1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:09,069 --> 00:00:12,260 Well , good morning Bulldogs . He's 3 00:00:12,279 --> 00:00:14,869 awesome . I know it's raining , but I 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,102 don't think there's anybody out there . 5 00:00:17,102 --> 00:00:19,200 Let's try that again . Good morning 6 00:00:19,209 --> 00:00:23,209 bulldogs . Right . That's 7 00:00:23,219 --> 00:00:25,386 right . It's more like it . You know , 8 00:00:25,386 --> 00:00:27,608 it's great to be here at South Carolina 9 00:00:27,608 --> 00:00:29,552 State and I'm not just saying that 10 00:00:29,552 --> 00:00:31,719 because my sister-in-law is a graduate 11 00:00:31,719 --> 00:00:32,529 of se state . 12 00:00:39,569 --> 00:00:41,625 This truly is a good looking crowd . 13 00:00:41,625 --> 00:00:44,290 Now , I know that I'm standing between 14 00:00:44,299 --> 00:00:47,200 you and your diplomas and some other 15 00:00:47,209 --> 00:00:50,639 things . And as uh 16 00:00:50,650 --> 00:00:52,880 Congressman Clyburn said , I am a 17 00:00:52,889 --> 00:00:54,889 former general . So I know when I'm 18 00:00:54,889 --> 00:00:58,430 outnumbered . So I'm gonna try to keep 19 00:00:58,439 --> 00:01:01,049 this pretty brief because , 20 00:01:10,669 --> 00:01:12,280 yeah , yeah , I'm with you . 21 00:01:14,949 --> 00:01:17,040 I believe that a good commencement 22 00:01:17,050 --> 00:01:20,730 speaker should be tall , but a good 23 00:01:20,739 --> 00:01:23,089 commencement speech should be short . 24 00:01:27,730 --> 00:01:31,029 Uh Congressman Clymer Klemann , 25 00:01:31,370 --> 00:01:33,930 thank you for that generous 26 00:01:33,940 --> 00:01:36,739 introduction . It's an honor to be here 27 00:01:36,750 --> 00:01:38,750 with you . You've been a personal 28 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,830 inspiration and a true friend and sir , 29 00:01:41,839 --> 00:01:44,010 you are a paragon of leadership . 30 00:01:45,330 --> 00:01:47,497 You've always fought to make America's 31 00:01:47,497 --> 00:01:50,349 promise real for every citizen . 32 00:01:51,489 --> 00:01:53,720 And that's why just last week , 33 00:01:53,730 --> 00:01:57,120 President Biden awarded you America's 34 00:01:57,129 --> 00:01:59,510 highest civilian honor , the 35 00:01:59,519 --> 00:02:01,630 presidential medal of freedom . Let's 36 00:02:01,630 --> 00:02:02,630 give him 37 00:02:08,630 --> 00:02:11,210 and sir , you met your late wife , MS 38 00:02:11,220 --> 00:02:14,419 Emily right here in Orangeburg . And 39 00:02:14,429 --> 00:02:16,096 you both gave so much to this 40 00:02:16,096 --> 00:02:19,270 university today . The Doctor Emer 41 00:02:19,279 --> 00:02:22,710 Emily England Cliburn honors college 42 00:02:23,119 --> 00:02:26,610 carries on in her legacy . And the 43 00:02:26,619 --> 00:02:28,300 James E Clyburn University 44 00:02:28,309 --> 00:02:30,320 Transportation Center will prepare 45 00:02:30,330 --> 00:02:33,839 students for great careers that will 46 00:02:33,850 --> 00:02:37,449 keep America moving forward . So , 47 00:02:37,460 --> 00:02:40,039 Congressman , thanks for everything 48 00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:43,250 that you and MS Emily have done for SC 49 00:02:43,259 --> 00:02:46,240 state and for our democracy . 50 00:02:49,509 --> 00:02:51,940 President Conyers , thanks for leading 51 00:02:51,949 --> 00:02:55,009 your alma mater so well . And thanks 52 00:02:55,020 --> 00:02:56,899 for all that you've given to the 53 00:02:56,910 --> 00:02:59,077 Department of Defense , including your 54 00:02:59,077 --> 00:03:01,130 28 years of service in the United 55 00:03:01,139 --> 00:03:04,500 States Army trustees , 56 00:03:05,169 --> 00:03:07,979 distinguished faculty , debt , English 57 00:03:07,990 --> 00:03:11,199 faculty , dedicated staff . Thanks for 58 00:03:11,210 --> 00:03:14,089 doing so much for South Carolina State . 