5 Best quotes from Chadwick Boseman’s Howard University graduation speech

May 14, 2018

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Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman gave an inspiring commencement speech at Howard University saturday that left graduating students feeling like warriors ready to battle real life after college.

Boseman, a Howard alumnus himself, gave a personal account of his struggles as a Howard student and how he was able to transform his challanging experiences into power. He received a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 2000 and credited the historically Black institution largely with his success.

—Hear white woman’s 911 call for police to check out Black Airbnb guests—

Here are Boseman’s five best inspiring quotes:

Rising Above Discrimination:

“Many of you will leave Howard and enter systems and institutions that have a history of discrimination and marginalization,” he said. “You can use your education to improve the world that you are entering.”

Fighting for the Culture

“Everything that you fought for was not for yourself, it was for those who came after you,” he said.

Being a Warrior

“Take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes,” he said. “Then you will not regret it.”

Find Your Purpose

“It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history,” he said. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill.”

Pushing Ahead

“What do you do when the principles and standards that were instilled in you here at Howard close the doors in front of you? Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is,” he said.

In addition to imparting wisdom to the class of 2018 Boseman also received an honorary doctorate degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.

“The light of new realization shines on you today,” Boseman said. “Howard’s legacy is not wrapped up in the money you will make, but the challenges you choose to confront.”

And of course he threw up the Wakandan—X across the chest salute—as he left the stage but modified the statement to, “Howard forever.”