The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
A day before celebrating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the First Lady invited local students to the White House to watch “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” a film that chronicles the life and legacy of the civil rights leader.
First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at a screening of "The Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rights," in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, Aug. 27, 2013. Mrs. Obama was introduced by Whitney Young's niece Bonnie Boswell, left, who wrote and produced the documentary. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
A day before celebrating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the First Lady invited local students to the White House to watch “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” a film that chronicles the life and legacy of the civil rights leader.
"What this documentary shows us is that there are so many unsung heroes in our history whose impact we still feel today," said Mrs. Obama. During her remarks, the First Lady shared one of her favorite quotes by Young:
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
"How are you going to be the agents of change for the next generation?" the First Lady asked. "We’re counting on you all to be ready to take the helm and be the next agents of change, because there is still a lot of work to do."
The First Lady has a personal connection to the civil rights leader. In 1981, Michelle Robinson graduated from the Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago. Take a look some archival photos from the First Lady's time at Whitney Young High School:
Photos courtesy of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.
Watch the video the First Lady at the screening of "The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights":
Learn more:
Admistration officials mark the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington:
- 50 Years of American Heroes, by Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President
- 50 Years Later, Our March Continues, by Eric Holder, Attorney General of the United States
- Our 'Fierce Urgency of Now,' by Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Becoming a More Perfect Union, by Cecilia Munoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
White House Video:
