Not a COVID Commencement Speech

My favorite artist once said, "We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life." 

Another young black man once said, "I think we all need a pep talk."

At this moment, we are all trying our best to stay healthy and live some version of our lives. Some days are harder than others, and each of us is battling the demons of reality in our own ways.

I've spent many of the past weeks talking with my children, students, friends, and family about our current state of reality. This is new...