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MICHELLE Edited by

OBAMA’S Michelle Duster

Paula Marie Seniors
Impact on African Rose C. Thevenin
American Women
and Girls
 Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American
Women and Girls

“An engaging, multi-dimensional commentary on embracing power with poise

and grace. Michelle Obama simply lives the American brand with a secure humil-
ity that should be replicated in all of our leaders. This collection of essays serves
as an Obama encore. I want more!”
—Robert J. Benz, Co-Founder, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives

“A timely and insightful work, Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American

Women and Girls is an impactful piece. It is one that should be read for ALL
generations to come. Kudos to the authors who heeded the call and contributed
to this thought-provoking book.”
—Sharron Goodman-Hill, Instructor of Mass Communications,
Rust College and Host, WURC’s Straight Talk Live

“This timely collection reminds us all how the character of our national lead-
ers profoundly shapes our everyday lives and aspirations. In engaging and heart-
felt contributions, these authors show how Michelle Obama not only influenced
national policy initiatives, but how her character sets a legacy of integrity, energy
and intelligence that continues to inspire and guide millions of Americans.”
—Marilyn Krogh, Associate Professor of Sociology, Loyola University Chicago

“This lively, personal, and insightful anthology makes abundantly clear the
far-reaching and multi-faceted impact of Michelle Obama. In the work of these
authors, the First Lady’s legacy will nourish and challenge future generations of
Americans to come. I welcome and celebrate this book!”
—Patricia A. Schechter, Professor of History, Portland State University

“It is necessary and inspiring to read these insightful and powerful reflections
on the legacy of Michelle Obama. America’s only African American First Lady
made an extraordinary impression around the world during her eight years in the
White House. From her stylish emergence in 2008 to her powerful oratory at
the Democratic National Convention in 2016, she has energized people around
the globe. This marvelous collection of essays and reflections is a beautiful and
critically important documentation of Michelle Obama’s impact and a thoughtful
exploration of the issues her leadership has shaped.”
—Bryan Stevenson, Director, Equal Justice Initiative and Professor of Law,
New York University and best-selling author of Just Mercy
“This collection of the myriad voices of Black women from all fields pays tribute
to the inspiring, eloquent, and elegant former First Lady, Michelle Obama. The
contents of this compelling and provocative book, more than a mere compilation
of essays and poems, are rather deeply felt personal, heartfelt reflections on Mrs.
Obama’s legacy. No need to read in chronological order, from beginning to end;
treat it like a literary smorgasbord; a tasting menu; but do read it all! Completely
satisfying, engaging and all together spiritually nourishing. A true keepsake.”
—Tazewell Thompson, Award-winning Playwright,
Theatre and Opera Director
Michelle Duster · Paula Marie Seniors
Rose C. Thevenin
Editors

Michelle Obama’s
Impact on African
American Women
and Girls
Editors
Michelle Duster Rose C. Thevenin
Columbia College Chicago Department of Social Sciences
Chicago, IL, USA Florida Memorial University
Miami Gardens, FL, USA
Paula Marie Seniors
Africana Studies
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University
Blacksburg, VA, USA

ISBN 978-3-319-92467-0 ISBN 978-3-319-92468-7 (eBook)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92468-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018942885

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the
Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights
of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction
on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and
retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are
exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and
information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication.
Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied,
with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have
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maps and institutional affiliations.

Cover credit: Courtesy of The Obama Presidential Library/The U.S. National Archives
and Records Administration
Cover design by Fatima Jamadar

Printed on acid-free paper

This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer

International Publishing AG part of Springer Nature
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Womanity, Cheryl Green

The juxtaposition of stability and the diversity in texture, color and

movement are synonymous with the personality of our country’s First
Lady, Michelle Obama. She embodies the example of what an all-­
American woman should be. Her combination of warmth, candor, intelli-
gence, stability and colorful personality brings out the humanity in those
she comes in contact with, a distinction that has made her the subject
of admiration, curiosity and even controversy. She embodies the quali-
ties of the kind of daughter, mother, wife, business partner and/or friend
that you would want or hope to have in your life. Her confidence is what
allows her to be so natural and poised, and her American experience is so
relatable that she inspired a sense of energy within myself to follow my
passion, count my blessings, be true to myself and stay grounded.
 To my parents Donald and Maxine Duster, who always believed in my
brothers and me. Thank you for being creative about stretching modest
resources to provide amazing opportunities and experiences.
—Michelle Duster
I dedicate this book to my daughter Shakeila and to my present students at
Virginia Tech, and former students from Florida Memorial College and
The College of New Jersey. May you soar like Michelle Obama!
—Paula Marie Seniors
In loving memory of three phenomenal women. Marie Jacqueline Thevenin,
Francine Barthelemy and Annanie Charlo whose nurturing, love and
support will always remain unmatched.
—Rose C. Thevenin
 Acknowledgements

We wholeheartedly thank Shaun Vigil, the film cultural and media stud-
ies editor at Palgrave Macmillan for having complete confidence in
Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls from
the moment we contacted him. Thank you, Shaun for your grace, your
unstinting kindness, support and patience with us. Thank you also Glenn
Ramirez the cultural, media and communications assistant editor for
your hard work in getting our book published.
—Michelle Duster, Paula Marie Seniors and Rose C. Thevenin
Thank you to my fellow editors Paula Marie Seniors and Rose C.
Thevenin for your scholarship, friendship and inspiration. Thank you
to the women in my life who taught and showed me by example how
to navigate the world with grace, intellect, pride and a sense of humor:
Norma Bean, Barbara Brown, Erma Bruce, Eloise Cornelius, Jacqueline
Duster, Murrell Duster, Alfreda Ferrell, Alma Henley, Charlotte Martin,
Carole Savage, Marva Watkins, and Alma Wyatt.
Never-ending thanks for support and encouragement from my broth-
ers David and Daniel Duster and my uncle Troy Duster. And my cous-
ins: Denise Bland, Hal Bland, Frank Carroll, Roy Carroll, Troy Carroll,
Charles Cross, Horace Cross, Charles Duster, Jr., Jon Duster, Carlla
Franklin, Connie Hicks, Cecelia Hunt, Marin Heiskell, Michael Heiskell,
Nicole Porter, Charles Smith, Racheal Walker, and Patricia Woods.
And all of my wonderful friends: Debra Almgren-Horwitz, Kyra
Auslander, Lance Brown, Lemar Brown, Michael Brown, Stephanie Carr,

ix
x    Acknowledgements

Jennie Chen, Todd Cranford, Margaret Eaglin, Crystal Fencke, Robin

Florzak, Sophie Folly, Pat Fuller, Gina Gayle, Jeanne Gills, Carole
Green, Cheryl Green, Herb Hardwick, Deborah Hayden, Camilla
Hudson, Marilyn Jackson, Veronica Jenkins, Jen Cullerton Johnson,
Eric Kearney, Adrienne Lotson, Karyn Marsh, Ervin Martin, Rena
Henderson Mason, Adrienne McCue, Sonia Myrick, Tracey Newsome,
Christy Niezgodski, Jerome Ratliffe, Michael Ratliffe, Marvin Rochelle,
Alejandro Rodriguez, Tracey Salmon-Smith, Kenneth Scott, Howard
Shavers, Casey Smith, Trina Sotira, Daina Staisiunas, Paul Stoner.
Maurice Sykes, Julie Taylor, Bernard Turner, Ernestine Weaver, Chamille
Weddington, Ganiyu Williams, and Quentin Wyatt. Thank you for help-
ing me make it through this unforgettable six-year journey!
—Michelle Duster
At the beginning of our collaboration, Michelle Duster worked tire-
lessly with Rose and me on Michelle Obama’s Impact on African
American Women and Girls while simultaneously advocating to keep
her great-grandmother, anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells legacy alive.
When we began this book, Rose Thevenin and I longed silently and in
my case desperately for motherhood. With the books completion, Rose
and I are proud single mothers of feisty African American girls who
we will raise to aspire to greatness. I thank Michelle and Rose for their
friendship and their commitment to our book.
I am grateful to my father Clarence Henry Seniors for his unbend-
ing love, support and encouragement. I am grateful to the Virginia
Foundation for the Humanities for granting me space to think for
two years with the South Atlantic Humanities Faculty Fellow, South
Atlantic Humanities Award, and the sabbatical year. I would especially
like to thank Dr. Joanne Gabbin, Ann Spencer, Hillary Holladay, Jeanne
Nicholson Siler and Rob Vaughan for the awards. I am ever thank-
ful for my VFH friends Judy Moody and Jeanne Palin for their every-
day encouragement, supportive words and friendship. I would also
like to thank my VFH comrades for their friendship and conversations
Caroline R. Cades, Jeanne Siler, Elliott Majerczyk, Sarah McConnell,
Ramona Marcia, Jamal Millner, Diana Williams, Emily Gadek and Brigid
McCarthy. I am also ever appreciative of the fellows.
I want to express my gratitude to all the contributors, especially my
former Virginia Tech students graduate student Daveisha Gibson and
undergraduate students Suzannah Grace
 Acknowledgements    xi

Sese-khalid Jones, and Yasmine Huggins. I am so grateful to the

strong women who came before me, my mother Audrey Proctor Seniors
(deceased), my Aunt Doris Proctor, self-defense activist Mae Mallory and
her daughter educator/activist Patricia Oduba. I am also thankful for my
friends Verna Hampton, Antoinette Thomas, Charlotte Houston, Laura
Clark, Nadine Saxton, Adriene Hughes, Marianne Kubik, Nichole Rustin
Paschal, Janet Splitter, Keith Driver and Lucy. I am forever grateful and
thankful to my mentors and friends Dr. Gloria Dickinson (deceased),
Dr. Carole Boyce Davies, Dr. Carol Bailey and Dr. Joanne Gabbin.
—Paula Marie Seniors
I thank God for all His blessings. I thank my family whose love and sup-
port have brought me this far, Pierre, Regine, Mitchell, Nancy, Stanley,
Stella and Jeff. Mere words cannot adequately express how much you all
mean to me. A very, very special thanks to Regine, thanks for everything.
To my children whose beaming smiles light up my days, may this volume
inspire your journeys and pathways.
I would like to thank all of the people who taught me the histori-
an’s craft, and I remain humble and grateful for your guidance, encour-
agement and never-ending support especially the late Monroe Fordham,
Whittington B. Johnson, Wilma King, Darlene Clark Hine, Harry Reed,
Richard Thomas and the late Victor Barthelemy. I can never find enough
words to thank all of you for your never-ending faith in my work. My
most sincere thanks to Dr. David A. Carson, and the history and social
sciences departments at the State University College at Buffalo, the
University of Miami, and Michigan State University especially Leslie
Moch, Lewis Seigelbaum, Maxi Jackson and Patrick McConeghy.
Special thanks to William Perry, Robert Labadie and Thomas Bynum.
Special thanks to the MSU “crew” for your friendship and encour-
agement especially Marshanda Smith. Thanks to Karl S. Wright and
Mary Williams at Claflin University and a very special thanks to Sandra
Thompson, Monique Earl Lewis and my colleagues at Florida Memorial
University. Special thanks to the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. for
your sisterly love and strong support. To Beatrice Rabel, Yves Gachette
and Patricia Lieba, “ours” is one that has withstood the test of time.
I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank the men and
women of the U.S. military, thank you for all that you do to keep our
nation safe. My essay “A Quiet Story” is an attempt to illuminate some
xii    Acknowledgements

of your triumphs and hardships. A profound thanks to all military fami-

lies who sacrifice daily for our nation.
This book comes from a sphere of mutual admiration as we, the
authors embarked on a journey to record history. Thank you again to
Michelle Duster and Paula Marie Seniors.
—Rose C. Thevenin
 Contents

Part I Power

Queen of Grace and Power 3

Rhonda Gray

Power 5
Stenetta Anthony

Michelle Obama as an Administrator: Reflections 7

Barbara J. Edwards

First Ladies/First Wives, First Women Presidents: Sexuality,

Leadership and Power in the African Diaspora 11
Carole Boyce Davies

Michelle Obama and Black Women as Alchemists 29

Ruby Mendenhall

Michelle Obama: Flight vs. Fight 31

Yasmine Huggins

When and Where I Enter 43

Jasmine J. Wyatt

xiii
xiv    Contents

Part II Patriotism and Service

Dark and Lovely 53

Rhonda Gray

Mrs. Michelle Obama 55

Hazel Marie Harris Watson

Michelle Obama: American—Whether You Like It or Not 57

Michelle Duster

My Hero 79
Sandy Philippeaux

“A Quiet Untold Story of Profound Need”: The Activism,

Partnerships and Advocacy of First Lady Michelle Obama,
Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Military Families 81
Rose C. Thevenin

