(applause)

(掌聲)

Thank you, everybody.

謝謝你們

Please be seated.

請就座

Audience Member: I love you!

觀眾:我愛你!

The President: I love you back.

總統:我也愛你

(laughter)

(笑聲)

That is why I am here.

這也是我會到這裡的緣故

I have to say that it is one of the great honors of my life to

我必須說 能夠在這個集會上致詞

be able to address this gathering here today.

是我畢生最大的榮耀之一

I want to thank Dr. Wilson for his outstanding leadership,

我想感謝威爾森博士的卓越領導

and the Board of Trustees.

還有理事會們

We have Congressman Cedric Richmond and Sanford Bishop --

今天與我們同席的有議員塞德里克·里其蒙和桑服德主教

both proud alumni of this school,

兩人都是此校的榮譽校友

as well as Congressman Hank Johnson.

還有議員漢克強森

And one of my dear friends and a great inspiration to us all --

以及我的摯友 一個鼓舞我們大家的人物

the great John Lewis is here.

約翰路易斯

(applause)

(掌聲)

We have your outstanding Mayor, Mr. Kasim Reed, in the house.

這裡還有你們傑出的市長卡希姆里德

(applause)

(掌聲)

To all the members of the Morehouse family.

給所有莫爾豪斯家族的成員

And most of all, congratulations to this distinguished group of

而且最重要的是 恭喜這些卓越的摩爾豪斯人

Morehouse Men -- the Class of 2013.

這些2013年畢的學生們

(applause)

(掌聲)

I have to say that it's a little hard to follow -- not

這可能會有點難聽懂

Dr. Wilson, but a skinny guy with a funny name.

我不是在說威爾森博士 而是一個有個好笑名字的瘦小傢伙

(laughter)

(笑聲)

Betsegaw Tadele -- he's going to be doing something.

巴西嘉·塔蒂拉 他將來必是個人物

I also have to say that you all are going to get wet.

另外我得說的就是你們都會把自己給弄濕

(laughter)

(笑聲)

And I'd be out there with you if I could.

可以的話我也想出去跟你們共存亡

(laughter)

(笑聲)

But Secret Service gets nervous.

不過特務們會變得很緊張

(laughter)

(笑聲)

So I'm going to have to stay here, dry.

所以我得待在這邊 保持乾燥

(laughter)

(笑聲)

But know that I'm there with you in spirit.

不過你們得要知道 我的精神與你們同在

(laughter)

(笑聲)

Some of you are graduating summa cum laude.

你們當中有些人以最優等成績畢業

(applause)

(掌聲)

Some of you are graduating magna cum laude.

有些是以極優等成績畢業

(applause)

(掌聲)

I know some of you are just graduating, "thank you, Lordy."

我知道你們有些人光是能畢業就要感謝上蒼了

(laughter and applause)

(笑聲與掌聲)

That's appropriate because it's a Sunday.

剛才那段是因為今天是禮拜日才顯得合適

(laughter)

(笑聲)

I see some moms and grandmas here, aunts,

我看到一些母親跟祖母們在場 還有阿姨們

in their Sunday best -- although they are upset about their hair

穿著她們的禮拜服

getting messed up.

雖然她們對自己被弄亂的頭髮並不滿意

(laughter)

(笑聲)

Michelle would not be sitting in the rain.

蜜雪兒不會坐在雨中

(laughter)

(笑聲)

She has taught me about hair.

她已經教過我有關於頭髮的事了

(laughter)

(笑聲)

I want to congratulate all of you -- the parents,

我想要恭喜你們所有人 家長們

the grandparents, the brothers and sisters,

祖父母們 兄弟姊妹們

the family and friends who supported these young men

以及一路上以各種方式支持著這些年輕人的

in so many ways.

家庭與朋友們

This is your day, as well.

今天也是屬於你們的一天

Just think about it -- your sons, your brothers,

想想看 你的兒子 你的兄弟

your nephews -- they spent the last four years far from home

還有你的甥姪們 他們花了這四年 離鄉背井

and close to Spelman, and yet they are still here today.

而且離斯佩爾曼女大這麼近 他們今日卻還在這邊

(applause)

(掌聲)

So you've done something right.

所以你們一定搞對了些甚麼東西

Graduates, give a big round of applause to your family

畢業生們 請給你們的家庭一陣熱烈的掌聲

for everything that they've done for you.

為了他們所做的一切

(applause)

(掌聲)

I know that some of you had to wait in long lines to get into

我知道你們有些人排了很長的隊

today's ceremony.

