President Joe Biden is set to give a commencement speech at Morehouse College, a historically Black college (HBCU) in Atlanta, Georgia, despite protests from students calling for the administration to rescind his invitation over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in a significant loss of life, Israel’s military incursions into Gaza have led to the displacement of over 1.8 million Palestinians and the deaths of over 34,500 people. The U.S. continues to provide weapons and aid to Israel, leading to protests across the nation calling for university divestments from Israel. Some students have referred to Biden’s speech as “political blackface” and criticized his decision to accept the invitation.
Despite the controversy surrounding Biden’s appearance, Morehouse College President David Thomas has decided to keep him as the speaker, citing the importance of addressing the tensions that threaten to divide the country. Thomas noted that Morehouse was built for moments like these, where conflicting perspectives can be discussed and reconciled. However, some students, like Morehouse sophomore Anwar Karim, believe that Biden’s visit is an attempt to pander for votes and liken it to political blackface. Biden’s commencement speech comes at a crucial time in the presidential race, with polls showing a tight race between him and former President Donald Trump in key swing states, including Georgia. Among young and Black voters, Biden leads Trump, according to recent polls.
Biden’s appearance at Morehouse College is part of a four-day programming focused on reaching Black communities in his 2024 campaign. The Biden campaign has highlighted its $7 billion funding of HBCUs and Vice President Kamala Harris’s graduation from Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, D.C. Biden has also met with a plaintiff in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case and is set to address the NAACP about the case’s 70th anniversary. The controversy surrounding Biden’s commencement speech reflects the complex political landscape in the U.S., where issues like the Israel-Hamas war and racial tensions intersect with electoral politics and university activism.
The decision to keep Biden as the commencement speaker at Morehouse College underscores the college’s commitment to engaging with challenging and divisive issues, even as protests and criticisms arise. President David Thomas has emphasized the importance of addressing and discussing tensions that threaten to divide the country, positioning Morehouse as a space where conflicting perspectives can be acknowledged and reconciled. The controversy surrounding Biden’s appearance highlights the ways in which political issues, racial tensions, and electoral politics intersect in the current landscape of the U.S., shaping debates and discussions within educational institutions like Morehouse College.
As Biden’s commencement speech approaches, the college community grapples with conflicting views on his visit, with some students expressing concerns over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and criticizing his acceptance of the invitation. The upcoming presidential race adds a layer of complexity to Biden’s appearance, as polls show a tight race between him and former President Donald Trump in key swing states. Biden’s engagement with Black communities, highlighted through his visit to Morehouse College and other events, reflects his campaign’s focus on reaching out to key demographic groups and addressing issues of racial justice and equity. Overall, the controversy surrounding Biden’s commencement speech at Morehouse College underscores the challenges and complexities of navigating political, racial, and electoral dynamics in the current U.S. landscape.
