Perspective On The World

I first picked up Toni Morrison’s novels when I was entering college, and her voice fundamentally changed my perspective on the world. This Black History Month, I reflected on the impact that her writing has had on my life. https://t.co/zSLkfkHmET pic.twitter.com/W6Yn1YYaSF

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 26, 2021

Black Renaissance

Like so many of you, I was moved as I watched @TheAmandaGorman read her poem at the inauguration. I first met her back in 2016, and over the years, I've seen her continue to inspire people with her words. I'm so proud of the young woman she has become. https://t.co/9KLTu5tV4L pic.twitter.com/GQ9xlyjVqW

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 4, 2021

What an honor to be on @TIME 's new cover. From the interview: "In all the forms of expression of human life, we’re seeing that artistry be informed by the Black experience. I can’t imagine anything more exciting than that." https://t.co/SKC3rreA4x

— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) February 4, 2021

TIME's new cover: Amanda Gorman in conversation with Michelle Obama, Ibram X. Kendi on the Black Renaissance and more https://t.co/YzMcAnk9x1 pic.twitter.com/yyr7hbT6ld

— TIME (@TIME) February 4, 2021

"The Black Renaissance is stirring Black people to be themselves. Totally. Unapologetically. Freely," writes Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) https://t.co/KLO3yEs4Pe

— TIME (@TIME) February 4, 2021

Hello, Black History Month!

Just look at how this teacher reimagined her classroom door in celebration of Black History Month! ❤️🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/zBLZozo4zz

— Kyra's Shea Medleys Hair & Skincare (@KyraSheaMedleys) January 30, 2019

On this eve of #BlackHistoryMonth, I am beyond grateful to have been born black, raised by black people, and consistently immersed in blackness.

— Broderick (@BroderickGreer) February 1, 2019

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Today’s Google doodle in honour of the great Sojourner Truth. Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, she was an African-American abolitionist, former slave and women's rights activist. Perhaps one of the first intersectional feminists, in 1851 she gave her speech ‘Ain’t I a woman?’.. pic.twitter.com/p6ZLUncZBZ

— Ebyan (@EbyanEgal) February 1, 2019

...at the Ohio women’s convention, her speech highlighted how both the black movement and women’s suffragette were failing black women, a concern which seems relevant even today.

There’s so much more to find out about this remarkable woman on https://t.co/jUHUk8IrLm

— Ebyan (@EbyanEgal) February 1, 2019

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https://twitter.com/SoulistaPhD/status/1091323226725249032

"I started to ask myself some important questions, like 'what do I really care about?' and 'how do I give something back?' @michelleobama opens up on the decision that led her to quit her law firm job and pursue serving others. 🙌 #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/tDpbXYmdHr

— MAKERS (@MAKERSwomen) February 1, 2019

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To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me—
That is my dream!

—Langston Hughes, born #OTD #BlackHistoryMonthhttps://t.co/asJ2nB9e9a

— Poets.org (@POETSorg) February 1, 2019

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we celebrate American abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who escaped from slavery & became a powerful advocate for justice & equality everywhere.

Thanks to our guest artist @loveiswise_ for such a thoughtful #GoogleDoodle! → https://t.co/W1VzvI4S9B pic.twitter.com/Y2PT4g1ky2

— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) February 1, 2019

A Gentle Human

Remind them. pic.twitter.com/an9VboMTCv

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) July 8, 2018

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Wild Embers by Nikita Gill

A Successful Inaugural Summit

Hello, #ObamaSummit! Thrilled to host civic leaders in Chicago from all over the world. Follow along at @ObamaFoundation.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 30, 2017

Thrilled to be home with @BarackObama! Join us as we kick off the @ObamaFoundation Summit. Tune in: https://t.co/zdjmKu5Rjn #ObamaSummit pic.twitter.com/mhkkelMO7V

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) October 31, 2017

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Thanks to my friend Prince Harry for joining me in my hometown to surprise these outstanding students! #ReachHigher #ObamaSummit https://t.co/QH7vwnKUBN

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) October 31, 2017

Watch: @ChancetheRapper has a special announcement about the first-ever #ObamaSummit. https://t.co/f1vx5FPLl2 pic.twitter.com/EaJ5XxJUoJ

— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) October 13, 2017

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Prince Harry and @michelleobama made a surprise visit to students at Hyde Park Academy in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/dMAuIzSYsZ

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

The high school is across from the future site of the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of the city. pic.twitter.com/jjSav1neEQ

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

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The warm and wide-ranging conversation, lasting over an hour, covered how the Center will showcase the South Side of Chicago to the world. pic.twitter.com/84lQfvF9iH

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

They spoke about the importance of young people staying inspired and the power of students using their voices to change the world. pic.twitter.com/Ah1unCjBn2

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

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Prince Harry built a strong working relationship with @BarackObama and @MichelleObama due to their shared interest in support for veterans. pic.twitter.com/SOO0hRLAHX

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

Both of the Obamas have been strong supporters of @WeAreInvictus and @BarackObama attended this year’s #InvictusGames in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/wzEP9l6wTP

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 31, 2017

POTUS 44. Hip Hop 44

Make sure to visit Google today and have fun with the amazing interactive Hip Hop doodle!