59 00:03:16,669 --> 00:03:20,529 And I know you have already paid a 60 00:03:20,539 --> 00:03:23,440 special tribute to your parents , but I 61 00:03:23,449 --> 00:03:25,616 want you to give them another round of 62 00:03:25,616 --> 00:03:29,350 applause for real 63 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,380 people . And I know that everyone knows 64 00:03:32,389 --> 00:03:34,630 that tomorrow is Mother's Day , right ? 65 00:03:36,580 --> 00:03:40,559 Sunday is Mother's Day . I'm living in 66 00:03:40,570 --> 00:03:44,320 the future guys . Sunday is Mother's 67 00:03:44,330 --> 00:03:46,497 Day . So don't forget . And let's give 68 00:03:46,497 --> 00:03:48,497 our mothers and grandmas a round of 69 00:03:48,497 --> 00:03:47,940 applause . 70 00:04:00,729 --> 00:04:02,910 And that brings me to you the class of 71 00:04:02,919 --> 00:04:06,729 2024 2024 . Let's make some noise . 72 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:12,882 So , graduates , we're here to 73 00:04:12,882 --> 00:04:14,993 celebrate you and your achievements . 74 00:04:15,830 --> 00:04:17,790 Your class had an especially 75 00:04:17,799 --> 00:04:21,079 challenging road to graduation day in 76 00:04:21,089 --> 00:04:24,040 2020 . As a uh pandemic erupted , your 77 00:04:24,049 --> 00:04:26,660 c your freshman class was less than 78 00:04:26,670 --> 00:04:29,260 half the normal size it was 79 00:04:29,269 --> 00:04:33,130 unprecedented and it was hard , but you 80 00:04:33,140 --> 00:04:35,890 dug deep and you stuck by each other 81 00:04:35,899 --> 00:04:37,809 and you made it to today . 82 00:04:39,769 --> 00:04:42,549 Now , many of you are the first in your 83 00:04:42,559 --> 00:04:44,750 family to graduate from college 84 00:04:47,209 --> 00:04:49,670 that is a phenomenal achievement . 85 00:04:51,130 --> 00:04:53,186 And many of you have balanced school 86 00:04:53,186 --> 00:04:56,670 with work with raising a family and 87 00:04:56,679 --> 00:04:58,735 with giving back to this community . 88 00:04:59,750 --> 00:05:02,339 You can call it grit , you can call it 89 00:05:02,350 --> 00:05:05,970 hustle , but around here we call it 90 00:05:05,980 --> 00:05:07,630 bulldog tenacity . 91 00:05:11,179 --> 00:05:13,399 And so class of 2024 you have worked 92 00:05:13,410 --> 00:05:16,309 incredibly hard to get here and we are 93 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,440 all very proud of you and you should be 94 00:05:19,450 --> 00:05:23,119 proud of yourselves . Now , 95 00:05:23,970 --> 00:05:26,026 I got to give a special shout out to 96 00:05:26,026 --> 00:05:28,850 the South Carolina State Army ROTC 97 00:05:28,859 --> 00:05:31,190 program , the legendary Bulldog 98 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,200 Battalion . 99 00:05:39,570 --> 00:05:41,929 Over more than 75 years , this ROTC 100 00:05:41,940 --> 00:05:45,390 program has produced more than 2000 US 101 00:05:45,399 --> 00:05:49,179 military officers . In 1972 102 00:05:49,769 --> 00:05:51,936 South Carolina State became one of the 103 00:05:51,936 --> 00:05:55,779 first H BC US to enroll female army 104 00:05:55,790 --> 00:05:59,529 ROTC cadets . And all six of 105 00:05:59,540 --> 00:06:01,489 those women became colonels 106 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,542 and believe it or not , this university 107 00:06:11,542 --> 00:06:13,653 has launched the careers of more than 108 00:06:13,653 --> 00:06:16,440 20 generals and admirals and we may 109 00:06:16,450 --> 00:06:18,617 have some future generals in the crowd 110 00:06:18,617 --> 00:06:21,309 with us today . So let's congratulate 111 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,487 the newest second lieutenants in the , 112 00:06:23,487 --> 00:06:24,487 in the US Army . 113 00:06:29,630 --> 00:06:31,869 So as I , as I said , I'm gonna keep it 114 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,102 brief . So I , I wanna just share three 115 00:06:34,102 --> 00:06:36,324 things with you today and then I'll let 116 00:06:36,324 --> 00:06:39,049 you get back to celebrating first as 117 00:06:39,059 --> 00:06:41,820 the old guy , I'll explain what I've 118 00:06:41,829 --> 00:06:43,996 learned about the power of education . 119 00:06:44,540 --> 00:06:46,484 Second , I'll say a word about the 120 00:06:46,484 --> 00:06:48,707 importance of giving back . And finally 121 00:06:48,929 --> 00:06:50,985 I'll leave you with what Congressman 122 00:06:50,985 --> 00:06:53,190 Clyburn has called a message of 123 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,339 expectations . So number one 124 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,711 education gives you the power to make 125 00:06:59,711 --> 00:07:02,549 change even when it's hard 126 00:07:03,609 --> 00:07:05,831 and to help America live up to its full 127 00:07:05,831 --> 00:07:09,149 promise . You know , I've lived that 128 00:07:10,630 --> 00:07:12,852 I grew up in Georgia in the time of Jim 129 00:07:12,852 --> 00:07:16,579 Crow , our local public high school had 130 00:07:16,589 --> 00:07:19,320 long been whites only . And so when I 131 00:07:19,329 --> 00:07:21,385 was a teenager , I became one of the 132 00:07:21,385 --> 00:07:23,551 first black students to integrate it . 133 00:07:23,551 --> 00:07:26,940 Those were hard days , painful days , 134 00:07:27,839 --> 00:07:31,209 ugly days . But you know , I am still 135 00:07:31,220 --> 00:07:33,750 moved by the memory of every person who 136 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:35,927 fought to make sure that I could get a 137 00:07:35,927 --> 00:07:38,649 good public education , the teachers , 138 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,230 the officials and the neighbors . And I 139 00:07:44,239 --> 00:07:47,500 still remember their determination and 140 00:07:47,510 --> 00:07:51,299 their decency and I still carry 141 00:07:51,309 --> 00:07:54,720 forward their lesson , which is that 142 00:07:54,730 --> 00:07:57,899 living up to this country's founding 143 00:07:57,910 --> 00:08:00,359 values means bringing everyone along 144 00:08:01,070 --> 00:08:04,119 and leaving no one out and drawing on 145 00:08:04,130 --> 00:08:06,230 the full talents of all the American 146 00:08:06,239 --> 00:08:09,549 people . And I am honored 147 00:08:10,519 --> 00:08:14,130 to stand here today with you as 148 00:08:14,140 --> 00:08:16,730 America's first black secretary of 149 00:08:16,739 --> 00:08:17,329 Defense . 150 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,662 Now , I doubt that the people that were 151 00:08:29,662 --> 00:08:31,829 trying to keep me out of that school , 152 00:08:32,460 --> 00:08:34,780 imagine that they were blocking the 153 00:08:34,789 --> 00:08:37,070 education of a future four star general 154 00:08:38,219 --> 00:08:42,219 and a cabinet official but you never 155 00:08:42,229 --> 00:08:45,379 know which kid is going to be going to 156 00:08:45,388 --> 00:08:48,750 grow up to be Bob Johnson 081 157 00:08:49,659 --> 00:08:53,340 or Chadwick Bozeman or Stacey Adams 158 00:08:53,669 --> 00:08:56,659 or Barack Obama or Kamala Harris . 