Michelle Obama’s Speech After ‘Hidden Figures’ Screening, Says Judging Based On ‘Skin Color, Gender’ Is ‘Ridiculous’

Michelle Obama’s speech after a White House screening of Hidden Figures in Space Exploration may have been one of the most genuinely positive things to come out of 2016. The first lady of the United States, at least for the next two weeks, invited the cast of the film for a chance to remember the roles of African-American women in NASA.

Diversity, in general, has been a struggle in the U.S. government and businesses since its inception, thanks to certain ideas that required the actions of Abraham Lincoln to abolish. Of course, much like violent criminals owning guns, just because it’s illegal it doesn’t mean it’s not still happening. The stigma is such that even acknowledging people of certain ethnicities or genders in certain roles has been frowned upon.

The recent rise of roles for such people has proven generally positive, with F. Gary Gray having become one of the most trusted film directors today, actress Katie Holmes having debuted her first film as director, and, of course, the eight years which President Barack Obama has been in the White House.

Now, with Donald Trump having become the president-elect, there appears to be a general belief that the nation is heading backward to a time when diversity was not spoken of. Even though he has placed people of many ethnic backgrounds in his presidential cabinet, the focus has shifted to how he’s surrounding himself with the rich.

Hopefully, Michelle Obama’s speech following a screening of Hidden Figures will have a positive impact. She praised the idea that women were getting more involved in higher-paying jobs via STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education after seeing a film about how women of color were the secret weapons behind NASA’s involvement in the Space Race with the former USSR.

Obama said that people didn’t want to believe they were real, “but here we are, eight years later,” according to USA Today. Her words during the event on Thursday were meant to inspire the youth who had gathered for the film’s screening. It was a message of hope and a warning that it will get difficult.

“Skin color [and] gender, [are] the most ridiculous defining [traits] that we cling to. It doesn’t matter. What matters is you believe in your own potential, because people will try to tear you down, I guarantee you that. There will never be a point when people will 100 percent be cheering you on.”

Michelle’s speech seemed to draw inspiration from an old saying that you can’t please everybody all of the time. She wants today’s youth to understand that and be ready for the adversity. After all, everybody wants power, but few know how to wield it correctly.

The first lady added that diversity is key, that surrounding yourself with people who only agree with you is a sign that nothing will change.

“I say this to my staff, as we move forward in life, and get access to these seats of power, I want you to look around and make sure there’s diversity at the table. If everyone looks the same and thinks the same and has the same experience, you never come up with the right answers.”

The film that inspired this speech, Hidden Figures in Space Exploration, revolves around the previously ignored roles of African-American mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, and how they defied stereotypes for the common good. Entertainment Weekly reveals the film is set in the 1960s, meaning it was a time when black stereotypes were still at their worst. This was the era of “blaxploitation.”

In Michelle Obama’s speech, she gave the film five stars for its positive message for students hoping to make a difference in the world.

[Featured Image by Krista Kennell/Shutterstock.com]