My Sister Graduated. Originally filmed in 2012 comedian Gary Owen tells us the story of when the Johnson family brought the picnic to his sister's high school graduation.
@durrellallen869: It's about respect and following the rules. That's why a lot of people go to jail by breaking the rules. I'm sure the parents have already said they were proud of them.
When you do graduations at predominantly black schools, they don't even tell you to hold your applause anymore. 😂 They know it's useless to tell people not to support and celebrate their families achievements!
Completely understandable because of some families trying to tell him to stop will lead to a confrontation cuz you are not about to tell them how to celebrate their child's graduation
Black folk always think everything is about them, they don't understand civil society . Their wild nature is what keeps them from forming functioning civilisation.. the over excitedness and inability to self control is just a symptom
Heck I don’t care how damn white I am I had to put up with to many parent teacher conferences questioning how we parent and half the time the only time these teachers were around kids is in the classroom. We couldn’t say well sorry your class was on the lowest priority when it came to doing homework. Maybe if you all didn’t give hours of it we could get it done. Nope all that and more was saved for these shouted words Great Job son we made it then these whispered ones from his dad. I am so glad he is done I thought we weren’t going to make it without you going to jail
My mother graduated college (in her 40s) and they said the same “hold your applause” well they called my moms name and I stood up and cheered and the black family next to me stood up with me screaming “hell yeah momma” and I appreciate that so when their son was called I cheered with them! We all were all proud and now whenever I attended a graduation, I CHEER for my kin…they deserve that!
This is beautiful! Congrats to your mum 💕 Graduating college isn't easy at any age, but to do it when you have a family and a lot of other responsibilities is hardcore. Huge respect to her ✊️😎
At my HBCU graduation the college president said “please hold applause and please don’t use air horns as our elderly guests say it hurts their hearing aids.” I shit you not, as soon as he finished that sentence the whole place went burr burr burr burrrrrrr - air horns like it was a TPain concert or something 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️🤣🤣🤣
At my youngest sons graduation my older son and I sat amongst a black family and I remember the grandma putting her hand on my shoulder when their granddaughters' names was approaching. "Get ready, honey," was all she said. To be clear...we didn't know these people at all. Sure enough just like he described it was over-the-top. I believe they had twins so...twice the fun. And like another commenter noted, when it was my son's turn they helped bring some fire. They felt like I wasn't loud enough and when my son and I started to blush at the scene we'd become a part of they LOVED it. It was a great celebration and a fun memory. To this day...don't know any of that family, but we shared an important milestone together. It was fantastic. Truly, I love how this guy embraces what may be a stereotype, but I'd argue a great one.
same thing happened at my niece's graduation. We were the only 2 black families, didn't know each other, but best believe we asked the name of their graduate and vice versa and we were hootin and hollerin. I love my people!
My special needs daughter graduated from high school this year. There were 10 of us at an event where we only got 3 ticket. I let the less melaninate attendees know. “It’s about to go down.” As soon as they said her name, we went crazy.” After two open heart surgeries, and years of being seen as less than and invisible because she was special needs, we were gonna let her and everyone in that place know. She did that! And of course as it has already been said so many times before, we help cheer for every kid of the parents who sat near us. Because it’s all about showing the love and letting every kid know their special.
Basically if a random stranger told me it's about to go down, I'd want to fucking smack them. It's like live your own life, just because I'm sitting next to you doesn't mean I need a warning. This is a graduation, we white people dont need a fucking heads up that you might be excited.
@@yeahyeahwowman8099 thank you so much for your comment. I appreciate your opinion. I guess it’s true what they say. Some people will need to be negative even in the face of true joy and happiness. Thank goodness the people around us took the innocent comment in the spirit of fun was intended rather than chose violence as you say you would have. But then to each their own, Right. You be blessed sweetie.
I have two kids at the same university graduating next year with 4 year degrees. PLEASE don’t sit next to me. I’m bringing the earth, the wind AND the fire.😑🔥🔥🔥
Too right! Congratulations to you all as a family. The kids have done the work, but they didn't get there alone. Your support is integral to their success and you all deserve to celebrate your achievements 💕
I went to a predominantly black high school and this is the truth. Our graduation was lit! Loved every second of it. Everybody was clapping and cheering for everybody. One girl jumped on a piano and played you can't touch this by mc hammer lol. I can remember it like it was yesterday!
Fr, my school was predominantly black too. We were doing dance moves across the stage. One girl shook the principal hand and somebody in her family went "hit that shit Kiki" and she dropped it like it was hot real quick 😂😂.
