After reading Harper and Huarto's The Nine Themes of Racial Climate I was not that surprised that the climate on campus remains segregated! The fact that minority students fight for respect in the classroom to prove that they are not there because of a possible diversity initiative by the university forces those groups to migrate to one another. When you sit in a classroom and you don't see anyone that looks like to or had a similar upbringing you need to find times when you can just relax and communicate with students that are like you. In the reading why would it surprise anyone that white students in general don't have a problem with race on a majority campus? They don't have to conform to anyone. They look like the professors and the administrators. They have the same opportunities that generations before them have. At Mason, I will say that when I walk into the JC I think that we have a little segregation happening, but in some cases I see people of all colors sitting together. However, when I go to the library or study facilities, I notice the students become extremely segregated. This again is due to comfort levels and the need not to have to conform in order to complete the task at hand (an education).
In Toby Jenkins article Patriotism: A Love Story confirmed that as a member of the minority, I was intended to be groomed a quiet participant in society! Don't rock the boat! Play the game! That all changed when I attended Hampton University (an HBCU)! I become more confident in my skin and learned that strategic rebellion helps stimulate learning and understanding. I don't ever want to be deemed the "agree black man" but I do want to be respected. If that means I need to protest or speak up when an injustice has happened, then as long as I do it in a peaceful manner that I hope and believe that the person in which I am trying to educate will listen. That is the burden in which minorities carry. What I got out of Patriotism: A Love Story is that if you consider yourself a patriot and you love your country, then you should love everyone in it and make sure that everyone has the same opportunity for love, health, prosperity and happiness. Yes these are all propagated on choices, but if you are a patriot then make sure everyone has choices!
When reviewing the chronicles of University of Florida and Penn State University I was blown away on how recent everything still is as it pertains to the advancement of minorities in higher education. I was also reminded as to how things have not changed much since we began enrolling in universities in the late 1800's. We still receive hate mail! We still are ostracized at majority institutions! We still don't feel as though we fit in.
African Americans are 13% of the total U.S. population, it does not surprise me that we populate that much or most of the time less than that at any majority college or university. This is due to more reasons that admissions policies and campus social behaviors!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
ACTION! ACTION! ACTION!
Whenever I read or begin talking about diversity in college I think of how great college can be if we all would have open minds regarding how other people live and learn. If we do not promote diversity on campus, then where is it going to happen? In the home? Primary school? In the community? The answer to these questions is NO! Admissions departments should be aware of the diversity during the process by which they admit students to their university. I don't think that the average American wants a person from an under-represented group to be admitted to college just because they are black, Hispanic or a w omen, I think that person should be admitted because they are qualified and that diversity matters. In chapter 14 Diversity Matters that statement "....when students interact more frequently across race or engage with diversity......also tend to report higher levels of self-efficacy and self-change concerning general academic skills and racial cultural engagement." This ties into what Cluster #2 read and will present regarding HOPE!
When a person is engaged CHANGE CAN HAPPEN!
In Chapter 15 Enhancing Campus Climates for Racial/Ethnic Diversity poses the question "...should higher education merely reflect society or whether it should try to consciously shape the society?" In 2011 this question should not be up for discussion. The time spent as a college student should be providing opportunities to improve our human capitol. This should happen in classrooms and the dormitories! Student engagement should be woven into the curriculum for all to participate. Human capitol, what will the next generation contribute to the world if they have no understand and NO TOLERANCE? WORLD WAR? CIVIL WAR? Remember September 11th!
In conclusion as we talk about diversity among students, the need for college presidents, vice-presidents, deans and chairs to also be diverse. This will promote change in the hiring process by which colleges and universities tenure professors that will be teaching tolerance and inclusion.
ACTION! ACTION! ACTION! We can shape society as we want, if we take action in the political process and we remain engaged (Obama)! We have not arrived and as history shows if we make the effort, we can create change.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Day by Day
As I was reading Moving beyond Shame by bell hooks it reminded me of how I felt in the past. During my formative years in school as a minority in most classes and being separated because I was doing better in school than other blacks. At times I started looking at myself and wondering "why" am I in these classes? Do I belong? What are my friends thinking about me? Not only are you trying to prove yourself in the world in which you are unwanted, but you are trying to make sure you can fully participate in the world in which you belong. As a black male in the 80's you were either "street" which meant your were "hard or tough" or you were a sellout or trying to be white!
