2024 HBCU Commencement Speakers: Full List Of People Giving Keynote Addresses To Black College Graduates

Claflin University held its Spring Commencement Convocation with former South Carolina Representative Bakari Sellers to serve as keynote speaker on May 6, 2023, at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. | Source: Claflin University / Getty

College graduation season is upon us as students across the country prepare to embark on the next stages of their young lives.

From wading into the waters of a young career to preparing to continue their studies in graduate school and more, these students will be donning their caps and gowns to formally earn diplomas as families, friends and loved ones attend commencement ceremonies.

NewsOne is paying particular attention to the commencement exercises that are taking place at the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as the next generation of future Black leaders moves forward with their academic and professional lives to help continue the legacy that these great institutions have established for more than a century.

While HBCUs are known for producing the best in Black talents, they also routinely feature high-profile speakers to deliver the keynote addresses at historically Black college graduations.

Keep reading to find a list of HBCU commencement speakers this year.

Examples of notable Black people addressing HBCU graduates at commencement ceremonies include the likes of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in 2022 at Tennessee State University, the late actor Chadwick Boseman in 2018 at Howard University, his alma mater, and Black America’s forever President Barack Obama in 2010 at Hampton University.

And while those are some of the better known HBCUs, there are dozens and dozens of others who don’t get the same amount of attention while they stay churning out top-notch Black talent who have also have widely recognized individuals delivering their commencement speeches.

The same is very much true this year.

The legacy of Black excellence delivering keynote addresses at HBCU graduations is in good hands this year, as evidenced by the below list of luminaries scheduled to speak to historically Black college graduates this year.

The following list is in alphabetical order by names of the HBCUs. Any HBCUs missing from this list means their commencement speaker information hasn’t yet been made available. If you have information about the commencement speakers for any of the HBCUs that are missing from this list, please alert NewsOne via email at NewsOne-Core@interactiveone.com.

Until then, please enjoy getting to know more about this year’s impressive group of keynote graduation speakers during HBCU commencement ceremonies.

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