Did Biden’s Morehouse graduation speech break tension with Black voters?

Through emotive appeals and, at times, humor, President Joe Biden’s commencement address at Morehouse College on Sunday sought to inspire and celebrate the Class of 2024 while appealing to a crucial constituency needed for his reelection: Black voters. The president’s audience extended far beyond the 414 young Black male graduates, some of whom silently protested Biden over his administration’s policy on the Israel war in Gaza by sitting with their backs turned and adorning their caps and gowns with Palestinian flags and kaffiyeh scarves. Biden also appealed to the graduates’ families of multigenerational Black Americans, and potentially millions more who tuned in.  Biden touts his ‘Black’ record In a 27-minute speech, the president weaved together a message of assurance over the war — which sparked outrage on college campuses across the country — and reminders of who he is and what he has been able to accomplish for Black communities. “Nobody’s naive here. You’re in the middle of a campaign season, and campaigns are incredibly important opportunities to highlight your successes,” said Jamal Simmons, a former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris. “Many of these young people, many African-Americans, voted for the president in the last election. So consider...