Michelle Obama - Slave? Inspirational, Racist, or in Bad Taste?

'Michelle Granddaughter of a Slave, Lady of America'

As you can see, this is an image of our First Lady, Michelle Obama. Her face has been superimposed on a 19th century painting entitled, Portait D'Une Negresse, by Spanish magazine Magazine de Fuera de Serie (Outside Magazine) with the addition of an American flag.  According to their text, my high school Spanish, and Google translate the accompanying blurb states that Michelle is the very popular woman behind the man, who has won the hearts of the American people and may be a key to his re-election. They haven't released the article, and instead used this image along with accompanying text as a preview for their next issue. Source 1, Source 2. 

Original painting. 

Apparently the original painting was created in France six years after the abolition of slavery, and was seen there as a symbol women's emancipation and black people's rights. Source 3. 

But why this image? I don't understand the choice. Is it a reflection of the history of race and slavery in America? Does this choice simply show the lack of diversity of images of the black woman (here and abroad)? Truly if there were more portraits of black women maybe they would have had more images to choose from. But who is to say that the painting used even had to be of a black woman? 

Is it disrespectful to have an image of the First Lady partially nude? Is this simply a matter of cultural differences? As in, do our Puritanical roots make the nudity an issue where other cultures would not? What is the correct cultural perspective? Or is it just that it is racist to portray Mrs. Obama as a slave? 

Or are they saying in one image - look how far black people have come - from slavery to the White House in a few short generations. 

I really don't know, but I can say I like it better than this:

Afro as political statement... 

What are your thoughts? 

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Write by: Unknown - Tuesday, August 28, 2012