就為了要參加今天的典禮

And I would apologize, but it did not have anything to

對此我感到很抱歉

do with security.

不過這不是由於保全問題

Those graduates just wanted you to know what it's like to

這些畢業生們只是想讓妳們體會一下

register for classes here.

在這邊註冊上課的感覺是甚麼滋味而已

(laughter and applause)

(笑聲與掌聲)

And this time of year brings a different kind of stress --

每年的這個時候都有一種獨特的緊張感

every senior stopping by Gloster Hall over the past week making

每一個經過格羅斯特廳的大四學生

sure your name was actually on the list of students who

都要確定你們的名字到底在不在

met all the graduation requirements.

符合畢業資格的學生名單上

(applause)

(掌聲)

If it wasn't on the list, you had to figure out why.

如果不在 你得找出為什麼

Was it that library book you lent to that trifling roommate

是因為你之前把從圖書館借來的書 借給那個不太正直的朋友

who didn't return it?

他卻沒有把它還回去的關係嗎?

(laughter)

(笑聲)

Was it Dr. Johnson's policy class?

是因為強森博士的政策課的關係嗎?

(applause)

(掌聲)

Did you get enough Crown Forum credits?

你們皇冠論壇的點數有拿夠嗎?

(applause)

(掌聲)

On that last point, I'm going to exercise my power as President

回到剛才的主題 我要行使我身為總統的權力

to declare this speech sufficient Crown Forum

我宣布這個演講後

credits for any otherwise eligible student to graduate.

所有學生都有足以畢業的皇冠論壇點數

That is my graduation gift to you.

那就是我給你們的畢業禮物

(applause)

(掌聲)

You have a special dispensation.

你們都獲得了特赦

Now, graduates, I am humbled to stand here with all of you as an

畢業生們 我以一名榮譽莫爾豪斯校友的身分

honorary Morehouse Man.

謙卑地與你們齊聚一堂

(applause)

(掌聲)

I finally made it.

我終於辦到了

(laughter)

(笑聲)

And as I do, I'm mindful of an old saying: "You can always tell

同時 我也留意到了一段古諺

a Morehouse Man -- (applause)

你永遠看的出來誰是莫爾豪斯的學生

-- but you can't tell him much."

但除此之外就沒其他值得好看了

(applause)

(掌聲)

And that makes my task a little more difficult, I suppose.

我想那也讓我的任務稍微變得困難一些

But I think it also reflects the sense of pride that's

不過我認為這也反映出來

always been part of this school's tradition.

自豪感一直都是這個學校的傳統

Benjamin Mays, who served as the president of Morehouse for

本傑明·梅斯 擔任了快要三十年的莫爾豪斯校長

almost 30 years, understood that tradition better than anybody.

比任何人都要更了解這個傳統

He said -- and I quote -- "It will not be sufficient for

梅斯曾這麼說 我這邊援引他的原句

Morehouse College, for any college, for that matter,

"對莫爾豪斯學院來說 或是任何其他的學院

to produce clever graduates...

光是生產聰明的畢業生是不足夠的

but rather honest men, men who can be trusted in public and

還得培養誠實的男人 在公部門與私領域都可以被信任的男人

private life -- men who are sensitive to the wrongs,

對於社會上的錯處

the sufferings, and the injustices of society

苦難 與不公義很敏感的男人

and who are willing to accept responsibility for

以及願意承擔責任

correcting (those) ills."

改變這些情況的男人"

It was that mission -- not just to educate men,

學院的任務 不光只是教育他們

but to cultivate good men, strong men,

還要培育良善的男人 堅強的男人

upright men -- that brought community leaders together

正直的男人 正是因為這個使命

just two years after the end of the Civil War.

才使得社會領袖們在內戰結束後 短短兩年內匯聚在一起

They assembled a list of 37 men, free blacks and freed slaves,

三十七個自由的黑人與前奴隸

who would make up the first prospective class of what

組成了第一個有未來展望的班級

later became Morehouse College.

稍後成為了莫爾豪斯學院

Most of those first students had a desire to become teachers and

那些最初的學生們 多數希望成為老師與傳道者

preachers -- to better themselves so they could

以求精進自我 追求進步

help others do the same.

以及幫助其他人達到這個目標

A century and a half later, times have changed.

一個半世紀過去了 時光流逝

But the "Morehouse Mystique" still endures.

但是莫爾豪斯的宗旨永垂不朽

Some of you probably came here from communities where everybody

你們當中或許有些人來自一個

looked like you.

所有人都與你差不多的社區

Others may have come here in search of a community.

