Harvard University has called 2016 graduate Donovan Livingston's spoken-verse commencement speech "one of the most powerful, heartfelt student speeches you will ever hear!"
President? it's been a long time since that was used to mean a smart person. They are usually ppl filled with lies that support the prejudices of majority or straight up dictators
Their never going to change and we will never find our place in their white institutions, as he sat back and observed their brokenness, hatred, privileged dismissal of 'real work'--dumbing himself down-- to afraid to show his light! I can only imagine what they put him through--and I can't wait to see what he got out of them with that Education!!!! 👊🏾 It's also funny cause a buddy of mine SD that's why Black American mom's to this day are the first to put their children down, bc she always had to make him/her look like they were 'no good' or no better than theirs, or they would sell em off 🤔🤔🤔
Backpack Adventures where ever you came from you racist piece of trash!!! Edit: this message was meant for Lo o the user who made the racist comment above me not you
@@xJUDAZ It is the psychological manifestation of what YOU perceive to be the ideal privilege of living in America ;however , it is just an illusion created by your mind in the hopes of finding a bright future in a place that you cannot relate success to unless you work hard for it. The American dream isn’t really American , I would say. Rather , it is what WE foreigners make and produce of it in the form of achievements that solidify our belief that we could improve our lives by focusing on pushing ourselves to our FULL potential , BEYOND the limit. Just as our friend Livingston said here , “The sky is NOT the limit.” So we should brace ourselves for a LIFT OFF with our hearts and souls and ambitions for the creation of a bright FUTURE !!!!
+Charles Deng Using more sophisticated and fancier words just for the sake of using more sophisticated words. Just makes it hard to listen too. The message itself was very boring and unoriginal. He just presented it well.
"Injustice is saying education is the key, yet you keep changing the locks". Then that ending, " The sky is the beginning, Lift Off". I could feel his pain in that speech. Very moving and powerful.
"Spill your emotions on the big dipper and pour out your soul, light up the world with your luminous allure." Gorgeous. If he ends up writing a novel, I'll be the first in line to buy it. He has a way with words.
1. He ask us whether education a great equalizer (socioeconomically speaking) 2. Then wonders whether we question the keeper of the keys (meaning the government) 3. He argues that for some the only difference between plantation and a classroom is time (basically means that we are taught stuff to fit into the system and not to give us the tools to achieve our dreams. 4. He then mentions that he is the strange fruit that grew too ripe for the popular tree. (Meaning he is different and wont follow the masses) 5. He then argues against the standardised assessment goes against the individual reaching his best potential. 6. Then he insists that education is no equalizer but rather education is how they, the government gets us to sleep (by getting us into debt and reduce us to debt slaves) 7. He tells us to wake up,that we have dreams and we should follow them. 8. And finally that Sky is not the limit but only the beginning (meaning don't let education define our quality of life because we will get disappointed by the result.Rather we should regard the graduation as the beginning of our journey to succeed.) He basically reduced to ashes the whole education system. Fellow graduates clap because he is right. Academia claps because of the fancy words.
for some reason the young love to crap on everything that came before them. i'm still relatively young, but just noting the truth. i'm not sure there's anything profound in all that crapping so much as just a common manifestation of an adolescent mind, biologically pre-disposed to establish its own identity in a lot of experimental ways. maybe we should listen to people precisely at the midpoint of their biological urge to prefer the "new" vs. the "status quo." what is that, say 30? Maybe 32? no idea, but an interesting question IMHO..... what i'm not sure is interesting is the very young and idealistic. they'd all be communist just to be different. then they'd all starve to death like the poor people in Venezuela. or they'd be trump supporters. and support a man ape child to "overturn the system" when he's clearly a fairly incompetent borderline idiot. whatever it is it's unlikely to be informed by much reason and empiricism. outside people who instinctively or by training really bend that way.
He speaks like me with confidence. I wish I had the money to afford Havard. I want to be a cardiologist and I would be great to come out as a product of Harvard. I remember hearing people say,"Harvard is one of the big schools to make one's dream come true." If I don't come here ,I would try to bring my son there one day. Congrats to all class of 2020.
Harvard is affordable, if you cant afford it... If your income is below 65000 dollars then it's completely free. Not a lot of people know this. It's not about whether you can afford Harvard, it's about can you get in to Harvard?
@@axd2312 Harvard is very hard to get jnto. There is no specific entry test. They look at your highschool grades from 9-12th, your extracurricular activities (like hobbies) the awards you have one, essays lors and alot of things.... It's not just about an entry test. You have to be an all rounder you have show leadership, how have you been contributing to the community and a lot of things. Admission to Harvard doesn't revolve around one factor. They take the holistic approach.
He used everything, alliteration, metaphors, hyperbole, similes, his grammar and pronunciation were strong... great speech, I wonder what his major/focus was in
His expression throughout the speech is what makes me like him more. Sure his speech, words, body language, tone and flow is great but his face tells how much he means the speech. Loved it!
I went to a conference at another high school and he gave us a presentation! It was so awesome, he did a ton of fun stuff such as rap, and immediately woke all of us up. He was very funny and uplifting, and also incredibly kind and understanding. I wish him the best!
After listening to this young man's inspirational and eloquently delivered speech I went to press the "like" button when I noticed the amount of "dislikes." I wanted to know why 5k people hated it so I scrolled through some of the comments and realized just how awful some people's realities must be when hate feels normal and positivity is treated like poison. My immediate reaction was to disparage "the haters" but how would my negativity be any different than those I intended to shame? Instead of mocking remarks I didn't like I decided to let this young man's speech lead me to a better truth: You don't change a negative song by singing along with the lyrics. Dare to sing a new song of hope. If you sing long enough you will inspire others to sing along with you.
