Is Malia Obama a budding animal activist? Could be, based on comments from her mom.
First Lady Michelle Obama recently revealed that the single most common question posed to President Obama by his daughter, Malia, age 10, is:
What is he doing to help tigers?
As it turns out, Malia and the whole Obama family are sweet on tigers, which are an endangered species. So the family discusses tigers at least once a week – mainly because Malia asks President Barack Obama about them frequently.
"He tells her he's working on it and there are a lot of people who are thinking about it," Michelle Obama said. "But I think, the Obama household, we're trying to save the tigers."
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Pampered Princesses
Malia and Sasha Obama: The unexpected stars of their dad's presidential campaign, Malia and Sasha Obama dazzled with their beauty, fun personalities and seemingly down-to-earth natures. Since their worldwide introduction nearly two years ago, everything about the first daughters, from their clothes to their hair to their school, has been incessantly documented and admired. But through it all they've seemed to handle the pressures of life in the spotlight with good nature and grace.
Pete Souza, Official White House Photo
BlackVoices.com
Pampered Princesses
Jessie James and D'Lila Star Combs: The two littlest Combs' are spared no expense in their Los Angeles upbringing: shopping sprees at hip boutique Kitson, gold nameplate necklaces before they were even able to read their names, plus all the love and attention from their former model mommy Kim Porter and all-around-fly-guy dad Sean "Diddy" Combs, not to mention a host of older siblings (between mom and dad they've got four). And just because they're the youngest of the clan, doesn't mean they come last, especially since they're always dad's guest stars of choice for Diddy TV.
Pampered Princesses
Ming Lee and Aoki Lee Simmons: Born to fashion and hip-hop royalty Kimora Lee and Russell Simmons, these little stars aren't just princesses; they're moguls-in-training. And since the girls have been in the Phat Farm-Baby Phat spotlight practically since birth (their mom ends all of her runway shows with the girls in tow), it's no wonder that they now star in Baby Phat Girlz campaigns and host their own fashion shows.
Pampered Princesses
Ava Dash She was born into a pedigree fit for a princess, what with fashion designer mom Rachel Roy and music and fashion exec dad Damon Dash, not to mention "Uncle Jay-Z," who's godfather to her older brother, Damon Dash Jr. And Ava seems to enjoy living the good life in Manhattan with her mother and younger sister, Talullah, attending movie premieres, fashion shows, posing for magazines and traveling the world.
Pampered Princesses
Keke Palmer: Laying claim to the black Disney princess throne handed down by Raven-Symone, Keke stars in the hit show 'True Jackson, VP' while still making time for a film career ('Akeelah and the Bee') and a budding singing career (she sings the theme song for 'True' and her work has also appeared on the soundtrack to 'Night at the Museum'). Beyond her talent, she's growing into a media favorite as well, with images from her life out-and-about in L.A. constantly popping up in blogs and magazines.
Pampered Princesses
Malia and Sasha Obama: The unexpected stars of their dad's presidential campaign, Malia and Sasha Obama dazzled with their beauty, fun personalities and seemingly down-to-earth natures. Since their worldwide introduction nearly two years ago, everything about the first daughters, from their clothes to their hair to their school, has been incessantly documented and admired. But through it all they've seemed to handle the pressures of life in the spotlight with good nature and grace.
Pampered Princesses
Willow Smith: Blessed with her mother Jada Pinkett-Smith's beauty and dad Will Smith's personality, Willow is a princess to watch. She grabbed media attention in 2009 when she performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert with only half of a head of hair, a la older stars like Cassie and Rihanna. Along with brother Jaden, she's also a mini-philanthropist, serving as a Hasbro youth ambassador to project Zambia, which helps African kids orphaned by AIDS.
Pampered Princesses
Reginae Carter: Rapper Li'l Wayne's oldest child spent the first decade or so of her life in the background, but in the past couple of years she's stepped into the spotlight with appearances on her mom's reality show, 'Tiny and Toya,' performing in the hip-hop group OMG Girlz (which also features Tameka "Tiny" Cottle's daughter Zonnique) and even appearing onstage with her dad and rapper Drake during 2009's BET Awards.
Pampered Princesses
Vanessa and Angela Simmons: Like their younger cousins Ming and Aoki, Rev. Run of Run DMC's daughters were raised in hip-hop's royal family. And as the eldest heirs to the family fortune, the sisters have already hit the ground running to make the family proud. In the past few years they've starred in two reality shows ('Run's House' and spin-off 'Daddy's Girls'), launched a successful accessories line, Pastry, and grown into bonafide socialites, hitting shows during New York Fashion Week and attending events in Los Angeles.
Pampered Princesses
Yara Shahidi: With her starring role in 'Imagine That' alongside Eddie Murphy and Nicole Ari Parker and last year's Gap Kids campaign, Yara's well on her way to mainstream stardom. Born to model Keri Salter-Shahidi, she started modeling when she was just a baby with her mom (the two even appeared in a McDonald's commercial together) before venturing into acting. She's starring in another film this year, 'Unthinkable' with Sam Jackson, so we're betting this little princess is here to stay.
Pampered Princesses
Chudney Ross: The daughter of Diana Ross and music exec Robert Silberstein, Chudney makes no apologies for her privileged background or the instant fame it's brought her. Like older sis Tracee Ellis Ross, she doesn't let her superstar mother do all the work though. After graduating from Georgetown University she taught for years in public schools before moving to Los Angeles to take up her post in the city's famous daughter club.
