direction of the policy becomes the first goal rather than any consideration of collegiality or development. you wind up with the scenario like we have today with agreeing. announcer: watch the communicators monday night at 8:00 eastern on c-span two. >> this year, first lady michelle obama was the commencement speaker for jackson state university. in her speech, she discussed the school's segregated past and encouraged the students their right to vote. this is 30 minutes.

mrs. obama: let me thank the dr. meyers for that wonderful introduction and leadership of this fine university. and i thank the representatives and all the elected officials and members of congress who are here with us today as well as mr. perry, all of the trustees, dr. blaine, reverend rodes and all of the faculty and staff here at jackson state. let's take a moment to give it up to the people who helped get you here. thank you for your incredible hospitality. i would not be anywhere else but here. i might be a little jetlagged, but i am here right now to celebrate all of you, so i'm grateful. i have to thank the band and both of the choirs today for the beautiful music. you all are amazing. and of course, before we go way in, we have to give it up to all the folks in the stands who helped you all get here, the moms and dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, friends, neighbors.

all you all must give it up! give it up! [cheers and applause] mrs. obama: and finally, most of all, i wanted to join in congratulating,', what a good-looking group, the men and women of jackson state university class of 2016! whoa! you all deserve all of that and more because i know how hard you worked studying late into the night, writing and rewriting those papers, taking all those

exams. my lord. but i heard you like to have some fun over these past years as well, hanging out at gibbs green plaza and turning up on hot spot fridays at the shores shoe. don't get too excited. mom and dads are in the stands. rocking the house with one of the best bands in the country, the sonic boom of the south. [applause] mrs. obama: together, you all are the superb 16 as i hear you yourselves. and you are about to join a storied legacy from this university, a school that began as a tiny baptist seminary, just 20 students strong, just 20 students, but the legacy that reaches across the country and the state and right here into

this very stadium. and that's where i would like to start my remarks today with this storied stadium and its place in our nation's history. back in 1950 when this stadium was built, it was one of the finest stadiums in the country, quickly became the pride of mississippi. but the story of the beautiful complex has a darker side. for years, it stood as a steel and concrete tribute to segregation because similar crow because only white people were allowed through these gates. back in 1962 during an ole miss football game, the stadium was a pro--jim crow rally and singing a called "no, never." by half time they convinced the governor to even speak. he said there are three sentences, he said i love mississippi, i love her people and our customs and i love and respect our heritage and the crowd went wild because they knew what he meant. that game was just one small moment in a struggle of civil rights that inflamed this entire country, but often burned hottest right here in mississippi, the state where a 14-year-old boy was beaten and murdered where medgar evers was assassinated and freedom riders overflowed the jails and

gunshots would ring out on your campus, killing young people and bullet holes still seen today. it was against that backdrop that one day in october of 1967, something truly extraordinary happened in this stadium.

for years, legal and political pressures had been mounting for the state to desegregate. and that fall, the state finally announced that for the first time, two black teams would get to play in this stadium. those teams were grambling state and of course your own jack son state tigers. [applause] mrs. obama: just think for a moment, you can only imagine the pressure those teens and their fans were feeling, for so long this field had been the pride of white and white-only mississippi and now black fans would fill these stands. black coaches would patrol these sidelines, black players would sweat and bleed on this field. how would the world respond? with those forces of segregation

rise up in protest or worst? as one of the players at the time said, this is a quote, he said, there was potential for it to become a very ugly situation. so the jackson state coach at the time thought hard about hard about how to prepare his team and he told his players to stay focused on two goals. the first, beat the other team. the second, he said, rise above the fray and set a good example. he said because of the whole state, the whole country would be watching. so the players made sure their shoes were shined, their laces tied. they took special pains not to accidentally break anything in the locker room or walk out with a towel, and one of the players said we wanted to be representative of our families, our hometowns, our communities. we wanted to take care of that stadium as much as we could so it would be there for the next

