Rev. White-Hammond Applauds Diversity Among Graduates

Harvard College senior Madison R. Webb ’25 opened Harvard’s 374th Commencement with the national anthem, drawing a flurry of applause from thousands in the audience.

Rev. Gloria E. White-Hammond — the co-pastor of the Bethel AME Church in Boston and a practitioner at the Harvard Divinity School — then delivered a prayer and land acknowledgement.

In her impassioned address, White-Hammond applauded the “rich tapestry of humanity” among the graduating class, celebrating the “different races, religions, gender identities, ethnicities, countries of origin” among the graduates.

“Yes, we all belong here,” White-Hammond exclaimed.

White-Hammond then thanked the families of the graduates, as well as the staff at Harvard — librarians, registrars, building and grounds staff, IT workers, and financial aid officers. And, in a line that drew applause, she deviated from her prepared remarks to thank Harvard’s leaders.

“For our administration, for the courage to make the changes that they should, and the conviction to stand for the principles they must and the wisdom to stay focused and know the difference — oh God, for all these things and so much more, two words, one thought: thank you!” White-Hammond said.

In a break with tradition, last year’s Commencement ceremony featured two chaplains — Khalil Abdur-Rashid and former Harvard Hillel Campus Rabbi Getzel Davis — deliver a joint prayer. White-Hammond’s address returns the Commencement ceremony to its usual norm of having a single chaplain deliver the opening address.

—Staff writer Dhruv T. Patel can be reached at dhruv.patel@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @dhruvtkpatel.

—Staff writer Grace E. Yoon can be reached at grace.yoon@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @graceunkyoon.