Fall Convocation Speaker Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Stirs and Inspires

Fall Convocation Speaker Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Stirs and Inspires

September 18, 2024

Wide view of Fall Convocation dias, choir, and part of the audience. — *Audience during Fall Convocation inside of the 抖阴短视频 Chapel.*

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Rev. William H. Lamar IV speaks to the audience during Fall Convocation. — *Rev. William Lamar IV speaks to the audience during Fall Convocation.*

Inside the 抖阴短视频 Chapel on Sunday, students packed in shoulder-to-shoulder for the 143rd Fall Convocation, the first hosted by Dr. Mark A. Brown 鈥�86, the university鈥檚 new President and CEO.

Dr. Brown told the sons and daughters of Booker T. Washington of his excitement to host his first Convocation. He proudly borrowed lyrics from songstress Anita Baker, saying he was 鈥淕iving them the best that he鈥檚 got,鈥� before introducing everyone to his pastor of the last decade. It was the words and inspiration of Rev. William H. Lamar IV of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., that captivated the students, alumni, faculty and staff and then lifted them to their feet.

鈥淚 see the glory and majesty of the one who created all things. Thank you for being present and having the divinity in you,鈥� Rev. Lamar offered as he opened. He spoke of the holy ground on which Tuskegee stands and the Creek people who were forcibly moved long before Booker T. Washington arrived.

鈥淭his place is fertilized by Creek joy and watered by Creek tears,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his ground is made holy by Africans forced to labor here and create wealth鈥� This holy place is fertilized by the brilliance made holy by you, the incoming class. This place will give you challenges and jubilation for the present and hope for tomorrow.鈥�

Rev. Lamar said the Bible speaks of how God began, but not finished creating.

鈥淲hat God is seeking is to continue to create. God cannot and will not create without you. God is waiting for you to write the next stanza of the poetry of this university, to brush the next stroke across the campus,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou are here because God is creating in you through you and in more cases in spite of you. God has not graduated from the university of creating. God is still in the school of creation.鈥�

Dr. Mark Brown brings greetings during Fall Convocation inside of the Chapel. — *TU President & CEO Dr. Mark Brown brings greetings.*

Rev. Lamar said Tuskegee is the very place where God will reveal what you are assigned to create. 鈥淕od gave you a comb, but will not comb your hair. God gave you lemons, but will not make your lemonade. You have to fetch your water and sugar. Do what God has called you to do. You are here to create art that makes our souls sing.鈥�

Then Rev. Lamar connected the students to Founding Principal Booker T. Washington.

You think you were delivered here by trains, planes and automobiles, he said. 鈥淵ou were blown to Macon County, Alabama by the wind of God. It was the intention of God to set you down in 抖阴短视频. Booker T. Washington was blown by the spirit of God. He wound up in Tuskegee because the wind of God kept blowing.鈥�

Following Rev. Larmar鈥檚 remarks, Dr. Brown presented him with a limited edition print of the Monument entitled 鈥淟ifting鈥� by TU alums Ernest and Jackie Foster. The print is No. 20 of 100.

The generosity of alums continued as Dr. Brown received a check for $283,431 from the Eminent Associates who met for their annual meeting on campus Saturday. They presented the check to represent the funds donated by the giving society during this fiscal year. On Friday, the president of the Tuskegee National Alumni Association presented Dr. Brown with $50,000 to support the Saving Our Students campaign.

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