before I get started I just have to say
I always get embarrassed when they start
reading off those things it's kind of
like you know when your parents are like
introducing you to you know guests over
the house or whatever they just start
reading off everything so sorry just a
little uncomfortable Thank You Michelle
yeah that's totally not your fault by
the way I'm just making shape I'm just
saying that's just the way I feel
it's great to be back in Charlottesville
I am forever grateful for this
opportunity to spend time with you guys
today
president Ryan UVA faculty and staff
family and friends and most importantly
the class of 2019 thank you guys so much
also a very special national and I would
even say global shout-out to Coach
Bennett and your amazing team Congrats
Congrats on your incredible season being
here today with you guys and seeing this
crowd I feel like Virginia is having a
very serious moment now I know you know
this podium is often the domain of
acclaimed actors academics athletes
business leaders world leaders and even
the occasional musician but make no
mistake I'm standing here today as a
Virginian so forget all those other
things they read about me those things
that they told you that I do or I've
done I'm standing here today as a
Virginian
[Applause]
a Virginian that is proud of you and
whether you're from Virginia or not you
know the fact that you here and in
sitting here today means that the
Commonwealth has connected us all
it's an incredible aspect it's an
incredible aspect of humanity to feel
connection I believe we've been
connected here for a very important
reason today is about celebrating you
for all of your hard work you've brought
your friends and your family and a lot
of positive energy I love it I
personally I personally believe that
that positivity is something that we
should bottle up because the world as we
know it and we see it it needs it the
world needs you in fact I think the
world could use a little more Virginia
right to be clear I'm not a leader I'm
certainly not here to lead you as a
matter of fact you are more likely to
lead me someday but I suppose I've
acquired some experience I've played a
lot of different roles in life and in
business and I'm truly blessed to be
able to share my perspective here with
you today so thank you again
the further you remove yourself from
your experience here in Charlottesville
it will become very clear that your
education is the biggest blessing and
the price of your degree besides its
literal cost right
but that you know the price of that
degree is actually literally a
responsibility it's a responsibility to
make life better and here's the catch
the only way to make life better for
yourself the only true and lasting way
to do that is to make life better for
others so I'm going to say that again
[Applause]
I'm gonna say it again the only way to
make life better for yourself is to make
life better for others that applies to
home to work to society I can say what a
hundred percent confidence I would not
be speaking to you here today if I had
not put that concept of practice in my
career when I made others focus
incredible things would always happen
the good thing is your generation you
guys know that already I'm just here to
nudge you again as you move on from
classrooms to boardrooms for me it
always comes back to Virginia I love
Virginia right I grew up in Virginia
Beach and so I see as tremendous pretend
anybody from Virginia Beach okay
yes right I see its tremendous potential
loving something means loving it enough
to make it better when you're a music
producer that's exactly what you do you
listen to a track it may be blows your
mind and then you try to make anything
better when you're a business owner
that's exactly what you do you love a
company you think you can change it you
think you can change the world so then
you go and you try and make it better
that's true when you love something and
it's especially true when you see
something that might limit the potential
of the thing that you love my love for
the Commonwealth inspired me to organize
the something in the water festival here
last month we organized we organized
that festival because we believe the
dish release something in the water here
Virginia has and continues to produce
icons and I know there's a bunch of
future icons sitting out there today
waiting to reveal yourselves all in this
room there's like there's a cons when
you guys are going to pop up and show
the world listen to me it was beautiful
it was the beautiful spirit of
Virginians that made
the festival successful not my idea but
the kinetic energy that you guys put
into it the people showed up the local
government showed up and the best of
Virginia was put on display for the
world not just the nation for the world
but I'm not naive the deep love I have
for Virginia and its people doesn't
blind me to the fact that there's also
the water is also troubled if anything
my love heightens my awareness for that
it's not bad it heightens my awareness
for that Virginia like the rest of the
country has a complicated history a
history that continues to shape the
present the first enslaved Africans sold
