Oprah Winfrey attends the UNCF Charlotte Women Who Lead Maya Angelou Fundraiser 2019. Photo: The Burton Wire
Oprah Winfrey attends the UNCF Charlotte Women Who Lead Maya Angelou Fundraiser 2019. Photo: The Burton Wire

You may recall two weeks ago, using the social media platform Twitter, a student asked former president Barack Obama to deliver a virtual 2020 Commencement address for all 2020 graduates due to cancellations because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Obama politely declined.

Media mogul and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has answered the call, agreeing to serve as the  featured commencement speaker for #Graduation 2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020, a multi-hour streaming event set for May 15 on both platforms.

Many 2020 high school and college graduates and parents lamented the negative impact the COVID-19 virus has had on graduation rituals including proms and graduation ceremonies. Now there is a high-profile, high-powered solution featuring Winfrey as the commencement speaker and celebrities like Simone Biles, Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner and Lil Nas X.  Miley Cyrus is scheduled to perform her hit song, “The Climb” during the virtual ceremony.

Set your calendar reminders and get your cap and gown ready for Facebook Watch, which will broadcast the event May 15. Segments will be posted to Instagram.

This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.

Follow The Burton Wire on Twitter @TheBurtonWire.

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TheBurtonWire.com is the premiere online destination for people who think for themselves. This blog offers news from the African Diaspora, culture that is produced by often overlooked populations and opinion that is informed and based on fact. Tired of the onslaught of websites and talking heads that regurgitate what people want to hear, TheBurtonWire.com is a publication that elevates news and perspectives that people need to hear. TheBurtonWire.com is for individual thinkers who understand that they are part of a larger collective. What is this collective? Free thinking people that care about the world, who will not be categorized or boxed in by society or culture and are interested in issues and topics that defy stereotypes and conventional wisdom.