Michelle Obama Talks ‘Black Jobs,’ Kamala Harris, And Voter Responsibility In Powerful DNC Speech

On August 20, former first lady Michelle Obama gave a riveting, powerful speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, relaying to the audience that “hope is making a comeback” and urging voters to take dynamic action and “do something.” She also publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party running mate, for the U.S. presidential election. 

“It’s the contagious power of hope—the anticipation… the energy… the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day,” she said. “…the chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division, and hate that have consumed us… and continue pursuing the unfinished promise of this great nation—the dream that our parents and grandparents fought and died and sacrificed for. America, hope is making a comeback!”

Wearing a chic blue two-piece ensemble, microbraids pulled into a ponytail, manicured nails, and smart jewelry, she gave the speech with a no-holds-barred approach, also honoring her late mother, Marian Robinson, and likening Harris’ values to that of her mom’s.

“The belief that if you do unto others… if you love thy neighbor… if you work and scrape and sacrifice, it will pay off—if not for you, then maybe for your children or your grandchildren… those values have been passed on through family farms and factory towns… through tree-lined suburbs and crowded tenements… through prayer groups and National Guard units and social studies classrooms,” she said.

Her speech also included unapologetically candid insights on her thoughts about former U.S. president Donald Trump’s recent remarks (the now-viral “Black jobs” comment being one of them) and his Republic presidential campaign strategy.

“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?” she quipped. “It’s his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better.”

(Watch Michelle Obama’s full speech from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, below via CNN.)

“You see, gutting our health care… taking away our freedom to control our bodies… the freedom to become a mother through IVF, like I did—those things are not going to improve the health outcomes of our wives, mothers, and daughters. Shutting down the Department of Education… banning our books—none of that will prepare our kids for the future. Demonizing our children for being who they are and loving who they love—that doesn’t make anybody’s life better. Instead, it only makes us small.”

Many of her insights were met with rousing applause, chuckles, and admiration as she spoke about the responsibility of the American public to take action by voting and encouraging others to register to vote. “In 77 days, we have the power to turn our country away from the fear, division, and smallness of the past,” she said. “We have the power to marry our hope with our action.”