Barack Obama joins Beyonce on YouTube for Dear Class of 2020

4

View
comments

President Barack Obama said in a commencement speech that 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 and former first lady, Michelle, delivered speeches during YouTube’s ‘Dear Class of 2020’ virtual ceremony, which was live streamed 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.

‘Graduation is a big achievement under any circumstances, yours comes as the world is turned upside down by a pandemic and by a country that has been swept up by protests. I can barely imagine how head-spinning these last few months have been for you. None of this is how any of you imagined finishing your final spring at school,’ he said.  

The former president told graduates that the coronavirus shined a light on a plethora of America’s ongoing issues. 

Scroll down for video  

‘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.’

‘The point is, don’t let the lack of a big crowded ceremony take anything away from what your graduation signifies. Go ahead and bask in the glory of your achievement. 

Sunday’s lineup also included megastars such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Jennifer Lopez. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson and countless others joined in to congratulate and celebrate graduating college and high school seniors remotely, while also taking time to acknowledge the unique moment the world finds itself in. 

Lizzo kicked off the virtual festivities with a beautiful flute rendition of popular graduation standard Pomp And Circumstance, followed by inspiring welcome messages from Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake. 

Soon after, Beyonce appeared to deliver a truly emotional and pointed commencement address, touching on everything from the unjust killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery to sexism in the entertainment industry.

The central message of Beyonce’s lengthy statement: ‘Keep investing and keep betting on yourself.’ 

‘You have arrived in the midst of a global crisis,’ Knowles, 38, began, before mentioning both the coronavirus pandemic as well as the recent instances of violence and murder inflicted on the American black community which she said has ‘left us all broken.’ 

‘It has left the entire country searching for answers,’ she continued, later saying ‘The earth is ripping that bandaid off so we can see our wounds. That’s when true healing begins.’ 

Then, addressing the graduates in particular, the Countdown hitmaker said, ‘The real change has started with you,’ and ‘You are the answer to a generation of prayers.’

Queen Bey talked about the value of not following the path well-trodden, and how ‘stepping out is the best thing you can do in self discovery.’

‘There was a pivotal term in my life when I chose to start my own business a couple of years ago,’ she shared, noting how difficult and scary the prospect was – even for her.

‘The entertainment industry is still very sexist,’ Beyonce stated, specifying that there is ‘not a lot of female representation.’

‘There were not enough black women were at the table,’ she also said, ‘and that meant I had to chop down my own wood and make my OWN table.’

Later in her stirring speech, Beyonce talked about her art and her mission of ‘showing the beauty of black lives to the world.’

‘To our future leaders: know that you’re about to make the world turn. I see you. And to the young kings: lean into your vulnerability,’ she said.

‘You do have to spread your gift around the world in a way that feels authentic. Your queerness is beautiful. Your blackness is beautiful. Your compassion, your fight — is beautiful. It’s your time now.’

Knowles also addressed people’s detractors, losing and rejection as motivation, and the value of respect.

‘If you’ve ever been called dumb, unattractive,’ Beyonce said, ‘…so have I. 

‘Now is the time to turn those criticisms into fuel to become a beautiful beast!’

As for the ‘secret of success,’ Bey said, ‘Put in that work.’ 

And as for the tougher moments, she wanted graduates to find motivation in rejection. ‘I have blessed to have won 24 Grammys,’ she said, but also pointed out the she ‘lost 46 times.’

‘Losing can be the best motivator to get the wins,’ Knowles shared. 

‘Respect is everything,’ she also said. ‘The world will respect you if you respect yourself.’

In closing, Beyonce said, ‘My prayer for you is that you invest in yourself. I pray that you continue to celebrate and value lives that appear different from your own.’   

Swift’s message to graduates was a lot shorter, and somewhat less in-touch.

‘I used to fantasize about high school graduation,’ the music superstar said, in an ill-fated effort to sympathize with those going through that rite of passage today who find themselves at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

‘Then when I got to that point in my life, I found myself on radio tour,’ Taylor said, mentioning how she spent the time ‘in rental cars.’

Michelle Obama, for her part, said she ‘struggled to find the right words to say to you,’ as she addressed both the Class of 2020 and the recent events that have gained public attention. 

‘What’s happening right now is the direct result of decades of undressed prejudice and inequality,’ she said, referring to the ‘rumbling of the age-old fault lines that our country was built on: the lines of race and power that are now once again so nakedly exposed for all of us to grapple with.’

‘For too many people in this country, no matter how much they work, there are structural barriers working against them that just make the road longer and rockier, and sometimes it’s almost impossible to move upward at all.’ 

