And she says--you mean her hair doesn’t grow like that? So is it me or is that the perfect metaphor for race in America right there?
Her white friend doesn't realize that Michelle Obama's hair is not naturally like that. This lack of realization shows that white people don't realize and are ignorant of what some people have to do to make their hair look "normal".
https://graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/michelle-obama-natural-hair/
I just don’t want relaxers in my hair--there are enough sources of cancer in my life as it is.
Ifemelu's choice to go back to her natural hair style make complete sense, but it's sad people even have to make that choice. To choose between looking "normal" and possibly shortening your life should not have to be done.
She would totally rock but poor Obama would certainly lose the independent vote, even the undecided Democrat vote.
As Ifemelu mentioned in another blog post that Obama could not have won the presidential election if his situation was any different (if he wasn't half white), this idea is very similar. This connects to that post because if Michelle Obama had not changed her hair to look more white or "normal", she would have lost Obama some of his votes.
Because, you see, it’s not professional, sophisticated, whatever, it’s just not damn normal.
Ifemelu says "it's just not damn normal" for AB and NABs to wear their hair naturally in America, but why isn't it normal? It is a white norm that people are conforming to.