Published 16:09 IST, May 18th 2020
'OBAMAGREAT': Americans hail Barack Obama after his powerful graduation speech
Obama gave a powerful commencement speech to the students of HCBU after which Americans took to the internet and called for the 44th President to lead again.
Former United States President Barack Obama recently gave a powerful commencement speech to the students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU) after which Americans took to the internet and called for the 44th President to lead again. While Obama in his speech criticised the US leaders overseeing nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, several Twitter users applauded the former President for exhibiting his ‘class’ and ‘compassion’ in times of the deadly outbreak.
During the televised commencement address for high school seniors, Obama panned ‘so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs’ who do ‘what feels good, what’s convenient and what’s easy’. Though Obama did not name Trump or any other federal or state official, he, however, did criticise the US President’s handling of the pandemic as an ‘absolute chaotic disaster’ in call with 3,000 members of his administrations. The former President also told his supporters that he would be spending as much time as necessary and campaigning as hard as he can for Joe Biden.
While he congratulated the college students and spoke about the challenges they face given the devastation and economic turmoil amid the pandemic, he also noted the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed while jogging on a residential street in Georgia. He said, "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”. Further, he also spoke about the ‘disproportionate impact of COVID-19’ on the Black community.
He said, “Injustice like this isn't new. 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”. He added, “If the world’s going to get better, it’s going to be up to you”.
#44Forever
Obama’s speech led to several internet users praising and applauding him. While some wanted him back to lead them again, others said that it has been ‘horrible’ not have his voice, integrity and compassion. One internet user wrote, “A kind and loving message to the people who are looking to tomorrow for a smarter, kinder, better less greedy, cruel, power-hungry world that ignores all the good around”.
Updated 16:09 IST, May 18th 2020