Bowie State University, a traditionally black college, invited First Lady Michelle Obama to speak at their Commencement on Friday, May 17th. During her speech First Lady Michelle expressed her concern over the strong educational gap that still exists with young Black Americans.
Young African Americans spend too much energy stunting for cameras and chasing dreams of being hip-hop stars. Mrs. Obama's point? The Black community needs to shift gears and put education as the top priority. Here's a snippet of her speech:
"...more than 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, more than 50 years after the end of “separate but equal,” when it comes to getting an education, too many of our young people just can’t be bothered. Today, instead of walking miles every day to school, they’re sitting on couches for hours playing video games, watching TV. Instead of dreaming of being a teacher or a lawyer or a business leader, they’re fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper. Right now, one in three African American students are dropping out of high school. Only one in five African Americans between the ages of 25 and 29 has gotten a college degree -- one in five."
We couldn't agree more! As always, Mrs. Obama so eloquently and tactfully said what so many of us have been thinking for a long time.
What do you think of Mrs. Obama's words? Are Blacks responsible for the gross disparity in Educational achievement?
CLICK HERE to read the First Lady's full commencement speech.
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