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. Probably not. 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. And you look good. You've got a long day ahead. She appealed directly to the youth facing the incoming . What ideas are we missing? And thats, as the President said, why Im here today. God bless you, graduates. Instead, after he left the Army, he finished his education. If were only willing to do whats easiest, weve got to make hard choices and sacrifices in our own lives. Below, watch and read the 44th president's full inspiring message and speech closing out the "Graduate . 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. So graduates, it is your time now and look, our democracy isnt perfect. Michelle Obama gave her final remarks as First Lady on Friday, choking up as she urged young Americans to remain hopeful and engaged in the country's future. (Applause.) Michelle Obama: (09:57) 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. Build great lives for yourselves. Do you know how to request a mail in ballot? (Applause.) (Applause.). And I want to be very clear: Every city ordinance, every ballot measure, every law on the books in this countrythat is your concern. Not here. It is such a -- you all, rest yourselves. 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. You see, in his speech to those Oberlin graduates 50 years ago, Dr. King urged them, as Julia said, not to sleep through the civil rights revolution that was raging across this country. And just think about the students in this very graduating class - students like the economics and pre-law major from Albania, who also completed the requirements for a philosophy major and dreams of being a public intellectual. 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. Michelle Obama: (11:00) He kept fulfilling his double duty long after he hung up his uniform. CNN Read former first lady Michelle Obama's speech from the 2020 Democratic National Convention, as prepared for delivery: Good evening, everyone. Thank you. Thank you so much. Michelle Obama: (01:41) 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. She said she accepted as she was moved by the sincerity and creativity of the appeal. Or when they opened your eyes to an injustice you never knew existed. Let me just take it in. Well, after facing all kinds of opposition, he eventually agreed to a Social Security plan that covered only 60 percent of workers. "Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us: sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed," Obama said . 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. But in every election at every level, all of the time. More progress on LGBT rights than any time in our history. There were the so-called scientific studies that said that black mens brains were smaller than white mens. (Applause.) And your salutatorian, whose Yemeni roots inspired her to study Yemini womens writing and to advocate for girls in her community, urging them to find their own voices, to tell their own stories. And in the face of all of that clamor, you might have an overwhelming instinct to just run the other way as fast as you can. That is not what this country stands for. ), Before I begin, I just want to say that my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Eric Marks, Jr. They seem to view our diversity as a threat to be contained rather than as a resource to be tapped. Heres the thing, you have the opportunity to learn these valuable lessons faster than the generations before you. 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. (Applause.) Try Rev and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. This is historical material frozen in time. But these were my choices, my issues. It means reaching back to help young people whove been left out and left behind, helping them prepare for college, helping them pay for college, making sure that great public universities like this one have the funding and support that they need. (Laughter and applause.) (Applause. See, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are open-minded and big-hearted. Are you sure? (Applause.) 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. But heres the thing -- our history provides us with a better story, a better blueprint for how we can win. Not just when my husband or somebody you like is on the ballot. Just look around. Michelle Obama: (03:42) Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address online to the graduating class of 2020. "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. Well done! And those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country. (Applause.) (Applause.) Try Rev for free and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. Traitors to their cause? 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. MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. So its your time. So we thought we'd take a look at some of the best celebrity commencement speeches that aren't just - believe it or not - 1) monosyllabic words 2) comments about the size of the crowd or 3) attacks against the press and "pathetic" haters. To have you be seen, but not heard. Full Transcript of Michelle Obama's D.N.C. (Laughter.) Or consider the story of the former CEO of Intel, Andrew Grove, class of 1960. And finally, most of all, I want to congratulate the Oberlin Class of 2015! It starts where change always starts in your own home, in your own social circles, in your own neighborhoods, at your own dinner tables. It can feel isolating. Section 107, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Instead, its important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages. Speech-to-Text live streaming for live captions, powered by the worlds leading speech recognition API. 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. (Applause. So I immersed myself in the policy details. 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! But when some of them got their first bad grade, they just fell apart. (Applause.) (Applause.) And I'm so glad to be here. You all, I mean, this has been the most fun I think Ive had at a commencement ever. It is beyond a pleasure and an honor for me to be here with all of you today. Read the full transcript of Michelle Obama's Democratic National Convention speech Posted: Jul 26, 2016 / 08:02 AM CDT Updated: Jul 26, 2016 / 02:45 PM CDT (Applause.). Let me tell you it is a pleasure and an honor -- yes, Chicago -- (laughter and applause) -- to be with all of you today. (Applause.) And the truth is, those same questions would have been posed to any candidates spouse. I want you to be safe and I cant wait to see you take the reins. Youve got the knowledge and the skills honed here on this hallowed campus. 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. They got fluent in the language of power. 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. Those Airmen who rose above brutal discrimination -- they did it so the whole world could see just how high black folks could soar. Graduates this is how you can finish the work that the generations before you have started, by staying open and hopeful, even in the tough times. (Applause.) Even today, there are still folks questioning his citizenship. Obama touched on the background of the school, the background of her own family and how it will inform the future of the graduates. 19). They sat down with leaders they disagreed with because they knew that if they wanted their vision to be made real, it needed to be made law. 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. 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 .". I've been watching! (Laughter.) Convert your audio or video into 99% accurate text by a professional. Im inspired by your commitment to service and social justice. I dont think so. So really, it is no accident that this institution has produced 10 Nobel Prize winners -- (applause) -- along with countless captains of industry, cultural icons, leaders at the highest levels of government. You speak more than 100 different languages -- whoa, just stop there. God bless. Read Obama's inspiring commencement address to 2020's high school graduates. (Applause.) I was in my late 20s. Michelle Obama as well baby mamma. 