The New York Times highlighted commencement speakers from across the nation in a recent article. Among those listed was President Freeman Hrabowski, who accepted an honorary degree from Harvard University in May. The following is an excerpt from his speech:
“His name was Rev. Martin Luther King. … He said he wanted the children to march in the streets in Birmingham, and unfortunately that meant they would go to jail…I spent a horrible week in jail. But what the experience taught me was several things. Number one: I don’t have time to be a victim. Number two: Even children can think critically and make decisions that can affect their lives. And number three: America is a great country. Who would have thought years later that I would be president of a predominantly white university?”
The article, “Commencement Speeches: Wisdom of Leaders and Guidance for Graduates,” ran June 18.
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