Celebrities offer words of wisdom and inspiration to the class of 2002

Jet, July 8, 2002

As this year's graduates take that big step into the real world, a number of celebrities are helping them celebrate With words of wisdom and inspiration. Some of the biggest names in show business, politics, law, education and public service took time out from their busy schedules to deliver commencement speeches on college campuses across the country. The celebrities urged the graduates to keep striving for their goals and to recognize that learning is an ongoing, lifelong process. Several of the celebrities were also awarded honorary doctorates in recognition of their career accomplishments.

Bill Cosby legendary comedian who was awarded an honorary doctorate from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Sciences and Art in New York City: "You young people have no reason to doubt yourself ... for any reason. You came here because you wanted something. You competed, and this school said, `You are so good, you can come tuition-flee. `Now is not the time to turn around and doubt yourself."

Sidney Poiter Academy Award-winning actor and recipient of Claremont (CA) McKenna College's Distinguished Public Service Award, addressing the college's class of 2002 during commencement exercises on campus in Claremont, CA: "Class of 2002, this is the day the decks are cleared. This is the day you position yourselves for what tomorrow brings ... No better moment to take one last look back across the many books you've cracked, the many hours you've logged the many lessons you've learned, the many lectures you've internalized the many facts you have unearthed, the many tiny bits of knowledge that you have captured and have captured your imagination. I advise you to look closely, and if you spot genuine moments of clarity, flashes of insight and pearls of wisdom, that's a good sign. Make note of them and chances are they will return to warm your heart at 75."

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee legendary husband and wife performers, referring to their book, With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together, as they stress the importance of education to Chicago State University graduates: "We wrote a book and it was about the two of us in the midst of struggle. We know that one of the first things that we did as a people when we dropped the shackles from our hands and our feet was to set out to take the shackles from our minds and that was why education was and is one of the main preoccupations of all our people."

Venus Williams Wimbledon tennis champion who was presented with a citation of special achievement during the recent commencement convocation at Howard University: "This is a great day in my life. Though my life has taken a different path, I want more than anything else to be a graduate. I want to be just like you."

Danny Glover famed actor-humanitarian, quoting a poem, Interim, by noted Black poet Clarissa Scott Delaney during Spelman College commencement exercises: "`Another day to find me brave. And not afraid to dare.' That's my charge to you, Spelman graduates. Be not afraid to dare."

Coretta Scott King widow of the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was honored at Columbia University's master's convocation at the Teachers College in New York City, praising one of the most important jobs in the world-teaching: "TC (Teacher's College) is by any measure one of the finest institutions for training educators, not just in the U.S., but in the world ... Some years ago a famous rock `n' roll personality was interviewed about his celebrity and achievements. When asked to sum up his accomplishments, he responded, `Not half of what I have done in the last 20 years is as important as what a teacher does in one day. `I believe that fellow's wisdom even more than his humility. I believe teachers in America are the force that defines the quality of America future."

Rodney Slater former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, delivered the commencement address at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR, and also accepted an honorary doctorate: "Faith, family, education and self-determination are the keys to success. Many of you are the first in your family to graduate from college, and Philander Smith has always been there to help make that bridge possible. Your accomplishment today is as much for your family as it is you. It is your individual achievement, but your families actually move forward today as well."

Lou Rawls famed singer who was awarded an honorary doctorate at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR, expressing his expectations of this year's graduates: "You know, I never had the opportunity to go to college, but you have had this opportunity, so I expect you to do great things with your life."

Shirley Clarke Franklin mayor of Atlanta, passing on some advice to Howard University graduates: "There is an African proverb that says, `Every morning there is a lion who must get up early and run after his food. And every morning, there is a deer who must get up early in order not to be someone's food.' So whatever you do, you better get running. You better get started. Your mission is to find a way out of no way."