159 00:08:57,909 --> 00:08:59,909 You never know what we lose when we 160 00:08:59,909 --> 00:09:03,390 leave someone else . And so we don't 161 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,900 have one American to spare . We don't 162 00:09:05,909 --> 00:09:08,750 have one citizen to squander and that 163 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,704 means that we need to keep working 164 00:09:10,704 --> 00:09:12,871 together to knock down barriers and to 165 00:09:12,871 --> 00:09:14,816 level the playing field and to let 166 00:09:14,816 --> 00:09:18,760 everybody compete to win . You know , 167 00:09:18,770 --> 00:09:22,010 I saw that in action at West Point as a 168 00:09:22,020 --> 00:09:24,460 cadet , I was thrown uh thrown in with 169 00:09:24,469 --> 00:09:26,969 people from all walks of life . I was a 170 00:09:26,979 --> 00:09:30,179 Southern kid far away from home . But 171 00:09:30,190 --> 00:09:32,246 my teachers taught me more than just 172 00:09:32,246 --> 00:09:34,246 mathematics and military strategy . 173 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,530 They believed in us . And I was 174 00:09:38,539 --> 00:09:40,706 lucky to have educators including some 175 00:09:40,706 --> 00:09:43,349 very special black mentors who showed 176 00:09:43,359 --> 00:09:46,219 us all how to become a team and how to 177 00:09:46,229 --> 00:09:48,859 turn our differences into strength and 178 00:09:48,869 --> 00:09:51,130 how to turn hard work into results . 179 00:09:52,250 --> 00:09:54,194 And they showed us that leadership 180 00:09:54,194 --> 00:09:57,969 isn't just what you do . It's about 181 00:09:57,979 --> 00:10:01,700 who you are . So here's my 182 00:10:01,710 --> 00:10:05,659 second message . Your education at 183 00:10:05,669 --> 00:10:07,830 South Carolina State has already 184 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,960 changed your lives and it will keep 185 00:10:10,969 --> 00:10:14,530 making possible a number of new things . 186 00:10:15,070 --> 00:10:17,130 It has already shaped your character 187 00:10:17,950 --> 00:10:20,039 and equipped you to excel and that 188 00:10:20,049 --> 00:10:23,950 won't stop . For nearly 130 years , 189 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,479 South Carolina State has produced the 190 00:10:27,489 --> 00:10:29,880 skill leaders that our country needs in 191 00:10:29,890 --> 00:10:32,580 agriculture , education , engineering 192 00:10:32,590 --> 00:10:34,599 and so much more , 193 00:10:36,940 --> 00:10:39,107 you know , South Carolina State trains 194 00:10:39,107 --> 00:10:41,419 more black nuclear engineers than any 195 00:10:41,429 --> 00:10:42,762 school in the country . 196 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,299 And the national security agency has 197 00:10:52,309 --> 00:10:54,630 designated South Carolina State as a , 198 00:10:54,710 --> 00:10:56,654 a center of academic excellence in 199 00:10:56,654 --> 00:10:57,654 cyber defense . 200 00:11:04,239 --> 00:11:06,679 This university educates its graduates 201 00:11:06,690 --> 00:11:10,599 for jobs of the future and it has 202 00:11:10,609 --> 00:11:12,831 prepared you for the challenges ahead . 203 00:11:13,890 --> 00:11:15,779 And I know you've heard President 204 00:11:15,780 --> 00:11:18,520 Conyer say that you can get there from 205 00:11:18,530 --> 00:11:21,739 here . And that has always been the 206 00:11:21,750 --> 00:11:23,359 story of America's hbcus 207 00:11:24,940 --> 00:11:27,640 generation after generation . 