FULL SPEECH: President Biden delivers Morehouse College commencement address

President Biden is here today at historic Mo house on these sacred grounds to share in this special day ladies and Gentlemen please welcome to the podium the 46th president of the United States Joseph bar thank you thank you thank you thank you president Thomas faculty staff alumni and a special thanks I ask all the folks who helped you get here your mothers fathers grandmothers grandfathers all those who got you here all the way in the back please parents grandparents all will help stand up because we owe you a Deb of gratitude to all the family that is not hyperbole a lot of you like my family had to make significant sacrifices to get your kids to school it mattered has mattered a lot and the friends of morehous and the morehous men of class of 2024 I got more morehous men in the White House telling me what to do then I know what to do you all think I'm kidding don't you you know I'm not that's the best thing that's happened to me scripture says the prayers of a righteous man aileth much in Augusta Georgia a righteous man once enslaved set foot for Freedom The Story Goes he feared no evil he walked through the valley of the shadow of death on his way North to Free Soil in Philadelphia a Baptist minister he walked with faith in his soul power in the steps of his feet to Glory but after the union won the war he knew his prayers availed him Freedom that was not his alone and so this righteous man Richard Coulter returned home his feet weary his spirit in No Ways Tired 157 years ago you all know the story but the rest of the world doesn't any should in the basement of a Baptist Church in Augusta he and two other ministers William Jefferson white and Edmond turny planted the seeds of something revolutionary and it was at the time a school a school would help formally enslaved men enter the ministry where education would be the great equalizer From Slavery to Freedom an institution of Higher Learning that would become morehous colleages I don't know any other college in America that has that tradition that consequence to the class of 2024 you join as you know a sacred tradition and education makes you free and morouse education makes you Fearless I mean it Visionary exceptional congratulations you are morehous men God love you [Applause] and again I thank your families and your friends who helped you get here because they made sacrifices for you as well this graduation day is a day for Generations a day of Joy a day earned not given We Gather on this Sunday morning because if we're in church perhaps it would be this reflection it would be a reflection about resurrection and Redemption remember Jesus was buried on Friday and it was Sunday on Sunday he rose again but but we don't talk enough about Saturday when the dis his disciples felt all hope was lost in our lives in the lives of the nation we have those Saturdays to Bear witness the day before Glory seeing people's pain and not looking away but what work is done on Saturday to move pain to purpose how can Faith get a man get a nation through what was to come here's what my faith has taught me I was the first Biden to ever graduate from college taking out loans my dad and my all through school to get me there my junior year spring break I fell in love at first sight literally with a woman I adored I graduated from Law School in her hometown I got married and took a job in a law firm in my hometown Wilmington Delaware but then everything changed one of my heroes and he was my hero a Baptist Minister morehous man Dr Martin Luther King in April of my law school graduation year he was murdered my city of Wilmington and we were to our great shame a slave state and we were segregated Delaware erupted in the Flames when he was assassinated literally we're the only city in America where the National Guard patrolled every street corner for nine full months with drawn bayonets along a stretch any American city since the Civil War Dr Dr King Legacy had a profound impact on me in my generation whether you're were black or white I left a fancy Law Firm I had just joined decided to become a public defender and then a county councilman working to change our state's politics to embrace the cause of civil rights the Democratic party in Delaware was a southern Democratic party at the time he wanted to change it become a Northeastern Democratic Party then we're trying to get someone to run for the United States Senate the year Nixon ran I was 29 years of age I had no notion of running I love reading about everybody knew I was going to run I didn't know I was going to run when a group of senior members of the democratic party came to me they couldn't find anybody to run and said you should run Nixon won my state by 60% of the vote we won by 3100 votes we won by the thinnest of margins but with a broad Coalition including students from the best HBCU in America Delaware State University you guys are good but they got me elected oh y'all think I'm kidding I'm not kidding but by Christmas I was a newly elected Senator hiring staff in Washington DC when I got a call from the First Responders my fire department in my hometown that forever altered my life they put a young woman first responder on the line to say there's an automobile accident tractor trailer hit your wife's car while she was Christmas shopping with three children and she poor woman she just blurred out she said your wife and daughter are killed my 13-year-old daughter are dead and they almost three-year-old and four-year-old sons are badly injured we're not sure they're going to make it either I rushed from Washington to the bedside I wanted to pray but I was so angry I was angry at God I was angry at the world I had the same pain 43 years later when that four-year-old boy who survived was a grown man and the father himself lying in another hospital bed wal Reed hospital hital having contracted stage four glebasta because he was a year in Iraq as a major won the bronze star living next to a burn pit cancer took his last breath in this Walk of Life you can understand you've come to understand that we don't know where or what fate will bring you or when we also know we don't walk alone when you've been a beneficiary of the compassion of your family your friends even strangers you know how much the compassion matters I've learned there was no easy optimism but by faith by faith we can find Redemption I was a single father for 5 years no man deserves one great love let alone to my youngest brother the hell of an athlete did a great thing he introduced me to a classmate of his said you'll love her she doesn't like politics all kiding aside until I met Jill who healed who healed the family and all the broken places our family became my Redemption many of you have gone through similar or worse and even worse things but you lean on others they lean on you and together you keep the faith in a better day tomorrow but it's not easy I know four years ago as some of your speakers have already mentioned it felt like one of those Saturdays the pandemic robbed you of so much some of you lost loved ones mothers fathers brothers sisters who AR aren't able to be here to celebrate with you today today you missed your high school graduation you start a college just as George Floyd was murdered and there was a reckoning on race it's natural to wonder democracy you hear about actually works for you what is democracy if black men are being killed in the street what is democracy betrayal of broken promises still leave black black communities behind what is democracy you have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot most of all what does it mean as we've heard before to be a black man who loves his country even if it doesn't love him back in equal [Applause] measure when I sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office in front of the fireplace across from my my desk I have two Buss one of Dr King one of Bobby Kennedy I often find myself looking at those bus making decisions ask myself are we living up to what we say we are as a nation to end racism and poverty to deliver jobs and Justice to restore our leadership in the world I look down and see the rosary on my wrist that was out of my late son he had on him when he died at Walder Reed I was with him I asked myself what would he say I know the answer because he told me in his last days my son knew the days were number last conversation was Dad I'm not afraid but I'm worried I'm worried you're going to give up when I go you're going to give up we have an expression of the Biden family when you want someone to know give your word and say look at me he was lying me he said look at me dad look at me he said give me your word give me your word as my father that you will not quit that you will stay engaged promise me dad stay engaged promise me promise me I wrote a book called promised me dad not for the public at large although a lot of people will end up buying it it's for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know who Bo Biden was the rose around my wrist the bust of my office remind me that Faith asks you to hold on to hope to move Heaven and Earth to make better days well that's my commitment to you to show you democracy democracy democracy is still the way if black men are being killed in the street we bear witness for me that means to call out the poison of white supremacy root out systemic racism I stood up for George with George Floyd's family to help create a country we don't need to have that talk with your son or grandson as they get pulled over instead of a trail of broken promises we're investing more money than ever in black families and black communities reconnecting black neighborhoods cut off by old highways and Decades of disinvestment and no one cared about the community we've delivered Checks In Pockets to reduce child black child poverty the lowest rate in history removing every lead pipe in America so every child can drink clean water without fear of brain damage and a can afford to remove the lead pipes themselves we're delivering affordable high-speed internet so no child has to sit in a parents car do their homework on a parking lot outside of McDonald's instead of forcing you to prove your 10 times better we're breaking down doors so have a 100 times more opportunities good paying jobs you can raise a family on in your neighborhood Capital to start small business and Loans to buy homes health insurance prescription drugs housing that's more affordable and accessible I walked to pick a line and defended the rights of workers I'm relieving the burden of student debt many of you have already had the benefit of it so I can chase your dream to grow the economy and the Supreme Court told me I couldn't I found two other ways to do it and we a really to do it because it grows the economy and in addition to the original $7 billion investment HBCU I'm investing 16 billion more dollars more in our history because you're vital to our nation most HBCU don't have the endowments the jobs of the future require sophisticated Laboratories sophisticated OPP opportunity on campus we're opening doors so you can walk in life of generational wealth to be providers and leaders to your families and communities today record numbers of black Americans have jobs health insurance and more than ever democracy is also about hearing and heeding your Generations called to a community free of gun violence and a planet free of climate crisis and showing your power to change the world but also know some of you ask what is democracy We Can't Stop Wars to break out and break our hearts in a democracy we debate and descent about America's role in the world I want to say this very clearly I support peaceful nonviolent protest your voices should be heard and I promise you I hear them I determine to make my my Administration look like America I have more African-Americans in high places including on the Court than any president in American history because I need the input what's happening in Gaza and Israel is heartbreaking Hamas is vicious attack on Israel killing innocent lives and holding people hostage I was there nine days after s pictures of tying a mother and a daughter and a rope pourn kosene on them burning them and watching as they die innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of all this men women and children killed or displaced in despite in desperate need of water food and medicine it's a humanitarian crisis in God that's why I've called for an immediate ceasefire an immediate ceasefire to stop the fighting bring the hostages home and I've been working on a deal as we speak working around the clock to lead an international effort to get more Aid into Gaza rebuilds I'm also working around the clock for more than just one ceasefire I'm working to bring the region together working to build a lasting durable peace because the question is and you see what's going on in Israel today what after what after himas what happens then what happens in Gaza what rights do the Palestinian people have I'm working to make sure we finally get a two-state solution the only solution the two people to live in peace security and dignity this is one of the hardest most complicated problems in the world there's nothing easy about it I know it anger and frustrates many of you including my family but most of all I