Biden vows to fight 'poison of white supremacy' at Morehouse speech
Source: The Guardian
Sun 19 May 2024 12.31 EDT
Joe Biden told graduating students of Morehouse College that American democracy has failed the Black community, but vowed to continue fighting the poison of white supremacy, in a widely watched speech to a historically Black college during an election year.
Despite a backlash from some students and alumni in the weeks leading up to Bidens commencement address, including over the Hamas-Israel war and concerns that Biden would use the speech as a campaign event, the presidents address to the all-male school was warmly received. He used his speech to reaffirm his commitment to democracy in the wake of the January 6 insurrection, and to reiterate his call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Bidens appearance at Morehouse comes as part of his campaign efforts in Georgia, a key swing state in the 2020 election, and as polls suggest his support from young voters and voters of color who were integral to the coalition that helped him beat Donald Trump in 2020 appears to be flagging slightly. Despite criticism over Bidens visit, the mood at Morehouse seemed upbeat and when a speaker asked attendees to welcome Biden they responded with applause and cheers.
Black men are being killed in the street. What is democracy? A trail of broken promises still leaving Black communities behind, Biden said. What is democracy? You have to be 10 times better than others to get a fair shot. What does it mean, Biden continued, to be a Black Man who loves his country even if it doesnt love him back in equal measure? My commitment to you [is] to show you democracy, democracy, democracy is still the way, he said.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/19/biden-morehouse-graduation-speech
AnrothElf
(827 posts)Hell yeah! The American Revolution never ended! Democracy, democracy, democracy is still and will always be REVOLUTIONARY!
Mike Nelson
(10,027 posts)... watched on MSNBC. But, after Biden finished, the MSNBC commentators were very negative. I didn't sample the other networks... imagining they were worse. I was surprised. The speech was excellent. The "demented old man" failed to show up, again. Biden joked about his age, addressed the protestor's (I only saw one) concerns. He read from a teleprompter, but did go off it, too... I know someone with age-related cognition problems and he does not display them. Sean Hannity has more stumbles speaking in a hour, and he can stop the tape and do it delayed!
Yoyoyo77
(275 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,976 posts)President Biden delivered the commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday morning, taking the opportunity to connect with college students amid the backdrop of tumultuous pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war that have erupted in recent weeks at several American universities, including Morehouse.
While campus protesters have specifically called for their universities and colleges to divest from Israel, they have also expressed their opposition to the White Houses financial and military support of Israels offensive against the Hamas militant group as the operation has created a dire humanitarian situation for Palestinians in Gaza.
What Biden said on the Israel-Hamas war
The president took the opportunity on Sunday to address students concerns over the Israel-Hamas war.
Whats happening in Israel and Gaza is heartbreaking, Biden said. He acknowledged the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, who also kidnapped nearly 250 hostages that day. Biden also underscored the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is on the brink of famine and in desperate need of medical supplies.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-acknowledges-heartbreak-over-israel-gaza-war-in-speech-to-morehouse-grads-170916242.html