Commencement Brings Out the Stars

Black colleges and black stars get special attention at commencement this month.

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  President Obama at Hampton

  President Obama - AFP via Getty Images

  The president received an honorary degree at Hampton University's commencement Sunday. He told graduates they had a responsibilty to raise the academic performance of African-Americans.

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  Michelle Obama in Arkansas

  Michelle Obama in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

  The First Lady spoke at a the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff, a college that began as a modest school for black students in 1873.

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  Sonia Sotomayor at Howard Commencement

  Sotomayor at Howard - Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson

  U.S. Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor is awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws at Howard's Commencement.

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  Kenny Gamble at Berkelee School

  Kenny Gamble at Berkelee - Getty Images

  Kenny Gamble, co-creator with Leon Huff of the Philadephia Sound that dominated pop music the 1970s, received an honorary doctorate in music at the Berkelee School of Music in Boston.

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  Harold Ford, Jr. and wife at Howard

  Harold Ford Jr. and wife, Emily at Howard - Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson

  The former Congressman and his wife at Howard's commencement. He was the commencement speaker.

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  Angelique Kidjo

  The Grammy-winning African singer was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by the Berklee School of Music in Boston

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  Nigerian Dental Students Pledge to Service

  Stella Chukwu, Ayisatou Umari, Remi Ogunsanya -Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson

  Stella Chukwu, Ayisatou Umari, Remi Ogunsanya, students from Nigeria graduate from Howard's College of Dentistry.

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  Media Women at Howard

  Robin Roberts chats up BET co-founder Sheila Johnson - Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson

  BET co-founder Sheila Johnson and ABC's Robin Roberts at Saturday's commencement exercise.

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  NASA Administrator Charles Bolden

  The former astronaut was scheduled to make the commencement address at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, a historically-black institution.

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  Meet the Howard Class of 2010

  Graduates of the Class of 2010 - Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson

  Graduates perform their last ritual before joining the real world.

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  Mellody Hobson

  Mellody Hobson of Ariel Capital Management - Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson

  Financier is honored at Howard University commencement.

 

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