Sina Endale
Melissa Morgan
English 9 HN
31 January 2023
The Education Activist: Michelle Obama
During her speech at the White House celebrating Black History Month, Michelle Obama said, “Education is the single-most important civil rights issue that we face today” (obamawhitehouse.archives.gov). Michelle Obama is the former first lady of the United States and is the wife of Barack Obama, the former president. As a child, she had a modest background and lived in Chicago, Illinois. Due to her education and resilience, she rose to become one of the most influential figures in the United States. She used her influence to impact many societal issues, one of the most critical being education. Michelle Obama positively impacted education because she
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For example, the former first lady “frequently visited schools or invited students to the White House to promote healthy lifestyles and discuss education and worked alongside students to establish the new vegetable garden”(Contemporary Black Biography). By frequently visiting schools and discussing education with students, she is showing the students that she cares about their goals and education. Discussing her experience in school with the students is beneficial because it teaches them different ways to achieve their goals. It also inspires them to pursue their passion as Michelle pursued hers. She also created The Reach Higher Initiative “to inspire every student in the U.S. to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university”(Reach Higher). Students are more motivated to accomplish their goals when they have a step by step plan to achieve them. This initiative provides students with plans and opportunities to further their education. Hence, it inspires students to follow their dreams. Overall, Michelle Obama had a large impact on students to continue their …show more content…
As one of the few Black women in government, “Obama stressed the importance of having Black and female role models in the White House”(Contemporary Black biography). Black and female role models are important because they inspire others to fight for what they believe. Michelle Obama is a representation of young women of color, which is why they look up to her. As a role model, she is influencing them to follow their dreams despite the backlash that may follow. Michelle Obama increases black female representation in government by inspiring young women of color to become leaders like she did. The former first lady also specifically focuses on African American and Hispanic communities in her goal to provide the students of America with all the healthy food and resources they need to fulfill their potential (Let’s Move). Michelle Obama inspires black and ethnic communities by including them in her mission. She cares for these communities and is proving it by helping them firsthand. This initiative aids young students in these communities to thrive in their education by supporting their health. Students can focus and be more successful in school if their bodies are healthy and well-nourished. Michelle encourages black and female students to achieve their dreams by being a role model and caring for the health of black and ethnic
Also, all she has been through from picking cotton, and witnessing racism and segregation, she was able to experience the United States having the a African American president for the first
Her family fought to try to receive equal education for her and her siblings, but it did not work. Not only did she grow up going to an all-black school, but she also worked in an all blacks school when she got older. She made sure to teach all of her students about civil rights. She also taught them that they should, and need to stand up for what they believe in if they ever want to make a change. What she educated her kids on was also some of what she wanted to teach the public with her
She will help students in the long run change their perspective and change their
Obama was highly regarded as a First Lady because she took part in making decisions for the children in the United States. Having two children of her own, she knows what they need in order to be successful. This is where President Elect Hillary Clinton comes into play. In Michelle Obama’s own words: “...in this election, I’m with her.” Preceding these words, Mrs. Obama tells her audience what would make Mrs. Clinton a good president for the United States.
Although she might not be quite as popular, Michelle Obama has followed in Eleanor Roosevelt’s footsteps as a first lady who pioneers politically and socially towards
Later into the 1930’s, put in charge of black affairs in the National Youth Administration, Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune became an advisor to President Roosevelt. She helped spread his message and achievements to other black people who were Republicans. Everyone can make a difference just like Mrs.Mary McLeod Bethune. It’s not going to be easy, but we have to keep going.
This is a good rhetorical appeal because everyone knows about Martin Luther King Jr., Obama connects with us emotionally by using the fact that Dr. King enrolled into this college at the age of 15, he used his passion to study harder, and with the help of his college, Martin Luther King Jr. is able to thrive towards his dreams. Another example of pathos is when Obama says, “ I was raised by a heroic single mom, wonderful grandparents…”(Obama 8). Obama uses the fact that he did not grow up with the dream family, the family with two supportive parents. No, he specifically said that he grew up with a “heroic” mother and no father figure in his life. Since almost half of the United States lives with two parents, many people will take on pity
Since the abolition of segregation in schools, African Americans have been granted the opportunity to attend college, get degrees, and ultimately get the education that their past relatives might not have had the chance to receive. (Black Colleges). In the end, there is only hope to only continue for a fight for change within schools systems, and without individuals using their voices, there is a high likelihood that school systems today would
Many goals of mine manifest in education. Providing myself opportunities to
Back in 1972, Chisholm became the first African-American to run for U.S presidency. Winslow offers valuable perspective of a woman who has faced challenges of race and sex, yet still managed to push the agenda for social justice in her long political career. Having been used to hard work and being brought and grown up in Barbados and Brooklyn, she retained the perspective of an immigrant of hard work to spearhead advancement. She worked earnestly at Brooklyn College. Additionally, she worked herself around in local politics and managed to develop strong power bases in women’s organizations and clubs.
In her 2013 “Bowie State University Commencement Speech”, found in They Say/I Say, Michelle Obama, the current First Lady of the United States, uses several rhetorical strategies, including historical references and appeals to emotion and history, in order to drive her central message of the importance of education and the responsibly of her audience to deliver the legacy of education to the next generation. Throughout the piece, Obama relays a historical analysis of the progress made in education for African Americans, including an exploration of the toil and sacrifice made over the decades so that that progress could come to pass. She concludes by calling the graduating students to action to carry on the legacy of educational excellence that
As Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Donovan Livingston, a graduate at Harvard Graduate School of Education, has similar views on education. His passionate and inspiring speech called “Lift Off” was given at HGSE’s Commencement Ceremony on May 25, 2016. The speech discusses the importance of education as well as the obstacles and injustices students, especially those of color, have experienced throughout history in getting an education. Livingston’s graduating classmates who are becoming teachers, as well as teachers and educators in general, are the audience of his speech.
This speech occurred in New Hampshire. In this paper, I’ll provide some information of the speech, discuss the main issues she addressed, and analyze the profound message of her speech. The former First Lady of the United States Michelle
“Your goal can be something simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book,” says the President. As a student, he wants them to commit to it and work at it despise the failures they may experience. Obama wants the failures to teach the students rather than define them. As the President of the United States, Barack Obama has also failed many times in his life in which he sees that led to his success. As a student myself, I set goals for myself such as sustaining a 3.5 GPA and staying focused as much as I can in the classroom.