. And I have to join in recognizing all the folks up in the stands -- the parents, siblings, friends -- (applause) -- so many others who have poured their love and support into these graduates every step of the way. Youve got families up in the stands who will support you every step of the way. Its the news, without the news. What kinds of issues would I take on? Let me start, of course, by thanking President Coico for that wonderful introduction, for her leadership here at City College, for this honorary degree. If we dont agree with every last bit of their approach. Just one. Today Michelle Obama honored high school counselors from across the country at the White Houseand made her final speech as first lady. No, here in America, we dont let our differences tear us apart. And believe me, I know this from personal experience. Former President Barack Obama gave the virtual commencement address at a ceremony for graduates of historically black colleges and universities on Saturday. (Applause.) Back when my husband first started campaigning for President, folks had all sorts of questions of me: What kind of First Lady would I be? You speak more than 100 different languages -- whoa, just stop there. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. Not just when my husband or somebody you like is on the ballot. Michelle Obama: (11:00) (Applause.) It is an honor to be here with you to help celebrate this amazing milestone in your lives. And that's why we support the participate of women is parliaments and peace processes, schools and the economy. Michelle Obama delivered her final commencement address as first lady on Friday to thousands graduating from the City College of New York in Harlem. City College of New York (June 3, 2016) In her final commencement address as first lady, Michelle Obama spoke to the City College of New York's graduates about how differences make us. In fact, I sometimes have that instinct myselfrun! And all of this used to really get to me. Resources and Support for College Students, Resources and Support for Conservatory Students, Oberlin Marks 2020 Commencement Weekend with Virtual Celebrations, College Announces 2019 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients, Main Library Will Be Named for Activist, Alumna Mary Church Terrell. Thank you so much. MRS. OBAMA: Well, thank you. Graduates, its all important and we need every bit of it. ), And all of that is going to be a heavy burden to carry. Michelle Obama's commencement speeches: a compendium of excerpts. Apple executive Lisa Jackson will give the keynote Commencement address; scientist Joanne Chory and broadcast journalist Robert Krulwich 69 will also receive honorary degrees. And finally, think about how even with all the gridlock and polarization in Washington, we have made so much change these past six years: 12 million new jobs. So proud of you all back there. You got to be at the table. (Applause.) If anybody is wondering about the quality of education, just listening to those two speakers lets you know whats happening here. Hey everybody. ), I also have to recognize the Concert Choir. Because here is the truth -- if you want to have a say in your community, if you truly want the power to control your own destiny, then youve got to be involved. The main library in Mudd Center will be named in honor of 1884 graduate Mary Church Terrell, an educator, feminist, civil rights activist, and a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the NAACP. Well done! This is historical material frozen in time. (Laughter.). In that speech, Michelle said Maya's poem, "Phenomenal Woman," "spoke to the essence of black women." "As a young woman, I needed that message," she said. And somehow, you still found time to give back to your communities - tutoring young people, reading to kids, volunteering at hospitals. I am so proud to honor these American heroes todayand every dayfor their extraordinary service to our nation. Studying late into the night, early in the morning; on subways and buses, and in those few precious minutes during breaks at work. See, all of you know, for centuries, this city has been the gateway to America for so many striving, hope-filled immigrants -- folks who left behind everything they knew to seek out this land of opportunity that they dreamed of. ), Before I begin, I just want to say that my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Eric Marks, Jr. Michelle Obama Commencement Speech Transcript 2020, Congressional Testimony & Hearing Transcripts. So if you hear people expressing bigoted views or talking down to those people, it is up to you to call them out because we wont solve anything. It can hard but you have to keep on going. And even after my father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and he struggled to walk, relying on crutches just to get himself out of bed each morning, my father hardly ever missed a day of work. Mike Judge on crooked paths UCSD Commencement 2009: Mike Judge (Applause.) (Applause.). Thats whats always happened here at Tuskegee. You know, it's hard to believe that it has been eight years since I first came to this convention to talk with you about why I thought my husband should be President. And let me tell you, you should feel so proud of making it to this day. Oh and it felt like my whole world was collapsing in on itself. Are you sure? And, graduates, with a degree from this amazing school, and all the status and connections that degree confers, you dont get to have no hands. Look at you! ), And, graduates, I think we should give another shout-out to your families, of course, all the families. There were the so-called scientific studies that said that black mens brains were smaller than white mens. Former President Barack Obama spoke Saturday at "Graduate Together: High School Class of 2020 Commencement," an event organized by XQ Institute, a think tank that works with schools, in. It starts where change always starts in your own home, in your own social circles, in your own neighborhoods, at your own dinner tables. "I want our