black team. and then they went out and played their hearts out. and jackson state won that game giving grambling its only loss of the season. but most importantly, the world saw what would happen when black folks came into this stadium, what did they see? they saw people enjoying a football game. they saw the same kind of skill and sportsmanship and strategy and strategy this game hosted before. so by simply showing and displaying sportsmanship, the players, coaches and fans joined the long line of heroes who made history in our school houses, department stores and lunch counters, all of them using the same approach that has always moved this country forward. they didn't stoop to the level of those who sought to oppress them. just the opposite. they rose up. they combated small-mindedness with dignity, integrity and

excellence. that is the well worn past to dr. king's mountaintop that so many men and women before us have taken. famous civil rights and ordinary folks who faced down batons and with hope and steadfast determination, dr. king said darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. hate cannot drive that out. only love can do that. and graduates, i'm here today to tell you that that approach to life isn't just something you should read about in the history books. it's a road map for how to live your lives every single day. and how do i know? because i have seen the power of that approach up close and

personal. see, when i hear words like dignity and excellence, i think about my husband. [cheers and applause] mrs. obama: see, i know i'm biased and i do think he's cute, too. [cheers and applause] mrs. obama: as i have walked this journey with barack, i have a good look to look at what it means to rise above the fray and what it means to set your lives -- set your eyes on the horizon and make things better for those who will come after you. i have seen how no matter what kind of ugliness is going on, barack always stays the course. i have watched him stay up night after night, writing, reading and wrestling with the impossible decisions that a president is forced to make. i have been inspired by his

tireless efforts to engage people of all backgrounds, respectfully listening to folks who disagree with him, bringing folks together to solve our common problems and week after week, i see him read the letters he gets from people across this country and he wrice back because he knows that they are who he serves. i see him dedicating himself are on thefolks who margins. that is the work of his life from his days as a community organizer in chicago tore time in the white house today. and we all know that empathy, that preparation, that moral compass, that work ethic has led to so much progress over the past seven years.

we have gone from the brink of another great depression to our businesses creating more than 14 million new jobs. our unemployment rate has been cut in half. our deficits are down by 2/3. our high school graduation rates are the highest rate on records. 20 million more people have health insurance and people in this country are finally free to marry the person they love. and on the global stage, the vast majority of our troops are home today and we aren't putting our heads in the sand on climate change. no, we are leading the way to stop it. i could go on and on, but that's the progress we have seen under this president. that's the kind of change we all hoped was possible eight years ago. yet, too often, instead of acknowledging or celebrating this change, we have a tendency to focus on conflict and controversy. we pay attention to those who are blocking judges, blocking

immigration, just blocking. we are consumed with the anger and vitriol the that is bubbling with folks shouting at each other, using hateful and divisive language and when that language gets personal and is directed at my husband. charges that he doesn't love our country, the time he was called a liar in front of a joint session of congress, the nonstop questions about his birth certificate and his belief in god. now i know that politics you has always been a rough sport. i know that well-meaning folks can get heated in the midst of contentious debate and in light of 24 hours news cycle and our facebook fees are limited and our tvs and radios are

exclusively tuned into those who tell us only what we want to hear, it's not surprising that our disagreements have become more personal, more intense. it's not surprising that we demean or dismiss opinions that are different than our own. but we would be kidding ourselves if we didn't acknowledge that those age-old issues that have always roiled our country, the problems that folks would brush under the rug, those challenges are still with us today. we can't deny it. however, graduates, even in these volatile times, it would be unfair for us to ignore the chages we have seen in a generation. no longer can we be barred from a university or forced to use a separate bathroom or fountain because of the color of our skin.