To the graduates, Michelle then shared ‘lessons for how to move forward in these tumultuous times’.

Those included ‘Life will always be uncertain,’ ‘treating people right will never fail you,’ and ‘share your voice with the rest of the world – your voice matters.’

Michelle also appeared with her husband for a slightly more lighthearted congratulatory message.  

Others who appeared as part of the online special included Shawn Mendes, The Simpsons, Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monae and Camila Cabello.

Even the dear Rose family from Shcitt’s Creek showed up, to address the accomplishments of both the graduating students as well as the teachers, or as the inimitable Catherine O’Hara’s Moira insisted, ‘preceptors.’

The group was joined by the extended cast, led by Noah Reid’s vocally gifted Patrick, who sang a lovely, remote, a capella version of Mariah Carey’s Hero that was Zoom-crashed by none other than Carey herself.

David, a.k.a. Dan Levy, of course, fainted from the turn of events. 

Mariah took the opportunity to address the Class of 2020, saying ‘you rose to the occasion!’

She also paid special tribute to those difficult students who, like her, had trouble showing up to school on time. 

‘To the students who have to deal with this bleak moment,’ Mariah concluded, ‘you made it!’   

Late night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert also participated in the event, with Kimmel in a makeshift graduation cap made out of a pizza box.

Shawn Mendes was ‘present’ for the celebration as well, appearing ahead of a fabulous segment featuring face-masked dancers performing synchronized choreography in the empty hallways of a high school.

It was a moment that was, perhaps inadvertently, more symbolic of the current times than most. 

U2 frontman Bono shared his thoughts for the world’s graduating youth, before his band’s hit Beautiful Day was performed with the help of Camila Cabello, Chris Martin, Noah Cyrus, Khalid, Ty Dolla $ign and Tove Lo. 

Jennifer Lopez appeared later in the livestream, to share her own inspiring message for the Class of 2020 before presenting a truly special speaker.

The Hustlers star started by drawing distinctions between ‘learning’ and ‘growing experience,’ both of which this group of students has had in abundance.

‘Every obstacle is really an opportunity to learn, grow and change,’ Jlo shared, reminding everyone that ‘you deserve this moment and so much more.’

As she concluded by saying, ‘I commend you class of 2020,’ Lopez went on to present Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who shared her own congratulations for the Class of 2020. 

Still further celebrities were a part of the Dear Class of 2020 YouTube event, including BTS, Andy Cohen, Snoop Dogg, Kaia Gerber and her mom Cindy Crawford, as well as Camila Mendes, who observed ‘I can’t even imagine what it’s like graduating in a time like this.’

Dwayne Wade and wife Gabrielle Union shared their message for graduates in an amusing interlude in which they debated the merits of dads as opposed to moms of graduating students. 

‘A mother’s hug,’ Union observed. ‘Theres nothing more encouraging! Moms DELIVERED these graduates!’

‘It’s not about the moms or the dads, it’s about the kids,’ Wade said in return, capitulating.

‘Our bad,’ Gabrielle agreed. ‘We’re incredibly proud of you for what you’ve endured throughout these times.’

‘Continue to be your amazing, authentic selves,’ Dwayne said. ‘Thank the moms and the dads!’

Fans awaiting the next season of HBO’s Euphoria were treated with a special appearance from the cast, who participated in the event to wish a big congratulations to one of their own – graduating actress Storm Reid, 16.

Zendaya, Barbie Ferreira and Jacob Elordi dialed in, as well as Storm herself.

Emmy winner Billy Porter was also a part of the proceedings, specifically addressing the LGBTQ component of the graduating student body.

He commended those students, who he said really ‘learned how to lean into your authenticity’ during their years in school.

‘2020 is the most open loving and supportive class to ever graduate,’ Porter said, adding that he was ‘talking to the allies as well.’

‘Love is the answer,’ Billy added. ‘Leading with that always is how we make change in this world, and how we make it for good.’

Toward the end of YouTube’s +4-hour live event, Demi Lovato graced the screen for a short speech, in which she acknowledged the difficulties inherent in graduating during a time like this.

‘It’s ok to be not ok,’ Demi said, before focusing on the theme of her message: ‘Perseverance.’

‘I challenge all of you to be confident and to persevere,’ she shared, while also making sure to include tips like, ‘don’t be afraid to ask for help.’ 

‘I’m rooting for you, I’m celebrating you,’ the Heart Attack singer said in conclusion. 

Soon, it was Lady Gaga’s turn to deliver a commencement speech, which is at least the second she’s been asked to make this graduation season.