Palmetto State News

Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden lauded the resilience of South Carolina State University’s Class of 2021 during a commencement address Friday at the Smith Hammond Middleton Memorial Center.

Though U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn initially was to deliver the graduation's keynote speech, the SC State alum, who marched with the graduates, asked the 46th president to make the remarks, according to an university news release. 

Citing a litany of issues the nation faces today, from police brutality, the increasing cost of college tuition, civil rights and voter rights, Biden called upon the graduates to meet the challenge, according to a transcript of his address released by the White House. 

President Joe Biden | WhiteHouse.gov

“We cannot, we must not give hate any safe harbor,” Biden said. ‘We have to shine the brightest light as we can on it. That’s the ultimate disinfectant: Call it out. And you’re going to be the light. You’re going to have to be the light.”

Biden also told the graduates, the transcript noted, that, as part of the most gifted, best educated generation in the country’s history, they have an obligation to accept people for who they are, regardless of their race, faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical limitations. 

He also told them that they likely will see more change in the next decade than was witnessed over the last 50 years as a result of advances in science and technology.  

As a result, the transcript noted that Biden told graduates the nation is counting on them to seize the opportunity to make a difference and have a positive impact on the course of the country. He also took the opportunity to send a message to Capitol Hill for the passage of voter rights. 

Clyburn graduated from SC State in 1961, according to the school’s release. 

However, the release noted that he did not get to march to receive his diploma, which was mailed to him. The release also noted that the university did not hold a December commencement ceremony at the time of Clyburn’s graduation.