FFormer First Lady Michelle Obama returned to the political spotlight Tuesday night, returning to her hometown of Chicago to rally support for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention.
She was greeted with thunderous applause from those in attendance and reminded Americans why she remains one of the party’s most influential voices, even from the sidelines. Obama recalled her longstanding friendship with Harris, a relationship that stretches back more than two decades, and spoke of shared optimism for the future mixed with grim realism about the challenges facing the party ahead of the November election.
“Our destiny is in our hands,” Obama said. “In 77 days, we have the power to free our country from the fear, division and narrow-mindedness of the past. We have the power to match our hope with our actions.”
Read more: A full transcript of Michelle Obama’s speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention
Obama’s speech to Democratic lawmakers and delegates was particularly poignant because she has remained relatively low-key so far this election cycle, avoiding the hustle and bustle of party politics and instead focusing on broader societal issues in her initiatives and public speeches.
But Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, remain popular with Democrats – one reason her name was floated as a possible alternative for the top spot after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. The Obamas quickly endorsed Harris after Biden dropped out, saying she had the character and experience to rise to the occasion.
“She is one of the most qualified people to ever seek the presidency,” Obama said Tuesday night, immediately before a speech by Barack Obama. “And she is one of the most dignified – a tribute to her mother, to my mother, and probably to your mother. She embodies the stories we tell about this country. Her story is your story. It is my story. It is the story of the vast majority of Americans who are trying to build a better life.”
Here are some of the key moments from Michelle Obama’s DNC speech.
“Hope returns”
The former first lady brought back the message of hope that had become the slogan of her husband’s previous political campaigns and praised the newfound energy surrounding Harris’ campaign.
Obama began her speech by referring to the “contagious power of hope” and told those present at the convention: “There is something wonderfully magical in the air, isn’t there?”
“You know what I’m talking about? It’s the contagious power of hope!” she said. “The exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a better day… America, hope is making a comeback.”
“Do something”
But Obama warned that optimism could lead to complacency and urged the audience to take direct action in the coming weeks to get Harris across the finish line and defeat former President Donald Trump.
“As we embrace this new sense of hope, we must not forget the despair we have felt,” she said, reminding Democrats of what is at stake in the election and adding that they face an “uphill battle.”
“It’s up to us to remember what Kamala’s mother told her: ‘Don’t just sit around and complain. Do something,'” Obama added as the crowd at the convention chanted, “Do something! Do something!”
“Kamala Harris is more than ready”
Obama called Harris “one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of president” and drew particular attention to her background – she grew up as the child of an immigrant from a middle-class family, attended a traditionally black university and worked her way up to become vice president.
“Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment,” Obama said. “Kamala knows just as we do that we all deserve the chance to build decent lives, no matter where we come from, what we look like, who we love, what we pray, or how much is in our bank account. All of our contributions deserve to be accepted and valued. Because no one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American.”
The presidency could be “one of those jobs for black people”
Obama used part of her speech to address the racist rhetoric and attack lines that have been used against Harris, warning that people will “do anything to distort her past and her record.” “My husband and I, unfortunately, know a little bit about that,” she said, before mentioning Trump by name, who made unfounded “birther” allegations against Barack Obama.
“For years, Donald Trump has done everything in his power to make people afraid of us. You see, his limited, narrow view of the world has led him to feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be black,” she said.
Referring to Trump’s comments at the June debate in which he claimed that immigrants to the US were “taking jobs away from black people,” Obama added: “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s looking for right now might be one of those ‘black jobs’?”
“It’s still the same old scam: relying on ugly, misogynistic and racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that would actually improve people’s lives,” she said.
“My heart forces me to be here”
Obama said she was last in her hometown of Chicago when her mother died earlier this year, and she decided to speak at the DNC to honor her legacy and the sacrifices she made. She also drew a parallel between the principles that guided her upbringing and those of Harris: “She was happy to do the thankless, unglamorous work that strengthened the fabric of this nation for generations,” Obama said, adding, “Kamala Harris and I built our lives on the same core values.”
“I wasn’t even sure I was strong enough to stand before you tonight,” Obama said. “But my heart compelled me to be here because I feel it is my duty to honor their memory and to remind all of us not to waste the sacrifices our ancestors made for a better future.”
