President Barack Obama praised popular singer and performer, Beyonce, during his commencement speech at Howard University, claiming that she "runs the world."
Obama complimented the famous singer in a speech he delivered to the historically black university's graduating class of 2016. He said that the United States is "a better place today" than when he graduated in 1983 from Columbia University in a
video released by the White House.
He also recognized African-American TV producer Shonda Rhimes, the creator of highly rated ABC TV shows "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal," which air on Thursdays, for her outstanding success in the television community.
Obama pointed out the progress African-Americans have made in popular culture, explaining that when he was a student, "the main black hero on TV was Mr. T," and "rap and hip-hop were counter-culture." Today, Obama said, "Shonda Rhimes owns Thursday night and Beyonce runs the world."
A
Mashable story about Obama's speech noted that the president's remarks about the singer "admits the truth we all knew already."
Beyonce set a new record when every song on her recently released album, "Lemonade," landed on Billboard's "top 100" chart, according to the
Washington Post.
Obama's quote references Beyonce's song "Run the World (Girls)." In the
song, Beyonce sings, "My persuasion can build a nation."
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