{"id":118666,"date":"2025-05-19T23:06:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T23:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/2025\/05\/19\/como-usher-escreve-um-discurso-de-inicio\/"},"modified":"2025-05-19T23:08:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T23:08:44","slug":"como-usher-escreve-um-discurso-de-inicio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/2025\/05\/19\/como-usher-escreve-um-discurso-de-inicio\/","title":{"rendered":"Como Usher escreve um discurso de in\u00edcio"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8864793242727901\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div><!--[--><!--[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->At 5:04 a.m. last Monday, Usher sent his publicist an audio file named \u201cMy Commencement 2025.\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cWhat ya think?\u201d one of the world\u2019s most renowned musicians wrote.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He had been awake for hours, tinkering with the speech he would deliver at Emory University that morning. The school was about to feed his script into a teleprompter. But Usher, who allowed The New York Times to peer into his process over more than a month, wasn\u2019t done.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->In the dark and quiet of his bedroom, the 46-year-old star was, at last, away from the roaring crowds and hypnotizing special effects of a tour through Asia and Europe. Now he had more edits to make, more lines to weigh, more pacing to measure.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Those adjustments still did not satisfy him. Even after he arrived at Emory, he kept writing.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><\/p>\n<figure class=\"g-wrapper  svelte-dk6paf g-needs-margin-block\" aria-label=\"image\"><!--[!--><!--]->[!--><!--]-> <!----> <!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"g-block g-block-margin svelte-rhgw2n g-margin-inline\">\n<div class=\"g-block-width g-max-width-wide svelte-rhgw2n\"><!----><!----><!----> <!----><!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"g-wrapper_meta g-text-align-left svelte-v3m00m\"><!--[!--><!--]->[!--><!--]->[!--><!--]->[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-credit svelte-v3m00m\"><!---->Simbarashe Cha\/The New York Times<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<!--]--><!----> <!----><!----><!----><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--]--><!----><\/figure>\n<p><!----><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--]->[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->The fans had filtered out of the O2 Arena in London, disappearing into the darkness, after Usher sang, danced, flirted and roller-skated through a panorama of his career. It was late on April 9, but Usher needed to convene a meeting.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->His schedule had vanishingly few openings, and he wanted to talk through what to say at Emory, where he would receive an honorary doctorate.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He had given a commencement speech before, at a conservatory in Boston in 2023. The crowd at Emory, though, would be bigger and more academically diverse, ranging from physics majors to future United Methodist ministers.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->The moment would be jarringly different and endlessly more complicated than the one in Boston. As the date of this spring\u2019s speech approached, the Trump administration was pressuring universities and stripping funding from campuses.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->A fully improvised address was out of the question. Usher, though, wanted a framework that would leave room for his performer\u2019s instinct.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Lydia Kanuga, Usher\u2019s publicist and the person who would prepare the earliest drafts, observed that he often spoke of \u201cspark.\u201d Shawn Wilson, a fixture of Usher\u2019s charitable foundation for at-risk students, floated a two-theme talk focused on leadership and spark. Chris Hicks, a strategic adviser, pressed deeper and argued that Usher, whose foundation has close ties to Emory, should explicitly blend his life experience with the world\u2019s turbulence.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Mr. Hicks suggested that Usher talk about the times he fell down and then got back up. \u201cThat aligns with him,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cbecause as someone who has a youngster that age, that\u2019s all we talk about: There are going to be some very lean days, and you have to be your own champion.\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cI like that, perseverance and resilience,\u201d Mr. Wilson chimed in. Someone else reminded Usher that the talk would need to include a few moments of celebration, too.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!--[1--><\/p>\n<div class=\"translation-explainer svelte-1grghiu\"><svelte-scroller-outer class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><svelte-scroller-background-container class=\"background-container svelte-xdbafy\" style=\"\t\tposition: absolute;\t\ttop: 0;\t\ttransform: translate(0, 0px);\t\tz-index: 1;\t\"><svelte-scroller-background class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"background\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14 active\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Friday Draft<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[!--><!---->Good morning, Emory!<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--[1--><br class=\"svelte-pe5g14\"\/><!--]->[1--><br class=\"svelte-pe5g14\"\/><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->What a profound honor it is to stand before you today\u2014not just as an artist or entrepreneur, but as someone who, like each of you, knows the power of dreaming big, working hard, and finding purpose. I\u2019d like to thank President Gregory L. Fenves, Chairman Bob Goddard, and the esteemed members of the Emory University Board of Trustees for having me.<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Segunda -feira<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[2--><span class=\"new-text svelte-1lvvdbj\"><!----><!----><\/span><span class=\"cursor svelte-1lvvdbj\">|<\/span><!--]->[1--><br class=\"svelte-pe5g14\"\/><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->[ \u2026 ]<!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--[1--><br class=\"svelte-pe5g14\"\/><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->What a profound honor it is to stand before you today \u2014 not just as an artist or entrepreneur, but as someone who, like each of you, knows the power of dreaming big, working hard, and finding purpose.