Biden scheduled to speak at 'historically black' university commencement this month

President Joe Biden is preparing to deliver the commencement speech at Howard University, a historically Black university situated in Washington, DC, later this month. The commencement ceremony is slated to take place on May 13th.

Confirming recent reports, the White House has announced that President Biden will also deliver the keynote address at the commencement of the United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado, on June 1st. The disclosure was made during a previous event at the White House where President Biden presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the Air Force's football team.

Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris' alma mater, has been a focal point for the Biden administration since their inauguration in 2021. Vice President Harris herself delivered a passionate speech on abortion rights during a rally held on the Howard campus, among other engagements.

Notably, in January, Howard University achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to partner with the Department of Defense for a university-affiliated research centre. The Department of Defense has committed $12 million annually for five years to support research, faculty, and students at Howard University. The funding for this centre is provided jointly by the Department of Defense and the US Air Force.

President Biden's speech at Howard University will occur less than a month after he announced his candidacy for re-election in 2024. The upcoming campaign is expected to place considerable emphasis on mobilizing Black voters and young voters to actively participate in the democratic process.

Securing funding for HBCUs has been a significant aspect of President Biden's domestic agenda. He has proposed nearly $45 billion in funding to improve infrastructure and modernize HBCUs, with approximately $6 billion already allocated through the Department of Education. HBCUs continue to be a priority for the Biden administration, as demonstrated by President Biden's previous engagements at South Carolina State University and his virtual address to HBCU students in June 2021.

The White House has further revealed that other members of the administration, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, will deliver commencement speeches at various HBCUs across the country.

The last time a sitting president addressed the graduating class at Howard University was in 2016 when President Barack Obama delivered a memorable speech to the graduates.