know it breaks your heart breaks mine as well leadership is about fighting through the most intractable problems it's about challenging anger frustration and heartbreak to find a solution it's about doing what you believe is right even when it's hard and lonely you're all Future Leaders every one of you graduating day and that's not hyperbole your future leaders all of you you'll face complicated tough moments in these moments you listen to others but you'll have to decide Guided by knowledge conviction principle and your own moral compass the desire to know what freedom is what it can be is the heart and soul of why this college is founded in the first place proving that a free nation is born in the hearts of men Spellbound by Freedom that's the magic of morous that's the magic of America but let's be clear what happens to you and your family when old ghost and new garment sees power extremists come for the freedoms you thought belong to you and everyone today in Georgia they won't allow water to be available to you while you wait in line to vote in an election what in the hell is that all about I'm serious think about it and then the constant attacks on black election workers who count your vote insurrectionist who storm the capital with Confederate flags are called Patriots by some not in my house black police officers black veterans protecting the capital where call another word as you'll recall they also say out loud these other groups immigrants poison the blood of our country like the grand Wizard and fascist said in the past but you know and I know we all bleed the same color in America we're all created equal extremists close the doors of opportunity strike down affirmative action attack the values of diversity equality and inclusion I never thought when I was graduated in 1968 as your honory just was we talked about I never thought i' be in a president of time when there's a national effort to ban books not to write history but to erase history they don't see you in the future of America but they're wrong to me We Make History not a racist we know black history is American [Applause] history many of you graduates don't know me but check my record you know what I'm saying I mean from my gut we know black men are going to help us lead us to the Future black men from this class in this University graduates this is what we're up against extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message of morehous and they pedal a fiction a caricature but being a man is about tough talk abusing power bigotry their idea being a man is toxic I ran him all the time when I was younger but got I want to get started but that's not you it's not us you all know and demonstrate what it really means to be a man being a man is about strength of respect and dignity it's about showing up because it's too late if you have to ask it's about giving hate no Safe Harbor and leaving no one behind and defending freedoms it's about standing up the abuse of power or the physical economic or psychological it's about knowing faith without works is dead look you're doing the work today I look out at all you graduates and I see the next generation of morous men we're doctors and researchers curing cancer artists shaping our culture Fearless journalists and intellectuals challenging convention I see preachers and Advocates who might even join another morehous man in the United States Senate you can clap for him he's a good [Applause] man I said I'm proud to have the most diverse Administration in history tap into the full talents of our nation I'm also proud to putting the first black woman on the United States Supreme Court I no doubt one day a more house man will be on that Court as well you know it I've been vice president to the first black president and become my close friend friend and president to the first woman vice president well I have no idea no doubt that a morous man will be president one day just after an AKA from [Applause] Howard she's tough guys look let me close with this I know I don't look like I've been around very long but in my career for the first 30 years I was told you're too young kid used to stop me from getting on the Senate elevator when I first got there for real now I'm too old whether you're young or old I know it endures the strength and wisdom of Faith endures and I hope my hope for you is my challenge to you is you still keep the faith so long as you can that cap on your head Tru you've earned your crown the question is now 25 years from now 50 years from now when you're asked to stand and address the next generation of more house men what would you say you did with that power you've earned what would you say you've done for your family for your community your country when it mattered most I know what we can do together we're capable of building democracy worthy of our dreams future are every even more your brothers and sisters can follow their dreams a boundless future where your legacies Lift us up to sow those who follow bigger brighter future that proves the American dream is big enough for everyone to succeed class of 2024 four years ago it felt probably like Saturday four years later you made it to Sunday to commencement to the beginning and with faith and determination you can push the sun above the Horizon once more you can Ral the light hope and that's not I'm not kidding for yourself and for your nation the prayers of righteous man availeth much a righteous man a good man a morehous man God bless you all we're expecting a lot from you thank you [Applause] President Biden thank you for that thought-provoking message I want to say that from my point of view you've been listening you spoke to us about your vision for the future you spoke to us you spoke to the hard issues confronting our nation and the world at this moment we are honored to have had you here with us today and we hope this will not be your last visit to these sacred and celebrated grounds please join me again audience in thanking President Biden for his generous words and before you leave President Biden we want to present you with a very special honor today today President Biden it is my pleasure to confer upon you an honorary degree from Morehouse College and count you among the ranks of honorary Morehouse [Music] men and therefore with the authority granted in Me by the Morehouse College Board of Trustees I confer on you Joseph R Biden Jr the honorary doctor of laws onas kosa with all the rights Privileges and responsibilities appertaining there unto congratulations drct Joseph Biden [Applause] sh I'm not going home

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Length: 30min 7sec (1807 seconds)

Published: Sun May 19 2024