First Lady Michelle Obama Champions Students

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a discussion on higher education in the East Room of the White House. The First Lady hosted the 2015 Beating the Odds Summit to recognize youths who have overcome substantial obstacles to persist through high school and make it to college, as part of the “Reach Higher” initiative

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"I cannot rap. Although I have enough of a rap that I got Michelle to marry me." —@POTUS: go.wh.gov/BeatingTheOdds snpy.tv/1Moeqmq

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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 23, 2015

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President Barack Obama makes a surprise visit to the Beating the Odds Summit, part of the First Lady’s Reach Higher Initiative, in the East Room of the White House (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Jayson Rodriguez: Michelle Obama Talks Ambition, Educations & #TodaysKidsWillNeverLearn

Michelle Obama is nothing if not gracious. Since moving to the White House in 2009 following her husband Barack Obama’s presidential election win in 2008, the Chicago native has used her mantle as the First Lady to fight for military families, children’s health and young people’s pursuit of education. Her charm, intellect and warm personality have created a collaborative environment where politics are left at the door and people connect to get things done.

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Do you find yourself being more ambitious about your designs to help young people now more than any other point in your life, and why?

I’ve always said that the role of First Lady comes with this big bright light that follows you wherever you go, and you have the privilege—and the responsibility—to shine that light on important issues and tell the stories that too often go untold. So I do find myself being especially ambitious right now, especially because so many of the issues I work on are deeply personal to me.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without education." —The First Lady to students who are beating the odds to go to college #ReachHigher

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The First Lady (@FLOTUS) July 23, 2015

A perfect example is my Reach Higher initiative, an effort to inspire young people to continue their education past high school. My parents didn’t have college degrees, and while they loved and supported me, they really couldn’t help me with things like standardized tests and financial aid forms. So I often had to figure stuff out on my own, and I didn’t always get it right (I actually applied to one college simply because I liked the pictures in the brochure). And today, I have a chance to reach back and help young people struggling with these exact same challenges, and I intend to use my time as First Lady and beyond to do everything I can to empower them so they can fulfill their dreams.

More here

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“A Constant State Of Rage”

“To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage.”- James Baldwin

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Don

This Sandra Bland murder has touched me in a way like most of the murders of African Americans by the police haven’t. I think of this black woman driving alone cross country for her dream job getting pulled over and arrested for no apparent reason, and then being killed. Some of you can sit and wait for the investigation to conclude all you want to, but I don’t have. I’ve seen this movie before, and it always ends the same way. African Americans are no safer today than we were in the 60’s. Yes, we are richer and more educated and more socially mobile, but at the end of the day that won’t stop some police officer from putting us in our place if he or she feels like it. If Denzel Washington can’t get a cab in New York City, then what chance does a Sandra Bland have in driving cross county safely?

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#BlackLivesMatter #SayHerName #SandraBland http://t.co/zfE8Kw0fyB

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Donna NoShock (@NoShock) July 22, 2015

Some Truth-Telling From Propane Jane

The system of White supremacy dictates that Black/Brown people should always be subservient to abusive police, or face death in retaliation.

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

Scroll Twitter and you'll find plenty of folk who sincerely believe they aren't racist, but think Black folk should acquiesce to brutality.

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

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That's White privilege speak for "maybe they'd stop killing you if you stopped talking back". As if talking back is a capital offense...

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

Can we take a break from blaming dead Black people for their own deaths, and focus on the folk who actually killed them? Just a thought.

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

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How about a discussion of what the fuck is making the police so emotionally dysfunctional that they kill people just for talking back?

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

What kind of power trip are the police on that they can't be expected to maintain a higher standard of emotional and physical restraint?

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

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You know how many middle school teachers get talked back at on a daily basis, but somehow still resist the urge to kill all their students?

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

I'm an ER Psychiatrist; drunk, high, and/or psychotic people talk back at and curse me out every day, but guess what...I don't kill them.

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Propane Jane (@docrocktex26) July 22, 2015

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Rise and Shine

On This Day: First Lady Michelle Obama greets children during a visit to Sterling Farms Grocery Store in Marrero, Louisiana, July 23, 2013. The store was opened last year by actor Wendell Pierce as part of the “Alliance For A Healthier Generation.” (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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Today (all times Eastern)

9:45: The First Lady’s Beating the Odds Summit

4:0: VP Biden Participates in a Roundtable on the Importance of Preventative Health Care and Innovation

8:05: The President departs White House on route to Nairobi, Kenya

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Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Our long national nightmare continues. "@TheStalwart: BOOOOOM: JOBLESS CLAIMS FALL TO LOWEST LEVEL IN FOUR DECADES bloomberg.com/news/articles/…”

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Michael Grunwald (@MikeGrunwald) July 23, 2015

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Obamacare has destroyed the economy goo.gl/enTojC http://t.co/RBCom2rzU3

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Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) July 23, 2015

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Wow: Weekly app's for unemployment benefits drop to lowest level since Nov 1973 What the Pres looked like in 73 🙂 http://t.co/MbKZmIVdWL

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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 23, 2015

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US jobless claims are at their lowest in 42 years: http://t.co/e8ESuoKjmX

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Jamie McGeever (@ReutersJamie) July 23, 2015

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Boehner: WHERE ARE THE JOBS, OBAMA?!?1!?! Today: US jobless claims are at their lowest in 42 years (not a typo: 42) http://t.co/k5bGvhNreB

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TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 23, 2015

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People magazine, July 2008

Early Bird Chat

People magazine, July 2008

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MoooOOOooorning!