The Power of the Millennial Generation

Joe Biden's commencement speech at Cornell University in New York emphasized the importance of the graduates, and those in their generation, to get involved in public affairs and fight for the things they care about.

Biden begins by acknowledging the fear and uncertainty that many Americans, including the recent grads, now face – given the current precarious nature of politics in the U.S. and its leadership's stance on issues such as civil rights, healthcare, climate change, and a host of other things. He then goes on to talk about the issues that were occurring around the time he was graduating from law school – the Vietnam War and the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy – and talks about how only a few years later, his involvement in politics helped him turn the issues he cared about around. He emphasizes the graduates' ability to do this as well, reiterating several times that this generation is the most tolerant, talented and engaged in American history.

Despite America's uncertain political landscape, Joe Biden's commencement speech gave some hope to the graduates who may feel anxious about their future.