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Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 455
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 11:41 am: | 
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...I don't think that's what the author of this piece is saying, but it reminded me of a recent discussion here. Like the author, I chose a PWI over a HBI, but my reasons and thought process related to the decision were very different from hers. I was all about getting an education for myself, and didn't give a single thought to educating white people about race, racism, or anything else.
Kumbaya?
Why I chose a white university.
TheRoot.com
Updated: 1:43 PM ET Sep 5, 2008
Join Delece Smith-Barrow's Live Chat on the kumbaya college experience.
Sept. 8, 2008--"Are all of your friends white?"
That was not the response I'd expected after telling a member of my study abroad program that I'd graduated from a PWI: Predominantly White Institution. She looked at me as though I'd attended school on Mars instead of at my racially-diverse state university, located a mere eight miles away from her historically black alma mater.
And then there was the time I'd told a coworker that I'd chosen the University of Maryland. She assumed I went to Howard. "Oh," she said, in a tone that sounded like, "why not?"
President George W. Bush is scheduled to issue a proclamation honoring America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities and designating Sept. 7-13, 2008 as National HBCU Week.
I appreciate the contributions HBCUs have made throughout history, too, but for me, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) was never a consideration.
At my private, predominantly white high school, I was one of eight African-American students in my graduating class. After that, the idea of being in an all-black academic setting seemed overwhelming. I would have to go from one end of the racial spectrum to the other, and after four years of all-white, all the time, I was tired of extremes. While the idea of going to school with more people who looked, acted and even sounded like me was definitely alluring, the idea of various shades of humanity co-existing within the parameters of one campus intrigued me much more. I wanted to be a part of that experience. I wanted to teach others about my race while also learning about theirs through everyday interactions, dynamic classroom discussions and events that promoted mixing and mingling across color lines.
Of course, each day was not a "We Are the World" learning experience, and there were some racist moments that sparked tension between the students. There was the time that a group of students held a "thug party," where white students dressed up as gangsters and mimicking hip-hop artists. And then there was the time that police used pepper spray, nightsticks and pulled a gun while breaking up a campus party with black students in attendance. Although I was no longer a student when a noose was hung near the campus cultural center, I can only imagine the effect of that incident on race relations at the school.
These events were upsetting, but they also reassured me how important it was for blacks to have a presence at PWIs. We could teach other races an important lesson on what it means to be black and nix some erroneous, preconceived notions about our race. For the white student whose only knowledge of black people has come from BET, we could show him that we don't all aspire to be rappers. This learning experience could also go both ways and prove to blacks that not all white people are The Man.
My experiences on the teaching side of race relations assured me that my presence and those of other blacks were needed at my non-HBCU. While taking a class on contemporary cultural issues, I was able to introduce my oh-so-knowledgeable and well-rounded professor to the concept of men on the "down low." Of course, closeted gay men exist in both white and black communities, but I was able to benefit from the dialogue that had started in the black community, thanks to E. Lynn Harris and his novels and J. L. King's book, On the Down Low. To my professor, the idea of men who had sex with other men in secret but often paraded around with a woman on their arm to display their heterosexuality, was unheard of. When I turned in a paper on the topic, I was sure it was not news to the rest of the class. The lively discussion that followed proved me wrong.
Sometimes I didn't have to consciously educate white folks about black culture. Simply being me was enough. While supervising the campus gym one afternoon, one of my staff members surprised me by saying she was really glad that she came to our school because it was the first time she was able to interact with so many other races. Her comment was a rare one, as I'd so often heard the opposite from many of my African-American classmates. But when she made the comment initially, I braced myself and prepared to give her a list of ignorant things you should not say to black people, such as "Is that your hair?" But once she explained why she felt this happiness, I dropped my defensiveness, and we had a very candid conversation about race. At her midwestern high school, most of the students were white with the exception of a handful of minorities.
In an academic environment that has a racial breakdown that's comparable to the entire United States, I began to realize that my university had a lot more in common with the real world than I'd thought. School shielded us from the harsh realities of the working world and the financial obligations that Sallie Mae would soon demand, but it taught us how to tolerate and accept those who were culturally different from us.
