Free Essay: Analytical Summary on Barack Obama's Commencement Speech

President Barack Obama started the speech by addressing the different stakeholders that have played a significant role in the growth and development of the Howard student body. The officials of the institution, parents, guardians, friends, and family members of the graduates are all supposed to be in a celebratory mode, for they have played a role in the success of these students. President Obama calls for the black community to facilitate change and to engage in the voting process. Another issue that the president highlighted is the education program that is offered to students who need loans for the education process.

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Facilitate Change

The President called for the students to ensure that they are the “seeds of change” that America needs at the moment. The President noted that when he graduated many years ago, there were no people of color managing the Fortune 500 entities. However, over the years, things have changed, and the country has progressed on matters regarding race relations. Despite the progress made, it is not enough to state that the country has reached where it may have wanted to go meaning that there is still a lot of work to be done. The graduates should be on the front line in ensuring that the nation is helping people from all diverse backgrounds to enjoy their rights. Obama claims that “There’s still so much work to do, so many miles to travel.”

Voting Argument

Some of the strategies that the youth can utilize to change the country include having a clear plan to follow. Voting is one of the critical elements that they can use for this is the tool that states how they want the nation to be run. The black activists are helping societies understand that everyone deserves a chance to express themselves, and they are helping in facilitating the changes that people want. President Obama states that “I am not saying gaps do not persist. Obviously, they do. Racism persists. Inequality persists. Don’t worry — I’m going to get to that. But I wanted to start, Class of 2016, by opening your eyes to the moment that you are in.” Pressuring the Congress members requires a loud voice for them to initiate the reform bills that will make society a better place for everyone. The leader claimed that failing to vote is a way of giving power away and that black people should always turn out in large numbers to elect leaders of their choice, for this is one of the most powerful ways of ensuring that there is a desired and positive change in society. The leader states that “You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy. I'll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness, but action. Not just hashtags, but votes.”

Education and Expressing of Views

Some of the learners in the United States cannot afford the education fee, and they have to rely on the loan programs advanced by the state. Reforming the programs that ensure learners from poor background are getting an education are some of the policies that President Obama should continue to support. Thousands of students in this program are continuing to graduate with their degrees of choice. Another issue that the President notes in his speech are the need for everyone to get a platform to express their views, considering that they will be stating the issues affecting their lives. The policies that learning institutions are following include failing to invite leaders that are considered to have a different idea of what a facility would desire and this is wrong. Another point that Obama notes are the need for the black students to embrace who they are and be confident that they are human beings of equal measures and ability to other races in the world. He encouraged them to embrace their heritage with special credit given to Howard University for the Diversity it has adopted over the years. The students have a better chance of ensuring that future generations do not experience the differences that persist between white and black American students. Educational attainment, gender pay, and employment are some of the main areas that these differences are noted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, President Obama gave an address to Howard University students during a graduation ceremony in 2016 and notes that the learners are seeds of change, and they should ensure that they are managing to realize the growth that they desire. One of the ways that they can use to change the world is through voting, for this will enable a country to have leaders that can initiate positive reforms. People should be offered a platform to express their views, and the Black American students should be presented with a chance to get a better education.