I am an educator and attended YEARS of graduations rolling my eyes and shaking my head at how difficult the noise and horns made it for us keeping the lines going and the kids knowing who was called as I was on the floor with them. When my only child graduated high school, I was in the stands yelling like the spirit had just hit me! “YESSS , THANK YA LAWD, HALLELUJAH, AMEN, FATHER GAWD IN THE NAME OF JESUS!!!!!” Now I smile when I hear the families because when all that you have been through to get there it has to come out in a shout!!😂😂😂
My son graduates high school this Saturday. They already know ain't nuthin' keepin' me quiet. He made it through a predominantly white private school having overcome some serious barriers. They can tell us to "hold the applause" all they want. My baby will be applauded/cheered for when his name is called. I got a banner, party horn, a t-shirt with his image ironed on, and a "Proud Mom" head band. YEEEEAAAAAHHH BOYEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Interesting how blacks cheering for and celebrating achievements loudly is universal whether they're African, American or any other type of black 😂❤ I'm Namibian and our graduation ceremonies are just as lit! 🇳🇦❤
When my sister graduated back in June she was 1 of only 2 white kids in her entire grade. I felt like the cream in a hostess cupcake but lemme tell you that shit was lit! they even helped hype up my sis when we weren't being loud enough, it's not that we weren't trying...we just weren't hype enough so they made up the difference lol! In contrast, my highschool was the total opposite, and I could barely stay awake at my own graduation😂
I went to my grand-daughter's college graduation, and it was a very diverse crowd. But we realized early on that a lot of the graduates didn't have family there. So between the graduate first stepping on stage, if no one stood up, or clapped, by the time they stepped off the stage there were 10 of us bringing the noise for them. A few of the students stopped, waved, and beamed smiles. So people were leaving before the ceremony was over, and we said naw son, we shutting this piece down, and we ended up clapping and shouting for the last of the graduates. By the time it was over, our voices was hoarse, and our hands were hurting, but we gave those graduates their flowers. But the absolute hilarious thing about that graduation was some Hispanic family had bought a plastic stadium horn in, and they bought the real party to a few graduates. I was like dayum they make us sound like church mice. It was the absolute funnest time ever.
Good for you!! And thank you for helping those graduates to feel special and celebrated. We need more people in the world like you and your family 💕 I'm British and a few years ago I was in the US for work at the same time that a friend (a fellow Brit) was graduating with a masters. Her family couldn't get there to watch the ceremony (all their finances had gone on getting her through college), so I managed to travel to her college, get a ticket last minute and went along to show support. As I was going in, a black family were stopped at the entrance and the staff were being really rude about letting them all in because "they were clearly together". I couldn't see the problem. I knew from my own experience of getting a ticket late that there were plenty of spare seats (and it felt incredibly cruel to make someone choose whether to let a parent or grandparent in, especially when there was room for both), so I stepped in and said something. I'm white and a former military officer, so I used my "professional voice" (eg sounded posh 😂) and demanded an explanation. The staff member gave up and let them all in. Not only did this incredible family insist that I sat with them (so that I wasn't alone), they looked after me with sweets/candy, drinks and snacks, made me so welcome, and helped me give the biggest cheer for my friend. It was a real honour to meet them and my friend and I still talk about them to this day. Something tells me that the graduates you supported will be doing the same, and telling people the story of the lovely strangers who supported them and showed them love in that special moment when they graduated 💕👍
@AdomahAdwoa-cc4yb It was my pleasure 💕 That amazing family turned my day into an awesome one but, even if I hadn't seen them after that moment at the entrance, it would still have been my pleasure. Who doesn't want to help those who are there to show love and support to someone who has worked so hard?! Also, everyone hates injustice. I don't know the staff's reason other than the one they gave me (they were a large group), so I don't know if they were being racist or not (it looked that way, but I can't say for certain), but why leave empty seats when there are supportive people who want to fill them? That was insane to me. I appreciate your kindness but, honestly, it really was my pleasure and I would do it again in a heartbeat 👍💖
the same happened at my sons graduation from a private school only three black graduates. they told us to hold the applause and honey when they called my sons name we were 60 deep, and we screamed so loud and they were smiling and staring at us. After that everyone started yelling for their kids
we have to battle a lot of issues against us in society to make it so graduations are huge with us we are alive, not falesly accused and thrown in jail, got our right mind and graduated!
