First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver Spelman’s 2011 Commencement address. The
ceremony will be held Sunday, May 15, 3 p.m., at the Georgia International Convention Center.
Join 3 Chics for live blogging . You can watch the ceremony streamed live here.
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First lady Michelle Obama thanks the graduates after she delivered the commencement address during the Spelman College graduation on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Ga.
First lady Michelle Obama, right, reacts while receiving an honorary degree from Spelman College president Beverly D. Tatum at Spelman College on Sunday, May 15, 2011, in College Park, Ga. First lady Obama has delivered four commencement addresses this season, and her choices were politically strategic as the president gears up for the 2012 campaign for a second term. She was in Iowa last week and in coming weeks will speak to graduating seniors at Quantico Middle High School in Virginia, to graduates whose parents serve at the Quantico Marine Base.
Actress and director Debbie Allen reacts while being introduced during the Spelman College commencement on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Ga. Allen received an honorary degree.
Actress Phylicia Rashad, right, receives and honorary degree from Spelman College president Beverly D. Tatum during the school’s commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Ga.
The photos of the Spelman class of 2011 & FLOTUS are wonderful. Thank you, SG2. :-)
You’re welcome! :)
I had missed this photo…thanks for it.
FLOTUS gave a lovely speech. Just beautiful
It was EXCEPTIONAL!
THANKS for being my eyes on this. I am very bummed that I never got a connection. :(
Hi rikyrah. We’re disappointed that you didn’t get to view the commencement address too! If you can get on the site, there’s an area you can go to order the DVD of this event. I sure am going to do it. The sound quality was fair to middle of the road on my lap top.
FLOTUS delivered BIG TIME.
The videos of FLOTUS’ address is now up!
Congrats to the 2011 Spelman graduates!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2011 SPELMAN GRADUATES!
It’s my choice and I choose to change the world!
***Tears***
It’s my voice…
Frist Lady Michelle Obama Honorary degree Doctorate Degree Law!
CONGRATULATIONS, FLOTUS!!!
Congrats Flotus! I love you much!
Go Phylicia Rashad!
My ear is practically on the keyboard. The sound quality is so low. Can you hear ok?
I thought is was my computer. The sound was much better before the ceremony started!
We’ll want to buy the DVD to support Spelman! LOL
Love watching all these fine, young ladies receive their honors.
I concur. Fine young women indeed.
Ms. Debbie Allen’s getting her honoray degree doctorate in Fine Arts! Congratulations, Debbie!
Debbie Allen is gorgeous!
yes, and so is Phylisha Rashad! Congratulations, Ms. Rashad.
Yes! Just absolutely lovely women!
Sisterhood! Yeah!!!!!!!!!
You all are the keepers of each others’ history! That is sisterhood!
Be a light, a ladder or a lifeboat for others
Your mission is to find those 11 women wherever in the world your journey takes you.
Yes, EACH ONE, TEACH ONE.
Michelle is speaking straight from the heart! I love her!
When you live it, you feel it, think it, breathe it. FLOTUS has lived it.
It brings tears to my eyes…
I was deeply moved by FLOTUS’ address. It opened my heart.
Indeed. So heartfelt!
CLAIM WHAT IS YOURS. NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE WHAT IS YOURS.
I was tearing up throughout the entire address. We feel it, because we know it, we’re lving it, and have lived it.
You’re making me cry again…
Flotus: Don’t let anyone get in your head!
…especially yourselves. Don’t let your mind control you and sabotage your greatness!
We are each other’s LEGACIES. Love this woman….
Tell the story of Spelman College, Flotus!
Go Spelman!
INHERITANCE= NOT AN ENTITLEMENT. Y’all know that’s how we were raised as black kids. Our parents told us that NO ONE was ever going to hand us anything, and not to expect them to. EARN IT, they said.
Speak!
Focus on what you do have; your INTELLECT.
FLOTUS is ready to give her address!
Why does “Wade In The Water “make me think of Mahalia Jackson?
FLOTUS givin’ a shout out to Kristan!
FLOTUS will receive her honorary degree last.
For all of you who can’ get on to the site. Try this link:
http://events.earthchannel.com/2011/Spelman/stream.php
All Spelmann Alumni have been asked to stand. There’s a room full of them.
They have just read off the list of honorary degrees, Phylisa Rashad, Debbie Allen, and of course, First Lady Michelle Obama.
can’t get in via Firefox or IE :(((
They’re not making it easy for viewing. They are selling DVDs of the ceremony. I’m so sorry you can’t get on the site.
I lost my connection! WTF?
I’m watching it on my Windows media player. Click on that link.
OK, I got it back. If you click on the live stream link and it says internet explorer has lost connection, highlight the address and refresh. It worked for me.
LOL SG2, your timing is impeccable. Just in time for prayer!
If you’re on IE, a little box should pop up that says “allow”. Click it and it should open to the Live Stream.
I can and can’t believe this….can’t get into the site.
I can’t get on the site either!!!!! I have tried several sites & still not able to view
Did you get on now, Yolanda?
rikyrah, are you on yet? This is so disappointing.
From coop10 @JJP
Me too Ametia! And I think that all those who walked the walked before us, the Sojourners, the Harriet Tubmans, the Fannie Lou Hammers, the Zora Neale Hurstons, the Hattie McDaniels, the Shirley Chisholms, the Althea Gibsons, etc. are getting quite a kick out of this…
“What You Say! A Black First Lady? Well well…don’t that just beat all…”
“Lawd Child, and her middle name is….What? …. LaVaughn. Why, that sho nuff is us alright, yes it is…”
A black First Lady you say? …”
“Yes’m”
In the White House?
