The mayor of Pittsburgh made his way to the podium and stood before an auditorium filled with graduating students, their parents, friends and other loved ones.
As he looked upon his audience, he recalled a time when he walked Morgan State’s campus, graduated from the university and sat in its stands as a new graduate 30 years ago.
Ed Gainey, a Morgan State alum who is Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, returned to his alma mater — “the mother of his education” — to give the fall commencement speech on Dec. 13, 2024.
In total, more than 450 students received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees according to a Morgan State University article.
Gainey delivered an impassioned speech to them, recalling his time as a student, his path to self-realization and urged them to learn in life as well as academics.
“Every profession that you will go into … If it doesn’t make you contemplate quitting, if it doesn’t make you think about your decision, get off that track because the road is too broad,” said Gainey. “I need you to get into the straight and narrow because that is gonna take you to your destiny. It’s gonna make you who you are purposed to be.”
Gainey advised all listeners to find their purpose and seek out challenges in life.
“Whatever you love that you would be willing to do for free is where you’ll find your purpose,” said Gainey.
The audience cheered and clapped multiple times during his address. Among them was Mary Elaine Blackwell, 96, who graduated in 1949, and a graduating mother-daughter duo Carissa Fowlkes and Keniera Wagstaff.
Blackwell immersed herself in multiple student organizations while attending Morgan State and was president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Alpha Gamma Chapter from ‘48 to ‘49.
Since graduating, Blackwell joined Morgan’s D.C. Alumni chapter and supported, organized and co-founded events, scholarships and other initiatives promoting Morgan State.
To Blackwell, Morgan President David Wilson and Board of Regents Chair Kweisi Mfume presented an honorary doctorate in public service for her 80 years promoting Morgan State as well as her long career in public education.
“The education that I received here turned me from a male into a man,” said Gainey. “It made me responsible in understanding, as an African American, what I had to do to pay it forward but also reach [back] to bring people forward.”
