The statement made by Robert F. Smith at Morehouse College's commencement ceremony of 2019 was one of the most remembered events in educational charity. Addressing a crowd of graduating seniors, the entrepreneur said that the family of donors would pay off all debts belonging to the entire graduating class. Naturally, there was much joy and applause in the audience. Soon after the ceremony, the video spread through social media platforms.
However, what kept people's attention on the story was not just the donation but its implications. Later, it turned out that in addition to covering debts for the students themselves, the gift from Smith also helped to get rid of parents' financial problems. In such a way, the exciting event took on the meaning of a wider discussion about educational opportunities and family debt in African-American communities.
