The announcement of Michelle Obama as a music keynote panelist at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, might have seemed strange. But in hindsight, it made perfect sense: She had a song to release.
On Wednesday morning, the first lady joined actress Sophia Bush, songwriter Diane Warren and rappers Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah onstage in the Austin Convention Center for a conversation about women in the arts, education and society.
After speaking at length about the “doubters” who either implicitly or explicitly told her she would not succeed because she was a black girl, Obama worked in an early mention of education for young women, echoing a letter she posted earlier that day. Millions of girls across the globe are unable to attend school due to violence, discrimination or lack of proper healthcare, she said.
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“For me, 62 million girls not getting an education, that’s personal,” she said.
In contrast to her husband’s keynote four days prior, in which President Obama cautiously defended his stance on privacy and encryption, the panel Michelle Obama was a part of was a more casual conversation. Each of the panelists touched on women who had influenced their lives, and the importance of music in providing positive role models for young girls.
Elliott spoke about the pressures of being a female artist in the mainstream, recalling being told she wasn’t the “right size” because of her weight at the start of her career. She said she was inspired to push harder because of women in the hip-hop culture who had come before her, such as MC Lyte, Salt and Pepa, and Latifah (who also happened to be the moderator of the panel). A standout song, she said, was Latifah’s “U.N.I.T.Y.”
Another point of conversation was the release of a song called “This Is for My Girls,” which would also be performed at SXSW. The song, which was written by Warren and features Elliott as well as Janelle Monáe, Kelly Clarkson and a handful of other female artists, is a bouncy, uplifting pop tune with straightforward, positive lyrics. From the chorus:
This is for my girls all around the world
Stand up, put your head up
Don’t take nothing from nobody
This is for my girls stand up and be heard
Elliott compared it to Latifah’s “Ladies First” and 702’s “Where My Girls At,” saying that those songs made women feel empowered, and that more were needed. Obama is not actually featured on the track (“I can’t even carry a tune,” she joked in a post about the song), instead limiting her contribution to support and promotion of the song. The proceeds, Obama said, would go to her Let Girls Learn initiative.
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Kelly Rowland speaks during her “Chasing Destiny” SXSW interview at the Austin Convention Center on March 19.
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DJ Steve Aoki poses with a fan at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 19.
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The Roots brought their legendary Jam Sessions to the festival for the first time during an exclusive performance at the Bud Light Factory on March 19.
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Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 18.
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Actor Paul Reubens answers questions at the premiere of “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” at the Paramount Theatre on March 17.
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Actors Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara attend the premiere of “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” at the Paramount Theatre on March 17.
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Wynonna Judd, center, with her band the Big Noise attend the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17.
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DNCE perform at Music Is Universal Styld.by Gap presented by Marriott Rewards and Universal Music Group at the JW Marriott Austin on March 17.
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Rae Sremmurd take the stage at the Bud Light Factory during the Interscope Showcase on March 17.
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Har Mar Superstar performs on a table at the McDonald’s Loft on March 17.
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The Cactus Blossoms perform onstage during the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17.
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Iggy Pop performs at ACL Live the Moody Theater on March 16.
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Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for ’16 taping on March 16.
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Anderson.Paak performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for ’16 taping on March 16.
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Ryan Adams performs at Music Is Universal on March 16.
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John Legend headlines the AXE Collective + Crew on March 17.
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Musicians Thao Nguyen, center, and the Avett Brothers attend a screening of “A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story” on March 17.
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Actor-director Don Cheadle attends the screening of “Miles Ahead” on March 16,
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First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the South by Southwest festival on March 16.
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Big Boi performs at South by Southwest Interactive’s closing party at Stubb’s on March 15.
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Actor Don Cheadle poses in the Samsung Studio at the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performs at Spotify House during the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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From left, recording artists Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray and Rico Wade of Organized Noize attend a screening of “The Art of Organized Noize” at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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Texas meets Hollywood near the Paramount Theatre as the South by Southwest festival kicks off in Austin, Texas.
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A general view of “The Powerpuff Girls” parade and screening at SXSW on March 14.
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Seth Rogen, left, and Evan Goldberg answer questions at the premiere of the work-in-progress “Sausage Party” at the Paramount Theatre on March 14.
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Actor Greg Poehler, from left, actress Rachel Blanchard, “You Me Her” creator John Scott Shepherd and actresses Priscilla Faia and Melanie Papalia attend the SXSW premiere of AT&T’s Audience Network’s “You Me Her” on March 15.
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Actors Melanie Papalia, from left, Priscilla Faia and Greg Poehler attend a brunch celebrating the premiere of AT&T’s Audience Network’s “You Me Her” on March 15.
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Bella Thorne, a “Shovel Buddies” cast member, attends the movie’s South by Southwest screening on Monday.
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Motivational speaker Tony Robbins attends the screening of the documentary “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru” on Monday.
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Andrew Jarecki, director of the documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” speaks at SXSW on Monday.
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Actor Craig Robinson, at SXSW with the movie “Morris From America,” poses for photos in the Samsung Studio on Monday.
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Comedian Hannibal Buress serves as host at the Spotify House on Monday.
