? Who the hell wants to be "one of them" anymore when folks like the Obamas made it to the height of success without being "one of them"?

    Reply
  29. alicia banks Avatar
    alicia banks

    old money trumps new money&elitism trumps race and celebritybutif you think these black snobs have dissed michellesee these euro black boys wilding on michelle online:http://www.byroncrawford.com/2009/06/how-to-find-your-own-barack.html#tpe-action-replied-6a00d8341c558f53ef011571482a5c970bshame!!!peaceabhtttp://aliciabanks.blogspot.com

    Reply
  30. Mothsmoke Avatar
    Mothsmoke

    @tt Clearly you have a close and personal relationship with FLOTUS and that is why you can so confidently claim that she would only join AKA "because she is being nice and doing them a favor by making them look good." I do not share such a relationship with FLOTUS, but I do with Alpha Kappa Alpha. I submit to you that AKA does not need anyone to make it look good. AKA, like all of our black greek sister organizations, have done years — and in AKA’s case, over a century — of community and philanthropic work to make it "look good." Perhaps this is what FLOTUS will consider as did the hundreds of thousands of other bright, accomplished and dedicated women who have joined AKA as undergrads, graduates, and honorary members.

    Reply
  31. tt Avatar
    tt

    @Mothsmoke, Well taken, but it is an opinion as I see it. Michelle was helping in the community long before entering the white house and so was her husband. As mentioned before, she is the most powerful woman in the world and she got there without you. So, how is joining with AKA ( or any other social club) going to "help" her? It only helps you. Everyone is well aware of the community work from black sorors/frats, but it still won’t advance her career. Michelle has already made it.

    Reply
  32. tt Avatar
    tt

    "Also … um, he’s the president and she’s the First Lady. Shouldn’t you be kissing their asses and begging to be in THEIR inner circle? Who the EFF are you people? Are YOU leader of the free world? Why do the Obamas have to reach out to you?"

    Reply
  33. travelgirl Avatar
    travelgirl

    I can almost bet that some of the children of the Black Elite Crowd are ghetto acting.Look at the Music out for Youth Today I am sure they listen and like it

    Reply
  34. Mothsmoke Avatar
    Mothsmoke

    @ttWhile some may see membership in a greek organization as a stepping stone to advance their career, the vast majority do not. The fact that you cite "career advancement" when discussing a potential honorary member, suggests that you have a rudimentary understanding of the nature of our memberships and those of greek organizations in general. By their very nature, all honorary members have made extraordinary contributions to the commuity and/or their respective fields – many history making when the invitation was extended. None of our honorary members need our help and none have been extended an invitation for the purpose of helping us. And just to put a little bug in your ear … don’t be so sure that FLOTUS hasn’t been "helped" by AKAs along her journey.

    Reply
  35. Bella Avatar
    Bella

    @ Mothsmoke Girl please the AKA’s aint done sh*t for MiCHELLE OBAMA, stop trying to act like she is apart of this exclusive black clubs. THe aka’s and any other black organization ONLY reached out to her after he won the DNC nod, they and other black organizationd did not give a sh%t about her when he was in the state senate and u.s. senate, now that she is the most powerful woman in the world black organizations want to be seen with her. Thank God she does not acknowledge the AKA in public, its not that serious for her.

    Reply
  36. Mothsmoke Avatar
    Mothsmoke

    @ BellaI think I can safely assume that you are not familiar with our processes and therefore would not have the requisite knowledge to opine on the lengthy process undertaken before an honorary membership is extended. In other words, your assumption — at least with respect to the AKAs — is incorrect. BTW, luv the name Bella. I have a Maltese named Bella Donna.

    Reply
  37. keke123 Avatar
    keke123

    @ BellaUnless you are close to the Obama’s and are privy to what has gone down in their inner circle then I don’t think you should really speak on what type of relationship Michelle has with the AKA’s. You never know what goes down behind closed doors.

