Powerful and engaging are some of the attributes I use to characterize Denzel Washington’s cinematic performances. And this he has done consistently for the last 3 decades. Yes, the fact that he is a celebrity makes him more accessible than a captain of industry or a famous politician. Unquestionably, he has combined both his talent, persistence and hard work to perfect his craft to the point of receiving several academy award nominations and winning at least two of these nominations. Therefore, his contribution to the film industry has been appreciated and critically awarded. However, one always wonders whether the man behind the character has the content of character to match those values that give life to in motion pictures. Seemingly, the more I learn about this man, am increasingly becoming aware that he is set in his ways and seems to have been for quite some time. His dedication, not only towards his craft but also marriage and family life provide inspiration for those of us who are not as knowledgeable in the ways of the world. Therefore, in addition to his cinematic performances that are always powerful and moving, Washington also anchors his personality and consciousness in his belief of Christianity and traditional family values. These are the main reason behind my selection of Denzel Washington as my ideal commencement speaker.
His 2015 commencement speech at Dillard University, Louisiana is filled with such sincerity, humility, and rawness that itself becomes both powerful and moving. An occupational hazard of habitually watching motion pictures is the trap of idolizing the actors based on the quality of their performances. Conversely, this obscures my interpretation of reality and raises my expectations of actors. In typical Washington standard, his speech was well structured, followed a great flow, and offered significant pieces of advice but it was his open, humorous, engaging, and unassuming delivery style and how it enabled him to connect with his audience that provided added importance to the details of his speech (Farris, 2011).
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Am humbled by Washington’s belief in Christianity. Like many commencement speakers, he also recounts a range of events in his life that have shaped his career and personal life. When he said: “Put God first. Put God first in everything you do. Everything that you think you see in me. Everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have – and I have a few things. Everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift” (Above Inspiration, 2017). In addition to Washington extolling the role of faith in his life, the humility of this statement cuts through his public persona and my projected expectations of him to reveal someone who also faced seemingly insurmountable challenges and lacked direction. This quote struck me as familiar because am currently daunted by the uncertain prospect of my future. His words provide inspiration, comfort, and the reassurance that success is possible.
Washington continues: “The only way to do it was to go outside the box. So don’t be afraid to go outside the box. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big, but remember, dreams without goals, are just dreams. And they ultimately fuel disappointment” (Above Inspiration, 2017). Critically, am intimidated by the future because of my fear of disappointment. Therefore, to have Denzel Washington share one of his life lessons in which he states that pursuing dreams without goals leads to disappointment prompts to have a sober review of my perspective. Unquestionably, he is a man who has achieved high success and the life lessons he shared provide significant insight into how to confront my future.
References
Above Inspiration (2017 October 26). Put God First - Denzel Washington Motivational & Inspiring Commencement Speech [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxY_eJLBflk .
Farris, M. (2011). American commencement: Graduation speeches that inspired a new nation . Nashville, Tenn.: B&H Pub. Group.
