Article by Tiannah Bruce

Photos by Daveon Cole/Upinthemix.net

As a young student of Cambria Center for the Gifted Child, in Queens, New York, I distinctively remember the the first sentence of the school’s pledge. I recited it every day with my classmates, “Education is the key which unlocks the door, to guide us through life forever more…” On Sunday, May 9, 2010, I had the opportunity to witness an event so epic in not only Hampton University’s history but American History.

As I hurriedly walked passed lines of family and friends of this year’s graduates, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anxiety and pride. The dreams and aspirations of every student who’ve attended Hampton University, my alma mater, were founded here. A familiar feeling of exhiliration rushed through me while seeing proud students line up to graduate, on that Mother’s Day. There were expectations of chaos and somewhat uncontrollable crowds due to this year’s special speaker. To my surprise, it was quite the opposite. The lines literally fell out of the confinements of Hampton University’s campus and people smoothly went through metal detectors, a symbol of the times we currently live in.

Sitting with the press in the middle of the field, I was able to see all angles of the stadium, spotting Special Agents and security personnel. There were located on the roofs, above the stage, at the gates, and most likely, in places not publicly visible. Finally, HU’s famed concert choir serenaded the crowds of people, anticipating not only the graduates but the President himself.

President Obama had finally walked out on stage to speak and the crowds became ecstatic with emotion, roaring with cheers and uncontrollable clapping.  President Obama began thanking the audience, especially all the mothers. He then thanked HU for allowing him to share such a special occasion. “Education means emancipation…,” the phrase spoken by President Obama, which would forever ring in the ears of all Americans. He then explained that this has been a theme in American History throughout every war up to the wars we are facing now. Our economy is facing the “worst crisis since the Great Depression” and the world is still rebounding through economic crises. Education has always been necessary to “meet the challenges of the changing world.” To survive such transitions, we as a people, need to change as well, with preparation and education as armors. Like the theme of President Obama’s presidential campaign, change has and will always be evident.

President Obama then charged graduates to be role models for upcoming youth and lead them to break even more boundaries untouched. This is much needed, considering unemployment is “over twice as high with those without a college degree or more” in our current economy. There is hope of our economy progressing but time has shown that our nation’s economy fluctuates. President Obama also noted the following:

• Globally, “in 8th grade science and math… American students are ranked about 10th overall compared to top performing countries.”
• “African Americans are ranked behind more than 20 nations…lower than nearly every other developed country.”

In Conclusion…

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It is our job, as Americans, to make sure every child receives a proper education. Especially if we are willing to compete globally and be ahead of other nations in all aspects. This is crucial for not only our economy as a whole, but security as well. A great tribute was made to Dr. Dorothy Height, who was not only an American, but a pioneer who broke racial barriers in order to receive a college education. If she could break down these thresholds and continue the fight to be emancipated through education, we as Americans, some of us of color, female, male, gay or straight… no matter what is said to be a “limitation”, we have the POWER to change and use education to its full potential.