Obamas on protests, virus uncertainty for graduates

Former US president Barack Obama said nationwide protests following recent deaths of unarmed black women and men, including George Floyd, were fueled from “decades worth of anguish, frustration, over unequal treatment and a failure to perform police practices.” Obama along with his wife, Michelle, delivered speeches during YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual ceremony on Sunday.

duo, along with a wide-ranging, star-studded lineup including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Tom Brady, offered inspirational messs in hopes of uplifting new graduates. former president told graduates that coronavirus shined a light on a plethora of America’s ongoing issues. “In a lot of ways, pandemic just brought into focus problems that have been growing for a very long time,” he continued.

“Wher it’s widening ecomic inequality, lack of basic health care for millions of people, continuing scourge of bigotry and sexism, or division or dysfunction that plagued our political system.” Obama added: “As scary and uncertain se times may be, y are also a wake-up call. And y’re an incredible opportunity for your generation.” Michelle Obama urged to Class of 2020 to learn lesson that life will "always be uncertain", but also to use moment to figure out t just to think about what kind of career you want to build, but what kind of person do you want to be".