into bondage in North America stepped
foot on our soil exactly for here 400
years ago to this year that history is
very much with us those columns in front
of the pavilions the rotunda built by
slave labor the food was served by one
of Jefferson's slaves rented out to the
to the University of Virginia slave
labor slaves labored on this campus
until 1865 the first black student
wouldn't arrive until nearly a century
later a century later and he left
because he was subjected to of course so
much abuse you don't need me to tell you
this history some incredible progress
has been made yes but it's clear that
there's a lot of work still to be done
and what I heard today on this podium
there's a lot of work being done
the reason I shared these reminders is
because I know it will motivate you even
more this is a good thing it will ignite
your spirit to be the change to drive
distinction between your generation and
those of the past most of us are just
trying to do the right thing and live
good lives we want everyone to live good
lives but for all of our sophistication
for all of our technological advances we
have to continuously remind ourselves
that life is not Game of Thrones I mean
I love Game of Thrones
don't you love Game of Thrones you're
supposed to be studying Game of Thrones
has taught us a lot but we seem all too
comfortable applying the same cycle of
empathy than apathy than sympathy and at
times frustration that frustration that
we felt watching a show over the years
two issues that are very very very real
they show themselves but you guys it is
just a show it is not real so when
you're getting mad and you're upset it's
just a show it's not real but you know
what Israel the plight of illegal
immigrants
[Applause]
you know how it goes headline grabs your
attention we see the news we feel
sadness for people at the border we all
want better for our children right we
can come we can relate to that our
children we can relate we debate the
rule of law but it is clear when these
people need that it's clear that these
people definitely need safety and
security then we want to help then the
news cycle shifts the algorithm goes to
work right the apathy sets in we tune
out and we move on but unlike a TV show
their plight is very real it's not
improving those tiki torches are real
you guys okay they are here they are
emboldened but the news moves on and
when the stories are real we cannot
afford to just move on we cannot let the
algorithm continue to distract an even
worse divide us because that's what
these algorithms are doing algorithms
have no conscious but you do every last
one of you guys do you understand what
I'm saying please don't don't move on
the algorithms that are in your phones
have no conscious so when they work you
up they're not feeling sorry for the
damage that it's doing between mother
and father grandfather mom dad
cousin brother friends they don't the
algorithms don't care but you guys are
humans you guys are better than that I
want you to outsmart these algorithms
because they're manipulating your
newsfeed and effectively your life every
last person in here is smarter than that
[Applause]
it's your self-awareness it's your
vision and it's your privilege and your
empathy will that will guide you guys to
the right answers that's why we're
sitting in here right now because
everybody in here is educated I realize
that this sounds like I'm talking about
people of color but this goes way beyond
skin color we're talking about spirit
there's good ones and there's bad ones
the spirit determined to keep us divided
operates without limitations in this
country women didn't gain the right to
vote until 1920 are there ladies in this
house women didn't eat women didn't get
to control let me get this right women
didn't get control of their reproductive
rights until 1973 the year that I was
born 1973 your reproductive rights 1973
and those rights are under attack every
day across America
[Applause]
the Americans with Disabilities Act the
Americans with Disabilities Act didn't
happen until 1990 disabilities 1990
before that people with disabilities
could be denied employment shut out of
the public services in spaces no laws
protected them the LGBTQ ia Americans
couldn't marry until 2015 2015 and
several states they can still be fired
for their sexuality life for low-income
people in life before low-income people
is harder in every way shorter life
spans higher infant mortality rates
higher imprisonment rates lack of access
to healthy foods crushing debt you guys
women LGBTQIA teachers and the poor are
fair game for these oppressors even our
own high school students are falling
prey you know the oppressors are
entrenched when anxiety-inducing active
shooter drills are at public schools
seem like the most viable solution to
protect our children from gun violence
in 2019 what's the real role of the
electoral college if not a tool of
oppression I mean what do we need it for
[Applause]
the popular vote doesn't work but
despite all of the efforts I guess even
the oppressors are at times susceptible
to outside forces
it seems the Taliban has have
infiltrated the Alabama and Missouri
