Former President Barack Obama is set to give separate virtual commencement speeches to graduating college and high school seniors on Saturday in his first public addresses to a national audience during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Obama’s words are expected to draw much interest at a time when his successor in the Oval Office, President Trump, has received immense scrutiny for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Mr. Obama has generally avoided publicly criticizing Mr. Trump, but he called the current administration’s response to the pandemic “anemic and spotty” in a private call last week with thousands of supporters who had worked for him.
“It would have been bad even with the best of governments,” Mr. Obama said on the call. “It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mind-set — of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘to heck with everybody else’ — when that mind-set is operationalized in our government.”
The virus outbreak and new social distancing norms have dashed many graduation traditions — from the ritual of walking across the stage to tossing of the graduation cap to family and friends celebrations — so popular political leaders and celebrities have stepped in to offer assuring messages as graduates enter a world shaped by uncertainty, infection fears and economic instability.
On Friday, Oprah Winfrey urged the “pandemic class” to rebuild a more fair society in a video commencement speech hosted by Facebook. On Saturday, Mr. Obama, a graduate of Columbia University, will take his turn.
“I’ve always loved joining commencements — the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice,” President Obama posted on Twitter this month. “Even if we can’t get together in person this year, Michelle and I am excited to celebrate the nationwide Class of 2020 and recognize this milestone with you and your loved ones.”
The first address will be aired during a ceremony for more than 27,000 graduates from 78 historically black colleges and universities. The two-hour event, “Show Me Your Walk H.B.C.U. Edition,” will be streamed on the social media platforms of its corporate sponsor, JPMorgan Chase, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern. The virtual commencement, hosted by Kevin Hart, will feature dozens of prominent African-American athletes, politicians and entertainers.
Mr. Obama is then scheduled to have remarks air during a prime time special for high school graduates that starts at 8 p.m. Eastern on all of the major television networks. That event, “Graduate Together: High School Class of 2020 Commencement,” is organized by XQ Institute, a think tank that works with schools, in partnership with LeBron James’s foundation.
And in a third appearance on June 6, Mr. Obama and Michelle Obama are scheduled to speak at a commencement hosted by YouTube. The three events were among dozens of requests the Obamas received from around the world to address graduates whose in-person ceremonies had been canceled, their office said in statement.
While in office, Mr. Obama delivered the commencement addresses at three historically black schools, Hampton University, Howard University and Morehouse College.
The former president has had a complicated relationship with the H.B.C.U. community. While overall funding for the institutions increased during his eight years in office, some complained that he did not make them a priority, and that cuts and changes made under his watch to Pell grants and other loan programs made life difficult for some H.B.C.U. students.
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May 17, 2020 at 12:48AM
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Barack Obama Commencement Speeches: What to Know - The New York Times
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