Beyoncé Knowles delivered a powerful commencement speech to the nationwide class of 2020 through YouTube on Sunday.
The 38-year-old pop icon started by congratulating graduates who overcame unprecedented events in the country, including ‘a global crisis, a racial pandemic and worldwide expression of outrage at the senseless killing of yet another unarmed black human being.’
‘You are achieving things your parents and grandparents never could imagine for themselves. You are the answer to a generation of prayers,’ she applauded.
Moving: Beyoncé Knowles delivered a powerful commencement speech to the nationwide class of 2020 through YouTube on Sunday
‘Thank you for using your collective voice and letting the worlds know that Black lives matter. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others have left us all broken. It has left the entire country searching for answers,’ she continued.
The mother-of-three went on to add: ‘We’ve seen that our collective hearts, when put to positive action, could start the wheels of change, Real change has started with you, this new generation of high school and college graduates who we celebrate today.’
Later, the Texas-native, who rose to fame in the late Ninties in the group Destiny’s Child, reflected on her career navigating the entertainment industry, which she describes as ‘still very sexist.’
‘You are achieving things your parents and grandparents never could imagine for themselves. You are the answer to a generation of prayers,’ she applauded
‘It’s still very male-dominated, and as a woman, I did not see enough female role models given the opportunity to do what I knew I had to do,’ she pointed out. ‘To run my label and management company, to direct my films and produce my tours, that meant ownership, owning my masters, owning my art, owning my future and writing my own story.’
With passion in her voice, she stressed: ‘Not enough black women had a seat at the table, so I had to go and chop down that wood and build my own table.’
While encouraging people, who are unheard and overlooked, she called upon group that felt like ‘others.’
Later, the Texas-native, who rose to fame in the late Ninties in the group Destiny’s Child, reflected on her career navigating the entertainment industry, which she describes as ‘still very sexist.’ Beyonce shares powerful BLM message to 2020 graduates
‘Your queerness is beautiful, your blackness is beautiful your compassion, your understanding, your fight for people, who may be different than you, is beautiful.
In a raw confession, she pointed out: ‘If you’ve ever been called dumb, unattractive, overweight, unworthy, untalented, well so have I!’
In these situations, she emphasized not letting other people’s projections and own doubts deter one from their dreams.
‘If you’ve ever been called dumb, unattractive, overweight, unworthy, untalented, well so have I!’ she noted after two decades in the music industry
‘I know those moments are painful and your human and it hurts like h*ll, but now’s the time to turn those criticisms into fuel and motivation to become a beautiful beast.
When asked her secret to success, she pointed out that often there are ‘more failures than victories.’
‘Yes, I’ve been blessed to have 24 Grammys, but I’ve lost 46 times,’ she reminded her fans. ‘That meant rejection, 46 times.’
Wise: She concluded with a big smile and a final piece of advice: ‘Keep pushing. Forget the fear. Forget the doubt. Keep investing and betting on yourself.’
Even with all her triumphs and achievements, she said, ‘Please, never feel entitled to win. Just keep working harder.’
The Crazy In Love hitmaker called losing the ‘best motivator to get you even bigger wins.’
She concluded with a big smile and a final piece of advice: ‘Keep pushing. Forget the fear. Forget the doubt. Keep investing and betting on yourself.’