208 00:11:28,849 --> 00:11:31,770 They teach excellence and they kick 209 00:11:31,780 --> 00:11:35,049 open the doors of opportunity . As 210 00:11:35,059 --> 00:11:37,450 President Biden has noted H BC US 211 00:11:37,460 --> 00:11:38,419 helped produce 212 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:43,700 40% of America's black engineers 213 00:11:45,460 --> 00:11:49,140 and 50% of black lawyers 214 00:11:50,289 --> 00:11:53,479 and 70% of doctors and dentists 215 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,969 and 80% of judges . 216 00:11:58,469 --> 00:12:01,109 And I can't put it better any better 217 00:12:01,119 --> 00:12:04,840 than army major general , retired Abe 218 00:12:04,849 --> 00:12:08,520 Turner , a member of the class of 1976 219 00:12:08,530 --> 00:12:10,308 who I proudly serve with in the 220 00:12:10,308 --> 00:12:13,820 military , hbcus . He says provide an 221 00:12:13,830 --> 00:12:15,719 opportunity to do goodness and to 222 00:12:15,719 --> 00:12:18,510 prosper and to provide a service to the 223 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,559 nation that otherwise might have been 224 00:12:21,570 --> 00:12:25,210 missed by larger universities . So 225 00:12:25,219 --> 00:12:29,109 class of 2024 we need your 226 00:12:29,119 --> 00:12:32,900 service to the nation . So 227 00:12:32,909 --> 00:12:35,919 find ways to make change , to 228 00:12:35,929 --> 00:12:38,219 contribute and to be a part of 229 00:12:38,229 --> 00:12:41,559 something bigger than yourself . As you 230 00:12:41,570 --> 00:12:43,792 heard , Congressman Clyburn say I had a 231 00:12:43,792 --> 00:12:47,080 brief 41 year career in the in the US 232 00:12:47,090 --> 00:12:50,460 army . And we definitely need some of 233 00:12:50,469 --> 00:12:52,580 you to stand up and salute and defend 234 00:12:52,580 --> 00:12:55,539 the United States in uniform . But we 235 00:12:55,549 --> 00:12:59,219 also need all of you to give back in , 236 00:12:59,229 --> 00:13:01,396 in your own ways . And you can do that 237 00:13:01,396 --> 00:13:03,409 as a teacher , as a doctor , as a 238 00:13:03,419 --> 00:13:06,729 firefighter or by joining the PT A or 239 00:13:06,739 --> 00:13:08,979 by building a great business in your 240 00:13:08,989 --> 00:13:11,580 community or by serving as an usher in 241 00:13:11,590 --> 00:13:13,757 your church or by leading a girl scout 242 00:13:13,757 --> 00:13:16,450 troop , by running for city council 243 00:13:17,330 --> 00:13:20,549 or by registering people to vote . 244 00:13:22,979 --> 00:13:26,969 You'll find your own path at times like 245 00:13:26,979 --> 00:13:29,919 these civic engagement is not optional . 246 00:13:30,950 --> 00:13:32,894 And that brings me to my third and 247 00:13:32,894 --> 00:13:35,919 final message for you . It's what 248 00:13:36,450 --> 00:13:39,429 Congressman Clyburn calls a message of 249 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,609 expectations . You know , the 250 00:13:42,619 --> 00:13:45,369 congressman also grew up in the 251 00:13:45,380 --> 00:13:48,049 segregated South and he always had big 252 00:13:48,059 --> 00:13:51,590 dreams . But one day a well meaning 253 00:13:51,599 --> 00:13:55,119 neighbor warned young James to keep his 254 00:13:55,130 --> 00:13:59,070 high ambitions to himself . So 255 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,136 his mother called him to the kitchen 256 00:14:01,136 --> 00:14:04,510 table and she looked him in the eye and 257 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,690 she told him , don't pay any attention 258 00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:11,070 to what that lady said . His mother 259 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,719 said that she and his father expected 260 