Pampered Princesses
The First Lady made the comments during an hour-long question and answer session for the children of executive office employees who visited the White House on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
As a mother of three, I love to see children like Malia Obama becoming interested at such an early age in topics that will affect their lives and our world. In Malia's case, she's apparently curious about saving or protecting endangered animals. Other kids may be into saving the environment, helping the homeless, or ensuring the rights of children.
When young people are as precocious as Malia Obama, we should encourage their intellectual curiosity and not shut it down. Too often, as adults, we have the idea that "children should be seen and not heard." So we discourage young people from talking about or delving into weighty issues.
But whether it's touchy political matters, civic causes, notions about social justice, or even thorny economic topics, think of the benefits to the next generation if conscientious adults encouraged the children in our lives to explore these areas – and gave kids the freedom to try to solve the problems inherent in these weighty topics.
What are your thoughts? Are there some social, civic, economic, political or global subjects that kids just shouldn't learn about or talk about at an early age? Or should nothing be off limits?
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has also been featured in top newspapers including the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times bestseller,
'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'
Comments: (13)
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By: Charles on 4/25/2010 3:21AM
People are starving, homeless and babies dying as we speak is she so sheltered she is ignorant of that fact and yet she worries about tigers.The next time the first Lady makes a trip to Haiti she should take her kids. The only problem tigers have is there are too many people in the jungle.
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By: Joymom on 4/26/2010 1:07PM
There is enough room on this planet so that Malia can be concerned about endangered tigers. We do not all have to think nor act alike.
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By: Blenda Pilon on 4/25/2010 12:31PM
I'm not sure my last comments went received. I believe we are all ONE and are Spirits each with a purpose. Animals teach us how to love and connect with the Universe. Saving them from harm from poachers and unnecessary death is important. My friend, Julie Bindas, has successfully and voluntarily worked with pumas, tigers and all kinds of animals. When I met her she saved my very sick dog's life.
I would like to get her book called Thy Kingdom Come into the hands of Malia so they can become friends. Julie has also taught animal communication to elementary school students. She is coming to Maryland for her daughter's wedding soon so it would be great if Malia could meet her on her visit.
I will ask Julie to write. Her email is wildluvias@yahoo.com.
Genuinely,
Blenda Pilon
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By: charles on 4/26/2010 1:52PM
I'm going to keep this short and to the point. animals teach us only the strong survive, Eat or be eaten thats natures law.Why should we show concern for tigers when we slaughter cows by the millions.
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By: velvet1on1 on 4/26/2010 8:18AM
I'am not here to bash anyone's comments but Malia is a 10 year old child,looking at things from a child's point of view curious and asking questions. I'am sure that she know's that people are starving and children are dying etc.But as she grows into a young lady, she will take the gift of knowledge that has been bestowed within her and put it to great use,just as her mother and father has done in trying to help us in our country as best as they can to fix our problems here in the United States.Things can't fix themselves over night.As Maliah and many other children are curious and ask questions that makes them wonder this or that,it is good for children to communicate and ask their parents,whatever it is they want to to know.One person can't fix everything by him or herself alone.It's gonna have to take a big change, and for us to come out of our comfort zones and at least try to fix or solve the problems in our local communities across the United States.
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By: charles on 4/26/2010 1:52PM
well she better grow up fast cause life will soon hit her right between the eyes. I like for her to see what a tiger will do to a baby deer.
Keep it real people. life is not a fairy tale
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By: charles on 4/26/2010 1:53PM
No we do not have to think alike but be more productive about what are your concerns what good is the tigers if there is no people .we might have to eat the tigers. Tigers are so far down on the list of whats important below whales in fact. People are sleeping in their cars and you think I'm concerned about wildlife. Like I said the only problems tigers have is too many people in the jungle.
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By: Beautifulleo on 4/26/2010 2:59PM
For real? Seriously, you all are bashing a child for being concerned about another living creature? Some of you all are so hateful, mean-spirited, and pathetic that you all are to be pitied. Malia has more heart than a lot of you so called "adults".
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By: hey you! on 5/29/2010 6:54PM
my sentiments exactly! they are ready to pounce on anything, just so they can sprew sonething negative onto it. these people need help and i hope they get some soon!!! these people are the reason we have these troubled youth today. spreading their negativitiy instead of giving positive solutions and feedback.
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By: AL on 4/27/2010 12:43AM
I could not agree with u more Beautifulleo; the comments from some of u people out there is unbelievable. OMG, THIS IS A CHILD! Whle it is true that there are starving children, homeless people and I could go on and on, but for God's sake people, THIS IS A CHILD. And so what if she has a specific cause that "she" is concerned about and want to take a stand for; at least she is taking a concern on something, unlike "some" people who take a stand on "nothing". What a world we live in, when we take jabs at a child for having a heart and believe in something that is dear to her heart. I am in total disbelief that someone could say such hurtful things about a 10 year old child. As for the comment about her being sheltered; perhaps she is, but what does that have to do with this child and her desire to care about whatever cause she chooses. So sad...SHAME ON ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE MADE SUCH INSANE COMMENTS ABOUT A CHILD!
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