No shit, real talk: My school was mixed and all the black kids fam clapped and yelled but when my dad did it he was kicked out. Since he used to be an Army drill sgt, EVERYONE heard him say "I don't give a fuck. I saw who I came to see so you can go fuck yourself". And EVERYONE applauded him...Even the graduates. Well, everyone but security and the teachers\principal.
So they had told us to wait and gather up after getting ours but I just kept walking out the door, following pops, and the rest of the class decided they were gonna leave too. It turned into: when you got yours, your fam left the building with you and we started the party in the parking lot. My pops was a huge hit out there too.
Trust me, I agree with everyone's comments. But they really tell you to hold your applause because some of the kids don't have any family members there and so they have no one cheering for them.. They don't want them feeling left out or hurt. So at my daughter's graduation I cheered for everyone that walked that stage🎉🎉🎉🎉
I went to a graduation in GA, racially mixed, yes loud. Reason being, these kids went through almost half of their HS life in COVID. They started and ended with the same amount of children from 9 - 12th grade. And almost the MOST money in scholarships in the city. Yeah it was LOUD AND WONDERFUL. I think our party was the loudest. My BFF from the USN, had passed away in her grandtwins Junior year. Their mom called me and her hometown BFF to be SURROGATE GRANDMOTHERS for them When their names were called I CRIED MY EYES OUT. SAYING LOOK LOOK THEY MADE IT AND I'M HERE FOR YOU. I CRIED THE ENTIRE CEREMONY FOR MY FRIEND WATCHING FROM HEAVEN. ONLY CHILD, ONLY GRANDCHILDREN. NOT having biological children and asked to be a SURROGATE GRANDMOTHER, YOU KNOW I WAS LOUD
At my sister's graduation they tried that "hold your applause" mess. We brought air horns and sounded off from all 4 corners of the room... And ran 😂 love you Jen❤
Hold you applause to minority families = it’s about to be hella loud. I’m black from Long Beach, CA. The Latinos be lit, Samoans/Pacific Islanders, and Black people.. My graduation and my little sisters had air horns, cowbells, and a bunch of cheering. So much fun!!! And not just for our family. Friends were included as well.
Why even bother saying "hold your applause" it's like telling an angry woman to calm down😂 and if I could I would set up a pop up shop tent outside of the school in the parking lots selling air horns, cowbells and whistles🤣
Come on Cali! And trust me. I get it Poly High does be lit!!! Just know that Cali and Utah aren't the only places to have Samoans anymore. Washington state dun'jumped onto the bandwagon too! Lol.
@@deshonhowe3160 LOL! We may come from small islands, but we got big ex-pat populations. There are a ton of us CHamorus in Texas along with our Polynesian brothers/sisters from Samoa and Tonga.
My son was ADHD after multiple trips to the school about his behavior and not taking his medicine you damn right my family cut up when he graduated on time cause I just knew he wasn't 🤷🏾♀️
I'm South African and we do it at university graduation too. 🇿🇦 Parents will dress up in their traditional attire and breakout in dance an ullitation, they will shout its just beautiful! The universities have now accepted it as part of the culture the chancelor could even give a slot for the people to sing a traditional celebration song and the whole hall will be vibrating. If you dont have your people with you you are definitely going to feel it. But I always see white ppl feel left out.
Wena 😭🥹 pela many are the first to graduate in their families. We feel it for real. A beautiful day and a moment our ancestors can be proud of. 🙏🏽 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🎉
Love my people cause we real extra especially at any graduation ceremony...we gon have some fun at our love one's accomplishments....fo sure...Gary nailed this one.....we was passing out cupcakes at my cousin ceremony before they even called his name...we was hangry
I graduated in the early 80's, in Oakland CA, my school was predominantly black and asian, absolutely everyone did this when their child or their child's friends names were called. Someone even set off red fireworks in the empty balcony section near the stage.