no one is going to poll test us by demanding that we recite the constitution or correctly guess the number of jelly beans in a jar before we are allowed to vote. so yes, we continue to make progress here in america. but we also know that the shadows of the past have not completely disappeared. despite all the progress we have made, i know that so many of you still see these shadows every single day. maybe it's when you are driving somewhere and you stop for no particular reason, maybe it's the store, folks keep an extra close eye and folks cross the street when they see you coming or when the early voting location in your neighborhood happens to be closed or laws are passed about what you need to cast your vote and the laws are

very much separate or unequal or the criminal justice system that still doesn't provide truly equal justice for far too many or those neighborhoods that tr -- that are struggling still to overcome the painful legacy of the past. i wish i could say otherwise, graduates, but the question isn't whether you are going to come face to face with these issues, the question is how you are going to respond when you do. are you going to throw up your hands and say that progress will never come? are you going to get angry and lash out? are you going to turn inwards and just give in to despair and frustration? or are you going to take a deep breath, straighten your shoulder, lift up your head and do what barack obama has always done as he says, when they go low, i go high.

[cheers and applause] mrs. obama: that's the choice, barack and i have made. that's what has kept us sane over the years. we simply do not allow space in our hearts, minds and souls for darkness. instead, we choose faith, faith in ourselves and faith in our god who is overwhelming love sustains us every single day. that's what we choose. we choose love, our love for our children, our commitment to leaving them a better world, our love for our country, which has given us so many blessings and

and advantages,our love for our fellow citizens, parents, working hard to support their kids, men and women in uniform who risk everything to keep us safe. young people from the toughest backgrounds who never stopped believing in their dreams, young people like so many of you. that's what we choose. and we choose excellence. we choose to tune out all the noise and strive for excellence in everything we do, no cutting corners, no taking shortcuts, no whining, we give 120% every time because excellence, excellence is the most powerful answer you can give to the doubters and the haters. [cheers and applause] mrs. obama: it's also the most powerful thing you can do for yourself, because the process of striving and struggling and pushing yourself to new heights, see that's how you develop your god-given talents. that's how you make yourself stronger and smarter and more able to make a difference to others.

those are the choices that barack and i have made, because in the end, we know our history and we know that there will always be challenges and obstacles. but we also know that we are dealing -- what we are dealing with today is nothing, nothing compared to the violence, discrimation and hatred that folks faced decades ago. and while this may feel like a volatile time and we might be horrified by the divisive rhetoric we are hearing in our public conversation, while we may be broken hearted that we are still dealing with poverty, mass incarceration and gun violence, it is remarkable progress that these issues are seeing the light of day at all. it is remarkable progress that the vast majority of americans in all corners of the country

vehemently disagree with this hateful language. it is remarkable progress that we are having these conversations on a national level and not in just black communities but all communities. so graduates, make no mistake about it, this moment presents a historic opportunity for change and your generation, more than any generation in our history truly has the tools and opportunities you need to seize this moment. i want you to think about the statistics. today more african-americans are graduating from college, succeeding in our workplaces, taking on positions of leadership and reporting greater optimism about the future and optimism by the way, that i very much share. so the question is are you ready to step up and use your power

and your privilege to make change? will you honor the legacy of those who came before you who fought so hard and sacrificed so much so that you could be here in this stadium wearing those beautiful caps and gowns today. and if you have any questions as to what that legacy is, let me just share with you a quick story. several months ago, i was meeting with a group of teenaged girls from washington d.c. and one of them asked me what do you think dr. king would say about what is going on today? and i told her none of us can answer that question but i said dr. king would answer with a simple question and that is, did you vote? did you vote? see, i told the young woman, i said dr. king would be concerned

that folks like medger evers that today and almost every election, more half of young african-americans have disenfranchised themselves. african-american youth have turned out with less than 20%. fewer than one in five of our young people have voted and here in mississippi it was lower. ce him himrtainly lower. -- certainly lower. but what dr. king understood was that one of the shurest paths to progress here in america runs straight to the voting booth. that's been the key to every single stride we have ever taken in this country from fighting discrimation to passing health care. it all starts with the ballot. so graduates, as you seek to develop your own strategy to address the problems that still plague our communities, i just ask you to remember that the power of voting is real and lasting.