<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-background><\/svelte-scroller-background-container> <svelte-scroller-foreground class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"foreground\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->Early drafts of the speech called for Usher to begin with a fairly standard recitation of gratitude.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->But Usher rewrote the top of the speech a few hours before he arrived at Emory, to bring in some guiding principles of his life.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->In London, he told his team he wanted \u201cgems,\u201d speedy lines that might resonate sharply with individual listeners. The Monday morning rewrite added these lines up high in the text.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n<!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-foreground><\/svelte-scroller-outer><!----><\/div>\n<p><!--]--><!--[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->But no speech, the brain trust knew, could be entirely feel-good at a time when a national storm was raging over education. Usher had a political streak \u2014 he appeared at a campaign rally for Kamala Harris \u2014 but his brand had hardly been a partisan lightning rod. His team urged caution.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Usher said relatively little as his aides talked over ideas. Instead, he peered at a notebook, pen in hand. His vision was forming.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He craved a sensible message for the masses, with easy-to-remember mantras and clear takeaways that were not suffocatingly scripted. He wanted a snappy sound-bite or two and a message imbued with his own story, not just with stock lines.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He had lots of time to fill. Emory wanted his speech to run between 15 and 20 minutes, an eternity for a man whose hits have come in four-minute bursts.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->The meeting ended, the gallery of faces vanished, and Usher sat alone, speaking to himself in front of a mirror well past midnight.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--]->[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Ms. Kanuga started thinking. Usher kept on touring. But he also began to dream about the Emory speech. Sixteen days after the brainstorming session, he said he was sometimes startling awake to scribble ideas.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He had been reflecting on titans of oratory, including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Quincy Jones and Denzel Washington, as well as two men who had taught at Emory, Desmond M. Tutu and the Dalai Lama.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Giving a speech at Emory was personal for Usher. It was, after all, going to take place in Atlanta, the city that fueled his rise to fame from a Chattanooga church choir. Speaking in a city where he had become something of a landmark himself would bring a different sort of pressure.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->His post-meeting murmurs in London had been a way to test and channel ideas. But at a hotel in Amsterdam in late April, he thought the speech was still in infancy. He had grown adamant, though, that he wanted clear language \u2014 the musician who regarded run-ons as his weakness did not want to lose listeners in long sentences.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><\/p>\n<figure class=\"g-wrapper  svelte-dk6paf g-needs-margin-block\"><!--[!--><!--]->[!--><!--]-> <!----> <!--[!--><!--]-><!----><\/figure>\n<p><!----><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->And he was looking to build a speech that would prove he was not just an entertainer, but also someone who could bring meaning, even without a college education to his name.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cThere\u2019s a beginning, there\u2019s a middle and there\u2019s an end, and within that process, what you choose to make people feel,\u201d he said. \u201cDo they smile? Do they think? Do they laugh? Do they cry? Are they angry? Are they motivated?\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Tone, he said, would matter. He was working on his speaking voice.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cIn the same way I\u2019ve figured out how tone and algorithm and cadence works in music, it does the same in speech,\u201d he said.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->The question of whether politics would enter the text loomed. Usher knew he was not headed to Emory as a candidate for Congress. He also did not seem inclined to ignore the turbulence entirely.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!--[1--><\/p>\n<div class=\"translation-explainer svelte-1grghiu\"><svelte-scroller-outer class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><svelte-scroller-background-container class=\"background-container svelte-xdbafy\" style=\"\t\tposition: absolute;\t\ttop: 0;\t\ttransform: translate(0, 0px);\t\tz-index: 1;\t\"><svelte-scroller-background class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"background\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14 active\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Friday Draft<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[--><span class=\"animated-highlight\"><!---->I\u2019m 46, and over the last few decades, I\u2019ve seen how fast things can change. Some of those changes are beautiful \u2014 technology connecting us, communities rising up, barriers breaking down. But some of those changes are deeply troubling \u2014 especially when we look at <strong\/>the state of basic education in this country.<!----><\/span><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Draft de domingo<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[!--><!---->I\u2019m 46, and over the last few decades, I\u2019ve seen how fast things can change. Some of those changes are beautiful \u2014 technology connecting us, communities rising up, barriers breaking down. But some of those changes are deeply troubling \u2014 especially when we look at the state of basic education in this country.<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--[1--><br class=\"svelte-pe5g14\"\/><!--]->[2--><span class=\"new-text svelte-1lvvdbj\"><!----><!----><\/span><span class=\"cursor svelte-1lvvdbj\">|<\/span><!--]-><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-background><\/svelte-scroller-background-container> <svelte-scroller-foreground class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"foreground\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->Through all of the edits in the final days, this section remained a staple of Usher\u2019s speech.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->The moment in the country, Usher thought, was too consequential to ignore. But he opted for a subtle message about policy, not a direct attack on President Trump. After some other edits, the line appeared later in the speech than where it was initially drafted.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->This gets at a big debate about higher education in America, and one that Usher is thinking about as the father of two children who are approaching college age.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n<!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-foreground><\/svelte-scroller-outer><!----><\/div>\n<p><!--]--><!--[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Ms. Kanuga had been trying to translate the ideas from the brainstorming session into a draft that Usher could use as a launchpad for his own turn working on the speech. As the commencement drew near, though, she could only guess what the singer would ultimately decide to say.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Usher landed in the United States on the Thursday before his Monday speech. He had yet to plunge fully into Ms. Kanuga\u2019s latest draft.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Usher texted her the next afternoon. He worried that the script sounded \u201ctoo corporate.\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cIt needs to have more grit,\u201d he wrote, and \u201cmore touch points that humanize me.\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Ms. Kanuga asked when they could talk. He replied with seven paragraphs.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He wanted to say how he felt his own school had not understood him \u2014 an account he had hinted at only with people who knew him well.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!--[1--><\/p>\n<div class=\"translation-explainer svelte-1grghiu\"><svelte-scroller-outer class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><svelte-scroller-background-container class=\"background-container svelte-xdbafy\" style=\"\t\tposition: absolute;\t\ttop: 0;\t\ttransform: translate(0, 0px);\t\tz-index: 1;\t\"><svelte-scroller-background class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"background\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14 active\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Sunday Draft<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[--><span class=\"animated-highlight\"><!---->When I moved to Atlanta, I was so far behind that I was unable to keep up, and the staff at <strong\/>the school I was attending didn\u2019t have the resources to help me, so I was assigned to special education classes. As a young black man, it was discouraging.<!----><\/span><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Conforme entregue<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[!--><!---->I was\u00a0<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--[3--><span class=\"addition svelte-pe5g14\"><!---->academically\u00a0<!----><\/span><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->so far behind that I was unable to keep up and the staff at the school I attended didn\u2019t have the resources to help me,\u00a0<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--[4--><span class=\"strike svelte-pe5g14\"><!---->so I was assigned to special education classes.\u00a0<!----><\/span><!--]->[3--><span class=\"addition svelte-pe5g14\"><!---->so they assigned me to remedial classes, which at the time felt like a judgment on my ability.\u00a0<!----><\/span><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->As a young Black man,\u00a0<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--[3--><span class=\"addition svelte-pe5g14\"><!---->or a kid at the time,\u00a0<!----><\/span><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->I was discouraged.<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-background><\/svelte-scroller-background-container> <svelte-scroller-foreground class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"foreground\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->Less than 72 hours before his speech, Usher added this anecdote, hoping it would help his audience understand \u201cthe reality\u201d of education in America.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->Usher relished the silence from the audience in response to this section. It seemed to him that the crowd had empathy, and that his willingness to be vulnerable landed in a poignant, powerful way.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n<!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-foreground><\/svelte-scroller-outer><!----><\/div>\n<p><!--]--><!--[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Ms. Kanuga had never fathomed that he would want to discuss it at Emory, but a story that he had never shared publicly would now become the spine of the speech.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cI will work this in,\u201d Ms. Kanuga replied, before Usher sent her six more messages.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Ms. Kanuga emailed the script to Emory officials \u2014 with some of Usher\u2019s via-text additions included verbatim, and others streamlined \u2014 at 6:12 p.m. on Sunday. The subject line was \u201cUsher speech \/\/ FINAL.\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Usher attended a reception that night, honoring him and other honorary degree recipients \u2014 an intimate, relaxed setting that left him feeling looser.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Afterward, he stopped for Japanese food and then started fiddling with the script some more.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He dozed off, he said later, with his phone in his hand.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><!--[--><!--]->[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Around 2:30 a.m., Usher was awake and accepting that he would not fall back asleep. Taking command for these final hours, he started reading and rewriting, recording and rehearsing.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->His wife, Jennifer, said she stayed quiet. When Usher\u2019s assistant walked in, the singer was still in bed, assessing how the script sounded.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cJust making certain that I pay attention to the beats,\u201d he said later.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He actually felt more comfortable with speechwriting than songwriting, he said. But this process was still much like rehearsing a dance.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cYou\u2019re listening, and I\u2019m like, \u2018OK, let me slow this down,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201c\u2018Make that personal. They\u2019re going to laugh at that. Oh, that\u2019s a joke moment.\u2019\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><\/p>\n<figure class=\"g-wrapper  svelte-dk6paf g-needs-margin-block\"><!--[!--><!--]->[!--><!--]-> <!----> <!--[!--><!--]-><!----><\/figure>\n<p><!----><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->By about 5 a.m., he had \u201ccompletely changed just about everything\u201d somehow, whether in text or tone or timing \u2014 everything, he said, but his intent.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Usher sent Ms. Kanuga his latest edits, and she shared them with Emory at 6:29 a.m., hoping the rewrite would make the teleprompter before the 8 a.m. event. Usher headed to the campus and donned academic regalia. <!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Backstage, he was still typing changes into his phone. When he heard bagpipers, he thought about the movie \u201cSinners\u201d and conceived a line about vampires.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Then it was his turn.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!--[1--><\/p>\n<div class=\"translation-explainer svelte-1grghiu\"><svelte-scroller-outer class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><svelte-scroller-background-container class=\"background-container svelte-xdbafy\" style=\"\t\tposition: absolute;\t\ttop: 0;\t\ttransform: translate(0, 0px);\t\tz-index: 1;\t\"><svelte-scroller-background class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"background\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14 active\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">As Delivered<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[4--><span class=\"strike svelte-pe5g14\"><!---->Good morning Emory!<!----><\/span><!--]->[1--><br class=\"svelte-pe5g14\"\/><!--]->[2--><span class=\"new-text svelte-1lvvdbj\"><!----><!----><\/span><span class=\"cursor svelte-1lvvdbj\">|<\/span><!--]->[5--><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><!--]--><\/div>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Segunda -feira<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[!--><!---->What a profound honor it is to stand before you today \u2014 not just as an artist or entrepreneur, but as someone who, like each of you, knows the power of dreaming big, working hard, and finding purpose.<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"example svelte-pe5g14\">\n<p class=\"description svelte-pe5g14\">Conforme entregue<\/p>\n<p class=\"g-translation type-xsmall svelte-pe5g14\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--[!--><!---->What a profound honor it is to stand before you, not just as an artist or entrepreneur,\u00a0<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--[2--><span class=\"new-text svelte-1lvvdbj\"><!----><!----><\/span><span class=\"cursor svelte-1lvvdbj\">|<\/span><!--]->[--><!--[!--><!---->But as someone more than that, who\u2019s just like you, that knows the power of dreaming big, working hard and finding a purpose,<!----><!--]-><!--]--><!--]--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-background><\/svelte-scroller-background-container> <svelte-scroller-foreground class=\"svelte-xdbafy\"><!----><\/p>\n<div slot=\"foreground\" class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->Usher did some ad-libbing from the start.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->While he mostly stuck to the speech he had reworked overnight, he did interject a few words here and there.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"svelte-1grghiu\">\n\n<div class=\"bubble svelte-1grghiu\"><!--[--><\/p>\n<p class=\"svelte-1grghiu\"><!---->For example, he reveled in multiple mentions of his newly bestowed honorary title of doctor.<!----><\/p>\n<p><!--]-><\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n<!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----><\/svelte-scroller-foreground><\/svelte-scroller-outer><!----><\/div>\n<p><!--]--><!--[!--><!--[--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He spoke for about 17 minutes and was rewarded with one of the morning\u2019s longest rounds of applause.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Afterward, as he does after shows, he thought about what had worked.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->Parents, he said, had been so animated when he spoke about education that he wound up altering the delivery of his next line. When his audience started to cheer a favored section about how \u201closers let it happen\u201d and \u201cwinners make it happen,\u201d he had thought about pausing but pressed on, looking to build momentum. And he had been pleased when the discussion of his own schooling had landed to somber silence.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!----><!--]->[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->He regretted nothing.<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--[--><!----><!--[--><!--[!--><!----><\/p>\n<p class=\"g-text  svelte-wbgwfj\"><!--[--><!---->\u201cI love the fact that it was honest, that it was conversational, that it was me authentically,\u201d he said. \u201cEven the adjustments in the last minute, that\u2019s me. That\u2019s who I am.\u201d<!----><!--]-><!----><\/p>\n<p><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><!--]--><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2025\/05\/19\/us\/usher-commencement-speech-emory.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At 5:04 a.m. last Monday, Usher sent his publicist an audio file named \u201cMy Commencement 2025.\u201d \u201cWhat ya think?\u201d one of the world\u2019s most renowned musicians wrote. He had been&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":118667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[30986,33868,32569,32217,33867,33869],"class_list":["post-118666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-atlanta-ga","tag-discursos-de-inicio","tag-faculdades-e-universidades","tag-universidade-emory","tag-usher","tag-vis-design"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118666"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118666\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118668,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118666\/revisions\/118668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvbrazilusa.com\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}