During the Class Day at Harvard University, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar delivered an inspiring speech urging the graduates of the Class of 2025 to embrace their roles in social justice, likening it to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. He praised Harvard's leadership for upholding academic freedom in the face of external pressures, emphasizing the importance of nonviolent resistance. Dean Rakesh Khurana shared personal reflections on self-discovery during his education, which complemented Abdul-Jabbar's call for the new graduates to take on roles that further the ideals of justice and freedom.
"When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures the way Rosa Parks defied the entire weight of systemic racism in 1955."
"As I look out over the crowd of eager faces today who are ready to launch their lives of successful careers, I wonder how many of you will also be among the 'others' willing to take Dr. King's place."
Collection
[
|
...
]