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Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Spotify House on Monday.
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Actors Dominic Cooper, from left, Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun attend the screening of “Preacher” at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on Monday during the South By Southwest festival.
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Directors Evan Goldberg, left, and Seth Rogen attend the screening of “Preacher” at Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday.
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Director J.J. Abrams speaks after the screening of “Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday.
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R2-D2 attends the screening of “Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW.
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Sia performs at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13.
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Sia, background, and dancers perform at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest.
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Willie Nelson performs at the Spotify House during SXSW on March 13.
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James Caan attends a screening of his new film “The Waiting” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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Andrei Dementiev, wearing the GoPro camera setup, attends a screening of “Hardcore Henry” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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Singer Elle King performs onstage at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13.
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Actor Johnny Galecki experiences Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Actresses Kate Micucci, left, Alia Shawkat and Gillian Jacobs at the Samsung Studio on March 13.
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Director Mike Birbiglia attends a screening of “Don’t Think Twice” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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“Scandal” actress Kerry Washington speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center.
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“Mr. Robot” actor Rami Malek speaks during South by Southwest.
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“Mr. Robot” actor Christian Slater speaks during South by Southwest.
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Anthony Bourdain speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center.
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Jake Gyllenhaal, left, Jean-Marc Vallée and Bryan Sipe arrive at the screening of “Demolition” during South by Southwest at the Paramount Theatre.
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Actor Alexander Skarsgård, left, director John Michael McDonagh and actor Michael Peña at a screening of their new movie “War on Everyone” during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Actors Jordan Peele, left, and Keegan-Michael Key attend the screening of “Keanu” during the 2016 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival in Austin.
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Miguel performs as part of the SteelHouse Concert Series during the South by Southwest Interactive Festival.
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Burt Reynolds sits on a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am at the world premiere of “The Bandit” during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Ellen Page speaks at a panel discussion during South by Southwest.
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“Vice Principals” Georgia King, left, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Danny McBride and Walton Goggins gather during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Zoey Deutch arrives at the premiere of “Everybody Wants Some” at the Paramount Theatre.
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Director Richard Linklater at the premiere of “Everybody Wants Some” at the Paramount Theatre.
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Actors Glen Powell, left, Juston Street, Austin Amelio and Wyatt Russell at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Dallas Mavericks wwner Mark Cuban speaks during “Sports and VR,” presented by Gear VR, at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Festival goers experience Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Actors Nathan Parsons and Ksenia Solo at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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President Barack Obama, right, talks with Texas Tribune Editor in Chief/CEO Evan Smith at the Center for Performing Arts in Austin as part of the South by Southwest Festival.
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President Barack Obama waves upon his arrival on Air Force One at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. He’ll speak at SXSW and attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers.
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The First Order, from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” has landed at SXSW.
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The Austin Convention Center is ready for the public’s arrival on the first day of South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Friday.
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A state trooper and a volunteer walk through the hall inside the Austin Convention Center before the public was let in on the first day of the South by Southwest festival.
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People line up inside the Austin Convention Center to register on the first day of SXSW.
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People wait in line to see President Obama participate in a South by Southwest interactive panel on March 11 in Austin, Texas.
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Visitors look over movie posters inside the Austin Convention Center at SXSW.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA) As diversity is an increasingly prominent topic in the national conversation, from the Oscars to the technology industry, it was no surprise that it came up at SXSW. Latifah invited a question from a man that asked how men could be “more supportive allies for women and women’s equality.”
Bush said she wanted men to get involved with organizations focused on equality, but also to hear what women were saying. “First things first,” she said, “Listen to a woman you care about tell her story so that you can hear what it’s like on our end.”
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Obama said men should also think about their own positions of power. “The question you can ask yourselves is, is there diversity around the table?” she said. “If you’re a man at the table and you look around and there are only men at the table, then you should ask yourselves how can I do better.”
Latifah took it further and talked about women in the arts. She said she’d started out rapping in a group dominated by men, but they respected her as an individual artist and pushed her to get better. But without more voices, the art form would suffer.
Her answer to what was missing in hip-hop: Women.
“It’s why you’re not getting as rich, as diverse a sound in the music as you should,” she said. “Whenever you remove a woman’s voice from anything, you are lacking.”
In the final minutes of the session, Latifah asked two questions just about everyone in the audience was wondering: What would Obama miss most about being in the White House, and would she run for president?
Obama said she would miss the young people she interacts with as first lady. But, she said, she would not let the end of her husband’s term stop her: “I’m going to continue to work with our young people all over the world.
“But not as president. I will not run for president,” she said, pausing for a moment as sighs spread across the audience. Part of the reason for not wanting to run, she said, was because she had two daughters, and they’d already dealt with the pressures of being the children of a president.
Instead, she said, she was looking forward to doing work that she’d been unable to do while in the White House.
She then took a similar tone to that of her husband, who three days earlier had said he was at SXSW to recruit more digital entrepreneurs to think about how they could make an impact on the world. “I hope there’s some people in the audience that want to be president of the United States,” she said.
“We need good, smart, decent people with strong values and strong morals that want to go into politics. So I would encourage all of you to consider a life in public service.”
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