@sistakia33 oh my well said 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿. The young man's speech is the true definition of being woke👀. Your response to the dislikes is the true definition of class,grace,and courage, with elements of poetry, you and him can "drop the mic" and walk off stage👊🏾.
I cried from this speech, that power, and passion is just overwhelming. It reached right through me, despite of only watching in youtube. Just. Wow. I just discovered this gem at 2020.
Harvard Valedictorian, will be working as an analyst at some cubicle farm topping out at 100K, a good few years until the long hours either break him into changing careers completely or just destroy all the relationships in his life. Meanwhile, the good old boys with the trust funds and daddy's connections with bottom of the barrel grades will be the ones making millions.
@@jt48 this is so true and yet so sad, I'm 16 right now and that's one of the reasons why I'm into enterprenuership , I'm currently teaching myself about how the business worlds works ,like investing in stocks, real estate , trading , how social media ,technology and politics work, school is meant to manipulate the masses and make them into slaves so they are depended on the system aka the rat race or should I say 9 to 5
You can feel the passion in his words. No one here knows his personal experience, so the negative comments seem to be from either racists, or people who want to trivialize this young man and his commitment to bettering young people and their minds.
+Day Dreamer It's the context and tone in which he is criticized from some people. If you get to use your hate and bigotry to have a negative opinion then I get to have an opinion about your opinion. Merica, right? You on kindly fuck off with your dribbling from your keyboard. Asshat.
ProfoundClarity Your own personal bigotry manifests in your inability to differentiate opinion from racism. Other than a few trolls, most of what I see is a righteous reaction to a dumbing down of Harvard and intellectual society in general. Passion does not automatically translate to good taste. I'm actually happy for him on one hand. But I support the right people have to judge this speech. To me is was disappointing. I want equality and diversity. I help fight for it. All this does is waste my goddamn efforts. Do you see where I'm coming from now?!!?!
+Day Dreamer I have read through the comments and I see more than a few trolls. It's just sad. I would love to see more people coming together for a common good but even in today's world it seems insurmountable against what I see spewing on the internet.
ProfoundClarity That is your opinion and I cautiously will say that to me it's a natural reaction. To a society where trophies are given out for any old speech just because a person is black. I'm all for trying to boost people up. But to me this was horrible and divisive. And that's where you fail to see the nuance of what really just happened. Instead of this young man making a humble speech, he rambles on arrogantly and bitterly directing comments at white people. One comment on here put it succinctly. Don't people have something better to talk about than slavery or racism ALL THE TIME? I agree with that statement. This was a perfect oppurtunity to inspire the next generation of black leaders but not finger pointing. But instead, truly inspiring and speaking eloquently.
Amazing Speech. I'm tearing up. I'm saddened by his passing. Gone too soon.What a smart, intelligent Man. Rest in Peace 🙏 💔🙏. You'll be missed. My condolences to the family and wife.
Another affirmative action graduate...Harvard...the once great school that hired a fake Indian and also someone as a professor of The Constitution who obviously had never even read the constitution. Ivy league schools suck....The Bushes, the Clintons, the Obamas, Al Gore ALL ivy grads yet everyone knows NEITHER could pass a fairly given GED
it's simple as just finding some you like and that challenges you. Just keep at it until you're the best. Find the passion and reason to commit to it, is the hard part, good luck!
DUDE !!! don't say that! i know that everybody in this world has something he or she loves dearly and with passion! accept and acknowledge your own quality and talents! search for the truth within and don't fear setbacks, cause if you do what you love, life will give you a way and you can do anything! i don't know you but i believe in you and everybody who may read this! go for it, it's out there! LOVE
ALEXANDER BLAKE Three years ago the #1 thing that I wanted was a passion. So I searched everywhere in every possible way every single day. After the first year, I realized my passion at the time was finding my passion. So I became passionate about doing so. I DEDICATED myself to finding it. I would journal every day asking myself reflective questions, I would search a multitude of things online trying to figure it out like "How do you find your life's purpose?", I watched UA-cam videos, I talked with friends. And eventually I found my passion. And it is just as amazing as I'd hoped. So I encourage you to become passionate about finding your passion. *Work very hard* at finding it, do not hope for it to come. Be intentional. Good luck. Much love.
Beautiful. "None of us were meant to be common" meant to be common" is something we should say to ourselves and others every day, no matter the age or circumstances. Thank you Donovan!
I think he should get in a room with all the kids that struggle, every third world country, and all those that don't believe in themselves. Kendrick knows his worth. Let others realize theirs.
But he never adressed the injustice of black students getting boosted SAT scores while asian and white students get their scores docked because of their skin color. He is not a victim.
@@xJUDAZ I would relate it to how education judges you based on how you score on standarized tests. People who score A are led to think they are intelligent (stars), but there is so much more (the night) than those tests, which has to be discovered through the engagement of creativity. Education kills creativity and hence does not allow you to look beyond the light onto the night to realise your true potential.
@@Jackdaniels19894 also that’s not all rap is bud. Sounds like you don’t listen to it. Real rap is about peoples lives and the struggles they’ve been thru. You’re thinking of the new gen mumble shit.
Another affirmative action graduate...Harvard...the once great school that hired a fake Indian and also someone as a professor of The Constitution who obviously had never even read the constitution. Ivy league schools suck....The Bushes, the Clintons, the Obamas, Al Gore ALL ivy grads yet everyone knows NEITHER could pass a fairly given GED
Beautiful words, young man! What good do they do? Does this stop a white cop from killing an unarmed black male? Do your words provide ownership of corporations that can provide gainful employment for people regardless of race, creed, origin? There are some who wish to oppress others but, ultimately....the oppression is conducted and supported through force.....not beautiful words!!!! Please provide a solution to this problem.....not another means of eloquent statement of the problem. Talk is cheap!!!!
@@AdityaPillai009 while I can appreciate this the perspecrive here is more relating to the darkness being so ever apparent and obvious, being reminded of the light brings the focus back from the darkness, and so in not doing that would be an injustice as well.
Hey moron welfare leeches... Im your boss, im your warehouse manager, im your neighbors lil league coach, im your Dr, ....we don't like what bullshit George Soros funded garbage you spew! Now Rage 4 M3 Mthr Fckrs Rage.......
+Jonny Stugotts as far as your concerned I could be a multi billionaire or multi millionaire, I could also be the boss of thousands of white people, you dont know me? I don't know you, but I do know a racist when I sense one, I defend black people from racism because I have seen black people suffer it and I speak out for God created every race as equals no superior
What a beautiful speech and poem....so inspiring and fulfilling to the soul. I was disappointed to see many ignorant people commenting negatively for being so ignorant not understanding the poem or speech. Poems can be done in many styles unique to the person my English teacher use to say.
+Bionic Honeybadger69 nah not really sorry bro. I'm not racist to anybody, we're all human and just want to live life to the fullest so yeah whatevs. Take care bro. XD ^^😆👍
@@jamesbruce5257 He didnt say anything though ? Can you tell me just ONE interesting fact I can get from this speech aside from the boasting and cheesy motivational metaphors :/
@@crimson1763 regardless of location "proceed" means to move forward, "precede" means to happen before. While the speaker may have been trying to say that education moves the American dream forward, which would of course be a coherent thought, it would not be phrased correctly using the verb "proceed," as it's an intransitive verb. So it's much more likely that what the speaker means is that education must be achieved before the American dream can be realized.
We aren't African American either. We are the children of Israel according to the Bible. Another LIE perpetuated by American Education or should I say Indoctrination!
No comments about his oratorical skills. All i read was "hes black, hes rhyming about slavery, hes self centered". His speech had nothing to do with slavery but how he found his calling to become an educator. We're fucking doomed as a nation.
walter yanez I apologize for the misunderstanding. I completely agree. The morons in the comments are intimidated by his vernacular so they pretend that they don't understand and criticize everything irrelevant. Racists did the same to Martin Luther King in response to his speeches, so I'm not concerned about anybody not getting the message just because the comments suck. The ignorant are always the loudest.
We are doomed because those that control think ignorance is a tool for continued control but in reality it is just the opposite as you have eloquently stated. Damnation is the price of hate and ignorance.
This was profound! Awesome and inspiring! I hope the message sunk in... His parents and family members have to be extremely proud of him...All the best...you only have good things for the future so continue to RISE!!!! Beautiful!
Tim stupid ignorant name McVeigh You’re a racist creep. Smash Racism End supremacy Kill the kkk Pay reparations now Ps. I wouldn’t compare this Harvard scholar to a racist prig president..you do him a disservice.
You said reach for stars.I needed to hear that so bad . I need a heart transplant,have 34 stents on my left.Have lupus, fibromyalgia, diabetes Ra, in severe pain.You are a blessing.
John Smith it's an analogy and it's a good one too. None of us are the same because we all make a difference in the world, no matter how big or small is what he means. Not dumb.
John Smith lmao I don't even use facebook. I wouldn't post that type of stuff anyways, but since you are so convinced that it's dumb, please explain. And don't reply that I'm a dumb toxic 5 year old and the internet is stupid or some random bs like that.
Charles Parent okay this has nothing to do with who voted for who, I personally think that both candidates are absolute shit this year but hey did I say anything about who voted for what? There is nothing wrong with anyone who voted or the other part so quiz being salty about something that's already been settled. Let's all get over it nd move on moth life PLEASE I have had enough politics this year
J W lmao and youre also to ignorant to understand he meant both, thats why it was such a powerful statement, you should have known that considering the speech was about his black history , brainiac.
Whoever went up next 💀...
😂 😂 😂 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
he was like tf! why me
Yikes 😬
shit.
He's so confident and well spoken on stage: no stammering or stuttering, he's loud and clear. Wow
fr bruh
hes a graduate of Harvard you wouldnt think anything else tbh
@@talkinsportswithrc4837 harvard is no guarantee of success & confidence by the way
Its Harvard
You know how few people can speak confidently? Doesnt have to do with university
This man is gifted with literature flowing like a fountain
Well said
Considering he had the time to refine the speech since high school I would hope so
He had the speech for years so I think it would be a given for it to be "good"
Lol he got you using anecdotes now…they are called “anecdotes” right?
@@sannin4569 Really? I didn't know. How dp you know it?
This is scary, he's so eloquent he gives president vibes 😳
President? it's been a long time since that was used to mean a smart person. They are usually ppl filled with lies that support the prejudices of majority or straight up dictators
@@staticshockk sad
Obama
@@thorstark4114 Obama was bad
No president sounds this good
“I’ve been the black hole in a classroom for far too long absorbing everything but not allowing my light to escape”
Deep.
The remark that cut deep
That part right there almost made me cry and I've been out of school
Their never going to change and we will never find our place in their white institutions, as he sat back and observed their brokenness, hatred, privileged dismissal of 'real work'--dumbing himself down-- to afraid to show his light!
I can only imagine what they put him through--and I can't wait to see what he got out of them with that Education!!!! 👊🏾
It's also funny cause a buddy of mine SD that's why Black American mom's to this day are the first to put their children down, bc she always had to make him/her look like they were 'no good' or no better than theirs, or they would sell em off 🤔🤔🤔
Fact !
I hope the English teacher who originally denied him to recite this at his high school graduation saw this and instantly felt Crummy!
Antifa Member What country?
Antifa Member you’re the only dog eater!
Backpack Adventures where ever you came from you racist piece of trash!!!
Edit: this message was meant for Lo o the user who made the racist comment above me not you
Backpack Adventures I was talking to lo o not you lol
@@antifamember8431 LIBERTARD.
He's from a small town... And his parents are sooooo cool. Father's a preachers and moms a great wife... So happy to see him elevate even more
🌹💪
He has a instagram or somethin?
Makes sense why he is good at speaking since his father is a preacher
❤
"Education is the sleep that precedes the American dream..." Beautifully and eloquently stated!
What is the american dream?
@@xJUDAZ It is the psychological manifestation of what YOU perceive to be the ideal privilege of living in America ;however , it is just an illusion created by your mind in the hopes of finding a bright future in a place that you cannot relate success to unless you work hard for it. The American dream isn’t really American , I would say. Rather , it is what WE foreigners make and produce of it in the form of achievements that solidify our belief that we could improve our lives by focusing on pushing ourselves to our FULL potential , BEYOND the limit. Just as our friend Livingston said here , “The sky is NOT the limit.” So we should brace ourselves for a LIFT OFF with our hearts and souls and ambitions for the creation of a bright FUTURE !!!!
@@omerginawi9768 Woah you blew my mind for a second
@@omerginawi9768 FR . American dream is what we make . Us, the non Americans 🤍
Education is the key and they keep changing the locks. Well said.
So true
One of my favorite parts too.
Lol this made my day yesterday I kept thinking about it and wanted you to know that.😂😂😂hilarious but true
@Michael Snyder Technology
Michael Snyder. The people who make the curriculum and no one said it wasn't static.
Am I the only one who's surprised that he could remember the whole thing
Crip Dep yea lol
Crip Dep - What if he just freestyled ??
This guy is ambitious. You cant make those kinds of people forget
Crip Dep ikr no stage frights no mental blocks... he's a genius
+RECKLESS KING mind blown
It is amazing how much of a speech a person can recite without fail when they believe in their words ..
Noel Bockholt Brilliant! 👍🏻❤️
“Sky’s not the limit, only the beginning” I love that
Give this man a beat cus he's dropping sick bars yow
Eric Rahman 😂
Someone gotta make a video lmaooo
interpretation 21 fuck u on about
@interpretation 21 the fuck you talking about and why
@interpretation 21 mans just made up history or something idk
this guy is an amazing speaker
He is horrible, he is using words most don't know, leaving people confused.
Kaspars Matusevics I know right? He should really dumb it down, it's not like he's addressing a bunch of Harvard grads or anything.
+Charles Deng EL OH EL thank you for that
+Charles Deng Using more sophisticated and fancier words just for the sake of using more sophisticated words. Just makes it hard to listen too. The message itself was very boring and unoriginal. He just presented it well.
hahaownedlolz your just uneducated
"Injustice is saying education is the key, yet you keep changing the locks". Then that ending, " The sky is the beginning, Lift Off". I could feel his pain in that speech. Very moving and powerful.
"Spill your emotions on the big dipper and pour out your soul, light up the world with your luminous allure." Gorgeous. If he ends up writing a novel, I'll be the first in line to buy it. He has a way with words.
A glorious bar
Yes, Papa and I love to vote for him as our future president. May God bless this young man!
So true.... I'd buy too
I loved, "...you say education is the key, but you keep changing the lock." Wow!
What is the 'lock'?
Standards.
no life
TRUTH!
freaknable Sorry, just saw your reply, thanks. Makes sense :)
Top 10 people Eminem was afraid to diss.
NEET but why would u diss this man?
Dick
hahhahaa
@linkclicker you replied to him so you obviously have nothing better to do either
@linkclicker karen detected
"I am the strange fruit that grew too ripe for the poplar tree."
The UA-cam algorithm is finally recommending relevant videos.
1. He ask us whether education a great equalizer (socioeconomically speaking)
2. Then wonders whether we question the keeper of the keys (meaning the government)
3. He argues that for some the only difference between plantation and a classroom is time (basically means that we are taught stuff to fit into the system and not to give us the tools to achieve our dreams.
4. He then mentions that he is the strange fruit that grew too ripe for the popular tree. (Meaning he is different and wont follow the masses)
5. He then argues against the standardised assessment goes against the individual reaching his best potential.
6. Then he insists that education is no equalizer but rather education is how they, the government gets us to sleep (by getting us into debt and reduce us to debt slaves)
7. He tells us to wake up,that we have dreams and we should follow them.
8. And finally that Sky is not the limit but only the beginning (meaning don't let education define our quality of life because we will get disappointed by the result.Rather we should regard the graduation as the beginning of our journey to succeed.)
He basically reduced to ashes the whole education system.
Fellow graduates clap because he is right.
Academia claps because of the fancy words.
Good shit.
how long did this take you
ethos lotus not sure.. around 20 minutes
Andreas Philippou
This makes bella sense as well.
for some reason the young love to crap on everything that came before them. i'm still relatively young, but just noting the truth. i'm not sure there's anything profound in all that crapping so much as just a common manifestation of an adolescent mind, biologically pre-disposed to establish its own identity in a lot of experimental ways. maybe we should listen to people precisely at the midpoint of their biological urge to prefer the "new" vs. the "status quo." what is that, say 30? Maybe 32? no idea, but an interesting question IMHO..... what i'm not sure is interesting is the very young and idealistic. they'd all be communist just to be different. then they'd all starve to death like the poor people in Venezuela. or they'd be trump supporters. and support a man ape child to "overturn the system" when he's clearly a fairly incompetent borderline idiot. whatever it is it's unlikely to be informed by much reason and empiricism. outside people who instinctively or by training really bend that way.
Benjamin thanks bro....this interpretation was needed
"The sky is not the limit, it's only the beginning." LIFT OFF!☄
How do I reach the sky? I only make like $9 an hour.
buy a join
That's $6,480 a month. $77,760 a year.
do you have a brain
Zed stupid?
"Our stories are the ladders that make it easier for us to touch the stars". Love this man.
He speaks like me with confidence. I wish I had the money to afford Havard. I want to be a cardiologist and I would be great to come out as a product of Harvard. I remember hearing people say,"Harvard is one of the big schools to make one's dream come true." If I don't come here ,I would try to bring my son there one day. Congrats to all class of 2020.
You have to get in first lol
Harvard is affordable, if you cant afford it... If your income is below 65000 dollars then it's completely free. Not a lot of people know this. It's not about whether you can afford Harvard, it's about can you get in to Harvard?
@@aravgeorge1138
How hard is it to get into harvard?
Is the entry test soooo hard?
@@axd2312 Harvard is very hard to get jnto. There is no specific entry test. They look at your highschool grades from 9-12th, your extracurricular activities (like hobbies) the awards you have one, essays lors and alot of things.... It's not just about an entry test. You have to be an all rounder you have show leadership, how have you been contributing to the community and a lot of things. Admission to Harvard doesn't revolve around one factor. They take the holistic approach.
@@aravgeorge1138
Hmm.
Thanks for clarifying, brother.
He used everything, alliteration, metaphors, hyperbole, similes, his grammar and pronunciation were strong... great speech, I wonder what his major/focus was in
Alex Campbell same
fuck off
@suvesoko
}suvesoko _ your making yourself look so stupid and ignorant bro
His name is Donovan Livingston! He's an educator, author, and poet; amongst many other things.
he could be the next president for sure.
Why because he did a fucking speech?
no because its just how he has like an apperance to be one jsut dont hate on him he could achive goals and many more things just dont hate ok?.
I bet in your lifetime you only had Obama as a president
What do you mean ? only obama.
implying that you're young and don't know what you're talking about
that was one of the best speeches I've ever heard
His expression throughout the speech is what makes me like him more. Sure his speech, words, body language, tone and flow is great but his face tells how much he means the speech. Loved it!
"Sky is not the limit; but the beginning" that's a perfect ending for a beginning... wow
Sky is the starting point
“Injustice is telling them that ‘education is the key’ while you continue to change the locks” Powerful!
HL Watts I felt that that’s was🔥🔥🔥🔥
I was looking for this comment
I went to a conference at another high school and he gave us a presentation! It was so awesome, he did a ton of fun stuff such as rap, and immediately woke all of us up. He was very funny and uplifting, and also incredibly kind and understanding. I wish him the best!
“Injustice is when u keep giving the key but keep changing the locks”
After listening to this young man's inspirational and eloquently delivered speech I went to press the "like" button when I noticed the amount of "dislikes." I wanted to know why 5k people hated it so I scrolled through some of the comments and realized just how awful some people's realities must be when hate feels normal and positivity is treated like poison. My immediate reaction was to disparage "the haters" but how would my negativity be any different than those I intended to shame?
Instead of mocking remarks I didn't like I decided to let this young man's speech lead me to a better truth:
You don't change a negative song by singing along with the lyrics. Dare to sing a new song of hope. If you sing long enough you will inspire others to sing along with you.
@sistakia33 oh my well said 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿. The young man's speech is the true definition of being woke👀. Your response to the dislikes is the true definition of class,grace,and courage, with elements of poetry, you and him can "drop the mic" and walk off stage👊🏾.
Wow. Absolutely brilliant response. Respect
Well said
@@2UP2downSavage the truth is just the matter of perspective and not everything to anyone's liking so all you have to do is deal with what you got.
Alex• not when there is hard evidence backing THE TRUTH then that person is just delusional
May he go far in life.....he's a breath of fresh air......
I learned how not to be Jealous! Lmao
Ima kms Lol when you hear the student loans lmao jk
BlackRock Tile And
My jawline dropping watching him eloquently. Simply amazing..brilliant speech!
I cried from this speech, that power, and passion is just overwhelming. It reached right through me, despite of only watching in youtube. Just. Wow. I just discovered this gem at 2020.
"injustice is telling them education is the KEY, while you continue to change the locks"!!
joye blessed xtra .
Profound
Harvard Valedictorian, will be working as an analyst at some cubicle farm topping out at 100K, a good few years until the long hours either break him into changing careers completely or just destroy all the relationships in his life. Meanwhile, the good old boys with the trust funds and daddy's connections with bottom of the barrel grades will be the ones making millions.
@@jt48 this is so true and yet so sad, I'm 16 right now and that's one of the reasons why I'm into enterprenuership , I'm currently teaching myself about how the business worlds works ,like investing in stocks, real estate , trading , how social media ,technology and politics work, school is meant to manipulate the masses and make them into slaves so they are depended on the system aka the rat race or should I say 9 to 5
YEVY TIVER look out guys we got a woke one here
You can feel the passion in his words. No one here knows his personal experience, so the negative comments seem to be from either racists, or people who want to trivialize this young man and his commitment to bettering young people and their minds.
Oh just shut up already. People have the right to judge this poem, whether it comes from someone white or black or mixed, red, purple or yellow.
+Day Dreamer It's the context and tone in which he is criticized from some people. If you get to use your hate and bigotry to have a negative opinion then I get to have an opinion about your opinion. Merica, right? You on kindly fuck off with your dribbling from your keyboard. Asshat.
ProfoundClarity Your own personal bigotry manifests in your inability to differentiate opinion from racism. Other than a few trolls, most of what I see is a righteous reaction to a dumbing down of Harvard and intellectual society in general. Passion does not automatically translate to good taste. I'm actually happy for him on one hand. But I support the right people have to judge this speech. To me is was disappointing. I want equality and diversity. I help fight for it. All this does is waste my goddamn efforts. Do you see where I'm coming from now?!!?!