Everyone benefits from sitting next to someone who looks different. HBCUs definitely have their own appeal, but I still have no regrets. Those daily opportunities to combine classroom discussions on skin color with real-world experience gave me the kind of education that neither I nor my white peers were prepared for.
Delece Smith-Barrow is the lifestyles producer at Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive. She is a 2006 graduate of the University of Maryland-College Park.
Join Delece Smith-Barrow's Live Chat on the kumbaya college experience.
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URL: http://www.theroot.com/id/48005 |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12844
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 12:51 pm: |
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I find what you say about this subject more honest and sensible, FK. This long explanation by the article's author comes across as her trying to convince herself that she has noble motives in wanting to attend a PWI.
White people don't eye black people with disdain because they spend their time watching BET instead of MTV. It's more like white students choose to dismiss Blacks because it comes with the territory of their having the white skin that entitles them to marginalize other ethnicities if they so choose.
The writer of this article may think what she seeks is to educate whites; what she really is groveling for is white approval. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 456
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 12:58 pm: |
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Cynique, you remind me of something...the only people to ever articulate to me that they drew their impressions of black Americans from BET were BLACK BAHAMIANS, not white folks, lol.
I went to college expecting the worse of/from white folks. I intended to get in, get my degree, and get out. But of course along the way, I made white friends, learned that every black person was NOT my friend, and had invaluable educational, social, and cultural experiences that have shaped me to the present day. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7411
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 02:12 pm: |
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But of course along the way, I made white friends, learned that every black person was NOT my friend, and had invaluable educational, social, and cultural experiences that have shaped me to the present day.
(This, is one reason why college education has been wasted on Negroes. You don't go to college to make "friends" You go there to network and make contacts you can use in your career.
Most Negroes don't do this and do not get the benefits of their degrees. Oh, they get jobs, but they do not make those contacts that last them lifetime and help them in their careers.
If you had to go to college to learn that every black person is not your friend,I don't know what kind of job your parents did for you) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12846
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 02:28 pm: |
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Many black kids who go to colleges hook up with fraternities and sororities where lifetimes connections are made in the black business world. Roommates have also been known to cement future bonds also. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 457
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 02:30 pm: |
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This, is one reason why college education has been wasted on Negroes. You don't go to college to make "friends" You go there to network and make contacts you can use in your career.
When did I ever say that this is WHY I went to college? When did I ever say that I didn't network and gain contacts to use in my career? I did precisely that, through three different careers, in fact.
And who are you to say why someone should go to college? Successful people go to college for all kinds of reasons. And--hold on to your hat--some can go to college for more than one reason. Imagine that!
Your education, whatever the level, clearly lacked critical reading skills, as evidenced by your posting here.
Most Negroes don't do this and do not get the benefits of their degrees. Oh, they get jobs, but they do not make those contacts that last them lifetime and help them in their careers.
And you are getting this info from...?
If you had to go to college to learn that every black person is not your friend,I don't know what kind of job your parents did for you
Again, you with the poor reading skills. It's called HYPERBOLE. |
Nels
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Nels
Post Number: 1223
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 08:41 pm: |
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Hell, I went to a (13,700+ student) PWI that had a black student body of 3%. It was the best undergraduate decision I had ever made. When I was choosing a school back then, I had intentionally avoided Howard, Moorehouse and the traditional "black circuit" because I had developed a keen sense of their greatest drawbacks, was aware of their name broadcast bias, and was really more interested in getting a topnotch education instead of an indefinite "edumacation". No shuck-n-jive'n in this house. But in all seriousness, black folks have got to get over the "black thang" of the 20th century and embrace the "global thang" of the 21st century, so to speak.
Until (black) business stops looking at itself as "black" business and starts looking at itself as "big" business, black collegians will continue to be stuck in a deep rut of scholastic and socioeconomic irrelevance. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1159
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 10:49 pm: |
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Ouuu, that post had a little bite to it, Nels.
There were a few obvious implication made. That was a HUGE blanket you cast over "black". |
Disciple724
Regular Poster
Username: Disciple724
Post Number: 87
Registered: 07-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 09:17 am: |
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How can you become "big business" if most discriminate against you and won't give you "the business", especially those within your own race( I know, I know, many don't take ownership of our entire race, but I'm just sayin).
