Summary of the “Bowie State University Commencement Speech” Former First Lady Michelle Obama, delivered a motivational, informative, and emotive speech to the 2013 class of graduates at Bowie State University. She discussed how far African Americans have come along regarding equal rights and education. Obama’s overall message to the University’s graduates includes three key points: the history behind the college; the power of education; and the motivation African Americans had in the past and should continue to have today. The Bowie State University began as an African Baptist church. Then it was transformed to a school offering education to upcoming African American teachers. Students from all different backgrounds have come to the university …show more content…
It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth. The only light which men can be free,’” (As cited in Obama 289). The more educated people are the more they understand their rights for themselves and others. The last key point Mrs. Obama presented was how determined people were just to get an education. She mentioned teachers receiving death threats and even being beaten by angry mobs just for teaching African American students and students receiving the same treatment. However, no obstacles were enough to restrain education from this minority group. Obama states, “So back then, people were hungry to learn. Hungry to get what they needed to succeed in this country. And that hunger did not fade over time,” (Obama 290). This quote really makes people understand who were struggling to survive for their human right of being treated equally. They were so tired of being forced not to learn, that when the opportunity arose, they were empowered to not only learn but to pass on their knowledge and motivation to