First lady Michelle Obama made an unusual foray into political commentary this week. She spoke at Mississippi’s Jackson State University at their graduation.
In her moving speech, she chastised the people who have been making her husband’s job more difficult since his first election. She praised his patriotism, his honesty, and many of the traits that have made him a great president despite all of the negativity he has had to deal with from the other side of the fence.
From her speech at the historically Black college:
“As I’ve walked this journey with Barack, I’ve gotten a pretty good look at what it means to rise above the fray, what it means to set your eyes on the horizon, to devote your life to making things better for those who will come after you. I have seen how, no matter what kind of ugliness is going on at any particular moment, Barack always stays the course.”
She expressed her frustration with the Republicans that have been fighting against him. They have been “blocking action, blocking judges, just blocking.” They have been stepping on his toes during his entire presidency.
She also pointed out Mississippi’s ridiculous “religious freedom” bill that passed recently. They have followed North Carolina in passing a discrimination law disguised as “religious freedom.”
“We see it right here in Mississippi — just two weeks ago -– how swiftly progress can hurtle backward. How easy it is to single out a small group and marginalize them because of who they are or who they love.”
She had some beautiful words about equality:
“So we’ve got to stand side by side with all our neighbors –- straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender; Muslim, Jew, Christian, Hindu immigrant, Native American — because the march for civil rights isn’t just about African-Americans, it’s about all Americans. It’s about making things more just, more equal, more free for all our kids and grandkids. That’s the story you all have the opportunity to write. That’s what this historic university has prepared you to do.”
These are some beautiful words. I hope we can be inspired by them and work together to become a more inclusive society.
https://youtu.be/p9Swsv3IQjw
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