him him him so you can hashtag all over twitter and social media, but the social media movements will disappear faster than a snapshot if you are also not registered to vote, if you are also not sending in your absentee ballots. if we fail to exercise our fundamental rights to vote, then i guarantee that so much of the progress we fought for will be under threat. congress will still be gridlocked. state houses will roll back voting rights. a himnd write it into the law. we see it right here in mississippi, just two weeks ago how swiftly progress can hurdle progress, and single out a small group and marginalize them because of who they love and who they love. straight gay, by sexual, muslim, ju, christian, hindu, native american because the march for civil rights isn't just about african-americans but about all americans and making things more

just, more equal, more free for all our kids and grandkids. that is a story you all have. opportunity you have to right. that's what this historic university has prepared you to do. and graduates, when you encounter small slites or small people, i hope and i pray that you stand tall and respond with dignity and grace because no one, no one ever succeeds in this world by playing small. and finally, graduates, i just want you to remember that decades from now, someone will be standing here where i'm standing today and they will be telling that new class of graduates about all of you. so, we're counting on you to live lives worthy of retelling, lives that will inspire our next generation to keep walking that

path to righteousness and doing the work to fulfill that dream, because here's the thing. i know you can do that, and so much more. that's why i'm here. i'm so proud of you all for making it to this day, for pushing and fighting, because i know that if you hold tight to the example of the folks who led us this far, if you choose faith and love, if you strive always for dignity and excellence, then there is absolutely nothing you can't achieve. i say that from the bottom of my heart, because i'm not here because i'm special, i'm with you. and if i can be here, you can do it, too. [applause] and if you ever doubt the impact you can have, i just want you to think back to the story of this school, this great school that you are now a part of, that tiny

little seminary, and as you see now, a distinguished university, one of the most largest and most vibrant hbcus in the country, this is your alma mater pushing science, arts and technology, you all, that's your legacy and jackson state football coach that i mentioned earlier, that helped desegregate this stadium, his full name is rod paige and he went on to become our nation's first african-american secretary of education. [applause] and as for that crowd that rallied for segregation in these stands singing "never, no, never." well, just 50 years later, our country elected an african-american president for a second term saying yes, we can. [applause] graduates, that's what is possible in this country of ours. that is the direction history

can take when passionate, courageous, talented young people like all of you step up and lead the way. i know you got it in you. i can feel it right from here. and as you say here in jackson state, the world better get ready, because here you all come. [laughter] [applause] i love you all so much. i hope you have a phenomenal day. i will pray for you every step of the way. god bless you all. good luck in the road ahead. [cheers and applause] proud of you all. proud of you guys. do it. get it done. it's your day. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

[applause] [cheering] announcer: recently our campaign bus made a visit to pennsylvania during the primary, visiting at grove city college, slippery rock, and harrisburg area community colleges, where local officials learned about our coverage and the online interactive resources covering

the campaign trail. visitors were also able to hear their thoughts about the upcoming election, and in warren 10, where a middle school honored students. special thanks to comcast and armstrong cable for coordinating this. you can view all of the winning documentaries at studentcam.or g. this weekend for the c-span city tour hosted by our time warner partners takes you to san bernardino, california to explore the history and literary parts of this city, located near los angeles. 14 people were killed and 22 were seriously injured in a terrorist attack of the inland regional center. with a congressman, we will talk about the recovery efforts. his district includes the regional center. >> we talk about terrorism in

the fight against terror, it is not something that is abstract anymore. it is something that across the country, you know, mean something. because this is not a big city in san bernardino that was attacked. this can happen anywhere. announcer: we will also speak with a city councilman about establishing a permanent memorial for the victims of the attack. >> well, it provides a sense of remembrance and highlights their lives and what they have contributed to our local community. and certainly, it always will be a near and year place -- dear place, a place of serenity. we are thinking of a serenity chapel of some sort in this area. announcer: we will learn about the family of wyatt earp, from a book that talks about their notoriety and the connection to san bernardino. >> the connection that