In a recent commencement speech for HBCU’s, Barack congratulated all of the new graduates as they emerge out of college victorious. Obama went through an array of timely topics from the rivalries that would’ve occurred between schools had the pandemic not struck as well as the recent murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

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“These aren’t normal times. You’re being asked to find your way in a world in the middle of a devastating pandemic and a terrible recession. The timing is not ideal,” Obama said. “And let’s be honest — a disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country. We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog, and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t submit to their questioning.”

Obama acknowledged that “injustice like this isn’t new” but he did explain the silver lining in the situation. “What is new is that so much of your generation has woken up to the fact that the status quo needs fixing,” Obama added. “More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing. A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.” 

Peep the full clip below.