In my neighborhood it didn't help being a light-skinned black male and being separated during school hours because you tested better or that you had two parents that made you do homework and read and prepare for school on a daily basis. The story of the young female Ph.D. student that had a chance to work at a prestigious Ivy League school hit home. She was doubting herself because of her lack of confidence. This was brought on by a society that states you do not belong and only if you conform or excel at a higher rate than the majority will you be accepted. Self-esteem and self worth comes from within and when you do not have positive role models that are present and participating in your life, especially in the black community, then your mom and your dad become the street influence and media.
The media does help shape the negative opinions of the majority as it pertains to certain groups. Indians, blacks and women have been portrayed with negative characteristics throughout the history of movie, TV and print media. This largely in part because none of those groups are present in the room during the creative process. TV and movie producers, along with directors who are black don't get the large budget films.
Mr. Nigger : The Challenges of Educating Black Males Within American Society written by Toby Jenkins, WOW! The fact presented by Noguera that a black male with a college degree earns less than the average White male with a high school diploma reinforces why there is such hopelessness in the black community.
I grew up in the Hip-Hop culture! I was in the generation that listened to what the rappers were saying in their lyrics and was amazed about the things that were going on in LA and in the southern states. This was the 80's and 90's and we were hearing about the same things that we reading about in our history books from the 40's, 50's and 60's. No there weren't lynching's or burnings but there was the "Three Strike" rule! There was racial profiling!Hip-Hop has given the black community a voice and if used properly will continue to produce a want to change our society.
As one who comes from a family of educated black men, growing up I thought it was the individual choice to either be educated or not. That turned out not to be totally true! I do believe we make our own choices, however the systematic covert and sometimes overt destruction of the black male and the black family also plays a part in where we are at this time. We don't get second chances or the benefit of the doubt! We have to deal with life as it is and it can be depressing at times to know that you may never be equal.
In my neighborhood it didn't help being a light-skinned black male and being separated during school hours because you tested better or that you had two parents that made you do homework and read and prepare for school on a daily basis. The story of the young female Ph.D. student that had a chance to work at a prestigious Ivy League school hit home. She was doubting herself because of her lack of confidence. This was brought on by a society that states you do not belong and only if you conform or excel at a higher rate than the majority will you be accepted. Self-esteem and self worth comes from within and when you do not have positive role models that are present and participating in your life, especially in the black community, then your mom and your dad become the street influence and media.
The media does help shape the negative opinions of the majority as it pertains to certain groups. Indians, blacks and women have been portrayed with negative characteristics throughout the history of movie, TV and print media. This largely in part because none of those groups are present in the room during the creative process. TV and movie producers, along with directors who are black don't get the large budget films.
Mr. Nigger : The Challenges of Educating Black Males Within American Society written by Toby Jenkins, WOW! The fact presented by Noguera that a black male with a college degree earns less than the average White male with a high school diploma reinforces why there is such hopelessness in the black community.
I grew up in the Hip-Hop culture! I was in the generation that listened to what the rappers were saying in their lyrics and was amazed about the things that were going on in LA and in the southern states. This was the 80's and 90's and we were hearing about the same things that we reading about in our history books from the 40's, 50's and 60's. No there weren't lynching's or burnings but there was the "Three Strike" rule! There was racial profiling!Hip-Hop has given the black community a voice and if used properly will continue to produce a want to change our society.
As one who comes from a family of educated black men, growing up I thought it was the individual choice to either be educated or not. That turned out not to be totally true! I do believe we make our own choices, however the systematic covert and sometimes overt destruction of the black male and the black family also plays a part in where we are at this time. We don't get second chances or the benefit of the doubt! We have to deal with life as it is and it can be depressing at times to know that you may never be equal.
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