On the cusp of political tension, graduation season here is filled with high emotions and angst while graduates prepare to walk across the stage.
Morehouse College held their 140th commencement this weekend and as this year’s guest speaker, President of the United States Joseph R. Biden delivered his commencement address to Morehouse College Class of 2024, his most up-front engagement with college students since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Biden’s speech at Morehouse comes against a slew of protests on college campuses nationwide over his handling over the war in Gaza, with many students and faculty members voicing opposition to the White House’s continued financial/military support for Israel.
Although Morehouse’s commencement ended on a peaceful note, it did not stop some individuals from peacefully protesting outside their campus.
Morehouse College Class of 2024 Valedictorian DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy was “injustice anywhere was a threat to injustice everywhere.”
“His campaign and message reached far and wide to follow in the footsteps of our gratefulness,” he said. “It is totally right for the class of 2024 to utilize any platform provided to stand in solidarity with peace and justice.”
Fletcher also added the Israel/Gaza conflict has “plagued the people of its region for generations” and as a Morehouse man and human being, he calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
“It is important to recognize that both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the wake of October 7. From the comfort of our homes, we watched an unprecedented number of civilians mourn the loss of men, women, and children,” he said. “We’re calling for the release of all hostages and for the first time in our lives, we’ve heard the global community seeing one harmonious song that transcends language and culture.”
Some hoped Biden spoke directly to those concerns and fortunately, he did to the best of his ability while also encouraging and uplifting Morehouse’s future leaders.
“What’s happening in Gaza, Israel is heartbreaking, attacking and killing innocent lives and holding people hostage,” Biden said. “I was there nine days after seeing pictures of a mother and daughter being tied together in a row where Kerosene was thrown on them, causing them to burn and die.”
He also said innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of all the conflict are in desperate need of water, food, and medicine and it is a humanitarian crisis.
“That’s why I’m calling for an immediate ceasefire, and working on a deal as we speak, so we can bring those hostages home,” he said. “We are going to also get more aid to Gaza to help rebuild and bring the region together.”
Also, during his speech, Biden announced he will be investing another $16 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Morehouse College released a statement after the announcement stating how appreciative they are of the partnership between Biden and the White House staff for listening and most importantly, applying what the community and global society have requested.
“The work is nowhere near finished, and Morehouse College will continue centering consequential, nuanced dialogue and critique to foster positive societal change,” Morehouse College said in a statement.
Additionally, Biden talked about the loss of his first wife, daughter, and son, correlating the loss with the loss of lives during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“Most of you, four years ago, lost loved ones, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, who were unable to be here to celebrate with you today. You missed your high school graduation and started college on the heels of the murder of George Floyd,” Biden said.
Biden also questioned the nature of what democracy means for the Black community asking, “What is democracy if Black men are being killed in the street?”
“What is democracy but a trail of broken promises leaving the Black community behind,” he asked. “You have to be 10 times better than anyone else to get a fair shot, and as you’ve heard before, to be a Black man who loves his country, even if it doesn’t love him back in equal measure.”
Additionally, Biden said in this walk of life, the Morehouse men have come to an understanding that they don’t know where, what, or when fate will bring, but to also know they do not walk alone.
“I’ve learned there’s no easy optimism, but by faith, we can find redemption,” he said.
To end his speech on an inspirational note, Biden gave the Morehouse Men Class of 2024 a piece of advice moving forward in their next chapters.
“Leadership is about fighting through the most intractable problems. It’s not about challenging anger, frustration, and heartbreak, but find a solution, smile, and do what you believe is right, even when it’s hard,” he said. “You have to decide, guided by knowledge, conviction principle, and your own moral compass.”
Furthermore, Biden said the desire to know what freedom is and what it can be, is the heart and soul of why Morehouse College was founded in the first place.
“Providing a free nation is born in the hearts of men spellbound by freedom, that’s the magic of Morehouse and the magic of America. To the class of 2024, as you know, you join sacred traditional education. Morehouse education makes you fearless,” he said.
During the commencement exercise, there was a pro-Palestine protest (above) taking place outside of the Morehouse College campus. The protest was peaceful and no arrests were made as of the publishing of this story.