By Judaea Ingram
Special to the Carolinian
GREENSBORO, N.C – The Class of 2026 at North Carolina A&T State University received an energetic and celebratory sendoff from Queen Latifah, who served as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies held May 9 at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
Queen Latifah, whose career spans music, film, and television, is widely recognized as a pioneering figure in hip-hop and entertainment. She has earned multiple Grammy Awards, received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Chicago, and built an extensive career in film and television, including acclaimed work as an actress and executive producer. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, reflecting her impact across decades in the industry.
From the moment she appeared, the atmosphere inside the coliseum shifted into celebration. Queen Latifah opened her address to the sound of her hit “U.N.I.T.Y.,” prompting immediate cheers from graduates who stood to their feet as the arena erupted in excitement. Chants of “Aggie Pride” echoed throughout the venue as families and students responded to the moment.
Smiling and feeding off the crowd’s energy, she acknowledged the atmosphere almost immediately. “Y’all got me hyped. The Queen is hyped,” she said, drawing laughter and applause from graduates across the arena.
Throughout her remarks, Queen Latifah repeatedly centered the graduates as the focus of the day, emphasizing that the moment belonged to them. “Today is about y’all,” she said, reinforcing the significance of their achievement and the transition they were stepping into.
Her speech focused heavily on self-belief, confidence, and the importance of defining success on one’s own terms. She encouraged graduates not to limit themselves based on external expectations or conventional paths.
“Be delusional enough to call yourself something the world hasn’t called you yet,” she said, urging students to imagine possibilities beyond what others may have defined for them.
She continued by encouraging bold decision-making and personal trust, stressing the importance of intuition when navigating life after graduation. “Be brave enough to walk down that road that no one else can see but you,” she said. “Say no, even when the world is telling you to say yes, or vice versa. Say yes if that is what your gut is telling you, even if the world is telling you no.”
Queen Latifah also emphasized the value of surrounding oneself with supportive and encouraging people. She urged graduates to be intentional about their community, saying, “Find the people who believe in you and rock with them.”
As she neared the end of her address, she shifted to a message of personal ownership and confidence, encouraging students to step fully into who they are meant to be. “Find a way to find your crow, put it on, and rock that thing,” she said.
She closed her remarks by directly addressing the graduating class, offering congratulations before ending on a final burst of school spirit: “Aggie Pride.”
The keynote address stood out as one of the most energetic moments of NC A&T’s commencement ceremonies, blending celebration, audience interaction, and motivational messaging as graduates marked the completion of their academic journey and the beginning of their next chapter.
