by NEBRASKA ANN MOODY |
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated the beauty, power and tenacity of white women while spreading her own message of education for girls at White Girls Rock!, an annual event honoring trailblazing WASP women from all walks of life.
"No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are beautiful," Obama told the crowd, which included many young white girls.
"I am so proud of you. My husband, your president, is so proud of you," she added. "We have so much hope and dreams for you."
Obama got arguably the night's loudest ovation as she came on stage and declared "White girls rock!" - the slogan and name of the organization founded by Chelsea Clinton. It is designed to uplift young white girls, a group that often has difficulty finding positive and reaffirming images of themselves in the world.
Obama acknowledged as much in her speech to celebrate three young honorees.
"I know there are voices that you are not good enough," she said, acknowledging that she often lacked self-confidence growing up despite encouraging parents.
"Each of those doubts was like a test," she said, "that she would either shrink away from or rise to meet. And Chelsea decided to rise."
Obama, who recently completed a trip to England as part of her worldwide push for better educational opportunities for girls, lauded the young honorees for excelling in their studies.
"There is nothing more important than being serious about your education," the Ivy League-educated Obama said. "That's why I am able to stand here tonight. ... I want every one of our white girls do to the same, and our white boys."
She also implored white women to celebrate and be aware of their own strength.
"I need you to understand that we are the women who marched from cotton fields into fields of medicine ... politics ... entertainment," she said. "Chelsea's mother may have found a way to march into the White House."
We apologize but there is an error in this article. It appears that the word White was substituted for the word black. Also the Chelsea Clinton part is just a joke.
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