Celebrating African American Women Through Dance

at the White House 111
Daveisha Gibson

Let’s Move! with Michelle Obama 121

Rachelle J. Brunn-Bevel and Kristin Richardson

Striving in Style 153

Kenisha Coy

Part III Defying Stereotypes: Black Body,

Black Beauty & Motherhood

Unapologetic 157
Rhonda Gray

Michelle’s Arms 159

Verna Hampton
 Contents    xv

A Woman “Other Women Talk About”: Michelle Obama

and the “Looks” of First Black Ladyhood 161
Tiffany Austin

“Eating the Right Way”: Michelle Obama and Healthy

Habits 167
Maurisha Ebanks

Michelle Obama Raising Black Daughters to Be Magic 171

Duchess Harris and Avi Thomas

Reconfiguring Black Motherhood: Michelle Obama

and the “Mom-in-Charge Trope” 175
Paula Marie Seniors

The Beauty of Michelle Obama 209

Terra Renee

Michelle Obama: Marching to the Beat of Her Own

Strengths and Defying Negative Stereotypes Along the Way 213
Leah T. Johnson

Part IV Legacy

Dreams of a Wildflower 225

Rhonda Gray

A Free-Spirited Dream 227

Chamille Weddington

Black Girl Rocks: Michelle Obama, My Inspiration 229

Trishaun C. Hall

Downton (CR)Abbey: The First Lady, Hecklers

and the Demise of Decorum 233
Lisalyn R. Jacobs
xvi    Contents

Recipes for Michelle 241

Suzannah Grace Sese-khalid Jones

And Then There Was Michelle Obama: Reflections from

a Baby-Boomer Educator and a Millennial Young Woman 247
Michelle Howard-Vital and Madelyn G. Vital

Multiple Sclerosis: An Unintended Motivator for First Lady

Michelle Obama and Dr. Deidre Hill Butler 255
Deidre Hill Butler

Brown Girl Challenge 261

Clara B. Freeman

Part V Aftermath

Election 2016 and Michelle Obama 265

Patiqua Rolle

‘Living Outloud’: Michelle Obama and Election 2016 269

Rose C. Thevenin

A Title Removed: First Lady Michelle Obama Since Leaving

the White House 285
Charleigha P. Knowles

The Legacy of Michelle Obama Will Live on 287

Michelle Duster

You Dared 289

Michelle Duster

Conclusion 293

Index 295
 Notes on Contributors

Stenetta Anthony was born in Chicago, Illinois. She was an educator

of middle age students, before shifting to become a children’s author. As
a former educator her belief is that all children are capable of learning—
no matter, their physical, social, mental or psychological. Therefore,
Stenetta uses the foundation of her many years spent in the classroom
to engage, invite, educate and create material for children. Stenetta’s
favorite phrase derives from, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins, “In every job
that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and the
job’s a game.”
Tiffany Austin is an Assistant Professor of English at Florida Memorial
University. Her critical work has appeared in College Language
Association Journal and creative work in journals Obsidian, Callaloo
and Warpland. She recently had one of her poems accepted for pub-
lication in the “Black Poets Speak Out” issue of pluck! The Journal of
Affrilachian Arts and Culture. She also recently participated in the NEH
Summer Institute: Buddhist Asia. Austin received her B.A. in English
from Spelman College, JD from Northeastern University School of Law,
M.F.A. in creative writing from Chicago State University and Ph.D. in
English from Saint Louis University.
Rachelle J. Brunn-Bevel is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and
Anthropology at Fairfield University. Her research examines how stu-
dents’ race, ethnicity, class, gender and immigrant status intersect to

xvii
xviii    Notes on Contributors

influence their educational experiences and outcomes. She has published

her scholarship in several academic journals including the Du Bois Review:
Social Science Research on Race, Humanity & Society and Race and Social
Problems. She is the co-editor (with Dannielle Joy Davis and James L.
Olive) of Intersectionality in Educational Research (Stylus 2015).
Deidre Hill Butler, Ph.D. is a Black feminist scholar with womanist ten-
dencies whose work focuses on the intersections of race, gender and place.
Hill Butler recently curated two community engaged photograph exhibits
focusing on the revitalization of the Bordeaux neighborhood in Nashville,
Tennessee through Black women’s grassroots leadership. One of the
exhibits, “Revitalized Community: Bordeaux Since the 2010 flood,” was
installed at the Bordeaux Branch of the Nashville, Tennessee public library
and the other at the Schaffer Library at Union College. Hill Butler’s pub-
lications and teaching focus on Black women’s activism in social spaces;
the Black Baptist Church in New England; and blended families. She is an
Associate Professor of Sociology at Union College in Schenectady, NY.
Kenisha Coy is a multi-talented writer and impresario who currently
resides in Massachusetts. She believes her lifework is to serve through
the healing properties of art. She has been published in a variety of
publications, recognized for creative engagement and talents and has
collaborated with national business franchises to birth literacy and com-
munity engagement programs. Break Through Silence, a division within
her nonprofit, My CARE Initiative (Community, Arts, Research &
Education), has recently been granted a National Day of Recognition,
National G.O.E. (Growth. Overcome. Empower.) Day which connects
the arts as key to empowerment and healing from abuse and assault
trauma.
Dr. Carole Boyce Davies is a Distinguished Professor of Africana
Studies and English at Cornell University. The author of the prize-win-
ning Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life of Black Communist Claudia
Jones (2008) and the classic Black Women, Writing and Identity:
Migrations of the Subject (1994), her most recently published mono-
graph is Caribbean Space: Escape Routes from Twilight Zones (2013) deal-
ing with the issue of transnational migration and the internationalizing
of Caribbean culture. In addition to over a hundred journal essays, arti-
cles and encyclopedia entries, Dr. Carole Boyce Davies has also published
over twelve critical editions on African, African Diaspora and Caribbean
 Notes on Contributors    xix

literature and culture such including the 3-volume Encyclopedia of the

African Diaspora (2008). Her new project is a study of Black women
and political leadership in the African Diaspora. She is the recipient of
the 2017 Franz Fanon Lifetime Achievement Award from the Caribbean
Philosophical Association and the New York State African Studies
Association Distinguished Africanist Award for 2017.
Michelle Duster is an author, speaker and educator who teaches writ-
ing at Columbia College Chicago. She co-edited and contributed to
Shifts: An Anthology of Women’s Growth Through Change (2015), final-
ist for 2015 USA Book News Award and 2016 Indie Book Award. She
also co-wrote the popular children’s history book Tate and His Historic
Dream (2015), finalist for the 2015 Phillis Wheatley Book Award for
young readers. Duster has written articles, essays and compiled two
books that include the original writing of her great-grandmother, Ida
B. Wells—journalist, civil rights activist and suffragist: Ida From Abroad
(2010) and Ida In Her Own Words (2008). She contributed to the
books In Spite of the Double Drawbacks: African American Women in
History and Culture (2012) and Women Building Chicago 1790–1990:
A Biographical Dictionary (2001). Born and raised on the Southside of
Chicago, she is a product of the Chicago public school system and grad-
uated from Whitney M. Young High School in 1981. She earned her
B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH and her
M.A. in Media Studies from The New School in New York City.
Maurisha Ebanks was born and raised in Groveland, Cleveland. She is a
graduate of East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida. She is attend-
ing Florida Memorial University where she is enrolled in the Honors
Program with a major in Social Work. She is a Dean’s List student, peer
educator for Healthy Life Choices and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority Inc. and the Queen Club of 1964 Inc.
Dr. Barbara J. Edwards served as a Cabinet level administrator at
Florida Memorial University for over twenty-six years. As Vice President
for Development, she planned and conducted a $35 million Capital
Campaign and was invited to be a presenter at the Oxford Round Table
in Oxford, England. Since 2011, Dr. Edwards has assumed the posi-
tion of Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business.
Dr. Edwards received a D.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL and both a M.B.A. and B.B.A. from Bernard M. Baruch
College of the City University of NY.
xx    Notes on Contributors

Clara B. Freeman born and raised in Mississippi, is an activist, poet

and former nurse. She is author of the popular eBook, My Authentic
Woman Story (2011) and Unleash Your Pearls Empowering Women’s
Voices (2016). Her work has appeared in anthologies, magazines and
other publications, including Black Lives Have Always Mattered (2017),
Chicago Magazine, Bronze Magazine, Me! Magazine and the Chicago
Bulletin Newspapers. She is currently working on a chapbook of personal
and socially conscious poems. For more about Clara’s work, visit her
weblog at http://wisewoman2.wordpress.com.
Daveisha Gibson holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education
(Towson University) and Master of Fine Arts in Theatre (Virginia Tech).
Her artistic career centers on the acquisition of social and political jus-
tice through artistic expression, activism and culture. She studied with
Ann Kilkelly, Baakari Wilder, Sylvia Soumah, Nikki Giovanni, Charles
Dye and Legacy Arts Ensemble. Her career highlights include Going To
Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project with Rada Film Group (production
assistant), city festivals, educational programs and social awareness cam-
paigns. Driven by a commitment to the storytelling potential within the
young, Daveisha works as an artrepreneur in Washington, DC.
Rhonda Gray is a visual artist who works in oil, acrylics, sand, sequins,
molding compounds, specialty and other mixed media. The subjects in
her portraits reflect personal journey and are inspired by Afro-magical
realism and Africana Womanism. Her work unearths a visceral confron-
tation between stereotypical ideologies and images of Black women with
the reassertion of self-love and self-worth. Rhonda Gray’s work has been
exhibited in several solo and group gallery shows. It has been collected
internationally. She has led several public art murals working with pro-
fessional and student artists. As a dedicated educator, Rhonda has taught
art and history in Chicago area schools for several years.
Cheryl Green is a New York City-based artist who has had a success-
ful freelance career as an Art Director for Conde Nast, Women’s Wear
Daily, Clarins, Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein, Cablevision, Madison Square
Garden, NBC and Comedy Central. In addition, she has served on the
Board of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NY
Emmy Awards). Early in her artistic development, she studied commercial
art, color theory, watercolor, paper sculpture, photography and advertis-
ing art. She learned the creative business of advertising at the age of 17 at
 Notes on Contributors    xxi

Lord, Geller, Federico, Einstein Inc., and worked on Bankers Trust and
Citibank accounts. Cheryl earned her B.F.A. in Communication Design
from the Parsons School of Design where she also studied Art History
while honing her fine art skills studying color theory, life drawing, com-
position and photography. She is currently the Creative Director of Green
Creative Group, LLC. www.cherylgreendesign.com.
Trishaun C. Hall was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Fort.
Lauderdale, Florida. She graduated from Deerfield Beach High School
and is currently enrolled at Florida Memorial University majoring in
Social Work with a minor in Psychology. She is very active in many social
service organizations and plans to attend graduate school to be a clin-
ical/mental health social worker. She hopes to establish a non-profit
organization for young women focusing on providing access to psy-
chological services for young women who need additional tools and
resources to live a prosperous life.
Verna Hampton is an artist/activist and native of Boston who started
her New York career when renowned professor and acting coach, Susan
Batson, sent her to Director Marvin “Pancho” Felix Camillo and The
Family Repertory Company. Verna credits the beginning of her artistic
growth to the in-depth, professional training she received from the “La
Familia” workshops, their award-winning performances and Joe Papp’s
Public Theater.
Verna is a professional actress, singer and teaching artist who devel-
ops educational and community programming—utilizing multi-media
theater, writing and music. Verna has been commissioned to write several
plays for community, educational and performance institutions through-
out the USA—garnering her, among others, the first Anne Frank Spirit
Award for Education. She has written for television and radio.
Since its inception, Verna has written and presented several perfor-
mances at the New York City La MaMa E.T.C. “Poetry Electric” series.
She has performed throughout the USA, Europe and the Caribbean.
She appears frequently on the New York stage—in dramas, musicals and
comedies.
Duchess Harris is a Professor and Chair of the American Studies
Department at Macalester College. She is the author of several books
including, Black Feminist Politics from Kennedy to Obama (Palgrave
Macmillan). She is also the curator of the Duchess Harris Collection,
xxii    Notes on Contributors

which is a book line that produces social justice books for 3–12 grad-
ers with ABDO Publishing. Professor Harris earned her Doctorate
in American Studies from the University of Minnesota and her Juris
Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law. She is married to Jon
Thomas, and together they have two sons and a daughter who embodies
Black Girl Magic.
Dr. Michelle Howard-Vital is a long-time educator and adminis-
trator in higher education, currently serving as the Interim President
of Florida Memorial University. Dr. Howard-Vital was born and
educated in Chicago and has worked in four states: Illinois, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania and Florida. Dr. Howard-Vital is also a former
President of Cheyney University, Interim Chancellor of Winston-Salem
State University, Associate Vice President for the University of North
Carolina System at its General Administration and Vice Chancellor for
Public Service/Associate Provost at the University of North Carolina at
Wilmington. Dr. Howard-Vital has co-authored various book chapters,
articles, reviews and professional papers.
Yasmine Huggins was born in Lynchburg, VA. She attended Virginia
Tech in Blacksburg, VA, and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science
and a minor in Sociology. Currently, she is a graduate student in School
Counseling at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She aims
to help African American high school students attain higher education
or develop skills necessary in the workforce and life. Yasmine has deep
interests in social justice for those less heard. This has led Yasmine to join
local organizations and community discussions aimed at developing solu-
tions for the betterment of African American residents in Charlotte, NC.
Lisalyn R. Jacobs is the CEO of Just Solutions: Bringing in justice to
counteract injustice and the former V.P. (for 13 years) of Government
Relations for Legal Momentum (formerly NOW Legal Defense &
Education Fund). She advises clients on a variety of issues, including:
campus sexual assault, workplace, and other protections for survivors of
sexual and domestic violence, and stalking, racial equity, criminal justice,
and policing reform, and the intersections of many of these issues. She has
testified before congressional committees at both the state and federal lev-
els. Twitter: @LRockL, Blog: https://followthetangerineroad.wordpress.
Leah T. Johnson is co-founder and editor of ColorBlind Magazine
(colorblindmagazine.com) which debuted in 2012. It is a quarterly
 Notes on Contributors    xxiii