Yes,m”
“What her husband look like?”
“Oh, he’s handsome ladies….smooth,…suave… and, Oh Yes! Killer Smile….Just ask someone named Bin Laden…..Oh, but I forgot ladies, you won’t be able to find him where you are though….”
Yes, thanks to you, Sista Mothers, we are blessed to hear the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Lavaughn Obama, give the commencement address to the next generation of Sista Warriors…and guess what ladies? We couldn’t be happier, so much so that we are singin’ and swingin’ and gettin’ merry like Christmas…..
AMEN!
I’m trying to load the page, and it won’t load.
no no no no no no
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Do you use firefox?
I’m on firefox, does that make a difference?
HERE COMES FLOTUS AND THE CROWD GOES YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it says firefox is ok. did you click on the window link/ That’s how i got in.
http://www.spelman.edu/live-streams/
did you go to the bottom of this page and click the window link?
http://events.earthchannel.com/2011/Spelman/stream.php
Look at all these fine, young, beautiful, gifted, intelligent, BLACK WOMEN!
Spelman College graduating senior Autumn McCullough, 20, of Fontana, Calif. , relaxes while waiting to participate in her commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Ga. First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to deliver the commencement address to the graduates of Spelman College, and attendees had to arrive several hours early for security sweeps.
They are playing the prelude music. Are you watching it?
Yes! I’m tuned in!
Wade in the Water, Children.
thank you soloist Daria Walker!
It was wonderful!
Go ahead and break it down for the people, FLOTUS. Give’em the history.
Spelman College graduating senior Bethany Tenner, 21, of Las Vegas, N.V. , waits to participate in her commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Ga. First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to deliver the commencement address to the graduates of Spelman College, and attendees had to arrive several hours early for security sweeps.
Thanks for the photo, SG2.
Spelman parents, alumnae, students await Michelle Obama
http://www.ajc.com/news/spelman-parents-alumnae-students-946681.html?cxtype=rss_news_128746
Proud parents, family and friends of Spelman College graduates filed in as early as 11:15 a.m. to Georgia International Convention Center’s main convention hall to await the main event at 3 p.m. And some were just finding their seats at the back of the hall that will hold about 9,000 people at 1:45 p.m., after getting in line at noon.
But will it be worth it?
“Yes!” said Kiara Ramey, a 17-year-old from Winder who was waiting to see her older sister Karonda Foster graduate, and first lady Michelle Obama’s speech.
Ramey said she’s impressed with the first lady’s nutrition initiative, which has taught her, “You can do anything.” But Ramey, her little sister and parents had prepared for the long wait. “We ate a big breakfast,” she said.
For many, seeing their sisters, daughters and friends graduate is important. But so is the opportunity to hear the commencement address from Obama.
“It’s the cherry on top,” said Samantha Briggs of Birmingham, Ala., who’s stepdaughter, Chane Fontaine, will graduate in a few hours.
And for others, the waiting was all part of it.
“I stood waiting for the inauguration for 10 hours in the freezing cold,’ said Troi Hockett, Fontaine’s aunt. By contrast, a comfortable indoor venue was a cinch.
Many women – and some men – were wearing elaborate hats for the occasion. Miriam Johnson Miller, a 1971 Spelman graduate, wore a broad-rimmed hat with fluffy white feathers.
“I wear it to honor my mother,” she said, who had desperately wanted Miller to be “Spelman woman.” It was her mother’s hat, but Miller said Obama’s decision to speak to Spelman was a great gift.
“I’m most excited about Obama,” she said.
Soon-to-be-graduate Candice Cannon, a political science major, said the experience was “surreal.” She also was at the inauguration, but Obama’s speech means more to her for its recognition of Spelman as a top historically black college.
“I’m really excited,” Cannon said. “African American women never imagined themselves being in her position. This is the icing on the cake.”
The first lady is expected to speak at 3 p.m. to a class of about 550 from Spelman. The college issued 10,000 tickets. As of 2:10 p.m., the ballroom was full, with the graduates waiting in other rooms.
I would just….well…I dunno.
I paid 3 times to see then Mrs. Michelle Obama speak. She was impressive even then..
well, you know how much I love FLOTUS.
I’ve seen Michelle Obama 3 times too! The last time I saw her was October 2008 at McCalister College in St. Paul, MN. We stood in line for 3 hours in the cold rain. I got to get and give a hug. It was my dad’s 84th birthday.
I told her it was his birthday as we embraced, and she whispered, tell him happy birthday for me will you. i didn’t get a pic with her. The hug and b-day wish for pop were just… beyond.. Love Michelle Obama
Oh Oh, they’re playing the prelude organ music!
The sight of all these beautiful, gifted, intelligent women gives me chills…..
First Lady coming for Spelman Commencement
Written by
Blayne Alexander Written by
Jennifer Leslie
May 15, 2011
ATLANTA – First Lady Michelle Obama will give the address at the Spelman College Commencement at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Georgia International Convention Center.
You can watch the speech through a live stream on http://www.spelman.edu/live-streams.
Security will be tight. Graduating seniors have been told to arrive four hours early for Secret Service checks.
The push to bring the First Lady to Spelman started two years ago with a letter-writing campaign and video appeal on YouTube.
“When we found out that she actually was coming, like that it was definite, you couldn’t tell anybody anything,” smiled senior Brittney Johnson. “It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we got Michelle Obama!'”
“Just the fact that a strong black woman is speaking at our commencement, everything has just come full circle,” said senior Alison Chaney.
Video
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/190811/40/First-Lady-coming-for-Spelman-Commencement