young people to know. Back in those days, I had a lot of sleepless nights, worrying about what people thought of me, wondering if I might be hurting my husbands chances of winning his election, fearing how my girls would feel if they found out what some people were saying about their mom. Industry-leading accurate legal transcription to ensure you dont miss a statement. Or when they opened your eyes to an injustice you never knew existed. You are the living, breathing proof that the American Dream endures in our time. CNN Read former first lady Michelle Obama's speech from the 2020 Democratic National Convention, as prepared for delivery: Good evening, everyone. Sponsors. So Id say that debate was pretty polarized, wouldnt you? He kept fulfilling his double duty long after he hung up his uniform. Okay, youre bright. Because heres the thing -- the road ahead is not going to be easy. No, not when the earth is warming and the oceans are rising. (Applause.) (Laughter.) They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money. You see, those Airmen always understood that they had a double duty -- one to their country and another to all the black folks who were counting on them to pave the way forward. (Applause.). You see, graduates, I didnt start out as the fully-formed First Lady who stands before you today. I want you all to stay true to the most real, most sincere, most authentic parts of yourselves. Good luck on the road ahead. Over the years, Ive occasionally run into the noise myself. ), I also want to take a moment on this Memorial Day to pay tribute to all of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that we could sit here today, at peace, with rights and freedoms that others around the world can only dream of. (Applause. (Applause.) The statements made by Michelle Obama are inspiring and appealing to a majority of the young . Thats just the way the process works. (Applause.) Michelle Obama calls for sticking to the personal individuality. And my husband and I know how frustrating that experience can be. Let me just take it in. Those moments when your classmates showed you that your stubborn opinion wasnt all that well-informed -- mmm hmm. Read the latest blog posts from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Check out the most popular infographics and videos, View the photo of the day and other galleries, Tune in to White House events and statements as they happen, See the lineup of artists and performers at the White House, Eisenhower Executive Office Building Tour. I think your valedictorian put it best -- and this is a quote -- he said, The sole irreplaceable component of my CCNY experience came from learning alongside people with life experiences strikingly different from my own. He said, I have learned that diversity in human experience gives rise to diversity in thought, which creates distinct ideas and methods of problem solving. That was an okay quote. And youll be flying through the air, out of this world -- free. She appealed directly to the youth facing the incoming . Michelle Obama: The story of our families. Yet when they hit the ground, folks treated them like they were nobody -- as if their very existence meant nothing. I am confident in your ability to do amazing things. Its the story of the son of Polish immigrants named Jonas Salk who toiled for years in a lab until he discovered a vaccine that saved countless lives. And that is how all those infusions of new cultures and ideas, generation after generation, created the matchless alchemy of our melting pot and helped us build the strongest, most vibrant, most prosperous nation on the planet, right here. "I want you all to stay true to the most real, most sincere, most authentic parts of yourselves" ("Remarks by the First Lady at Tuskegee University Commencement Address" par. And I'm so glad to be here. And I want to thank President Tatum for her leadership and for that very kind and generous introduction. Epic increases in college financial aid. Michelle Obama's Motivational Speech | Best Advice On How To Succeed In Life GOOD VIBES 11.4K subscribers Subscribe 6.6K views 2 years ago Michelle Obama Speech And Best Advice On How To. You all have come here from all across the country to study, to learn, maybe have a little fun along the way -- from freshman year in Adams or Younge Hall -- (applause) -- to those late night food runs to The Coop. It was also Michelle Obama's first commencement address as First Lady. And I know that these days, that can seem counterintuitive, because we live in such an instantaneous age. And I hope that youre excited to get started on that next chapter. But remember that one rule is keep mom happy. (Laughter.) (Applause. Yeah, this is your day. His commencement speech during the Graduation 2020 event was a call to action. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. First Lady Michelle Obama. And at the end of the day, by staying true to the me Ive always known, I found that this journey has been incredibly freeing. Transcript: Read Michelle Obama's full speech from the 2016 DNC It certainly caught the attention of the press both on Monday and when the first lady tested it out last month during a. Michelle Obama actively used pathos in the commencement speech because her key message was that Spelman graduates needed not only to develop their personalities but also help others. Thank you so much. The student-led initiative to have her speak included a YouTube video, Facebook campaign and more than 900 Valentine's Day cards. (Laughter and applause.) Beyonc Commencement Speech | Dear Class Of 2020 Beyonc 25.6M subscribers Subscribe 90K 1.2M views 2 years ago Dear Class of 2020 is a virtual commencement celebration bringing together. -- Below is the full text of Michelle Obama 's speech to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 25, 2016. It can make you feel like your life somehow doesnt matter -- that youre like the invisible man that Tuskegee grad Ralph Ellison wrote about all those years ago. I really dont want to follow those two. Whoa. In