online e-zine dedicated to enlightening, encouraging and empower-

ing teen girls and women. She also manages two blogs: “Leah Figures
It Out” (leahtjohnson.wordpress.com) where she writes about topics
including life, women and culture and shares her love for food and shoes
at (brunchandpumps.wordpress.com). Aside from writing, Leah loves
spending time with her husband and family, cooking, reading, dancing
and traveling.
She earned her B.A. in Communication and minored in Psychology
and African & African American Studies at the University of Michigan-
Dearborn.
Suzannah Grace Sese-khalid Jones believes life should be enjoyed and
fulfilling. The cookbook “Recipes for Michelle” is a reflection of her pas-
sion for health and wellness. Beginning as a child, health was a journey
toward balance and understanding. Understanding of her relationship
with food and habits that encouraged self-esteem. Grace is currently pur-
suing a career in communication for the ability to provide her community
with the opportunities to be informed and discover health and wellness.
For four years, Grace served within the New River Valley, while acquir-
ing a bachelor’s in Business from Virginia Tech. There she discovered a
passion for women’s history and wellness. The introduction to Africana
and Women’s history courses broadened her understanding of commu-
nity service into a calling for women’s advocacy. Grace hopes her legacy
will be to curate for Women’s Museums, after working with community
organizations and government programs. She is currently working on a
Web specialist certification while working at the Office of Veteran Affairs,
at Tidewater Community College. Her personal projects include manag-
ing a health and wellness website, http://suzannah5.wixsite.com/secret-
lifeofbees and creating Web art celebrating women’s history.
Charleigha P. Knowles is a sophomore at Florida Memorial University
and was born in Miami Florida raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama,
Bahamas. She attended Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy in the
Bahamas focusing on accounting, economics and music and sports. She is
a finance major, minoring in music at FMU. She is a member of the FMU
Honors Council and the Vice-President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Ruby Mendenhall is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign in Sociology, African American Studies, Urban
and Regional Planning and Social Work. She is a Faculty Affiliate at the
xxiv    Notes on Contributors

Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Institute for Computing
in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She received the Richard
and Margaret Romano Professorial Scholar for outstanding achievements
in research and leadership. Mendenhall’s research focuses on understand-
ing the lived experiences of Black women and the consequences of racial
oppression on mental and physical health using census data, surveys,
in-depth interviews, topic modeling and visualizations.
Sandy Philippeaux was born and raised in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, and
migrated to the state of Florida at the age of thirteen, in search of a bet-
ter education. She is a graduate of North Miami Senior high school.
In 2016, she graduated (Magna Cum Laude) from Florida Memorial
University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in
Chemistry. She currently teaches biology and volunteers in many differ-
ent hospitals. She is very passionate about public health and medicine
and hopes to earn a Master’s degree in Public health to fulfill her dream
of becoming an OB-GYN.
Terra Renee is Founder and President of African American Women In
Cinema Organization, Inc. For the past 20 years, Terra has utilized her
strong background in filmmaking to serve as a continuous support for
the vibrant work of women. She studied filmmaking at Tisch School of
the Arts (NYU) and film directing at the School of Visual Arts. She is
a recipient of many awards including the NAACP Woman of the Year,
the Bill McCreary Living Legend Award and the Bridge Builder Award
from the United African Coalition. She sits on the American Diabetes
Association Committee and the Executive Board of UNESCO NYS.
Kristin Richardson is a Visiting Professor of Sociology at Hollins
University in Roanoke, Virginia. She also teaches courses on Social Justice
and Peace and Violence at Roanoke College and Virginia Tech. Kristin
earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Virginia Tech in 2016, with an empha-
sis in Criminology and a Graduate Certificate in Race and Social Policy.
Patiqua Rolle was born and raised in New Providence, Bahamas. She
graduated from Jordan Prince William High School and is currently
enrolled in the Honors Program at Florida Memorial University major-
ing in sociology. She is the President of FMU’s Sociology Club and a
member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. In addition to the Dean’s
List, she was awarded the most outstanding student in the Social
Sciences Department at FMU.
 Notes on Contributors    xxv

Dr. Paula Marie Seniors is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies,

Virginia Tech, and the biographer of her family’s legacy Mae Mallory,
the Monroe Defense Committee and World Revolutions: African American
Women Radical Activists (1956–1987), University of Georgia Press,
forthcoming 2018. Seniors won the Letitia Woods Brown Memorial
Prize, Association of Black Women Historians for Beyond Lift Every Voice
and Sing: The Culture of Uplift, Identity and Politics in Black Musical
Theater, Ohio State University Press, 2009. Other publications include
“Most Influential Black Artists in Musical Theatre,” Virginia Tech
Magazine, January 2016, “Mae Mallory” and “The Monroe Defense
Committee,” Black Power Encyclopedia, Akinyele Umoja, Editor,
Greenwood Publishing, 2018; “Mae Mallory and the Southern Belle
Fantasy Trope,” From Uncle Tom’s Cabin to The Help, Palgrave (2014);
and “Bob Cole’s “Colored Man’s Declaration of Independence and
Black Broadway: The Case of Cole and Johnson’s Shoo Fly Regiment
and George C. Wolfe’s Shuffle Along,” Routledge Companion to African
American Theatre and Performance, 2018.
Dr. Rose C. Thevenin is an Associate Professor of History at Florida
Memorial University where she served as Coordinator of the his-
tory program and College Historian. Her degrees include a Ph.D.
in American History from Michigan State University and an M.A. in
American History from the University of Miami. She served as National
Vice-Director, Southern Regional Director and Parliamentarian of
the Association of Black Women Historians and is the Co-founder and
Coordinator of Academic Institutions of the Florida Africana Studies
Consortium (FLASC). She was a visiting scholar at Harvard University
and a visiting fellow at Columbia University and the Rockefeller Archive
Center. She is the co-editor of the three volumes Encyclopedia of the
African Diaspora and is at work on books about the Black Panther Party
and Florida history. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and
has won numerous awards and fellowships for scholarship, leadership and
community service. She is a native of Haiti.
Avi Thomas is in 8th grade. She made the High Honor Roll with a
3.7 GPA, and she plays on the volleyball team. She dreams of attend-
ing UCLA to study business. Although Avi loves California, one of her
favorite trips was to Washington D.C. to see the National Museum of
African American History and Culture with her Mom. Avi enjoys music
and has played piano since she was four years old. She also likes art, and
xxvi    Notes on Contributors

her favorite subjects are math and science. She has taken a few acting
classes and likes that people think that she is slightly “dramatic.”
Madelyn G. Vital is an aspiring food, environmental and social justice
advocate with a J.D. and a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy
from Vermont Law School. Like Michelle Obama and her parents,
Madelyn was also born in Chicago, but now calls North Carolina home.
Madelyn is honored to help celebrate Michelle Obama’s dignity, perse-
verance and achievements with her mother and many other impressive
women in this wonderful collection. Obama’s groundbreaking, com-
manding, yet graceful presence as the F.L.O.T.U.S. especially in spear-
heading the needed national Let’s Move! campaign to reduce childhood
obesity and promote a healthier future continues to inspire Madelyn’s
career.
Hazel Marie Harris Watson, RN is a retired Registered Nurse
who graduated from Kings County Hospital Center School of Nursing.
She grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and has lived in Roosevelt, NY, for over
forty years. She is a member of numerous creative writing groups on
Long Island. Her writings have appeared in Musings of Maturity and
Grist for the Mill publications. Hazel has spoken at numerous civic and
church events. She describes herself as a closet scribe who loves words.
Her retirement has allowed her to pursue this passion.
Chamille Weddington is a marketing consultant who specializes in
promotion conceptualization, management and execution. She is also
an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Columbia College Chicago
where she teaches several business courses in the college’s Business
& Entrepreneurship Department. In her commitment to teaching,
Chamille has formerly worked as a substitute instructor with the Chicago
Public Schools and has had the opportunity to teach hundreds of stu-
dents across various educational levels and socioeconomic backgrounds,
having taught general studies to children as well as business concepts to
adult learners. As a social entrepreneur, she is co-founder of LifeVine
Works, a non-profit organization that teaches teens the arts and sciences
through dynamic job and service learning programs. In her spare time,
she is a docent and driver of the mobile museum for the DuSable
Museum of African American History.
Jasmine J. Wyatt is a Legislative Correspondent for the US Senate
Democratic Whip, Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), and Vice President
 Notes on Contributors    xxvii

of the Council of American Ambassadors Alumni Association. In the

past, Ms. Wyatt served as a Council on Foreign Relations Franklin
Williams Fellow and a Public Affairs Assistant at the State Department
working on strategies to communicate the importance of foreign policy
to the American people. An aspiring Foreign Service Officer, Ms. Wyatt
hopes to use diplomacy as her platform to advocate for global human
rights. In May 2015, she earned her B.A. in Government and South
Asian Studies and a Spanish Language Citation from Harvard University.
 Introduction

In January 2009, African American attorney Michelle Obama—a grad-

uate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School—became the
First African American First Lady of the USA. Such an accomplish-
ment marked a victorious triumph after a very contentious presiden-
tial campaign where she appeared on the campaign trail to support her
husband as they fought for the Democratic presidential nomination,
followed by an arduous challenge from Republican presidential nomi-
nee Arizona Senator John McCain. Considering America’s long history
of racial, political and economic inequality, the Obama election was not
only historic but also represented hope, a pillar of the Obama campaign.
Considering that over fifty years before African Americans experienced
enormous levels of violence, hostility and destruction in our struggle for
equality, Obama’s position of power represented progress. As many cele-
brated, regardless of race, class, gender and sexuality, Michelle Obama’s
first lady status caused indignation from those who wanted to maintain
White supremacist hegemonic norms and could not accept an African
American First Lady representing the USA on a world stage. The main
argument of this book is that First Lady Michelle Obama gradually
expanded and broadened her role by engaging in social, political and
economic activities which directly and indirectly impacted the lives of
the American people. This book does not merely compliment, but eval-
uates the First Lady’s overall impact through several media in the book
­including original artwork and poetry.

xxix
xxx    Introduction

As First Lady, Michelle Obama’s status was indeed unprecedented,

especially given her unmistakable brown skin, her open discussion of her
heritage as the descendant of slaves and her modest working-class back-
ground. Ultimately, her story embodied the “American Dream.” Because
of this, she drew enormous attention. Black and White-owned fashion
magazines featured affirming images of Obama on their covers; she
appeared regularly on television, and people dedicated websites such as
Michelle O which followed her fashion style. Obama also faced a barrage
of negative media representation and criticism. The July 21, 2008, issue
of The New Yorker featured her on the cover as an Afro-wearing mas-
culinized terrorist, and the media and others used coded language that
defined her as an “Angry Black woman.”
Because of her Blackness and working-class status, because she
was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago and attended public
schools, many felt she did not belong on the campaign trail and certainly
not in the White House. She aptly noted:

The truth is, I’m not supposed to be standing here. I am a statistical odd-
ity. Black girl, brought up on the South Side of Chicago. Was I supposed
to go to Princeton? No. They said maybe Harvard Law was too much for
me to reach for. But I went, I did fine.1

Obama blazed trails as First Lady, as wife, mother, daughter and sister.
She emerged as the quintessential ideal for African American girls and
women. Thus, this volume captures a multitude of voices to answer the
overarching question, how the visibility of First Lady Michelle Obama
impacted African American women and girls.
Despite her popularity, the First Lady was attacked for her body, her
speech, her facial expressions, her education, her career, her dress, her hair
and even her thoughts. And we noticed that during her time in the White
House the popularity of books and films which maintained stereotypi-
cal renderings of African American women and girls like The Butler, The
Help, The Secret Life of Bees and The Long Walk Home embodied a com-
mon theme of subservience. Michelle Duster stumbled upon the Spanish
magazine cover Fuera de Serie which juxtaposed the image of First Lady
Michelle Obama to an 1800 artwork by artist Marie-Guillemine Benoist.
The painting, “Portrait D’une Negresse” depicted an African slave woman
in France with a White head dress and cloth baring her breast. However,
in the twenty-first century, this painting elicited various responses. Duster
decided to send out a note to other African American women to see if they
had the same reaction that she did.
 Introduction    xxxi

“I seriously need to share this with people who might be able to respond
to this. If you haven’t seen it, AND it’s truly the cover of a magazine…
What can we as African American women do to respond? I think this por-
trayal of our First Lady, Michelle Obama is the most offensive thing I’ve
seen in a LONG time! Has any other First Lady in the history of our coun-
try EVER been portrayed like this? Would they ever do anything like this
in the name of “artistic expression” to an image of Queen Elizabeth?”…..
I can’t imagine the eternally revered and beloved First Lady Jacqueline
Kennedy and other First Ladies being portrayed in such an incendiary
manner.
—Michelle Duster, letter to the members of The Association of Black
Women Historians (2012)

The “Portrait D’une Négresse” spoke volumes in a politically charged

America and was interpreted by some as an effort to dehumanize, objec-
tify and malign African American women under the guise of “creative
license.” First Lady Michelle Obama rose above the fray and did not
address the maligning of her beauty, her womanhood or her character,
but we could not be silent. The foundation of Michelle Obama’s Impact
on African American Women and Girls culminated out of Duster’s
emotional response to this insulting portrayal. She sent out this call to
action to The Association of Black Women Historians, and we, Rose C.
Thevenin, who was the National Vice-Director of the ABWH, and Paula
Marie Seniors, answered. We talked and expressed our feelings concern-
ing what this image meant and more importantly what did the image of
First Lady Michelle Obama mean to young Black women and girls.
Through this book, we decided to embark on a journey. As African
American women, educators, writers, artists, poets and leaders, we would
express our concerns and define ourselves. We channeled our concerns
into a constructive mechanism, this book, Michelle Obama’s Impact on
African American Women and Girls. This book draws from a statement
that Michelle Obama made:

