Michelle Obama says Americans ‘weren’t ready’ for her natural hair | michelle obama

Michelle Obama said Americans “weren’t ready” for her natural hair during Barack Obama’s tenure in the White House.

The former first lady was speaking at the Warner Theater in Washington DC on Tuesday to promote her new book, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, with former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Obama said she decided to straighten her hair as the American people were “just adjusting” to having a black first family, The Washington Post reported.

Even though it would have been easier to style his hair with braids, Obama remembers thinking, “No, they’re not ready for this,” referring to the American public. Fearing that her hair would be used as a distraction and politicized, Obama decided to straighten her hair so the administration could focus on its agenda instead of having to answer racist questions about her hair.

“Let me keep my hair straight,” Obama remembers thinking. “Let’s get health care through.”

She added, “They tripped when Barack was wearing a beige suit,” referring to the flack Barack Obama faced for his fashion choice in 2014. “The great indignity, the scandal of the Obama administration.”

Hairstyles are another hurdle black women face in the workplace, Obama continued: Natural hairstyles can be criticized as less professional, even though it may be easier to style your hair that way.

“We’ve got it covered – everything about, ‘Are you showing up with your natural hair? “, Obama said. “It’s the African-American experience….but women in offices who worry, ‘Should I wear skirts? Should I wear tights?

The US House of Representatives passed the Crown Act in March, which prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles. The Senate did not pass the measure. Several states and municipalities have passed local versions of the law, including Miami Beach, which banned hair discrimination last month.

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