Magic Johnson reacts to ‘rare’ HBCU accomplishment

After speaking at Tuskegee University and Stillman College this HBCU commencement season, Magic Johnson is basking in a rare HBCU feat. Typically, distinguished HBCU commencement speakers are invited to one commencement, and oftentimes, commencement speakers aren’t invited to multiple institutions in the same state to address the graduates. But Magic Johnson’s two commencement speeches were indeed a rather rare occurrence, and he spoke about it in a recent social media post.

“This past weekend, I had the rare privilege of delivering two HBCU commencement addresses in a single day. What a way to mark my first visit to Alabama! A huge thank you to President of Stillman College Dr. Yolanda W. Page and President of Tuskegee University Dr. Mark Brown for inviting me onto your campuses.

I began at Stillman College on its 150th anniversary, where I addressed the graduating class and was honored to receive an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration. Later, I addressed the graduating class at Tuskegee University, the institution founded by Booker T. Washington and the alma mater of President of SodexoMagic Charles Johnson. Speaking to a filled stadium with overflow audiences in the chapel and beyond was a moment I’ll hold for the rest of my career.

My charge to both classes: be bold, be strategic, be global, be active, be intentional. HBCUs make up just 3% of America’s colleges, yet they produce 80% of Black judges, 50% of Black lawyers and doctors, and 40% of Black engineers and CEOs. That is not a coincidence. That is excellence, built on purpose.
Class of 2026 at Stillman and Tuskegee: you were built for this moment. You were prepared for this moment. You were chosen for this moment. Now, go prove it!”

Johnson joins Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones as commencement speakers that are delivering two addresses to HBCU graduates this commencement season. Johnson’s two speeches centered on economic advancement for the graduates, mainly dealing with AI and the proper management of their brands.