“I started thinking about the fact that I went to some of the best schools
in the country and I have no idea what I want to do,” she says. “That kind
of stuff got me worked up because I thought, “This isn’t education. You
can make money and have a nice degree. But what are you learning about
giving back to the world, and finding your passion and letting that guide
you, as opposed to the school you got into?”2
—Michelle Obama
xxxii    Introduction

This book tells the stories of African American women and girls told
by them. We need to own our voices and our stories. We attempted to
fill the void in the majority of the books and magazine articles about
Michelle Obama which were written by White women and men, while
our voices—African American women—were muted and limited.
Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls recti-
fies this, by following in the tradition of African American and Ethnic
Studies publications which sought to include all members of the African
American community; this interdisciplinary book includes contributors
from all walks of life, ages and classes, normal everyday African American
girls and women, artists and creative and academics writers.
Part I “Power” sets the tone for the book by exploring Michelle
Obama’s power as the proud descendent of slaves, a lawyer and an
administrator. This chapter examines her as the First African American
First Lady and as an advocate for African American girls, women and the
undeserved. Ultimately, this chapter looks at her as a role model.
Part II “Patriotism and Service” explores the grace of Obama as a
patriot and in service to all people. It remedies negative ascriptions of
her, examines her military families and veterans’ initiatives, her healthy
eating and body campaigns Let’s Move and African American girls danc-
ing at the White House, and it explores her education initiatives as inspi-
rational to immigrant college women.
Part III “Defying Stereotypes: Black Body, Black Beauty &
Motherhood” examines how Michelle Obama defied stereotypes. It investi-
gates her body positive physicality and beauty, her inspiration to young girls
and college women to eat healthy foods and exercise. This chapter investi-
gates her use of the White House Garden as inspiration for the Black femi-
nine aesthetic body perfect and her Mom-in-Charge persona in the face of
White supremacist criticism of her choice to mother her own children.
Part IV “Legacy” captures her free spirit, her appearances on Black
Girls Rock, which compelled young African American girls and women
to stand proud in their Blackness and reach their goals. It explores
African American women who share connecting fibers with Obama edu-
cationally and through the shared experience of having a disabled parent
who compelled their children to reach for academic stars, and it looks
at Obama’s defense of herself against hecklers who discard decorum ala
Downton Abbey TV style.
Part V “Aftermath” focuses on Michelle Obama’s activities on the
campaign trail during election 2016 and the post-2016 election efforts
 Introduction    xxxiii

to dismantle Michelle Obama’s legacy. It also includes reactions to the

elections by young women to the fact that the Obamas left the White
House and were replaced by Donald J. Trump and his wife, Slovenian
model and businesswoman Melania Trump. The last chapter captures
the sentiment that the dignity, brilliance and class of Michelle Obama
will shine brighter as time passes. It also includes reflections from the
authors. The volume ends with a poem about how Michelle Obama
dared to strive for more than most people assume African Americans
should want while she faced her critics with dignity and pride.
By no means does this book represent all African American women
or all women of African descent, given our diversity and differing inter-
pretations, reactions and opinions concerning Michelle Obama and
Black women’s experience. Our volume addresses the social, economic
and political inequities as refracted through Michelle Obama’s portrayal
and treatment by the media. Although the political and racial stereotypes
of the First Lady are scrutinized, this book contains an interdisciplinary
evaluation of the local, national and international activism and visibility
of First Lady Michelle Obama. By combining artwork, poetry, personal
essays and academic essays, we argue that there is physical, spiritual and
political meaning to First Lady Michelle Obama. Our book is a canvas
for framing not only her life, but also her activities and overall local,
national and international impact.
Michelle Obama’s White House years inspired generations and filled
those who paved the way with a sense of accomplishment. First Lady
Michelle Obama served as more than a symbol or an image; and she car-
ried the torch to inspire and sustain generations of African American girls
and women.

Michelle Duster
Paula Marie Seniors
Rose C. Thevenin

Notes
1. Newsweek, February 25, 2008.
2. Richard Wolfe, “Who Is Michelle Obama,” Newsweek, February 16, 2008,
http://www.newsweek.com/who-michelle-obama-94161.
PART I

Power
 Queen of Grace and Power

Rhonda Gray

Artist Statement
This image forges a woman symbolizing Michelle Obama, reflecting the
virtues of graceful womanhood and femininity while being strong and
powerful. This encompassing collection of traits allows her to effectively
service herself, family and community with healthy balance and flow
(Fig. 1).

R. Gray (*)
Triton College, Chicago, IL, USA

© The Author(s) 2018 3

M. Duster et al. (eds.), Michelle Obama’s Impact
on African American Women and Girls,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92468-7_1
4 R. GRAY

Fig. 1 Queen of Grace and Power, Rhonda Gray, Mixed Media, Canvas,
18" × 24"
 Power

Stenetta Anthony

Power can be heard in a still small voice

Echoing throughout the four corners of the earth
Bringing comfort, peace and humility to those it meets.
Power is a strong tower built on the shoulders of men and
women who define a nation.
Power is being still and letting others observe your beauty and
strength.
Power is engaging in the most minimal task seen by others,
but launching others into their destiny.
Power is holding hands with someone who’s mourning.
Power is being a First Lady, wife, mother and voice to a nation of
women
Where power is shown in not only one’s outward appearance but in
the stature
of being the First Lady of the United States.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama echoed power in everything she
did whether great or small
producing timeless power that will transcend time.

S. Anthony (*)
National Health and Wellness Program for Academic
Community, Chicago, IL, USA

© The Author(s) 2018 5

M. Duster et al. (eds.), Michelle Obama’s Impact
on African American Women and Girls,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92468-7_2
 Michelle Obama as an Administrator:
Reflections

Barbara J. Edwards

Before she became the nation’s First Lady, Michelle Obama was an
administrator at the University of Chicago. She was the Associate Dean
of Student Services at the University of Chicago in 1996 and helped to
develop the university’s community center. She was promoted in 2002 as
Executive Director for Community Affairs for the University of Chicago
Hospitals and promoted again in 2005 to Vice-President for Community
and External Affairs. Such administrative promotions speak volumes
about her strong track record of achievement and overall effectiveness
as a leader. Generally speaking, the Dean of Student Services has respon-
sibility for all aspects of student life other than operational and aca-
demic. It would include such areas as: residential life, student activities/
organizations, health and safety issues, counselling and handling discipli-
nary problems.
Her overall experience in such positions demonstrates her ability to
multitask and simultaneously motivates other individuals and depart-
ments to work collaboratively with her and share her vision. As a leader,
she succeeded in influencing others to implement a shared vision and

B. J. Edwards (*)
Florida Memorial University, Miramar, FL, USA

© The Author(s) 2018 7

M. Duster et al. (eds.), Michelle Obama’s Impact
on African American Women and Girls,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92468-7_3
8 B. J. EDWARDS

plan for positive change and growth. In order for an administrator to

survive in any organization, it is critical to understand the culture and
who the power players are within the system. Our former First Lady
Michelle Obama mastered these skills by being professional, respon-
sive, authentic and flexible. Before she became our First Lady, Michelle
Obama mastered the political skills necessary to be an effective leader.
Too often, it is difficult for those in administrative positions not
to cross the line especially when you are passionate about what you
are doing. Such an obstacle was not a factor for the former First Lady
Michelle Obama because of her ability to rally those around her to
achieve many results for many constituencies especially children, veterans
and women around the world. Having served in a number of administra-
tive capacities helped her to develop her agenda as First Lady. The same
way she succeeded mobilizing troops of co-workers and organizations to
implement her programs at the University of Chicago, and University of
Chicago Medical Center, she galvanized the nation to address childhood
obesity, education, veteran and family affairs globally. Her passion and
dedication to improving the lives of the people she serves was just as evi-
dent in her role of First Lady. As a result, she was able to carve out a
niche for the legacy she wanted to leave behind in support of her hus-
band, Former President Barack Obama.
Black women administrators face various challenges on a college cam-
pus which are not visible and accessible to others. It is critically impor-
tant for Black women administrators to be professional in everything
they do if they are to be taken seriously. They must dress professionally,
communicate effectively and be very results oriented to win the respect
of others. In most instances, Black women administrators serve as role
models whether they think so or not. It is not enough to talk the talk,
you must walk it also. Former First Lady Michelle Obama is the epit-
ome of professionalism and class and also results-driven. She delivered on
promises made to the communities she served which built her credibility
and a reputation of respect and caring. The most important aspect of her
experience was her ability to develop partnerships in the communities she
served especially organizations with similar missions and goals.
Her background as a lawyer proved to be very useful in the position
she held in Student Services. Her exceptional communication and inter-
personal skills were key to handling the plethora of competing demands.
Mrs. Obama had to also use her organizational skills in order to prior-
itize what was most important in light of the many interruptions she
 MICHELLE OBAMA AS AN ADMINISTRATOR: REFLECTIONS 9

encountered on a daily basis. To be the wife of one of the most pow-

erful men in the world, raise two beautiful daughters, and still be able
to be the drum major and advocate for healthy living, education world-
wide and caring for veterans and their families is quite remarkable. Her
role required the ability to handle a multitude of tasks at the same time
and also have a strong support system. Mrs. Obama’s mother, whom she
says is her role model, was her secret weapon keeping her focused and
grounded as to what was really important.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is a woman of high moral char-
acter and faith. She leads by example as demonstrated by her commit-
ment to making the world a better place for all women and girls. She was
very strategic in developing and implementing her goals as First Lady by
mobilizing a cadre of people, organizations and partnerships to imple-
ment her various agendas. Such accomplishments demonstrate her mas-
tery of the politics within any organization especially the White House.
Too often, the overall professional experiences of former First Lady
Michelle Obama are briefly mentioned. I think it is important to remem-
ber her overall professional skills and leadership style before she became
our First Lady. She is a role model not only for young girls, but also for
African American professional women.
 First Ladies/First Wives, First Women
Presidents: Sexuality, Leadership and Power
in the African Diaspora

Carole Boyce Davies

First Wives/First Ladies

In beginning to approach this topic, I googled “African first ladies” and
was rewarded with a wide array of images from which to choose. For this
paper, suffice it to say that if we broaden the lens beyond hegemonic
readings of the USA, the idea or presence of a Black First Lady does not
originate with Michelle Obama. Indeed, the recent passing of Nelson
Mandela, revealed the larger intent of my argument in actually present-
ing two grieving “first ladies”—Winnie Mandela and Graca Michel.1 And
during her last visit to Africa, Michelle Obama was photographed with
other African first ladies at the African First Ladies Summit: “Investing
in Women: Strengthening Africa,” in Dar es Salaam on July 2, 2013.2
According to the report, “The first ladies of Ethiopia, Mozambique,
South Africa, and Tanzania were all on hand, according to Voice of
America, with more expected later in the conference.” While first ladies,

C. B. Davies (*)
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

© The Author(s) 2018 11

M. Duster et al. (eds.), Michelle Obama’s Impact
on African American Women and Girls,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92468-7_4
12 C. B. DAVIES

though often powerful women themselves access power through mar-

riage to a man who becomes president or prime minister, there is a grow-
ing body of women writing of their own experiences of engagement with
power, as first woman presidents or prime ministers themselves. This
paper addresses issues of leadership in two different arenas: the first wife
pathway to leadership; the rise of women as presidents themselves. It also
examines issues of sexuality in the construction of both versions of Black
women’s political leadership.
A few years ago, I wrote a review essay of Tony Martin’s Amy
Ashwood Garvey, Pan-Africanist, Feminist and Mrs. Garvey No. 1
or a Tale of Two Amies (Majority Press, 2007)3 in which I made the
bold claim that given the kind of work that the two Garvey wives did,
Garveyism had to be seen not just as the “philosophy and opinions of
Marcus Garvey”: but indeed the entire package of activities engaged
by Garvey plus the contending ideas of his wives. Wife No. 1, Amy
Ashwood Garvey is identified by Martin as a co-founder and co-builder
of the UNIA; Wife no. 2, Amy Jacques Garvey, was the major source of
the documentation of his philosophy and ideas. Since there is no auto-
biography of Amy Ashwood Garvey or Amy Jacques Garvey, they both
remain constructed by those who describe their lives often from the
point of view of the husband.4
Amy Ashwood operating independently would subsequently also lay
out an elaborate project for studying the African Woman, with a section
on African woman’s leadership in traditional structures.5 Making con-
nections with African communities of women worldwide and creating
alliances would be one of her principal activist strategies. Amy Jacques
Garvey wrote and published The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus
Garvey,6 and is said to have crafted many of the speeches herself. During
Marcus’s struggles with the concocted mail fraud charge and his sub-
sequent incarceration, Amy Jacques assumed leadership of the UNIA
and became at times the face of the movement. Because she lived some
thirty years longer, she was able as well to define in many ways what the
movement sought to achieve. We observe from both women two distinct
approaches to women’s leadership, but in the end, both did the organi-
zational work that is often needed to maintain a credible public presenta-
tion which is often seen as the embodiment of leadership.
Men who were leaders of major nationalist movements throughout
the twentieth century often had wives/women who were ideologically
in tune with their various projects. Since women’s contribution in that
 FIRST LADIES/FIRST WIVES, FIRST WOMEN PRESIDENTS … 13

