RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - On Saturday, First Lady Michele Obama was commencement speaker at Jackson State University in Mississippi. A transcript of her remarks is available at whitehouse.gov.

The First Lady said, in part:

"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 –- an 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, sacrificed so much so that you could be here in this stadium wearing those beautiful caps and gowns today?"