By Editor-in-Chief Kathy Wray Coleman, a-24-year journalist who trained at the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio for 17 years, and who interviewed now President Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS. (Note: A former 14-year biology teacher and longtime Cleveland activist, Coleman is the most read reporter in Ohio on Google Plus with some 3.5 million views).
CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM-WASHINGTON, D.C.-Michelle Obama, the first Black first lady of the United States of America and the wife of President Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, gave her farewell speech Friday afternoon, tearing-up, yet delivering a scholarly speech that reveals her background as a Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate who has not forgotten her blue collar roots. (Editor's note: President Obama will deliver his farewell speech on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 8 pm CST at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois).
"No matter where they're from, how much money their parents have, no matter what they look like, or who they love, or how they worship or what language they speak at home, they have a place in this country," Michelle Obama said at a podium at the White House while flanked by a group of school counselors, one of whom received the School Counselor of the Year award, an award handed out via the first lady's Reach Higher initiative to encourage post-secondary education.
"Being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life," the first lady said. "And I hope I made you proud."
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama was born Jan 17, 1964 and was raised by her blue collar parents along with her older brother, Craig Robinson, on the south side of Chicago.
She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, and Harvard Law School.
She met the now president, who is four years older, in their younger years, before he became famous, and as his boss at the Chicago law firm of Sidley Austin.
They married in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha, the youngest to initially reside in the White House since Amy Carter.
Michelle Obama was an active and likable first lady whose approval ratings reveal the love and respect she has garnered from the American public since stepping into the White House with President Obama in 2009.
A USA Today/ Gallup Poll taken Monday and Tuesday says 79% of Americans approve of the first lady, compared to 65% for Obama, though his final approval rating soars above his predecessor, former president George W. Bush, who left office with a dismal 22%.
The first lady stood by her husband's side, after helping him become president.
She campaigned for then U.S. senator Barack Obama, a former Illinois state senator and community organizer on Chicago's south side, throughput 2007 and 2008, delivering a keynote address at the
And she rallied for President Obama relative to his reelection bid, and spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. She returned to the campaign trail during the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and delivered a dynamic speech in support of the Democratic Presidential nominee, and fellow first lady, Hillary Clinton. (References relative to the above two paragraphs from Wikipedia.com.)
A loyal Democrat like Barack and Michelle Obama, Clinton lost the 2016 presidential election to now President-elect Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and a billionaire real estate mogul.
Michelle Obama, on Friday, highlighted her speech with a call for America's youth to keep the faith and to make a positive difference in the world.
"Don't be afraid. You here me young people? said First Lady Obama. "Be focused. Be determined. Be empowered."
