106-year-old Virginia McLaurin has witnessed the long struggle against racial segregation in the US, and maybe that’s why she could not contain her excitement and started dancing when she met her first black president, Barack Obama. The moment was captured in a video that has received millions of views.
“I thought I would never live to get in the White House,” said McLaurin, energetic protagonist in a video posted Sunday night on the official Facebook account of the presidential residence and which has now more than 40 million views.
The old lady visited the White House last week on the occasion of Black History Month, which is celebrated every February in the USA. She could not hide her excitement at the meeting with Obama and his wife, Michelle.
“It is an honor, it is an honor!” said McLaurin as she shook hand with Obama, but not before raising her arms with joy and do a little dance move.
After hugging Michelle Obama, who said she wanted to be like McLaurin when she grew up, McLaurin took the hand of the first lady and continued to dance, after which the president also shook hands and asked, “What is the secret to still dancing at 106?”
“A black president! And his black wife!,” Maclaurin said as she looked at her hosts.
McLaurin, who has witnessed the long struggle against racial segregation in the United States, sent a petition to the White House in December 2014 hoping to meet Obama.
Born in South Carolina in 1909, McLaurin lives in Washington, where she worked as a dressmaker for most of her life.
