Photo by Colin Royal

By Jackson Perez Greenleaf, Staff Writer

CHICAGO — Former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, calling for a return to the foundational values that shaped her upbringing and urging Americans to support the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In a deeply personal reflection, Obama recounted her mother’s enduring belief in the power of hope and community. Marian Robinson became a nationally recognized figure because she lived in the White House from 2009-2017 to care for Michelle and Barack Obama’s daughters while he was president.

“My mom, in her steady quiet way, lived out that striving sense of hope every single day of her life,” Obama said. “She believed that all children, all people have value, that anyone can succeed if given the opportunity.”

Obama emphasized the difference between the humble spirit of her parents and the consumerism that permeates modern culture.

“She and my father didn’t aspire to be wealthy,” she said. “In fact, they were suspicious of folks who took more than they needed. They understood that it wasn’t enough for their kids to thrive if everyone else around us was drowning.”

Her mother’s dedication to community service was a recurring theme in the speech, illustrating the values that Obama said have “strengthened the fabric of this nation.” She emphasized that these values were instilled in her from an early age.

“Those were the values my mother poured into me until her very last breath,” Obama said.

She drew a parallel between her own upbringing and that of Kamala Harris, the current Vice President and Democratic candidate for president. Despite their mothers growing up oceans apart, Obama noted that both women were raised with the same belief in the promise of America.

“Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values,” Obama said. “Even though our mothers grew up oceans apart, they shared the same belief in the promise of this country.”

Obama praised Harris’ mother for instilling in her daughter a commitment to justice and responsibility.

“She’d often tell her daughter, ‘Don’t sit around and complain about things. Do something,’ ” Obama recounted.

In a profound conclusion, Obama energized the crowd with a stirring farewell, reminding them of previous successes and pleading with them to exert endless effort to support the Democratic ticket.

“We did it before, y’all, and we sure can do it again,” she said. “Let us work like our lives depend on it and let us keep moving our country forward and go higher. Yes, always higher than we’ve ever gone before.”

The convention, held at the United Center in Chicago, continues this week with speeches from key party leaders as Democrats seek to build momentum ahead of the November election.

Copy Edited by Journalism Department Chair, Ron Thomas