tones both aspirational and political, Michelle Obama on Friday used her last commencement address as first lady to salute graduates of the City College of New York as "living, breathing. Their legacy is very much your legacy and your inheritance. A woman who is, first and foremost, a mom. 10 Nobel Prize winners, at least 11 Oscar recipients, and secures nearly $60 million per year in research awards that address pressing needs and lead to improvements in people's lives and communities around the world. This is it. Thank you for creating these fabulous individuals. But when some of them got their first bad grade, they just fell apart. Because they knew it wasnt enough to welcome women and African American students to Oberlin if they would only graduate in four years to be second-class citizens in their own country. And I decided to tackle them in the way that felt most authentic to me -- in a way that was both substantive and strategic, but also fun and, hopefully, inspiring. Ask yourself, do you know where your polling place is? And in so many ways, that never-failing miracle -- the constant work to rise above the bumps in our path to greater freedom for our brothers and sisters -- that has always been the story of African Americans here at Tuskegee. Weve both felt the sting of those daily slights throughout our entire lives -- the folks who crossed the street in fear of their safety; the clerks who kept a close eye on us in all those department stores; the people at formal events who assumed we were the help-- and those who have questioned our intelligence, our honesty, even our love of this country. Not when too many young people still languish in communities ripped apart by violence and despair. Many of you have lain awake at night wondering how on Earth you were going to support your parents and your kids and still pay tuition. So its your time. (Applause.) So we cannot allow our hurt and our frustration to turn us against each other, to cancel somebody elses point of view. You see, its wonderful to volunteer at your local homeless shelterplease do thatbut you also need to attend the city council meetings and make sure the zoning laws dont shut that shelter down. I want to start by thanking President Krislov for that very kind introduction, as well as all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Oberlin. That kind of thinking only divides us and distracts us from our higher calling, it is the gum in the wheel of progress. Section 107, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Or consider the story of the former CEO of Intel, Andrew Grove, class of 1960. Its your story and the story of those who came before you at this school. So please enjoy this moment. (Applause.) (Applause. Transcribe Your Own Content Try Rev for free and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. Today, you can help your younger cousin fill out her college financial aid form so that she could be sitting in those chairs one day. Historic agreements to fight climate change. (Applause.) There is no substitute for it. There will always be those who want to keep you silent. When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them boy and ticketed them for the most minor offenses. Obama touched on the background of the school, the background of her own family and how it will inform the future of the graduates. That is the power of our differences to make us smarter and more creative. Discover why Rev is the #1 speech-to-text service in the world. And many of you know what its like to live not just month to month or day to day, but meal to meal. Debating each others ideas, pushing each other to question old assumptions and consider new perspectives. Theyre rooted in decades of structural challenges that have made too many folks feel frustrated and invisible. Thank you so. (Applause.) But when anger is focused, when its channeled into something more, oh, that is the stuff that changes history. I dont think so. Follow whats happening in your city hall, your statehouse, Washington, D.C. He was a Hungarian immigrant whose harrowing escape from Nazism and communism shaped both his talent for business and his commitment to philanthropy. And no matter what path you choose, I want you to make sure its you choosing it, and not someone else. And sometimes its almost impossible to move upward at all, because if youre required to work during a pandemic, but dont have enough protective equipment or health insurance from your employer or paid sick leave, what is more essential, your work or your life. But in every election at every level, all of the time. Dont deprive yourselves of all that. SOAPStone Speaker: Michelle Obama Occasion: City College . God bless you, graduates. The founders of this school didnt just decide to admit women and African American students and then pat themselves on the back and say job well done. No, even in those early days, folks here at Oberlin were attending anti-slavery meetings, shivering on rough wooden benches in unheated, unfinished buildings. (Applause.) So I just want to take it all in. Michelle Obama: (08:23) So I took on issues that were personal to me -- issues like helping families raise healthier kids, honoring the incredible military families Id met on the campaign trail, inspiring our young people to value their education and finish college. Thank you. Im trying to cover you. (Applause.) Ive seen you speaking out in gun violence and fight climate change. And I think this was the perfect place to be, because this is my last chance to share my love and admiration, and hopefully a little bit of wisdom with a graduating class. (Applause.) It was necessary to motivate students to take actions appealing to their emotions. And you deserve every last one of the successes that I know you will have. And I know that because Ive seen it myself, not just as a student working my way through school, but years later when I became -- before I came to the White House and I worked as a dean at a college. What do I care about? 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