Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Adria R Walker

Morehouse students criticize Biden as commencement speaker: ‘A political pawn to get Black votes’

a man in a blue suit speaks from behind a lectern
Joe Biden speaks on the grounds of Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, on 11 January 2022. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Morehouse College, a nearly 160-year-old historically Black college in Atlanta, announced on Tuesday that Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker for its commencement ceremony in May. Though Morehouse initially extended the invitation in September, Biden’s acceptance comes after a tumultuous week for the president, in which college students across the nation have engaged in sustained anti-war protests in solidarity with Palestine.

The Guardian spoke to Morehouse students who criticized the school’s decision to host Biden, and others who had mixed feelings about the upcoming address.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.