First Lady: 'Sting' of Racism 'Didn't Hold Me Back'

ABC News ^ | May 9, 2015 | Erin Dooley

[2ndDivisionVet]

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)

During a passionate address at historically black Tuskegee University Saturday, Michelle Obama said she refused to let the "sting" of racial bias define her.

"Over the years, folks have used plenty of interesting words to describe me. One said I exhibited a little bit of 'uppityism,'" the first lady said. "Cable news charmingly referred to me as 'Obama's baby mamma.'

"All of the chatter, the name-calling, the doubting, all of it was just noise," she said. "It did not define me, it didn't change who I was, and most importantly, it couldn't hold me back."

Conjuring up the incidents in Ferguson and Baltimore, Obama told graduates, "Here's the thing, the road ahead is not going to be easy. It never is, especially for folks like you and me.

"There will be times, when you feel like folks look right past you or they see just a fraction of who you really are," she said.

The first lady recalled watching passersby cross the street when they saw her, as though afraid for their safety, and department store clerks who kept extra close watch on her and her husband....

[houeto]

Sometimes the brain and the fingers aren't in synch. Happens more and more as I progress further and further into my 60s.

I know what you mean but it sure beats the option. ;-)

[kanawa]

“I’ve been thinking about how much our country has changed in the past 6+ years. One thing that has disappointed me has been the division of our American people. I have seen this President divide Americans across the country, based on income level, gender, social status and race. We are a “United” States of America. So my message to you, all of my friends reading this. Please share, post and tweet and speak that if any presidential candidate should continue to divide the American people, we will not have it. We reject that candidate, we will cast them aside. For we have no time for that kind of hatred. The issues that “we” face in our country affect all Americans.”

Mia Love