CET4--1

Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they'll changed America. Rightly so. But selfishly. I'm more fascinated(着迷) by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential(潜在的) First Lady, she would have the world'd attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.

Usually, the live of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing(流行的) theory seems to be that we're all hot-tempered(急脾气的) single mothers who can't keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can't excape the stereotype of being eye-rolling(眼睛轧 ), oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic(酗酒的) mothers.

These images have helped define the way all black women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause(从事事业), charity(慈善) or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent(急迫的) and perhaps most complicated(复杂的) duty may be simply to be herself.

It won't be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular(经常) African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis (经常). For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.

Just as she will have her critics(批评者), she will also have millons of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they'd like to see Michelle bring to the White House--mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone--an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise(沉着), confidence(自信) and intelligence(智慧) will go a long way in changing an image that's been around for far too long.