(Applause.). If we dislike someones Facebook post, we just un-follow them, we un-friend them. Thank you so. And I know that these days, that can seem counterintuitive, because we live in such an instantaneous age. To succumb to feelings of despair and anger only means that in the end, we lose. How are you all doing? 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. 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. You see, graduates, I didnt start out as the fully-formed First Lady who stands before you today. MICHELLE OBAMA: Thank you. 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. Below, watch and read the 44th president's full inspiring message and speech closing out the "Graduate . We can do that all day. And here at this nationally-ranked university, with a rigorous curriculum and renowned faculty, you rose to the challenge, distinguishing yourselves in your classes, winning countless honors and awards, and getting into top graduate schools across this country. And thats completely understandable. God bless you, graduates. (Applause.) Youre looking good! Graduates, anger is a powerful force. I love you all. CNN Read former first lady Michelle Obama's speech from the 2020 Democratic National Convention, as prepared for delivery: Good evening, everyone. Now, the process of democracy might not always be as fast or as smooth as wed like. Michelle Obama: (13:03) Get a weekly digest of the weeks most important transcripts in your inbox. Because talent and effort combined with our various backgrounds and life experiences has always been the lifeblood of our singular American genius. My life and so many of your lives are a testament of that truth. Read more. (Laughter.) And my dad was so proud to pay that tuition bill on time each month, even taking out loans when he fell short. Next, Ive always felt a deep sense of obligation to make the biggest impact possible with this incredible platform. 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. But trust me, graduates that kind of life catches up to you. (Applause. Well, the reality is a lot more complicated than that because for too many people in this country, no matter how hard they work, there are structural barriers working against them that just make the road longer and rockier. I would have given anything, anything to bring them back. They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money. Are you thinking of teaching in an under-served school? Maybe they just arrived here recently, determined to give you a better life. If anybody is wondering about the quality of education, just listening to those two speakers lets you know whats happening here. Theyre rooted in decades of structural challenges that have made too many folks feel frustrated and invisible. I could go on. ), And of course, let us not forget Elizabeth Aklilu for her amazing performance of the National Anthem earlier today. The student-led initiative to have her speak included a YouTube video, Facebook campaign and more than 900 Valentine's Day cards. The vibrancy that comes from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the chance to leave this world a little better than you found it. 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. Because it is absolutely still possible to make a difference. And you have as much responsibility and just as much power to wake up and play your part in our great American story. But I also want to be very clear that with those successes comes a set of obligations - to share the lessons youve learned here at this school. See, he never wanted me to miss a registration deadline because his check was late. I did my research. And the answers to those questions have resulted in the woman who stands before you today. They built coalitions with folks like them and different from them. Not here. First lady Michelle Obama delivers. Then there was the first time I was on a magazine cover -- it was a cartoon drawing of me with a huge afro and machine gun. So get out there and volunteer on campaigns, and then hold the folks you elect accountable. 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. Michelle Obama delivered her final commencement address as first lady on Friday to thousands graduating from the City College of New York in Harlem. Their legacy is very much your legacy and your inheritance. Search over 350 speeches by name,. But when some of them got their first bad grade, they just fell apart. Some do an honest days work and raise good kids. Its never come from folks who climb the ladder of success, or who happen to be born near the top and then pull that ladder up after themselves. You are the living, breathing proof that the American Dream endures in our time. Without mentioning the presumptive Republican presidential candidate by name, the first lady made one of the most . (Applause.) As the annual blitz of commencement speeches get underway, CNN highlights some of the most memorable from years past. Thank you for creating these fabulous individuals. Youve worked hard for those seats! I had to answer some basic questions for myself: Who am I? Youve got the knowledge and the skills honed here on this hallowed campus. That is not what this country stands for. 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. 