Racist attacks 'cut me the deepest' as first lady: Michelle Obama

Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama recently talked about women empowerment as well as racism that has left many a scar on her.

Talking at the Wome’s Foundation of Colorado’s 30th anniversary on Tuesday night at the PepsiCenter, Obama when asked what hurt her the most, the former referred to comments like being called an “ape” and people talking about her bottom, reports the Denver Post.

WFCO President and CEO Lauren Casteel commented at the event that Obama broke a glass ceiling by becoming the first black First Lady. She then asked her which of the falling glass shards cut the deepest.

To this Obama replied, “The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” she said, referencing being called an ape and people talking about her bottom.

“Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin colour,” she added.

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A West Virginia county employee, Pamela Ramsey Taylor, director of the Clay County Development Corporation, caused a nationwide uproar last year by calling Obama ‘an ape in heels’ in a Facebook post.

“It will be so refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady back in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a (sic) ape in heels,” Taylor said at the time.

She said she can’t pretend like it doesn’t hurt because that lets those who do the hurting off the hook.

According to the report, although Obama reiterated that she would not be seeking public office, but that she and Barack Obama intend to stay in public service.

Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images