WASHINGTON — Virginia McLaurin has still got it!
The Washingtonian, who turned 108 on Sunday, danced a little jig Monday in anticipation of an event with members of the Harlem Globetrotters and children from Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School in the District’s Brightwood neighborhood.
At the celebration honoring McLaurin’s birthday, she was asked about her 2016 meeting with President Barack Obama and first lady Michele Obama that skyrocketed her to rock star status after a video of McLaurin dancing with the Obamas went viral.
McLaurin told the children she never dreamed there’d be a black president.
“I didn’t think that’d ever happen in my life,” McLaurin said. “I was so happy.”
She described living through segregation and not being allowed to enter or leave buildings through the front door. “But, now we’re all together,” McLaurin said.
“And she’s exactly right,” said Harlem Globetrotter Buckets Blakes.
“We’ve come a long way. Women have come a long way,” said Hoops Green, the 15th woman to join the Globetrotters in the exhibition team’s 91-year history. “It’s a blessing to be here and to be a part of this.”
Green encouraged the children to dream big.
“Women can do anything we want to do. If we put our minds to it we can do whatever we want,” Green said.
McLaurin attended the celebration in a wheelchair, but interacted with those gathered with energetic vigor. When Blakes and Green surprised McLaurin with the gift of an official Harlem Globetrotters basketball, she squealed with delight.
“The fact that she’s here celebrating her birthday and still volunteering with children is incredible,” said Diane Cottman, executive director of LAMB Public Charter School. “She is a blessing for all of us.”
Cottman said McLaurin is older than the school’s historic Missouri Avenue building that is listed among local and national historic registries.
The Globetrotters also donated 108 tickets in McLaurin’s name so children could see the team play this weekend at the Verizon Center.
