Quote This: Commencement Speech Gems Even Parents Can Use

Commencement speeches may be about the graduating students, but the words of wisdom can be especially eye-opening for the parents in the audience. 

Sure, they may already have a broad understanding of how to juggle life uncertainties. But between raising their kids and navigating daily agendas on autopilot, parents are likely to lose sight of what sets their soul on fire.

Fortunately, you’re never too old to internalize some life lessons. When listening with an open mind, parents can find a source of motivation or wisdom applicable to what’s been weighing on their minds.

Here are some divine insights delivered by Black speakers that are equally moving and inspiring to graduating students and their parents.

1. Shonda Rhimes, Dartmouth, 2014

Shonda Rhimes turned her commencement speech into a “fireside chat” that directly addressed the graduates AND the parents. With hilarity, she acknowledged her hesitation to speak and gave parents “permission” to step into their identity as people and not just parents. Beyond that, she validated parents by reminding them they are seen and not simply the invisible backbone of support.

Stand out phrase: But your parents … the people who raised you … the people who endured you … they potty trained you, they taught you to read, they survived you as a teenager, they have suffered 21 years and not once did they kill you. This day … you call it your graduation day. But this day is not about you. This is their day. This is the day they take back their lives, this is the day they earn their freedom. This day is their Independence Day. 

Watch the 24-minute speech or read the transcript here.

2. Chadwick Boseman, Howard University, 2018

From his role in Black Panther to his portrayal of James Brown in the movie, Get on Up, Chadwick Boseman is known for leaving a lasting impression. His 2018 commencement speech at, his alma mater, Howard University, is no different. He addressed the students’ need to savor their triumph before moving on. It’s a message parents can learn from as well. It’s not uncommon for parents to ask when it will all get easier while in the throws of parenthood. Yet, they rarely stopped to realize they were in the middle of living the life they dreamed about. 

Standout phrase: When completing a long climb, one first experiences dizziness, disorientation, and shortness of breath due to the high altitude, but once you become accustomed to the climb, your mind opens up to the tranquility of the triumph.

Oftentimes, the mind is flooded with realizations that were, for some reason, harder to come to when you were at a lower elevation. At this moment, most of you need some realizations because right now you have some big decisions to make. Right now, I urge you in your breath, in your eyes, in your consciousness — invest in the importance of this moment and cherish it.

You can watch the 34-minute speech here or read the transcript here.

3. Angela Bassett, Spelman College, 2024

It’s common for parents to teach their kids that following the rules is what leads to success. This is especially true for parents of Black children who aren’t always given much grace when rules are broken. So it makes sense that parents become disappointed when they realize their life looks nothing like they imagined, even after doing as told. Angela Bassett used her background of working odd jobs to illustrate that even unexpected opportunities can lead to success.

Standout phrase: “Life is not linear. You will experience detours on your journey. But just because something doesn’t happen how and when you want it to, it doesn’t mean you give up hope. It doesn’t mean it’s a failure. Instead, embrace it as a gateway to infinite possibilities.”

Watch the full speech and read the transcript here.

4. Michelle Obama, Tuskegee University, 2020 

Some speeches are great for trending moments. Then there are others, like the one Michelle Obama delivered, that stand the test of time. The speech was meant to reassure graduating students navigating uncertainty around the world during a Trump presidency and the COVID-19 pandemic.  Yet, it can also be a parental reminder that even their most unsettling emotions can be channeled effectively as they navigate more unnerving events in the current political climate.

Standout Phrase: Graduates, anger is a powerful force. It can be a useful force, but left on its own, it will only corrode and destroy and sow chaos on the inside and out. But when anger is focused, when it’s channeled into something more, oh, that is the stuff that changes history. Dr. King was angry. Sojourner Truth was angry. Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall,they were all angry, but those folks were also driven by compassion,by principle, by hope.

Watch the full speech and read the transcript here.

5. John Lewis, Emory University, 2014

The late John Lewis led by example by showing others the importance of standing for something, even if it meant potential trouble. His 2014 commencement speech can serve as a much much-needed reminder for parents that sometimes there is value in being stubborn. 

Stand out line: “You must understand that there are forces that wanna take us back to another period, but you must say that we’re not going back. We made too much progress, and we are going forward.”

Watch the 12-minute speech here.