Michelle Obama calls on "the powerof education"

First lady Michelle Obama (right) embraces Vanessa DeLuca, editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine, as she

finishes speaking in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Feb. 20, 2015, during a “Celebrating

Women of the Movement” event honoring Black History Month. Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama gave a speech on Friday. Her talk

was part of an event held to mark Black History Month.

Obama said that the most important thing for blacks today is to get a good

education. Blacks should finish high school and then go to college, she said.

A group of women joined Obama at the event. All had taken part in the civil

rights movement. The civil rights movement tried to win equal rights for black

Americans.

The women are all very different from each other, the first lady said. Still, "there is

something that connects each of their stories," she said. They all believe in "the

power of education.”

By McClatchy Washington Bureau, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.23.15

Word Count 471

Going To School Was A Struggle

Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Carlotta Walls LaNier were two of the women who

joined Obama. Both had to fight hard just to go to school.

During the 1960s, Hunter-Gault was one of the first black students to study at

the University of Georgia. Before that, the school had only let white people study

there.

During the 1950s, LaNier was one of a group of black high school students

known as the Little Rock Nine. They were not allowed to go to Little Rock Central

High School in Arkansas. At the time, Little Rock only had white students. LaNier

later became the first black woman to graduate from the school.

A Good Education Is Still Hard For Some

Times have changed since the 1960s, Obama said. Still, there are problems.

Crowds of white people do not throw things at black students anymore. There

are no rules against black women going to college. Still, many black people find

it hard to get a good education.

Not long ago, black students needed to be protected by soldiers just to go to

school. Today, that is no longer true, Obama said, but black students still are not

getting a good education.

More blacks are finishing high school than ever before. When compared to other

races though, a smaller fraction of black students are graduating from high

school. They finish high school far less often than other races.

Education Can Solve Problems

There were many young black women at Friday's event. Obama said they

should finish school no matter what. Get yourself an education, she said.

Blacks who are not educated are more likely to be poor. They are more likely to

be sent to prison. Education is an important way to help solve these problems,

Obama said.

The first lady went to two very good schools. She graduated from Princeton

University and Harvard Law School. She leads a program for high school

students. It is called Reach Higher and it supports kids who want to go to

college.

“Education is still the key to success,” LaNier said. “You need all the education

you can possibly get.”

Quiz

1 Which paragraph in the introduction [paragraphs 1-4] BEST explains the main idea

of the first lady's speech?

2 Which sentence BEST describes the structure of the section "Going To School Was

A Struggle"?

(A) The section presents details of one person's life from the time of

birth to the time of graduation from school.

(B) The section begins with a main idea and follows with two examples

that support that idea.

(C) The section describes three different types of schools that a person

can attend.

(D) The section describes a problem and then suggests many different

ways to solve that problem.

3 According to the section "Education Can Solve Problems," what is the purpose of

the program Reach Higher?

(A) to help young people get out of prison

(B) to help high school students go to college

(C) to teach young people about the problems of being poor

(D) to teach young people how to go to law school

4 Which sentence describes the overall structure of the article?

(A) The article describes a sequence of events that took place a long

time ago.

(B) The article describes some problems and a solution to those

problems.

(C) The article explains some causes of events that took place a long

time ago.

(D) The article compares different ways to become a successful

student.

Answer Key

1 Which paragraph in the introduction [paragraphs 1-4] BEST explains the main idea

of the first lady's speech?

Paragraph 1:

Obama said that the most important thing for blacks today is to get a

good education. Blacks should finish high school and then go to

college, she said.

2 Which sentence BEST describes the structure of the section "Going To School Was

A Struggle"?

(A) The section presents details of one person's life from the time of

birth to the time of graduation from school.

(B) The section begins with a main idea and follows with two

examples that support that idea.

(C) The section describes three different types of schools that a person

can attend.

(D) The section describes a problem and then suggests many different

ways to solve that problem.

3 According to the section "Education Can Solve Problems," what is the purpose of

the program Reach Higher?

(A) to help young people get out of prison

(B) to help high school students go to college

(C) to teach young people about the problems of being poor

(D) to teach young people how to go to law school

4 Which sentence describes the overall structure of the article?

(A) The article describes a sequence of events that took place a long

time ago.

(B) The article describes some problems and a solution to those

problems.

(C) The article explains some causes of events that took place a long

time ago.

(D) The article compares different ways to become a successful

student.