Yahoo News – by Dylan Stableford
On May 16, the eve of the 60th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision that outlawed racial segregation in America’s public schools, Michelle Obama traveled to Topeka, Kansas, to visit the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
As the first lady toured the site with Stephanie Kyriazis, its chief of interpretation and education, she posed for a striking photograph that serves as a stark reminder of the segregation era. The image, taken by White House photographer Chuck Kennedy, was posted to the White House Flickr feed this week.
After her tour, Mrs. Obama delivered an equally poignant speech to the graduating classes of Topeka’s high schools.
“I believe that all of you — our soon-to-be-graduates — you all are the living, breathing legacy of this case,” Mrs. Obama said. “Not only are you beautiful and handsome and talented and smart, but you represent all colors and cultures and faiths here tonight. You come from all walks of life, and you’ve taken so many different paths to reach this moment. Maybe your ancestors have been here in Kansas for centuries. Or maybe, like mine, they came to this country in chains.”
“That’s why we’re celebrating here tonight,” she continued, “because the fact is that your experience here in Topeka would have been unimaginable back in 1954, when Brown v. Board of Education first went to the Supreme Court. This would not be possible.”
The first lady lamented school segregation that still exists in other cities.
“Many districts in this country have actually pulled back on efforts to integrate their schools, and many communities have become less diverse as folks have moved from cities to suburbs,” she said. “Our laws may no longer separate us based on our skin color, but nothing in the Constitution says we have to eat together in the lunchroom or live together in the same neighborhoods. There’s no court case against believing in stereotypes or thinking that certain kinds of hateful jokes or comments are funny.”
Mrs. Obama encouraged the graduates to confront and challenge racial prejudices.
“Never be afraid to talk about these issues, particularly the issue of race,” she said. “Because even today, we still struggle to do that. Because this issue is so sensitive, is so complicated, so bound up with a painful history. And we need your generation to help us break through.”
http://news.yahoo.com/michelle-obama-white-colored-photo-134451678.html
Ya know, up until the past I have to say about 5 years. I thought whites blacks and many and many others have got along almost the best they ever have in history.
But.. I guess we have been plunged into this crap again as of late.
that’s all I will say for now. I can’t EXACTLY connect the dots yet
The NSA crap doesn’t help.
Anyone targeting others is a BIG problem.
Ah…
But which bathroom label does Mike i mean michelle use? Man, Woman? Ugly tyranny is not an option.
My family lived in Florida during this time. They built a new school for the black children while we whites got to keep the very old school. We left florida a year after the Black school opened, and this school did not have one intact window, and was in such bad condition that it looked much worse than the white school we had. We at least tried to keep what we had in shape. The Blacks trashed something given to them on a silver platter. Draw your own conclusions.
As for WOOKIE WOMEN? Say hello to your older Brother CHUBAKA for us? Will Yah??? 🙂
We are such a laughing stock of the world.