Michelle Obama Opens the White House to Kids
EmailABC NEWS’ Yunji de Nies reports:
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed 180 children to the White House today to listen to a performance by Sweet Honey in the Rock, an all female African American a capella ensemble, as part of a celebration of African American History Month. The children were mostly sixth and seventh graders from local Washington DC schools. Children of the White House staff and residence staff were invited as well.
"We were all very much kids like you guys," Mrs. Obama told the children, "We just figured out one day that our fate was in our own hands. We made decisions to listen to our parents, our teachers, and work very, very hard for everything in life. And then we worked even harder anytime anyone doubted us."
Dressed in a crisp white shirt, green sweater with blue patent leather belt and tweed skirt, Mrs. Obama gave the kids a short history lesson – touching on several Black history milestones at the White House. She explained that the White House had been built by in part by slaves, that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation in the Lincoln bedroom upstairs, and that Dr. Martin Luther King Junior and other civil rights leaders had come to the White House to meet with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Then she asked, "And of course, who lives here now?"
"President Obama!" the kids answered in unison
"President Obama. And he’s making history every single day. Why?" she asked.
One girl’s voice rose above the crowd, and the First Lady asked her to stand and speak up.
"He’s the first African American president of the United States," the girl said.
"The next chapter in history is written by you," Mrs. Obama said. "That’s not just a story that Barack Obama is writing…Those are the stories that we’re all writing together, and you’re an important part of that."
Mrs. Obama then introduced Sweet Honey in the Rock, a D.C. based a cappella ensemble, founded in 1973. The group, sang several songs – including "This Little Light of Mine," "The Ballad of Harry T. Moore," and "Young and Positive." They stopped periodically to speak about African American history and involved the children in call and response songs. Mrs. Obama watched the performance with daughters Sasha and Malia, along with their grandmother Marian Robinson.
After the performance, Mrs. Obama stood by the door and shook the hands of the children as they left. Over the last two weeks, the First Lady has spoken repeatedly about her desire to open the White House and become more involved in the Washington community. Her staff says this is just the first of many events for children at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
– Yunji de Nies
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Bravo Michelle!
Posted by: cheguevera | February 18, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
What’s not to like?
Posted by: matt | February 18, 2009, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
Sweet Honey in the Rock is a true DC treasure! Love their work.
Posted by: Jo | February 18, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
I love that she was able to tie the past into the future, and to enable these children to see that anything is possible if you work for it. Kudos to our fantastic First Lady!!
Posted by: Debzilla | February 18, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
Jake: What is the relevance of what Mrs. Obama was wearing???? Do you do that for men??? It’s very sexist – stop it!
Posted by: ann savage | February 18, 2009, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
Jake: What is the relevance of what Mrs. Obama was wearing???? Do you do that for men??? It’s very sexist – stop it!
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Ann- Jake didn’t write the report, dear. Look at who did, and in all fairness, he typically doesn’t go into detail about what women wear. After all, this isn’t Queer Eye.
Posted by: kathy | February 18, 2009, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
omg in love her sooooooooooooooo much i wish i could meet her….!!!!! but i hope that she and barack keep up the good work
Posted by: Brianajackson@yahoo.com | February 18, 2009, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
It was nice of her to let them imagine a future. Too bad the public schools in DC are so bad many of them will not get a good education, unlike her children in private school.
Posted by: Bill M | February 18, 2009, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
I watched this today, it was great. good job Mrs. O. I had never heard of that group prior to this, I am gonna download their stuff off itunes later.
Posted by: violetmellis | February 18, 2009, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
Surprising, but well done Michelle Obama. I know First Ladies do things like this all the time, but I don’t know if the children they bring to the WH come from Southeast DC. Somehow I doubt it.
This is the first time in my lifetime that the District and Washington will actually be one city.
I’m sure that there is weeping and gnashing of teeth in some parts of political Washington about the spectacle of it all. But I’m so excited about what might become possible for D.C. after so many years languishing.
