--- title: Darren Walker NYU Commencement Speech description: Watch Darren Walker's New York University commencement speech, in which he encourages NYU grads to "stand for something." canonical: https://time.com/4341702/darren-walker-nyu-commencement-speech/ author: Darren Walker article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-05-19T17:59:29.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-06T09:17:38.117Z og:title: Darren Walker to grads: 'Stand For Something' og:description: Watch the Ford Foundation president's New York University commencement speech og:url: https://time.com/4341702/darren-walker-nyu-commencement-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ff6717e156033a6/698893ecf887dc033fe95ed9/darren-walker-nyu-commencement-speech.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5472 og:image:height: 3078 og:image:alt: darren-walker-nyu-commencement-speech og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Darren Walker to grads: 'Stand For Something' twitter:description: Watch the Ford Foundation president's New York University commencement speech twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ff6717e156033a6/698893ecf887dc033fe95ed9/darren-walker-nyu-commencement-speech.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Darren Walker to Grads: 'Stand For Something' > Sponsored content. 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It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-worth-2026q3/newsletters?i=9f4bf203-7c02-403f-a897-f76f4ea6bf5c&cr=time-nl-worth-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Darren Walker NYU Commencement Speech.mp4 [Watch (HLS stream): Darren Walker NYU Commencement Speech.mp4](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/m71Cynbh.m3u8) (11:50)  _Published 2016-05-19_ by [Darren Walker](https://time.com/author/darren-walker/) ## Darren Walker May 19, 2016 5:59 PM UTC by [Darren Walker](https://time.com/author/darren-walker/) ## Darren Walker May 19, 2016 5:59 PM UTC Congratulations, NYU Class of 2016! Thank you President Hamilton—the _other_ most popular Hamilton in New York. And thank you, graduates, for letting me play a small part in one of the biggest days of your lives. I’m thrilled to be here as we mark a tremendous achievement for each and every one of you. And I’m especially honored to speak on behalf of a _special group_ of NYU degree recipients: The remarkable women and men with me on this platform, whose lifetime achievements are being recognized with honorary degrees. In this group we’ve got a comedian from Long Island, a scientist from France and a judge born in South Africa. We’ve also got the son of Alabama sharecroppers who has become a Civil Rights icon—and me, the product of Head Start and public schools, and, today, the President of the Ford Foundation. What brings this eclectic group of individuals together on this podium? Well, in all candor, who would pass up the honor of receiving a degree from one of America’s finest universities, in one of the world’s greatest cities? And who would pass up the opportunity to share in this glorious day with you? This day of graduation, this day to acknowledge what you have achieved—and what you _may yet_ achieve? This _is_ what brings us together, in fact: A celebration of _achievement_. Real, hard-won achievement—the kind that takes time and patience and character and determination. The men and women I am humbled to share the stage with are paragons of that kind of achievement. Their lives and careers are a testament to the enduring power of _persistence_, _perseverance_, _humility_ and _integrity_ in the pursuit of excellence. They represent achievement that goes far beyond service to themselves. Theirs is the kind of achievement that seeks to serve humanity—that pursues human dignity, justice, enlightenment. As an actor, comedian, author and star of film and Broadway—and a diehard fan of the Yankees, I might add—Billy Crystal has used his gifts to brighten the light in our hearts. And he has shined a light on those in need—from comic relief to Hurricane Sandy relief. In all his work, he has harnessed humor to heal, to provoke, to bring people together and to speak truth to power. Emmanuelle Charpentier is a pioneer in science. The breakthroughs she has made in editing genetic code are among the most important scientific achievements of this century, revolutionizing our ability to manipulate and understand genes. But it was not an easy road. She decided early in her career that she wanted to contribute to human understanding of medicine, and she has achieved that with long hours, incredible drive and unbridled intensity. Talk about drive. Margaret Marshall fought against apartheid in her native South Africa—when she was a _teenager_. She has said that there “was no access to justice” in the South Africa of her youth, so this warrior for justice emigrated to the United States and not only earned her law degree, but eventually rose to become chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. From that perch, she extended the cause of dignity and justice by championing LBGT rights and marriage equality. And then there’s the extraordinary Congressman John Lewis, my hero. Congressman Lewis has devoted his life to the conviction that love will conquer hate and that hope will conquer fear. After being savagely beaten on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, a young John Lewis got himself patched up and got back on the march. Fifty-one years later, Congressman Lewis still marches for justice, step by step, block by block, bridge by bridge. The four very different paths taken by my fellow honorees all head in the same direction: toward justice. They have lived lives of truth, of sacrifice, of service. And the world is better for it. Would you join me in thanking them for their service to the cause of a more just, fair and enlightened world? But graduates, the truth is, we are not here today _to be honored._ We are here to _honor you_. And we are here to plant a question in your souls, one that I hope will stick with you for years to come: What might you achieve that goes beyond _your_self? What sacrifices will you make, what service will you render, in the cause of justice in this world? As graduates of this extraordinary institution, you have enormous privilege. With that privilege comes a responsibility—to not just stand _out_, but to stand _for_ something, whether you are writing a legal opinion, or editing a genome, or running for office, or literally doing stand up. **_Read more:_** [_Eboo Patel to Wake Forest Grads: ‘The Only Shame Is In Stagnation’_](http://motto.time.com/4340068/eboo-patel-commencement-wake-forest/) **_Stand for something_**. And never stop asking yourself the question: “What might I achieve that goes beyond myself? How will my life serve the cause of justice?” Ask this question enough, and you will surely achieve something extraordinary, something worthy of your degree from this institution, something to be proud of. We cannot wait to see what it will be. Congratulations, Class of 2016! _Read more 2016 commencement speeches:_ [Anne-Marie Slaughter: ‘Care Is as Important as Career’](http://motto.time.com/4321549/anne-marie-slaughter-university-of-utah-commencement-speech/) [Barack Obama: ‘Passion Is Vital, But You’ve Got to Have a Strategy’](http://motto.time.com/4322786/barack-obama-howard-university-commencement-speech/) [Condoleezza Rice to Grads: ‘Don’t Let Anyone Else Define Your Passion’](http://motto.time.com/4323641/condoleezza-rice-high-point-university-commencement-speech/) [Cory Booker to Grads: ‘Tell Your Truth’](http://motto.time.com/4339149/cory-booker-washington-university-commencement/) [Earl Lewis: ‘Never Confuse The Attainement of an Education with What It Means to Be Educated’](http://motto.time.com/4338548/earl-lewis-carnegie-mellon-commencement-speech/) [Eboo Patel to Wake Forest Grads: ‘The Only Shame Is in Stagnation’](http://motto.time.com/4340068/eboo-patel-commencement-wake-forest/) [Hoda Kotb: ‘You’re the Sum Total of the Five People You Spend the Most Time With’](http://motto.time.com/4338660/hoda-kotb-tulane-university-commencement-speech/) [J.K. Simmons to Grads: ‘Live in the Moment’](https://time.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=4339313&action=edit) [Jane Goodall to Grads: ‘Remember to Live to Your True Human Potential’](http://motto.time.com/4307361/jane-goodall-university-of-redlands-commencement-speech/) [Jill Bolte Taylor: ‘We Have the Power to Choose Who We Want to Be’](http://motto.time.com/4323071/jill-bolte-taylor-butler-university-commencement-speech/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda to Grads: ‘Your Stories Are Essential’](http://motto.time.com/4337719/lin-manuel-miranda-grad-speech/) [Madeleine Albright: ‘Everyone Must Participate in Solving Shared Problems’](http://motto.time.com/4337554/madeleine-albright-scripps-college-commencement-speech/) [Michael Bloomberg: ‘An Open Mind Is the Most Valuable Asset You Can Possess’](http://motto.time.com/4315386/michael-bloomberg-university-of-michigan-commencement-speech/) [Michelle Obama to Grads: ‘Excellence Is the Most Powerful Answer You Can Give’](http://motto.time.com/4307020/michelle-obama-commencement-speech-jackson-state/) [Obama to Grads: Building Walls Is ‘A Betrayal of Who We Are’](http://motto.time.com/4337470/obama-rutgers-trump-comments/) [Russell Wilson: ‘Go Make It Happen’](http://motto.time.com/4337324/russell-wilson-university-wisconsin-commencement-speech/) [Sheryl Sandberg: ‘Finding Gratitude and Appreciation Is Key to Resilience’](http://motto.time.com/4336546/sheryl-sandberg-university-of-california-berekley-commencement-speech/) [Vivek Murthy: ‘Live a Connected Life’](http://motto.time.com/4337454/vivek-murthy-commencement-speech-arizona/) [William Foege to Grads: ‘Every Day We Edit Our Obituaries’](http://motto.time.com/4327610/william-foege-emory-university-commencement-speech/) ## Transcript [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Thank you to my friend the incandescent the brilliant Andrew Hamilton. The other most popular man named Hamilton in New York today. [ APPLAUSE ] To the trustees, distinguished guest, and particularly to the family and friends of the graduates of 2016, I hope you feel the basking In the glow of the success of this remarkable group of young people who represent the future of the world, [ APPLAUSE ] And to the graduates. The class of 2016 at MYU, congratulations! I am truly thrilled To be here as we mark a tremendous achievement for each and everyone of you graduates. And I'm profoundly grateful on behalf of a special group of NYU degree recipient. The remarkable men and women on this platform whose lifetime achievements are being recognized, indeed, NYU has deemed worthy of an honorary degree from this great institution Now you've heard their credentials. But let me just say, we've got a comedian from Long Island. A brilliant scientist from France. An eminent jurist born in South Africa The son of Alabama sharecroppers who has become today a civil rights icon. [ APPLAUSE ] So what brings this eclectic and diverse group of people together at Yankee Stadium on this beautiful day? Well, in all condor, who wouldn't turn down the opportunity? Who would turn down the opportunity to be with you? To receive an honorary degree from one of the world's greatest Universities in one of the world's greatest cities. [ APPLAUSE ] This day of graduation, this day to acknowledge, it's about acknowledging what you graduates Have achieved. And what you may yet achieve, in the years ahead. This is what brings us together, in this moment. It is indeed a celebration of achievement. Real, hard won achievement. The kind that takes time, and patience, and character, and determination. The men and women I am humble to share this platform with today are paragons of this kind of achievement. Their lives Their careers are a testament to the enduring power of persistence, perseverance, humility, and integrity in the pursuit of excellence. They represent achievement that goes far beyond. Service to themselves. In fact, theirs is the kind of achievement, that seeks to serve humanity. That pursues human dignity, justice, and enlightenment. We may know Billy Crystal. As the great actor and comedian. And of course he is a die hard New York Yankees fan. But what I loved about Billy Crystal is how he has used his privilege, his celebrity To shine a light on those in need, from comic relief to Hurricane Sandy relief. In all of his work, he has harnessed humor to heal, to provoke, to challenge us And to bring us together. And to use his power to speak truth. The brilliant scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier. Yes she is one of the guiding leading light. And scientific research, and it is true that her achievements around editing genetic code, are among the most important scientific achievements of this century. But it was not an easy road for her. She decided early in her career That you wanna contribute to human understanding of medicine. And along the way, she has achieved that, through long hours, incredible drive, and unbridled intensity. And here comes Margaret Marsha. Talk about drive. This young South African, white South African, was on the side of history when she took up the fight to end Apartheid in her native country. She came to the United States as a warrior for justice. And from that important perch on the Massachusetts Supreme Court, she changed America. [ APPLAUSE ]. And then there is the inimitable extraordinary congressman John Lewis. Congressman Lewis has devoted his life to the pursuit of justice. But, there was a time when Congressman Lewis's parents told the young man to focus on school and don't get in trouble. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] But Congressman Lewis, a young John Lewis had to get in trouble. He had to get in the way of the injustices that he saw in the American South. And in the process of marching for 50 years, John Lewis has changed America. [ APPLAUSE ] The four very different paths taken by my fellow honorees all head in the same direction, towards justice. They have lived lives of truth, of sacrifice, of service and the world is better for it. Would you join me in thanking them and recognizing them for their enormous contribution? [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] So now, graduates. It's time to turn to you because I have some questions for you today. Day. I'd like to ask you to reflect in your souls, about a set of questions that I hope will be with you as you leave the safety and security of this remarkable university. How will you change the World? What might you achieve that goes beyond yourself? What sacrifices will you make? What service will you render? In the cause of justice in the world. As graduates of this great university you have enormous privilege. And with that privilege comes a responsibility, to not just stand down. but to stand for something, whether you are writing a legal opinion, or editing a genome, or running for office, or literally doing stand- up, stand for something. And never ask yourself, the question. Never, ever stop asking yourself the question, what might I achieve that goes beyond myself? These are the question of our time, how can we Extend the ladder of opportunity, so that more people can sit in these bleachers in the years ahead and experience what you all have experienced. If you do this, if you ask these questions You will do something worthy of this great institution. You will do something worthy of all of your hard work. So class of 2016, I implore you to believe in Dr. King's Vision for a beloved community. It is possible, I challenge you at this critical moment of transition in your lives, to commit yourself to getting that job done. Today is a glorious day. Today is to celebrate all that you have achieved and all that you will achieve. Congratulation Class of 2016. 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