February 22, 2016

106-Year-Old Woman Dances With the Obamas After Fulfilling Her Dream to Visit White House


106-year-old Virginia McLaurin had always dreamed of visiting the White House, and last week she finally got her chance. 

“It’s an honor!” McLaurin told Obama, with both of her arms raised in excitement as she met the president. The moment was captured in a heartwarming video shared by the White House.

As McLaurin made her way to be introduced to the first lady, Obama can be heard jokingly telling her to “slow down.” As the three embraced each other, the group spontaneously started to dance with joy.

“I want to be like you when I grow up!” Michelle said.

“You can!” McLaurin replied.

Dance Party with 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin

What’s the secret to still dancing at 106? Watch 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin fulfill her dream of visiting the White House and meeting President Obama. #BlackHistoryMonth

Posted by The White House on Sunday, February 21, 2016

McLaurin launched a social media campaign over a year ago to help fulfill her lifelong goal to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and meet the Obamas. Her visit was perfectly timed for Black History Month.

“I never thought I’d live to see a colored president,” she said in a YouTube video posted in 2014. “I’m so happy.”

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

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