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Fun fact: at my high school graduation, we were instructed to write down the phonetic spelling of our names so the vice principal who read them wouldn’t mess up our special day by mispronouncing them. I wrote down “Jamilah-Asali Isoké Lemieux, Esq.” because my dumb ass didn’t know what “esquire” meant, I thought it meant “the first” or “the notable.”
Fast forward fifteen years and Omarosa Manigault has, despite being a whole lot older than the average high school senior, decided that she, too, would like to bestow a title upon herself that doesn’t make any f*cking sense whatsoever.
The White House aide invited members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to sit down with her boss and former Apprentice co-star President Donald Trump—a gesture that was guaranteed to be met with great scrutiny, considering Trump is a racist-baiting Twitter troll who demanded the death penalty for five innocent Black and Latinx men and all previous outreach to African-Americans has been a total and complete shi*show. To add “LOL” to “SMH,” she signed the invitation “The Honorable Omarosa Manigualt.”
Girl, if you don’t get.
According to Politico, a number of CBC members—who are to be referred to as “The Honorable” in official correspondence, btw—were put off by how Manigualt identified herself, as “she hasn’t earned that title nor has she helped raise the profile of CBC issues within the White House as promised.”
In case you were wondering, no, the assistant to the President and director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison does not get to be addressed as “the Honorable.” An online guide to etiquette by Robert Hickey of The Protocol School of Washington outlines proper use of the title:
“In the United States the Honorable is a courtesy title used with current and retired high-ranking federal and state officials and judges, and with some local officials. As a general rule, those appointed by the President of the United States (and approved by the United States Senate) and anyone elected to public office are entitled to be addressed as the Honorable for life.”
Furthermore, even if one could argue (they can’t, but this is Trump’s America, so…) that the former reality star should be addressed as “The Honorable,” there is one person who cannot refer to her as such: Omarosa Manigault herself.
“One never uses the The Honorable when saying or writing one’s own name. So – never as the host on an invitation, never when signing one’s name, and never when introducing yourself,” writes Hickey.
As for how the invite was received beyond the headass signature, well, the meeting isn’t happening. The Guardian reports the CBC declined via a scathing letter from its chair: “Given the lack of response to any of the many concerns we have raised with you and your administration, we decline your invitation… I fail to see how a social gathering would benefit the policies we advocate for.”
Welp, The Honorable Cedric Richmond isn’t with the games and the regrettable photo-ops.
Her role in the Trump administration makes it plain that Manigault would do pretty much anything for a check and some attention, so kudos to her for making headlines once again. Perhaps she could sign her name “The Infamous” or “The Making Sure Y’all Don’t Forget Me” going forward, might be a little bit more accurate.
Her Excellency Jamilah Lemieux is the Vice President of News and Men’s Programming for iOne Digital.
