You all have worked so hard and come so far to reach this milestone, so I know this is a big day for all of you and your families, and for everyone at this school who supported you on this journey. I felt it most profoundly when my father and my best friend died within a year of each other. Or you might remember the on-stage celebratory fist bump between me and my husband after a primary win that was referred to as a terrorist fist jab. And over the years, folks have used plenty of interesting words to describe me. You've worked hard for those seats! Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall, they were all angry, but those folks were also driven by compassion, by principle, by hope. (Laughter.) The two-hour event, "Show Me Your. 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 in the years before Dr. King addressed those Oberlin graduates in 65, he and his colleagues faced fire hoses and dogs in Montgomery, beatings on a bridge in Selma, insults and assaults as they sat quietly at lunch counters and marched peacefully down public streets. They didnt just give up and retreat to the comfortable company of like-minded folks, because they understood that this is how democracy operates. Think about those elections in 2008 and 2012 when idealistic young people like all of you worked long hours for little money and less sleep, pounding the pavement for months, talking to folks about what was at stake. Youre here! Just keep working hard and keep the faith. And, graduates, you all have faced challenges far greater than anything I or my family have ever experienced, challenges that most college students could never even imagine. Not when women still make less than men for the same work. (Applause.) And think about President Roosevelts struggle to pass the New Deal a few decades later. Michelle Obama: (11:51) First lady Michelle Obama addressed a crowd of graduates and their families at the 2015 commencement ceremony at Tuskegee University, in Alabama, describing her personal battle with . This is historical material frozen in time. (Applause.). ), I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. It means adding your voice to our national conversation, speaking out for our most cherished values of liberty, opportunity, inclusion, and respect - the values that youve been living here at this school. But, graduates, today, I want to be very clear that those feelings are not an excuse to just throw up our hands and give up. So its up to you to speak up when you or someone, you know isnt being heard, its up to you to speak out against cruelty, dishonesty, bigotry, all of it. I wanted to be here to celebrate all of you, this school, this city. The extraordinary challenges of COVID-19 called for creative planning to send off graduates in a meaningful way. Ask your friends, your family, ask everyone you see in your neighborhood. The great moments of our history are not decades in our past; theyre happening right now, today, in our lifetimes. To celebrate the graduates whose final years of school have been upended, former first lady Michelle Obama and former president Barack Obama are taking part in a YouTube special. . What happens at every school board meeting, every legislative sessionthat is your concern. Read the full transcript of her speech here. Make your content more accessible to people with disabilities. After all, Lucy Stone spent years speaking out for partial suffrage - for allowing women to vote only on things like school issues and local issuesbecause she realized that full suffrage was just too controversial. And most of all, youve got yourselves -- and all of the heart, and grit, and smarts that got you to this day. Michelle Obama: (03:42) ), Are you planning to rally for marriage equality on the steps of the Supreme Court? Let me just take it in. If you dont feel safe driving your own car in your own neighborhood or going for a jog or buying some candy at 7-eleven or bird watching. The educational theater student from right here in Harlem whos already an award-winning playwright and recently spoke at the White House. I understand he was such a talented young man, a promising aerospace engineer who was well on his way to achieving his dream of following in the footsteps of the Tuskegee Airmen. (Applause.). Better yet, run for office yourself. (Applause.) She blew it out of the water. ), And of course, let us not forget Elizabeth Aklilu for her amazing performance of the National Anthem earlier today. (Applause.) You will feel the bumps smooth off. ), And Im also a little giddy to be joined on stage by another one of my heroes, Marian Wright Edelman. Calculate how much it costs to transcribe, caption, or subtitle your content. (Applause. Michelle Obama: (15:17) It is such a -- you all, rest yourselves. So for me, being Mom-in-Chief is, and always will be, job number one. (Applause.) The truth is when it comes to all those tiny stories of hard work and self determination that wed like to tell ourselves about America. For others, it was the notion that Obama's speech, tied to the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. . And somehow, you still found time to give back to your communities - tutoring young people, reading to kids, volunteering at hospitals. But that has only happened because folks like all of you left their comfort zones and made their voices heard. (Laughter.) But that experience gave me a kind of clarity with everything and pieces around me, I had to forge a new path. Many suffered verbal abuse at the hands of their instructors. (Applause.) Transcript of First Lady Michelle Obama's Commencement Address May 25, 2015 Communications Staff For immediate release May 25, 2015 Remarks by the First Lady of the United States 11:05 A.