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Former United States First Lady Michelle Obama, in her newly released memoir titled "Becoming", says her first trip to Kenya in 1992 together with Obama was compounded by troubles right from the airport.
She explains how they struggled to move around with Obama's half sister, Auma's old and worn out car.
“Auma’s sky-blue VW was so old that it often needed to be pushed in order to get the engine into gear. I’d ill-advisedly bought new white sneakers to wear on the trip, and within a day, after all the pushing we did, they’d turned reddish brown, stained with the cinnamon-hued dust of Nairobi,” she notes.
The 54-year-old says they were not married at the time and what she encountered made her angry at the man who would later become the President of the United States.
“For every bit of awe we felt in Kenya, we were also tired, which led to quibbling, which led finally, for whatever reason, to rage. “I’m so angry at Barack,” I wrote in my journal.
“I don’t think we have anything in common. My thoughts trailed off there. As a measure of my frustration, I drew a long emphatic gash across the rest of the page,” she adds in the memoir.
She, however, notes that she enjoyed every moment with Obama’s relatives, now her in-laws.
Obama has since toured Kenya on three occasions; in 2006 when he was Senator for Illinois, in 2015 as POTUS and the latest visit was in July, 2018. His wife and children did not accompany him during the visits.
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Interesting, May be if it was not of his connection to Kenya, the book he wrote about his African ancestry, he may not have been elected the U.S. President.
This whole Kenyan connections brought out the magic.
Always proud of President Obama and his presidency.
After High school, Obama was bound to Fail in Life. Butvisiting Kenya (long before meeting Michele) Challenged and Changed his Life. His Grandma Sarah put lots of Sense and Prayer in him and when he went back to the US: He SERIOUSLY went to School. Thank God.
Click bait 😡
At least she is being honest.On the other hand ihave met afew Americans who were fascinated with the way Africans live,-.walking in mud,using,"long drop toilets" ,eating with hands from same plate.All these were a welcome breath of fresh air from the restrictive ways of avoiding dust,or eating with fork and knife. Not to mention nolstagic about the ways out ancestors used toilets.
She first went to Kenya before the internet age.Google,and Youtube could have given her adequate exposure of some sort,before meeting the real,"macoy".Africa.
Wewe Maxiley wacha zako. A real "MacCoy" neither Toy with nor Entertain homosexuality. They frown at it, they hate it; or even kill it on Spot.
Most probably the white ones who look at you like you are in a human zoo.
If the only time she was in Kenya was in 1992 and as an ordinary civilian, then she has the wrong picture about Kenya. We have moved on and are way far ahead. Obama's half sister Auma probably now drives a high powered Mercedes Benz, or a Range Rover or a V8 Prado. Michelle should make another visit to Kenya now and update her knowledge.
Most black American women love travelling to Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Not Africa (except Nigeria; and maybe Ghana).
Nonsense Nonsense This is the usually maringos ladies have when they r bin dated??When personally went to states around 2001 i couldn't believe hii ni America pple talk about?Visited some downtown places like Newyork,washington dc,philadelphia n i couldn't believe niko usa.Dirty,smokes everywhere pple roaming taking drugs of every kind?So Michelle ur talking about mad while pple like us saw drugs misuse in the usa states n still those cities have become worse?
African Americans have a disconnect with the land of Africa, perhaps a consequence of alienation, mzungu’s appreciate it more, even the mzungu in Barrack O.
African American both brothers and sisters don't like or don't get a long with brothers from and sisters from Africa and for some reasons I really don't know. White folks love adventures and they love Africa which very interesting. I have lived here for many years and I found out that white folks are more advance an knowledgeable a bout learning and traveling to Africa compared to blacks who ignorant.
They loved it so much they stole it and sold us all over the world
Kusema kweli, hamna tofauti (ila rangi na nywele) baina ya Mmarekani wa asili ya Afrika na Mmarekani wa asili ya Yuropa/Ulaya: Wote ni Wamarekani! Kama huniamini, mwoe (marry) Mmarekani wa asili ya Afrika au Mmarekani wa asili ya Yuropa halafu utaona cha mtema kuni!
Lol. How was your experience?
Hebu mwone na msikilize Mmarekani huyu wa asili ya Afrika anavyodharau bara zima la Afrika:
@ I mara, I watched the clip,and have come to conclusion that ,thats where most uneducated americans,mostly black americans get their information/education on africa.
Someone here raised an observation, I myself have made,and that is: there exists some"tension" between africans and black americans.This is generalization of course,but non the less,an observation noted by many.In fact there was a time when ablack american wanted to humiliated the other, they called him or her"you african".
Some of you may remember that,when Barack declared his intention to run for presidency, the so called black leaders were not quick to embrace him-because he did not have the"slave legacy" whatever that meant.
In college, I noted that blacks liked to sit by themselves.Again generalization,but nontheless an observation noted by many.
My opinion on this is that most black still hold the notion that africa is backward,and primitive(shithole continent". and who wants to be associated with that.Yes there are those who are proud of their african roots.Those are the ones who have come to terms with their identity.But the rest are still confused. Like any hot button issues, this is a sensitive one,and even the social scientists in the name of education are not willing to face it head on.My two cents.
Boy, bye! If you can’t appreciate parody there’s no help for you. Try an infusion of humor genes
Okay, first she talks of the dusty roads but of late we have Chinese machines working on them with huge loans from all over an taxis are all over. The cars have been updated with Muchuki cam Matiangi rules, she won't have to push. Welcome back once again and update your memory content of the entire Africa.
