‘Graduate Together’ With Barack Obama’s Commencement Message Draws 20.8 Million Viewers Across TV & Digital

Former President Barack Obama sent some words of encouragement to graduating students in his commencement speech that streamed Sunday as part of YouTube's Dear Class of 2020. "It's fair to say that your generation is graduating into a world that faces more profound challenges than any generation in decades," he said, referencing the coronavirus pandemic, the hundred thousand lives lost and the impact on the economy.

Barack Obama wants the impact of this moment to be lasting. The former president delivered a heartfelt, inspiring message to this year's graduating class on YouTube Originals'. The over-four hour special, which aired on Sunday, also featured commencement speeches by Barack's wife, Michelle Obama, as well as Beyonce. In his speech, Barack acknowledged how «head-spinning» the last few months must have been for graduates, but urged them not to wish things would go back to normal.

J. Kim Murphy editorFormer US President Barack Obama was one of many celebrities to speak at YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual graduation ceremony on Sunday, and his speech included hope and calls to action for the graduating class.

On Sunday, YouTube is presenting a virtual graduation ceremony to all those graduates who won’t be able to accept their diplomas onstage this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As protests continue in the fight against racism and police brutality following the tragic death of George Floyd, countless famous faces are urging fans to exercise their right to vote. — And, that doesn’t just mean in the big November election for president, but in upcoming primaries, as well as other elections in states across the country.

While President Donald Trump is busy holding photo ops with an upside-down bible and demanding that protesters be handled by the military and threatening to unleash dogs on them, former President Barack Obama has decided to release a message of hope and unity. Since leaving the Oval Office, the Democratic icon has been rather silent on political matters.

Barack Obama is addressing the ongoing protests in the fight against racial injustice.

We might not have an actual leader in the White House like we used to, but former President Barack Obama is doing what he can to inspire and reassure the people as Black Lives Matter protests continue nationwide.

Former President Barack Obama spoke about the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd for the first time on camera in a speech on Wednesday.

By Dominic Patten

By Brent Lang

Former President Barack Obama addressed the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd for the first time on camera in a speech on Wednesday.

Amid the pandemic and protests, several states — Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. – are holding primaries on June 2.

Remember what it was like to have a president who could take to the airwaves and reassure the nation, whose cool and calm words made everyone less angry and afraid? Seems like something from a movie now, doesn’t it?

The death of George Floyd has prompted outrage around the world and now Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama are speaking out.

In recognition of the graduating high school students who cannot attend physical ceremonies amid the coronavirus pandemic, multiple television networks airedGraduate Together: America Honors the Class of 2020 onSaturday. The event featured appearances by LeBron James, who executive produced the special, along with Kevin Hart, Jonas Brothers, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Lena Waithe, Ben Platt, Zendaya, Olivia Wilde and more, with a commencement speech from former President Barack Obama.

Former President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized U.S. leaders overseeing the nation's response to the coronavirus, telling college graduates in an online commencement address that the pandemic shows many officials "aren't even pretending to be in charge." Obama spoke on Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition, a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

With most graduations canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Former President appeared on television and social media platforms to give two virtual commencement addresses—one for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and another for 2020 high school graduates, the latter broadcasted as part of a special called .On May 17, used his time to congratulate students and teachers, but also to call out leaders who "don't have all the answers" and encouraged graduates to learn

By Jordan Moreau

Barack Obama delivered a motivating commencement speech to the class of 2020 during the Graduate Together virtual event on Saturday, May 16.