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Hi! But I also imagine that you might think about all that history, all those heroes who came before you -- you might also feel a little pressure, you know -- pressure to live up to the legacy of those who came before you; pressure to meet the expectations of others. You got to be at the table. Whoa. As many of you know, I grew up in a working class family in Chicago. Easily integrate Rev using our robust APIs to start building your product quickly. He said " this pandemic has fully finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing .". And in many ways, this is a big day for me too. The student-led initiative to have her speak included a YouTube video, Facebook campaign and more than 900 Valentine's Day cards. I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. By channeling that discomfort you feel into activism and a democracy that was designed to respond to those who vote. And I know that these little indignities are obviously nothing compared to what folks across the country are dealing with every single day -- those nagging worries that youre going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason; the fear that your job application will be overlooked because of the way your name sounds; the agony of sending your kids to schools that may no longer be separate, but are far from equal; the realization that no matter how far you rise in life, how hard you work to be a good person, a good parent, a good citizen -- for some folks, it will never be enough. Yes! But these folks didnt let the ugliness and the obstacles deter them. (Applause.) (Applause.) So if youre spending a lot of time, just hashtaging and posting right now thats useful, especially during a pandemic, but its only a beginning. They are smart enough to see through that noise, and they are so hungry for voices that rise above itsmart, compassionate, thoughtful voices like yours. (Applause. Transcribe Your Own Content Try Rev for free and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. I know that you can climb a long way up the ladder selling falsehoods and blaming others for your own shortcomings, shunning those with less privilege and advantage. (Applause.) They built coalitions with folks like them and different from them. Even today, there are still folks questioning his citizenship. I am proud to have this degree -- very proud. First Lady Michelle Obama delivered one of her final commencement speeches to the Santa Fe Indian School Thursday. Michelle Obama Commencement Speech Transcript 2020, Congressional Testimony & Hearing Transcripts. Sixteen million people who finally have health insurance. MRS. OBAMA: Hi! Think about the millions of folks who got out to vote on Election Day, waiting in the cold and rain in lines that stretched for hours, refusing to leave until they made their voices heard. Spent hours practicing and performing. Just look at the story of Oberlin College. You went to countless happy hours, and happy-happy hours at the Feve I hear(laughter)Im going to try one of those burgers for lunch today; thats all Im going to have(laughter)where of course, parents, thats where they studied some more. (Applause.) Oh, my goodness. Not here. Now, will this be easy? Woo! "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. Because no matter what happened, I had the peace of mind of knowing that all of the chatter, the name calling, the doubting -- all of it was just noise. Theyre rooted in decades of structural challenges that have made too many folks feel frustrated and invisible. ), And all of that is going to be a heavy burden to carry. I have so much faith in who you will be. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. So I want you all to go out there. Because I know that there is no better way to celebrate this great country than being here with you. Its folks all across the country who for too long have had the luxury and privilege of looking away. 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. But unlike so many other young people, you have already developed the resilience and the maturity that you need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off and keep moving through the pain, keep moving forward. So the question is, how will we respond? First lady Michelle Obama gave the commencement address to the 2015 graduating class of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, in which she talks about growing into her official role, criticism . Michelle Obama at City College of New York in 2016. This is a time in your life when it feels like everything is turned upside down and perhaps youre wishing that things could just go back to the way they were. Thank you. (Applause.). (Laughter.). Thank you so much. And our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with his family, his friends, and this entire community. It does not work if you disengage from the process. (Applause.). First of all, it is beyond a pleasure and an honor to be here to celebrate the City College of New York Class of 2016! Transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement address Chicago Tribune Jun 10, 2015 at 9:37 pm MRS. OBAMA: Wow! And let me tell you, you should feel so proud of making it to this day. It will be stressful and frustrating, and youll probably have to make some painful compromises along the way. God bless. Michelle Obama: (07:10) As he mentioned, my office did this wonderful competition to highlight colleges that are helping underserved young people graduate from high school and then go on to higher education. (Applause.) Instead, its important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages. You may also be feeling some real anxiety about venturing out into the world beyond these walls. And the answers to those questions have resulted in the woman who stands before you today. So, yeah, I planted a garden, and hula-hooped on the White House Lawn with kids. 