Graduation season is upon us and seniors across the country are gearing up for their futures. Graduation speeches are often an empowering segment of the ceremony and these black 2018 commencement speakers are certainly inspiring. 

A number of universities have announced its commencement speakers for graduation. The "Black Panther" himself, Chadwick Boseman as well as beloved political commentator Angela Rye are just a couple of widely revered figures who almost have us yearning for the sleeplessness of senior year: 

1. Chadwick Boseman, Howard University

As a former Howard alum, Boseman will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during his speech at the renowned HBCU. 

"I’m excited to return to the Mecca in celebration of the achievements of our illustrious students,” Boseman said in a press release. “Let’s listen, learn and build with one another.”

Black Lives Matter advocate Bree Newsome, who became a well-known figure in the activism community after heroically climbing a pole in South Carolina to remove a confederate flag, will be the speaker for the university's graduate program. 

2. Chance The Rapper, Dillard University 

We remain deeply appreciative of the Chicago native's Grammy-award winning bars, but we're quite interested in hearing what wise words he'll have to offer students at the New Orleans university. 

3. Jemele Hill, University Of Maryland's Merrill College

White supremacists were big mad when the University Of Maryland announced The Undefeated's chief correspondent would serve as one of their 2018 commencement speakers. But after Jemele Hill refused to compromise her wokeness amid backlash when she called Donald Trump a white supremacist last year, we can't think of anyone more fitting to impart some sage career advice to graduates of the university's journalism department. 

4. Angela Rye, Southern University

Graduates at Louisiana's Southern University are certainly not about to get any sugar-coated treatment from the beautifully blunt political commentator and lawyer Angela Rye who will serve as the school's 2018 commencement speaker. 

5. Maxine Waters, Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School Of Law

After having the incomparable California Congresswoman Maxine Waters serve as their commencement speaker, students at Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law best not ever have their time go wasted sans reclamation. 

6. Loretta Lynch, Florida A&M University College of Law

Students at FAMU are soon to feast their ambitious eyes on the first black woman to serve as the attorney general of the United States. Loretta Lynch will serve as a keynote speaker for the graduation.

7. Keisha Lance Bottoms, Tennessee State University 

Well-respected Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms joined motivational speaker Dr. Eric Thomas to speak at Tennessee State University on Friday, May 4.

There are many more impressive figures set to speak at HBCUs for graduation this spring and black excellence continues to be celebrated. 

@HBCU2018 graduates