The First Lady of the United States of America, Melania Trump, says her trip to Ghana had a profound impact on her.
Mrs Trump described her four-nation tour of Africa in 2018 as a defining moment and referenced it as one of the moments that could inspire people to attempt at being at their best.
She was one of the speakers who delivered speeches to round up events on Day Two of the ongoing National Convention of the GOP.
The First Lady described the US first family’s 2018 visit to Africa where they made the first stop in Ghana as a defining moment.
”I experienced first hand its warm people and their traditions,” she said.
Recalling her trip to the Cape Coast Castle, she said: “I was horrified when listened to the guide tell me so many many inhuman stories and I gained new perspectives…”
The First Lady was trying to use that perspective from the stories told her by the tour guide about the slave trade and its atrocities as a rallying point to calm nerves in what is becoming a growing worry under the Trump administration; racial and civil unrest.
She said like other Americans she has reflected on the racial unrest and that Americans should learn from the Slave Trade and never have such atrocities happen again.
”Like all of you, I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country, it is a harsh reality that we are not proud of part of our history.”
She said Americans should focus on the future while learning from the past, encouraging them to remember they are one community.
Melania Trump’s well-choreographed speech and her reference to the African continent comes as a great contrast to her husband’s perception of the continent.
The unorthodox businessman-turned-politician had described the continent’s countries and two others as “shit hole”.
Melania Trump herself who became an American citizen in 2006 after a decade of moving with her parents to the USA at age 26 referenced her experience in what some have described as a zigzag speech to rally votes for her husband in the upcoming November presidential polls.
Her speech, which was delivered in the Rose Garden of the White House, touched on several issues especially on the issue of the racial unrest.
“It is a harsh reality that we are not proud of parts of our history. I encourage people to focus on our future while still learning from our past. You must remember that today we are all one community, comprised of many races, religions and ethnicities. Our diverse and storied history is what makes our country strong, and yes, we still have so much to learn from one another.”
She asked Americans to take a moment, pause and look at things from all perspectives.
”I urge people to come together in a civil manner so we can work and live up to our standard American ideals.”
There is currently ongoing protests in the state of Wisconsin, where a 29-year old black man was shot multiple times in the back by a police officer.
These racial protests, some of which have turned violent with looting and destruction of property has gotten the First Lady concerned.
”I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice and never make assumptions based on the colour of a person’s skin.”
The First Lady’s speech is one of many from the first family that will include the president’s daughter, Ivanka, and son, Eric, at the ongoing Republican Convention that has endorsed President Trump as the party’s candidate for the November elections.
By Cyril Dogbe|3news.com|Ghana