michelle obama commencement speech transcriptmichelle obama commencement speech transcript

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 Michelle Obama: (07:10) (Laughter.) Calculate how much it costs to transcribe, caption, or subtitle your content. 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. 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. I have so much faith in who you will be. Instead, after he left the Army, he finished his education. 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. 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. Following is a transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement speech at the University of California, Merced, as provided by the White House. No, here in America, we dont let our differences tear us apart. (Applause.) And no matter what path you choose, I want you to make sure its you choosing it, and not someone else. Your day. Instead, I think they knew that if they could just get everyone to take that first step, then folks would keep on moving in the right direction. With commencements and graduations across the country cancelled, Former First Lady Michelle Obama and her Reach Higher initiative teamed up with YouTube to celebrate students reaching this. So I want you all to go out there. 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. But these folks didnt let the ugliness and the obstacles deter them. 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. To those mornings you woke up early to get a spot under The Shed to watch the Golden Tigers play. Let me just take it in. Now, those Airmen could easily have let that experience clip their wings. (Applause.) (Applause.) Thank you for allowing me to share this final commencement with you. (Applause.) But when anger is focused, when its channeled into something more, oh, that is the stuff that changes history. I mean, weve talked about it -- Antonios, Im going to talk a little bit about diversity, thank you. Its folks all across the country who for too long have had the luxury and privilege of looking away. They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money. ), I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. They are not an excuse to lose hope. Every time we look at our phones or hear helicopters circling our neighborhoods. You give me chills. (Applause.) Because I know that there is no better way to celebrate this great country than being here with you. Juggling multiple jobs to support your families and pay your tuition. Michelle Obama Gives Commencement Speech By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS June 3, 2016 Michelle Obama said that in America "we don't build up walls to keep people out" as she delivered the. Some of you have been homeless. 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. The extraordinary challenges of COVID-19 called for creative planning to send off graduates in a meaningful way. But, graduates, no matter where your journey started, you have all made it here today through the same combination of unyielding determination, sacrifice, and a whole lot of hard work - commuting hours each day to class, some of you. Others choose to focus on their education and use that degree to address these issues and build a better life for themselves and those around them. Not when millions of girls across the globe never set foot inside a school. So, graduates, with your glorious diversity, with your remarkable accomplishments and your deep commitment to your communities, you all embody the very purpose of this schools founding. 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 .". (Applause.) Political News Video amp Analysis. And I know you worked hard to make it to this moment, didnt you? 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.). Studying late into the night, early in the morning; on subways and buses, and in those few precious minutes during breaks at work. (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. (Applause.) 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? Today, I want to urge you to actively seek out the most contentious, polarized, gridlocked places you can find. She is such an inspiration to all of the women who are part of the So by providing tutoring and ACT prep classes, financial aid workshops, and so much more, your Ninde Scholars Program stood out as a shining example of how schools like Oberlin can lift first-generation students into college. And Im not going to lie to youfor many of you, this is going to be a pretty big transition. So I want you to know that its okay to be confused. 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! (Applause.) (Applause.). (Applause.). Maybe they just arrived here recently, determined to give you a better life. Section 107, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. (Applause.) I had to ignore all of the noise and be true to myself -- and the rest would work itself out. ), 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. This is it. 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. Michelle Obama kicked off her "Dear Class of 2020" graduation speech with a list of uncomfortable questions and truths. As many of you know, I grew up in a working class family in Chicago. You have to persuade them, and you have to compromise with them. I really am. Next, Ive always felt a deep sense of obligation to make the biggest impact possible with this incredible platform. Look, Ive been there many times in my life. 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. 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. Traitors to their cause? My life and so many of your lives are a testament of that truth. Full Transcript of Michelle Obama's D.N.C. So Im here today because Im proud of you all. 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. Michelle Obama: (04:56) Enjoy the liberties that you have in this great country. 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! Try Rev and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. And he knew that he was taking to the skies for them -- to give them and their children something more to hope for, something to aspire to. (Applause. They were joining the Equal Suffrage League and speaking out for womens right to vote. 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. We see how these inequalities are playing out on our streets, and its not just the communities most affected by these challenges that see it now. I couldnt have said it better myself. And those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country. (Applause.) And, graduates, its the story that I witness every single day when I wake up in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters - two beautiful, black young women - head off to school -- (applause) -- waving goodbye to their father, the President of the United States, the son of a man from Kenya who came here to American -- to America for the same reasons as many of you: To get an education and improve his prospects in life. Good evening. And heres what I really want you to know -- you have got everything you need to do this. Michelle Obama: (14:05) And your amazing salutatorian, Orubba Almansouri. We want everything right awaywhether its an Uber or your favorite TV showand we want it tailored to our exact preferences and beliefs. I would have given anything, anything to bring them back. And then I want you to take a deep breath and trust yourselves to chart your own course and make your mark on the world. Who are the incumbents and the candidates at every level of government, not just president, but state representative, city council, prosecutors, sheriff. ), And of course, let us not forget Elizabeth Aklilu for her amazing performance of the National Anthem earlier today. Look at who you are. Transcribe Your Own Content Try Rev for free and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. And believe me, I understand that kind of pressure. Heres the last part. Instead, its important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages. Extend your content reach and maximize your engagement rates. And my husband and I know how frustrating that experience can be. Now, did these compromises make these leaders sellouts? Those Airmen who rose above brutal discrimination -- they did it so the whole world could see just how high black folks could soar. As the President eloquently said, at this school, you represent more than 150 nationalities. Some of you have risked the rejection of your families to pursue your education. (Applause.) And thats, as the President said, why Im here today. Like I said before, I dont have any easy answers for you, but I do have some lessons I want to share about how to move forward in these tumultuous times. I believe in you all. Youll take part in that never-failing miracle of progress. (Applause.) Read they first lady Michelle Obama's speech from the 2020 Democratic National Convention. (Applause.) And dont let anybody tell you differently. Today Michelle Obama honored high school counselors from across the country at the White Houseand made her final speech as first lady. Graduates, its all important and we need every bit of it. What happens at every school board meeting, every legislative sessionthat is your concern. (Applause.) It deadens your spirit and it hardens your heart may seem like a winning strategy in the short run. A path, fortunately, more focused on meaning and service. For example, think back to the struggle for womens suffrage and the story of a leading suffragist and Oberlin alum named Lucy Stone. How to Write a Graduation Speech Advice from a. (Applause.) Thank you. I am proud to have this degree -- very proud. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. 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. You've worked hard for those seats! City College of New York But that is a heavy way to live. Even today, there are still folks questioning his citizenship. 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. So I just want to take it all in. I love you all. And Id like to begin today by reflecting on that history -- starting back at the time when the Army chose Tuskegee as the site of its airfield and flight school for black pilots. 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. Transcripts & captions for a better media workflow. Love you all. (Laughter and applause.) Below is the full text of the speech delivered by former President Barack Obama during "Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020." "Hi, everybody. This is historical material frozen in time. 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. Surely their kids could go to school together. What Michelle Obama's commencement speech at the Santa Fe Indian School says about the importance of self-determination in education. Thank you so much. Beyonc delivered a special message to graduates during YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 broadcast. She spoke about starting her own business as a Black woman, and paid tribute to the Black Lives . 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. They seem to view our diversity as a threat to be contained rather than as a resource to be tapped. So, yeah, I planted a garden, and hula-hooped on the White House Lawn with kids. (Applause.) What kinds of issues would I take on? This is a transcript of Michelle Obama's Commencement Address at King College Prep High School from 2015. You rob yourself of the things that matter most. (Applause.). 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. The first is this life will always be uncertain. At the White House we have all kinds of ways. Michelle Obama's commencement speeches: a compendium of excerpts. And most importantly, it couldnt hold me back. And you have as much responsibility and just as much power to wake up and play your part in our great American story. We see whats happening in stark relief. They wont know how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed to make it to this day -- the countless hours you spent studying to get this diploma, the multiple jobs you worked to pay for school, the times you had to drive home and take care of your grandma, the evenings you gave up to volunteer at a food bank or organize a campus fundraiser. (Applause. I had to answer some basic questions for myself: Who am I? See, that blue-collar job helped to pay the small portion of my college tuition that wasnt covered by loans or grants or my work-study or my summer jobs. See, the truth is that the overwhelming majority of people in this country are open-minded and big-hearted. 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. That kind of thinking only divides us and distracts us from our higher calling, it is the gum in the wheel of progress. But in every election at every level, all of the time. They knew that our laws matter. (Applause.) Congratulations. Folks like Lucy Stone and FDR, they didnt get caught up in their egos or their ideology. Youre here! (Applause.) We can take on those deep-rooted problems, and together -- together -- we can overcome anything that stands in our way. Now, Im not naive. First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a powerful commencement speech at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, on Saturday, addressing the stereotyping and pressure she feels not only . 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. 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. 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. Treating people right will never ever fail you. We all have no choice, but to see what has been staring us in the face for years, for centuries. So if you want to change their minds, if you want to work with them to move this country forward, you cant just shut them out. (Applause.). First Lady Michelle Obama. (Applause.) She said she accepted as she was moved by the sincerity and creativity of the appeal. We will be there with you every step of the way. I asked folks across the country to wear their alma maters T-shirts for College Signing Day. So graduates, it is your time now and look, our democracy isnt perfect. More than anything else, graduates, that is the American story. Look, I love our daughters more than anything in the world, more than life itself. Ask your friends, your family, ask everyone you see in your neighborhood. And I'm so glad to be here. Youve got families up in the stands who will support you every step of the way. And, graduates, that is how you will carry on the proud legacy of this great institution for generations to come. That is what so many of our heroes of history have done. You are the living, breathing proof that the American Dream endures in our time. And of all the women at the Seneca Falls womens suffrage convention in 1848, just one lived to see women cast their votes. Now, will this be easy? Well done. Because we both know that you cannot fully achieve your goals of service and social justice if you turn away from politics and public policy. Mike Judge on crooked paths UCSD Commencement 2009: Mike Judge Read his full commencement address here. Former First Lady Michelle Obama, YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 --"Deep and . 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. 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. 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? And, graduates, thats what we need from all of you. Sixteen million people who finally have health insurance. And that's why we support the participate of women is parliaments and peace processes, schools and the economy. The tough part is nobody has all the answers. (Applause.) And you deserve every last one of the successes that I know you will have. (Laughter.) Obama spoke . Oh, my goodness. But that has only happened because folks like all of you left their comfort zones and made their voices heard. You all, I mean, this has been the most fun I think I've had at a commencement ever. No, really, who am I? Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address online to the graduating class of 2020. And Im here because of all of you. (Laughter.) Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Ive experienced a little bit of it myself. The vibrancy that comes from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the chance to leave this world a little better than you found it. Let me start, of course, by thanking President Coico for that wonderful introduction, for her leadership here at City College, for this honorary degree. 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. They spat on her. (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. So nakedly exposed for all of us to grapple with. God bless you, graduates. See, that is how you will rise above the noise and shape the revolutions of your time. And of course, Barack has endured his fair share of insults and slights. So many of you have as much responsibility and just as much responsibility and as! That truth the liberties that you have as much power to wake up and your! 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