(Laughter.). So what does that mean for your time? It will be stressful and frustrating, and youll probably have to make some painful compromises along the way. (Applause.) Not when too many young people still languish in communities ripped apart by violence and despair. And as the years pass, youll feel the same freedom that Charles DeBow did when he was taking off in that airplane. (Applause. The Complete Text Transcripts of Over 100 Barack Obama Speeches Where women are full participants in a country's politics or economy, societies are continue likely the succeed. Michelle Obama: (15:17) Thats just the way the process works. And youve taken so many different paths to this moment. I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values -- and follow my own moral compass -- then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own. That is your story, graduates, and that is the story of your families. FDRs plan for Social Security was called socialist, a fraud on the workingman. One opponent even stated that it would end the progress of a great country. So that debate was pretty contentious, too. The vibrancy that comes from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the chance to leave this world a little better than you found it. Check out our hand-picked selection of commencement addresses, going back to 1774. Make sure the folks who represent you share your values and aspirations. Finally, graduates, our greatness has never, ever come from sitting back and feeling entitled to what we have. To have you be seen, but not heard. Read Obama's inspiring commencement address to 2020's high school graduates. 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. 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. (Applause.) See, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are open-minded and big-hearted. That leads me to my second lesson, in an uncertain world time tested values like honesty and integrity, empathy and compassion. Love you all. (Applause.) ), And finally, while peaceful protest can be powerful, if we truly want to reform our criminal justice system, then we need to come together and do the hard work of changing our laws and policies to reflect our values. Michelle Obama: (01:02) So he dug through trash piles and collected old bottles, and tea cups, and fruit jars to use in his first experiments. I also want to tell you how proud and how moved I am to receive this honorary degree from this particular schoolthe first college in America to officially embrace the admission of black students, and the first co-ed school to grant bachelors degrees to women. (Applause.) Oberlin is likely the only college in America that I could have attended nearly two centuries ago, and I am honored to be part of the extraordinary legacy of this great institution. In fact, I think Dr. Martin Luther King described it well in his commencement address in 65 when he declared, Today you bid farewell to the safe security of the academic environment. They spat on her. STUDENT: We love you so much, Michelle! Michelle Obama Video screenshot Democratic leaders such as Michelle. You've got a long day ahead. 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. . Woo! Michelle Obama: (06:00) Michelle Obama delivered her final commencement address as first lady on Friday to thousands graduating from the City College of New York in Harlem. But youve also got to elect good people to your school board and state legislature, because they decide whether you have the resources you need to inspire and empower your students. (Applause.) She urged the 493 members of the school's first full graduating class to give back to their communities: Read the full transcript of her video message here. Speech-to-Text live streaming for live captions, powered by the worlds leading speech recognition API. You might be tempted to just recreate what you had here at Oberlinto find a community of like-minded folks and work with them on causes you care about, and just tune out all of the noise. Patrick meehan would sign of michelle obama signed. No, not when many young people just like you -- the men and women we honor this Memorial Dayhave sacrificed their lives for your freedom to make your voice heard. What happens at every school board meeting, every legislative sessionthat is your concern. 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. (Applause. (Applause. (Applause.). 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. Just one. Now, will this be easy? A lot of us are reckoning with the most basic essence of who we are. (Applause.). (Applause.). They even threw prayer books at her as she tried to speak. And, graduates, that is how you will carry on the proud legacy of this great institution for generations to come. Probably not. (Applause.) Maybe they just arrived here recently, determined to give you a better life. 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. Yay, moms! Commencement Speeches First Lady Michelle Obama at Bowie State University Commencement First lady Michelle Obama delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of. But that is a heavy way to live. God bless you, graduates. So its your time. (Applause.) So there will be times, just like for those Airmen, when you feel like folks look right past you, or they see just a fraction of who you really are. 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. Instead, its important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages. Congratulations again on your graduation. Youve got it in you. So throughout this journey, I have learned to block everything out and focus on my truth. 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. It will be hard. God bless. (Applause.) By channeling that discomfort you feel into activism and a democracy that was designed to respond to those who vote. Michelle Obama's commencement speeches: a compendium of excerpts. 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. Michelle Obama's CCNY Commencement Speech - OUT LINE Prompt: How do Michelle Obama's rhetorical choices within her speech affect the overall message? (Laughter.) Look at where were gathered today. Who are the incumbents and the candidates at every level of government, not just president, but state representative, city council, prosecutors, sheriff. (Applause.) We want everything right awaywhether its an Uber or your favorite TV showand we want it tailored to our exact preferences and beliefs. "If the world is going to get better, it's up to you," former president Barack Obama said in his address to graduating high school students on May 16. Look at who you are. (Laughter.). Because heres the thing -- the road ahead is not going to be easy. 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. In fact, I sometimes have that instinct myselfrun! You deserve this celebration. So please enjoy this moment. 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. I also want to recognize Senator Schumer, Chancellor Milliken, Trustee Shorter, Edward Plotkin, as well as your amazing valedictorian, Antonios Mourdoukoutas -- did I get it right? Lets let our graduates rest themselves. And, graduates, I really want you all to know that there is a reason why, of all of the colleges and universities in this country, I chose this particular school in this particular city for this special moment. And you have as much responsibility and just as much power to wake up and play your part in our great American story. Speech-to-Text API for pre-recorded audio, powered by the worlds leading speech recognition engine. (Applause.) I have seen how leaders who rule by intimidation - leaders who demonize and dehumanize entire groups of people - often do so because they have nothing else to offer. Instead they will make assumptions about who they think you are based on their limited notion of the world. But most of all, I want to acknowledge all of you - the brilliant, talented, ambitious, accomplished, and all-around outstanding members of the class of 2016! She blew it out of the water. But I also worked to ensure that my efforts would resonate with kids and families -- and that meant doing things in a creative and unconventional way. And if you think todays gridlock is bad, let me remind you that it was a good century between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the passage of the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Michelle Obama: (09:57) These are just four of the nearly 4,000 unique and amazing stories in this graduating class - stories that have converged here at City College, this dynamic, inclusive place where you all have had the chance to really get to know each other, to listen to each others languages, to enjoy each others food -- lasagna, obviously -- (laughter) -- music, and holidays. Maybe your family has been in this city for generations, or maybe, like my family, they came to this country centuries ago in chains. MRS. OBAMA: Hi! Michelle Obama gave a powerful commencement address to the high school and college graduates in the class of 2020. Let me just say a few thank yous. Create a better, more engaging experience for every student. Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address online to the graduating class of 2020. (Applause.) And here in America, we dont give in to our fears. I love you all. You made it! Michelle Obama: (11:51) Convert your audio or video into 99% accurate text by a professional. 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. No, our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and take nothing for granted -- folks who work hard for what they have then reach back and help others after them. Michelle obama speech transcript 2020 AP-21. (Applause.) . It is such a -- you all, rest yourselves. They were joining the Equal Suffrage League and speaking out for womens right to vote. No, no, I had my share of bumps along the way. Michelle Obama: (03:42) How are you all doing? (Applause.). We need you to channel the magic of Tuskegee toward the challenges of today. But out in the real world, there are plenty of people who think very differently than you do, and they hold their opinions just as passionately. Peloton: Get a great cardio workout at home with the Peloton Bike!Right now Peloton has a limited-time offer: get $100 off accessories when you purchase the Peloton Bike! Were seeing the consequences of that right now. These are uncomfortable questions, questions that have dogged this country for generations, but are now staring us in the face. Every time we look at our phones or hear helicopters circling our neighborhoods. I really am. I did some Mom Dancing on TV. (Applause.). 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. But if you hold strong with the same faith that carried all of those giants before you toward real measurable progress, you will change the course of history. Heres the last part. Sojourner Truth was angry. Its up to you to couple every protest with plans and policies, with organizing and mobilizing and voting and thats my final piece of advice. Full Transcript of Michelle Obama's D.N.C. ), Back then, black soldiers faced all kinds of obstacles. Michelle Obama calls for sticking to the personal individuality. Michelle Obama: (14:05) Your day. It can hard but you have to keep on going. At the White House we have all kinds of ways. You have to persuade them, and you have to compromise with them. Graduates, its all important and we need every bit of it. (Applause. I did my research. (Applause.) For those of you who feel invisible, please know that your story matters, your ideas matter, your experiences matter, your vision for what our world can and should be matters. 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. Because we know that our greatness comes when we appreciate each others strengths, when we learn from each other, when we lean on each other. 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. ), I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. 