2 Amazing Former Black First Ladies: ‘FLHAITI’ & ‘FLOTUS’

I came across this picture of these two former Black first ladies who seem to be as happy as anyone can be and at the pinnacle of their lives, and it reminds me that even in the midst of chaos and confusion there are triumphs… triumphs for Blacks and for women, and particular women of color and Black women to be exact. These two women are two former First Ladies of two countries that may as well be polar opposites (namely, Haiti and the U.S.). However, they were both the first two true melting pots of the World. It was in Haiti that people of all colors or races at some point cohabitated first and of course the World’s second melting pot was America. But anyhow, these former First Ladies, of about the same age, are the former First Lady of Haiti (FLHAITI), Elizabeth Preval and the former First Lady of the U.S. (FLOTUS), Michelle Obama. I could feel their joy and decided to tap into their past a little bit in order to share what I felt as I looked at this picture… Pure triumphs over obstacles and unadulterated elation…

Today, the former president of Haiti, Rene Preval died and left behind his third wife former First Lady of Haiti (FLHAITI), Elizabeth Delatour Preval. To be honest, I did not know much about the Prevals (as a Haitian) until a White colleague who was their neighbor told me about his beautiful, culture and educated wife. He had mentioned that she was much younger and upon checking I did realize that he was 20 years her senior. But it seems that the third time was the charm for President Preval, as he remained married his U.S.-educated (George Washington University Alumus) wife until death did them part.

So, who is Elizabeth Delatour Preval?

She was born in 1962 and is Haitian businesswoman, presidential economic advisor and economist. She became the First Lady of Haiti in December 6, 2009, when she married President René Préval. She appears to have a thing for highly influential man or perhaps she was simply an impressive part of the Haitian nobility because prior to marrying to her late husband (Rene), she was married to another influential Haitian by the name of Leslie Delatour, who himself was born in 1950 and had studied at Johns Hopkins University and at the University of Chicago. Mr. Delatour was at one point Haiti's Finance Minister and Governor of the Bank of Haiti. Moreveroalso served as consultant at the World Bank, the Inter-American Bank and USAID. He was dubbed as "all-powerful" in Le Monde Diplomatique. He died of cancer on March 24 2001 in Miami, Florida, United States.

So, who is Michelle Obama?

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama was born in 1964, and is an American lawyer and writer who was First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is married to the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and was the first Black First Lady of the US as well. She graduated from Harvard Law School and from Princeton University - Quite impressive to say the least.

Their Accomplishments and Similarities

They are both Black and brilliant. Moreover, far too many people were so focused on their husbands’ accomplishments or missteps that they failed to look into their credentials. One (Elizabeth) had worked her way up in Haiti and out of Haiti to study abroad at a US School to become a solid businesswoman, presidential economic adviser, economist and First Lady, while the other (Michelle) beat the odds in a country that was ravaged by racism and Bigotry to become a successful attorney and the first Black First Lady that her country has ever had. INCREDIBLE STUFF to say the least.

Their story is a human story. I love human triumph stories. Women still have a raw deal and in so many ways it appears that women are seen as people that live to please their men and families only and far too often BRILLIANT WOMEN live in the shadows of their husbands. However, the stories of famous women like these two first ladies should be shared... One of beating the odds in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds… I hope that their story will inspire my two little girls and women from all walks of life, and particularly women of color and more precisely young Black girls and women. Often, stories like this go farther than thousands of marches ever could in changing people's minds, and changing stereotypes to acceptance and segregation into harmonious existence.

Let us all accentuate the positives a little more while we fight hard to eliminate the negatives!

Dr. Pete Lorins is the Chief Editor of LorinsPOST.com. This article is sponsored by LORINS.biz

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