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Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke delivered an inspiring address at the Miles College Honors Convocation.
Her remarks celebrated the academic achievements, hard work, and dedication of the attendees while acknowledging the historic legacy of Miles College and its role in advancing education for Black students.
Gratitude and Recognition
Kristen Clarke expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome extended by President Knight and the entire Miles College community.
She also recognized the presence of her dedicated colleagues from the U.S. Department of Justice, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collective effort in their mission.
Miles College: A Legacy of Excellence
Clarke highlighted the remarkable history of Miles College, founded 125 years ago by Christian Methodist Episcopal pastors to provide educational opportunities to Black students who were denied access to other institutions due to the legacy of slavery.
Despite facing the challenges of the Jim Crow era, lynchings, and racial segregation, Miles College remained committed to academic excellence, transforming the lives of countless Black students.
Miles College and the Civil Rights Movement
The college played a pivotal role during the Civil Rights Movement, providing refuge and support to those fighting for freedom and equality.
Notable alumni such as Autherine Lucy, U.W. Clemon, and Richard Arrington exemplify the college’s legacy of activism and leadership in the struggle for civil rights.
The Call for Courage and Conviction
Kristen Clarke urged the audience to draw inspiration from the courageous individuals who fought for justice and equality during challenging times.
She emphasized the need for courage and conviction in the face of rising hate, bigotry, and threats to democratic values.
Clarke pointed out that disparities in wealth, mass incarceration, and hate crimes continue to pose significant challenges to civil rights and racial justice.
The Power of Public Service
Clarke encouraged students to consider public service as a means to make a positive impact on society.
She emphasized that regardless of their chosen field, students could contribute to social justice, economic equality, and equal opportunity.
She cited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to “make a career of humanity” and commit to the noble struggle for equal rights.
Personal Journey and Fulfillment
Drawing from her own experiences, Clarke shared her journey into law and civil rights.
She emphasized the deep gratification that comes from advocating for justice and fighting against discrimination.
Clarke’s personal story, from growing up in public housing to becoming the first woman and first Black woman to serve as Assistant Attorney General, served as an example of how individuals can make a difference by following their passions.
The Role of the Black Lives Matter Generation
Clarke reminded students that they are part of the Black Lives Matter generation and urged them to consider the current threats to democratic values and the importance of pushing for progress.
She stressed the significance of using one’s knowledge and wisdom to honor the intrinsic value of every human being.
A Call to Action
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s speech at Miles College Honors Convocation serves as a call to action for the next generation to stand up for justice, equality, and civil rights.
Her inspiring words resonate with the college’s legacy and the ongoing struggle for a more just and equitable society.
Clarke’s message encourages students to make a meaningful impact on the world by using their education and talents to champion social justice causes.
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
“Good morning. It is great to be here. My heart is just bursting with pride looking at this beautiful audience today.
I want to first start off by thanking President Knight for the kind introduction and the very warm and gracious welcome that she’s extended to me today.
And I want to thank all of you for welcoming me and giving me the opportunity to share in this wonderful occasion.
Dr. Jarralynne Agee, it really is a privilege, because today is a celebration of achievement, of academic excellence, of hard work and perseverance. So, thank you for the opportunity to be here with you.
I also just want to take a moment for the privilege to recognize my extraordinary team of colleagues from the U.S. Department of Justice including the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are here today. I’m going to ask that they all raise their hands.
This event shows that your school is proud of you. I know that your families are proud of you. And you should be very proud of yourselves.
I feel privileged to speak at such a historic institution as Miles College. One hundred and twenty-five years ago, Christian Methodist Episcopal pastors founded the College to provide educational opportunities for Black students, who continued to languish under the oppressive legacy of slavery, without access to other schools.
Over the years Miles College continued to provide these opportunities, transforming the lives of thousands of Black students in our country.
The school persisted through the bleak days of Jim Crow, as Black people in Alabama were denied the right to vote, to hold government offices, to serve on juries and to enjoy public facilities.
