Iran in exchange for the release hs with proceeds going story. Watch American History tv saturdays on cspan two ffull sm guide or watch online anytime at a1cspan. Org history. U. S. Defense secretary lloyde university, a historically black institution. He is fi by James Clyburn. At this time, im honored to have one of south South Carolina states most loyal sons. Toement speaker. At thiti another then congressman James Clyburn to our podium. [applause] thank much welcoming me to these to the members of the board of trustees■w, theians, and members of the class of 2024, when i was growing up in sumter, my dad said to me on one rst sign of a good education is goodnow if te to all of us how well you ve been educated by standing, turning to your pas guardians,. [applause] now today, it is my great honor to years Spring Commencement speaker the third. Man of many accomplishments. He ide soldier, a dedicated public, anlloyd austit africanamerican t nations secretary of defense. [applaits been 41 years he spen uniform. He spent the last eight years in the private sector, at least up until he got the call from President Bidenadministration. Now i was a history guy. I dont know much about math. I th those eight, youfor years, hes been married to his great wife charlene. Got to meet in person before i met him. Although ive been introduced to him via the telephone by presid0ky knew i wanted to he has not disappointed me one bit. The first corps in combat and the first africanamerican to a lot of firsts for him. But theres a certain rhythm to history. I learned my love for i have found that rhythm. Theres rhythm to general austins his. General, as i saids the firstserve as secretary of. However, he grew up in huntsville, georgia. The rh t this is that the firstic to graduate from west point back in 1877 was from thomasville, georgia. So he has arisenith him a rhythm wh him. When he walks, talks, attempts to dance. But heasi be associated with that rhythm. I am pleased and hont to you toy 2020 spring en speaker general lloyd austin the third. Use] s raining but i dont think theres an■ybody out ther. Again. Good morning bulldogs. All right. Thats more like it. s great to be here at South Carolina state. Im tus graduate. [applause] this truly is a goodlooking crowd. I know that im standing between you and your diplomas and some other thas congressman clyburnm a former general so i know when im outnumbered. Im going to try to keep this pretty brief. E] i believe that a goo■dd commencement spe tall could good commencement speech should be short. Congress clyburn, thank you fo its an honor to be here with you. Youve been a personal inspiration and a true friend. You are a paragon of leadership. Youve always fought to make americas pr for every citizen. Thats why just last■■mi week, President Biden awarded you americas highest civilian honor. Edalf freedom. [applause] you met your light life late eburg. You both gave so much to this university. Today, the college carries on in her legacy. The James ClyburnUniversity Transportation center will prepar students for great ha soessmanks f everything that you and miss emily have state and for our democracy. ■ leading your all moderate so well. Thanks for aartment of Defense Service in the United States army. Trustees, distinguished faculty, dedicated, thanks for doing so much for South Carolina state. I know youve alreadyd ur parts. I want you to give them another rounof applause. [applause] i know that everyone knows that tomorrow is mothers da right . Sunday is mothers day. Sunday is mothers day. Im living in the future guys. Ay is mothers day. Dont forget. Lets give our mause. [applause] brings me to you, the class 2024, lets make some noise. [applause] graduate we are heo your class had an especially challenging road to graduation day. 2020 as a pandemic erected, your class was less than half the normal size. It was u it was hard. But you dug to get you stuck by each other. You made it to today. Now, many t in your family to graduate from college. [applause] thats a phenomenal achievement. Balanced school with work, with raising aily , with giving back to the community. Coulcall it grit. You could call it hussle. Ou here, we call it bulldog tenacity. So class 2024, you have worked incredibly hard to get here. We are all very proud of you. You should be proud of i have to give a special shout out to the South Carolina state armythe legendary bulldog batta. [applause] over 75 years, this rotc program has produced more than 2000 u. S. The 1972 South Carolinata ■became one of the first hbcus o enroll female army rotc cadets. All siof■9■6 women became colonels. [applause] believe it or not the universityas the careers of more than 20 generals and admirals. Mayave some future generals in the crowd with us today. So lets congratulate the newest second lie■utenants in the u. S. Army. [applause] so as i said, im going to keep it brief. I want to share three things with you today. Then i will let you get back to brfirst, as the old guy, i will explainhatve learned about the power of education. The importance of giving back. Finally, iwhat