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. (Applause.) But, graduates, let me tell you, you should never, ever be embarrassed by those struggles. We fill our Twitter feed with voices that confirm, rather than challenge, our views. Somehow, you still managed to do prestigious internships and research fellowships, and join all kinds of clubs and activities. And, graduates, thats what we need from all of you. Generation after generation, students here have shown that same grit, that same resilience to soar past obstacles and outrages -- past the threat of countryside lynchings; past the humiliation of Jim Crow; past the turmoil of the Civil Rights era. 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. (Applause.) And while neither of my parents went past high school, let me tell you, they saved up every penny that my dad earned at his city job because they were determined to send me to college. Its the story of the son of immigrant -- Jamaican immigrants named Colin Powell who became a four star general, Secretary of State, and a role model for young people across the country. His commencement speech during the Graduation 2020 event was a call to action. Thats my story. I am confident in your ability to do amazing things. On Saturday evening, May 16, Barack Obama delivered a commencement address to the high school Class of 2020, whose graduations were cancelled due to coronavirus. Thats just the way the process works. Public education is our greatest pathway to opportunity in America. Probably not. A woman who is, first and foremost, a mom. (Applause.) Are you thinking of teaching in an under-served school? He kept fulfilling his double duty long after he hung up his uniform. And believe me, I understand that kind of pressure. After being surrounded by people who are so dedicated to serving others and making the world a better place, you might feel a little discouraged by the polarization and gridlock that too often characterize our politics and civic life. (Applause.). Some of you have risked the rejection of your families to pursue your education. Maybe it feels like youre supposed to go to law school -- but what you really want to do is to teach little kids. Because so often, throughout our history, those have been the places where progress really happensthe places where minds are changed, lives transformed, where our great American story unfolds. Without mentioning the presumptive Republican presidential candidate by name, the first lady made one of the most . Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. And Im honored to be here to share the beginning of the next phase of that journey with you. Now, some folks criticized my choices for not being bold enough. I asked folks across the country to wear their alma maters T-shirts for College Signing Day. Shake things up. Michelle Obama's speech came more than a year after the university's 260-piece band marched in the inaugural parade for her husband, the nation's first black president. (Laughter and applause.) (Applause.). Now, the process of democracy might not always be as fast or as smooth as wed like. MRS. OBAMA: I love that. The story of Tuskegee is full of stories like theirs -- men and women who came to this city, seized their own futures, and wound up shaping the arc of history for African Americans and all Americans. Yay, moms! Think about those students who made bricks with their bare hands. Instead, after he left the Army, he finished his education. Those Airmen who rose above brutal discrimination -- they did it so the whole world could see just how high black folks could soar. Beautiful song. Not just when my husband or somebody you like is on the ballot. And I want to thank President Tatum for her leadership and for that very kind and generous introduction. (Applause.) 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. And most importantly, it couldnt hold me back. Its okay if you dont understand exactly what youre feeling, were all sorting through this in real time. (Applause. Because that President will ultimately choose the justices who decide those cases in the first place. 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. I worked with Congress on legislation, gave speeches to CEOs, military generals and Hollywood executives. They were leading civil rights marches and sit-ins, organizing exchange programs with historically black colleges and universities, and so much more. (Applause.). Michelle Obama: (06:00) And while were reaching out, please lets give everyone whos working toward progress space to be themselves. (Applause.) Thank you for creating these fabulous individuals. Very proud. (Applause.) And I'm so glad to be here. Youve got to vote, vote, vote, vote. They act as if name-calling is an acceptable substitute for thoughtful debate, as if anger and intolerance should be our default state rather than the optimism and openness that have always been the engine of our progress. And dont let anybody tell you differently. 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. Here they were, trained to operate some of the most complicated, high-tech machines of their day -- flying at hundreds of miles an hour, with the tips of their wings just six inches apart. (Applause.) 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