period was often taken for granted, it made it easy for them to be writ-
ten out of history. Additionally, sexuality has always figured in the con-
struction of these women, either in relation to the men in their lives or
to their demise as the Amy Ashwood/Amy Jacques Garvey or Shirley
Graham DuBois’s stories indicate. The more recent and similar experi-
ence of Winnie Mandela demonstrates well how the assumptions are that
women should wait even for twenty-seven years, faithfully while their
men are absent, and that if they do not, the punishments and public cen-
sure can be harsh.7 On the other hand, if they exercised leadership for
the same twenty-seven years, it can be discounted or trivialized based
on sexuality. The difference was that Mrs. Mandela waited 27 years, but
through it all created a movement in her husband’s name which in many
ways almost destroyed her given the activist choices that were made in
the face of the world’s last and most horrendous system of oppression—
apartheid. Women still end up being defined more by their sexuality
than by their political contributions unless these are recovered and made
meaningful by other thinking individuals.8
So I was pleased to have the opportunity to read an autobiography by
Beverly Anderson Manley who was married to Michael Manley, Prime
Minister of Jamaica from 1972 to 1980 and from 1989 to 1992. By
writing her own story and boldly calling it The Manley Memoirs, she chal-
lenges the idea of male leadership as the only story and can also be seen
in the context of a Black woman writing herself into history.
In my reading of The Manley Memoirs, presents one of the first ver-
sions of a Black First Lady not at all self-effacing but a “self identified in
resistance to colonial/patriarchal order.”9 Theorists in the writing of auto-
biography say that women who do not write their stories are consigned
to silence in the scripts of others. Women who write their life stories then
challenge erasure, silencing and the constructions of others as they delib-
erately practice the art of self-revelation. Thus, Beverly Anderson Manley’s
Memoirs does and more. She provides us important understandings of her
childhood and difficulties of Caribbean girlhood in her time, the issues of
colonial schooling, work, color discrimination, travel, sexuality, affairs, all
finely culminating in an ongoing and intense political activity as the wife of
one of the most significant Caribbean leaders in the twentieth century.
Beverly gets even more personal as she discusses the marriage to
Michael Manley, saying in her preface though that it is a story about
survival in a way particularly because she had dared to leave “the Great
Man.” And indeed she cites Manley as saying to her: “You will never
14 C. B. DAVIES

make it without me” (225), motivating words for strong women all over
the world. Leaving (or staying with) the “Great Man” as other women
who were married to world leaders reveal is always fraught with drama
as the activities are always carried out in full public view. Witness the life
of Amy Ashwood Garvey or Winnie Mandela and the end of their rela-
tionships as indicated above. It is clear that on the issues of women and
leadership, it is given that women have a harder time getting to political
power independently. One of the ways that women have accessed power
historically has been through marriage to men who need the kind of
companion to aid in their accession to leadership. The initial meetings
between Beverly and Michael interestingly are identified as completely
professional occasions in which she spends time working with him on
communication skills. But these rapidly developed into more intimate
encounters. Still, the particular skills that she brought to the relation-
ship then were very specific and technical ones which in today’s political
world would be identified as those of a political media consultant and be
highly remunerated. Beverly identifies that she worked with Michael after
watching him do a horrendous interview and therefore helped him culti-
vate more style and presence in his presentations. And these skills would
follow through in the campaigns and in her love of politics.
In professional-political marriages, the wife has a particular skill set
that allows the man to take his leadership to the larger public. And it
demands a woman who is able to make the journey in various ways.
Clearly, Beverly Manley had all those qualities and she describes these
well. But she was also positioned historically as well as a dark-skinned
Black woman during the Caribbean Black Power period. The question
of color is also a fascinating feature of the story. For many in that period,
it was quite striking to see this beautiful Afroed Black woman as desira-
ble wife of the head of state who came from the Jamaican “brown” elite
(119). In many ways, it is an earlier version of how people see Barack
and Michelle Obama.
If we move beyond US hegemony even in the construction of a First
Black First Lady, then we can assert, before Michelle a series of other
“first ladies/first wives” in the Caribbean and Africa and therefore in this
case for Beverly Manley, a Black First Lady in the middle of the Black
Power period. The beautiful pictures in the book tell this story for we
see glimpses of a life—wedding photographs, a lover, babies, children,
but above all an elegance of a beautiful partner who is able to stand tall
and equal in encounters with Fidel, Nyerere, Jimmy Carter and Samora
 FIRST LADIES/FIRST WIVES, FIRST WOMEN PRESIDENTS … 15

Machel. This is a woman then who was in the middle of history in the
Caribbean during some of its most momentous movements. A Black
woman at the center of political power, with its ups and down, its wins
and losses, but seen consistently as making a contribution always, decid-
ing to go back to school and acquire further education as she describes
going back to UWI as an adult and prime minister’s wife, Beverly
Anderson Manley maintained the commitment to women’s rights such as
equal pay and the love of children and education.

The Contradictions of Leadership in Black

First Lady Status in the USA
Representing an interesting blend of political power and wife, the lead-
ership of the first Black First Lady of the USA, Michelle Robinson
Obama (2009 to 2017) reveals a person who has manifested an amazing
dignity as the first Black woman to occupy this highly visible position in
the USA and on the world stage. But it seems Black communities have
been practicing for this for quite a while. Many Black churches have a
“first lady” the wife of the leading minister, who often dresses the part,
wears beautiful hats, suits and dresses and is referred to exactly by that
title. Much like any other presidential First Lady, she establishes her pres-
ence via her projects, her leadership in the church and a certain dignity
to match the lead minister’s power in that community.
The First Lady of the first Black President of the USA though located
by the nature of the position of the “wife” reveals an assertive and inde-
pendent professional presence, leveraged by her equal credentials and
a confidence in a history of community service. We already know that
the constructed American “first lady” is an economically privileged and
racialized White female subject who operates largely in support of her
husband’s execution of the presidency and in the national imaginary as
the ideal model of the supportive wife. This mythology has been sub-
stantially confronted by the presence of a Black woman, historically the
anti-thesis of that construction and indeed one historically aligned with
service to that idealized White female identity. Michelle Obama presents
images of strength in her physicality, an unabashed sense of personal style
but above all an amazing love for family and community and people in
general. This has not come easy as the construction of what is consid-
ered beautiful in the various cultural imaginaries is being substantially
16 C. B. DAVIES

challenged on a day-to-day basis by her very presence and self-presenta-

tion. Her self-constructed “Mom-in-chief” then for me is a give away to
that American imaginary of what a First Lady should be, a subtle rec-
ognition of what American cultural values (like mom and apple pie)
would value to counter the angry Black woman construct that was being
created.
But there is another trajectory through which one can identify an
intellectual Michelle Obama. This begins with her work as an African
American Studies minor at Princeton University where she produced
a thesis which examined the nature of Princeton-educated Blacks and
their relationship with community and argued for the responsibil-
ity of educated African Americans to give service to community. In
this well-developed though preliminary research project, she brought
together for analysis themes that continue to inform the nature of her
work with Black communities at the intellectual and experiential level,
and that continue even in this day and time to have salience for minority
students and faculty on predominately White campuses, including those
who work in fields such as Black/Africana Studies. Additionally, she has
maintained in her various speeches that getting an education was neces-
sary to her empowered self-definition. She has also challenged the elit-
ism of academic institutions (especially the “ivy leagues”), choosing for
her first presentation a working-class university community and point-
ing out, for example, in this commencement speech to the University of
California, Merced, May 15, 2009, that when she was growing up, the
University of Chicago failed to be accessible to neighborhood children,
including the young Michelle who lived in the surrounding community,
though she had the intelligence to get into a Princeton. “I grew up just a
few miles from the University of Chicago in my hometown. The univer-
sity, like most institutions, was a major cultural, economic institution in
my neighborhood…Yet that university never played a meaningful role in
my academic development. The institution made no effort to reach out
to me – a bright and promising student in their midst.”10 And even at
Princeton, the struggle continued for full recognition in light of her doc-
umented encounters with racism.
Her more recent (2011) charge to Spelman graduates, at an insti-
tution organized to create Black women as leaders in their professions,
reiterated that history and described her own experience as a profes-
sional who chose community work instead of the corporate life and is
worth quoting as she describes some of her own professional pathways:
 FIRST LADIES/FIRST WIVES, FIRST WOMEN PRESIDENTS … 17

“So much to the surprise of my family and friends, I left that secure,
high-paying job and eventually became the Executive Director of a non-
profit, working to help young people get involved in public service.
I was making a lot less money – a lot – and my office was a lot smaller.
But I woke up every morning with a sense of purpose and possibility.
I went to work every day feeling excited – because with every young per-
son I inspired, I felt myself becoming inspired. With every community I
engaged, I felt more engaged and alive than I’d felt in years” (May 15,
2011). The intellectual Michelle Obama risks being obscured by all the
other popular constructions available in the popular media as the maga-
zine images and covers proliferate.11
It is easy in the midst of all these representations to forget that she
herself is a Black woman who is a major political force in the African
diaspora world, even though within the USA the First Lady is meant to
subordinate herself to state power, not say much, smile a lot and look
endearingly at her husband. Michelle Obama is not quite that. There is
clearly an international African diasporic platform in which she also oper-
ates with high visibility, admired or criticized but still seen positively as
the wife or partner of perhaps the most powerful Black man in the world.
It is important though to note that Michelle Obama’s own criti-
cal thought began to develop during her undergraduate years and even
the already substantial archive of ideas that she herself has been gener-
ating in the contemporary public sphere through speeches and inter-
views. Even with training as a lawyer from one of the nation’s leading
institutions, and an executive/administrative career before coming to the
White House, a major orator on the campaign trail, her presence remains
a dis-orienting factor in the larger media world which has few tools of
analysis to engage this new phenomenon of a Black woman as a leader-
ship partner at the highest political office in the world.
A commitment to service continues to characterize her presence as
seen in her speech at the Democratic National Convention which con-
trasted sharply with the logic of individualism which Condoleeza Rice
had offered at the RNC. Instead, Michelle Obama offered an analysis
that countered the American ethic of working one’s way up to the top
singly. Instead, one got an additional sense of trying to make a way for
others now that one has succeeded: “You see, Barack and I were both
raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or mate-
rial possessions but who had given us something far more valuable –
their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
Felsplatte, genannt roche tournante. Auch von den Höhen von
Floriheid genießt man eine schöne Aussicht auf die Stadt.
Die Malmedyer sind einigermaßen stolz auf ihre Eigenschaft als
Städter, und sie werden es sich schon gern gefallen lassen, wenn
aus ihrem Landstädtchen ein berühmter Badeort wird. Den
Landhäusern in der Umgebung geben sie meist etwas stolze
Namen, wie Monbijou, Monrepos, Monplaisir, Monidée, Bellevue
u. s. w. Diese Villen sind übrigens hübsch gelegen; die Gärten sind
stufenförmig an den Abhängen angelegt. Weiter hinaus findet man
Gehöfte, sogenannte „Fermen“ (fermes, Pachthöfe), bis schließlich
die Haide sich wieder auf den weiten Flächen ausdehnt.
Die meisten Bewohner der Wallonie sind katholisch. Die 325
Protestanten des Kreises entfallen fast nur auf Beamte,
Grenzaufseher, Gendarmen u. s. w. Seit 1845 umfaßt der ganze
Kreis eine protestantische Seelsorgestation. Der protestantische
Gottesdienst findet im alten Abteigebäude, im ehemaligen
Refektorium der Benediktinermönche statt. Juden giebt es hier,
sowie im angrenzenden Kreise Montjoie, gar nicht.
Der Charakter der Einwohner hat bei der abgeschlossenen Lage
des Ortes noch die Tugenden bewahrt, welche ein Schriftsteller des
vorigen Jahrhunderts, der Engländer Lucas, an ihnen pries: Anstand,
industrieller Fleiß, Mäßigkeit, Gefälligkeit und große
Zuvorkommenheit gegen Fremde. Malmedy war von jeher eine
gewerbfleißige Stadt, obschon sie wenig den Charakter einer
Industriestadt trägt. Die Pulverfabriken, deren es im 17. Jahrhundert
eine Anzahl dort gab, sind verschwunden. Auch die Tuchfabrikation
ist Anfangs dieses Jahrhunderts zurückgegangen. Unter anderen
Industrieen sind noch in Malmedy: eine Dominospielfabrik und zwei
Blaufärbereien verbunden mit Kittelfabrikation. Das älteste und noch
jetzt bedeutendste Gewerbe ist jedoch die Lohgerberei, die schon
seit 1500 betrieben wird. Es heißt zwar, daß die Eigenschaften des
Wassers der Warchenne die Lederbereitung sehr erleichtern, jedoch
haben die Gerber ihre Erfolge wohl am meisten ihrem Wahlspruch:
„Du tan et du temps“[17] zu verdanken. Eine Papierfabrik beschäftigt
über 500 Arbeiter und genießt einen Weltruf durch die Erzeugung
von photographischem Papier.
[17] Ein Wortspiel: Lohe und Zeit.
 IV.
Die Malmedyer Mineralquellen.

