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You are here: Home / Politics / Live Blogging / Live – HBCU Graduation

Live – HBCU Graduation

by Cheryl Rofer|  May 16, 20202:13 pm| 65 Comments

This post is in: Live Blogging, Open Threads

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h/t lamh36

Open thread!

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Reader Interactions

65Comments

  1. 1.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    Thanks Cheryl!

    This will be the first remarks PBO gives for the day.

    Plus great performances.

    I also love that they are introducing outstanding students and letting them speak!

  2. 2.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 2:17 pm

    Oh and check out the hashtag #ShowMeYourWalk folks are posting pics and stuff of graduates!

  3. 3.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    ICYMI:
    @KamauMandela 2h2 hours ago

    More

    .@JoeBiden Opens @DelStateUniv 2020 graduation. The best HBCU in the US, DSU. You’ll always be #1 in my book. You brought me to the dance. We have a real opportunity to come out of this crisis stronger than we’ve ever been. Congratulations! We need you. -JB #ShowMeYourWalk
    https://twitter.com/KamauMandela/status/1261699630414344195

  4. 4.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    Chase is the sponsor, so of course it’s also an infomercial about Chase, but I love that they are also celebrating the students and the schools

     

    HBUCs need all the funding and support they can get!

  5. 5.

    CarolDuhart2

    May 16, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    The first uplifting thing this bleak spring I’ve seen. As a sort-of alumni of Central State University, I’m proud to see so many promising graduates now, filled with pride and great accomplishments.

    Proud of #Obama for having this idea and continuing to care about all of us.

  6. 6.

    zhena gogolia

    May 16, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    @lamh36:

    Very nice.

    He’s old but he’s a good public servant.

  7. 7.

    TaMara (HFG)

    May 16, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    Omari Hardwick just gave me chills.  I had to back up and listen again.

  8. 8.

    HumboldtBlue

    May 16, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    @TaMara (HFG):

    That was brilliant.

    @lamh36:

    Delaware State is very dear to me, I grew up a mile from campus and was close friends with the sons and daughters of faculty and was friends with several classmates who became Hornets.

  9. 9.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    .@msdebbieallen has a message for the class of 2020: “Right now you’re going to run, and then you’re going to fly. The world is desperate to hear from you. We need your creativity, your innovation, your ideas!”

  10. 10.

    LuciaMia

    May 16, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    Did they say how long this is?

  11. 11.

    HumboldtBlue

    May 16, 2020 at 3:06 pm

    @LuciaMia:

    It’s looking like it will be two hours or so, but I’ve seen no firm time estimate.

  12. 12.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    May 16, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    Lots of great speakers. Kamala Harris just came on at 3:10 pm.

  13. 13.

    HumboldtBlue

    May 16, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    Kamala Harris has got be an AKA, right? I can’t see her as a Delta.

    We get Doug E. Fresh and no Slick Rick?

  14. 14.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: yup she’s an AKA

  15. 15.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 16, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    Amazing group of speakers, hopefully this will make up for the loss of the “normal” experience for all the grads.  I’m hoping it will be memorable in a positive way.

    Damn, that’s 2 posts in a row with good news….

  16. 16.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    OBAMA up now!

  17. 17.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    May 16, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    I find I can’t watch because I keep crying. This is great, but it also makes me so sad and worried for the people graduating now. I grieve for their lost rites of passage and celebrations. I fear for their futures. And I need to coach my HS junior son through his last essay amidst his own intense anxiety and feeling that it’s all for nothing.

  18. 18.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Oh shit… O’beezy taking shots at Chump once again without even saying his name!!!

     

    Body blows!

  19. 19.

    Sab

    May 16, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    @lamh36: I never knew this before, but we have an affordable housing complex that are townhouses along the Little Cuyahoga River downtown that was financed in a public/private partnership with the private parnership half being mostly alumns from the local Alpha Phi Alpha chapter.

  20. 20.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    May 16, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    @lamh36: Yeah, we’re going to get a really Twitter-storm from the throne for the next 24 hours aren’t we?

    Dollars to donuts he’ll claim something about “ratings”.

  21. 21.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    May 16, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    Obama was inspiring.

  22. 22.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 16, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: oh hell, I missed it? I thought it was an evening thing

  23. 23.

    WaterGirl

    May 16, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: It’s not too late.  Refresh the page, and then click on the video.  If you want to see Barack, move the slider until about 10 minutes from the end.  Or watch from the beginning!

