Today Michelle Obama celebrates her last birthday as First Lady, and we're still not ready to say goodbye. FLOTUS' impact extends far beyond her official duties. She has been a source of inspiration for Black girls and women.

Poet Jasmine Mans captures our fondness for the "girl from the South Side" with a beautiful poem about her reach. For many, Mrs. Obama has a been a friend-in-our head, auntie-in-our-head, or, even, a mother-in-our-head. While we've tried to make it clear how deeply her presence and warmth have us. Listen to Mans capture the words we could not express.

Every society, culture and ethnic group worships their beautiful people. As well all know, in the mainstream west, beautiful is often believed to be white, eurocentric and thin. In the age old narrative of black women seeking to see their own beauty in magazines, film and on television screens, Coal Crown Creative has taken matters into their own hands. "Classically Beautiful “The Discussion”" hosted by Jasmine Mans (genius poet-scholar behind Footnotes For Kanye) explores the themes of black beauty, black womanhood and motherhood through the lenses of melanated queens. Screenwriter Amma Asante also graces the film with her interpretation of classic beauty.
When asked why Quest (visionary behind "Classically Beautiful") created the documentary, he had this to say, “After hearing about a New York Times journalist, who referred to Viola Davis as less ‘Classically Beautiful’ than Kerry Washington, I felt it in my spirit to do something, to say something. I thought to myself, ‘here is another attempt to divide and conquer’, it saddened and angered me. My feelings towards this issue were very natural, I grew up the only boy. I have two sisters. My younger sister is of a darker complexion than my oldest sister. Sharing the black woman's perspective, to me, means having representation of the many aesthetics that black women represent.”

Touché Quest. And representation is exactly what you’ll get in this thought provoking yet amusing piece because, every black woman has her own story and personality. If you’re looking to be enlightened & lit, check it out below!

Sofia Maame (Mah-May) is a Publicist + Editorial Assistant. Follow her-@sofia_maame

Kanye West is undeniably great, but for many who were once big fans, his message has become muddied by his infatuation with whiteness. Poet Jasmine Mans articulated her hurt at what Kanye has become in this moving poem, "Footnotes for Kanye."