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. So graduates, I hope that what youre going through right now can be your wake up call that it pushes you, not just to think about what kind of career you want to build. 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. And my husband and I know how frustrating that experience can be. (Applause.) Now, Im not naive. "I want our young people to know. What ideas are we missing? Youve got to vote, vote, vote, vote. Thats just the way things are now. Mike Judge on crooked paths UCSD Commencement 2009: Mike Judge (Laughter.) Get in there. And you dont have to be President of the United States to start addressing things like poverty, and education, and lack of opportunity. And whether you played sports yourself, or sang in the choir, or played in the band, or joined a fraternity or sorority -- after today, all of you will take your spot in the long line of men and women who have come here and distinguished themselves and this university. MICHELLE OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) There Is Nothing New Under the Sun Writing on the Wall Transcript of Michelle Obama s commencement address June 10th, 2015 - Michelle Obama returns to her South Side home to deliver the commencement bespoke.cityam.com 1 / 10 It made me wonder, just how are people seeing me. 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. Sponsors. Meet the change Inside Takes on the Latest Stories . And most of all, youve got yourselves -- and all of the heart, and grit, and smarts that got you to this day. Spent hours practicing and performing. (Laughter.) (Applause.). Good luck on the road ahead. (Applause.) Look, Ive been there many times in my life. (Applause.) Studying late into the night, early in the morning; on subways and buses, and in those few precious minutes during breaks at work. You've worked hard for those seats! 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. Michelle Obama: (08:23) That is how you will do your part to live up to the oath that you all will take here today - the oath taken by generations of graduates before you to make your city and your world greater, better, and more beautiful.. It does not work if you disengage from the process. I asked folks across the country to wear their alma maters T-shirts for College Signing Day. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. Would I be more like Laura Bush, or Hillary Clinton, or Nancy Reagan? 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 . And all of this used to really get to me. Today, I want to suggest that if you truly wish to carry on the Oberlin legacy of service and social justice, then you need to run to, and not away from, the noise. It needed to be voiced, not just on the streets, but in the halls of power. First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the class of 2015. (Applause.). Staying up late writing those papers, studying for exams. Historic agreements to fight climate change. Build with the best speech-to-text APIs around. Maybe it feels like youre supposed to go to law school -- but what you really want to do is to teach little kids. So I am here today to talk to you, not as the former first lady, but as a real life person, a mother, a mentor, a citizen concerned about your future and the future of our country. Even today, there are still folks questioning his citizenship. I want you to listen to those thoughts. (Applause.) 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 . Its folks all across the country who for too long have had the luxury and privilege of looking away. Obama spoke . ), Let me start by thanking President Johnson for that very gracious introduction, and for awarding me with this honorary degree from an extraordinary institution. 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. Not here. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. (Applause.) Graduates, anger is a powerful force. Instead, make a decision to use your privilege and your voice for the things that really matter, which is my third lesson today, to share that voice with the rest of the world. Well done! Recently . First Lady Michelle Obama Tuskegee University Commencement Address (C-SPAN) C-SPAN 1.18M subscribers Subscribe 2.3K 202K views 7 years ago First Lady Michelle Obama delivers the. He was a Hungarian immigrant whose harrowing escape from Nazism and communism shaped both his talent for business and his commitment to philanthropy. 19). Following is a transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement speech at the University of California, Merced, as provided by the White House. You have developed that muscle. A RESTful API to access Revs workforce of fast, high quality transcriptionists and captioners. 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. 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. Let me just say a few thank yous. You got to be at the table. Former first lady Michelle Obama seen in her Class of 2020 commencement speech during a YouTube livestream on Sunday, June 7, 2020. But its no coincidence that were both urging you to get involved in civic life. 