    Reply
  38. Danielle Belton Avatar
    Danielle Belton

    OK folks (re: keke, mothsmoke, tt and Belle), this is NOT a conversation about the First Lady and AKAs. It’s about a quote in New York Magazine where a guy made a fool of himself saying rude things about the First Lady. I’m not an AKA (full disclosure, I’m a Zeta, but not active), but there are actual AKAs in the Obama Administration (Melody Barnes, Desiree Rogers ). This has nothing to do with the debate over her honorary membership, but the facts remain the same. They offered. She accepted. She hasn’t gone through the ceremony. It’s as simple as that. No need to jump on the pink n’ greenies. If anything, they did what the jerk here should be doing — reaching OUT to the First Family, not sitting on their ass, whining about how the Obama’s haven’t invited them for tea yet. The organization at least seemed to understand the concept of making a proper introduction. That’s more than this dude has done.

    Reply
  39. tt Avatar
    tt

    @Mothsmoke. Wow. Seems like a nerve has been touched somewhere. Thanks for all the info. and enlightening my rudimentary understanding of the nature of your organization. Please help me understand something. If , "None of our honorary members need our help and none have been extended an invitation for the purpose of helping us" as you put it, then why bother? Is it not for the same reasons that universities and colleges invite the Obamas to speak at their graduations? Because it’s an HONOR for the university, college and graduates to be associated with THEM. Not the other way around. Also, if your organization is all that (and I believe it is) you don’t have to go into great depths to explain it or prove it. People just know.

    Reply
  40. Mothsmoke Avatar
    Mothsmoke

    @ Danielle BeltonMea Culpa!

    Reply
  41. tt Avatar
    tt

    Point taken.

    Reply
  42. keke123 Avatar
    keke123

    @ SnobSry Snob.

    Reply
  43. Danielle Belton Avatar
    Danielle Belton

    @ keke, mothsmoke, tt and bellaWe’re all good. We were just flying off topic a little. It happens. I love a spirited debate. Just wanted to keep things focused! Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  44. bigwilligirl Avatar
    bigwilligirl

    @ Denise:Girl, you have never lied "These Negroes are just as responsible for our collective stagnation as Pookie and nem. Hollah". Lola’s closed!?! ! Dang. Apparently I’ve fallen off. Guess i need to renew my guest pass to elite-ville…

    Reply
  45. BETTYEJ Avatar
    BETTYEJ

    Just when you thought that you have heard everything. All I can say is "WHEN YOU STAND FOR NOTHING, YOU WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING"!

    Reply
  46. Steve Chaney Avatar
    Steve Chaney

    These Oak Bluffs people are Uncle Toms. They push divisiveness even within the Black community. Ghetto vs non ghetto. WTF. If the white man gets pissed enough and African Americans remain this fractious, we’ll all be going to the "terrorist" labor camps – some in jeans, others in $600,000 dresses.These Oak Bluffs people need to wake up, seriously. Michelle Obama is not a threat to their elite-ness just because she came from the ghetto and cares about the working class. I bet if the working class that they look down on take too many more hits from Reaganomics, those Oak Bluffs people will also start losing their businesses.

    Reply
  47. Deana Avatar
    Deana

    And Steve, Michelle didn’t even come from the ghetto, even though there’s nothing wrong with that. The stupidity of these people is overwhelming.

    Reply
  48. Lovely Avatar
    Lovely

    Hi guys. Would some of you quit with the "Michelle turned down the AKA’s" stuff? Everyone knows that it’s not true and you’re just making yourselves look petty. Here’s a public notice from the sorority itself that the offer of honorary membership extended to Michelle was ACCEPTED – http://www.aka1908.com/pdf/obama_release_7_14_08.pdfThere has been no official word on whether she has been initiated yet, she may have been but I’m not sure. But there is no question that the offer of membership was ACCEPTED.

    Reply
  49. polticallyincorrect Avatar
    polticallyincorrect

    do any of these great folks these sororities boast about pledge while their in school. I mean giving honorary membership to someone who already made it defeats the purpose of the whole pledge process doesn’t it.

    Reply
  50. tt Avatar
    tt

    Okaaaaaaaaaaay. The article raised eye brows for me because some blacks in black social organizations can be elitist, at times. I admire the way the Obamas became successful entirely without any of them. That says a whole lot to me. It says that the black social organizations can be helpful for people who want to belong to them or be a part of something special, but it also shows like Michelle and her husband, you can do your own thing and be successful without them. The black social organizations have collectively helped the community, but you do absolutely need them to be successful? No. If that’s not true, then how did the Obamas reach their success? They organized themselves and did their OWN THING. That is to be admired so how can the social clubs look down their noses?

    Reply

Leave a reply to DD Cancel reply

Live Your Best Life.