Da Malmedy sich zu einem Kurort entwickelt und die Ausbeutung

der Mineralwasserquellen bereits begonnen hat, dürfte es
interessiren, etwas Näheres über die lange in Vergessenheit
geratenen Heilquellen zu erfahren.
Schon um die Mitte des vorigen Jahrhunderts wurden die
Malmedyer Mineralwässer von einem ausländischen Chemiker,
nämlich dem Engländer C. Lucas untersucht. Sein Werk „An essay
on waters“ (London 1756), welches ins Deutsche übersetzt wurde,
machte wohl zum ersten Mal eingehend auf diese Quellen
aufmerksam. Später war es Dr. J. P. J. Monheim, Apotheker in
Aachen, der sich mit der Untersuchung des Wassers näher befaßte
und auf die Heilkraft desselben hinwies.[18] Von da an blieben die
Eisenquellen von Malmedy bei Vielen in gutem Andenken. Einige
Bemühungen dort ansässiger Aerzte, dieselben in die Reihe der
anerkannten Heilwässer einzuführen, waren fruchtlos, weil die
Einwohner sie nicht genügend unterstützten. Außerdem war an
diesem Mißlingen die damalige Abgeschlossenheit der Lage schuld,
welche freilich kein absolutes Hindernis gewesen wäre, aus
Malmedy einen Kurort zu schaffen, wenn nicht die Nähe des
luxuriösen und weithin glänzenden Spa die Aufmerksamkeit von
dem bescheidenen deutschen Heilquellen-Orte abgelenkt hätte.
Endlich bildete sich im Jahre 1868 zu Malmedy ein kleiner Verein zur
Gründung eines Kurortes daselbst, zunächst mit der Absicht, die
dortigen Quellen zur Anerkennung zu bringen und sie nicht bloß
durch Versendung gemeinnützig zu machen, sondern auch die
nötigen lokalen Einrichtungen zu einer Trink- und Badekur ins Leben
zu rufen. Auch diese Bestrebungen hatten nicht den erwünschten
Erfolg. Besonders verdient hat sich um die Quellen Malmedys Herr
Dr. Coulon gemacht, der trotz der Mißerfolge der Gesellschaft stets
bemüht war, die heilkräftigen Eigenschaften des Wassers in Ehren
zu halten. Von der Gesellschaft wurden damals Bohrarbeiten an der
Inselquelle unternommen, sowie die nötigen Vorkehrungen zum
Auffangen und zum Schutze des Wassers getroffen, und die Quelle
gab stündlich 1350 Liter Wasser. Es wurde damals auch ein
freundliches Brunnenhaus errichtet, welches an heißen
Sommertagen von manchen Einwohnern der Stadt fast täglich,
namentlich des Abends, besucht wird.
Ueber die Zusammensetzung und die Heilkraft des Wassers
findet man ausführliche Mitteilungen in dem Werkchen: „Die
eisenhaltigen Sauerwässer von Malmedy. Eine monographische
Skizze von Dr. B. M. Lersch, Bade-Inspektor in Aachen. 2. Auflage.
Malmedy 1881, Verlag von H. Bragard-Pietkin.“ Ich will aus dieser
Schrift nur folgende Bemerkungen wiedergeben. Herr Dr. Lersch
schreibt: „Das Wasser von Malmedy hat jedenfalls gewisse
Eigentümlichkeiten, die man auf dem großen Mineralquellengebiete
nicht leicht wieder finden dürfte, nämlich bei einer großen
Einfachheit der Zusammensetzung und bei einem erheblichen
Gehalte von Kohlensäure, von kohlensaurem Kalk und
kohlensaurem Eisenoxydul die Abwesenheit anderer Stoffe, welche
die Wirkung jener leicht beeinflussen könnten ...“ „In bezug auf
Reichtum an Eisenkarbonat kann sich das Wasser der Inselquelle
fast mit allen gebräuchlichen Eisensäuerlingen messen. Viele
derselben, z. B. Neuenahr und Bormio, läßt es hinter sich. Es steht
in genannter Hinsicht mit dem Paulinenbrunnen von
Langenschwalbach fast ganz gleich, mit dem Pouhon von Spa auf
gleicher Stufe. Ein Wasser, welches so reich an Eisen, Kalk und
Kohlensäure ist wie die Inselquelle von Malmedy, hat gewiß ein
wohlbegründetes Anrecht, in den Heilschatz einzutreten. Wie zu Spa
solche, die ein schwächeres Eisenwasser wünschen, es in Barisart
oder in Geronstère finden, so ist auch Malmedy mit einer
schwächeren Quelle als die Inselquelle versehen; es ist dies die
Géromontquelle.“ Ueber den inneren Gebrauch des Wassers sei
bemerkt, daß bei allen Kranken, welchen Eisen verschrieben wird,
sowie bei sehr vielen Frauenkrankheiten seitens vieler Aerzte mit
dem Malmedyer Mineralwasser die besten Erfolge erzielt worden
sind.

[18] Die Quellen von Aachen, Burtscheid, Spa, Malmedy und

Heilstein. Aachen 1829.
 V.
Die Umgegend von Malmedy.

Außer der Stadt Malmedy gehören zur preußischen Wallonie die

Bürgermeistereien Bévercé, Bellevaux, Weismes und von der
Bürgermeisterei Bütgenbach die Gemeinden Faymonville und
Sourbrodt. Der übrige Teil des Kreises ist deutsch, und dort
verstehen die Bewohner meistens weder wallonisch noch
französisch. Betrachten wir die Karte des Kreises, so finden wir in
der Umgegend von Malmedy folgende Ortschaften mit französischen
Namen (außer den eben erwähnten): Pont (Brücken), Ligneuville
(Engelsdorf), Xhoffraix, Robertville, Arimont, Géromont, Falize,
Baumont, Chôdes, Mont, Longfaye, Bruyère, Eremitage, Ondenval,
Ovifat, Hedomont, Burnenville, Bernister, Meiz, Boussire, G’doumont
u. a. Diese Dörfer und Weiler der Wallonie zählen 5975 Seelen, von
denen etwa 200 nicht geborene Wallonen sein mögen. Es wird also
im ganzen Kreise etwa 8800 Wallonen geben (nach anderer Angabe
bis 10000).[19]
In landschaftlicher und wirtschaftlicher Hinsicht gehört das Gebiet
von Malmedy und Umgebung zur Eifel. Die Belgier und Franzosen
zählen es allerdings zu den Ardennen. Das Gebiet der Eifel läßt sich
überhaupt nicht genau abgrenzen. So wollen z. B. die Eupener keine
Eifler sein, obwohl sie Sachkundige, wie Dronke, der Vorsitzende
des Eifelvereins, zu denselben rechnen. Das ist die alte Geschichte,
über welche sich schon Karl Simrock lustig gemacht hat: niemand
wolle in der Eifel wohnen, die erst drei Stunden weiter hinten
anfange.
 Der Teil der Eifel, welcher das Hohe Venn heißt und in den
Kreisen Malmedy und Montjoie liegt, besteht aus weit ausgedehnten
Hochmooren mit spärlichem Pflanzenwuchs. Häufige Stürme und
furchtbares Schneewehen, sowie die zahlreichen, nur von dünner
Moosdecke überzogenen Löcher können dem verirrten Wanderer
und dem wenigen weidenden Vieh verhängnisvoll werden. Hier ist
das Klima auf den öden, steinichten Höhen so unwirtlich, daß es an
die rauhen Landschaften in den Gesängen Ossians erinnert. In
Montjoie und Malmedy ist der Reinertrag für den Hektar 3,90–5,10
Mk., während er z. B. im Kreise Jülich 59,40 Mk. beträgt. Der
Großgrundbesitz im Kreise Malmedy ist ohne Bedeutung. Die
Ackerflächen nehmen nur 26,6 Prozent, die Weiden 37,5 Prozent
und die Wiesen 8 Prozent der Gesamtfläche ein.
Ich will im Nachfolgenden einige Spaziergänge und Ausflüge in
der Umgegend von Malmedy beschreiben, obschon das vorliegende
Werkchen kein eigentlicher Führer sein soll. Mit Hülfe einer Karte
wird man sich sehr leicht zurechtfinden.

A. Das Thal mit der Inselquelle.

Westlich von der Stadt entfaltet sich ein weites reizendes
Wiesenthal, welches rechts von steilen, mit Eichenlaub bekleideten
Anhöhen, links mit flach abgedachten, teils mit Nadelholz, teils mit
Ackerland bedeckten Bergen umgeben ist. Eine schöne Chaussee
durchschneidet dies nach der Warche benannte Thal in grader
Richtung, von welcher unmittelbar vor der Stadt ein nach der
Inselquelle führender Weg rechts abgeht. Der Pouhon des Iles, auf
deutsch die Inselquelle, ist die wichtigste der Malmedyer Quellen.
Man findet sie 5 Minuten westlich von der Stadt. Vor mehr als 60
Jahren ist sie mit einer Steinfassung umgeben worden, wodurch sie
aber nur teilweise vor dem Eindringen des wilden Wassers und vor
Verunreinigung geschützt war. Erst im Jahre 1870, nachdem die
Untersuchung des Wassers ihre Ebenbürtigkeit mit den Quellen von
Spa festgestellt hatte, erhielt die Quelle eine würdige Fassung. Auf
den Rat des Aachener Bade-Inspektors Dr. B. M. Lersch wurde ein
15 Meter tiefes Bohrloch angelegt, und aus dieser Tiefe erhebt sich
jetzt das Wasser stoßweise in zwei eisernen Röhren. Ueber der
Quelle ist ein neues, einfaches Brunnenhaus errichtet.
Ganz in der Nähe fließt auch ein reines Wässerchen, die
Quirinusquelle, die früher für alaunhaltig und heilsam galt. Hinter
dem Brunnenhause gelangt man in den Wald, der die Anhöhe
bedeckt. Verfolgt man den steilaufwärts sich erhebenden Fußpfad,
so gelangt man nach wenigen Minuten in einen schattigen, mitten
auf dem Bergrücken verlaufenden Waldweg, von dem aus man eine
herrliche Aussicht über das ganze Thal genießt. In einer halben
Stunde erreicht man wieder die Chaussee, auf welcher man zur
Stadt zurückkehrt. Es ist dies die Straße, welche von Stavelot nach
Malmedy führt, an welcher sich auch das Zollamt befindet. Sie wird
viel von belgischen Touristen, besonders Radlern und Radlerinnen,
benutzt.
Eine andere sehr beliebte Promenade in diesem Thale führt nach
dem Felsen, der sich hinter dem Dorfe Falize erhebt, von dessen
Gipfel aus man den Lauf der Warche durch das Thal weithin
verfolgen kann. Das Besteigen des Grauwackekolosses ist
allerdings nicht ganz mühelos.

B. Das Thal von Mon-bijou mit der Géromontquelle.

Die Chaussee, welche sich südöstlich von Malmedy zum Dorfe
Géromont, von da über Weismes und dann nach Aachen hinzieht,
führt zunächst durch das Thal Mon-bijou. Dieses verdankt seinen
Namen einem Privat-Parke, dessen Eingang man in etwa 10
Minuten von Malmedy aus erreicht. Das einige hundert Schritt weiter
gelegene Wirtshaus „Zur schönen Aussicht“ wird von den
Einwohnern des Städtchens zum Ruhepunkt oder auch wegen der
daselbst stattfindenden Tanzbelustigungen besucht. Der Name des
Hauses ist deshalb gewählt, weil man eine herrliche Aussicht von da
aus über Feld und Wiese, über den Park und die Landhäuser des
Thales genießt. Nahe beim Wirtshaus befindet sich links vom Wege
in einer Wiese am Abhange des Felsens, etwa 390 Meter über dem
Meere, die Quelle Géromont. Im vorigen Jahrhundert entfloß sie
unter einer offenen Steinnische als eine schwache Quelle dem
Felsboden. Erst wenige Jahre vor der Untersuchung, welcher
Monheim sie gegen das Jahr 1823 unterzog, wurde sie gehörig
gefaßt, verlor aber bald wieder durch das Eindringen von Süßwasser
viel von ihrer Stärke, und es erforderte gegen das Jahr 1827 lange
und kostspielige Arbeiten, um sie wieder in Stand zu setzen. Ein
damals errichtetes Brunnenhaus mit der sinnigen Aufschrift: „In otio
sine cura bibe et spem fove salutis“ (Sorglos trink in Muße und habe
Hoffnung auf Rettung) hat seinen Zweck nur kurze Zeit hindurch
erfüllt und ist schon vor vielen Jahren abgebrochen worden. Ein
steinerner Behälter, welcher die Quelle umgiebt und überdeckt, ist
leider noch der einzige Schutz, der ihr und den sie Aufsuchenden
gewährt ist. Vielleicht wird auch hier ein praktisches Brunnenhaus
errichtet werden.
Ehe man zu dem erwähnten Wirtshaus gelangt, kann man die
Straße den Berg hinauf verfolgen, wo ein Spaziergang durch den
Wald sehr erquickend ist.

