Aliyekuwa Mke wa Rais wa Marekani, Michelle Obama ameelezea shinikizo kubwa la umma aliloliita “White hot glare” Lililotawala uchaguzi wake wa mitindo(Mavazi) wakati akiwa Ikulu ya White House, akisema yeye na familia yake waliingia kwenye shinikizo hilo kwa kiwango cha juu kuliko wengine.

Michelle Obama, mwenye umri wa miaka 61, alitoa matamshi hayo alipokuwa akitangaza kitabu chake kipya, The Look, ambapo anaelezea jinsi alivyotumia mavazi yake kama aina ya “nguvu laini/Soft power” kutuma ujumbe kwa umma.

Katika mahojiano na ABC News’ 20/20, Mke wa Rais wa zamani alisisitiza kwamba uchunguzi huo uliongezwa kipekee na rangi.

“Sote tulikuwa tunafahamu sana kwamba kama wanandoa weusi wa kwanza, hatukuweza kuvumilia makosa yoyote. Na kwamba kama mwanamke mweusi, nilikuwa chini ya mwangaza mweupe hasa,” aliandika katika kitabu chake.

Michelle Obama argued that this pressure was unfair, stating, “We didn’t get the grace that I think some other families have gotten.”

Michelle Obama alisema kwamba shinikizo hili halikuwa la haki, akisema, "Hatukupata neema ambayo nadhani familia zingine zimepata."

Alielezea umuhimu wa kila chaguo katika mazingira ya kisiasa yenye uadui: "Kufanya kosa katika mazingira ya kisiasa ambapo wewe ndiye wa kwanza na watu ndio mahali ambapo wapinzani wako wanatumia rangi yako kama mkakati unaotegemea hofu ili kukufanya uonekane kama mwingine, basi kila kitu kina umuhimu."

“Making a mistake in a political environment where you’re the first and people are where your opponents are using your race as a fear-based strategy to make you seem like the other, then everything matters.”