Reuters: ….In Africa, Michelle Obama has been welcomed as the daughter of a continent she has only visited a handful of times, and interest is high in her unique position as a black presidential spouse and leader in her own right.
….Does she feel a kinship with Africa? “Absolutely, yeah,” she said in the interview, before comparing that to the feeling she had in Moneygall, Ireland, where the president met a distant cousin in May.
“I absolutely feel that connection here. And I wasn’t surprised by it. I absolutely felt that connection in Moneygall (and was) a little more surprised by it.”
Thousands of people lined the main street of tiny Moneygall last month, welcoming the Obamas as if they were long lost relatives…. “The love, the warmth, the connection, the excitement. That was family, too. And that’s what I want my kids to understand – that your family is Granny in Kisumu, but it’s also your cousin in Moneygall. That is your history. That is really the American history.”
Audiences in Johannesburg and Cape Town found the first lady’s history and success inspiring … “As a young black woman, I see her as a role model,” said Nozi Samela, 26, in Cape Town, adding that it was Obama’s work – not necessarily her race – that generated admiration. “She has taken time to come to the communities, to see the people from the ground level, and actually talk to them, and hear what the issues they face are. I see her as a role model.”
Mamphela Ramphele, a former anti-apartheid activist who moderated Obama’s discussion with students at the university, said the first lady rose above skin color and gender. “To have someone like her who is successful in her own right and represents the transcendence of barriers of race, of class, of gender in the U.S. coming here and engaging in such a human way… that touches the hearts of ordinary people,” Ramphele said.
Full article here
Thank you CTGirl
The Obama Diary 
My pleasure 🙂
Chipstick you are giving my daily finger exercise. All this good news and beautiful photo.
That is a beautiful picture. A beautiful picture.
Tells you how much their visit to Moneygall touched them. Like us she is still thinking about it . Chipstick you should send this article to Henry and Stephen to make sure they know they are still in the First Family’s thoughts.
Oh, the right wing crazies are going to have a field day with this one in 3..2..1..
She looks fabulous. And the women all look absolutely giddy to be with her. Mrs. O is a very engaging speaker. She is prepared, but never seems stilted. She’s always so comfortable and warm. And funny. She’s makes jokes that include everyone. We must re-elect Barack, for all the obvious reason. And the great benefit is that we get Michelle for four more years too!!
Word to Republicans: this is why this country will be held by Democrats for much of the foreseeable future:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2011/06/24/2011-06-24_oh_baby_majority_of_newborns_minorities.html
ps– stop the hating. This country is no longer white, male, anglo-saxon protestant or 100% straight.
lisa, I think this is precisely why we are seeing such a disgusting backlash from the right-wing. They realize that their long-cherished and assumption of power and privilege may be changing.
I saw this report on nightly news yesterday and I gave a resounding cheer. I’m happy that minorities are now becoming the majority because the status quo has got to go. The WASP male will no longer control everything from finance to cultural values and the voting bloc. Finally diverse views will now and forever more enter into the public debate and change the debate and issues paradigm, from one of narrow mindedness and exculsion to inclusion. Finally politicians will have to start paying attention to their constituents because the game has surely changed. Viva la diversity!
What a powerful quote:
Mamphela Ramphele,
“To have someone like her who is successful in her own right and represents the transcendence of barriers of race, of class, of gender in the U.S. coming here and engaging in such a human way… that touches the hearts of ordinary people,” Ramphele said.
Mamphela Ramphele’s statement applies to both the FLOTUS and the POTUS, equally…this fearless dynamic duo is feared by the people are spending their entire lives criticizing them.
We are all members of the HUMAN race. Get with the program Repubs, or be left behind in the dust.
…my very proud but humble AA, would always say he was of the HUMAN RACE, when he was asked and/or when he completed forms. My father fought in the Korean War, so because of his travels across the waters, he learned that a black man in France was French not Black or African French. When I was young, I would laugh at him, but now I totally get him and what he was saying.
Barack and Michelle are heads and shoulders above any repug couple “attempting” to capture the White House.
I’m glad that she likens her feelings of the African people to those she had when meeting the people of Moneygall and the rest of the irish. It’s great that she’s shedding light on what Africa as a whole has the potential to achieve and urging world leaders and nations not to discount the works of young and old in this emerging fount of democracy. It’s quite wonderful that the trip to Ireland still resonates strongly with her as it does with our TOD family. The warmth and joy the Irish people bestowed upon the Obamas will never be forgotten by me and everyone here I’m sure. We really are all connected patterns in the delightful fabric of life.
We are so filled with joy because of the grace, the intellect, the sweet spirit, and the quiet beauty of a lovely First Lady. She is such an inspiration. Thank you Chipsticks for this beautiful journey with our First Lady.
Dr. Ramphele fought in the struggle. She was a great friend of Steve Biko who was killed in detention. You can see the role she played in the movie, CRY FREEDOM with Denzil Washington…