POTUS Biden addressed Morehouse College’s 140th commencement

On the cusp of political tension, graduation season here is filled with emotion and anxiety as graduates prepare to walk across the stage.

Morehouse College celebrated its 140th commencement ceremony this weekend, and as this year’s guest speaker, United States President Joseph R. Biden delivered his commencement address to the Class of 2024. Morehouse College, its most direct engagement with students since the start of the Israeli school year. -Hamas War.

Biden’s speech at Morehouse comes amid a series of protests on college campuses across the country over his handling of the war in Gaza, with many students and faculty expressing opposition to the House’s continued financial and military support White to Israel.

Even though Morehouse’s debut ended on a peaceful note, that didn’t stop some people from peacefully protesting outside their campus.

DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, valedictorian of Morehouse College’s Class of 2024, said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy was that “injustice anywhere was a threat to injustice everywhere.”

“His campaign and message were widely disseminated to follow in the footsteps of our gratitude,” he said. “It is entirely legitimate for the class of 2024 to use any platform available to them to show solidarity with peace and justice. »

Fletcher also added that the Israel/Gaza conflict “has tormented the people of his region for generations” and that 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 suffered heavy losses in the aftermath of October 7. From the comfort of our homes, we have seen unprecedented numbers of civilians mourn the loss of men, women and children,” he said. “We call for the release of all hostages and for the first time in our lives we have heard the global community hear a harmonious song that transcends language and culture.”

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Some hoped that Biden would directly address these concerns and, fortunately, he did so to the best of his ability while encouraging and elevating Morehouse’s future leaders.

“What is happening in Gaza, Israel is heartbreaking, attacking and killing innocent lives and holding people hostage,” Biden said. “I was there nine days after seeing photos of a mother and daughter tied together in a row where kerosene had been thrown at them, burning and dying.”

He also said that innocent Palestinians caught in the middle of the conflict are in desperate need of water, food and medicine and that it is a humanitarian crisis.

“That is why I am calling for an immediate ceasefire and am currently working on an agreement, so that we can bring these hostages home,” he said. “We will also get more aid to Gaza to help rebuild and bring the region together. »

Additionally, during his speech, Biden announced that he would invest an additional $16 billion in historically black colleges and universities.

Morehouse College released a statement after the announcement saying how much they appreciate the partnership between Biden and the White House staff for listening and, most importantly, implementing what the community and global society have been asking for.

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

“The work is far from over and Morehouse College will continue to center meaningful and nuanced dialogue and critique to foster positive societal change,” Morehouse College said in a statement.

Additionally, Biden spoke about the loss of his first wife, first daughter, and son, correlating that 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 could not be here to celebrate with you today. You failed your high school diploma and started college right after the murder of George Floyd,” Biden said.

Biden also questioned the nature of what democracy means to the black community by asking, “What is democracy if black men are being killed in the streets?”

“What is democracy if not a series of broken promises leaving the black community behind,” he asked. “You have to be 10 times better than anyone else to have a fair chance, and as you’ve heard before, to be a black man who loves his country, even if the country doesn’t love him in return to the same extent.”

Moreover, Biden said, in this area, the men of Morehouse understood that they do not know where, what or when destiny will take them, but they also know that they do not walk alone.

“I learned that it is not easy to be optimistic, but that through faith we can find redemption,” he said.

Ending his speech on an inspiring note, Biden gave the Morehouse Men Class of 2024 one piece of advice for moving forward in their next chapters.

“Leadership is about tackling the most intractable problems. It’s not about challenging anger, frustration and grief, but about finding a solution, smiling and doing what you think is right, even if it’s hard,” he said. “You must decide, guided by your knowledge, your principles of belief and your own moral compass.”

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Additionally, 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.

“To create a free nation in the hearts of men fascinated by freedom is the magic of Morehouse and the magic of America. In the class of 2024, as you know, you are joining traditional sacred teaching. The Morehouse education makes you fearless,” he said.

During the opening exercise, a pro-Palestinian demonstration (above) took place outside the Morehouse College campus. The protest took place peacefully and no arrests had been made at the time of publication of this article.

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