Graduation speech going viral for speaking out on closing the wealth gap

Ash was born and raised in a single-parent home in St. Nicholas Public Housing Department in Harlem, NYC, during an era filled with drugs and high crime. He became an entrepreneur at the early age of 8, packing grocery bags at the local supermarket, then graduating by age 12 to selling mixtapes and t-shirts on the famous 125th Street. As a street vendor, Ash has had his share of mischief and near run-ins with the law, but managed to escape unscathed thanks to his basketball coaches, teachers, OGs, and family members, mainly his sister Roz, who did their best to keep Ash off the streets. Ash Cash is one of the nation's top financial educators. He uses a culturally responsive approach in teaching financial literacy, wealth building, and entrepreneurship. Dubbed the Financial Motivator, he is also a speaker, 4-time bestselling author, and creator of the number one community for financial spirituality. Ash is best known for helping people maximize their full potential by giving them the inspiration, tools and resources needed to live their best lives. Please welcome Ash Cash to the podium.

I was about to shed a tear sitting there. So congratulations, uh, ladies and gentlemen. I stand before you today on the sacred stage of the Apollo Theater An emblem of Harlem's rich culture, its vibrant spirit, and its deep-rooted innovation. A stage that has borne witness to the rise of numerous influential voices and revolutionary ideas. I stand here today on this historic stage, a beacon of culture, resilience, and innovation in the heart of Harlem. This is a place that has birthed legends, witnessed countless stories of triumphs, and embodies the spirit of community and enterprise. A place where heroes were born. This theater, this community, and this city embody the energy and potential you hold within you. As we gather here today to celebrate your graduation, we are not just acknowledging an end, but more importantly, a beginning. Just as the Harlem Renaissance redefined arts and culture in the 1920s, you, the class of 2023, 100 years later, are on the brink of another major revolution. Clap, clap for you. Clap for yourselves. The 4th Industrial Revolution, a time of unprecedented change and vast opportunities. There's never been a more exciting time to graduate, to seize the day, and to make your mark on the world. Before I speak on your roles in this exciting era, let's first journey through history and understand the forces that have shaped our world. The First Industrial Revolution was about water and steam power making manual work mechanical. This revolution made it possible for factories to produce goods on a scale that have never been seen before. Then came the Second Industrial Revolution, marked by electricity and the birth of mass production. Think about the assembly lines that made it possible to manufacture cars and other products more quickly and affordably. The Third Industrial Revolution ushered the digital age, a transition from analog and mechanical devices to technologies powered by digital computer and internet systems, changing how we communicate and interact. And here we are now, on the cusp of the 4th Industrial Revolution, a fusion of the physical, digital, and biological worlds. An era of artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and the Internet of Things. It's more than just machines becoming smarter. It's about systems and processes becoming more interconnected and enabling us to solve problems in ways we never could before. This is where you come in. You are graduating at an exciting time, a time of unprecedented change and opportunity. This revolution doesn't just belong to the tech wizards in Silicon Valley or the business moguls in the skyscrapers. It belongs to you. And now more than ever, it is time to seize the abundance that is your birthright. Let me share you a piece of my journey with you. Before we keep going, I grew up just four blocks from here in the Saint Nicholas Housing Projects, 129th Street and Eighth Avenue to be exact. During the crack era, filled with crime in a world that often seemed like it was destined to break me, I was told by others and even convinced myself that I was nothing and that I would never amount to anything. My upbringing was filled with hardship. Adversity and doubt. But guess what? I am standing here today as a testament to the power of perseverance, belief, hard work, and dreams. From being expelled in the 10th grade to becoming one of the world's top financial educators and a 5-time bestselling author, my journey has been anything but conventional. I went from a local community college to managing more than $500 million in assets for major banks. Today, I have the privilege to positively influence millions of lives and create countless millionaires directly and indirectly. I share this not to impress you, but to impress upon you that your beginnings do not dictate your endings. Your past does not determine your future. Just like me, each of you have the power to overcome whatever obstacles stand in your way. and not just survive, but to thrive. So as you step into the next chapter of your lives, remember that you are entering a world filled with limitless possibilities, a world that is being shaped by the 4th Industrial Revolution, and you are the architects. You have the power to close the wealth gap, to end poverty, to cure cancer, and to shape a world that celebrates diversity inclusivity, and equality. You are not defined by your circumstances, but you— but by your determination and your ability to dream. As you graduate today, you are not just stepping into a new phase of your lives. You are stepping into a world where your voice, your ideas, your innovation can shape the future. Just as artists, writers, and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance use their creativity to bring about social and cultural change, you too can use your skills, your knowledge, your passion to drive technological, economical, and social advancement. You can be the innovators who develop the next life-changing app, the scientists who stops the next pandemic, or the entrepreneurs who create jobs and opportunities in our community. You see, the Fourth Industrial Revolution isn't something that will just happen to us. It is something that we will make happen. It is in our hands and in our minds, and in that we have the power, the power to shape, to innovate, to transform. Your role in this new world is not just important, but it is crucial. So as you step off this stage today, Remember, you are not just merely graduates. You are pioneers on the cusp of a new frontier. You are the thinkers, the innovators, the leaders of the new school. You are Harlem's promise to the future, and the future starts now. And so, in the words of the Honorable Mason Betha in the hit song More Money, More Problems, if you don't believe in Harlem world, then double up. You don't play around. It's a bet, lay it down. They didn't know you, bet they want to know you now. You are young Harlem scholars who are billionaire bound. Whether you are a PhD or entrepreneurship route, Ash Cash schooled you to the game. Now you know your duty. Your last name matters, not just Gucci and Louis. CEO, scientist, or Judge Like Judy, the future is yours, no doubt, absolutely. Ah, he didn't say that, but you get my point. More money, more opportunity. Class of 2023, hold fast to your dreams, leverage the opportunities this 4th Industrial Revolution offers, and soar high. Together, let's write the next chapter of our shared history. Congratulations, Class of 2023! Go forth and make history!