+Day Dreamer I have read through the comments and I see more than a few trolls. It's just sad. I would love to see more people coming together for a common good but even in today's world it seems insurmountable against what I see spewing on the internet.
ProfoundClarity That is your opinion and I cautiously will say that to me it's a natural reaction. To a society where trophies are given out for any old speech just because a person is black. I'm all for trying to boost people up. But to me this was horrible and divisive. And that's where you fail to see the nuance of what really just happened. Instead of this young man making a humble speech, he rambles on arrogantly and bitterly directing comments at white people. One comment on here put it succinctly. Don't people have something better to talk about than slavery or racism ALL THE TIME? I agree with that statement. This was a perfect oppurtunity to inspire the next generation of black leaders but not finger pointing. But instead, truly inspiring and speaking eloquently.
Just saw this in my recommended and I'm so glad I clicked!!! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
Amazing Speech. I'm tearing up. I'm saddened by his passing. Gone too soon.What a smart, intelligent Man. Rest in Peace 🙏 💔🙏. You'll be missed. My condolences to the family and wife.
It's an incredibly moving and powerful speech done in such a creative manner that it sticks with you. What happened to him if you know.
Dude has had those words in his head for years. Came out like a script! Impressive 🙏🏻😎
Hundreds of years ✊🏿✌🏿
I am pretty sure it was a script though...
MaoItsMe I am still sure that it was he’s words
Another affirmative action graduate...Harvard...the once great school that hired a fake Indian and also someone as a professor of The Constitution who obviously had never even read the constitution. Ivy league schools suck....The Bushes, the Clintons, the Obamas, Al Gore ALL ivy grads yet everyone knows NEITHER could pass a fairly given GED
but they needed an opinion from an expert
I wish I had this man's passion about something in my life
it's simple as just finding some you like and that challenges you. Just keep at it until you're the best.
Find the passion and reason to commit to it, is the hard part, good luck!
DUDE !!! don't say that! i know that everybody in this world has something he or she loves dearly and with passion!
accept and acknowledge your own quality and talents! search for the truth within and don't fear setbacks, cause if you do what you love, life will give you a way and you can do anything! i don't know you but i believe in you and everybody who may read this!
go for it, it's out there!
LOVE
"I trust you". That's touching
ALEXANDER BLAKE Three years ago the #1 thing that I wanted was a passion. So I searched everywhere in every possible way every single day. After the first year, I realized my passion at the time was finding my passion. So I became passionate about doing so. I DEDICATED myself to finding it. I would journal every day asking myself reflective questions, I would search a multitude of things online trying to figure it out like "How do you find your life's purpose?", I watched UA-cam videos, I talked with friends. And eventually I found my passion. And it is just as amazing as I'd hoped. So I encourage you to become passionate about finding your passion. *Work very hard* at finding it, do not hope for it to come. Be intentional. Good luck. Much love.
ALEXANDER BLAKE you do have it. Just keep going it will soon appear.
I don’t know what he teaches but I’m signing up for his class.
He’s a student.
Beautiful. "None of us were meant to be common" meant to be common" is something we should say to ourselves and others every day, no matter the age or circumstances. Thank you Donovan!
yo get him in a room with kendrick lamar
thinkin the same thing
I think he should get in a room with all the kids that struggle, every third world country, and all those that don't believe in themselves. Kendrick knows his worth. Let others realize theirs.
Tim Eman so deep sooo deep, we just want some good music mane
me too.. but this isnt a music video...
Tim Eman TRU but u really think a poem would help end suffering kids in third world countries in this time and age?
“Injustice is telling them they are stars without telling them the night that surrounds them” Very powerful.
Just read this as he said it
@@EBENEZER565 same
Dont understand.What it mean?
But he never adressed the injustice of black students getting boosted SAT scores while asian and white students get their scores docked because of their skin color.
He is not a victim.
@@xJUDAZ I would relate it to how education judges you based on how you score on standarized tests. People who score A are led to think they are intelligent (stars), but there is so much more (the night) than those tests, which has to be discovered through the engagement of creativity. Education kills creativity and hence does not allow you to look beyond the light onto the night to realise your true potential.
I want to see him as a rapper. Imagine how many generations he can inspire through his music
I don't think a harvard graduate would become a rapper
@@Fallkaru why?
@@merrytious-xfire7878 because rapping is usually dominated by trying to be or are gangsters
@@Jackdaniels19894 you’d be surprised
@@Jackdaniels19894 also that’s not all rap is bud. Sounds like you don’t listen to it. Real rap is about peoples lives and the struggles they’ve been thru. You’re thinking of the new gen mumble shit.
“I’ve always been a thorn to injustice”
Underrated line
seeing this kind of stuff motivates me to want to be great
stfu and go do your homework you lazy ass
u can do it Chris, now go be great.
+Yudah El he's not the only one who can be great. Show the world what you're made of. Show them that you da man, Yudah.
you got 178 likes, that's great
Chris Cardenas Just be
"I belong among the stars and so do you" powerful message of this young man👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
That was good.... Some kids these days are wiser than even my years. That's saying something.
Another affirmative action graduate...Harvard...the once great school that hired a fake Indian and also someone as a professor of The Constitution who obviously had never even read the constitution. Ivy league schools suck....The Bushes, the Clintons, the Obamas, Al Gore ALL ivy grads yet everyone knows NEITHER could pass a fairly given GED
Same!!! I'm high AF rn, I belong among the stars too!
I read this as he was saying it and it hit so hard 🥺
Whoa!! Dude seems extremely intelligent but also very talented at the same time.
When he said sky is not the limit it is only the beginning I felt that He’s going to do great things in this world ❤️❤️❤️
“We weren’t born to be common, we are meant to be Comets.” Love it
And I commented on this quote
@@cutiemeowie8352 you think you're slick for that 😂
Lies again? King Power
Lol
it's obvious he learned nothing in university.
“An injustice is telling them they are stars, without acknowledging the night that surrounds them”. Wow🙌👏
What he means
The worlds bad
@@lemunz4280 😂😂😂😂someone is drunk l guess
twisted in a profound way, how do you even come up with this
THAT, was Powerful. 👏🏼👏🏼
i’m SO inspired wow - this is so eloquently written and so confidently spoken.
"Our stories are the ladders that make it easier for us to touch the stars. So climb!" - How powerful is that word!
I wish i can articulate myself like this young man. He inspires me. CONGRATULATIONS Man.
Eliman Gibba beautiful speech by a beautiful person
You can
Beautiful words, young man! What good do they do? Does this stop a white cop from killing an unarmed black male? Do your words provide ownership of corporations that can provide gainful employment for people regardless of race, creed, origin? There are some who wish to oppress others but, ultimately....the oppression is conducted and supported through force.....not beautiful words!!!! Please provide a solution to this problem.....not another means of eloquent statement of the problem. Talk is cheap!!!!
@@waynehammond7145 and here you go talkin cheap shit on the internet instead of doing anything.
You can do anything! Join a public speaking club in your area like Toastmasters.
"Injustice is telling them they are stars without acknowledging the night that surrounds them"
Incredibly powerful
I wish i could speak english confidentiality 😭😭
You... CAN. Do start with one word. Lol.
Who is still here 2021 for this amazing speech
Whatever his major was, seems to me it made him a hell of a lot more articulate than anyone commenting here
Perhaps philosophy
Including yours....
Looks like he knew how to articulate long before he even choose a major
Quantitative Social Science
I major in fornite, can’t beat that
I was tired of being a black hole in the classroom, absorbing everything but not being able to give off my light🙏🏽
interpretation 21 k
interpretation 21
LMAO check out this guy
@interpretation 21 r/whitepeople
interpretation 21 what the hell you smoking bruh
WV WV well that’s pretty racist but cool
That transition from the briar oatch to "I've always been a thorn in the side of injustice..." Whew. Goosebumps.
This man can speak so well. Coherent, poetic, powerful.
"Show them they are stars without acknowledging the darkness that surrounds them." Man...i felt this.
“Injustice is telling them they are stars without telling them the night that surrounds them”
@@AdityaPillai009 while I can appreciate this the perspecrive here is more relating to the darkness being so ever apparent and obvious, being reminded of the light brings the focus back from the darkness, and so in not doing that would be an injustice as well.
Yes, you can think of it that way too. But I was just pointing out that that's not what he said. Or atleast that's what I heard.
I've melted brother, amazing
Bigots, yall aint got no time watching CNN videos. Better be bangin the pig backyard.
+Jonny Stugotts racist loser
Hey moron welfare leeches... Im your boss, im your warehouse manager, im your neighbors lil league coach, im your Dr, ....we don't like what bullshit George Soros funded garbage you spew! Now Rage 4 M3 Mthr Fckrs Rage.......
+Jonny Stugotts as far as your concerned I could be a multi billionaire or multi millionaire, I could also be the boss of thousands of white people, you dont know me? I don't know you, but I do know a racist when I sense one, I defend black people from racism because I have seen black people suffer it and I speak out for God created every race as equals no superior
amen amen amen. EQUALS AND NO SUPERIOR.!!!
Wow, what a message! So well spoken! I actually have goosebumps. May God bless that man🙏❤️.
"Sky is not the limit, it's only the beginning." That's inspiring!
What a beautiful speech and poem....so inspiring and fulfilling to the soul. I was disappointed to see many ignorant people commenting negatively for being so ignorant not understanding the poem or speech. Poems can be done in many styles unique to the person my English teacher use to say.
Lol and neither will you do anything except feel more racis toward the white man.
+Bionic Honeybadger69 nah not really sorry bro. I'm not racist to anybody, we're all human and just want to live life to the fullest so yeah whatevs. Take care bro. XD ^^😆👍
That's right!
+ShaF F 😆
Kirito :3
“The sky is not the limit, it is on the beginning. LIFT OFF!”
POWERFUL! 🙌🏾
Now you can post that cheese on facebook :|
Mind-blowing
U CAN NEVER DO WHAT HE DID. IF U WANT TO BET ME, THEN GIVE IT A TRY. LETS LISTEN TO U TOO AND SEE WHAT U HAVE TO OFFER
@@jamesbruce5257 He didnt say anything though ? Can you tell me just ONE interesting fact I can get from this speech aside from the boasting and cheesy motivational metaphors :/
So much charisma. He's so gifted. Love this speech! Thank you!! 🌸❤️
The poem is one thing, but how he REMEMBERS it all??!! Impressive! CHEERs! :)
So lucky to have him as my professor at Wake Forest University!
Edit - thank you for the likes👍
really ? is he a professor rn
@@pelin.7992 Yup. He is part of the Education department. A fabulous orator and one of the most genuine people I've met!
Jay Sampat your classes must be really enjoyable i envy
No shit?
Wait... what does he teach?
for everyone asking what he studied, He is a Doctor of Philosophy.
Doctor of Philosophy is just the written out version of PhD, not necessarily what he studied🤷♀️
Are you really that ignorant?
OK, thank you
Dad Man the very heart of communism
Graduate School of Education
EdM | 2016
Learning and Teaching
Excellent speech, powerful and confident young man. He will definitely be reaching great heights in this life
We need more people to stand up and love each other....
4:11 *Education is the sleep that proceeds the American dream* now *THAT'S* what I call a powerful quote
precedes*
Big Facts
You edited it and still used the wrong word.
