2011 Commencement Address by Denzel Washington
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Denzel Washington, internationally renowned actor and director, delivered the address at the University of Pennsylvania's 255th Commencement on Monday, May 16. Washington is one of the nation's preeminent performing artists, having achieved wide acclaim for his film, theatrical and television performances, as well as his accomplishments in film directing and television production. Washington has received the most distinguished accolades of his art, including two Academy Awards and a Tony Award. At Commencement, Washington received an honorary doctor of arts degree.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
December 10th, 2011 - 16:03
“You Wanna Go Home, Or You Wanna Go To Jail?” – Denzel
December 10th, 2011 - 16:55
how much do they get paid for speaking at anoucements?
December 10th, 2011 - 17:19
thanks Denzel,….kinda feel you are talking to me.
December 10th, 2011 - 17:27
5:15 Jay-z
December 10th, 2011 - 17:47
“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”
December 10th, 2011 - 18:18
good speech
December 10th, 2011 - 19:02
@novitec360 U-Haul
December 10th, 2011 - 19:21
@novitec360 a uhaul behind a herst. it took me a while to understand but i think it meant how the cars holding dead bodies in a casket dont have a uhaul behind them with that dead persons stuff coming with them like the egyptians tried to put their belongings in their own graves or w.e.
December 10th, 2011 - 19:48
what does he say at 15.30? ‘you will never see a ??? behind a hearse?’
Thank you.
December 10th, 2011 - 20:08
Mr Washington, I’m from Singapore. I have never met you before except in your great movies, but I just want to thank you very sincerely that your speech have touched me and helped me at a time when I really needed it. Fall forward, not backward. Thank you once again Sir.
December 10th, 2011 - 20:55
Great speech from D.W
December 10th, 2011 - 21:20
This Speech was amazing…
December 10th, 2011 - 22:06
First of all most of those actors you named with the exception of Will smith have mainly done supporting rolls and not even will smith has won an Oscar, Denzel Has. Oh by the way Denzel has done a lot more than a few movies. the fact that you made that statement tells me you are ignorant of this mans career why Don’t you google him and then shoot yourself in the head for being such a Dumb ass.
December 10th, 2011 - 22:28
Or it could mean being scared to fail but having the guts to suck it up and go for it anyway. Different interpretations
December 10th, 2011 - 22:33
Guts to fail = not being afraid of failing IMO
December 10th, 2011 - 23:14
@Keithlovescake It’s about having the courage and the guts to not be afraid of failing and going after your dreams even if you know it could lead to failure and embarrasment. If Lebron has the guts to fail, then that may give him the edge to perform better when the pressure of failure is on. That’s why I said he should listen to this speech. As for falling forward I thought that meant that even if you fail, to learn from it and keep going after what you failed at to try to reach success.
December 11th, 2011 - 00:05
@iwonthebet96 who isnt afraid to fail? you didnt get the whole point of this speech, its falling FORWARD. so think before you speak.
December 11th, 2011 - 00:51
The word “homosexual” is more appropriate and accurate than the word “gay”.
A person does not need religion, hatred or any kind of phobia in order to acknowledge important, qualitative differences between heterosexual attraction / behavior / marriage / adoption and homosexual attraction / behavior / marriage / adoption.
Homosexual activists, with (complete) support from the media, have succeeded at framing themselves as noble victims and martyrs; it’s an effective way to push a social agenda.
December 11th, 2011 - 01:46
“King Kong Ain’t Got Shit on Me!”
-Denzel Washington
December 11th, 2011 - 01:55
two points:
1. technology is overwhelmingly useful. i’m a student at purdue and without having to be on UPenn campus i’m absorbing their perk.
2. the top handful african americans always make great thinkers. denzel washington, obama, will smith, dave chappelle, oprah etc. have to respect all of them.
December 11th, 2011 - 02:47
longest intro everrrrrr
December 11th, 2011 - 02:52
@trav11193
Denzel’s better looking than Eddie Murphy, that’s it.
December 11th, 2011 - 03:45
@realrocky8591 Did u really just put Eddie Murphy and Welsey Snipes over Denzel??? You really need to stop talking cause you have no validity AT ALL
December 11th, 2011 - 04:23
@realrocky8591 Did u really just put Eddie Murphy and Welsey Snipes over Denzel??? You really need to stop talking cause you have no validity anymore
December 11th, 2011 - 04:41
@mandigoja
“Denzel is known all over the world.”
LMAO. He’s known for a few movies here in the U.S., notably Remember the Titans. He’s not even a top 5 black actor in the U.S. Black actors in the U.S. who are better known – Will Smith, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, Wesley Snipes, Eddie Murphy.
Maybe they should have Samuel L. Jackson give a graduation speech at some school for international students, so he can say “ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?”