U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks drew on Nelson Mandela’s struggles and philosophy of perseverance as she addressed Bowie State University graduates Friday, telling them to prepare for discomfort as they work to change the world.
Alsobrooks, Maryland’s first Black senator, received the Presidential Medal of Excellence and a presidential citation during the ceremony on the Bowie campus. Speaking to graduates, faculty, staff and hundreds of family members, she quoted the late South African president’s famous words: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
The former Prince George’s County executive and state’s attorney described Mandela as “a young revolutionary” with “a burning inside of him to correct the mistreatment of his people.”
“He believed in a constitutional democracy. He believed in equality for all people. He believed every adult should have the right to vote,” Alsobrooks said. “Every action he took was guided by the belief in human dignity, peace, and the power of forgiveness. And it was those beliefs that caused him to spend 27 years in jail.”
The white-minority South African government convicted Mandela and others to life imprisonment in 1964 for their role in trying to overthrow the state. Before his conviction, Mandela was a well-known activist who opposed the apartheid racial segregation policies of the South African government.
Alsobrooks told graduates that Mandela became a wanted man by law enforcement officials “for supporting human dignity.”
“Envision facing a courtroom that threatened life imprisonment because he fought for justice against government-sanctioned hate,” she said. “He didn’t back down. It takes boldness to hold on to your principles in the depths of a South African prison for 27 years when simply renouncing them would immediately relieve you of your suffering.”
During his incarceration, Mandela advocated on behalf of others instead of himself, earning respect and inspiring people worldwide, Alsobrooks said.
“To Mandela, true leadership stands on principle, not popularity — because times change,” the senator said. “And what’s popular today might not be popular tomorrow. True leadership sets the example, and others follow.”
Alsobrooks drew parallels between Mandela’s spirit and that of Bowie State’s founders and graduates. She encouraged the new graduates to work toward making the world better while warning them it wouldn’t be easy.
“The truth of the matter is that no matter how talented you are, no one will hand you success that you deserve,” she said. “You’re going to have to work for it. And in spite of the incredible legacy and success of Bowie State graduates, you’re going to face at times the absolute ignorance of those who will question your qualifications and competencies. But be clear — you belong in every room you step in. And believe me when I say that your presence will change the room. So be present. Be bold. Be confident.”
The senator urged graduates to embrace discomfort as part of their journey.
“Discomfort is a reality in this life. You could run from it. You could try to avoid it,” Alsobrooks said. “But boldness doesn’t hide from a little hard work. It doesn’t run from challenges. This university has prepared you to overcome those moments. In my experience, I’ve learned that in order to be great you have to withstand some discomfort. In fact, when you’re on the precipice of greatness, you start to feel some discomfort.”
She said Mandela’s story endures “because he endured.”
“He never let the conditions of the world around him determine what he believed in,” she said. “Even in his letters to his adversaries detailing his unwavering demands for justice, Mandela remained dignified. The fire in him burned, but it didn’t turn him bitter or spiteful. The decency he showed while in solitary confinement was the same grace the world saw when he took his place as president of the very nation that imprisoned him.”
Concluding her address, Alsobrooks said the moral arc of the universe is long but bends toward justice.
