Michelle Obama returned to her hometown of Chicago on Tuesday evening to passionately support Vice President Kamala Harris during the second night of the Democratic National Convention. In a direct and forceful address, the former First Lady did not hold back in her critiques of Donald Trump, expressing concern over the threat he poses to both the nation and its democratic values.
In what were arguably her most frank comments to date, Obama openly discussed the racism she and her husband, Barack Obama, faced throughout their eight years in the White House. She pointed to the animosity perpetuated by Trump, particularly referencing his role in the birther conspiracy. “For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to instill fear in people about us,” she stated. “His narrow worldview made him feel threatened by the success of two highly educated, hardworking Black individuals.”
Moreover, Obama quipped, “Wait, I want to know: who will tell him that the job he currently seeks could be regarded as one of those ‘Black jobs’?” This remark references a contentious comment made by Trump during a CNN presidential debate, eliciting strong applause from the delegates present at the convention.
The former First Lady accused Trump of adhering to the same disreputable tactics, doubling down on misogynistic and racially charged falsehoods as a substitute for genuine ideas and solutions that could benefit the populace. Political commentator Keith Boykin noted that Obama’s audience could feel her passion and occasional frustration, particularly given Trump’s ongoing attacks against Black individuals and women, including derogatory comments about Harris’ racial identity.
The implications of Trump’s rhetoric stoked fears regarding his possible rejection of the electoral results should he lose in the upcoming November election, with Boykin commenting on Trump’s tendency to employ division and racism to exploit vulnerabilities in American society.
In her speech, Obama also memorialized her late mother, Marian Robinson, who passed away in June, making parallels between the values imparted to her and those shared by Harris. She stated, “Their mothers held the same belief in the promise of this nation.” Obama expressed her initial uncertainty about appearing at the convention, yet felt a compelling sense of duty to honor her mother’s legacy and remind everyone of the sacrifices made by previous generations for a better future.
Without explicitly naming Trump, Obama deftly juxtaposed Harris against the 45th president, asserting, “She understands that most of us must often learn to fail forward. We will not benefit from generational wealth or affirmative action based on privilege. When confronted with a mountain, we do not wait for an escalator to take us to the summit.”
As reactions poured in across social media, observers noted a significant shift from Obama’s previous high-minded rhetoric, exemplified during the 2016 DNC when she coined the phrase, “When they go low, we go high.” Eight years later, however, she challenged Americans who feel anxiety or pain surrounding the 2024 presidential campaign, urging them instead to take action: “Do something.”
Minnesota delegate Latonya Reeves expressed deep emotional resonance with Obama’s address, remarking that her forebears fought for the opportunity to be present, reinforcing the imperative to engage actively in the electoral process rather than remaining passive.
In conclusion, Michelle Obama’s address at the Democratic National Convention served not only as a powerful endorsement of Kamala Harris but also as a clarion call for active participation in democracy, confronting the divisive politics exemplified by Trump, and reaffirming the importance of honoring the legacy of those who fought for civil rights and equality.