There may be quite a few years between them — and a difference of authority level — but on Sunday, May 19, Dorian Joyner, Sr. and his son, Dorian Joyner, Jr., will be on equal footing when they walk across the stage during Morehouse’s commencement celebration. The father and son duo will both be earning bachelor’s degrees from the college and both say they couldn’t have done it without the other.

“We used to have a support system,” Dorian Jr. told Atlanta 11. “Sometimes [my dad] would come to my room to ask about a problem or a class or a professor to take.”

It’s not surprising Dorian Sr. would rely on his son for help. The father began his college education back in 1984, but never finished. Then three years ago when his son was a freshman he decided to re-enroll.

“I said, ‘oh, you’re coming back to visit some of your friends?’” Dorian Jr. recalled of his shock when his dad broke the news.. “He said ‘no, I’m coming back to be a student.’ I said – can you repeat that?”

Although he might have initially been apprehensive, the father and son being on campus together turned out to not be an issue at all. Papa Dorian allowed his son to call him by his first name on campus and since the two have their own friends and schedules, they rarely crossed paths on the green. Now three years later, the pair is closer than they’ve ever been before.

“We’re Morehouse brothers,” the two said proudly.

As for their future plans, Dorian Senior plans to pursue a law degree and eventually become a judge, while his son has applied for the Peace Corps and hopes to spend two years traveling before attending film school.

Best of luck to these Morehouse men and congratulations!

Source: jamestyler.org

Sometimes I think public figures try to be the first one to make a joke out of something that really isn’t humorous because the stuff they come up with is usually more silly than funny.

Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank is apologizing for a weak joke he made at the Dartmouth commencement on Sunday when he hooded Hubie Jones during the ceremony. He told the civil rights leader:

“you now have a hoodie you can wear and no one will shoot at you.”

Not necessarily offensive, borderline insensitive, definitely dumb. The crack reportedly received nervous laughter and a few groans from the crowd which suggested not only was it too soon for a comment like that but there most likely won’t ever be a time when you can make light of Trayvon Martin’s killing.

Barney says he made the same joke at his own expense at three other graduation ceremonies so I guess he figured fourth times the charm. He explained that he didn’t mean any harm by it, instead the purpose was to “ridicule the notion that a hooded sweatshirt is somehow sinister.”

Thanks, Barns. We’ve got it from here.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Source: Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images

As if Lady O weren’t busy enough on the “unofficial” campaign trail, hitting all of the late night talk show circuit, now she’s adding commencement speeches to her itinerary.  The first lady is scheduled to speak at three graduation ceremonies this year, including one HBCU.

She’ll speak at Virginia Tech University, Oregon State University and North Carolina A&T. The schools may seem unrelated but the decision to speak at each of these institutions was not made lightly. Both Virginia and North Carolina are crucial in the reelection of her husband, President Barack Obama.

And Michelle Obama’s brother, Craig Robinson, serves as the head coach for the school’s basketball team. Nothing wrong with showing a little love to the school that writes your brother’s checks.

Are any of you graduating from or attending graduations from one of these institutions?

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Our first lady will be speaking at an institution synonymous with black women for centuries: Spelman college.

The graduating class of 500 students will listen to the first lady speak at their commencement on May 18.

“In a personal address, the first lady will discuss her upbringing, and the significance of being part of the first generation in her family to graduate from college,” a White House source told theGrio. “She will also encourage the graduates to continue to serve their communities, embrace the challenges ahead of them, and strive to fulfill their ambitious goals.”

Check out the rest of the story at theGrio.com.