Celebrating Women of the Civil Rights Movement, Past & Present

First Lady, Michelle Obama delivered remarks at "Celebrating Women of the Movement", an event honoring Black History Month, in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 20, 2015.

Vanessa De Luca, Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine moderated a panel of five intergenerational women who played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement - both past and present. The five panelist were, Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the "Little Rock Nine"; Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first African American woman to attend the University of Georgia; Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel , NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Janaye Ingram, National Executive Director, National Action Network; and Chanelle Hardy, Senior VP for Policy, National Urban League

Allyson Carpenter
Allyson Carpenter, a sophomore at Howard University introduced First Lady Michelle Obama at The Celebrating Women of The Civil Rights Movement, Past and Present, on February 20, 2015
First Lady Michelle Obama
First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks at the Celebrating Women of the Civil Rights Movement, Past and Present, on February 20, 2015
Chanelle Hardy, and Vanessa De Luca
Chanelle Hardy, Senior Vice President for Policy, National Urban League; and Vanessa De Luca - Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine at the White House on February 20, 2015
Vanessa De Luca
Vanessa De Luca, Moderator of the panel on Celebrating Women of the Civil Rights Movement, Past and Present, at the White House on February 20, 2015
Carlotta Walls LaNier
Carlotta Walls LaNier was the youngest of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957 were the first black students to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. she was the first black female to graduate from Central High School. Mrs. LaNier participated on this panel on February 20, 2015

Janaye Ingram
Janaye Ingram, is the National Executive Director, National Action Network, seen here on February 20, 2015 at the White House
Sherrilyn Ifill
Sherrilyn Ifill is the President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund seen here on February 20, 2015
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, activist and journalist
In 1961, Charlayne Hunter became the first African American woman to attend the University of Georgia. Enduring everyday bigotry and racial slurs, and bottles and bricks thrown at her windows, Charlayne went on to get her degree -- which has since propelled her to a successful career as a journalist with NPR, PBS, CNN, and the New York Times. Ms. Hunter-Gault was a panelist on February 20, 2015
Women of the Civil Rights Past and Present Panel
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Chanelle Hardy, Vanessa De Luca & Michelle Obama on the panel for Celebrating Women of the Civil Rights Movement, Past and Present, on February 20, 2015
Guest
Guest attending Celebrating Women of the Civil Rights Movement Past and Present on February 20, 2015

First Lady Michelle Obama
First Lady Michelle Obama at the Celebration of Women of the Civil Rights Movement Past and Present on February 20, 2015
Guest
Guest attending the Celebration of women of the Civil Rights Movement discussion on February 20, 2015