Barack Obama and Michelle Obama Presidential portrait have been placed in the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian, Washington D.C. These iconic paintings stopped one two-year-old in her tracks as she gazed with wide open eyes at the portrait of Michelle Obama, reported CNN.Parker and her mom, Jessica Curry, were visiting the museum when she noticed that Parker would not take her eyes off of the photos.
“Parker was in front of the portrait, and I really wanted her to turn around so I could get a picture with her, and she genuinely, honestly would not turn around,” Curry shared with CNN. “She was uncooperative with me because she was just so focused on the portrait and studying it, and she was just so fascinated.”
Ben Hines from North Carolina, noticed Parker marveling at the painting and took the picture. Hines, uploaded it to Facebook and the image instantly went viral. Amy Sherald, the artist who created the portrait saw the photo and posted it in on her Instagram page. Sherald is a Baltimore artist whose work centers around themes of justice. In 2016, she won the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Competition for her work. Sherald said the picture of 2-year-old Parker in front of her recent work showed the “power of representation.”
Curry, went on to say her daughter, Parker believes Michelle Obama is a queen.
“In further discussion with (Parker) yesterday and today, I realized that she believes Michelle Obama is a queen, and she wants to be a queen as well. As a female and as a girl of color, It’s really important that I show her people who look like her that are doing amazing things and are making history so that she knows she can do it.”
The Twitter world couldn’t agree more as the viral post had many tweeting in support further emphasising the notion which Black Panther did so well in addressing; representation is key. It’s easier for children to aspire when they see people who look just like them in places of power. People applauded and praised the photo for putting a sparkle in Parker’s eyes.
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