@@Phyoomz it's proceeds in England dunno where your at
@@crimson1763 regardless of location "proceed" means to move forward, "precede" means to happen before.
While the speaker may have been trying to say that education moves the American dream forward, which would of course be a coherent thought, it would not be phrased correctly using the verb "proceed," as it's an intransitive verb.
So it's much more likely that what the speaker means is that education must be achieved before the American dream can be realized.
He must be doing something right because he has so many haters in the comment section
Like Trump, right? Or Clinton?
Or old videos of Hitler?
#Hurrr
Tayo Akinmuyisan So true, lol!!
just like hitler and trump and hillary or whoever you hate lmao
Tayo Akinmuyisan of course he's black. we blacks we don't stop fighting. we fight and continue to fight
@Truth Hurts The truly hateful & vile comments have been reported, lol!
This guy could be an actor or an international speaker. 💓
His words sound great, even though I didn’t understand most of it, this is amazing 💯
This is the "I Have A Dream" of this generation. I am not African American, but this is truly incredible.
We aren't African American either. We are the children of Israel according to the Bible. Another LIE perpetuated by American Education or should I say Indoctrination!
@@IAMJUDAH707 not every black person is descended from ancient Israelites, but every ancient culture on the Earth used to be black..
@@lalalaura4382 Inaccurate. Don't falsify info.
And so are you for recognizing it....i was thinking the same thing
yeah easy college thaks to aff.actions + welfare state paied by whites and asian...real american dream for any african.
No comments about his oratorical skills. All i read was "hes black, hes rhyming about slavery, hes self centered". His speech had nothing to do with slavery but how he found his calling to become an educator. We're fucking doomed as a nation.
There's nothing wrong with his oratorical skills, but you're correct that this nation is doomed because of bigots.
Des i meant to compliment his oratorical skills. The kid is a great speaker.
walter yanez I apologize for the misunderstanding. I completely agree. The morons in the comments are intimidated by his vernacular so they pretend that they don't understand and criticize everything irrelevant. Racists did the same to Martin Luther King in response to his speeches, so I'm not concerned about anybody not getting the message just because the comments suck. The ignorant are always the loudest.
Haha, your comment is pessimistic but it's funny.
We are doomed because those that control think ignorance is a tool for continued control but in reality it is just the opposite as you have eloquently stated. Damnation is the price of hate and ignorance.
Imagine being valedictorian in high school…going to Harvard and then giving a speech like a valedictorian again!!
This was profound! Awesome and inspiring! I hope the message sunk in... His parents and family members have to be extremely proud of him...All the best...you only have good things for the future so continue to RISE!!!! Beautiful!
I can only imagine what his parents feel like......what a BLESSING!!!
Classy...
lmao
@@Karpov2 wtf?
They must be in tears of joy
He’s a better speaker than the leader we call President.
Because he is smarter than the blob we call president.
@@timmcveigh5056 Get over it!, Isn't that one of your favorite snap backs? Grow up please.
@@ShyraR i am over it. Its you folks who aint. #isyourpresident get over it yourself!
Tim stupid ignorant name McVeigh
You’re a racist creep.
Smash Racism
End supremacy
Kill the kkk
Pay reparations now
Ps. I wouldn’t compare this Harvard scholar to a racist prig president..you do him a disservice.
Most of us are better than the occupant of the white house
You said reach for stars.I needed to hear that so bad . I need a heart transplant,have 34 stents on my left.Have lupus, fibromyalgia, diabetes Ra, in severe pain.You are a blessing.
Education IS the great equalizer. I too hope the high school teacher listened to Donavon’s amazing speech. She didn’t quiet him she ignited him.
"Injustice is telling education is the key when you continue to change the locks" -Donovan Livingston
"None of us were born to be common we were born to be comets" wow 🗣
so dumb
John Smith it's an analogy and it's a good one too. None of us are the same because we all make a difference in the world, no matter how big or small is what he means. Not dumb.
@@piAustin It's a metaphor and it's a dumb one but since you like it why dont you post it on facebook for your mom and grandma to repost :|
John Smith lmao I don't even use facebook. I wouldn't post that type of stuff anyways, but since you are so convinced that it's dumb, please explain. And don't reply that I'm a dumb toxic 5 year old and the internet is stupid or some random bs like that.
@@piAustin John is clearly upset because he was not good enough for Harvard's university or any university at all . HA AH.
A compelling and convincing speach. Great.
Lord what a gift you have given this young man, thanks 🙏.
This was the most beautiful thing i have ever heard. I almost cried
Samuel Clark eh, what can I expect from a trump supporter
Charles Parent okay this has nothing to do with who voted for who, I personally think that both candidates are absolute shit this year but hey did I say anything about who voted for what? There is nothing wrong with anyone who voted or the other part so quiz being salty about something that's already been settled. Let's all get over it nd move on moth life PLEASE I have had enough politics this year
when da pussy is almost crying then he is ready to go
Isabella, You are so cute ! xD
Wake up every child... "Together we can inspire galaxies"
Amazing!
We can't even get past race. CNN a big on keeping racism alive
He is so confident. I am really proud of him. Great sharing and inspiration.
*Goosebumps* with a surge of positive energy. This is what real art is .
" I've been the black hole in a classroom for far too long" Amazing
Black "hole".
Can you explain what this mean? English is not my first language and I don't understand it
J W oh go it . Thank you very much
J W lmao and youre also to ignorant to understand he meant both, thats why it was such a powerful statement, you should have known that considering the speech was about his black history , brainiac.
4 years later 2020, damn he’s speech POWERFUL
Very inspired. A LOT of work went into this tremendous work.
Well done!
This speech is incredible, remarkable sound.