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Renowned Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump to TSU Grads: You Are Who Our Ancestors Dreamed About

Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2021

crump scholarship check presentation

On Saturday, May 8, 2021, world-renowned attorney, civil rights leader, and author Benjamin Crump delivered the commencement address to 1,073 Texas Southern University's students during the face-to-face and virtual event held at Alexander Durley Stadium.

Attorney Crump is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law and has established himself as one of the nation’s strongest advocates for social justice. He has represented several families in high-profile civil rights cases including, Third Ward native George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, the affected residents of the Flint, Michigan water crisis, and nine of the 13 Black women victims in the 2015 Holtzclaw Oklahoma City Police rape case. Crump praised graduates' accomplishments in his commencement address and encouraged them to harness their power to impact the world around them.

"As I stand here and look out at the graduating class of 2021, I see such awesome power. You all have no idea how powerful you are. You cannot fathom the things you're going to accomplish in this world, the influence that you're going to bestow upon this world for future generations," Crump said. "You are who our ancestors dreamed about when they were in the cotton fields under slavery.”

Crump challenged TSU graduates to use their education to fight against social injustice and reshape the American Dream for all people. “When we fight for the George Floyds of the world, the Breonna Taylors of the world, the Ahmaud Arbery’s of the world, the Stephon Clarks of the world, the Robbie Tolan’s of the world, the Alton Sterling’s of the world, the Philando Castile’s of the world, the Sandra Bland’s of the world, the Atatiana Jefferson’s of the world, the Eric Garners of the world, the Laquan McDonalds of the world, the Walter Scotts of the world, and the Terence Crutcher’s of the world, what we are really doing is fighting to help make America live up to its high ideals. What we’re really doing is helping America live up to being the great beacon of hope and justice for all the world to marvel. What we are really doing, Texas Southern University, most of all, we are helping America be America for all Americans.”

Attorney Crump ended his commencement speech by presenting TSU a check for $20,000 to establish the Benjamin Crump Social Justice Endowed Scholarship. “I believe this scholarship will help create new opportunities for the next United States Representative, the next United States Supreme Court, and possibly, the next President of the United States, right here from Texas Southern University.”

 

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Last updated: 05/13/2021