Michelle Obama once said “Real change comes from having enough comfort to be really honest and say something very uncomfortable”, and as a leader for our country she has put this thought into action, often times offering her opinion on controversial topics in order to bring forth change. For the past eight years, Michelle Obama has served diligently as the first lady of the United States. Over the course of the Obama administration, Michelle has made incredible strides in the fight against childhood obesity, rallied support for veterans, and encouraged high schoolers, especially young women, in their pursuit of education. She has willingly pursued some of society’s most disputed issues in order to help the United States move forward as a country. …show more content…
Their complaints contained validity and were not ignored by the First Lady. In 2011, Michelle collaborated with Vice President Joe Biden’s wife, Dr.Jill Biden, to create the Joining Forces program. The program was designed to rally support for veterans and assist them in transitioning back into everyday life. Healthcare, employment, and education were all made more accessible to vets returning home and support was provided not only to them but also to active service members and their families. Together Jill and Michelle were able to get all fifty states to enact legislation to accelerate the process of state licensing in order to allow military spouses to gain employment in a shorter time span. By the fifth anniversary of the program more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses had been hired or received job training with the help of Joining Forces. As the leader of Amazon’s military outreach program she held a press conference attended by more than 40 CEOs of major American companies to encourage them to employ more veterans, resulting in pledges to guarantee more than 110,000 jobs. During the Obama’s time in the White House the unemployment rate for retired service men and women was cut in half, bringing it down to a record low of 4.6%. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been positively impacted by this program and the men and women who have made the greatest sacrifices for our country are being repaid with better chances at employment, quicker paths to college enrollment or vocational training and housing assistance. The strides made to lessen the burden of veterans returning home will provide assurance to our servicemen and encourage more young men and women to enlist. The endeavors of Michelle and Dr. Biden will not be forgotten by the
She then immediately follows up with a way to fix it and demand respect. Shes trying to connect with the audience and shows that she has been in the same place, that she can relate. You can see that she has done her research, she uses plenty of statistics to give you a visual of what she is talking about as well as quoting people from organizations and giving them the appropriate credit. She mentions in 2005 at yale, her alma mater, 15 students sat in the admissions office until they were removed by police. These individuals were demanding changes to the financial aid policy. What those student did actually changed the policy and made it easier for families to afford college without heavy loans. This showed others that activists can make a difference, something she presses on in this
Not many people can add the position of National Security Advisor to their list of achievements, especially if those people are women. Condoleezza Rice, however, can place the accomplishment right up there with being a previous member of President Bush’s foreign-policy team, and tenured professor and provost in the political science department of the prestigious Stanford University.
Shirley Chisholm, first African American woman to be elected to Congress was born in Brooklyn on November 30, 1924. She is one of the most profound and admired women that challenged society not only as a woman, but a woman of color. She made many contributions to the women's movement and society.
In contempt of Obama’s humble giving spirit, vivid personality, and many accomplishments, a debate is always at hand upon hearing the infamous name Barack Hussein Obama. From his place of birth, religion, and ethnicity Obama’s face a fair share of controversy. At the heels of adversity along with sheer determination to help others Obama became a leader that delivers and one of the most influential people of America. Adversity was introduced to Obama at an early age. With a Kenyan father and Caucasian mother residing in Hawaii, Obama has always stood out in numerous ways. In 1959 Barack Obama Senior was selected from a number of candidates to go to school in the US where he attended The University of Hawaii in Honolulu to
Hillary Rodham Clinton is a well-recognized woman in the United States. Her great contribution as Secretary of State impacted people’s lives. One of many remarkable speeches Clinton gave was the “The Women Rights Speech” at the 4th World Conference on Women Plenary Session, where she used strong words and emotions to appeal to the audience. Even though the speech talked about women's rights, she wanted everyone, including men and children, to listen and take action. Her use of ethos, logos and pathos throughout the speech helped people understand women live in a world where they suffer discrimination, and she proposes solutions to solve the issue.
At this point in time the name and image of Condoleezza Rice is commonplace among the majority of informed Americans. As the first female to serve as the National Security Advisor to the President of the United States, Dr. Rice was propelled even further into the spotlight following the attacks on America on September 11th 2001. I too, like most Americans, saw a lot more of Condi, as she is known by her many friends and colleagues, after September 11. Clearly she was intelligent and always remained calm and poised in the face of adversity and standing before the cameras. I also noticed and appreciated her articulation and was even moved by what seemed like her stoic yet compassionate presentation. It was not until I read Dr. Rice’s biography, Condi, by Antonia Felix, however that she gained my utmost respect. By the 21st century a black successful black female is not as uncommon as it was fifty years ago. Black women had fought their way to the top in many arenas, including political such as the U.S. Senate. What is truly amazing about Condi’s story is speed and finesse with which she ascended to the top of everything she took on. An endearing friendship and mutual loyalty with both of the George Bushes surely did not hurt her. Condi’s success was hardly limited to the world of politics. She approached music, fitness, academics, sports, religion, and family with the same decisiveness, consistency, and determination that she brought to the public sector. Condi is also no stranger to controversy. Now more than ever she faces a host of critics, especially regarding her supposed knowledge of possible terrorist threats before they came to pass on September 11. Her Republican politics made her less than popular among African Americans although she maintains a more liberal perspective on social issues and remains pro-choice. In spite of her ups and downs it is ultimately her unfaltering character to which she can attribute her success as well as her status as what many call the most powerful woman in politics.
Famie Mercilien Bill Clinton, known as William Jefferson Blythe III, was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas. His mother's name was Virginia Cassidy and his father was William Jefferson Blythe. Bill Clinton never got to meet his biological father due to the fact that he died in an accident three months before he was born. Bill Clinton was taught to read at a very early age by his grandma, Edith Cassidy, who practically raised him. In 1950 Bill Clinton’s mom married Roger Clinton, who was a car dealer and an abusive alcoholic, when Bill Clinton was fifteen; his mother divorced Roger Clinton, then remarried him again.
