U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, a Democrat from Alabama, brought a powerful blend of gratitude, defiance and inspiration to Tuskegee University’s spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11. Figures delivered a keynote address that honored the legacy of the historic institution while challenging graduates to lead with purpose, persistence and principle.
Speaking to a packed crowd on the eve of Mother’s Day, Figures began by shifting the spotlight from the graduates to the families and supporters who helped them reach the milestone.
“Will all the parents please stand?” Figures asked, prompting a wave of applause. “They supplied the home-cooked meals, care packages, cash apps, gas money, Netflix passwords and more… today is your celebration, too.”
The speech moved from heartfelt gratitude to pointed advocacy as Figures recalled his first weeks in Congress, when he said he had to “put on the boxing gloves” to defend Tuskegee’s legacy and the future of historically Black colleges and universities.
“One of the first things I had to do in Congress was to fight to preserve the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen,” he said, referencing a decision to remove the famed World War II pilots from U.S. Air Force training materials. “Well, myself and Congresswoman Terri Sewell had a simple response — no, you’re not.”
He said the material was eventually corrected after public outcry and congressional pushback. “The Tuskegee Airmen helped save the world from Hitler — the least we could do is save their legacy from political games.”
Figures then recalled a second threat to HBCUs, when funding for Black land-grant universities was suspended, but not for predominantly white institutions.
“They said, we are suspending some money to the Black land-grant colleges — and only to the Black land-grant colleges,” he said. “Well, Tuskegee is one of those land-grant colleges. And again, I had to stand up and say — no you’re not.”
He noted that the funding was restored, and to prevent a repeat, he introduced legislation this past week that would require equal treatment of HBCUs when it comes to federal funding.
“HBCU students’ futures shouldn’t be caught up in this foolishness,” he said. “There is too much at stake to be playing these games.”
Figures then turned to the deep roots of excellence and service that define Tuskegee’s history. He spoke of iconic figures like Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, but emphasized the everyday greatness of alumni who shaped his own life — including his cousin, Russell Figures, a 1987 graduate and U.S. Army officer, and Judge John England, a Tuskegee graduate who helped integrate the University of Alabama’s law school alongside Figures’ father, and he later became one of only three Black justices to serve on the Alabama Supreme Court.
“These are all people who contributed to the rich legacy that you now stand within — and with that comes a responsibility,” Figures said. “Not just to preserve Tuskegee’s values, but to expand them.”
Reflecting on his own path in life, Figures offered a series of lessons drawn from experience, urging students to protect their health, to pursue their dreams with heart, to stay rooted in their communities and to treat others with dignity.
He stressed the importance of self-care and mental health, especially in the face of social and economic disparities. “The best thing you can do for your future is to be there for it,” he said. “You can’t pour into others or your future if you’re running on empty.”
He encouraged the graduates to cultivate passion and drive in all that they do. “Mama and Daddy can’t want more for you than you want for yourself,” he said. “It’s on you to find that passion, that desire, that will.”
Figures cautioned graduates to be intentional about whose approval they seek, saying that validation from the wrong sources can distract from meaningful goals. “Surround yourself with people who inspire you,” he said. “People who will help push you forward, not pull you down.”
He also urged graduates to never forget their roots. “Many of you grew up in neighborhoods or communities that were underprivileged and underserved — but you still made it,” he said. “Don’t ever forget that there are people there who still need you.”
Finally, he closed with a call to character: “Treat people right. Treat people how you want to be treated,” he said. “It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to people. Or to smile at people, or speak to people, or to offer to help people when they need it.”
Rep. Figures ended on a hopeful note, commending the Class of 2025 for keeping their commitment to education even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today, we celebrate this chapter closing. But with the closure of one chapter, another chapter opens, and the work begins anew,” he said. “The world will be better because of it. The world will be better because of you.”
The crowd responded with a standing ovation, honoring both the message and the messenger — a Tuskegee advocate who, from the halls of Congress, continues to fight for its future.
