 |
Date : May 05 .2025
**Gov. Wes Moore Calls for Balanced Patriotism in Emotional Speech at Lincoln University**
Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered a heartfelt commencement speech Sunday at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania — a historically Black college once attended by his grandfather — encouraging young Americans to adopt a deeper, more thoughtful view of patriotism.
Speaking to the graduating class of 2025, Moore urged students to find a balance between confronting the nation's troubled past and avoiding uncritical nationalism. He warned against both outright condemnation and blind allegiance, suggesting a more courageous and honest form of civic engagement.
Moore, frequently named among potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential race, recounted the story of his grandfather’s escape from the Jim Crow-era South, where he faced threats from the Ku Klux Klan. This narrative, Moore explained, illustrates the type of patriotism needed today — one that confronts the nation’s shortcomings while striving for improvement.
“It’s simple to criticize a nation when you're not invested in making it better,” said Moore, the only Black governor currently serving in the U.S. “What takes real bravery is recognizing our faults and stepping up to fix them.”
Although Moore continues to deny interest in a 2028 presidential run, his growing national visibility has fueled speculation. On a recent appearance on *The View*, Moore, 46, repeatedly assured host Joy Behar, “I am not running.” Behar replied, “But what if we really, really, really need you?”
The day after that interview, the South Carolina Democratic Party revealed Moore will headline its annual fundraising gala. He’s also scheduled to speak at another prominent South Carolina political gathering organized by Congressman James E. Clyburn.
Moore rejected claims that his recent moves send unclear signals about his political ambitions. “Meeting with South Carolina businesses in industries where Maryland is also expanding isn’t a mixed message,” he said in an interview following his Lincoln University appearance.
He further emphasized, “Anyone prioritizing 2028 now is ignoring the urgent challenges of 2025,” referring to what he described as constitutional threats posed by the Trump administration. “These are critical times.”
Moore also faces a re-election campaign for governor in 2026, and he may encounter primary opposition after backing tax hikes to address a significant budget deficit earlier this year.
South Carolina, the site of the first Democratic primary in 2024, also holds personal significance for Moore. His Jamaican ancestors settled there before fleeing threats from the KKK, which targeted his great-grandfather for being outspoken. The family eventually returned to the Caribbean when Moore’s grandfather, Rev. Dr. James Thomas, was just six years old.
“We’re talking about a time when simply being Black and speaking out was treated like a crime, even if it wasn’t legally one,” Moore told graduates. Lincoln University, founded during the Civil War, now enrolls about 1,800 students.
The speech carried emotional weight for Moore, who said the university and its history are deeply connected to his family. After losing his father at age 3 to a treatable illness, Moore was partially raised in the Bronx by his grandparents, including Rev. Thomas — a figure Moore credits with shaping his commitment to public service. Their relationship is explored in Moore’s best-selling book *The Other Wes Moore*.
Like his grandson, Thomas was a trailblazer. He became the first Black minister in the Dutch Reformed Church, while Moore made history as Maryland’s first Black governor — one of only three ever elected across the U.S.
Moore reflected on his grandfather’s evolution from “an American exile to an American patriot.”
“My grandfather’s life reflects the complicated emotions many of us feel toward this country,” Moore said. “James Thomas loved this country too much to let hatred dictate his future. He always believed — and humbly said — ‘This country won’t be complete without me.’”
In a pointed reference to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, Moore said, “Making America great isn’t about excluding people. It’s not about saying, ‘You don’t belong.’ Real greatness comes from telling people, ‘America’s success won’t be complete without your contribution.’”