Janelle Monáe delivers powerful commencement speech to Dillard University grads

"It is our responsibility to sustain the future now."

Dillard University's Class of 2017 was gifted with some parting words of wisdom by singer/actress Janelle Monáe during their graduation last Saturday. The "Tightrope" singer delivered a heartfelt commencement speech after receiving an honorary degree from the school.

Monáe used her speech to talk about the influence her parents had on her upbringing as hardworking civil servants and encouraged the graduates to draw inspiration from NASA physicist Mary Jackson, the real life woman Monáe played in the movie Hidden Figures.

In her speech, the actress recalled Jackson's courage to stand before, "that white judge with so much courage and determination to challenge the system. She saw freedom and she went for it. She grabbed it by the neck and she just wouldn’t let up. That’s how we — me and you — can escape the gravity of fear, making us free to soar wherever our hearts and minds so desire.”

In a short clip of the end of her speech, Monáe issued an important challenge for the DU graduates as they go off into the future.

"And so on this day graduates of 2017, I celebrate you as you remember the power of grace and pride. And I challenge you to choose freedom over fear."

The singer tweeted her gratitude towards the University for letting her speak and congratulating the graduates.

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