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QUEENS, New York (Newsweek) - A New York college graduate demanded the mic during her graduation ceremony after her name was not fully read aloud. Kadia Iman, the University of New York graduate, who broke out into a verbal scuffle with the school administrator wanted to claim her moment upon graduation.
Photo: Twitter/MattWalshBlog)
“I just feel like I worked so hard to graduate and went through so much s–t to graduate that I just felt like I had to reclaim my moment," Kadia Iman said in a social media video about her viral graduation moment.
A video of a Black woman wrestling a microphone away from a white administrator during a graduation ceremony has gone viral on social media. The woman in the video, identified as Kadia Iman, posted the video to her TikTok account, with the clip being viewed more than 21 million times.
After the scuffle during the ceremony, Iman is heard saying into the mic, "You didn't let me get my moment" as she berates the administrator. She also stated her full name and said she was going to make the day all about her, before dropping the mic and walking off.
Newsweek was able to confirm the incident took place on June 21 in Queens College, City University of New York, however the ceremony was for a separate college, the LaGuardia Community College. Newsweek has contacted Iman via TikTok for comment.
In a follow-up TikTok, Iman gave further context to the situation and suggested there may have been a racial element to the treatment she and other Black students allegedly received at the hands of the white administrator.
Iman alleged that each student was given an opportunity to say their name, major and a few other details while up on stage. The TikTok influencer said she and other Black students were not granted this same privilege.
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"I was saying my name and she literally, my name is long I have like three syllables in my name though I'm not going to say my [full] name here, but I didn't even get to finish saying my name," Iman said in the second clip.
"The people that went before me and everything, they all got to say their name, their major and even extras. Me and another girl noticed that she was pulling down the mic super fast for some Black people," she said.
Iman added that she felt she couldn't let the alleged behavior continue as she had worked very hard for her degree.
"I'm not a problematic person, I don't want to ruin no ones day, I don't want to violate anybody, but that is what she did. She didn't even let me finish speaking, she put the mic down and cut me off and that was the only chance I had to speak. I just feel that wasn't right," she continued.
A representative from LaGuardia Community College told Newsweek they would be reviewing the incident to gain a better understanding of what happened.
"An incident occurred involving one graduate who demonstrated their frustration during the student procession for not being able to hold the microphone while they announced their name," vice president of communications and external affairs at LaGuardia, Manny Romero said about the incident."
As a process for keeping the ceremony running in an orderly manner, students are given the opportunity to say their name while a volunteer holds the microphone," Romero added. "None of the students are allowed to hold the microphone to avoid any delay of the student procession and the ceremony. We are mindful this type of violent behavior demonstrated by this student impacted the celebration for all graduates and attendees, and we do not condone it.
"Meanwhile, Iman has faced praise and condemnation for her actions, with some social media users demanding for a longer video of the incident to gain a greater understanding of what happened beyond Iman's account.
"Thank you for standing up for yourself, as you should," TikTok user Lilmizzgigglez wrote.
"You did what you had to do. Congratulations sis," TikTok user Mula added.
On Twitter, following a tweet from conservative commentator Matt Walsh, there were more critical comments for her actions."
'Today is all about me' says the most uninteresting and unimpressive person you'll ever encounter. It's always the dullest, blandest nobodies who think they're the main characters," Walsh wrote as a caption to the video."
Also, I guarantee this person writes at a fourth grade level and can't name five US presidents. These are the people graduating from universities these days. Childish morons with egos the size of Jupiter," he added in an additional tweet.
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