Obama delivers powerful online speech on systemic racism to black graduates

NEW YORK — Former president Barack Obama headlined a virtual commencement ceremony Saturday afternoon for graduates of the 74 historically black colleges and universities across the United States, delivering a powerful meditation on the way systemic racism infects the health and safety of black Americans — and calling on those watching to use their educations to fight it.

Obama touched on the major headlines of this moment, including the government’s response to the novel coronavirus, the way the pandemic has hit black people especially hard and the fatal shooting of a 25-yearold black jogger named Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia by two white men.

“You’re being asked to find your way in the world in the middle of a devastating pandemic and terrible recession.

The timing is not ideal,” Obama said. “And let’s be honest. A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country. We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog, and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t submit to their questioning.”

“Injustice like this isn’t new,” Obama continued. “What is new is that so much of your generation has woken up to the fact that the status quo needs fixing; that the old ways of doing things don’t work; that it doesn’t matter how much money you make if everyone around you is hungry and sick; and that our society and democracy only works when we think not just about ourselves, but about each other.”

Obama took direct aim at government officials managing the coronavirus response in the United States.

“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge. “

The speech capped off a two-hour livestreamed event called “Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition,” which included appearances from HBCU alumni, actors and actresses, NBA players and owners, corporate CEOs and artists. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif, a Howard University graduate, made an appearance. Comedian Kevin Hart hosted. COMMON, Steve Harvey, Gary Clark Jr. and Debbie Allen also made appearances.

But the main event was Obama’s commencement address, which was streamed on YouTube and social media by the event’s sponsor, Chase Bank.