The Obama Bump!

The Obama Bump!
As the couple met on the stage before a giant crowd, the husband kissed his wife’s cheek and they hugged.   The two exchanged a few quick words before the wife raised her right fist to her husband where he bumped it with his left.   She then flashed a quick thumbs up and headed offstage, as her husband patted her gently on the lower back as she exited.
This couple was Barack Obama and wife Michelle.   This exchange took place before the now President spoke to a Minneapolis crowd on June 3, 2008. This is the night he claimed the Democratic nomination for President.   Although there are many nonverbal cues taking place between President Obama and the First Lady; we are going to focus on the fist bump between the two.   President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama shared the “fist bump” that is commonly thought of as being for “friends only.”   However, they are more than just friends, they are married.   According to popular belief, the fist bump has become one of the most popular ways to greet friends or to celebrate victory.   In fact the fist bump is not new at all; it is actually older than me (24 years old).
What is the fist bump?   The fist bump, also known as the “dap”   or the “knuckles-to-knuckles tap”,   is most commonly known by college students and people in their 20s and 30s as “giving a pound.” It is often referred to as simply “pound it” as well.   The reasons for the pound vary according to the present situation. Some pound it to congratulate one in a highly competitive arena, celebrate sports victories, to agree on a good point, when one person one-ups the other while "bashing on" each other, or in a congratulatory way to say “good job.”   For others it might have started as a more trendy way to shake hands. In effect, by eliminating the palm to palm and figure touching the fist bump has become a better way to prevent the passing of germs.   Giving the pound is no different than a high five.   It is a friendly thing to do, and a form of...