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. (Applause.). You will feel the bumps smooth off. First lady Michelle Obama delivers. So get out there and volunteer on campaigns, and then hold the folks you elect accountable. Published May 16, 2010 Updated on May 16, 2010 at 1:46 pm. They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money. If we dont agree with every last bit of their approach. One said I exhibited a little bit of uppity-ism. Another noted that I was one of my husbands cronies of color. Cable news once charmingly referred to me as Obamas Baby Mama.. Transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement address Chicago Tribune Jun 10, 2015 at 9:37 pm MRS. OBAMA: Wow! She is such an inspiration to all of the women who are part of the 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. Thank you so much. (Laughter.) One of those first pilots, a man named Charles DeBow, put it this way. So while the Airmen selected for this program were actually highly educated -- many already had college degrees and pilots licenses -- they were presumed to be inferior. If anybody is wondering about the quality of education, just listening to those two speakers lets you know whats happening here. Or when they opened your eyes to an injustice you never knew existed. And please, please, always, always do your part to help others do the same. And as so often as the case, these questions compound upon themselves, see if youre struggling already just to keep your head above water. Graduates, you all are exactly what we need right now and for the years and decades to come, youre learning so much so quickly. But as you all know, instead of being defined by the discrimination and the doubts of those around them, they became one of the most successful pursuit squadrons in our military. Well done. Now, I dont know whether your President knows what I was going to say today, but I know that he had some kind words for you all about this issue. 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. 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. God bless you. Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart. And I want you to consider this as a public service announcement for anyone who hasnt bought the flowers or the cards or the gifts yet -- all right? But today, graduates, I want to urge you to do just the opposite. And Im honored to be here to share the beginning of the next phase of that journey with you. It needed to be carried, not just by the housekeeper and the shift worker, but by the senator and the congresswoman and yes the President of the United States. Just think about the folks who are winning those battles state by state, city by city to ensure that everyone in this country can marry the person they love. (Applause.). (Applause.) What kind of person do you want to be? Im inspired by your commitment to service and social justice. (Applause.) Wow, you guys are good! Folks like Lucy Stone and FDR, they didnt get caught up in their egos or their ideology. It is a lesson that most of us get the chance to learn over the course of years and years, even decades, but one that youre learning right now. 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. Juggling multiple jobs to support your families and pay your tuition. Michelle Obama Commencement Speech Transcript 2020, Congressional Testimony & Hearing Transcripts. And thats completely understandable. Read they first lady Michelle Obama's speech from the 2020 Democratic National Convention. These are the folks who pushed you and supported you. (Applause.). (Applause.). We dont build up walls to keep people out because we know that our greatness has always depended on contributions from people who were born elsewhere but sought out this country and made it their home - from innovations like Google and eBay to inventions like the artificial heart, the telephone, even the blue jeans; to beloved patriotic songs like God Bless America, like national landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and, yes, the White House - both of which were designed by architects who were immigrants. Just look around. 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. 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. This is Mrs . If my generation did trust me, wed have fixed the whole of this long time ago, but that doesnt mean we should feel hopeless. Youve worked hard for those seats! "As a child, my first doll was Malibu. Hey everybody. So many kids need you. 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. Are you sure? There were the so-called scientific studies that said that black mens brains were smaller than white mens. So we cannot allow our hurt and our frustration to turn us against each other, to cancel somebody elses point of view. During training, they were often assigned to menial tasks like housekeeping or landscaping. Transcripts & captions for a better media workflow. I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall, they were all angry, but those folks were also driven by compassion, by principle, by hope. (Applause.) I struggled to find the right words of wisdom for you today. But that has only happened because folks like all of you left their comfort zones and made their voices heard. But Ive come to realize that most of that clamor is really coming from just a handful of very loud folks out on the fringes. And I want to thank President Tatum for her leadership and for that very kind and generous introduction. And those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country. Michelle Obama as well baby mamma. The son of a Russian-Jewish immigrant, his songs still light up Broadway today. I worked with Congress on legislation, gave speeches to CEOs, military generals and Hollywood executives. Spencer Platt / Getty Images. And so many of those folks, for them, this school was the gateway to actually realizing that opportunity in their lives, founded on the fundamental truth that talent and ambition know no distinctions of race, nationality, wealth, or fame, and dedicated to the ideals that our Founding Fathers put forth more than two centuries ago: That we are all created equal, all entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. City College became a haven for brilliant, motivated students of every background, a place where they didnt have to hide their last names or their accents, or put on any kind of airs because the students at this school were selected based not on pedigree, but on merit, and merit alone. Of the world as the years pass, youll feel the same freedom that DeBow! We dont agree with every last bit of their approach to speak beginning of next. Assumptions about who they think you are based on their limited notion of the phase! 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