WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Saturday that the country is “a better place today” than when he graduated from college more than 30 years ago, citing his historic election as “one indicator of how attitudes have changed.”
But gaps persist, he told Howard University’s Class of 2016, citing racism and inequality.
In a commencement speech at one of the nation’s leading historically black schools, Obama said there were no black CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and few black judges when Columbia University awarded him a bachelor’s degree in 1983.
“A lot of folks didn’t even think blacks had the tools to be a quarterback,” Obama said. “When I was a graduate, the main black hero on TV was Mr. T. Rap and hip-hop were counter-culture. Now (“Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy” producer) Shonda Rhimes owns Thursday night and Beyonce runs the world.”
Today, he said, “we’re producers, studio executives. We’re no longer small-business owners, we’re CEOs. We’re mayors, representatives” — and someone in the crowd shouted out, “President.”
“I’m not saying gaps do not persist. Obviously, they do,” Obama said. “Racism persists, inequality persists.”
He called on the university’s 2,300 graduates to step up and take on the work of closing those gaps.
“America needs you to gladly, happily take up that work … so enjoy the party, because you’re going to be busy,” Obama said.
He cited income inequality, an issue in the presidential campaign to choose his successor in November, as well as disparities in unemployment, pay and criminal justice. He also listed disease and conflict worldwide, along with terrorism and climate change as other issues needing attention.
“So make no mistake Class of 2016. You’ve got plenty of work to do,” said Obama, who was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree. “But as complicated and intractable as these challenges may see, the truth is your generation is better position than any before you to meet those challenges.”
“America is a better place today than it was when I graduated from college,” Obama said, adding “by almost every measure.” He said the country “also happens to be better off than when I took office, but that’s a longer story.”
The line drew cheers and applause. “That’s a different discussion for another speech,” Obama said.
Obama told the graduates to be confident and embrace being African-American and all that it entails, including “our particular awareness of injustice and unfairness and struggle. That means we cannot sleepwalk through life. We cannot be ignorant of history. We cannot meet the world with a sense of entitlement.”
He urged them to vote and not to fear opposing voices. Many in the audience of about 15,000 chanted “four more years” as Obama received the honorary degree. He cited low voter turnout in general and among younger voters in particular for control of Congress switching from Democratic to Republican during his presidency.
“You don’t think that made a difference in terms of the Congress I had to deal with,” Obama said. “And then people wonder why Obama didn’t get this done or that done. “Just vote. It’s math.”
Obama, 54, opened by telling the graduates that most of them were just starting high school when he was first elected in 2008.
“I used to joke about being old. Now I realize I’m old. It’s not a joke anymore,” he said.
The address was the first of three commencement speeches Obama has scheduled this spring, his final ones as president.
Obama is set to speak May 15 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and June 2 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
___
Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I think this article missed the money quote of that speech: “You have to go through life with more than passion for change. You need a strategy” This address is worth a full listen if you have 30 minutes to spare. His remarks start at about the 1:30 mark.
Once again, President Obama hit it out of the park with his speech. He was inspiring and humorous, and he weaved various elements in history and his own life to deliver his overall theme.
By the end, I was ready to march.
I can’t picture a god help us, president Trump speaking at any college commencement. He’d be calling the graduates losers and tell them that his grades were much better.
He’s also the first President in my lifetime that’s younger than myself. Makes me realize how old I’m getting now too…and yeah, its no longer a joke.
Loved his address. It was heartfelt and brilliant. I’m gonna miss his candor in our politics, that’s for sure.
That speech was one of the President’s best - he delivered it with the wisdom, passion, grace, and perspective to validate its powerful message. I would encourage all of you to give it a listen.