A Case Study in Breitbart Propaganda: Michelle Obama as ‘Angry Black Woman’

Pushing the “angry black woman” stereotype to the right wing base
Wingnuts • Views: 27,320

Here’s an interesting look at the race-baiting propaganda tactics of breitbart.com, a tip sent by LGF reader Dave, who tracked down the speech from which Breitbart blogger Ben Shapiro used one photo to illustrate his article on Michelle Obama. (The article that prompted an outpouring of rage and racist hatred for the First Lady in the comments.)

YouTube has video of the speech, which took place on February 11, the second anniversary of Ms Obama’s “Let’s Move” childhood obesity initiative. I set the video to begin shortly before the exact frame chosen by the Breitbart goons (7:15), to give you a clear picture of how deceptive their choice was — because Michelle is personable and likable in this speech, not at all “arrogant” or “angry.”

Youtube Video

This is what the First Lady was actually saying at the moment that “angry black woman” photo was taken:

So I want you all to think back. Think way back, especially the grown folks like me, think back to when many of us were kids, all those years ago.

Sounds pretty angry, doesn’t it? Nearly bursting with barely controlled fury.

And here’s the exact moment from the video, with the Breitbart version (taken from a different angle) inset at upper left:

They could have chosen this image instead (5:11):

But that wouldn’t have fit the stereotype breitbart.com pushes to its right wing readers to keep them full of rage, without reason or reality.

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Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
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