  24. 24.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Oh, shit… Imagine what O’beezy’s gonna say tonight when he has an ENTIRE televised audience for his 2nd commencement speech for Class of 2020 high school students #ShowMeYourWalk
    #ObamaCommencement2020

  25. 25.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 16, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    @WaterGirl: thanks– does it tell you something about me that someone had to tell me I could do this? I mean I knew there would be video on line, but…

    It’s a wonder I manage to post on this blog

  26. 26.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: he’s giving TWO commencement addresses.

     

    The first one just aired on YouTube was for HBCU college grads.

    The nationally televised one on all major nets will be tonight and that’s for high school Class of 2020

  27. 27.

    zhena gogolia

    May 16, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I learned this during impeachment — even though it’s live, you can go back and watch what you missed.

  28. 28.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 16, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    @lamh36:

    The nationally televised one on all major nets will be tonight and that’s for high school Class of 2020

    thanks

  29. 29.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    And here we go, the first hottake from political media…NYT of course.

     

    @nytimes

    FollowFollow @nytimes

    More

    Breaking News: “More than anything this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing.” Barack Obama criticized U.S. leaders’ coronavirus response in a virtual commencement speech.
    https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1261747198850727940

    BTW not even the most IMPORTANT and inspiring thing PBO said in that short commencement address.  But of course they want Chump’s rage tweets to commence

  30. 30.

    WaterGirl

    May 16, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: hahaha

    In all fairness to you, not all videos are like that.  Sometimes you are SOL because it’s hard to either get back to the beginning or move around as you want.

    This one makes it easy!

  31. 31.

    japa21

    May 16, 2020 at 4:13 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Yes he was. Damn, I miss him. One of the best things this year will be hearing him more as he is campaigning for Biden.

  32. 32.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: And it is likely to be a completely different speech with different references.

    This speech was focused on HBCU grad and mentioned history and unique struggles for HBCU grad student.

    But he did throw enough digs at the current admin w/o naming names that was as masterful as we’ve come to expect from him!

  33. 33.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 16, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    very nice– I hope the transcript is publishe

    ETA: @lamh36: I saw The Beast had sent out over 50 tweets by noon, so he’s already worked up. There may be a new record today

  34. 34.

    rikyrah

    May 16, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    I enjoyed all that I watched.

     

    Sigh…how I miss 44.

    He threw all kinds of shade, in only the way he can…tee hee hee.

     

    Already got tonight’s commencement on the DVR.

  35. 35.

    Baud

    May 16, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    #Obamagate?

    No, #ObamaGreat!

  36. 36.

    WaterGirl

    May 16, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    @Baud: If I were on twitter, I would push that hard.

  37. 37.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    Chump obviously watched the speech, or someone in his orbit did.  Check out the timestamp

     

    OBAMAGATE!

    25.3K
    3:14 PM – May 16, 2020

    BWHAHAA.

    he might just stroke out tonight when the Gradutate Together speech in on EVERY major broadcast net!

  38. 38.

    Baud

    May 16, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Maybe lamh36:  can do it.

  39. 39.

    zhena gogolia

    May 16, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    @Baud:

    I saw that. It’s very inspiring.

  40. 40.

    zhena gogolia

    May 16, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Me too. A lot of people are.

  41. 41.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    May 16, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    President @BarackObama's three takeaways for the HBCU Class of 2020 1. Make sure you ground yourself in actual communities2. You can’t do it alone 3. Remember, you are a role model nowWatch more on https://t.co/GrVoKtjnDp #ShowMeYourWalk @chase pic.twitter.com/72cZfYhBi9— ESSENCE (@Essence) May 16, 2020

  42. 42.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    @Baud: actually the ObamaGreat hashtag was pushed a bit but didn’t catch on

  43. 43.

    Baud

    May 16, 2020 at 4:33 pm

    @lamh36:

    Aww.  I actually didn’t see it on Twitter.

  44. 44.

    zhena gogolia

    May 16, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    @lamh36:

    There are a lot of good tweets here, though.

    https://twitter.com/hashtag/obamagreat?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag

  45. 45.

    Krope, the Formerly Dope

    May 16, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    @lamh36: Didn’t he do that exact same tweet a couple days ago? Is there really nothing more he has to say about the matter? Is he hoping he can just put that term out there and people will fill it in with whatever they may have disliked about our previous president, like an attack ad mad lib?