C. Das Thal von Bévercé mit den Felsenquellen.

Die Landstraße, welche in nördlicher Richtung von Malmedy
nach Eupen führt, durchzieht das hübsche, von der Warche
durchflossene, mit Landhäusern und Mühlen besetzte Thal. In einer
halben Stunde erreicht man von der Stadt aus unter vielfacher
Abwechslung der Landschaft das Dorf Bévercé, welches dem Thal
seinen Namen gegeben hat. Monheim spendete den
Naturschönheiten desselben das größte Lob. „Dieses Thal,“ sagt er,
„das in bezaubernder Schönheit bald mehr, bald weniger sich
verengt, macht durch seine höchst romantische Lage und die so
einladenden Querthäler auf den Zuschauer einen Eindruck, der sich
nur fühlen, nicht beschreiben läßt; auch stimmen alle Fremden,
denen der Genuß dieses so herrlichen Anblicks zu teil ward, darin
überein, daß die einfachen Naturschönheiten des Bévercéer Thales
allein schon Spa mit allen seinen künstlichen Anlagen aufwiegen.“
 In der Nähe des Thales entspringt die Felsenquelle. Die
Schilderung, welche uns Monheim von der Lage der Quelle gibt,
stimmt heute jedoch insofern nicht mehr, als seitens des
„Verschönerungsvereins“ der Zugang zur Quelle dadurch bedeutend
erleichtert worden ist, daß jetzt ein bequemer Weg bis dahin führt.
„Eines Waldes Dickicht“, schrieb 1829 Dr. Monheim weiter, „Gesträuch und
Felsen, unwegsame, unsichere Pfade nehmen den von Staunen ergriffenen
Wanderer auf, und jeder Schritt über Steine und Baumwurzeln muß nun schon
sorgsam erwogen werden. Hart daneben inzwischen tobt von Felsen zu Felsen
herabstürzend der hoch vom Gebirge fallende Bach. Endlich gelangt man, nicht
ohne Schwierigkeiten, zu den Ufern eines rauschenden Waldbaches, der durch
verschiedene Krümmungen zu einer einsamen, mit Strauchwerk bewachsenen,
tiefen Felsenschlucht führt. Hier nun, durch das sich immer mehr verengende Thal
behutsam fürderschreitend, wird plötzlich der Blick durch eine seltsam gruppierte
Felsenmasse gefesselt, von welcher der Waldbach viele Fuß hoch mit Brausen
herabstürzt und aus deren flacherem Abhange dicht nebeneinander drei
Mineralquellen entspringen, denen man der Vertiefungen wegen, die sie sich im
Felsen ausgewühlt haben und weil eine derselben die Form eines kleinen Bottichs
(cuve) hat, den Namen „Pouhons des cuves“ beigelegt hat. Hier nun entkeimen
den schöpferischen Felsenritzen Milliarden von Gasbläschen unter stillem
Geräusche, während nebenan, aus gemeinschaftlichem Felsen, auch
gewöhnliches Wasser mit tobendem Ungestüm sich hervordrängt. Diese höchst
imposante Szenerie in des Waldes dunkelstem Grunde, beim Anblick von
drohenden Felsen und Trümmern der Vorzeit, ergreift mächtig den stillen Forscher
der Natur um so mehr, wenn plötzlich von heftigem Gewitterregen hier überfallen
und dadurch vom Rückwege abgeschnitten, er bis nach Ablauf der Gewässer in
der nahe gelegenen Felsenhöhle sein Heil suchen muß, und er von hier aus das
furchtbar schöne Schauspiel genießt, wie plötzlich aus dem Flußbette das Wasser
in reißenden Strömen sich erhebt, dann unter schrecklichem Brausen
unaufhaltsam aufwärts steigt und nun alle Mineralquellen mit einem Male gänzlich
überzieht und gleichsam vergräbt.“
Bevor die Warche das Thal von Bévercé erreicht, durchläuft sie
eine enge und tiefe Gebirgsschlucht, in welcher sich ⁷⁄₄ Stunden von
der Stadt entfernt die interessante R u i n e R e i n h a r d s t e i n befindet.
Um sie zu erreichen, schlägt man den Weg ein, welcher östlich von
der Stadt nach Chôdes und weiter über einem ausgedehnten
Plateau nach Ovifat führt. Die höchst pittoreske Lage der Ruine lohnt
den Wanderer für seine Mühen. Man kann auch von Weismes aus
über Bruyères nach Robertville gehen und von dort die Ruinen zu
erreichen suchen. Ueber die Geschichte der Burg teilt Hermann
Rehm Folgendes mit:
Graf Reichard von Weismes, Erbmeier dieser Grafschaft, hatte einen Sohn
Reinhard, welcher die Burg zu Weismes, deren Spuren heute noch nicht ganz
entschwunden sind, verließ und sich im Warchethal in einer tiefen Schlucht eine
eigene Feste erbaute, welche er Reinhardstein nannte. Er starb im Jahre 1354,
und Graf Winquin oder Winguin, sein Sohn, wurde 1358 von dem Abte zu Stavelot
mit Reinhardstein belehnt. Auch Winguins Bruder Johann war um das Jahr 1388
Lehnsträger der Burg. Nach des letzterem Tode kam diese als Erbe auf seine
Tochter Maria, welche später Johann von Zevel oder Zievel heiratete. Diesem
übertrug im Jahre 1430 der damalige prunkliebende Abt von Stavelot-Malmedy,
Johannes von Goeussain, die Herrschaft Reinhardstein zum Lehen. Durch
Erbfolge ging die Burg in den Besitz der Familie von Metternich über, die sie
jedoch in den Wirren der französischen Revolution einbüßte. Es trat nun ein
häufiger Wechsel im Besitze der Burg ein, welcher zur Folge hatte, daß dieselbe
zum größten Teil abgebrochen wurde. Heute sind die Herren Dr. Nouprez und
Fabrikant Lefèvre in Malmedy Eigentümer der Ruine.

