First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers Issue-Rich Keynote At SXSW [UPDATE]

AUSTIN, TX -- The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, spoke on a wide range of issues during her keynote address at SXSW Wednesday, delighting a room filled with supporters with compelling stories of her personal narrative.

But then, with one succinct phrase, she deflated the hopes many had about her future in politics: “I will not run for president,” she said plainly.

Despite that reality, Mrs. Obama’s talk exceeded the expectations of those who gathered at the Austin Convention Center to hear her speak. Flanked by a panel of celebrities, the First Lady touched on music, activism, diversity and other issues.

Ostensibly, Mrs. Obama was invited to SXSW to talk about her initiative Let Girls Learn, aimed at raising enrollment rates for teenaged girls around the world

But the conversation quickly took other interesting and unexpected turns. Her husband was in town last week during SXSW Interactive to discuss the use of technology to enhance civic engagement.

While President Obama spoke one-on-one with Texas Tribune editor Evan Smith during his SXSW turn at the Long Center, Mrs. Obama was joined by an all-star cast of fellow panelists: Legendary rappers Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah, songwriter Diane Warren and actress Sophia Bush.

Like her husband is prone to do at some appearances, Mrs. Obama even sang a few bars in using the lyrics from a Boys II Men song to illustrate a point.

She also sang the praises of two of Stevie Wonder’s masterworks, Songs in the Key of Life and Talking Book.

Music figured prominently at the keynote: YouTube stars Chloe and Halle Bailey opened for the First Lady. The interwoven musical references played well in a city hosting an annual festival largely focused on music and the arts.

Queen Latifah, the moderator for the conversation, started things off on a more serious note, asking the panelists what motivated their sense of activism. For the First Lady, it was a desire to essentially prove naysayers wrong about her potential during her formative years.

"Growing up as a black girl on the south side of Chicago, as I was trying to make my way and do good in school, there were always people telling me what I couldn't do," she said. "My reaction was to prove the doubters wrong."

The personal stories of Malala Yousafzai and the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, yield further fodder for activism to this day, she said.

"Grown men are trying to snuff out the aspirations of little girls," she said. "All of these stories generate the anger and the sense of unfairness that makes you want to move. I'm trying to carry that spirit over to these 62 million girls."

She posited music and activism as kindred spirits, alluding to both human inspirations as coming from common spring wells.

Mrs. Obama’s lengthiest response to a question came during a discussion on how men can become better allies in helping women around the world overcome personal struggle.

“When you have a seat at the table, and you have access to power, the question you can ask yourself is: Is there diversity around the table? Are there voices and opinions that don’t sound like yours?”

Only through a healthy exchange of ideas can solutions to issues of inequity emerge, she said.

“If you’re a man at the table and you look around and there are only men at the table, you should ask yourself: How can I do better? There are a lot of men-only tables in this country, and around the world. We need you men. Get it together.”

After affirming she wouldn’t run for president, Mrs. Obama said there are myriad other ways to effect positive change than pursuing the highest executive office in the land.

“There are so many ways to impact the world,” she said. “You don’t have to be the president of the United States to do wonderful, marvelous things, and I’m not slowing down anytime soon,” referencing the near-end of her president’s second term in office.

**************************************************************************************************

From March 15:

EAST AUSTIN, TX -- The First Lady of the United States has arrived in Austin -- a major celebrity sighting.

And they're just like us: Soon after landing, she arrived at an East Austin eatery for a quick meal. Her husband (some guy named Barack Obama) opted for the cuisine of Torchy's Tacos on 1st Street upon his arrival last week before keynoting at his own SXSW event.

Michelle Obama is in town to lead a SXSW discussion of her own on Wednesday. She'll be joined by a stellar cast of fellow panelists: Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah (who'll serve as moderator), Diane Warren and Sophia Bush.

While her husband spoke about the use of technology to optimize civic engagement, Mrs. Obama has chosen to highlight the need to increase school enrollment among girls worldwide.

The president's visit made history, as he was the first sitting president to keynote at SXSW.

For her post-touchdown meal, Mrs. Obama reportedly dropped by the Salty Sow restaurant in East Austin upon her afternoon arrival, the Austin American Statesman reports in citing accounts of employees at the diner. KEYE-TV spotted her motorcade outside the eatery.

In keeping with her mission of promoting access to higher education, Mrs. Obama teamed with the Austin Chamber of Commerce to select 80 area students to see her speak tomorrow. Those seniors selected must have filled out their financial aid by a certain deadline as part of the contest.

Mrs. Obama's talk is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Ballroom D of the Austin Convention Center.