LIVE: US President Biden Delivers Commencement Address at Morehouse College in Atlanta

now please welcome our Founders representative the Reverend Hardy Spurgeon Benning III to ring our historic ceremonial Bell this sacred ritual will be followed by the commencment evocation by the Reverend Dr clayon Lee senior pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield and Susan City California and a member of the Class of 1989 celebrating his 35th Anniversary today please first welcome Reverend [Applause] Benning good morning I bring you greetings from Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta Georgia the home of the institution that would one day become morouse College the ringing of the Bell from the First Church Old Silver Bluff Springfield Baptist Church was also the Clarion call from our founder the Reverend William Jefferson white who convened the first Equal Rights Convention in Georgia in 1866 that history has cast a long Shadow on moouse College as the Founders representative and the current pastor of Springfield Baptist Church I am honored as I ring the bell to declare that the 157th academic year of moouse college is now closed and the 140th commencement exercises are now in order [Applause] [Applause] [Music] it [Music] let us bow our heads in prayer oh Lord my God when I in awesome Wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made I I see the stars I hear The Rolling Thunder thy power throughout the Universe displayed then sings my soul my savior God to thee How Great Thou Art How Great Thou Art you are great oh God and greatly to be praised not only that but you are gracious for you continue to give us what we need but do not deserve you are not only great and gracious but you are also generous how generous you are to have given us more house College in 1867 which has continually cultivated the ocular demonstrations of what Sterling Brown saw when he wrote strong men keep a coming on strong men getting stronger thank you for dear old more house its Rich legacy and our 12th president Dr David a Thomas the administrat ation professors and staff as they have partnered with you and the families that have entrusted their young men to them they have facilitated the cultivation of these men of the house into more house Men Thank you thank you for every young man who graduates this day and we declare in the words of scripture this is the day that the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it thank you God for this class of students many of whom started in and were significantly impacted by covid-19 and the consequential global pandemic nevertheless they made it and eagerly await the opportunity to cross this stage to receive their respective earned degrees thank you God that they were able to focus and finish they were able to see it through with their heads at times blooded but unbowed thank you God that they survived life changing events disease divorce debt death depression discouragement despondency and diverse difficulties thank you God for the village that undergirded them those mamas and daddies and grandmas and granddaddies and churches that prayed for them and sacrificed for them and supported them and encouraged them and counseled them and challenged them and critiqued them and chastised them and soow Seed into them and stuck by them thank you God for this woke class of 2024 that is in tune with the Zeitgeist the spirit of the times thank you for a class of confident competent and conscientious men now God we are here and we know that you are everywhere but God we need to know without question that you are present with us today on this Pentecost Sunday manifest your spirit Among Us at this very moment we are glad that president Iden is here but we need to know that you are here we are glad that the Secret Service is here and law enforcement is here but we need to know that you are here we are glad that family and friends have traveled from near and far to be here but God we need to know that you are here in the words of our ancestors come by here my Lord come by here oh Lord come by here Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on this gathering in the name of Jesus Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on us so that this commencement turns into a worship service in which we communally give you praise for the great things you have done Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on us until somebody joins the psalmist in reflective rejoicing to say if it had not been for the Lord who was on my side Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on this on this day of Pentecost so that these Mighty Men of Morehouse may be endowed to impact with power the world in which we live God In The Name of Jesus allow the spirit of the Living God to fall fresh on President Biden so that he experiences a strengthening in his body Mind and Spirit with a renewed resolve to lead this country and help us to become what Martin King called The Beloved Community remind these morehous men that as they graduate it is is a celebration and an obligation it's a celebration of the achievement hard work discipline fervent prayers tears pains setbacks all nighters and tenacity paying off but it's also an obligation to do more to be more to have more to help more to lift more to love more to serve more than those that came before them remind them of the words of our beloved sainted president Benjamin Elijah Maz that it must be born in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal the tragedy lies in having no goal to reach it's not failer but low aim that is sin and so God thank you as I close this prayer that the class of 2024 will be the more house men the poet Josiah Highland called for when he wrote give Us Men give us men oh God a time like this demands strong Minds Great Hearts true Faith ready hands men whom the lust of office does not kill men Whom The Spoils of office cannot buy men who possess opinions and a will men who have honor men who will not lie men who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking tall men suncrown men who live above the fog in public duty and in private think and God make this class those men those men with a moral conscience that will cause this country to be mindful of its moral duty make these men Great Men Who remind this country and this world that out of one blood God has created all men and all women in the IMO day in that all lives matter but also black lives matter make these men men who will hold our communities in our country accountable for valuing human life whether it is a baby in a mother's womb or whether it is a baby who a mother expects to come home in the afternoon whether it's a child in an underprivileged school or a charter school whether they live in Israel or Palestine Ukraine or Russia the Congo or Haiti God give us men that will value life and call us to accountability give Us Men Who require all of us to live the Golden Rule and even follow the edicts of that Palestinian Jew named Jesus who called us to Proclaim good news to the poor Proclaim freedom to the prisoners and the recovery of sight to to the Blind and to set the oppressed free give us men and allow these men to go forth from this place and impact the world in the true spirit of God and in the spirit of more house and we'll give you glory we'll give you honor we'll give you praise as you bless not only this day but every day of their lives from this day forward that they oh god might exalt You by their faith and by their commitment to family and by their willingness oh God to bring glory to your name in Jesus name name thank you God and [Applause] amen amen thank you Reverend Lee good morning I'm Henry good game vice president for external relations and alumni engagement and co-chair of our commencement ceremony today day at this time we invite all others who are not who are able to stand to please remain standing for the presentation of colors presented by the morouse college Naval Color Guard the singing of the star spangle banner and lift every voice and sing will be led by a world-renowned morouse college glee club spe see by the [Music] the we and The Rock [Music] thir the [Music] ohar for the land of the free the home of the [Music] [Music] let our reing [Music] [Applause] [Music] R [Music] sing sing [Music] the [Music] ring us viory [Music] [Applause] you may be seated it is now my honor to introduce to you a Visionary leader and wi the 12th President of Morehouse College Dr David Anthony Thomas who will bring words of welcome on behalf of the college as he presides over our commencement proceedings president Thomas now in his seventh year has been a stalwart leader whose experience and vision for Morehouse have enhanced the reputation of the college as the respected Powerhouse that is Morehouse College president Thomas thank you president good game good morning ladies and gentlemen to Chairman woods and the other members of the morouse College Board of Trustees members of the platform party party fellow and former College presidents of the Atlanta University Center Consortium and I am particularly honored to recognize the presence of one of our former presidents here at Morehouse College on the podium this morning and that is the Reverend Michael the doc Reverend Dr Michael Franklin and his wife Cheryl [Applause] Franklin members of the dedicated faculty and staff parents and loved ones of our graduates whose tireless support has made this day possible our generous alumni and the First Lady of morouse college my wife willetta Lewis most especially I want to recognize that we are here to salute and celebrate the amazing graduating class of [Applause] 20124 As We Gather here today under the grandor of this momentous occasion I am de deeply honored to welcome you to the 140th commencement ceremony of morouse college today we celebrate your achievements and the collective Spirit of determination that has defined your journey class of 2024 your path to this moment has been like no other from The Unexpected disruptions of your high school graduation due to to the global pandemic to navigating the challenge of remote learning your freshman year you have demonstrated unparalleled fortitude in the face of adversity despite obstacles that threaten to derail your dreams you persevere showing unwavering dedication to your education and your future we cannot Overlook the sacrifices you have made the m opportunities for camaraderie and connection and the longing for the traditional College experiences that were delayed or alter yet amid uncertainty you remain steadfast in your pursuit of knowledge and growth today as we stand on the precipice of your next chapter we also take a moment to honor exceptional achievements of some of the distinguished members of your class I will just list a few in no way close coming close to recognizing all of the amazing achievement let me start with Calvin Bell III a finalist for the prestigious Road scholarship exemplifying the acad academic excellence and commitment to service that Define the Morehouse experience similarly Justin brill's recognition with the 20203 national berer Goldwater scholarship highlights the caliber of talent and intellect nurtured within our Institution Kamal Grant whose talent and creativity were work were recognized through winning targets HBCU design challenge Alise J kulie named HBCU scholar of the Year exemplifies the intellectual curiosity and commitment to scholarship that we cultivate here Rob Pinkney whose early investment habits captured the attention of the Wall Street Journal