state capitals are there women in this
building are there people who love women
in this building right now you know we
ended slavery you would think that you
know we'd be tired of telling other
humans what they can do what they can
and can't do with their bodies I mean
haven't we learned haven't we the word
how about we learn lessons about trying
to govern human bodies in fact we might
want to be careful because those same
women whose reproductive organs we're
trying to govern might just choose to
not reproduce at all and effectively in
mankind altogether they have that right
- some of you will say and be patient
with me please because I'm not pointing
the finger I'm actually opening my arms
some of you will say that's not on me
some of you say that's not me it's not
what I believe or what I want to see and
I get that but we are all connected
remember and this is Virginia and this
is our chance and your chance to lead
now I want you to be honest and feel
safe okay let me see a show of hands of
anyone in this room
graduates guests or guests that have
ever been made to feel like you were
less than equal please keep your hands
up please like you were disadvantaged or
outwardly harassed or hurt because
someone thought you were different maybe
not cute enough tall enough short enough
skinny enough light enough dark enough
but just because you were different
if someone singled you out for your like
other nests please put your hands up
okay keep your hands up
look at these graduates and look at them
with their hands up they've accomplished
what other told them that they never
would how does that feel right now
[Applause]
let's get those hands back up despite
some strong strong forces conspiring to
hold them back here they are you win
look at you you win now come on we got
muscles in here now I want to see a show
of hands of graduates or guests that you
know of someone who's fit that
description someone who had been
discriminated against hurt or harass
because they were different meaning if
you know someone maybe not you but you
know someone right even more hands up
they could be your friends class makes
for people back home all right now keep
your hands up
you're the compassionate ones you're the
empaths
you guys are the allies now keep your
hands up I'm sorry I know we got
exercise you can switch arms if you
didn't raise your hand it's okay
everyone is on their own journey but
given that we are all bonded by this
school these students in this great
state I think we can all raise our hands
in solidarity with these graduates do
you guys feel that I got both hands up
now do you feel the power of Virginia in
this room
[Applause]
this is Virginia if you feel that
connectedness just know that it's real
it represents understanding it
represents awareness enjoy that feeling
it's called empathy you guys welcome to
Virginia this is Virginia once we know
the plights of others
once we know the place of others we
can't unknow it if your hand was raised
I'm asking you to join me all in serving
as ambassadors not just to the to the
University of Virginia but now to the
state of Virginia think of Virginia as a
country and we are checking immigration
papers guess what any and all are
welcome and treat it as equals from here
on out in Virginia okay
you thought you were just graduating
today but today it's actually a job fair
and I'm Greek I'm recruiting you guys I
say it again
welcome to Virginia you can put your
hands down a few so what do we do next
in my mind the place to start is
reparations now I know I know that's the
word that gets people fired up and
turned off mainly because most people
don't really know what it means
but you know who isn't turned off by the
word reparations the educated the people
who just raise their hands now they the
connected they are connected and they
are aware that's you guys they call on
your they call your generation the
generation digital natives because
you've only known that the digital world
you grew up with it you guys grew up
online but I also consider you to be
knowledge natives your generation hasn't
had to unlearn false narratives about
your history you know the real plight of
the Native Americans you know the plight
of the Native Americans
you know what they were promised and
what was never delivered from an early
age you questioned why we have slave
owners on our money and not the original
inhabitants of this land whether you
prefer statistics or anecdotes it's
clear that ending slavery wasn't enough
raised racism simply migrated from the
American slave system to the justice
system it's in the health care system
it's in the financial system it's in the
housing system is in the education
system it's infested in everything every
institution every branch of government a
country that is fed that has a
foundation and racism can easily slide
into all forms of discrimination once
again whether you prefer statistics or
antidotes we are a nation that is
divided but they need to be more like
Virginia okay I want my kids and all
kids to know the beauty of this country
that out of many we are one
and as you know that's not gonna happen
on its own just because we wish it to
for me is fundamentally about education
