VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Graduates from one Volusia County university got a mouth full from Reverend Al Sharpton Thursday afternoon, and many students were left inspired by his remarks.
Fired up, Sharpton, a controversial and often polarizing civil rights activist, let loose on a group of nearly 600 Daytona Beach graduates. Thursday afternoon, Sharpton gave the commencement address at Bethune Cookman University, the historically black university in Volusia County.
"It was powerful, riveting, moving," student Wendy Scott said.
It was a no holds barred speech for Sharpton, mixing motivational words with some pointed remarks.
"Some of ya'll were in the back room smoking a joint while they were in the front room trying to learn," Sharpton said.
"Anybody that knows him knows he'll bring it when he has a speech," student Selah Bryan said.
But as controversial as Sharpton may be, students told WFTV they're honored to have him speaking.
"The message that he gave was not a message of controversy, but a message of inspiration and that was something that we needed," student Darold Ingram said.
Sharpton told WFTV he's not trying to ruffle any feathers with his message.
"That is to reach as high as they can. Don't let anything get in their way; don't be discouraged; don't be distracted; and don't let anything get in their way," Sharpton said.
Sharpton also received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree at the graduation.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Friday, May 6th 2011 at 11:20AM
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