Inspiring a Nation:
Michelle Obama’s Tuskegee Commencement Speech
Michael Brown, Walter Scott, Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, and Eric Garner were just some of the names that were on America’s mind when Michelle Obama gave her commencement speech at Tuskegee University in 2015. The Black Lives Matter movement was sweeping the nation, fighting the unjust deaths of seemingly innocent African Americans. Police brutality, and racial tensions were at an all-time high, when the First Lady spoke to the historically African American school in southern Alabama. Police brutality, and racial tensions were at an all-time high, when the First Lady spoke to the historically African American school in southern Alabama.
First Lady Michelle Obama gave her…show more content… The Tuskegee Airmen were black pilots that were trained to fly combat and maintenance during World War II. Obama explained how many of the Tuskegee Airmen were treated wrongly, claiming, “they were presumed to be inferior…Many suffered verbal abuse at the hands of their instructors” (Par.15). Obama quotes a Tuskegee Airman named Charles DeBow, who refers to flight and takeoffs: “[T]he bumps would smooth off… [you’re] in the air… out of this world… free.” (Par.19) The First Lady restates these words at the end of her speech. This quote is important to her immediate audience to encourage them to not let anyone “clip their wings” (Par.17), but also her national audience to convey this message of freedom that African American struggled and fought for. Whether it was fighting the stereotype that Black soldiers were inferior, constantly being stopped for unwarranted tickets/violations, or having to suffer through being assigned simple tasks such as housekeeping. Furthermore, this is meant to convey that racism is still a daily battle for African Americans. Throughout her speech, the First Lady strives to make sure that both audiences know that she is not immune to these struggles and daily racism African Americans still face in America, and her status does not mean she is “free” from harsh words from the
