Tops

In her second HBO special, Wanda Sykes has a bit where she skewers respectability politics by talking about all the stereotypical things she's been avoiding doing in public that she's going to take up again now that Obama is in the White House. ("If he wins a second term, I'm going to Popeye's!") In it she mentions how her mother used to scold her for rocking out in the car by saying, "White people are looking at you!"

That was one of the first things that came to mind when I watched the Carpool Karaoke video featuring Michelle Obama. I'd already seen some of the racist blowback, so I knew that White people were looking at her, and condemning her "undignified" behaviour. But I'd also seen a slew of friends share the video already so I knew there were more people--of all races--who were looking at that video and thinking, "Damn I wish I were in that car!"

I know I was. And though I know she's looking forward to no longer being one of the most scrutinised and criticised women in the country, but selfishly, I really hope she maintains a presence in the public eye because I am going to miss her like crazy.