The Queen Regnant is a queen who holds the crown in her own right, in contradistinction to a Queen Consort, who is queen only because her husband is king.
Mrs. Michelle Obama has placed a definitive mark on the role and perception of First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS). Not since Jackie Kennedy Onassis has there been a more popular, charismatic, and youthful presence in the White House. With her bared arms, stylish attire, sported shorts, stern glances and inviting smiles, playful moments and 'bout the business poise, she has given international exposure to the Queen that much of Black America knows and loves. Once seen by the masses (even some in the black community) as only a figment of Bill Cosby's mind -a la Clair Huxtable, the mother of five, stylish, witty, attractive, scrupulous, practicing attorney- the world now has not some chimera as antithesis to the superfluously Bourgeoisie, Louboutin-wearing (those are the incredulously-priced shoes with the red bottoms), unsure of What [she] Wants in her Full-Court Basketball/Hip-Hop/Real Housewife Life.
A true queen doesn't segregate herself from the people of her province; she makes herself accessible which is what separates her from those who would consider themselves to be her contemporaries. Many First Ladies of the past -and those who go by such titles in our churches- have played the background, only rearing their heads at state dinners and for photo-ops during charitable events. Their voices are seldom heard, presence is rarely seen except as obligatory to her husband's position, and hardly is she known to those outside of her entourage. But the Queen Regnant possesses an effortless charm, demeanor, and focus that make girls want to be her, boys respect her, women honor her, and men desire her. She knows her people because she positions herself among them and touches them. We admire her because she is winning!
In this day, we don't need figurines on pedestals that are either too stiff and fragile to be handled, or precious and pretty to be touched; not to mention fraught with hubris. Our children, our women, our men all need to have exemplars of a Queen lady who is accessible to all, yet discriminating in her ways. Having a Facebook page she has many "friends", but in her life only a few sisters; on Twitter, many followers of her tweets but fellowships with few; in life her voice is deliberate and demanding, but tempered.
I don't write this as an ode to Michelle Obama, but more so a counter to the push of popular culture to yet again promote another very flawed and erroneous representation of women of color. I'm not in the least bit surprised by it though. Televisions' job is to "Tell A Vision", it's just that the vision they are telling is incredibly lopsided. And when it sells, they'll continue to tell.
Well, to close out this little op-ed piece I wanted to pull some sage quotation on the merits of woman, but instead think I'll leave it at this: we have always had queens among us, impossible it is for me to even think I could attempt to mention their names. I don't know them all, but you do. You have pulled up a picture of them in your mind as you read this.
Salute
Well, to close out this little op-ed piece I wanted to pull some sage quotation on the merits of woman, but instead think I'll leave it at this: we have always had queens among us, impossible it is for me to even think I could attempt to mention their names. I don't know them all, but you do. You have pulled up a picture of them in your mind as you read this.
Salute
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Thanks for capturing my life aspiration--Queen Regnant! This is a well written ode to those of us who aspire to be something more than drama queens.
ReplyDeleteI read this a couple years ago and i appreciate it even more now.
ReplyDeleteI read this a couple years ago and i appreciate it even more now.
ReplyDelete