congressman clyburn has called a message of expectations. The powe■er to make change even when its hard and to help america live up to its full promise. lived3[ that. I grewp inour local public high. I was a tge integrate their. Those were hard days. Painful days. Ugly days. Im of every person who fought to make sure that i could get a good public education. Teachers. The officials. The neighbors. Member their their decency. I still Carry Forward their lessonch ithat living up to this countrys values means bringing everyone along and leaving no one out. Drawing on the full talents of l the american people. Im honored to stand here today with as americas firs defense. [applause] doing to keep me out of that school imagined that they were blocking the educaon of a future fourstar general. But you never know which kid is g row up to be bob johnson or oprah or Chadwick Boseman or stacy adams or barack obama or kamala harris. Yo we lose when we leave someone out. American despair. We dont have one citizen tsqua. That means that we need to keep working togetho barriers and toe Playing Field andeverody compet. You know, i west point. As a cad from all walks of life. I was a southern kid far awaybue than just mathematics and military strategy. They believed in us. I was lucky to have educators including some special black mentors who showed us all how to become a team and how to turn our differences into strengths. Hoto tresults. They showed us that le isn do. So heres my second message. Your education at South Carolina state has already changed their lives. Number of new things. Its already shaped your character and equippedou to excel. That wont stop. For nearly 130 years, soulinathe skild leaders that our country needs in agriculture, education, South Carolina state trains more black nuclear chool in the country. [applause] a National Security agency has ated South Carolina state as a center of academic as it excellence this university educates its ua future. U for the challenges ahead. I know youvent kania say that you can get there from here. That has always been the story of americas hbcus. Openhe doors ofratio opportunity. Biden has not, per that help p of americas black engineers. 50 of black lawyers. And 70 of doctors and dentists. I cant put it better, any tter than my Major General retired gabeur of the class of 1976 who i proudly served witith y. Hbcus provide an opportunity to do goodness and to prosper and to pro anation that otherwise me so class of 2024, we need your service to the nation. So find ways to makee a part of something b as you heard congressman clyburn say, i had a bri0 career in ther career in the u. S. Army. We need so o stand up and defend the United States in uniform. But we also need all ofn ways. You can do that as a a doctor, as a or usiness in your cni an usher in yourrcgirl scout trr by registering people to vote. In times like these, Civic Engagement is not optional. Bri final message for you. Asa you know the congressman also grew in the segregated south. He always had bigone day, a wel neighbor warns james to keep his ambitions to himself. His mother called him to the kitchen tashe looked him in thed grew told him, dont pay any attention to what that lady said. S said that she and his fathernd his ber themselves to e that was her message of expectations. Cls of 2024, that message is asell. It wont be easy but we will help you out there. You have to put in the work to keep dmy friend and mentor colin powell addressed graduates back in 2011 and he said, no matter what your past is, no one owes you a thing. You have to perform to get ahead. Youve already proven that you are going to per. Class of 2024,. You overcame. You made it to today. Shown in the words of your schoolready to do and da. Sc state. You are graduating in challenging times. Divided times. So many things still bring us together as americans. Ourn, our democracy, the rule of law. The new beyonce album. I got you. Ladies and gentlemen wdont get to choose our times. We do get to shape our times. In a democracy thatsyrelevant,s abity for every citizen. Anmay of 1964. Hansberry spoke to a group of talented1 ng black ic said, the nation needs your gifts. Of 2024, the nation needs your thre nati resilience. The nation needs your service. So congratulations class lets hear it for bulldog nation. May god continueo bless the United States of america. Thank you very much. [applause] \ since 1979, weve been your primary source for capitol hill. Providing balanced, unfiltered coverage of government or get taking you to where the policies th part of americas cable cspan, 45 years and counting■g. Powered by cable. Announcer cspans washingto lm involving you to discuss the latest issues in government, pom washington and across the rdms withporter benjamin s. For our spotlight podcast segment, jessica lovington talks about her law and politics podcast and other news of the day. Cspans washington journajoin 7 rning on cspan, cspan now or online at cspan. Org. Announcer saturday, former. Jesident donald trump s live coverage starts at 5 p. M. Cspa c now, and online at announcer d