He references a former First Lady advisor, Kristina Schake, who, he says, did her “best” despite these difficult conditions and was so good, she was approached about a job by the communications director in the West Wing, while at the same time negotiating an increased role in the East Wing with the First Lady. But once it was found out that, according to the writer, the West Wing had approached her, Schake was viewed as someone who violated Mrs. Obama’s trust. Hmmm, that sounds…. reasonable to me, that I might be upset if someone on my staff was looking to go work with my husband’s instead. (Schake ultimately left to work for L’Oreal.)
There might be some legitimate criticisms of what could be expected to be a high-pressure, high-stress environment, but you won’t find them in this article. If Michelle was prone to screaming fits and firing people at whim, the story might make more sense. But as is, it reads as a racially coded diatribe that suggests that a woman, a Black woman, who is exacting and demanding in job that requires her to be, is somehow suspect.
Black women in the workplace know exactly what that’s about. It’s about everything you do being viewed through a prism of race that suggests your leadership isn’t as valid as the white boss doing the same thing.
Michelle Obama clearly has a thick skin or has developed one by now. She will likely shake off the article and the mega-trolls spewing their hate in the comments section. (Hey, New Republic – comment moderation is key to any intelligent discourse unless you enjoy your site being hijacked by racists). And in truth, what the writer did in emphasizing that Michelle Obama prioritizes her “family responsibilities” shows that she’s truly living out her concept of First Lady in the way that many think she should – as a loving mother, wife and daughter who views her primary role as taking care of her family.
If that’s what makes her a tough boss, we think she’s OK with that.
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COMMENTARY: Michelle Obama A Tough Boss? By What Standard? was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