he represents the intentionality tenacity and ambition that distinguishes the moouse man and to the 34 graduates of the moouse online program you return to finish the job of earning not just a Bach warhouse degree We Salute your willingness to alter your established lives to achieve today's dream in addition to our graduates here our institutions accomplishments extend far beyond Academia and into the broader landscape of societal changes and progress leadership and members of our community have been addressing the pressing issues of our time from affirmative action and diversity in leadership and higher education and the corporate world to local and international politics many of our graduates will leave here today headed to some of the most prestigious fellowships medical and PHD programs law schools coveted positions not just in the corporate world but in nonpr but in nonprofit management and education others have already committed to careers as entrepreneurs as we reflect on the journey that has brought us to this moment let us look forward with optimism and determination graduates as you embark on this next phase of your journey know that you carry with you the morehous Legacy and the bound potential to make a meaningful impact on the world congratulations and may you go forth with courage conviction and compassion now it is my pleasure to Welcome to the podium Mr Willie e Woods chairman of the morouse College Board of Trustees member of the morouse college class of 1985 president of icv Partners of New York City to bring greetings on behalf of the [Applause] board thank you president Thomas good morning ladies and gentlemen a special good morning to the men of the graduating class of 2024 I bring you greetings on behalf of the Board of Trustees today we return to continue the 140-year tradition of commencement at our nation's Premier Institution for educating africanamerican men in this the 157th year of our founding we are honored to celebrate your achievements today to the parents and loved ones who are here today we watching via live stream on the web we thank you we know it's not been easy but you remained a stabilizing Force for your graduate encouraged him to stay focused on his goals and our mutual dream for his success for this the Board of Trustees is grateful to you for entrusting your son's with us to the faculty and staff thank you for your dedication and commitment to delivering a high quality education for our young scholars to the many alumni donors and Friends of the college we simply cannot thank you enough for your generosity and support and for what you will do to help us realize excellence in the coming years I want to invite my colleagues On The Board of Trustees to stand and be recognized Board of Trustees if you're in the audience or on the podium please stand to be recognized thank you and a special thank you for our retiring trustees who will also achieve distinction of trustee ameriti after rendering years of service to the college to the man of a class of 2024 today is your day we are here to honor you as each of you transitions from being a purposeful man of Morehouse to becoming a morous man congratulations on your achievement and may God be with you as you continue to grow into the crown that morous holds above your head now please welcome provos Brown for special recognition of our faculty [Applause] thank you chairman Woods good morning morning The morous Faculty are the heartbeat of this institution We Are Forever grateful for their dedication scholarship and Service as they impart their wisdom to our students and hold high expectations of AC academic Excellence every day as Provost and the chief academic officer of the college I have the privilege of recognizing a distinguished group of eminent Scholars and professors today today we pay tribute to two treasured members of the morouse college faculty who are from our ranks this year faculty who are here please stand when I call your name first we want to recognized Dr rabina Malik Dr Malik is a distinguished Dr Malik is a distinguished senior assistant professor of Business Administration who retires after 20 years of service to the college also and the Department of Business Administration retiring after 36 years of service Dr C I as abgari thank you colleagues for your service and we appreciate all that you have done for more house and all you have given please join me and giving another round of applause to our retiring [Applause] faculty each year the Vulcan Material I company sponsors the Vulcan teaching and Excellence award this award is given annually to recognize a deserving morouse professor today I am pleased to announce that the 2024 2025 2023 2024 Vulcan award recipient is Dr Adria welcher [Applause] Dr welchire Who served today as one of our faculty Marshals during the procession is a tenur associate professor and chair of Sociology in the division of human ities social sciences media and arts congratulations Dr welcher on receiving this prestigious honor please come forward to accept your award [Applause] [Applause] we now invite the family of Dr welchire to stand and be recognized if you're present [Applause] thank you and now please welcome our commencement chair and vice president alumni engagement Mr Henry good game class of 1984 back to the podium to welcome and recognize our alumni who are celebrating their class reunions with us this year Mr good game please [Applause] thank you provos brown since 1867 morouse college has produced countless graduates whose work has impacted the nation and the world to the class of 2024 we look forward to welcoming you to our ranks the pantheon of distinguished Morehouse alumni ranges from Dr Martin Luther King Jr class of 1948 Martin Luther King III class of 1979 a founding dean of the morouse school of medicine and head of the Health and Human Services sector Dr Lewis Wade Sullivan to our honory today Michael lch class of 1968 in addition two-time Olympic gold medalist three-time Olympian Edwin mes Moses who was Seated on the podium today an Academy Award nominated producer and filmmaker Spike class of 79 and Veron perer class of 1994 Global head of Blackstone many of whom are celebrating their mileston reunion today and that's just a few the list goes on and on and on we are honored to have many of them today who have anxiously awaited this day to celebrate their reunion with you today we want to recognize the alumni reunion classes ending in fours and who celebrate key Milestone anniversaries first we invite our Platinum Tigers members of the classes of 1954 59 64 and 69 celebrating their 70th 65th 60th and 55th reunions please stand and be recognized at this [Applause] time congratulations gentlemen each year a very special group of alumni reach their golden 50th Anniversary as Morehouse graduates this weekend they were inducted into our golden tiger Society in celebration of their 50th reunion with judge Walter Williams and Joe Parker and our distinguished golden tigers from the class of 1974 please stand and be recognized [Applause] now with members of the class of 1979 celebrating their 45th reunion and the illustrious Bron tiger Bronze Tiger class of 1984 my incredible class celebrating their 40th reunion please stand to be recognized and now alumni celebrating their 35th and 30th reunion an iers Aries the men of the Class of 1989 and the legendary class of 94 and our silver tiger members of the class of 99 please stand and be recognized celebrating their 25th anniversary next our 20th 15th and 10th anniversary reunion classes the Class of 2004 2009 and 2014 please stand and be recognized finally our rookie Tigers our newest reunion Tigers the class who made history in 2019 when Robert Smith Their commencement speaker liberated their future by paying off all their student debt the Mighty Man of the class of 2019 please stand and be recognized because morehous is a supportive Community we want to make sure that has invite all alumni who are present to to witness this day the class of 2024 to stand and be recognized all Morehouse graduates please stand this year our reunion classes presented a fiveyear totals for more than $6.3 million raised and in a oneye of $1.4 million raise as announced last night of the banquet thank let's give them another round of applause 6.3 million this year we thank you and encourage all alumni to support us by simply scanning the QR code to make sure that you know we're going to continue to helping these men of consequence be developed please join the class of 2024 who will represent their classes gift before June 30th now to recognize our top ranking graduates of the class of 2024 I invite back to the podium provos Brown president Thomas please join us for these honors thank [Applause] you thank you vice president good game president Thomas I honored to recognize the salutatorian for the class of 2024 this student is the highest second highest ranking scholar in the class after rigorous review of the credentials this scholar has distinguished himself by maintaining an impressive 3.98 cumulative grade point average after all grades were posted and calculations were completed I think that's worth our Round of Applause Mr Dwayne Alan Terell II please stand and join me at the [Applause] stage while Mr Terell is making his way up please let me share with you some information about him Mr Terell is a betag gamma Sigma business honors graduate he's a native of Chicago Illinois and he's recognized as the highest ranking scholar in the division of business and economics receiving the coveted EB Williams award for top honors in that division a member of the Deans List the Maurice Washington emerging leaders program and the morouse Business Association Mr Terrell is also a scholar aame manle scholar a Boeing scholar and a Bank of America scholar achieving at the highest level in his Department currently Mr Terrell is considering multiple offers in the finance industry well he where he will further develop his business and finance Acumen ladies and gentlemen our salutatorian Mr Dwayne Allen Terell II [Applause] all right congratulations again [Applause] now for the recognition of our valedictorian for the class of 2024 for four consecutive years one impressive young scholar maintained a near perfect cumulative grade point average of 3.99 and attained the rank of valedictorian for this CL class of 414 Scholars you can find his full profile in your commencement program Mr D'Angelo Jeremiah Fletcher please stand and join me at the [Applause] stage Mr Fletcher is also a native of Chicago Illinois and aumaum Lade fi Beta Kappa graduate he is also a Winkler academic scholarship recipient and the highest ranking scholar in the division of science technology engineering and Mathematics and the department of psychology postgraduation Mr Fletcher plans to intern as a as a registered Behavior technican for children with autism his goal is to attend the David geffin school of medicine at UCLA to study Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ladies and Gentlemen please congratulate our valedictorian for the class of 2024 Mr D'Angelo Jeremiah Fletcher congratulations than good morning morning to our honored commencement speaker president of the United States Joseph Biden members of the morouse Board of Trustees president of Morehouse College Dr David a Thomas Provost Kendrick Brown faculty mentors esteemed family friends and my fellow brothers class of 2024 it is an honor to be speaking with you all today allow me to honor those who have helped me stand before you today to the almighty God above I give ultimate praise to you for your protection and guidance to my brother terrone Deshawn Morris and grandfather Lewis Fletcher senior continue to Watch Over Me from the kingdom of heaven to my mom dad sisters and nephews I hope to continue to radiate your strength wisdom and comfort every day to my many friends hear me when I say I feel genuine love for you all to my faculty mentors within the department of psychology and spruss office I am honored to have worked under your leadership for the past four years lastly as a collective voice from the class of 2024 to all family and friends present today we sincerely thank you for your years of support faith and advocacy family we made it allow me to confess I was was so nervous I almost decided to turn down the opportunity to speak today I changed my mind for three reasons it was too great and honorable of a role to pass up I wanted to show my parents I could rise to the challenge and serve as a role model for my sisters and nephews finally in my moment of doubts a beautiful red cardinal appeared before me the Cardinal known as the Red Robin in my family has periodically visited us since my brother passed the Red Robin comes in our time of need as a symbol of perseverance when the Cardinal appeared I decided to take courage and speak on behalf of my class I would start defining Myself by who I am as opposed to who I am not something my father said began to have more meaning to me he doesn't think I listen to him but I do he told me son there are two things in this world you'll always have the first is God the second is your name my name is D'Angelo Jeremiah Fletcher graduating senior Psychology major double minoring in neuroscience and Chinese studies from Chicago Illinois and I am your 2024 validi dictorian speaker for the 140th annual uh commencement ceremony here at the illustrious moous [Applause] College the story of the class of 24 fills me with humility and emotion hot off an abbreviated senior year of high school we were introduced to each other behind in in our freshman year behind computer screens and masks making friends is hard enough and it gets harder in 8: a.m. in a zoom breakout room you don't want to be in yet we prevailed as a community we congregated to after hour Zoom calls with Dr Davis book clbs group mes virtual talent shows video game tournaments and more dropped the link was our new what's the move it wasn't until our second year the class of 24 was allowed to make its mark on these Hollow grounds we were the only class in history able to recognize classmates through hair and eyes alone without actually knowing where our classrooms were still we prevailed we burned the Midnight Oil in our libraries before our test mourned the loss of our brothers continued to walk these grounds during active bomb threats toiled for hours in Labs car pooled to Walmart and chopped it up in laundry rooms with only one machine working class of 24 we exhibited Humanity's greatest strength perseverance as a community Morehouse College has equipped us with the tools to combat Collective trauma and dehumanization common implicit biases about African-American men dehumanize us all disproportionate associations with Phil unintelligence crime and Simeon ancestors cast a shadow over our identities family our Humanity has been questioned and the topic of discussion for centuries it brings me to tears a biased Outsider will examine these Hollow grounds of Academia that we've built for generations and conclude we've built nothing but a zoo in the same breath I say with pride that morous has taught us to exhibit humanity and cultivate Community since to days we read our acceptance letters logged on to our first Zoom calls and walked these sacred Halls of Academia morouse has instilled pride in our combined identities as black and human in America these identities are believed to by some to be at war with one another humans are expected to to be imperfect but to be black in America is to be excellent or else graduates today we apply our skills as well read well spoken well-dressed well traveled and well balanced Brothers in a Relentless Society where the phrase or else may mean our demise is esteemed family and guests gaze upon the class of 24 what you see is the future men of Morehouse allow me to leave you with my evaluation today we graduate as the most dangerous men to walk the streets of America our danger comes not from Guns nor violence but from being nurtured in the womb of mother moous to show up as who we are class of 2024 I charge you despite all attempts at dehumanization walk life as men capable of understanding your Humanity impart this understanding by simply showing up as who we've been taught to be Dependable ambitious knowledgeable witty and empathetic men of the house to conclude I would like to utilize his honorable platform to speak on global politics the legacy of our star alumnist Dr Martin Luther King Jr follows every morehous man Dr King's Legacy as a leader of civil rights is endowed with his tenacious battle against poverty racism and War Dr King was a global philanthropist of social justice believing that Injustice anywhere was a threat to Justice everywhere his campaign and message reached far and wide to follow in the footsteps of our great alumnus it is only right for the class of 2024 to utilize any platform provided to stand in solidarity with peace and Justice the Israel Gaza conflict has plagued the people of its region for Generations it is important to recognize that both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the wake of October 7th from the comfort of our our homes we watch an unprecedented number of civilians mourn the loss of men women and children while calling for the release of all hostages for the first time in our lives we've heard the global Community sing one harmonious song that transcends language and culture it is my stance as a morehous man nay as a human being to call for for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip here the people of this world sing the song of righteous Justice thank you [Applause] thank you Mr flexer Mr Fletcher and congratulations on a job well done you are a shining example of the black male Excellence for which Morehouse is globally recognized you also personify the college's Mission men with disciplined Minds who have prepared to lead lives of leadership and service to all humankind congratulations again let's give it up again for Mr Fletcher I'd also like to recognize the family and loved ones of Mr Fletcher please stand so you too may be properly acknowledged for your support of your son now the anthem of the morning halelujah A Joyful expression by James Ferman arranged by Julius green and featuring our College organist Dr David Oliver and the world renowned Morehouse Glee Club Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah huah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu hallelu hallelu halluel hallelu hallu hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hall Hall [Music] hallu hallelujah hallu hallelu hallelujah hallu hallu hallu hallu hallu huuah [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] huuuuuuu Hallelujah hallelu hallelu hallu [Music] [Applause] hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah hallelu Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah [Applause] hallelu thank you Dr marrow and members of the morous college glee club for inspiring us with that moving selection this morning please thank them again for their artist [Applause] Mr President in this case I'm referring to our president David Thomas morehous will now confer two honorary doctorate degrees honoris CAA I call your attention to their complete biographical uh profiles in the program it is my privilege to present our first honorary degree to the president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund Dr Michael L LX class of [Applause] 1968 thank you provos brown They say you can never go home again but for Michael L LX morouse is forever where his heart always is Dr LX has joined us here at the podium he was just 16 years old when he traveled from Los Angeles to enroll in Morehouse College it was the first time he found home on these hallowed grounds when he arrived at morehous he found more than just a home he found himself majoring in English being inducted as an inaugural member of the college's five beta Capa chapter it may have been pure Providence that brought Michael LX to Atlanta at such a pivotal time during the hyp of the Civ Civil Rights Movement one thing is certain his time here was the beginning of his love for Education which put him on a course for an impressive career [Music] sorry oh my uh losing my win thank you he then went on from Morehouse to earn a master's degree in English literature from Columbia University and a doctorate degree in American and African-American literature from Emory later he served in the administration of another morouse man the late mayard hob Brook Jackson CL of 1956 the first African-American mayor of a major city he was director of research and Special Assistant to Mayor Jackson he was also the first African-American to chair The Fulton County Board of Commissioners in 1988 he chaired the Democratic National Convention and played a pivotal role in bringing the 19 1996 Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta there are many things that we can say about Michael LX during seven years he was at the helm of Dillard University grew the student population by 50 Cent raised over $60 million that bolstered the overall program what I want to say about Michael LX today is that there is no man I know on the planet who has done more to advance historically black colleges and universities than Michael LX in his role in his role as president of the United Negro College Fund but he has played much broader on the tapestry and Landscape of higher education he is unambivalent Champion what we do in our institutions and its uniqueness and in his now two decades of that work he has raised over $4 billion dollar that has allowed students to matriculate through institutions like morous right here at Morehouse we have the lowmax scholars some of whom are in the audience today and therefore by The Authority granted me by the Morehouse College Board of Trustees it is my honor to confer the honorary doctorate of Humane letters upon Dr Michael LX with all the rights Privileges and responsibilities appertaining here unto thank you Dr LX for all you have done and continue to do for morouse college and historically black colleges and universities Across the Nation we'd like to ask the Lomax family and guests to please stand today's grandson is now Rising senior at Morehouse College please rise family of Michael Lomax thank you for sharing him with us and with the world now I have the honor of introducing our commencement speaker we are honored to welcome the 40 6th president of the United States The Honorable Joseph R Biden Jr as our commencement speaker this morning they say that when you find a job that you love it isn't work at all that can be said for Joseph Biden Jr who has spent his entire life in public service his career began in 1970 in his hometown of Delaware when he was elected to the Newcastle County counsel a post he sought just after graduating from Syracuse law school two years later at 29 Biden was one of the youngest people ever elected to the US Senate where he remained for 36 years during that time he served 16 years as chairman a ranking men member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and