It persisted through the carnage of lynchings — more than 300 right here in Alabama since 1900, including 14 in Jefferson County, and one right here in Fairfield in 1940.
It persisted as police brutality and shocking acts of violence enforced an unwritten code that punished Blacks for looking at a white woman the wrong way, as a KKK bomb killed four little girls — 60 years ago tomorrow — at the 16th Street Baptist Church.
Through all this hatred and injustice, Miles College stayed true to its calling, pursuing academic excellence and turning out graduates of distinction.
And, as Birmingham became the epicenter of our nation’s Civil Rights Movement, Miles College unsurprisingly was right at the forefront.
It was a haven for the heroes fighting for freedom, equality and justice.
It was the engine for strategies to battle racial segregation. It was the source of inspiration, insight and hope.
One of your great alumni is Autherine Lucy, class of 1952, the youngest of 10 siblings.After graduating from Miles College, she applied to get a degree in teaching from the University of Alabama, and she was accepted.
The University revoked the acceptance when they found out she was Black. But Brown v. Board of Education came down, and a court ruled that they had to let her in.
She attended for all of three days, until a white mob, screaming and throwing things, drove her from the school.
The response of the University: they expelled her. Fifty-four years later, they invited her back. She went and graduated and now, there is a scholarship that bears her name.
This school produced U.W. Clemon. At Miles College, he helped organize the successful boycott of downtown Birmingham stores to protest segregation and participated in Dr. King’s Birmingham campaign in 1963.
When he graduated as valedictorian in 1965, the University of Alabama Law School would not admit Black people, so the state actually paid for him to attend Columbia Law School in New York.
Well, Clemon returned the “favor” by coming right back to Birmingham as a civil rights lawyer where he successfully sued Bear Bryant to integrate the Crimson football team.
And in 1980, President Carter appointed Clemon as the very first Black federal judge here in Alabama.
Miles College is also the alma mater of Richard Arrington, who was a student, a professor, and later a dean here, before becoming the first Black mayor of Birmingham.
He was reelected four times, serving 20 years and he worked to greatly expand opportunities for those who were the victims of discrimination in the city.
All of these icons are part of your legacy, of Miles College’s legacy, and of your Alabama heritage.
And as you determine your life’s path, I urge you to consider their example, because they stood up for the fundamental American value of recognizing the worth of each human being.
They fought for what they believed was right.
We desperately need such courage and conviction right now.
Hate and bigotry are on the rise.
The apostles of division based on race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity have crawled out into the sunlight and been met not with universal condemnation, but with acceptance by elements of mainstream America.
Statistics show that the average wealth for a Black family today is approximately $24,000, while the average wealth for a white family is approximately $188,000.
Over two million people are incarcerated in our jails and prisons in this nation, a disproportionate number are Black and Brown people.
And recent FBI statistics show that hate crimes have increased nationwide by more than 11%, from 2020 to 2021, and Black people continue to be the most frequently targeted.
Key gains we have made in civil rights and racial justice are at risk. And at the same time, we face new civil rights battlegrounds, such as bias in artificial intelligence.
Maya Angelou said that “equal rights, fair play, are like the air. We all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.”
You are achieving and receiving a sterling education at this institution, and your presence here today shows that you are excelling.
You have intellectual power. You have a reservoir of untapped potential. You have vision and drive and I encourage you all to use them!
Use them to fight for social justice. Use them to battle the malevolent forces of hate and prejudice. Use them to fight for economic justice and equal opportunity.
But how do you do that? That is the question that you must answer yourself. A central feature of your experience at Miles College is self-discovery, finding out what you are passionate about, what you are good at, where your potential lies, beginning to deploy your talents to their highest and best purpose.
Making these choices comes easier to some people than others. If it makes you anxious, I encourage you to lighten up because you have a long journey ahead, with many twists and turns and your initial choice will not be your last.
Your career will evolve. Richard Arrington started off as a zoologist in his first career, then a professor and an administrator before he became Mayor. Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn