On Thursday, April 25, Spelman College announced that Angela Bassett will be the Class of 2024's commencement speaker. The award-winning actress will speak to the graduates on Sunday, May 19, and will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts honorary degree.

“Spelman College is honored to have acclaimed actress and director Angela Bassett to bring words of inspiration to our graduating Class of 2024,” said Spelman College President Helene D. Gayle, M.D., MPH.  “Her work has had a tremendous impact both on and off the screen and serves as an example for our students to lead in their own spaces. We are equally honored to have a slate of strong Black women join us for our weekend ceremonies, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Atlanta community icon Rose Scott and the esteemed Reverend Dr. Yvette Flunder. We look forward to them inspiring our graduates, their families and the Spelman community.”

Bassett currently stars in the hit ABC drama "9-1-1," and is known for her roles in "Malcolm X," "Waiting to Exhale," "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," "Black Panther," "Mission Impossible: Fallout" and "What’s Love Got to Do With It."

Now we know, Bassett is a riveting actress, so this speech is going to be inspiring!