--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, as potentially the first African…" description: "\"But, as potentially the first African American first lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations; conversations sometimes r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michelle-obama-518_african-american_but-as-potentially-the-first-african-ame_1511224.jpg" --- # But, as potentially the first African American first lady… ![“But, as potentially the first African American first lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations; conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others. Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating? Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michelle-obama-518_african-american_but-as-potentially-the-first-african-ame_1511224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michelle-obama-518_african-american_but-as-potentially-the-first-african-ame_1511224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/michelle-obama-518_african-american_but-as-potentially-the-first-african-ame_1511224.jpg) > “But, as potentially the first African American first lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations; conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others. Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating? Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not enough of a career woman?” [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She discusses the double standards and gendered expectations she faced as a pioneering African American first lady, questioning how she was perceived. **In simple terms:** Facing gendered double standards. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes and demand fairness. Themes gender race media scrutiny public perception Mood inspirational critical Type political personal When to use this quote - political events - media interviews - public speaking engagements Key Concepts intersectionality leadership representation Questions to Reflect On - How can society reduce gendered bias in leadership? - What can leaders do to reshape narratives? A Different Perspective Public expectations can be unfairly biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Career women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-women/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [First lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-lady/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Misperception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misperception/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Speculation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speculation/) ## Related quotes > [When you say, 'I enjoy doing this or that', it is really a misperception. It makes it appear that the joy comes from what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-say-i-enjoy-doing-this-or-that-it-is-really-a-misperception/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [There are so many misperceptions and stereotypes out there that I would love to see clarified one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/there-are-so-many-misperceptions-and-stereotypes-out-there-that-i/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [My position attracts a fair amount of rumors and gossip and misperceptions, but I'd rather not focus on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/my-position-attracts-a-fair-amount-of-rumors-and-gossip-and/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [Awakening is waking up from the daytime dream and realizing that who you thought you were is not limited to thought, emotion or form.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis/awakening-is-waking-up-from-the-daytime-dream-and-realizing-that-who/) [Katie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis/) > [ The hardest \[part\] is some of the misperceptions that are leveled against me as a person and against Muslim women. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/the-hardest-part-is-some-of-the-misperceptions-that-are-leveled/) [Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/) > [“The Amy of today was abrasive enough to want to hurt, sometimes. I speak specifically of the Amy of today, who was only remotely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/the-amy-of-today-was-abrasive-enough-to-want-to-hurt-sometimes-i/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [I have empathy for the person who is being interviewed and written about with all kinds of misperceptions and misconceptions and flat-out lies. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathie-lee-gifford/i-have-empathy-for-the-person-who-is-being-interviewed-and-written/) [Kathie Lee Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathie-lee-gifford/) > [There is a misperception, if you will, in critical response or even in Hollywood, that I can only do exaggerated characters. Or what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/there-is-a-misperception-if-you-will-in-critical-response-or-even-in/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [It was my misfortune-or salvation-to be at all times perfectly conscious of my misperceptions of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/it-was-my-misfortune-or-salvation-to-be-at-all-times-perfectly/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [I have made you - along with Fox News has made you - think Obama is something that he isn't. And it's such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-have-made-you-along-with-fox-news-has-made-you-think-obama-is/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [One of the misperceptions that exists in the Muslim world, which needs to be fixed, is the perception that Muslims in America are -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/one-of-the-misperceptions-that-exists-in-the-muslim-world-which-needs/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [So I think it's - what was important to me is that I found that I can't change the fact that people already have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/so-i-think-it-s-what-was-important-to-me-is-that-i-found-that-i-can-t/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) > [The backstory to anyone of mixed race is a lifetime spent being incorrectly perceived and choosing either to allow that misperception to continue or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/the-backstory-to-anyone-of-mixed-race-is-a-lifetime-spent-being/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [In Buddhism, ignorance as the root cause of suffering refers to a fundamental misperception of the true nature of the self and all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-buddhism-ignorance-as-the-root-cause-of-suffering-refers-to-a/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Beyond our most stubborn misperception lies often our fondest dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/beyond-our-most-stubborn-misperception-lies-often-our-fondest-dream/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) ## More by Michelle Obama > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [You work hard for what you want in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/you-work-hard-for-what-you-want-in-life/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward my husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-must-once-again-come-together-and-stand-together-for-the-man-we/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're starting to see, as the economy improves, that the unemployment rate among veterans and military spouses - we're seeing some improvement in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-starting-to-see-as-the-economy-improves-that-the-unemployment/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There's so much going on in the healthcare system that makes it difficult for women to really have a strong economic hold if insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/there-s-so-much-going-on-in-the-healthcare-system-that-makes-it/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [In the 10 cities with the nation's highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/in-the-10-cities-with-the-nation-s-highest-obesity-rates-the-direct/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/what-i-admire-most-about-hillary-is-that-she-never-buckles-under/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [A lot of young people think they're invincible, but the truth is young people are knuckleheads... Now young people can get insurance for as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/a-lot-of-young-people-think-they-re-invincible-but-the-truth-is-young/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/one-of-the-lessons-that-i-grew-up-with-was-to-always-stay-true-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs \[of PTSD\], because, you know, when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurses-are-going-to-be-trained-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're our kids' first and best role models. So the first question is, what are you as a mom or a dad doing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-our-kids-first-and-best-role-models-so-the-first-question-is/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I've always tried to make sure that what I do really connects with the broader agenda of what my husband is trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-ve-always-tried-to-make-sure-that-what-i-do-really-connects-with/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-know-from-experience-that-if-i-truly-want-to-leave-a-better-world/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) [Explore all 504 Michelle Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But, as potentially the first African American first lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations; conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others. Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating? 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