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. SOAPStone Speaker: Michelle Obama Occasion: City College . This is an important time of transition in light of the current state of our country. (Applause.) Michelle Obama Commencement Speech Transcript 2020, Congressional Testimony & Hearing Transcripts. At the White House we have all kinds of ways. The obligation to use the opportunities youve had to help others. (Applause.) And while were reaching out, please lets give everyone whos working toward progress space to be themselves. You give me chills. 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.) 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. 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. 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. But these folks didnt let the ugliness and the obstacles deter them. Think about that brilliant scientist who made his lab from a trash pile. Thats whats always happened here at Tuskegee. 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 just want to take it all in. Over the years, Ive occasionally run into the noise myself. Generation after generation, this country has become more equal, more inclusive, more fair, more free. (Applause.) We see whats happening in stark relief. You have developed that muscle. Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gave a virtual video speech on July 13 to the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit attendees. Just look at the story of Oberlin College. Extend your content reach and maximize your engagement rates. (Applause.) Add English on-screen subtitles for videos. Ive seen you speaking out in gun violence and fight climate change. 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. (Applause.) But I have traveled the world and seeing the governments and people in so many other countries. (Applause.) You have to persuade them, and you have to compromise with them. 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. So I want you all to go out there. I felt it most profoundly when my father and my best friend died within a year of each other. If you listen to them, then nothing will ever change. Its folks all across the country who for too long have had the luxury and privilege of looking away. I have so much faith in who you will be. And thats why, in his remarks 50 years ago, Dr. King urged the class of 65 to stand up and be a concerned generation. And, graduates, that call to action applies just as much to all of you today. It is loud and messy, and its not particularly warm and fuzzy. I want you all to stay true to the most real, most sincere, most authentic parts of yourselves. And on top of all of that, you spent thousands of hours giving back to this communitytutoring kids, playing music for seniors, serving food to folks in need, and of course, mentoring the local young people back thereI see you allthrough the Ninde Scholars Program. 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. Translated on-screen subtitles for videos. First lady Michelle Obama delivers. I would have given anything, anything to bring them back. Oh, my goodness. 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. Yes, amen. Historic agreements to fight climate change. -- Below is the full text of Michelle Obama 's speech to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 25, 2016. But trust me, graduates that kind of life catches up to you. And when they finally deployed overseas, white soldiers often wouldnt even return their salutes. Former first lady Michelle Obama seen in her Class of 2020 commencement speech during a YouTube livestream on Sunday, June 7, 2020. Obama grew up near the school, and during her emotional commencement address, she said she wanted to share "the real story" about the South Side, a story about resilience and courage in the face of . Now, Im not naive. The student-led initiative to have her speak included a YouTube video, Facebook campaign and more than 900 Valentine's Day cards. ), And, graduates, I think we should give another shout-out to your families, of course, all the families. And even here at Oberlin, most of the time youre probably surrounded by folks who share your beliefs. Official Army reports stated that black soldiers were childlike, shiftless, unmoral and untruthful, and as one quote stated, if fed, loyal and compliant.. Oh, my goodness. Just think about what that must have been like for those young men. Obama spoke . Michelle Obama kicked off her "Dear Class of 2020" graduation speech with a list of uncomfortable questions and truths. (Laughter.) Ask yourself, do you know where your polling place is? He became a high school English teacher and a college lecturer. And as so often as the case, these questions compound upon themselves, see if youre struggling already just to keep your head above water. I am confident in your ability to do amazing things. And the first thing we have to do is vote. 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. It can hard but you have to keep on going. It never is, especially for folks like you and me. Well done. Youve got it. 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 As the annual blitz of commencement speeches get underway, CNN highlights some of the most memorable from years past. It does not work if you disengage from the process. All right? Their legacy is very much your legacy and your inheritance. And thats completely understandable. It did not define me. 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. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. So Im here today because Im proud of you all. So I just want to take it all in. Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall, they were all angry, but those folks were also driven by compassion, by principle, by hope. 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. Meet the change Inside Takes on the Latest Stories . 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. (Laughter.). I had to answer some basic questions for myself: Who am I? That kind of thinking only divides us and distracts us from our higher calling, it is the gum in the wheel of progress. ), I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. But, graduates, let me tell you, you should never, ever be embarrassed by those struggles. But heres the thing, while this period is certainly unprecedented, it is not a complete anomaly, simply some random coincidence to be dismissed. If we dont agree with every last bit of their approach. For example, think back to the struggle for womens suffrage and the story of a leading suffragist and Oberlin alum named Lucy Stone. Calculate how much it costs to transcribe, caption, or subtitle your content. Search over 350 speeches by name,. We can take on those deep-rooted problems, and together -- together -- we can overcome anything that stands in our way. (Applause.). In an impassioned speech to the graduating class of 2020, former First Lady Michelle Obama wished to speak to young adults as a mentor, mother and citizen who's concerned for their future. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. The first is this life will always be uncertain. Treating people right will never ever fail you. Very proud. (Applause. Patrick meehan would sign of michelle obama signed. Shake things up. 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. (Applause. 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. Can Michelle Obama's speech offer, as an amendment to . (Applause.). 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? (Applause.). Dr. King was angry. You dont get to have no hands. (Applause.). Following is a transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement speech at the University of California, Merced, as provided by the White House. (Laughter.) We will be there with you every step of the way. Yeah! Well, let me just tell you, it is beyond a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you today. They built coalitions with folks like them and different from them. I am just overwhelmed. 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. God bless. 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