I had a whole damn airplane and banner fly over my oldest daughter's graduation at Skyline HS in 1997 YES! Then did the same thing for my twins at their graduation at Logan HS in 2005! Noisemakers and all! 🤣🤣Their Kindergarten teacher told me they did not do graduations🧑🎓 for the kids going to First grade. REALLY? I ordered Caps and Gowns for the WHOLE CLASS. Made my oldest daughter wear a Barney costume (she's still mad🤷♀) We had cake and ice cream. They might not do it but I do! 🤣Tomorrow is not promised for anybody. I'm CELEBRATING EVERY milestone.💯
You are right! I embarrassed the heck outta my daughter when she got her degree! Plus I got the best pictures! We get riled up when somebody makes it! 😍😳
The scene, graduation for an all girl catholic high school. No one has yelled yet. I walk across the stage pretty early on in the alphabet. And out of the silence "WAY TO GO (insert family nickname)" Now I've been told that I didn't stop walking, but I could have swore I stopped dead, and looked in the back to see my uncle's sh*t eating grin. After that, like 50% of the families yelled. One family had twins graduating and brought air horns... we were inside. I actually enjoyed my graduation because of it lol
@@ollylevesque3404 exactly smh I only clicked this video to comment that he needs to find content that doesn't center around him capitalizing off of black people jokes. He overdoes it
@@tiffanylarie True. If you’re gonna do it, make it funny like bill burr or Dave chapelle. With this guy it’s the same cheesy “black/white people ammirite???” Like we get it lol
He ain’t lying !! My gran Madisyn graduated w/honors from 8th grade accepted to one of the top HS in the nation .. I yelled “ that’s my Maddicakes “ !!
When I graduated, I told my family they better not be quiet. We waited a long time for this. I want to hear all the noise and yes, I bring the noise when I go to someone else’s graduation.
I worked as an admin in a school district that was predominantly Black and Latino, and because I speak Spanish, they voluntold me to read the names at graduation. The Superintendent, a Black gentlemen, pulled me aside and said, “You know what this is gonna be. Keep it moving, Camp, keep it moving.” And I knew EXACTLY what he was talking about, so I said, “Could we PLEASE announce that you get 3 seconds to woo or something?” He barely cracked a smile. So I did the names, counted to 3 fast in my head, and parents got their moments and I had them tripping off my accent on the Latino names so they said I have to do it from then on.
How tf they expect family not to celebrate their family’s achievements at these things? Like where else do these people calling the names need to go for them to want people to be completely silent the whole time? 😂 You being in a rush is not my problem, this is a once in a life time achievement, people deserve to cheer idc lol
Gary even though your marriage sadly did not work out you are still invited to the picnic. You have found a home in our hearts. Keep the laughter coming.
My outside graduation was moved inside a church due to rain. My mom left me talking about she didn’t want to miss getting a good seat. Ma’am. I was in the band and they couldn’t start without us😂. Thank god for my band teacher.
We have one grandchild in the family so we only had one shot. We warned everyone around us and some of them joined in. We turned her graduation out. The people calling the names had to pause. 😄 Always celebrate your loved one's accomplishment.
for many families (many families) high school graduation is still a momentus occassion as even in the 2000s, some parents don't finish high school for whatever reasons. it's the send off to adulthood that we celebrate as well as the accomplishment itself. black families are going to turn up so don't waste your breath. i turned up at my son's army basic training graduation at ft. benning and at ft gordon individual graduation and I DID NOT CARE WHO HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Sho you right Gary. Went to a wedding everyone sitting all dignified. I told my brother let's show them where we're from! After that everyone was on the floor. The DJ was happy!
I went to a small Episcopalian school. You didn't have to hold your applause, but it was on a Sunday morning so you did have to sit through church service and everyone got a blessing. Lol.
He is not lying. My Mother on my Grandpa side is a Johnson. Great Grandpa Frank Johnson lived to be 90. I remember when I was younger our uncles had to take the keys from him when he got up in age when he accidentally ran into the house. Of course the house got fixed. No one hurt. Amen. Shout out to Cleveland TN, Detroit, Washington, Ga, Arizona, Cousin in California, the list is long. The part when he said pulled out the food baked beans, Cousin Becky collard greens for we love some greens, etc.... in the middle of the graduation. Also got a cousin who sell plates at the school games. Him & his family need to come to a family reunion, wedding, family gathering will have them laughing. The Seniors in the family are the funniest. When they gather to look at football & basketball. You already know it be so funny. All you got to do is sit back grab a plate you gonna laugh. You gonna eat. You don't eat meat. Well got salads. When I last seen my cousins they said you bring a cake Kenya. Not this time. I will get that oldest daughter in there to bake one Thanksgiving. Show her how to make them home made cakes. I use to sell cakes in my 20's. Blessed year to all for the New Year is around the corner. Amen.
@@VashtiPerry I'll never laugh with him again. This was a one time thing I had only just realized what he was doing and watching him now is cringe asf.
LOL reminds me of the sports day for my great niece. The march past commenced and there was polite applause as each class went by. Until my my niece's class. Our family erupted into screaming clapping and cheering and the principal visibly jumped,there was laughter all around when she said into the microphone "I'll remember that!""