that is my version of reparation
education and all of my experiences and
all of my travels I keep coming back to
education as the answer
education is the deathblow to
discrimination equality is achieved
equality is achieved via education far
too many black children still receive a
second-class education and neglected
under-resourced schools and even when
they do graduate from high school they
can't afford College America's education
system is failing a lot of people but
especially after the African Americans
to me any legitimate conversation about
reparations starts with education
but that's me that's me education is my
starting port what is yours what what
are your ideas whatever the issue is you
know whatever issue is most important to
you health care business law sports
entertainment whatever consider how the
legacies of discrimination against all
types of people have infected it because
it always has think about ways you might
start healing it and do it knowing that
when you repair things for others you
repair things for yourselves for
everyone in the end this isn't about one
group of people it's about all of us
it's about all of us now I know what
you're thinking why is he saying that to
us today of all days well it's because
as I've matured so is my advice and so
is my perspective it's been my privilege
to meet the world's most successful
businesspeople the world's most creative
the world's most accomplished
I met Oprah and I met Obama
but you know who I actually believe has
the best shot of fixing things you
if I honestly thought it was Oprah or
Obama I would have said it to each one
of them I have but I really do believe
that there are two people and in this
room is a lot of power and a lot of
future icons and a lot of decision
makers and you guys are actually going
to change the world so I mean it when I
say you okay I believe in you more than
anyone I trusting in your generations
ability to right the wrongs past
generations couldn't and I have this
deep faith that because I already I have
this deep faith because I'm already
seeing it happening when you put your
privilege to work privilege is a
superpower if used to restore equality
of course we all have different yes of
course we all have different privileges
different levels of power who we are and
where we come from it dictates these
things but one way or another we have
some power to change the culture that it
that excludes and marginalizes and
oppresses people earlier I say the only
way to make life better for yourself is
to make life better for others just
imagine how much more we could
accomplish how much more we could be if
everyone could pursue their dreams
unhindered if everyone was free to be
who they are
humanity would be completely and
incredibly unstoppable so class of 90
2019 class of 2019 you are entering the
sixth thought that you are entering the
society at a time of incredible social
progress but it's progress that's being
met with divisive regressive spirit with
a force I've never seen in my my
lifetime yet your generation is rising
to the occasion I mean look what happens
since 2017 with this school alone it's
been amazing what you guys have been
doing
hate groups have emerged but a college
student body just voted to deliver long
overdue justice to descendants of two
hundred and seventy two slaves that's
amazing to me
[Applause]
some of our electives some of our
elected officials steeped in privilege
and hubris have led us down some of them
but a new generation of political
leaders are taking Congress by storm
there's been a recent rise in hate
crimes against LGBTQ people but
trailblazers like Laverne Cox and
amazing black trans woman activist and
actress are proudly taking stage and
telling their stories so you guys get
ready these people are part of a tidal
wave of fresh perspectives ready to
unleash on society I want you to have
hope enable these people in vote in
their efforts be a part of the change
when you see something that needs extra
care give it the care it needs on that
note let us protect our teachers at all
costs do you mind repeating it after me
let us protect teachers at all costs
now in my profession we like applause
but I really want to hear you say
protect the teachers at all costs there
we go
when I look out I see thinkers
I see innovators rule-breakers I see
ambition I see energy I see
bold audacious dreams that are bound to
disrupt I see something in the water so
class of 2019 pleat class excuse me
so class of 2019 please history has been
anticipating you don't keep it waiting
any longer 2019 and definitely
definitely don't fail to make your mark
because this is your time you're going
to change the world you guys are going
to change the world the world the nation
is going to take cue from Virginia I
like New Orleans
I like LA I like Florida I like Utah
Virginia is going to change the world
[Applause]
so UVA thank you for this again thank
you again for this opportunity
you've humbled me once again and just
will you remind the world where
everybody's listening and watching who
won the n-c-double-a championship this
year thank you so much and please go
change the world
[Applause]