Michelle Obama opens up about enduring racism as US first lady

Former US first lady, Michelle Obama has opened up about her experience and the racism she faced as America’s first black first lady.

She was made the revelation in a public appearance in front of a crowd of about 8,500 at the Women’s Foundation of Colorado’s 30th anniversary event in Denver on Tuesday.

According to a report by The Denver Post, Michelle Obama spoke about being called an ape and people talking about her body, saying she wouldn't pretend the attacks didn't hurt.

WFCO President and CEO Lauren Casteel said Obama broke a glass ceiling by becoming the first black first lady, and asked which of the falling glass shards from that glass ceiling cut the deepest.

The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut, she said, noting comments comparing her to animals and criticizing her body.

Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won't see me for what I am because of my skin color.

She said women endure those cuts in so many ways that "we don't even notice we're cut," adding that women "are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. And we're still getting up."

The former first lady faced an onslaught of racist insults while her husband, former President Barack Obama, was in office. Even after the 2016 presidential election, two West Virginia officials lost their jobs for referring to Obama as an “ape in heels” in a Facebook post celebrating President Donald Trump’s victory.

Throughout Obama’s two terms, she shared during commencement addresses and in some interviews how she coped with the racist attacks she had to face.

When they go low, I go high, Obama told graduates of the historically black Jackson State University in April 2016.

That’s the choice Barack and I have made. That’s what’s kept us sane over the years.

The Post added, Obama said that she doesn’t pretend such vicious attacks don’t hurt her, because it lets those doing the hurting off the hook.

During the event, she also again stressed that she does not plan to run for public office.