Michele Obama The Black Radical

Michelle Obama's senior year thesis at Princeton University, shows a document written by an very angry young woman grappling with a society in which a black Princeton alumnus might only be allowed to remain "on the periphery."

Michele Felt 'Left out' Of The Princeton Preppy Scene

"My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'blackness' than ever before," Michele would write. "I have found that at Princeton, no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my white professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong. Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be black first and a student second."
 

The Thesis By Michelle LaVaughn Robinson

The thesis, titled "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community" and written under her maiden name, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, in 1985, has been  "temporarily withdrawn" from Princeton's library.

Obama writes that the path she chose by attending Princeton would likely lead to her "further integration and/or assimilation into a white cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant."
 

What Does Obama Have To Fear?

Hillary and McCain had to reveal everything.  The 96-page Princeton thesis, restricted from release by the school's Mudd Library, has also been the subject of recent scrutiny.

 

Jonah Goldberg

Earlier this week, commentator Jonah Goldberg remarked on National Review Online, "A reader in the know informs me that Michelle Obama's thesis ... is unavailable until Nov. 5, 2008, at the Princeton library. I wonder why."

"Why a restricted thesis?"

The Document Was Blocked

Attempts to retrieve the document through Princeton proved unsuccessful.. Princeton's communication personnel said the thesis to be restricted and refusing to discuss "the academic work of alumni."

Obama's All White Staff

The Obama campaign staff was hesitant to discudsd it. They are still recovering from Michelle Obama's controvesial statements, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country." 

An Afro American In 1985

The 1985 thesis provides a trove of Michelle Obama's thoughts as a young Black seeing through a race-based prism.

Michele wrote, "In defining the concept of identification or the ability to identify with the black community, I based my definition on the premise that there is a distinctive black culture very different from white culture."

"Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments."

Princeton Is A White University

She pointed out that Princeton had only five black tenured professors on its faculty, and its "Afro-American studies" program "is one of the smallest and most understaffed departments in the university." In addition, she said only one major university-recognized group on campus was "designed specifically for the intellectual and social interests of blacks and other third world students."  Princeton was "infamous for being racially the most conservative of the Ivy League universities."

Black And White Interaction

Her thesis  conveyed views about political relations between black and white communities which she saw as "two separate social structures.

Other Blacks At Princeton

To research her thesis, the future Mrs. Obama sent an 18-question survey to a sampling of 400 black Princeton graduates, regarding their experience, but only 90 answered. 

Michele's Roots Are Black

Here is another passage that is uncomfortable and ominous in meaning: 'There was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black  Community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize All of my present and future resources to benefit the black
Community first and foremost.'