Obamas on protests, virus uncertainty for graduates

Former US president Barack Obama said the nationwide protests following the 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.

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

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