Barack and Michaëlle: Governing North America

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January 16, 2009

By Paul Cobb

Barack Obama and Michaelle Jean

When both of the heads of state of Canada and the United States happen to be Black, it is a rare convergence of leadership for the North American Continent.

Michaelle Jean, became the first Black Canadian Governnor General in 2005 and Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States of Amerca will become first Black President in 2009.

Both heads of state are facing severe economic crises. Both have roots outside of their countries. She is a Haitian refugee and an accomplished journalist. He has roots in Kenya through his father.

Jean, like Obama, came to power at age 47. And she has raised her 12 year-old daughter out of the lights of press attention. She could advise Michelle Obama on how to raise children in the White House away from the white hot glare of the media.

Her Excellency Michaelle Jean stands as titular commander in chief of the Canadian armed forces and opens sessions of Parliament. By law, every piece of legislation passed in the country must bear her signature or that of her lieutenant. Canada’s cultural ambassador to the world, Jean is fluent in French, English, Italian, Spanish and Creole.

But as with Michelle Obama and her daughters, Jean claims as her primary focus the creation of a loving home for Marie-Eden, who lives with her parents in Rideau Hall, the 88-acre official Governor General’s estate at 1 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Ontario.

Just last week Jean exercised her power by suspending Parliament. This week, Obama is calling for Illinois Governor Blagojevich to suspend his power by resigning.

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