Mrs former first lady a part from the dust n dirty in Kenya what else disappointed you?Remember this is where the genius Obama senior was born.And when you in white house what efforts did you make to improve Kenya.Think about that madam
I have nothing against Mrs. Obama, but she was never my cuppa.
Having compassion for other people and the burdens of their daily lives would have relieved the "troubles east of Wakanda". As one G.K. Chesterton put it “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered".
Ha ha tell Michelle it would not have been Kenya if there was no mud or car to push especially the Beatle . When my clients tell me they were stuck in the mud while on safari I ask them "only once" I have never had an angry client because of being stuck in the mud or slow drive due to bad roads they only want to be told before hand - it can be cold muddy and roads are bad and speed limit is 80 . some love to be stuck in the mud but i am sure Barack wanted her to experience it . He could tell her the secret .
@Ndugu Maxiley:
Ningependa kusema kidogo kuhusu mambo uliyoandika. Ndugu zetu kutoka Yuropa wamewapiga msasa hawa ndugu zetu Wamerikani wa asili ya Afrika kujichukia kama sisi tulivyofundishwa pia kujichukia. Hebu tazama:
1. Walifundishwa kuyachukia majina yao ya asili ya Kiafrika kama sisi pia tulivyofundishwa kufanya hivyo.
2. Walifundishwa kuwa wafuasi wa dini moja mbaya sana iliyowauza kwenye utumwa na kufanywa wakristo kama sisi pia tulivyofundishwa kufanya hivyo.
3. Walifundishwa kuchukia ngozi yao, nywele zao, midomo yao, uso wao kama sisi pia tulivyofundishwa kufanya hivyo.
4. Walifundishwa kuchukia lugha za Kiafrika kama sisi nasi pia tulivyofundishwa kuchukia lugha zetu.
Je, umeona mbwa wanavyofanya wanapokutana na mbwa wengine ambao wamefungwa mikufu shingoni na kutembezwa na anayewafuga njiani? Wanapoonana (mbwa) huanza kuchukiana na kutaka kupigana. Ndiyo sababu Wafrika wa kutoka bara na Wafrika wa asili ya Marekani hawapatani. Ni sawa na mfano wa mbwa niliotoa. WOTE WAMEFUNDISHWA KUJICHUKIA NA PIA KUCHUKIANA. WOTE WAMEPIGWA MSASA NA WANAYUROPA.
Mitchell!Mitchell! come back"HOME"! Am glad that, in spit of these frustrations, you still ended up with this hustler. Today there is a big change in your lives, so is to Kenya. Come see for yourself. I promise to send you Some mpesa money here at home.
ayeee mbona madunisha bara la Africa ilhali mumewe Obama Ni wa Kenya???? Don't she know that her husband is A Kenyan and the country is situated in African to mean that it's still developing not like super power countries 🤔
Michelle has spoken her truth. Different people have different experiences in life so it's very ok to make the remarks she made. Like someone hapo juu ameuliza, what did she do about it? Knowing that part of her is always going to be linked to Kenya forever. Having said that, I still very strongly believe that Kenya is a Blessed Nation. Ni vile tu hatukumbuki. The first Black US President could've had his roots from wherever but God chose Kenya. Na isitoshe, wengine watachukua mamlaka kote ulimwenguni. I only wish we dealt with issues back in Jamuhuri to truly uphold and reflect the Kenyan spirit. But there's still this issue of African Americans having issues with Kenyans and it's happened to me on two occasions. This is a formal setting but you feel that hatred just oozing from someone whose background is close to yours. Oh well... I had to confront one and ask the reason why he behaved the way he did and his negative attitude towards Africa. The guy (as you might have guessed) bluntly talked of how we Africans come here voluntarily but his ancestors were forced to relocate here. First of all, we cannot blame everything on Slavery. This is a totally new dispensation and era and people have more freedom to chart their way forward and shape their lives accordingly. Secondly Africans also suffered and still suffer from the negative effects of colonialism. Thirdly, I told the chap to be thankful that he made it into the world and can even talk because his ancestors reproduced. I invited him to go back and delve deeper into historical books and then he will realize his anger was totally misdirected. He's getting pissed of by an African from east Africa, yet the slaves who were bought from East Africa ended up in the middle east where most if not all of them were castrated so that they would eliminate their family lines. The Arab world has always treated Africans especially Dark skinned as lesser than dogs. And these things continue to date. Remember, Racism, Tribalism, Sectism all the "isms" are taught. The narrative has to change to be able to effectively curb these vices. Michelle Obama had a huge platform to say something to promote a country that has really been on the receiving end especially ever since Obama has his roots there. It wouldn't hurt to say something positive about the country or continent in general. Africa is Beautiful. Kenya is the heart of Africa. If you don't believe me, just look at it's position and shape.
Reading Michelle's outdated opinion of Kenya is absolutely laughable. But she is forgiven and encouraged to come here and buy a holiday home that will rival any in Miami....
Dada Michelle:
Hebu msikilize Vladimir Putin anavyosema juu ya bara letu la Afrika!
Akata ba wajaluo huwa na matharau sana in the whole African community.
The transport system in third world countries is uncomfortable.
Even Kenyans living in kenya don’t really get used to it.Thats why people in rural areas prefer walking.
Walking early in the morning to avoid dust and hot sun.