At the Democratic National Convention, first lady Michelle Obama was introduced by another wife and mother. That woman, Elaine Brye, first met the Obamas when she was invited to the White House after writing a letter thanking the first lady for her crusade for the millions of families who have loved ones who put their lives on the line in the name of Armed Services.
The first lady began by thanking the woman and her family for the service they rendered.
“It is a privilege to travel around the country and truly experience the American spirit,” said Obama. She mentioned her concerns about what life in Washington would be like when her husband was nominated for the presidency.
I immediately felt as if she spoke directly to me. It was evident that Michelle was embodying true humbleness.
“I wondered what it would mean if my husband were to become president,” Mrs. Obama said.
She also mentioned how she did not want her love for her husband to change with the presidential gain.
This statement resonated directly within the African American husband-and-wife dynamic.
Michelle explained how she did not grow up in a lavish family by “any stretch of the imagination,” but she still received love. Her family worked hard like many Americans, which allowed herself and her only sibling to receive multiple degrees in higher education.
They didn’t have the money to pay for college like millions today, she said. They too relied on student loans and grants. Michelle’s father was a hard worker.
“Being president doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are,” said the first lady.
What I gained from her message was that your creed, nationality, race, sexual preference, socioeconomic background, and religious beliefs are what make up America, and the contributions of everyone born into this world are needed.
I feel as if Michelle Obama encompasses America as a whole. She has the ability to represent a country that is a melting pot. She embodies Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ sense of fashion, and is involved in advocacy efforts like that of Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan.
To some, Michelle’s life may be far cry from the stereotypical housewife role, but in reality she expresses an independent embodiment that modern women are accustomed to making.
Throughout her speech I was conscious of the idea that our political standpoint does not matter; it’s simply a matter of what’s the best choice for you and the way in which you’d like to see your America.
“If immigrants can come to America, than surely we can keep pushing on, even when times get rough,” the first lady said.
“If our grandparents and parents could struggle, then surely we can keep sacrificing and keep building for our children and our grandchildren.”
My grandparents, Samuel and Hester Scales, worked hard to provide a lifestyle to my mother that was not afforded to them. They met, married and moved to New Orleans. They instilled in my mother that hard work pays off.
My grandmother Hester Scales would always say, “Your attitude determines your altitude,” meaning that the way you treat others determines how far you go in life.
First lady Michelle Obama ended with saying, “God bless you all, and God Bless America.”
One key component in making your voice stand out among the masses is to simply vote.
She said her most important title is mother, and if we all want a great future for our children and for America’s sons and daughters, than we must work together and trust in the promise of President Barack Obama.