D. Weitere Ausflüge.
Tüchtige Fußwanderer, die das Hohe Venn kennen lernen wollen,
mögen, wenn sie von Norden (Aachen) kommen, von Eupen nach
Malmedy zu Fuß gehen. Man folgt dem Hillbach hinauf bis zur
Baraque St. Michel (auf belgischem Gebiete) über den Gipfel des
Bodranche, den höchsten Punkt des Gebirges (694 Meter über dem
Meere), das sehr eigenartige Schönheiten aufweist. Beide Berge
sind mit Aussichtstürmen versehen und werden in der schönen
Jahreszeit häufig besucht. Zu den Füßen rund um den Turm herum
breitet sich eine weite, nur mit Haidekraut bewachsene Hochebene
aus. Hie und da gewahrt das Auge einen Wachholderstrauch, einen
verkrüppelten Baum oder eine durch Nebel und Frost im Wachstum
verkommene Waldanlage. Auch Tiere stören diese Einsamkeit nicht.
In der ungünstigen Jahreszeit trifft man nur selten einen Wanderer
auf diesen unwirtlichen Höhen. Von dort folgt man der Straße durch
Xhoffraix und Bévercé nach Malmedy. Es sind zwar nur meistens
einförmige Landschaftsbilder, die man auf dem Hohen Venn sieht,
aber die mit Haide bedeckten langgestreckten Höhenzüge entbehren
in der schönen Jahreszeit doch nicht eines anziehenden Reizes. Bei
der Höhe von Bodranche erhebt sich eine Kapelle, die ein
Menschenfreund 1827 errichten ließ mit der Anordnung, daß Abends
eine Glocke geläutet würde, damit die einsamen Wanderer vor dem
Verirren bewahrt blieben. Solche Glockenhäuschen sollen schon vor
Jahrhunderten in dem Hohen Venn bestanden haben, das damals
viel unwirtlicher war, als heutzutage. Das erwähnte Schutzhaus war
vor einem halben Jahrhundert noch gleichsam das St. Bernhard-
Hospiz dieser Einöden. Damals, als die heutige Staatsstraße noch
nicht bestand, wurde bei abendlichen Nebeln und Schneewehen
auch ein Laternenlicht an dem Kapellenturm ausgesteckt. Die vielen
alten Kreuze am Wege oder seitwärts erinnern an die Gefahren,
denen der bei Nachtzeit verirrte Wanderer oft genug unterlag, wenn
er, die trügerische Schneedecke betretend, in einen der tiefen
Wassertümpel geriet. In jener Gegend ist der Baumwuchs
zurückgetreten, um der niedrigen, gleichwohl interessanten Torfflora
Platz zu machen.
Wenigstens dem Namen nach erinnert M o n t j o i e noch an die
wallonische Gegend. Es ist eine an der Roer (Rur), einem
Nebenflüßchen der Maas, reizend gelegene Kreisstadt (2000
Einwohner), deren Textilindustrie sich wieder aufzuschwingen
beginnt.[20] Die Entstehung des Namens Montjoie scheint noch nicht
endgiltig aufgeklärt zu sein[21]; jedenfalls haben manche
Geographen sich durch diese Form verleiten lassen, die Gegend von
Montjoie dem wallonischen Gebiete zuzurechnen. Stadt und
Umgegend sind aber deutsch. In der niederfränkischen
Volksmundart lautet der Name Monschau und die Bewohner heißen
Monschäuer.
Vor einigen Jahren ging in den französischen und belgischen
Zeitungen viel die Rede von dem „g r o ß e n L a g e r v o n M a l m e d y “,
das absichtlich dicht an der Grenze errichtet werde. Es stellte sich
aber bald heraus, daß lediglich ein großer Truppenübungsplatz bei
Elsenborn im Kreise Malmedy hergestellt wurde und daß der Platz
deshalb gewählt war, weil dort das Land verhältnismäßig billig ist,
während es in fruchtbareren Gegenden aus finanziellen Gründen
nicht möglich wäre, einen etwa 5 Kilometer langen Schießplatz
anzulegen. Die Errichtung dieses Lagers war natürlich Wasser auf
die Mühle derjenigen, welche behaupten, bei einem nächsten
deutsch-französischen Kriege würden deutsche Heere durch Belgien
nach Frankreich dringen. Auffällig ist es übrigens, daß man in
Malmedy selbst meistens gar kein Militär sieht, während man im
Reichslande in jedem kleinen Neste eine Garnison antrifft.
Der Truppenübungsplatz befindet sich bei dem etwa in der Mitte zwischen
Montjoie und Malmedy gelegenen Dörfchen Elsenborn. Er liegt also nahe an der
belgischen, luxemburgischen und auch der französischen Grenze. Dieser letztere
Umstand ist es, der bei einem Teile der Franzosen die Besorgnis wachzurufen
scheint, dies Lager könnte zu einem künftigen Offensivstoße gegen Frankreich
bestimmt sein. Der Übungsplatz Elsenborn ist aber nicht mehr offensiver Art
gegen Frankreich oder Belgien, als die Übungsplätze Senne, Münster oder wie sie
weiter heißen. Es ist wohl selbstverständlich, daß die Militärverwaltung solche
Plätze, die tausende von Morgen Landes erfordern, nicht in stark bewohnter
Gegend anlegt, sondern dort, wo möglichst gar keine Bewohner sich finden und
das Terrain möglichst niedrigen Preis hat. Jedes Armeekorps bedarf eines solchen
Platzes, und als für das VIII. Armeekorps eine entsprechende Fläche gesucht
wurde, bot sich in seinem Bezirke lediglich diese einzige, weil sich nur dort das
benötigte ebene Oedland finden ließ. Für die Militärverwaltung wäre es viel
bequemer gewesen, wenn sie z. B. zwischen Köln und Düsseldorf den Platz hätte
anlegen können, aber dann hätten ganze Ortschaften ausgerottet, blühende
Gefilde verödet werden müssen, und abgesehen von einem solchen Vandalismus
und der Schädigung des Volkswohlstandes wären die Kosten unerschwinglich
gewesen. Lediglich der Notwendigkeit gehorchend, hat man sich zu der Wahl des
Terrains bei Elsenborn entschlossen.
Man erblickt dort einige einfache Häuser, Wohnungen für Offiziere und
Verwaltungsbeamte, Baracken für die Mannschaften, Stallbaracken für die Pferde,
die notdürftigsten Magazinräume, und daneben ein paar Wirtschaften, die nur im
Sommer einige Monate flotten Ausschank haben, sonst still und verlassen
dastehen, und auf dem Uebungsplatze selbst hier und da Bauten, welche
Windmühlen, Denkmäler, Burgen ⁊c. markieren und lediglich dazu dienen, daß die
Offiziere und Mannschaften sich bei den Übungen in bezug auf den Platz
orientieren können. Von Mai ab bis zum Beginn der Manöver herrscht auf dem
Platze regstes Leben, ein Regiment löst das andere ab, das eine bleibt 14 Tage,
das andere vier Wochen, und die Mannschaft freut sich zumeist, wenn die
strapaziösen Lagertage, die indessen einer gewissen soldatischen Romantik nicht
entbehren, ihr Ende erreicht haben. Zu Beginn des Herbstes hört das Leben im
Übungsplatze auf, und wer dann nach Elsenborn kommt, wird gut thun, sich auf
dem kalten Hohen Venn recht warme Kleidung mitzubringen und sich auch
genügend mit Proviant zu versehen, denn außer vereinzelten Waidmännern, die
einem treuherzig einen Schluck Jägerkorn anbieten, wird man kaum Jemand zu
sehen bekommen. Das ist die Wahrheit über das „Lager von Malmedy“.
In der Nähe des Dorfes S o u r b r o d t (nicht weit von dem
Truppenübungsplatz Elsenborn) wurden 1889 Arbeiterbaracken und
Ziegeleien angelegt, um allmählich ein größeres Torfwerk
herzustellen und landwirtschaftliche Kultur damit zu verbinden.
Gründer dieser Unternehmungen ist der Oberst z. D. v. Giese in
Aachen. Die bedeutenden Torflager, die man 1889 angefangen hat
auszubeuten, verschaffen der Bevölkerung jener armen Gegend
jedenfalls einigen Erwerb. Man sieht dort auch Wiesen und
Baumgruppen, aber an Fruchtbäume darf man bei einer Höhe von
durchschnittlich 600 Meter nicht denken. Die Preißelbeeren werden
aber in großer Menge dort gezogen. Dem Touristen fallen die hohen
Buchen-Schutzhecken auf, welche die Wohngebäude an der
Schlagwetterseite umzäumen; auch die Bauart der Häuser verrät
den echten Gebirgsstil.
Man kann von Malmedy aus noch andere entferntere Ausflüge
machen, die jedoch hier nur kurz angedeutet werden sollen. Nach
S p a kann man mit der Bahn in 1½ Stunde gelangen. Der von den
Kurgästen dieses berühmten Ortes so viel besuchte, von einer
lieblichen Landschaft umgebene W a s s e r f a l l v o n C o o , welchen die
Amel bildet, ist auf einem ebenso bequemen als schönen Wege in
2½ Stunden zu erreichen. Der Wasserfall wurde von einem der
letzten Äbte von Stavelot künstlich angelegt, um das Fischen im
Fluß zu erleichtern.[22] Es wurde aber nur ein Teil der Amel
abgeleitet, der sich mehr als 20 Meter tief herniederstürzt auf einen
Felsen, sodaß der Schaum fast bis zur Brücke spritzt, auf welcher
die Touristen sich das Schauspiel ansehen. Der größte Teil der Amel
läuft mehr als eine Stunde weit um den Berg herum und vereinigt
sich mit dem andern Teile bei dem Dorfe Coo. Man findet dort eine
Kapelle, eine Mühle und einige Wirtschaften, die aber trotz ihrer
großartigen Aufschriften sehr dürftig sind, sodaß es sich den
Touristen empfiehlt, für des Leibes Notdurft zu sorgen, bevor sie dort
hingehen.
In Malmedy wünscht man schon seit Langem eine
Bahnverbindung mit dem belgischen Grenzstädtchen S t a v e l o t . Die
preußische Regierung ist dem Plane gewogen, aber auf belgischer
Seite verhielt man sich bisher ablehnend; erst seit Kurzem hat sich
die Stimmung geändert, so daß die Aussicht jetzt günstiger ist.
Stavelot (deutsch Stablo) liegt auf dem rechten Ufer der Amel an
einem Berghang und ist mit Malmedy durch das reizende
Warchethal verbunden. Es hat ebenfalls bedeutende Gerbereien. Da
nur wenige hervortretendere Bauten aus den letzten Jahrhunderten
übrig geblieben sind, merkt man nicht, daß es eine der ältesten
europäischen Residenzen ist. Ein Thurmrest und einige alte
Schloßtrümmer sind die einzigen Spuren der alten Geschichte
dieses Städtchens. Kunstkenner versäumen nicht, sich in der
übrigens stillosen Pfarrkirche die aus der alten Abtei stammende
Châsse de St. Remacle (Schrein des hl. Remaklus) mit Figuren in
getriebener Arbeit zeigen zu lassen. Heinrich Freimuth schreibt u. a.
über Stavelot: „Ehrfurcht vor den kleinen Hauptstädtchen, und
doppelt Ehrfurcht, wenn sie in Folge eines tragischen Schicksals ihr
altes Krönlein verloren haben! Spielten sich in den meisten dieser
ehemaligen Residenzchen auch keine größeren politischen Aktionen
ab, so suchte sich dafür um so häufiger die Romantik diese wenig
bewegten, räumlich oft auf ein Idyll nur zugeschnittenen Städtchen
aus, um dort ihre zum Teil originellen und oft eindrucksvollen Bilder
zu weben, und selbst das bischen Politik, das dort getrieben wurde,
gewinnt unter der phantastischen Laune dieser Romantik zuweilen
Interesse und Leben. Es liegt auf dem rechten Ufer der Amblève,
nicht gar weit von Malmedy, auf belgischem Gebiet, eine solche
kleine Ex-Residenz, ein stets wohl aufgeputztes Städtchen in
idyllisch-romantischer Landschaft von saftigstem Grün, die durch
Anmut ersetzt, was ihr an Großartigkeit fehlt. Dieses Städtchen,
gleichzeitig eine der ältesten europäischen Residenzen, ist das
uralte, mit seiner Geschichte bis in die Mitte des 7. Jahrhunderts
zurückreichende Stavelot. Niemand würde in diesem vorwiegend
modern romantischen Orte, in welchem nur wenige hervortretende
Bauten aus den letzten Jahrhunderten übrig geblieben sind, den
Schauplatz einer altersgrauen, ebenso romantischen als
dramatischen Geschichte vermuten. Ein über die Dächer an der rue
du Châtelet hinausragender Turmrest und auf der andern Seite des
Flüßchens einige alte Schloßtrümmer sind die einzigen verbliebenen
Spuren dieser alten Geschichte. In den weitläufigen, imposanten
Abteigebäuden, wo wir einen Reichtum an geschichtlichen
Erinnerungen schöpfen, die über den Rahmen einer bloßen
Reiseplauderei weit hinausgehen würden, weckt das dort in einem
Flügel untergebrachte „Hospiz Ferdinand Nicolai“ das Andenken an
ein originelles Menschenkind. Dieser Nicolai, Comthur u. s. w. war
ein großer Philantrop, aber auch kein kleiner Narr. Er schenkte nach
allen Seiten, sodaß jedes Kind in Belgien seinen Namen kannte. Das
Hospiz von Stavelot soll ihm über eine Million Franken gekostet
haben. Er sorgte aber auch dafür, daß seine geschätzte Person
vermittelst Porträts, Büsten und Statuen bestens bekannt wurde.“
Den Namen des freigebigen Sonderlings führt eine Avenue, durch
die man auf die Landstraße nach Malmedy gelangt.
Auf der belgischen Seite, wie auch in dem Kreise Malmedy ist in
den letzten Jahren Gold gefunden worden, und einige Zeit war
fortwährend in den belgischen, westdeutschen und luxemburgischen
Zeitungen die Rede davon, wie wenn dort ein zweites Kalifornien
entstände. Das Gold kommt besonders bei der Ortschaft Recht in
Ablagerungen von Schutt, bestehend in Quarzgeröllen, Sand und
Lehm vor. Das Waschverfahren, das jetzt bereits dort betrieben wird,
ist sehr einfach, aber es sind nur einzelne kleine, kaum sichtbare
Flitterchen, Blättchen und Körnchen vorhanden; einzelne wenige
erreichen die Dicke eines Stecknadelkopfes. Man glaubt, im Altertum
habe dort Bergbau stattgefunden, weil man in der Gegend
zahlreiche kleine Hügel findet, die die Geologen als „Goldhaufen“
betrachten.[23] Die „Goldminen“ bildeten einige Zeit eine ständige
Rubrik in den Malmedyer Zeitungen, aber es ist fraglich, ob die
Ausbeutung besonders stark sein wird.
Die Grenze der Wallonie wird im Süden durch den Amelbach
gebildet. L i g n e u v i l l e [24] oder E n g e l s d o r f , das schöne Baumanlagen
besitzt, die in der Eifel nicht allzu häufig sind, wird von belgischen,
holländischen und englischen Touristen als Sommerfrische benutzt.
Von dort führen schöne Wege nach Pont, Malmedy, Stavelot,
Vielsalm u. s. w. Letzteres ist ein altes Städtchen, das anmutig auf
dem rechten Hochufer der Salm liegt und hübsche Landhäuser und
Gärten aufzuweisen hat.
[19] Von diesen Dörfern und Weilern der preußischen Wallonie
sind manche zweinamig. So kommen nach Dr. Esser, der im
„Kreisblatt für den Kreis Malmedy“ 1882–1884 eine Reihe
eingehender Untersuchungen über die Ortsnamen des Kreises
Malmedy veröffentlicht hat, neben einander vor die Namen:
Faymonville und Außelborn, Ligneuville und Engelsdorf, Pont und
Brücken, Champagne und Gringertz, Ondenval und
Niedersteinbach, Thirimont und Deidenberg, Gueuzaine und zur
Heiden, Bruyères und außer Heiden, Robertville und zur Bivel,
Outrewarche und zur Spinnen, Belair und Wolfskuhl, Ovifat und
Mischvenn, Bellevaux und Schönthal, Noirthier und auf dem
schwarzen Hügel, Eaurouge und Rotwasser. Dr. Esser bemerkt
dazu: „Da zu der Zeit, als der hl. Remaklus an den Ufern der
Warchenne sein Kloster gründete, die hiesige Gegend deutsch
war, so sind auch die deutschen Namen wie Außelborn,
Engelsdorf u. s. w. die älteren und ursprünglicheren, die
romanischen Namen wie Faymonville, Ondenval u. s. w. sind
dann offenbar vom Kloster ausgegangen, das überhaupt die
deutsche Sprache bis an die nordöstlichen Grenzen des
Fürstentums zurückdrängte.“ Vgl. de Nouë. Miscellanées sur
l’ancien pays de Stavelot et Malmédy, S. 82.
[20] Montjoie liegt in einem von Bergen eingeschlossenen Thale.
In dem Städtchen, welches nach dem Aussterben der Dynastie
gleichen Namens an das Herzogtum Jülich und dann an die
Kurpfalz fiel, haben die Franzosen im 17. Jahrhundert arg
gehaust. Das hoch gelegene, jetzt verwetterte Schloß ist noch ein
beredtes Zeugnis ihrer Zerstörungswut. Montjoie erfreut sich erst
seit 1885 der Bahnverbindung mit Aachen und wird von Fremden,
besonders auch von Engländern, viel besucht.
[21] Vgl. darüber: Dr. H. Pauly, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Stadt
Montjoie. 1852 ff.
[22] So berichtet der „Guide pratique aux eaux de Spa“. 14ᵉ
édition. Spa, Bruch-Maréchal. S. 151.
[23] Der Landesgeologe H. Grebe in Trier berichtete 1896
darüber: „Schon im vorigen Frühjahr bei Rückkehr von einer
geologischen Studienreise aus Belgien wurde mir in Burtonville,
nahe der preußischen Grenze, Kunde von den Goldfunden bei
Recht im Kreise Malmedy; ich habe sie nicht beachtet, weil ich
oftmals in meiner bergmännischen und geologischen Praxis von
solchen sprechen hörte, auch von Goldborn, Goldkaul u. s. w.,
und das Mineral, das mir gezeigt wurde, war Schwefelkies, wie er
auch in den ältern Gebirgsschichten der Malmedyer Gegend
häufig vorkommt. Bei den geologischen Aufnahme-Arbeiten dort
im vorigen Sommer hörte ich wiederholt, daß man bei Recht
Versuche mache, Gold zu waschen. Ich habe auch eine Probe
davon erhalten und dann persönlich dem Goldwaschen
beigewohnt und zwar an der Rechter Mühle, dicht an der
belgischen Grenze. Das Gold kommt daselbst in Ablagerungen
von Schutt, bestehend aus Quarzgeröllen, Sand und Lehm vor.
Diese Materialien sind durch Verwitterung des conglomeratischen
Muttergesteins (grobe Conglomerate und Arkosen der ältern
Eifeler Sedimentschichten) entstanden, in der Nähe der
Schuttablagerungen auftretend. Das Waschverfahren ist ein ganz
einfaches: man schaufelt das Material in eine geneigt liegende
hölzerne Rinne, an deren unterm Ende ein Blechsieb angebracht
ist und über die man aus dem nahen Bache Wasser unter
stetigem Umrühren laufen läßt. Dabei gelangen die schlammigen
Massen durch das Sieb in eine tiefere, ebenfalls schwach geneigt
liegende Rinne. Die auf dem Sieb zurückgebliebenen
Gesteinsbrocken werden zur Seite aufgehäuft; alsdann läßt man
einen Wasserstrahl über die den Schlamm enthaltende zweite
Rinne laufen, auf deren Boden sich das specifisch schwere Gold
ablagert. Aber es waren davon nur einzelne kleine, kaum
sichtbare Flitterchen, Blättchen und Körnchen vorhanden,
einzelne wenige erreichten freilich die Dicke eines
Stecknadelkopfes, die mittels Messers hervorgeholt wurden. Ein
Korn Gold, angeblich bei andern Versuchen gefunden, das mir
gezeigt wurde, hatte fast die Größe einer Erbse. Jedenfalls ist
dieses Goldvorkommen in wissenschaftlicher Hinsicht ein recht
interessantes. Wie bereits bemerkt, gehört das Muttergestein zu
den ältern Gebirgsschichten der Eifel (unterstes Unterdevon,
Gedinnien der Franzosen) und erstreckt sich mit den darauf
lagernden phyllitischen Schichten von Viel-Salm über die
belgisch-preußische Grenze, die Rechter Mühle, die großen
Steinbrüche von Recht nach Montenau hin. Im Altertum, wohl zur
Römerzeit, muß in dieser Gegend ein bedeutender Bergbau
stattgefunden haben, denn man findet nicht nur in der Umgebung
der Rechter Mühle, sondern auch etwa 8 km. nordöstlich von da,
besonders zwischen Born und der Station Montenau eine fast
unzählige Menge von kleinen Hügeln, die Halden von Goldseifen