while there is much debate in the news about US foreign relations President Biden served as chairman or ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for 12 years where he was at the Forefront of the fight against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction in a speech just a few years ago president B Biden reminded us of the responsibility of the US as the oldest and largest democracy on Earth he said and I paraphrase America is an idea an idea stronger than any army bigger than any ocean more powerful than any dictator or Tyrant it gives hope to the most desperate people on Earth guaranteeing that everyone is treated with dignity those words are a reminder of our role in the world spoken by a man who has lived the standard in 2008 Joseph R Biden made history once again this time as vice president to the country's first black President Barack Obama together sir together President Obama and Vice President Biden changed the way Americans experience Health Care through the Affordable Care acted reducing the number of uninsured Americans by 20 million people by the time they left office when the country was hit by a gppl and deadly pandemic it was President Biden who steered the country to recovery he was elected the 46th president of the United States in 2020 and sworn in office in January of 2021 since then he has remained steadfast in what he calls the fight for the soul of our nation with the American Recovery Act bipartisan infrastructure law he has put Americans on the track to Prosperity while also fixing the nation's crumbling roads Bridges and rails I'm almost done it is a once in a in a in a generation investment in our nation that's putting millions of Americans to work I'll conclude clud my introduction by calling attention to the fact that no Administration in history since the Inception of historically black colleges and universities has invested more in our institutions than the Biden Administration has and and if we look at his policies it is very clear that those Investments are not charity but represent a clear view of the value and Excellence that is embod in these institutions President Biden is here today at historic M house on these sacred grounds to share in this special day ladies and Gentlemen please please welcome to the podium the 46th president of the United States Joseph Riden thank you thank you thank you thank you president Thomas faculty staff alumni and a special thanks I'll 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 debb 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 matters 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 than 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 availeth 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 and 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 formerly enslave men enter the ministry where education would be the great equalizer From Slavery to Freedom an institution of Higher Learning that would become morehous College I don't know any other college in America that has that tradition that consequence so the class of 2024 you join as you know a sacred tradition education makes you free and morouse education makes you Fearless I mean it Visionary exceptional congratulations you are morehous men God love you 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 we don't talk enough about Saturday when the 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 B never 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 and I got married and took a job a law firm in my hometown Wilmington Delaware but then 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 Ed in the Flames when he was assassinated literally we the only city in America where the National Guard patrolled every street corner for nine full months with drawn bayonets the long a stretch of any American city since the Civil War Dr Dr King's Legacy had a profound impact on me and my generation whether you're black or white I left the fancy Law Firm I had just joined the 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 they wanted to change it to 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 th margins but with a broad Coalition including student stud 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 christas shopping with three children and she poor woman she just blurred it out she said your wife and daughter are killed my 13-year-old daughter they're dead and your 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 in waler Reed hospital having contracted stage four gasta 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 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 been 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 five years no man deserves one great love let alone too 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 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 started college just as George Floyd was murdered and there was a reckoning on race it's natural 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 then racism and poverty to deliver jobs and Justice to restore our lead Justice to restore our leadership in the world I look down and see the rosary on my wrist that was that 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 know the answer because he told me in his last days my son knew the days were numbered 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 to the Biden family when you want someone to know give your word you say look at me he was lying me he said look at me dad look 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 promise me dad not for the public at large although a lot of people will end up buying it for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know who who Bo Biden was the rose around my wrist the bust of my office remind me that Faith ask you 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 matter are being killed on the street we bear witness for me that means to call out the poison of white supremacy through 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 it can't 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 Breer we're taking 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've walked the 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 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 able to do it because it grows the economy and I in addition to the original $7 billion investment HBCU I'm investing 16 billion more dollars more in our history because you're a vital to our nation most HBCU don't have the endowments the jobs of the future require sophisticated Laboratories sophisticated opport opportunity on campus we're opening doors so you can walk in a life of generational wealth to be providers and leaders of 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 call 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 that break out and break our hearts and 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 in Israel is heartbreaking Hamas is vicious attack on Israel killing Innocent Lies and holding people hostage I was there nine days after said pictures of Ty a mother and a daughter a rope pouring 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 and desperate need of water food and medicine it's a humanitarian crisis in God's that's why I've called for an immediate ceasefire an immediate ceasefire to stop the fighting bring the hostage is 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 rebuild Z 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 Hamas what happens then what happens in Gaza what rights do the Palestinian people have I'm working to make sure we finally get a TW State solution the only solution for 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 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 today and that's not hyperbole your future leaders all of you you'll face complicated tough moments 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 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 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 insurrectionists who storm the capital with Confederate flags are called Patriots by some not in my house black police officers black veterans protecting the capital were called another word as you 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 graduating in 1968 as your honor just was we talked about I never thought I'd 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 America but they're wrong to me We Make History not eras it we know black history is American 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 the 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 what B 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 I 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 the defending freedoms it's about standing up the abuse of power whether physical economic or psychological it's about knowing faith without works is dead [Applause] look and you're doing the work today I look out at all you graduates and I see the next generation of morous men we 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 Morehouse man in the United States Senate you can clap for him he's a good man so I said I'm proud to have the most diverse Administration in history to tap into the full talents of our nation I'm also proud of putting the first black woman on the United States Supreme Court I no doubt One Day 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 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 TRS 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 Mor house men what would you say you did with that power you've earned what will 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 a future where 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 a bigger brighter future that proves 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 in determination you can push the sun above the Horizon once more you can reveal 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 Morehouse man God bless you all we're expecting a lot from you thank [Applause] you President Biden thank you for that thought-provoking message I 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 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 in and count you among the ranks of honorary Morehouse men and therefore with the authority granted in Me by the morouse College Board of Trustees I confer upon you Joseph R Biden Jr the honorary doctor of laws onor us kza with all the rights Privileges and responsibilities ities appertaining there unto congratulations Dr Joseph Biden [Applause] I'm not going home now the Morehouse College Glee Club will perform the spiritual I ain't got weary yet arranged by Courtney KY featuring soloist B Nathaniel orlu [Music] [Music] God [Music] we I God [Music] I've been in the wilderness of Mighty long time and I ain't got weary [Music] yet I a God we [Music] my a God [Music] we I in the wilderness a mighty [Music] [Applause] long and I a God we oh I've been praying like s BL I've been praying like Paul I've been serving my Lord oh mighty long time and I a God [Music] we oh I've been talking with my savior I've been walking with the [Music] Lord been in the wilderness a mighty long time and I ain't got we [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] wild Mighty talk with Jesus bring you over my God he is a rock in a we won't he save your soul oh won't he save your soul oh won't he make you e e

Channel: Firstpost

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Id: oD0a2sbbWW0

Length: 103min 55sec (6235 seconds)

Published: Mon May 20 2024