Michael Eric Dyson

His speech to the fall 2005 graduates at N.C. Central was Great! It was informative, inspiring, humorous and thought-provoking. He told the graduating class to remember those who had labored and sacrificed for them to have the opportunity. He admonished the crowd not to forget others but to help. In other words, don’t just get yours. Obtaining your degree is not a license for a person to go out and just accumulate wealth without giving back to the community that produced you. He quoted one of my favorite Bible verses, Luke 12:48 Too whom much is given much is required.”

“We are not history less,” he said in reference to African-Americans. However, we should remember the history that produced you. “Do not rest on our own laurels but those who produced you and those who are coming behind you,” he said.

One of the key points he illustrates in his speech and that was briefly mentioned in class was that social and economic disparities are not just limited to the black community. There are issues in every race, it just happens that the black community is held to closer scrutiny.

He encouraged the graduates to use their creativity, to be courageous and take risk. Life is a risk, no man lives on an island to himself, and the only way to live is to step out and take a chance. Also, we cannot go out into the world viewing life with myopic vision... Narrow-minded thinking which will always limit the possibilities in a person life because they place restrictions on their ability to learn and experience life. It also blocks other from contribute to your life in someway. Life is filled with both rain and sunshine. Each element helps the individual to grow.

He also told the graduates not to become a “safe negro, “take a stand and help somebody.”

He encouraged them to learn to use what God gave them. “Do not close the door behind you. The reality is, we live in a world of Katrina, where poor people were left behind. You must figure out how to build a ladder to help those behind you come up. The government can’t be counted on to rescue them; the hurricane showed that.”

To me, part of taking that stand is to speak out against social and economic injustice. Becoming socially conscious and has he said in his intro, by being committed, creative and courageous!

As stated in my opening… Great speech!

Peace, V