Addressing the class of 1993, Marian Wright Edelman spoke up for children

In her 1993 Class Day speech, she reminded the graduating seniors of those less fortunate.

Marian Wright Edelman (Cambridge, MA - June 13, 1991) - Marion Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, stands to receive her honorary degree at Harvard University Commencement.

Marian Wright Edelman (Cambridge, MA - June 13, 1991) - Marion Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, stands to receive her honorary degree at Harvard University Commencement. | Photograph by Harvard News Office

In her address to the class of ’93, Marian Wright Edelman, the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, eschewed levity and addressed forthrightly the plight of needy children in the United States.

Read brief excerpts from this PDF from the July-August 1993 issue.

Most popular

In her memoir All That's Unseen, Emilee Hackney explores religion, friendship, and home.

College staff whose jobs will be changed or eliminated were notified this week.

Harvard scientists identify hundreds of genes under selective pressure.

House - Email

Explore More From Current Issue

Aerial view of modern high-rise buildings surrounded by greenery and city skyline.

Architecture & Design

In a sea of red brick, the Science Center and Peabody Terrace make their mark.

Two colorful octopuses swim among vibrant coral and sea life in a lively underwater scene.

Research

New Harvard research finds octopuses go beyond sight and touch to find mates.

Five individuals are posed in a monochrome outdoor setting near a cinderblock building, some standing, some seated.

Visual Arts

Photographer and writer Morgan Smith chronicles life beyond the violence in Ciudad Juárez and other Mexican towns.