A Provocation
I am probably the only black woman in America who did not read Becoming. One of my 8th graders loaned it to me last year, but I couldn't get past the first chapter. On Wednesday, another student emailed to let me know that a film documenting the book tour was on Netflix and she thought of me. I'm not sure why, but I really had no desire to watch it. Perhaps because this bun is my entire mood right now . . .
Anyway, today after a professional development session about "self-care" I decided to skip the final Zoom meeting of the day, order Vegan Burgers from FUMO for me and Chloe, and pour myself a glass of wine. I put the documentary on as I waited for the food to arrive and was surprised by how immediately I was drawn into the story. I got teary eyed several times over the next hour and a half; just a scene of Mrs. Obama exiting a hotel through the kitchen and thanking the staff made me incredibly nostalgic for a time when our First Family exhibited grace and kindness. Watching her greet readers in a bookstore receiving line made me wistful for a time when people could stand next to each other without fear of getting sick. The whole Obama Era seems like a lifetime ago for so many reasons.
When I was Googling images for this blog, the first thing that popped up was a dismissive review of "Becoming" from Fox News complaining that it was "obligatory" with "no meaningful message." Right then I realized why I didn't want to watch the documentary in the first place. For us Barack and Michelle were the message. Unfortunately, for many others their their very existence was "a provocation." We are suffering the consequences for that now.
Anyway, today after a professional development session about "self-care" I decided to skip the final Zoom meeting of the day, order Vegan Burgers from FUMO for me and Chloe, and pour myself a glass of wine. I put the documentary on as I waited for the food to arrive and was surprised by how immediately I was drawn into the story. I got teary eyed several times over the next hour and a half; just a scene of Mrs. Obama exiting a hotel through the kitchen and thanking the staff made me incredibly nostalgic for a time when our First Family exhibited grace and kindness. Watching her greet readers in a bookstore receiving line made me wistful for a time when people could stand next to each other without fear of getting sick. The whole Obama Era seems like a lifetime ago for so many reasons.
 |
| The New York Times |
When I was Googling images for this blog, the first thing that popped up was a dismissive review of "Becoming" from Fox News complaining that it was "obligatory" with "no meaningful message." Right then I realized why I didn't want to watch the documentary in the first place. For us Barack and Michelle were the message. Unfortunately, for many others their their very existence was "a provocation." We are suffering the consequences for that now.
Comments
Post a Comment