Thread by @Theresa_Chapple

#BlackHistoryMonth Yesterday's letter was E for excellence.
I was tired last night & just wanted the children to go to sleep, but they came to me asking, "who's our example of Black Excellence mom?"
So, I mustered all the energy I could to enthusiasticly discuss @MichelleObama

Mrs. Obama, are 44th First Lady is the epitome of Black Excellence, and became this was as a result of hard work, parents love, community support, quest for knowledge.

My children were impressed to learn that her mother, Mrs. Robinson stayed home with the children and taught

them so much during their early years, that both Mrs. Obama and her brother skipped 2nd grade. We talked about Mrs. O early academic achievements that led her to one of the top high schools in Chicago. How she traveled by bus 1 hour each way to obtain a good education.

And subsequently graduated number 2 of her class. We talked about her time at Yale and how in her pursuit of excellence she would take the time to point out racial inequities, pushing Yale to evaluate the experiences of Black students & faculty on their campus.

We touched on her time in law school, and how she was fueled by anyone doubts of her. But her excellence is defined not only by her academic achievements, but by her love for her community. She went on to work in corporate law, but left that lucrative career for public service.

After that she worked at University of Chicago, an elite university surrounded by a community dealing with extreme poverty and related social ills.
The reputation of the University among the nearby residents was one of mistrust. A tale of as time. A great institution with power

So sorry! I meant Princeton. Oy! Such a big mistake here.
***Retraction***
Princeton, not Yale!

that was sometimes used in ways that harmed the local community. Mrs. Obama worked to address some of these harms. During her time there, she increased volunteerism 500%. She became the VP of community affairs at the University hospital, where she oversaw their urban & community

health work. One major program that came out of that was the South Side Health and Vitaliy Study. Using community-based participatory research practices to learn from the community their needs, and try to figure out ways to address it.

My first full-time job as an senior epi.

Mrs. Obama championed health as the first lady, taught us that excellence wasn't just intelligence, career, and community, but eating right and caring for our bodies. She led by example and created programs to teach children across the county.

Her work with military families was done with compassion and thankfulness. Mrs Obama example as a mom, her support and partnership as a wife, her commitment to the community she came from, and her country as a whole, is the example of excellence I want my children to hold onto.

Mistake made in earlier tweet. Mrs. Obama went to Princeton for undergrad.
Really wish I could edit tweets.

I'll go back to writing these immediately after I talk to my children about #BlackHistoryMonth and #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory