00:11

and Mrs. Obama for including me in this very special day.

00:17
to the Class of 2020, you have arrived here in the middle of a global crisis, a
racial pandemic,

00:25
and worldwide expression of outrage at the senseless killing of yet another unarmed
Black

00:30
human being. And you still made it. We're so proud of you. Thank you for using your
collective voice

00:38
and letting the world know that Black lives matter. The killings of George Floyd,
Ahmaud Arbery,

00:44
Breonna Taylor, and so many others have left us all broken. It has left the entire
country

00:50
searching for answers. We've seen that our collective hearts, when put to positive
action,

00:56
could start the wheels of change. Real change has started with you, this new
generation of high

01:03
school and college graduates who we celebrate today. I did not get to experience
college like

01:08
some of you or the campus parties that left you struggling the next day in class,
although that

01:13
could have been fun.

01:14
But my parents did teach me the value of education, how to be authentic in my
actions,

01:21
and how to celebrate individuality and the importance of investing in myself.

01:26
Dear graduates, please remember to take a little bit of time to give thanks to your
family members

01:32
and the community who's been such a big support system for you. You are achieving
things your

01:38
parents and grandparents never could imagine for themselves. You are the answer to
a generation

01:44
of prayers. Now, some of you might be the first in your family to graduate from
college.

01:51
Maybe you did not follow the path that was expected of you, and you probably
questioned

01:56
everything about your decision. But know that stepping out is the best thing you
can do for

02:02
self-discovery. I know how hard it is to step out and bet on yourself.

02:08
There was a pivotal turning point in my life when I chose to build my own company
many years ago.

02:14
I had to trust that I was ready, and that my parents and mentors provided me with
the tools

02:20
I needed to be successful. But that was terrifying. The entertainment business is
still very sexist.

02:28
It's still very male-dominated. And as a woman, I did not see enough female role
models given

02:35
the opportunity to do what I knew I had to do, to run my label and management
company,

02:41
to direct my films and produce my tours. I had to trust that I was ready, and that
my parents and

02:43
mentors provided me with the tools I needed to do what I knew I had to do. That
meant ownership.

02:46
Owning my masters. Owning my art. Owning my future. And writing my own story.

02:53
Not enough Black women had a seat at the table. So I had to go and chop down that
wood and build

02:58
my own table. Then I had to invite the best there was to have a seat. That meant
hiring women,

03:06
outsiders, underdogs, people that were overlooked and waiting to be seen.
03:12
Many of the best creatives and business people, who although supremely qualified
and talented,

03:18
were turned down over and over as executives at major corporations because they
were female or

03:24
because of racial disparity. And I've been very proud to provide them with a place
at my table.

03:30
One of the main purposes of my art for many years has been dedicated to showing the
beauty

03:35
of Black people to the world, our history, our profundity, and the value of Black
lives.

03:42
And I've tried my best to pull down the veil of appeasement to those who may feel

03:47
uncomfortable with our excellence. To the young women, our future leaders,

03:52
know that you're about to make the world turn. I see you.

03:56
You are everything the world needs.

03:59
Make those power moves.

04:01
Be excellent.

04:02
And to the young kings, lean into your vulnerability and redefine masculinity.

04:11
There's so many different ways.

04:11
ways to be brilliant. I believe you and every human being is born with a masterful
gift.

04:17
Don't make the world make you feel that you have to look a certain way to be
brilliant.

04:22
And no, you don't have to speak a certain way to be brilliant. But you do have to
spread

04:27
your gift around the planet in a way that is authentically you. To all those who
feel
04:34
different, if you're a part of a group that's called other, a group that does not
get the

04:39
chance to be center stage, build your own stage and make them see you. Your
queerness

04:46
is beautiful. Your Blackness is beautiful. Your compassion, your understanding,
your

04:52
fight for people who may be different from you is beautiful. I hope you continue to
go

04:58
into the world and show them that you will never stop being yourself. That it's
your

05:03
time now. Make them see you. Now, if you've ever been called dumb, unattractive,

05:09
overweight, unworthy, untalented. Well, so have I. Whatever you do, don't let
negativity of people

05:17
projecting their own self-doubts on you deter you from your focus. I know those
moments are painful

05:23
and you're human and it hurts like hell, but now is the time to turn those
criticisms into fuel

05:29
and motivation to become a beast.

05:31
beautiful beast. Respect is everything. There's no successful relationship without
respect,

05:40
nor a successful movement if the basic principle is not respect. The world will

05:47
respect you as much as you respect yourself. I'm often asked,

05:52
What's your secret to success?

05:54
The shorter answer, put in that work.

05:58
There may be more failures than victories.

06:00
Yes, I've been blessed to have 24 Grammys,

06:02
but I've lost 46 times.

06:05
That meant rejection 46 times.

06:09
Please don't ever feel entitled to win.

06:11
Just keep working harder.

06:12
Surrender to the cards you are dealt.

06:15
It's from that surrender that you get your power.

06:18
Losing can be the best motivator

06:20
to get you even bigger wins.

06:22
So never compare yourself to anyone else.

06:26
There will be wins and losses.

06:28
There will be tears and laughter.

06:30
You'll feel the shades of life deeply.

06:33
Now with success comes challenges.

06:35
With your wins, you may start to notice people

06:38
spending a lot of energy trying to tear you down.

06:41
Try not to take it personally.

06:43
Unfortunately, it's something that comes along with success.

06:47
Whenever you feel like you're not in control

06:49
or the world is against you,
06:52
Let that vulnerability motivate you into greatness.

06:55
That's how I found my true self.

06:58
I remain a work in progress, and that's the beauty of growth.

07:02
I've been happiest when I let go.

07:05
and allow life to show me the next move.

07:08
When you bet on yourself,

07:09
you're making an investment into your own future.

07:12
When you choose to spend your valuable time

07:15
thinking, speaking, typing negative thoughts,

07:18
you're investing in something

07:20
that will give you absolutely no return in your investment.

07:24
Class of 2020, every thought in your mind is powerful.

07:28
Every word you speak is powerful.

07:30
reaction you take has consequences for yourself and your community look what

07:36
you've been able to do in the last 14 days we've seen the power of the

07:42
collective we've seen what happens when we join for the same cause please

07:47
continue to be the voice for the voiceless never forget we

07:51
disagree in a way that is productive to arrive at decisions that foster real

07:55
change and if you make a mistake that's okay too but we all have a responsibility