  46. 46.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    @Baud: It’s here…

     

    https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ObamaGreat&src=typd

     

    Most are likely gonna use the hashtag #ObamaCommencement2020 or just #Obama for the Graduate Together virtual ceremony

  47. 47.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    @Krope, the Formerly Dope: He also tweeted one of those weird photoshopped viral vids, but I refuse to post it

  48. 48.

    Baud

    May 16, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    @lamh36:

    I approve the generic hashtag.  Tweets about the actual ceremony should be about the kids.

  49. 49.

    TS (the original)

    May 16, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    @WaterGirl:  Thank you for that – very early in my world & I missed it all so followed your guide here.

    It was a delight to hear a president speak in sentences with logic & care & empathy.

    Whatever he says, he will no longer get months of push back that he is not inclusive, he can mention a man who was shot without considering those good white folks who are patrolling the streets for reasons. The media was disgusting in how they treated President Obama when he was in office, yet he carries on regardless.

    And I love that he avoids wearing a tie.

  50. 50.

    HumboldtBlue

    May 16, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    #YOMAMAGATE

  51. 51.

    Msb

    May 16, 2020 at 4:46 pm

    Thanks for posting this: informative (I don’t know enough about HBCUs) and inspiring! Much better than either of my commencement addresses.

  52. 52.

    WaterGirl

    May 16, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    @TS (the original): I noticed that he wasn’t wearing a tie, too!

    I kind of miss the beautiful light blue tie he used to wear.  He looked so handsome.  But I wouldn’t wear a tie, either, if I didn’t have to.  But he could have worn a light blue shirt for me!  :-)

    At this point Barack Obama gets to tell the truth.  Too bad for Trump.

  53. 53.

    TS (the original)

    May 16, 2020 at 4:47 pm

    @lamh36:

    But of course they want Chump’s rage tweets to commence

    And just look at the picture they chose to use with that tweet – they will never stop attacking the black guy.

  54. 54.

    pamelabrown53

    May 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Thank you! I love how he always goes a step further and stresses inclusiveness and building coalitions.

    Meaningful change cannot occur if we are not there for each other.

  55. 55.

    pamelabrown53

    May 16, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I love how President Obama lives rent free in tRump’s head. He will single handedly catalyze tRump’s unforced errors while reinforcing the ideals of the America we strive for.

  56. 56.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 5:11 pm

    Oooh Contagion is on HBO go.  I can finally re-watch it.  so of course I’m live-tweeting it

  57. 57.

    Baud

    May 16, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    @lamh36:

    I’m glad there is something on to help people take their minds off current events.

  58. 58.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    Like wow, I know I’m late, but Wow! Like for real…but damn #Contagion really was a blueprint to what’s going on right now with COVID-19!!!

  59. 59.

    The Thin Black Duke

    May 16, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    I feel blessed that I lived in a world where Obama was my President.

  60. 60.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    Dafuq was this shit a DOCUMENTARY or a work of fiction!
    #Contagion

  61. 61.

    lamh36

    May 16, 2020 at 5:24 pm

     

    I mean they even got the paranoia of regular folks on pointe!
    I swear I saw this movie before. Never realize how accurate this movie had the possibliltiy to be.

    DAMN!

    What was the reception of this film when it came out?

    #Contagion

    !
    I swear I saw this movie before. Never realize how accurate this movie had the possibliltiy to b.

    DAMN!

    What was the reception of this film when it came out?

    #Contagion

  62. 62.

    WaterGirl

    May 16, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    @The Thin Black Duke: That last year Barack was president was a tough one for me.  I actually made a list of things I should be grateful for every day, and read my list every day to add a positive perspective to my life.  “Barack Obama is our President was one of the things on my list.

    People kept saying “I can’t wait until November” and I kept thinking “there’s no guarantee what the outcome will be, so let’s not wish away this time we have left with Barack Obama”.

    But it was still a tremendous shock when the dumpster won.  It’s been a long 4 years.

  63. 63.

    zhena gogolia

    May 16, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    It’s been a nightmare. I had such hope for 8 years, and now this.

  64. 64.

    WaterGirl

    May 16, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Yep.

    I can’t believe that some people thought Barack Obama was the anti-Christ, and those are the people who love Trump.

    A nightmare, yes, and an eye-opening one.

  65. 65.

    AnnMcC

    May 16, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    Many thanks for linking to this afternoon’s HBCU event.

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