The Highest Honor on the Highest of Seven Hills

Keynote Address at FAMUs 2018 Summer Commencement

I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to thank the university that has given me so much. On August 3rd, I returned to the highest of seven hills to acknowledge the role FAMU played in my own journey and let the graduates know how uniquely prepared they are to excel in this new stage. As the keynote speaker for the 2018 Florida A&M University Commencement, I came to affirm the best that FAMU has given them - a strong identity based in the facts of black excellence, training that qualifies them to solve the world’s biggest problems, and critical thinking skills that will allow them to prioritize the future in a culture that increasingly is preoccupied with the now.

The rich history of HBCUs is long and one I encourage you to explore. I also encourage you to advise your children to visit an HBCU when they are considering possible colleges. The majority of the heros of African American culture came from HBCUs, and they are still a significant contributor to the education of black and brown students in the US. Beyond that, having the opportunity to learn in a Afrocentric context, by teachers who acknowledge and affirm the experience and resilience of black and brown people globally in the face of colonialism, slavery and oppression is something you cannot find anywhere else in the American system of higher education. This cultural education is one that serves HBCU grads as they climb their professional ladders, and is what keeps me encouraged in my own professional journey.

Meeting with FAMU President Larry Robinson before we went on stage

Celebrating this special moment with my husband, who also acts as my peer reviewer :)

Catching up with senior leadership and former professors of mine

Receiving my Presidential Award from President Robinson following my remarks