As far as the Kentucky comment, I’m not sure it can’t be a both/and scenario. After watching Bush botch the Hurricane season and other natural disasters, I too am looking forward to competent leadership. Somehow I doubt if Palin had the metal in 08, then she will overcome it in 12. One W. president is enough for my lifetime.
Posted by: Genna | February 18, 2009, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
Great Job Michelle Letting the Kids in the White House What a Great Experience For them
Posted by: josh | February 18, 2009, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
Too bad Genna, you have to keep looking.
Posted by: Bill M | February 18, 2009, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
Obamacrat for Palin, if you can flip on him that quickly, there is nothing he can do that would make you happy. What have you done to help the people in Kentucky? Why are you waiting for him to save them? Every little bit helps.
As far as Michelle Obama, it is almost surreal, but I am so impressed with her so far.
Keep up the good work I say.
Posted by: ms. Kay | February 19, 2009, 12:08 am 12:08 am
ann savage: what did you for Hurricane Katrina??????Did you voice your concern to George W. Bush……Let’s come together and give love, fast and pray. Michelle, you are truly a FIRST LADY. You wear it well!!
Posted by: ldsmith | February 19, 2009, 3:22 am 3:22 am
First Lady Michelle is classy, unpretentious and “real”. Thanks Michelle, keep it real. You go girl.
Posted by: sngeorgia | February 19, 2009, 7:10 am 7:10 am
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OBAMA’S FOR OPENING THEIR DOORS THE CHILDREN IN THE CITY. I THINK ITS A GREAT IDEA TO CONTINUE HER EFFORT AND SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN OF TOMMOROW. BY THE WAY MY DAUGHTER WAS ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES WHO HAD THE HONORS TO MEET THE FAMILY YESTERDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE!!!! GO KIPP /THE OBAMA FAMILY AWESOME
Posted by: AMENA | February 19, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
“We made decisions to ….. work very, very hard for everything in life.”
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Good to see that pointing out hard work is fashionable again.
Posted by: mad | February 19, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
It’s a shame that the American People can’t pay Michelle Obama a salary to perform these First Lady functions
A darn shame.
One I’m sure she’ll point out to us again and again.
Posted by: Passerby | February 19, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
I am glad Michelle opened the doors for the children, but why was it just African American children? I thought this was what part of the “change” was about. To me she showed these kids that they are from a different race, rather than that we are all just from the “human” race. I guess we’ll just have to wait for White, Asian, Indian, Spanish, etc. month to roll around for the other chldren to be included.
Posted by: JF | February 19, 2009, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
to JF
There were all kinds of children present at the event. 6th and 7th graders, many races and culture represented differnt economic strata, all vey bright and attentive. They had a good time. And Mrs. Obama shook the had of every kid there before they left. All 180 of them. IT was the first event of that kind for this administration and there will be more. It was a wonderful event, a lot of fun, information, music and laugher.
Posted by: cee cee | February 19, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
I am sorry, I read it wrong, it was the all African American Singing Group that I misread as being all African American children. My main point though is that if we had wet vs. (bet)Black entertainment TV, white college fund vs. black college fund etc. I hope you get my drift, we would be called racist, but then again we already are called racist, but, there are all these other channels, months, college funds, million dollar marches etc. and that is not considered racist?
Posted by: JF | February 19, 2009, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
a lot of these comments are bogus and dumb. its black history month so y wouldnt she let black children know about there culture, thier heritage. im pretty sure that other was in the audience. im happy that Mrs. Obama is doing good by trying to be apart of the community. i wish be stop trying take something bad out something good. keep up the good work Michelle!!!!!
Posted by: seville | February 23, 2009, 9:34 am 9:34 am
ra
Posted by: Naadabee | February 23, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
Now think did hilary or george bush do this???no they didnt good job michelle!!
Posted by: Jada | February 23, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
good
Posted by: shannon | February 22, 2010, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm