Vice President Kamala Harris congratulates HBCU graduates in a video message as they graduate from the school year

WASHINGTON (AP) – Graduates of historically black colleges and universities across the country are receiving greetings via video from a distinguished colleague: Vice President Kamala Harris.

“As a proud graduate of an HBCU, I know from my own experience the value of attending an institution like yours,” the vice chairman says in a congratulatory video that has already drawn shock and applause at the graduation ceremony.

The surprise video, which premiered at several HBCU commencement ceremonies last week, shall be shown at about half of all HBCUs in the country, in accordance with the White House.

“You leave here having learned that you could do anything and be anyone. And that you could have an obligation to be perfect. Work to enhance the condition of all people. And fight to guard our most elementary rights and freedoms,” Harris says in a pre-recorded message.

Harris is the first HBCU graduate elected as vice chairman, and since her involvement in national politics, she has been embraced by the tight-knit communities surrounding lots of these historic schools. Last year, she included HBCUs in a nationwide tour aimed toward mobilizing young voters to “fight for fundamental freedoms and rights.”

“We were delighted with the message,” said Quinton Ross, president of Alabama State University, which broadcast the video during the graduation ceremony earlier this month. “Everyone was excited when her face appeared on the screen to deliver the news.”

The Biden administration has committed a record $7 billion to funding HBCUs — an investment the Biden campaign has highlighted in its outreach to Black voters.

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Harris’ message to graduates comes as the White House faces sharp criticism and protests from young voters on many college campuses over its handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Students are also dissatisfied with the state of education in the country, as many universities grapple with increased scrutiny of DEI programs from conservative activists and lawmakers and the fallout from a Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative motion.

However, Harris’ commencement message doesn’t address these sensitive issues; Instead, it expresses joy for college students’ academic achievements.

“We need your voice and we need your leadership,” Harris says in the video. “In our schools, hospitals, courtrooms as technology creators, entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and leaders at the highest levels of presidency. We need you to proceed working to construct a higher future for our nation and the world. And you are ready.

Dietra Trent, executive director of the White House Initiatives on HBCUs, said the vice chairman was sending the right message, “particularly in a situation where the country as a whole is sort of pulling back on some of the gains that people of color and especially African Americans have made.”

Trent cited restrictions on the teaching of African American history and strict voting laws passed in some states as examples of policies that drawback Black Americans.

Trent said that since the starting of the year, the White House has received a large variety of requests for Harris to seem in person at HBCU commencements.

“These are Covid-19 classes. These are students who started college in 2020, so this class of 2024 is a truly unique class because they faced obstacles that, honestly, many of us have never had to face when it comes to education,” said Republican Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat who has led the outreach to HBCUs and young voters of color.