Zadie Smith | Commencement Speech 2014 | The New School

Internationally renowned novelist Zadie Smith, author of White Teeth, The Autograph Man, On Beauty, and NW, called on graduates at The New School's (www.newschool.edu) 78th Commencement ceremony to reach beyond themselves to seek meaning in connections with others. In a speech entitled "Many Hands," Smith urged graduates to find purpose and pleasure in collectively approaching the global challenges that will define their generation. "I speak in favor of recognizing our place within the many, not only as a slogan - much less as a personal sacrifice - but rather as a potential source of joy in your life," she said. "The climate. The economy. The sick relationship between the individual prestige of the First World and the anonymity of the Third. These are things only many hands can fix, working together."
Location: Madison Square Garden, May 23, 2014.

[@thenewschool]

"Generations are defined by the projects they take on together.” - #NewSchoolGrad speaker Zadie Smith

[@peterhinton6164]

the faces of the professors behind zadie - give this wonderful speech - a wonderful added unintended but apt irony....

[@fretfun]

This is the best graduation speech I have ever heard!!!!! Makes everything crystal clear!!! Thanks for posting.

[@anthonydc50]

Really enjoyed that. Thanks Zadie Smith and the New School!

[@conniewalker-carter5835]

GREAT!

[@jamesc6067]

The chancellor (?) is so expressive

[@jasonhowell1282]

A good adjunct to this speech: Zadie Smith on Reading and Becoming Human

[@jamesc6067]

also great speech, esp re not believing you need community/society until you do