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In Obama's thesis, she sought to quantify how the attitudes of black Princeton alumni changed after graduation in regard to race relations and social change. Obama was especially interested in the attitudes of Princeton alumni in regard to improving the lives of lower-income blacks.
To document the change in attitudes, Obama devised an 18-question survey and mailed it to black alumni. Her thesis is a discussion of her methodology and an analysis of the results. It contains a limited amount of personal opinion in the introduction.
Obama's wife wrote a paper in college that said America was a nation founded on "crime and hatred" and that whites in America are "ineradicably racist."
...
We downloaded a copy, which appears to be complete with no numbered pages missing. We read it, but we did not find the phrases the e-mail describes.
We took the additional step of scanning the document through optical character recognition software so we could search its text electronically. An automated search did not find the words "crime," "hatred," "hate," "ineradicably," or "racist" in the document.
Much scrutiny and discussion has been focused on a single phrase contained within the thesis, the statement that “blacks must join in solidarity to combat a white oppressor.” This phrase has repeatedly been quoted out of context and presented as if it reflected Michelle Obama’s own philosophy, but in its full context it is clearly her speculation about what she thought some of the respondents she surveyed for her thesis (i.e., students who had attended Princeton in earlier years) might have been feeling:
As discussed earlier, most respondents were attending Princeton during the 70s, at a time when the Black Power Movement was still influencing the attitudes of many Blacks.
It is possible that the Black individuals either chose to or felt pressure to come together with other Blacks on campus because of the belief that Blacks must join together to combat a White oppressor. As the few blacks in a white environment it is understandable that respondents might have felt a need to look out for one another.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
I challenge anyone to find anything in it that holds true to the chain email that made it out to be a racist rant.
Flyer's Fan, care to have a go? I would like to know exactly what part of this thesis is racist.
Just under 90 alums responded to the questionnaires (for a response rate of approximately 22 percent) and the conclusions were not what she expected. "I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility."
requesting the respondents define the amount of time and "comfort" level spent interacting with blacks and whites before they attended the school, as well as during and after their University years. Other questions dealt with their individual religious beliefs, living arrangements, careers, role models, economic status, and thoughts about lower class blacks. In addition, those surveyed were asked to choose whether they were more in line with a "separationist and/or pluralist" viewpoint or an "integrationist and/or assimilationist" ideology.
“ Stokely Carmichael and Charles Hamilton’s (1967) developed the definition of separationism in their discussion of Black Power which guided me in the formulation and use of this concept in the study.
“By actually working with the Black lower class or within their communities as a result of their ideologies, a separationist may better understand the desperation of their situation and feel more hopeless about a resolution as opposed to an integrationist who is ignorant to their plight.”
Earlier in my college career, there was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the Black community I was somehow obligated to this community and would use all of my present and future resources to benefit this community first and foremost. My experiences at Princeton have made me more aware of my “Blackness” than ever before.
Elements of Black culture which make it unique from White culture such as its music, its language, the struggles and a “consciousness” shared by its people may be attributed to the injustices and oppression suffered by this race of people which are not comparable to the experiences of any other race of people through this country’s history. However, with the increasing integration of Blacks into the mainstream society, many “integrated Blacks” have lost touch with the Black culture in their attempts to become adjusted and comfortable in their new culture–the White culture. Some of these Blacks are no longer able to enjoy the qualities which make Black culture so unique or are unable to share their culture openly with other Blacks because they have become so far removed from these experiences and, in some instances, ashamed of them because of their integration.
Thank you.
Originally posted by marg6043
Ladies you should be in the debate forum, two of our finest long standing members deserve a thread just for both of you.
“By actually working with the Black lower class or within their communities as a result of their ideologies, a separationist may better understand the desperation of their situation and feel more hopeless about a resolution as opposed to an integrationist who is ignorant to their plight.”
Originally posted by MagicaRose
Compare older photo's Obama.
Her skin appears much lighter now.
Originally posted by FlyersFan
As for the thesis that Obama released -
Do you think it’s the real thesis – a full and uncorrupted version?
What I see on that thesis (because you asked) – lots of grammatical errors. I see spelling and syntax errors as well. Also, a whole lotta’ self esteem problems.
Overall, I see a woman
She ‘hoped’ that people with black skin would be self-segregating as she was.
She was obviously disappointed to find that they are getting along just fine in America without bitterly clinging ( ) to where their ancestors were from hundreds of years ago.
Only 22 percent of the black population bothered to respond to the questionnaire? That’s rather low.
In her thesis, Michelle Obama states that she’s much influenced by the definition of black "separationism" as offered by Stokely Carmichael and Charles Hamilton in their 1967 Black Power: The Politics of Liberation in America.
“ Stokely Carmichael and Charles Hamilton’s (1967) developed the definition of separationism in their discussion of Black Power which guided me in the formulation and use of this concept in the study.
Anyways, that’s what I see.
Earlier in my college career, there was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the Black community I was somehow obligated to this community and would use all of my present and future resources to benefit this community first and foremost. My experiences at Princeton have made me more aware of my “Blackness” than ever before.
You asked what part of this is racist – well, there ya’ go. Black people come first. If I ran around saying I’d help white people first and foremost, then I’d be called a bigot and a racist for using my position/color to help whites first and foremost. For her to use her position/degree/color to help blacks ‘first and foremost’ … that’s bigotry and racism. As far as I’m concerned, she’s welcome to ‘help’ whoever she wants, whatever color skin they happen to have. I don’t care. But call it what it is … racism.
Elements of Black culture which make it unique from White culture such as its music, its language, the struggles and a “consciousness” shared by its people may be attributed to the injustices and oppression suffered by this race of people which are not comparable to the experiences of any other race of people through this country’s history. However, with the increasing integration of Blacks into the mainstream society, many “integrated Blacks” have lost touch with the Black culture in their attempts to become adjusted and comfortable in their new culture–the White culture. Some of these Blacks are no longer able to enjoy the qualities which make Black culture so unique or are unable to share their culture openly with other Blacks because they have become so far removed from these experiences and, in some instances, ashamed of them because of their integration.
2 – White culture is somehow a lesser culture then black culture? She makes that insinuation.
Originally posted by ZindoDoone
The actual quote is correct, but it was not in her thesis.
Originally posted by jamie83
Michelle takes it upon herself to decide that blacks who decided to integrate into "white" society were too stupid to know they shouldn't be happy about being integrated.
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Originally posted by jamie83
Michelle takes it upon herself to decide that blacks who decided to integrate into "white" society were too stupid to know they shouldn't be happy about being integrated.
Again, the word "ignorant" just means lacking knowledge. It does not mean "stupid". (Or "uncaring" as FF said)
Originally posted by jamie83
1. First, she insults integrated blacks, accusing them of being too ignorant to know any better.
2. Second, she insults whites by implying that blacks who integrate with whites have some sort of "plight" that they don't recognize.