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Google: 44th Anniversary of the Birth of Hip Hop

On August 11, 1973, an 18-year-old, Jamaican-American DJ who went by the name of Kool Herc threw a back-to-school jam at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York. During his set, he decided to do something different. Instead of playing the songs in full, he played only their instrumental sections, or “breaks” – sections where he noticed the crowd went wild. During these “breaks” his friend Coke La Rock hyped up the crowd with a microphone. And with that, Hip Hop was born.

Today, we celebrate the 44th anniversary of that very moment with a first-of-its-kind Doodle featuring a custom logo graphic by famed graffiti artist Cey Adams, interactive turntables on which users can mix samples from legendary tracks, and a serving of Hip Hop history – with an emphasis on its founding pioneers. What’s more, the whole experience is narrated by Hip Hop icon Fab 5 Freddy, former host of “Yo! MTV Raps.”

More here

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The 4th

This is my form of patriotism: pic.twitter.com/w1bRopSSPC

— Broderick (@BroderickGreer) July 4, 2017

Before you celebrate the Fourth, I do think it is important to read Frederick Douglass' July 4th oration. https://t.co/ZufgCzUYMQ pic.twitter.com/OoufvUlTGd

— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) July 4, 2017

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https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/882243487785037824

The ghost of Frederick Douglass came down & said enjoying your ribs today isn't mutually exclusive from critiquing America. You can do both.

— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) July 4, 2017

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It shouldn't have to be said at this point but critiquing this country doesn't prevent one frm loving it. It's how you know the love is real

— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) July 4, 2017

https://twitter.com/PeteSouza/status/882212979273588737

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https://twitter.com/PeteSouza/status/882259247681155073

July 4, 2011 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Lhwv1Z3MnS

— shauna (@goldengateblond) July 4, 2017

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President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama always had a picnic for military families every year on July 4th. pic.twitter.com/nlH7D7Yd4F

— meta (@metaquest) July 4, 2017

Happy Independence Day! pic.twitter.com/Swft0ooCzD

— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) July 4, 2017

Orator In Chief

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Jacqueline OBoomer: Orator-in-Chief

He wrote what he saw “in Lincoln’s eyes”
And to some of us reading it was no surprise
That we were certainly in for a treat
When Barack H. Obama rose to his feet
Remember when we heard him speak
At that Democratic National Convention
His remarks got rave reviews in ’04
Much more than honorable mention

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And during his first presidential campaign
When we craved to hear him even more
Remember he told us that we … we …
Were the ones we’d been waiting for
When he cajoled we’re ” … a nation of immigrants …
… strangers once, too,” he stood tall
Prodding us to come together as one, for
“Embracing tribe dooms us all”
From his loftiest words heard in a consoling speech:
“Faith doesn’t mean that you don’t have doubt”

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To his hysterically funny two words to the press:
“Obama, Out!”
Sometimes he delivered oration in a hymn
Often his words caught us all on fire
This man seems to have come out of history
In colonial days, he’d have been a town crier
We love this man, his mind, voice, and tone
We see he’s armed us better than we were before
And when we wonder if we’ll be able to go it alone
We whisper we are the ones we’ve been waiting for
And isn’t that the proof of the orator he’s been
And the fact we seldom see his kind
We’re not sure which of our heartstrings he pulled
But we know he also left his words in our minds
And this year we thank him
Genuinely, without measure
For being Orator-in-Chief
And our national treasure

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‘Enough Is Enough, Through And Through’

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Jacqueline OBoomer

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The Michelle Obama Lesson Plan

She rose up and she stood up
And she said, “Listen here”
And she was our grandmothers
And mothers through the years
This was the lesson they all had tried
To teach us to take in our stride:

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To rise up and stand up
To rise up and stand up.
Treat us with dignity
We are your women and girls
Treat us as equals
We are your diamonds and pearls
Treat us with respect
We are your soulmates and loves
Treat us as partners

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When push comes to shove
Give us our due
As we return it to you
Rise up and stand up
Speak up and give a hand up ~
Enough is enough
Enough is enough, through and through

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Early Bird Chat: First Lady Michelle Obama Honors Student Poets

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First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities poetry reading to honor student poets at the White House

Rapper and Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Hip Hop Culture, Q-Tip recite a poem