I’m sorry, but I have to revisit one comment from your comprehensive post.

“Michelle has singlehandedly knocked down every single negative stereotype thrown at black women over the centuries.”

I cannot emphasize this enough — Michelle has countered the stereotypes/archetypes thrust upon black women over generations — “Sapphire,” “Jezebel,” the mammy image. She emanates poise, sophistication, erudition, and dignity. On top of it all, she’s down-to-the-earth. I saw a video of her hula hooping recently at the White House to promote exercise for kids (I love her emphasis on the importance of healthy eating and fitness), and I just thought to myself, this is a woman who’s completely on top of her game, and she shares my skin tone.

I’m proud to have her as our first lady.

Beautiful post.

I agree this is a beautiful cover of our first lady, and she gives cogent, insightful advice — It is important to look at the soul of the person who’s pursuing/courting you.

And to those who question why Michelle continues to grace the covers of magazine, these publications recognize the widespread popularity of Mrs. Obama. I loved seeing a recent column written by Charles Blow, a black NY Times columnist, about the first lady, called “The Magic of Michelle” in which he gave tangible evidence of her impact, nytimes.com/2009/10/24/opinion/24blow.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=charles%20blow&st=cse:

“In April, at the peak of her popularity, a New York Times/CBS News poll measured her favorability at 67 percent. The same poll found that a stratospheric 84 percent approved of how she was handling her role as first lady. That means that even half of those who didn’t hold a favorable view of her as a person still liked what she was doing as first lady.

(It should be noted that polls by USA Today/Gallup and CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, both released this week, put the first lady’s favorability ratings in the 60s and above those of her husband.)”