Biden urges Morehouse grads to reject Trump’s fake macho persona
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The predictions of mass unrest over the Israel-Hamas conflict never materialized during President Joe Biden’s address at Morehouse College’s commencement ceremony. To the contrary, at Sunday’s graduation at one of the most vaunted men’s colleges in Black American history, there was an impassioned speech from the class valedictorian calling for an immediate cease-fire, which the president applauded, and a smattering of individual protests.
As for Biden’s actual remarks in Atlanta, there were two sections in particular that I noted as smart and sensitive speechcraft. First, there’s the following excerpt, which subtly addressed reports that disaffected Black men might sit out this year’s election.
As concrete examples of his administration’s efforts to curb racism, Biden listed infrastructure, his record of job creation among Black folks and his promotion of police reform. But perhaps more importantly, I thought it was smart to show empathy with people who might be feeling discouraged by the grinding pace of democracy and wondering whether staying home in November, or voting for Trump, might serve them well. Although I think media outlets overestimate how large this group is, I also think Biden showed sensitivity in addressing these voters.
Another part of the speech that stuck out was Biden’s call for the graduates to reject Trump’s style of toxic masculinity. Biden framed such masculinity as being at odds with what it means to be a “Morehouse Man,” a title that has carried clout in Black communities because of Morehouse’s list of esteemed alumni.
I continue to think these lines of attack against MAGA masculinity are an important tool in chipping away at Trump’s support among men.
Speeches don’t win campaigns in and of themselves. But they can go a long way toward that goal by demonstrating competency and compassion to key voting blocs. Biden appears to have done that at Morehouse — ironically, in a speech that some may have thought would spell his political end.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
