We are in the midst of graduation exercises for many college and university students all over America. A time to rejoice that finally, finally they can put the books away and move on to the next stage of their lives; just one more 'event' and they're off - Commencement! Into these colleges and universities come speakers who give them their personal words of wisdom for the final touch on their way to their future.
Some noted speakers: VP Joe Biden/Yale, VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe/University of Virginia, Sen. Michael Bennet/University of Denver, Pres. George W. Bush/Southern Baptist University, Texas, Apple CEO Tim Cook/George Washington University.
I chose, however, to concentrate this article on two others - First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama/Tuskegee University, Alabama and Actor Denzel Washington/Dillard University, New Orleans. Why? You'll see!
The First Lady was met with terrific applause, naturally and she certainly started her speech on an innocent enough note but as she revved up (so to speak) you could tell she was a woman on a mission and she certainly didn't mince words.
Remember that she is speaking to a class of black graduating students (I don't believe in the hyphenated American version). Remember also her background. She: graduated from Harvard Law School and practiced law; grew up with both a mom and dad; was an assistant to Chicago's Mayor Daley and Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development; founded Public Allies Chicago and headed up an AmeriCorp program; joined the University of Chicago in 1996 as Associate Dean of Student Services and established the first community service program in 2002; was Executive Director of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago; appointed Vice President of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center in May 2005 and ultimately became the First Lady upon her husband's successful run for the presidency in 2008.
Some quotes exerpted from her speech using the famous Tuskegee airmen as a backdrop:
"Back then, black soldiers faced all kinds of obstacles.....so-called scientific studies that said that black men's brains were smaller than white men's....."
".....reports stated that black soldiers were 'childlike', 'shiftless'.....and as one quote stated, "if fed, loyal and competent."
".....When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them 'boy' and ticketed them for the most minor offenses."
".....the road ahead is not going to be easy.....especially for folks like you and me....those age-old problems are stubborn and they haven't fully gone away.....there will be times.....when you feel folks look right past you."
"Instead they will make assumptions about who they think you are based on their limited notion of the world.....those daily stings.....the folks who crossed the street in fear of their safety.....clerks who kept a close eye on us in all those department stores."
"those nagging worries that you're going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason....."
".....going to be a heavy burden.....isolating.....feel like your life doesn't matter.....those feelings are real. They're rooted in decades of structural challenges.....and those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country."
OK - even I have had enough. For a full text of her speech, if you have the stomach for more of the same, you can go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015
Then there's Denzel Washington - actually one of my very favorite actors - at Dillard speaking to a predominantly black audience of graduates - who emerged from a somewhat less than 'privileged' background as the First Lady. His mom and dad divorced when he was young and he pretty much hung out on the streets until his mom finally decided to send him and his sister to the Oakland Academy boarding school. After graduation, he entered college at Fordham University in the Bronx, played on the basketball team and was working toward a degree in journalism when he got sidetracked into acting while working as a counselor at a Boys Club camp when he participated in a camp variety show. This was his advice to the graduating students at Dillard - 4 main thoughts very well expressed:
*"I'm going to keep it short"
*"Number one: Put God first; put God first in everything you do. Everything you think you see in me.....Everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It's a gift."
*You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse."
*I pray that you put your slippers under your bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them."
*And while you're down there, say thank you. Thank you for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents.....True desire in the heart for anything good is God's proof to you, sent beforehand, to indicate that it's yours already."
The Difference between Michelle and Denzel? HUMILITY!
The First Lady's tone, expression, harshness and bitterness are key reasons why racism is still a problem and even more pronounced since she and her husband have occupied the White House.
Some noted speakers: VP Joe Biden/Yale, VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe/University of Virginia, Sen. Michael Bennet/University of Denver, Pres. George W. Bush/Southern Baptist University, Texas, Apple CEO Tim Cook/George Washington University.
I chose, however, to concentrate this article on two others - First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama/Tuskegee University, Alabama and Actor Denzel Washington/Dillard University, New Orleans. Why? You'll see!
The First Lady was met with terrific applause, naturally and she certainly started her speech on an innocent enough note but as she revved up (so to speak) you could tell she was a woman on a mission and she certainly didn't mince words.
Remember that she is speaking to a class of black graduating students (I don't believe in the hyphenated American version). Remember also her background. She: graduated from Harvard Law School and practiced law; grew up with both a mom and dad; was an assistant to Chicago's Mayor Daley and Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development; founded Public Allies Chicago and headed up an AmeriCorp program; joined the University of Chicago in 1996 as Associate Dean of Student Services and established the first community service program in 2002; was Executive Director of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago; appointed Vice President of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center in May 2005 and ultimately became the First Lady upon her husband's successful run for the presidency in 2008.
Some quotes exerpted from her speech using the famous Tuskegee airmen as a backdrop:
"Back then, black soldiers faced all kinds of obstacles.....so-called scientific studies that said that black men's brains were smaller than white men's....."
".....reports stated that black soldiers were 'childlike', 'shiftless'.....and as one quote stated, "if fed, loyal and competent."
".....When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them 'boy' and ticketed them for the most minor offenses."
".....the road ahead is not going to be easy.....especially for folks like you and me....those age-old problems are stubborn and they haven't fully gone away.....there will be times.....when you feel folks look right past you."
"Instead they will make assumptions about who they think you are based on their limited notion of the world.....those daily stings.....the folks who crossed the street in fear of their safety.....clerks who kept a close eye on us in all those department stores."
"those nagging worries that you're going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason....."
".....going to be a heavy burden.....isolating.....feel like your life doesn't matter.....those feelings are real. They're rooted in decades of structural challenges.....and those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and so many others across this country."
OK - even I have had enough. For a full text of her speech, if you have the stomach for more of the same, you can go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015
Then there's Denzel Washington - actually one of my very favorite actors - at Dillard speaking to a predominantly black audience of graduates - who emerged from a somewhat less than 'privileged' background as the First Lady. His mom and dad divorced when he was young and he pretty much hung out on the streets until his mom finally decided to send him and his sister to the Oakland Academy boarding school. After graduation, he entered college at Fordham University in the Bronx, played on the basketball team and was working toward a degree in journalism when he got sidetracked into acting while working as a counselor at a Boys Club camp when he participated in a camp variety show. This was his advice to the graduating students at Dillard - 4 main thoughts very well expressed:
*"I'm going to keep it short"
*"Number one: Put God first; put God first in everything you do. Everything you think you see in me.....Everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It's a gift."
*You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse."
*I pray that you put your slippers under your bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them."
*And while you're down there, say thank you. Thank you for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents.....True desire in the heart for anything good is God's proof to you, sent beforehand, to indicate that it's yours already."
The Difference between Michelle and Denzel? HUMILITY!
The First Lady's tone, expression, harshness and bitterness are key reasons why racism is still a problem and even more pronounced since she and her husband have occupied the White House.
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