Harris congratulates HBCU graduates in video message for graduation season

Graduating students at historically black colleges and universities across the country are receiving their best wishes via a video message from a prominent alumna: Vice President Kamala Harris.

“As a proud HBCU graduate, I know first-hand the importance of attending an institution like yours,” the vice president says in a congratulatory video that has already drawn shock and applause at commencement ceremonies diplomas.

The surprise video, which debuted at a handful of HBCU commencement ceremonies over the past week, will be shown at about half of all HBCUs nationwide, according to the White House.

“You leave here having learned that you can do and be anything. And that you have a duty to be excellent. Work to improve the condition of all. And fight to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms,” Harris says in the pre-recorded message.

Harris is the first HBCU graduate elected to the vice presidency and has been embraced by the close-knit communities that surround many of these historic schools since her time in national politics. Last year, she included HBCUs in a national tour to rally young voters to “fight for basic rights and freedoms.”

“We were excited to get the message,” said Quinton Ross, president of Alabama State University, which played the video during graduation ceremonies earlier this month. “Everyone was excited when his face appeared on screen to deliver this message.”

The Biden administration allocated a record $7 billion in funding to HBCUs, an investment the Biden campaign has highlighted in its outreach to Black voters.

Harris’ message to graduates comes as the White House faces intense criticism and protests on many college campuses from young voters over its handling of the war between Israel and Hamas. Students are also dissatisfied with the state of education nationally, as many universities grapple with increased scrutiny of DEI programs from conservative activists and lawmakers and the fallout from the state’s decision. Supreme Court which ended affirmative action.

But Harris’ opening message doesn’t address these burning questions; Instead, it adds a note of celebration to students’ academic achievements.

“We need your voice and your leadership,” Harris says in the video. “In our schools, hospitals, courtrooms, as technology founders, entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and leaders at the highest levels of government. We need you to continue working to build a better future for our nation and our world. And you are ready.

Dietra Trent, executive director of White House initiatives on HBCUs, said the vice president is sending the right message, “especially in an environment where the country as a whole is, to some extent, coming back on some of the achievements obtained by people of color. and particularly African-Americans.

Trent cited restrictions on the teaching of African American history and strict voting laws passed in some states as examples of policies negatively affecting black Americans.

The White House has received a large number of requests for Harris to speak in person at HBCU openings since the start of the year, Trent said.

“This is the COVID course. These are students who arrived at college in 2020, so this class of 2024 is really just a special class because they faced obstacles that, honestly, many of us have never faced. had to deal with when it came to education,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat. who led outreach to HBCUs and young voters of color.

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Matt Brown is a member of the AP’s Race and Ethnicity team. Follow him on social media.

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