00:14:14,729 --> 00:14:17,469 and insisted that James and his 261 00:14:17,479 --> 00:14:19,368 brothers would push themselves to 262 00:14:19,368 --> 00:14:22,549 achieve more than their parents . That 263 00:14:22,559 --> 00:14:26,219 was her message of expectations in 264 00:14:26,229 --> 00:14:28,840 class of 2024 . That message is yours 265 00:14:28,849 --> 00:14:32,229 as well . It won't always be easy , but 266 00:14:32,239 --> 00:14:35,960 we need you out there . So you've got 267 00:14:35,969 --> 00:14:39,159 to put in the work to keep doing the 268 00:14:39,169 --> 00:14:42,599 reps and sets . You know , my friend 269 00:14:42,609 --> 00:14:45,820 and mentor , the late Colin Powell 270 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:48,113 addressed the graduates of South 271 00:14:48,113 --> 00:14:51,950 Carolina State back in 2011 and he said 272 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,590 no matter what your past is , no one 273 00:14:55,599 --> 00:14:58,780 owes you a thing you have to perform to 274 00:14:58,789 --> 00:15:01,820 get ahead . But you know what , 275 00:15:02,469 --> 00:15:04,691 you've already proven that you're going 276 00:15:04,691 --> 00:15:08,260 to perform . Class of 2024 you were 277 00:15:08,270 --> 00:15:12,130 tested and you overcame and you made it 278 00:15:12,140 --> 00:15:16,030 to today . So you've shown in the words 279 00:15:16,039 --> 00:15:18,719 of your school song that you are ready 280 00:15:18,729 --> 00:15:21,030 all to do and dare 281 00:15:22,789 --> 00:15:25,000 and that's the spirit of se state . 282 00:15:26,530 --> 00:15:28,697 Now , you're graduating in challenging 283 00:15:28,697 --> 00:15:32,429 times , divided times . But so 284 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,109 many things still bring us together as 285 00:15:35,119 --> 00:15:38,460 Americans , our constitution , 286 00:15:39,559 --> 00:15:42,869 our democracy , the Rule of Law , 287 00:15:44,460 --> 00:15:45,809 the new Beyonce album , 288 00:15:51,239 --> 00:15:53,239 still with me out there . I got you 289 00:15:54,929 --> 00:15:57,096 la ladies and gentlemen , we don't get 290 00:15:57,096 --> 00:15:59,429 to choose our times , but we do get to 291 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,729 shape our times and in a democracy 292 00:16:02,739 --> 00:16:05,789 that's especially relevant and it's 293 00:16:05,799 --> 00:16:07,869 especially , it's a special 294 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,260 responsibility for every citizen and 295 00:16:11,270 --> 00:16:13,270 for every member of this graduating 296 00:16:13,270 --> 00:16:16,250 class . You know , in May of 297 00:16:16,260 --> 00:16:19,150 1964 the , the great playwright 298 00:16:19,159 --> 00:16:22,169 Lorraine Hansberry , the author of a 299 00:16:22,179 --> 00:16:24,401 Raisin in the Sun , spoke to a group of 300 00:16:24,401 --> 00:16:26,568 talented young black Americans and she 301 00:16:26,568 --> 00:16:29,530 said , the nation needs your gifts . 302 00:16:30,460 --> 00:16:33,940 And so class of 2024 the nation 303 00:16:33,950 --> 00:16:37,809 needs your gifts . The nation 304 00:16:37,820 --> 00:16:41,440 needs your resilience and the nation 305 00:16:41,450 --> 00:16:43,039 needs your service . 306 00:16:45,780 --> 00:16:48,710 So , congratulations . Class of 2024 . 307 00:16:48,719 --> 00:16:50,886 Let's hear it for bulldog nation . May 308 00:16:50,886 --> 00:16:52,859 God bless you , may God bless our 309 00:16:52,869 --> 00:16:54,925 troops and may God continue to bless 310 00:16:54,925 --> 00:16:56,980 the United States of America ? Thank 311 00:16:56,980 --> 00:16:56,960 you very much .