WASHINGTON – For the first time in more than a year, undergraduates of the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 gathered outdoor and safely distanced for Howard University’s 153rd commencement ceremony. Bryan Stevenson, attorney, social justice activist and founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) delivered a speech that spoke of the values of truth, justice and hope.  

“Today, we have the special opportunity to call ourselves Howard alums,” said Stevenson. “But more than that, we have a special obligation. A Howard degree means you have an identity that allows you to say things that the world needs to hear. Today, we’re going to have to commit to changing some of the things we see around us.” 

Reflecting on his career as an attorney working in the criminal legal system for four decades, Stevenson reminded graduates of the impact that racial inequality and mass incarceration has had on men, women and children, and implored graduates to change the narrative surrounding Black communities.  

“We have tolerated too much. We have accepted too much, and today, what I believe we are called to do is respond to the justice deficit in the world around us,” said Stevenson. “We can no longer be silent about things that too many have been silent about. Today, I want to charge you, Howard graduates, to commit to changing the narrative that surrounds us.”  

“To do justice, we’re going to have to change narratives, we’re going to have to stay connected to the communities of the poor and the disfavored and the marginalized, but we’re also going to have to stay hopeful,” said Stevenson. “I really do believe that hopelessness is the enemy of justice and justice prevails where hopelessness persists. Generations of Howard graduates have understood that hope is our superpower.” 

Stevenson, a graduate of Harvard Law School and the Harvard School of Government, was presented with an honorary doctorate in humane letters during the ceremony. Having earned these degrees and titles, Stevenson noted the burden of racist narratives that forces Black people to navigate presumptions of dangerousness and guilt, regardless of their accomplishments. Still, he encouraged students to commit to truth and justice, remain hopeful, and never underestimate their power to affirm the humanity of others. 

Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick told the graduates who endured the unique challenges of the pandemic that their Howard University degrees serve as a badge of honor. 

“You have demonstrated tremendous resilience to reach this milestone,” said Frederick. “Under difficult personal circumstances and national upheaval, you decided to persevere in your chosen field of study. At a time when no one could have faulted you for becoming complacent or distracted, you pursued your studies with a renewed passion because the pandemic reinforced your ‘why’ and reminded us all that a Howard education truly comes to life when it is deployed in the service of others.” 

Among the graduates participating in the ceremony was Lydia Bredwood from Lexington, Kentucky, who graduated with honors from the School of Business. Bredwood leaves her beloved Alma Mater having served as president of the American Marketing Association at Howard University, where she connected marketing students to professional development, certification and internship opportunities throughout the pandemic. She was the winner of the 2019-2020 Marketing Department scholarship and has held internships with the Washington Nationals and City First Bank, the nation’s largest Black-owned banking institution. Inspired by her success at Howard, Bredwood’s younger brother is following in her footsteps as a rising sophomore in the School of Business.  

“The most memorable thing Howard taught me is to be confident in myself,” said Bredwood. “While I’ve been here, I’ve learned that your peers are your biggest network. I’ve gotten to know people from so many different places, and I’ve realized that at the end of day, I am unique. The skills I learned at Howard transformed me, and they made me who I am.” 

For the Class of 2021, Howard University awarded 2,356 degrees, including 224 master’s degrees, 555 Ph.Ds., and 26 certificates to graduates representing 44 states, 26 countries and 179 graduates from the District of Columbia. Among them, 445 graduates received professional degrees in law, medicine, pharmacy and dentistry.  

For the Class of 2020, Howard University has awarded 1,358 degrees, including 153 master’s degrees, 86 Ph.Ds., and 26 certificates to graduates representing 40 states, 32 countries, and 121 graduates are from the District of Columbia. Among them, 308 students received professional degrees in law, medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. 

Photo 1: Bryan Stevenson addresses Howard University graduates in the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021.

Photo 1: Lydia Bredwood poses outside of Howard University's 153rd Commencement Ceremony.

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About Howard University 

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.