1 Michelle Obama's memoir 'Becoming' sells 2 million copies in 15 days to become bestselling book of 2018, publisher says November 30, 2018 2 Michelle Obama says her brother is still their mother's favorite, shares her post-White House bucket list November 13, 2018 3 Michelle Obama answers self-care and parenting questions in candid Q&A So its your time. The tough part is nobody has all the answers. This is a transcript of Michelle Obama's Commencement Address at King College Prep High School from 2015. YouTube Michelle also explained how to channel anger for good. You all, I mean, this has been the most fun I think I've had at a commencement ever. And now, graduates, its your turn to take up that cause. So dont ever, ever let anyone tell you that youre too angry or that you should keep your mouth shut. She said she accepted as she was moved by the sincerity and creativity of the appeal. Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gave a virtual video speech on July 13 to the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit attendees. (Applause.) If were only willing to do whats easiest, weve got to make hard choices and sacrifices in our own lives. (Applause.) The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever Looking for some new words of wisdom? So they took advantage of whatever resources they had in their own time, thundering from the pulpit and the convention floor, penning letters from a jail cell, standing up for their rights in the face of police violence. (Applause.) Michelle Obama has addressed millions of young people across America with a moving 2020 graduation commencement speech addressing the Black Lives Matter protests and the impact of the coronavirus . Transcribe your audio files to find high-impact insights in minutes. 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. 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. (Applause.) Look, Ive been there many times in my life. Read they first lady Michelle Obama's speech from the 2020 Democratic National Convention. They spat on her. 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. And somehow, you still found time to give back to your communities - tutoring young people, reading to kids, volunteering at hospitals. 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. Or when they opened your eyes to an injustice you never knew existed. Build great lives for yourselves. And that's why we support the participate of women is parliaments and peace processes, schools and the economy. "As a child, my first doll was Malibu. And believe me, I understand that kind of pressure. And let me tell you, you should feel so proud of making it to this day. If we dont agree with every last bit of their approach. And the truth is, those same questions would have been posed to any candidates spouse. Just keep working hard and keep the faith. Whoa. They are not an excuse to lose hope. (Applause. Okay, youre bright. (Applause.) And I know you worked hard to make it to this moment, didnt you? First Lady Michelle Obama delivered one of her final commencement speeches to the Santa Fe Indian School Thursday. And while that may not be the first thing that some folks want to hear from an Ivy-league educated lawyer, it is truly who I am. It is loud and messy, and its not particularly warm and fuzzy. First Lady Michelle Obama used her final commencement address to deliver a series of important messages to this year's graduates. They tell us to be afraid of those who are different, to be suspicious of those with whom we disagree. Create a better, more engaging experience for every student. And when he was up in the sky, Charles sometimes looked down to see black folks out in the cotton fields not far from here -- the same fields where decades before, their ancestors as slaves. The most accurate AI-powered transcription on the market. It teaches us that when we pull ourselves out of those lowest emotional depths, and we channel our frustrations into studying and organizing and banding together -- then we can build ourselves and our communities up. More than anything else, graduates, that is the American story. (Applause. And heres what I really want you to know -- you have got everything you need to do this. Transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement address Chicago Tribune Jun 10, 2015 at 9:37 pm MRS. OBAMA: Wow! 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 . A few years later, when George Washington Carver first came here for his research, there was no laboratory. It can be a useful force, but left on its own it will only corrode and destroy and sow chaos on the inside and out. Youll experience illnesses and losses, crises and setbacks that will come out of nowhere and knock you off your feet. Youll take part in that never-failing miracle of progress. But these folks didnt let the ugliness and the obstacles deter them. Instead, its important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages. I believe in you all. I can tell you that our democracy is sturdy and yes, it still works, but it doesnt work if you silence yourselves. I am confident in your ability to do amazing things. (Applause.) A lot of us are reckoning with the most basic essence of who we are. 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. (Applause.). See, this is my very last commencement address as First Lady of the United States. (Applause.). Wow, you guys are good! We need you to channel the magic of Tuskegee toward the challenges of today. (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: I love that. 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. 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. In fact, I sometimes have that instinct myselfrun! (Applause.) Some want to march right up in front, others prefer to stay back, some kneel in the pews, others on the street corner, some canvas their neighborhoods, others run for office. I have so much faith in who you will be. (Applause.). (Applause.) (Applause.) (Applause.) 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. Thats the spirit weve got to summon to take on the challenges we face today. 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. You made it! His commencement speech during the Graduation 2020 event was a call to action. (Applause.) God bless. And I hope that youre excited to get started on that next chapter. Look at where were gathered today. It made me wonder, just how are people seeing me. For example, think back to the struggle for womens suffrage and the story of a leading suffragist and Oberlin alum named Lucy Stone. Im inspired by your commitment to service and social justice. I couldnt have said it better myself. Michelle Obama at City College of New York in 2016. Translated on-screen subtitles for videos. 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! (Applause. (Laughter.). So graduates, it is your time now and look, our democracy isnt perfect. (Applause.) Youve got families up in the stands who will support you every step of the way. City College of New York Thank you. Graduates, its all important and we need every bit of it. The following is a White House transcript of first lady Michelle Obama 's speech to George Washington University graduates on Sunday . It was also Michelle Obama's first commencement address as First Lady. That is the power of our differences to make us smarter and more creative. Because in this country, its never been each person for themselves. Published May 16, 2010 Updated on May 16, 2010 at 1:46 pm. Juggling multiple jobs to support your families and pay your tuition. Thats the only real currency in life. Photo: AP. 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.. During training, they were often assigned to menial tasks like housekeeping or landscaping. Remarks by the First Lady of the United States. More progress on LGBT rights than any time in our history. But the fact is, it works. And most of all, youve got yourselves -- and all of the heart, and grit, and smarts that got you to this day. Think about that brilliant scientist who made his lab from a trash pile. Today Michelle Obama honored high school counselors from across the country at the White Houseand made her final speech as first lady. 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? So I want you all to go out there. 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. 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. Because right now, all that superficial stuff of titles and positions, all of that has been stripped away. Now whats happening right now is the direct result of decades of unaddressed, prejudice, and inequality. A path, fortunately, more focused on meaning and service. (Laughter.). Some of you have risked the rejection of your families to pursue your education. And dont just ask yourselves these questions. You've worked hard for those seats! But remember that one rule is keep mom happy. (Laughter.) Well done. Its your story and the story of those who came before you at this school. Thank you so much. Spencer Platt / Getty Images. (Applause.) 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. 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? 1. Ive seen you marching with peace and with purpose and that is why even in tough times like these, you continue to be what gives me hope. And when they finally deployed overseas, white soldiers often wouldnt even return their salutes. So for those Airmen, the act of flying itself was a symbol of liberation for themselves and for all African Americans. But unfortunately, graduates, despite the lessons of our history and the truth of your experience here at City College, some folks out there today seem to have a very different perspective. 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. I cant wait to see how high you soar. Michelle Obama gave a powerful commencement address to the high school and college graduates in the class of 2020. And they also understood that often, the biggest, most dramatic change happens incrementally, little by little, through compromises and adjustments over years and decades. And finally, most of all, I want to congratulate the men and women of the Tuskegee University Class of 2015! Graduates, today -- today, you can mentor a young person and make sure he or she takes the right path. 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. 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 .". Michelle Obama Video screenshot Democratic leaders such as Michelle. The first is this life will always be uncertain. 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. Better yet, run for office yourself. If you cant even approach the police without fearing for your life. (Applause.). Hey, no, not just once in a while. It will be hard. Yes! I am so proud to honor these American heroes todayand every dayfor their extraordinary service to our nation. Speech-to-Text live streaming for live captions, powered by the worlds leading speech recognition API. You will follow alums like many of your parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles -- leaders like Robert Robinson Taylor, a groundbreaking architect and administrator here who was recently honored on a postage stamp. 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. 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. Every dayfor their extraordinary service to our nation leading speech recognition API was late take on the we! 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