First Lady Michelle Obama, the nation’s first African-American First Lady, spoke at Spelman College’s commencement to over 550 graduates. “Wherever you go,” said the First Lady, “you will find folks who have been discounted but have every bit as which promise as you have.” Pushing the ladies to serve others, the First Lady encouraged the graduates to use the power of their education and networking to change their communities and change their world.
“There will always be folks who try to raise themselves up by cutting other people down,” she said. “That happens to everyone, including me, throughout their lives. But when that happens to you all, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to just stop a minute. Take a deep breath, because it’s going to need to be deep — and I want you to think about all those women who came before you, women like those first 11 students. Think about how they didn’t sit around bemoaning their lack of resources and opportunities and affirmation.” President Obama is scheduled to speak Monday at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis at a commencement for a class of 150. And Jill Biden spoke Sunday at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.