Motherhood is the main point of focus in both forms of text. While is Truth's speech she talks about motherhood being robbed from her due to slavery, Obama talks about Michelle's motherhood being stolen by her career. Both of these examples are heart breaking and sorrowful because as a women becoming a mother is one of the greatest gifts of all time. As far as the workforce goes Truths labor is back breaking manual labor that causes a disconnect in her womanhood Michelle's work is tedious, time consuming, and can cut into time with her children. Another important similarity in both of these text are the stereotypes. Truths are racial stereotypes and Michelle’s are gender. All of the similarities in the text give the reader an insight on how women feel on a daily basis because we can be robbed of motherhood, be pressured in our workforce, and have stereotypes put on us. Although these texts were written in different time periods they show the reader women go through many of the same struggles women went through 100's of years ago today. Both of these figures, Truth and Michelle are very strong women who know how to impact a large group of people to make them realize that stereotypes of women are cruel and the world should learn to move on and unite as a whole to create a stronger more effect community.
This year, the United States is set to end over a decade of continuous combat operations in Afghanistan as well as reduce the size of the military in an effort to restrain the growing deficit of the federal government. While some welcome these actions, they will have a significant effect on the men and women of the armed forces. Since the military is now focused on returning to a peacetime posture and cutting personnel, more veterans will be entering the civilian market. These men and women, who come from all walks of American life, will have had vastly different experiences than their civilian counterparts. These veterans will have spent their formative years in a wartime military and while they have so much to offer society, often, their service and they as individuals are stereotyped with unflattering characteristics by civilian managers, which has a negative impact during their post-military search for employment. Some civilians see them as uneducated and suffering from a host of mental problems related to their service. This problem is not only relevant for recent veterans but for all of those who have volunteered to serve in the military. Veteran unemployment is a serious problem for the United States. Those who choose to serve in the military should not be negatively impacted in the civilian marketplace as a result of their sacrifice.
Obesity in children is a growing crisis in our society. It has become an alarming concern for both communities and health care organizations. There are a number of ways to improve eating habits and encourage healthier choices. Making healthier foods accessible in groceries stores is one example. Our First Lady, Michelle Obama used the following quote during her speech in Chicago to call attention to the lack of healthy food stores in some communities in Chicago. She proclaims that it is a community matter and every one must be involve to make changes. Without change in the community individuals will not have opportunities to make healthier food choice .
The goal of Hillary’s speech is to persuade her audience that her ideas are valid, by using ethos, pathos, and logos. Hillary is the First Lady and Senator, she shows credibility as an influential activist for woman rights. “Over the past 25 years, I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children, and families. Over the past two and a half years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing women in my country and around the world” (Clinton 2).
hirley kept active in politics following her retirement by co-founding the National Political Congress of Black Women and serving as its founding in 1984 until1992.
Oprah Winfrey is not only the richest woman in the world, but she is also is known to be one of the most influential black women to ever live in the United States. She is a person “who has become successful and spread it around to those who need it the most” (Oprah 76). She has opened many different foundations to help others, For example, the Oprah Winfrey foundation. As if that already wasn’t enough she made a networking site called Oprah angel, what it does is help raise money for charitable causes around the world. In 2000 Oprah Decided to not only help others with Physical and financial problems, she wanted to go one step further. She published her own magazine called “O” that would give woman advice with how she deals with the same situations that woman do in their everyday lives. One of Oprahs greatest works is a leadership Academy that she established. It is a school in Africa that will prepare students for what awaits them on the other side of those doors. “It is a place where young girls will have the opportunity improve the quality of life for their sisters, and for generations to come” (Owla 12-13).
Not only has she graduated from two exceptional Ivy League colleges (Princeton and Harvard), she is also a lawyer. She was raised on the South Side of Chicago, had opportunities to study at prestigious universities, returned to her hometown, married, and raised two beautiful daughters. Unlike Barack, Michelle has two black parents and a black sibling, and she comes from a city readily associated with black life and politics. She even has a family tree that traces back to American slavery. Observers comfortably frame Michelle Obama as angry Sapphire figure, but how is that possible when she is one out of the few mothers who hold degrees from the most reputable schools around the world. Again, her critique was taken as evidence of her ideational anger. Michelle Obama is the most known example of an African American woman who has worked hard to become who she is today and is probably the most idealistic perfect woman. Still the success and difficulty she has experienced in gaining accurate recognition is emblematic, if not typical, of black women’s citizenship struggles. She is still only seen as the stereotypical black woman in the eyes of supremacist even though she has out succeeded the majority of people today. One could assume that Michelle Obama is someone who could be looked to as faultless representation of how black women can achieve and obtain such incredible power. Unfortunately, not even the first lady is respected even with her credentials. For example. there were attempts to frame her with the common trope of hypersexuality. In the heat of the general election fight, Fox News referred to her as “Barack’s baby mama”. Instead she fights strong against these over rationalized comments because she knows she is better than what they say. If Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States, is not recognized as credible, than it is clear that no black woman will ever be
Introducing Michelle Rhee battle over education reform in Washington, D.C’s public schools. According to, the Houston Public Media Michelle Rhee remains one of the most notorious education reformers in the nation. In Washington, Rhee’s direct style helped turn around a struggling district, but her decision to close schools and fire hundreds of teachers and principals also generated criticism. In according with New week, Michelle Rhee showed that she was serious about reform the schools, by firing more that than a hundred non-union central office workers, including administrators, and thirty six principals for not educating the students in the public school. Therefore, the three leadership traits in which Michelle Rhee scores high was to drive