In a ceremony to honor African American women around the nation, First Lady Michelle Obama came to Newark to spread her own message of exceptional education for girls at the Black Girls Rock Saturday evening.
Beauty, power, and humbleness was the First Lady's message to girls in their strive for excellence as she spoke to the crowd at The NJ Performing Arts Center in Downtown Newark.
"No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are beautiful," Obama told the crowd, that included African American girls from around the country".
The First Lady praised her husband's success while reminding the crowd that there was hope in there dreams if they strive for excellence daily.
Some of the honors went to actress Jada Pinkett Smith, singer Erykah Badu, actress Cicely Tyson, "Selma" director Ava DuVernay, educator Nadia Lopez and Dr. Helene D. Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA, a humanitarian organization. The First Lady was not one of the honorees this year.
The First Lady did receive the evening's loudest cheer as she entered the stage and shouted "Black girls rock!" This is the name of the organization that was founded by Beverly Bond, designed to uplift young black girls around the country.
"All of the doubts that I had about being successful while growing up was like a test," The First Lady said. "I thought I would shrink away, but still I rise" she said.
Obama's speech was just one of many highlights of the nearly four-hour event, which will be shown Saturday, April 5, on BET.
Source: Associated Press
Photo: Q. Dana