Opinion: Jammin’ in the Obama White House

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Forget the White House Correspondents Assn. dinner. So dated.

Last night, the Obamas turned the East Room into a sound stage for jazz, poetry and music. ‘An Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word’’ included mood lighting for some 200 guests sitting at cocktail tables on chairs or ottomans. The stage was set on the east wall, between the portraits of George and Martha Washington.

With HBO taping for later broadcast and the White House live-streaming to make everyone feel the vibe, Joshua Brandon Bennett (poet), Michael Chabon (writer), Mayda del Valle (writer/poet/actress), James Earl Jones (actor), Eric Lewis (pianist), Lin-Manuel Miranda (writer/composer), Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio (poet), Esperanza Spalding (bassists/vocalist), and Ayelet Waldman (writer) wowed the audience.

As the Chicago Tribune’s John McCormick pointed out, Barack Obama said last December that he wanted to use the White House to inspire young people in science, education, music and poetry. ‘Part of what we want to do is to open up the White House and remind people this is the people’s house,’ he said.

So it was no surprise last night when First Lady Michelle Obama, wearing white slacks and a glittery patterned blouse, took the microphone and welcomed the mostly young, mostly hip crowd with this:
‘I have wanted to do this from Day One -- the notion of standing in this room and hearing some poetry and spoken word. ... Enjoy, have fun, be loose and let’s start the show.’’ (You can read the transcript of both Obamas’ remarks below).

You could tell the First Couple was really into it, if only because they let First Daughters Malia and Sasha stay up on a school night.

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo Credit: Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 13, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND THE FIRST LADY
AT POETRY JAM

May 12, 2009

East Room

7:50 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Hello, hello, hello. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you so much. Please, everybody be seated. It is a great pleasure to welcome all of you to the White House for an evening of music and poetry and spoken word -- (applause) -- from some of our nation’s most gifted performers, both distinguished veterans and up and coming young talents.

We’re here tonight not just to enjoy the works of these artists, but also to highlight the importance of the arts in our life and in our nation -- in our nation’s history. We’re here to celebrate the power of words and music to help us appreciate beauty, but also to understand pain; to inspire us to action, and to spur us on when we start to lose hope; to lift us up out of our daily existence -- even if it’s just for a few moments -- and return us with hearts that are a little bit bigger and fuller than they were before.

The great jazz musician, Louis Armstrong, once said simply, ‘What we play is life.’ What we play is life. And that is what these artists do -- they express the joys and hardships of life and remind us how much all of us have in common. It’s a great gift and a great responsibility. And we’re honored to host them here at the White House tonight.

I now have the privilege of introducing the star of the show, somebody who brings a lot of poetry to my own life -- the First Lady, Michelle Obama. (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA: Good evening. And again, welcome to the White House. We are so pleased to be hosting an evening of poetry, music, and spoken word. So you just want to clap -- (applause.)

Tonight’s event is really just another way for us to open up the White House and once again make it the People’s House -- to invite people from all different backgrounds to come and share their stories and speak their minds; for all of us to learn about different forms of communication and to be open to hearing other people’s voices. For it is one thing for people to tell their stories in their own spaces, and quite another for those stories to be welcomed in this space.

Barack is President today because many people who thought their voices didn’t matter or wouldn’t be heard decided to show up on Election Day and vote anyway. And that’s the beauty -- (applause) -- and that is the beauty of our democracy. And we have to remember that democracy is really, really big. It has room for lots of voices, which sometimes take us out of our comfort zones, but that’s what makes it so meaningful.

And that’s one of the reasons why I am so excited about tonight. Let me tell you, I have wanted to do this from day one -- the notion of standing in this room and hearing some poetry and spoken word. (Applause.) But it’s important for us to remember that this White House is committed to maintaining this openness and making this place a place where all voices can be heard. And the President and I are so proud to welcome this group of talented performers and we’re just excited to welcome this audience here tonight.

So please enjoy, have fun, be loose -- (laughter) -- and let’s start the show. Thank you. (Applause.)

END 7:56 P.M. EDT