其他人可能為了尋求一個共同的社群而來

And I suspect that some of you probably felt a little bit of

我猜想在國王禮拜堂裡

culture shock the first time you came together as a class

首度與其他同學們齊聚一堂時

in King's Chapel.

你們有些人大概感受到了點文化衝擊

All of a sudden, you weren't the only high school sports captain,

突然之間 你們不再是唯一的高中運動健將

you weren't the only student council president.

你們不再是唯一的學生會主席

You were suddenly in a group of high achievers,

你突然身處於一群高度成就者之中

and that meant you were expected to do something more.

那所代表的是 你們被賦予了更高的期望

That's the unique sense of purpose that this place has

那正是充斥於此的獨特目的感

always infused -- the conviction that this is a training ground

一種信念

not only for individual success, but for leadership that can

這裡不僅僅是為了孕育個人成就的訓練場

change the world.

而是為了培養出足以改變世界的領袖人才

Dr. King was just 15 years old when

金恩博士在年僅十五歲時

he enrolled here at Morehouse.

就錄取進來了莫爾豪斯學院

He was an unknown, undersized, unassuming young freshman who

他當時只是一個默默無聞 矮小 謙遜的

lived at home with his parents.

甚至還跟父母親同住的一年級新鮮人

And I think it's fair to say he wasn't the coolest kid on campus

應該可以說 他在當時並不是學校裡最酷的小孩

-- for the suits he wore, his classmates called him "Tweed."

因為他穿的西裝 他的同學還稱他為"軟呢小子"

But his education at Morehouse helped to forge the intellect,

但是他在莫爾豪斯所受到的教育

the discipline, the compassion, the soul force that would

幫助他鍛鍊他的智慧 紀律 憐憫

transform America.

以及他的精神力 以改變美國

It was here that he was introduced to the writings

正是在莫爾豪斯裡 他接觸到了甘地和梭羅的作品

of Gandhi and Thoreau, and the theory of civil disobedience.

以及公民不服從的理論

It was here that professors encouraged him to look past

正是莫爾豪斯的教授鼓勵他 忽略世界既有的面貌

the world as it was and fight for the world as it should be.

並為世界應然的狀態而奮鬥

And it was here, at Morehouse, as Dr. King later wrote,

正是在莫爾豪斯這裡 金恩博士寫下了

where "I realized that nobody...was afraid."

"我瞭解到...沒有人需要懼怕任何事"

Not even of some bad weather.

即便是壞天氣也一樣

I added on that part.

那段是我加上去的

(laughter)

(笑聲)

I know it's wet out there.

我知道外面很濕

But Dr. Wilson told me you all had a choice and decided to do

但是威爾森博士告訴我 你們都有選擇的機會

it out here anyway.

而你們不論如何都決定要在外面舉行

(applause)

(掌聲)

That's a Morehouse Man talking.

那樣才是莫爾豪斯男人的風範

Now, think about it.

現在你們想想看

For black men in the '40s and the '50s,

對四零 五零年代的黑人男性來說

the threat of violence, the constant humiliations,

受到暴力的威脅 持續不斷的恥辱

large and small, the uncertainty that you could support a family,

或多或少的 可能無法支撐一個家庭的不確定性

the gnawing doubts born of the Jim Crow culture that told you

伴隨著吉姆克勞文化而來的尖刻質疑

every day that somehow you were inferior,

不斷的告訴你 反正你就是劣人一等的

the temptation to shrink from the world, to accept your place,

那個從社會上退縮下來的誘惑 去接受你的地位

to avoid risks, to be afraid -- that temptation

去避免風險 去恐懼 --那誘惑

was necessarily strong.

無疑地是十分強烈

And yet, here, under the tutelage of men like Dr. Mays,

但是在這裡 接受了像是梅斯博士這樣的人的引導下

young Martin learned to be unafraid.

年輕的馬丁路德 學會了不再懼怕

And he, in turn, taught others to be unafraid.

接著他開始教導其他人不要再恐懼

And over time, he taught a nation to be unafraid.

一段時間過後 他使得整個國家都學會了不再恐懼

And over the last 50 years, thanks to the moral force of

五十年過去了 由於金恩博士的道德力量

Dr. King and a Moses generation that overcame their fear and

與克服了他們自身恐懼 克服憤世嫉俗的犬儒主義

their cynicism and their despair,

以及克服了絕望的先驅世代

barriers have come tumbling down,

藩籬開始瓦解

and new doors of opportunity have swung open,

機會之門打了開來

and laws and hearts and minds have been changed to the point

在那個時點 律法、心靈與心智都歷經改變

where someone who looks just like you can somehow come to

現在即便是跟你長得一樣的人

serve as President of these United States of America.

都可以成為美國的總統

(applause)

(掌聲)

So the history we share should give you hope.

我們的歷史應當使你充滿希望

The future we share should give you hope.

我們所共享的未來也應當使你充滿希望

You're graduating into an improving job market.

你畢業後進入的是個改善的就業市場

You're living in a time when advances in technology and

你生活在一個科技發達的時代

communication put the world at your fingertips.

通訊系統把整個世界都放在指尖可及之處

Your generation is uniquely poised for success unlike

不像任何世代的非裔美國人

any generation of African Americans that came before it.

你所身處的世代充滿了成功的機會

But that doesn't mean we don't have work -- because if we're

但是那並不代表我們不必奮鬥

honest with ourselves, we know that too few of our brothers

讓我們打開天窗說亮話

have the opportunities that you've had here at Morehouse.

和我們一樣有機會進來莫爾豪斯的兄弟 實在是太少了

In troubled neighborhoods all across this country -- many of

在這國家裡 有許多不平靜的社區

them heavily African American -- too few of our citizens have

其中許多是非裔美國人所占人口較多的社區

role models to guide them.

這些市民並沒有太多好榜樣可以引導他們

Communities just a couple miles from my house in Chicago,

就拿離我在芝加哥住處幾英里遠的社區做例子

communities just a couple miles from here -- they're places

或是像離這邊幾英里遠的社區來說好了

where jobs are still too scarce and wages are still too low;

這些地方的工作機會還是太少 工資也還是太低

where schools are underfunded and violence is pervasive;

學校沒有足夠的資金補助 暴力事件頻傳

where too many of our men spend their youth not behind a desk in

太多人把他的大好青春浪費在街頭上閒晃

a classroom, but hanging out on the streets or brooding behind a

或是蹲苦牢

jail cell.

而不是坐在教室裏頭

My job, as President, is to advocate for policies that

身為總統 我的職責就是提倡政策

generate more opportunity for everybody -- policies that

能夠提供大家更多機會的政策

strengthen the middle class and give more people the chance to

能夠增強中產階級

climb their way into the middle class.

或是能使更多人成為中產階級的政策

Policies that create more good jobs and reduce poverty,

能夠創造工作 降低貧困的政策

and educate more children, and give more families the security

能夠教育更多兒童

of health care, and protect more of our children from the horrors

能夠給予更多家庭健康照護

of gun violence.

能夠讓我們的小孩免於槍枝暴力的政策

That's my job.

那就是我的工作

Those are matters of public policy,

那些關於公共政策的事

and it is important for all of us -- black,

對我們大家來說都很重要

white and brown -- to advocate for an America where everybody

不論你的膚色是黑、白還是棕

has got a fair shot in life.

要支持讓每個人都有公平機會的美國

Not just some.

不應只讓某些人

Not just a few.

或是只讓少數人有這種機會

(applause)

(掌聲)

But along with collective responsibilities,

但是我們除了共同的責任外

we have individual responsibilities.

我們也有各自的責任

There are some things, as black men,

有一些事情

we can only do for ourselves.

是只有我們黑人能為自己做的

There are some things, as Morehouse Men,

身為莫爾豪斯的人

that you are obliged to do for those still left behind.

有些事情 是你們必須為那些落後者所做的

As Morehouse Men, you now wield something even more powerful

身為莫爾豪斯人 你手上握有的不只是即將到手的文憑

than the diploma you're about to collect -- and that's the power

而是更為強大的一種東西

of your example.

那就是身為典範的力量

So what I ask of you today is the same thing I ask of every

今天我希望你去做的事情

graduating class I address: Use that power for something

正如我在其他畢業班級致詞所要求的一樣

larger than yourself.

利用那力量 去達到比個人成就更為遠大的目標

Live up to President Mays's challenge.

不要辜負梅斯校長的期望

Be "sensitive to the wrongs, the sufferings,

應當明瞭社會上的錯誤 苦難

and the injustices of society."

以及不公義

And be "willing to accept responsibility

並願意為匡正風氣

for correcting (those) ills."

肩負重責大任

I know that some of you came to Morehouse from communities

我明白你們有些人在來莫爾豪斯之前

where life was about keeping your head down and looking out

所過的生活就是維持低姿態

for yourself.

並只要照顧好你自己就好了

Maybe you feel like you escaped, and now you can take your degree

或許你感覺好像解脫了