“Graduation is a big achievement under any circumstances, yours comes as the world is turned upside down.”Still, Obama refused to surrender to despair, instead seeing the various calamities that have affected the nation and the world as an excuse to see what it’s exposed about how our society functions — or doesn’t.“The thing is, Class of 2020, what these past few weeks have shown us is that the challenges we face go well beyond a virus, and that the old normal wasn’t good enough — it wasn’t working,” Obama told them.“In a lot of ways, the pandemic just brought into focus problems that have been growing for a very long time, whether it’s widening economic inequality, the lack of basic health care for millions of people, the continuing scourge of bigotry and sexism, or the divisions and dysfunction that plague our political system.”“Similarly, the protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, and Nina Pop aren’t simply a reaction to those particular tragedies, as heartbreaking as they are,” Obama said. Related Story Barack Obama To Join Michelle Obama As Guest On First Episode Of Podcast On Spotify PREVIOUS, May 19: YouTube has added several …
“We hope bringing together noteworthy, influential speakers along with performances from some of their favorite artists will provide encouragement for the students who have worked so hard to get here.”The special is being produced by Done and Dusted. Graduates can also set a reminder for the show and sign their name on the Dear Class of 2020 Shout Out Board at YouTube is partnering with Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative, Born This Way Foundation, Malala Fund, NBC’s “Today,” and Ideas United to showcase student stories and feature graduates around the world, including a crowd-sourced commencement speech.“Graduation is a tradition that students and families look forward to and with the current state of the world, YouTube is lending some inspiration in the form of a virtual commencement,” said Susanne Daniels, global head of content for YouTube. Especially in a time like this. “Democracy isn’t about relying on some charismatic leader to make changes from on high,” he said.
YouTube has rescheduled the event for Sunday, June 7 It’s set to be simulcast on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC as well as via 20-plus other broadcast and digital streaming partners on May 16, from 8-9 p.m. “They speak to decades worth of anguish and frustration over unequal treatment and a failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system.”Obama admitted that looking to what lies ahead of them, and all of us, can be “downright scary,” but he also warned about what not to do. Former President Barack Obama spoke about the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd for the first time on camera in a speech on Wednesday. YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” original special will feature other celebs and notable names including The multihour event premieres Saturday, June 6, on the YouTube Originals channel (at Headlining “Dear Class of 2020” are President Obama and Michelle Obama, who will each deliver individual commencement speeches — and a joint message — to graduates. The 44th president joined several other celebrities, including Beyonce and his own wife, for YouTube's 'Dear Class of 2020.' He never namechecked his successor, but he did essentially subtweet him.