That said I have to agree with you that Blacks do themselves a big disservice, generally speaking (there are exceptional case), by "tagging" themselves as Black. 99% of my clients don't even know I'm Black until I "spring up" on their ass! By then, It too late, They are addicted to the intelligence and the profits it reaps. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3182
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 09:45 am: |
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FK, I saw this linked to on another site. Is UMD, College Park really that "predominantly White"? When I lived in the area, I recall there being plenty of Black folks there.
At any rate, I generally bristle at the idea of me being a living breathing "teaching tool" for folks of other backgrounds. But I suspect this young woman's views are a reflection of where she is at this moment in her racial identity development. She could have vastly different views 5, 10, 20 years down the road. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 460
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 11:16 am: |
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Yvette, UMD has several campuses different campuses, and College Park is one of the whiter ones, according to The Boyfriend. But I still think "racially diverse" may be more applicable than "predominantly white". |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3423
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 01:54 am: |
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"But in all seriousness, black folks have got to get over the "black thang" of the 20th century and embrace the "global thang" of the 21st century, so to speak."
True.....
"There were a few obvious implication made. That was a HUGE blanket you cast over "black"".
Doesn’t matter....it's still true! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 10197
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 01:32 pm: |
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I've attended both HBCU's and PWT...uh, I mean PWI schools (*snicker*). And I'm happy to have had both experiences. Obviously, PWI schools have more money, the better resources and connections. But HBCU's provide a better since of place, purpose and belonging for Black students. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 10199
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 02:42 pm: |
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Let me preface what’s to follow by saying that the University of Maryland is a fine school and there should be no incriminations of anyone, Black or non-Black, for choosing to go there. But after reading Smith-Barrow's article, the cynic in me can’t help but reach the following conclusions:
@ Her whole Ambassador to Kneegrowdoom for White foks spiel she’s dealing is mostly just to cover up the following…
@ After spending her formative years associating with Becka, Jack and Holly, Smith-Barrow's was scared shehtless of having to learn to vibe with LaKeshia, Trayshon, Tonya.
@ She’s come to ENJOY being the ‘special', maybe even 'MAGICAL' (Hehehehe!!), kneegrow' amongst her White friends and gets off on trying to prove that SHE’S somehow better than what (IGNANT, CRACKA AZZED) White foks think of Black foks.
@ She really just don’t much like or can only stomach being around so many kneegrows before she starts to feel ill.
That’s not ENTIRELY what I think and feel about Smith-Barrow’s article. But the cynic in me can’t help thinking some of it is applicable.
Btw: Smith-Barrow and Black women as a whole REALLY need to let this fallacious DL brotha bvllshyt go already and take responsibility for your OWN dayam sexual behavior and health. |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1177
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 05:01 pm: |
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Ditto ...what ABM said in all of his posts! I could not have said it better ...differently *lol* but not better. His take on the other thread ...concerning comments about the ending of some of "our" names was also on spot.
I mentioned the dangers of blanketing "black" with absolutes ...it's a mistake ...I sometimes wonder if it's purposeful. I am often taken aback when someone minimizes a strong statement with a weak conjunction ..."But" ..."I hear you, but" ..."however"
It's much like an apology with fingers crossed behind your back. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 472
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 06:58 pm: |
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Btw: Smith-Barrow and Black women as a whole REALLY need to let this fallacious DL brotha bvllshyt go already and take responsibility for your OWN dayam sexual behavior and health.
I thought this was one of the weaker aspects of her essay. I mean, IF I ever lowered myself to "educating white folks", it wouldn't be about something that gave them another excuse to deem us pathological. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 10204
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 02:16 pm: |
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Ferocious: "I thought this was one of the weaker aspects of her essay. I mean, IF I ever lowered myself to "educating white folks", it wouldn't be about something that gave them another excuse to deem us pathological."
Indeed. Especially since much of that DL brotha talk is based less on empiricial evidence, fact and truth and more on hysterical fears and loathing of Black men. |
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