Oprah! Challenging Graduates To Face Their Reality And Embrace Their Achievements

Oprah Winfrey graduated from historically Black Tennessee State University in 1986 with a degree in communication and performing arts. On May 6, 2023, she returned to give the Commencement Address at the Nashville-based institution of higher education. Although graduation speeches by celebrities can often ring hollow, Oprah came ready to motivate graduates to be steadfast in who they are and in their purpose. She exclaimed, “Do not let the world make an imposter syndrome out of you” — referring to the idea that we aren’t deserving of our achievements or don’t belong. She urged graduates to listen to the small voice they have inside to find the truth about how they should lead their lives.

Possessing a strong sense of empathy, Oprah shared, “I’ve been thinking a lot about how much of your lives have already been spent grappling with the extremely complex issues of our time because you are the generation that is forced to depend on body cams to obtain justice, and even then, accountability, as we’ve seen again and again, can be so hard to come by. You’ve witnessed the storming of the Capitol and the death of civility. You are acutely aware that voting rights are being gutted, women’s rights are being dismantled, books are being banned, and history is being rewritten. The Supreme Court is being corrupted. The debt ceiling is being held hostage. The climate is changing. The LGBT+ community is under attack. The Cold War is back. The leaders are behaving like children. The children are being gunned down by military-grade assault rifles. We live on a planet where there is more than enough wrong to keep you busy trying to make things right for the rest of your natural life.” After pointing toward all of the issues this generation of African Americans — and others — are facing, Oprah, noted that all signals indicate that the United States of America might not be united, but with hope, she exclaimed, “we are not a finished product.”

The award-winning actress and philanthropist also noted, “Unfortunately, you’re going to encounter people who will insist that it’s not actually possible to make any real difference.” She encouraged the crowd to keep in mind that change can happen, pointing to Tennesseans Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson, state representatives who recently stood up to their congressional colleagues in the fight to curtail gun violence. She also reminded the graduates that living a life for others — so that others have opportunity — is the ultimate fulfillment, stating: “This is what I know for sure. There will never be anything in your life as fulfilling as making a difference in somebody else’s.”

Although Oprah pointed to the challenges we face as a nation, and especially the challenges faced by the largely African American student audience at Tennessee State University, she ended with a plea to be hopeful because hopefulness leads to joy. Lastly, she reminded the graduates of their achievements and how they deserve them, rendering imposter syndrome useless.