In a speech that was the culmination of the school’s annual pre-commencement festivities, Ngozi Adichie juxtaposed the idea of truth to the state of American politics. She drew from her experience growing up in Nigeria during a military dictatorship, and said , “America always felt aspirational — but today the political discourse in America is from the land of the absurd.”
The writer challenged graduates to be “citizen leaders,” seeking out what is right.
“Even if there is no value in the other side, there is value in knowing what the position is,” she said.
“If you are reporting about the sun rising in the east, you don’t need to hear about the other side because there is no other side,” Ngozi Adichie said.
Her message rang true for graduating senior Priscilla Guo, who mentioned Harvard’s Latin motto of “Veritas,” or “truth.”
“Veritas is more than just a motto,” Guo said.
“It was her asking that we acknowledge our ignorances, which struck me. She noted that ignorance acknowledged is opportunity. I walked away from her speech thinking that acknowledging what I do not know can be both powerful and enlightening in my quest for truth and justice.”
Ngozi Adichie’s work has been translated into more than 30 languages. She is known for novels including “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Americanah,” which explores how a young Nigerian encounters race in America.
“Few writers have captured the challenges of immigrants and others navigating those changes as Adichie,” the university said.
Credit: wtop.com
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