As I chill this morning I decided to have a movie day and the first movie I decided to watch was School Daze. It is one of my favorite movies and I had not watched it in a while. I watch if for entertainment, education, and enlightenment.
Most of you who read my blog know that I did not go to an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), but I went to Vanderbilt University. I am proud of my education and my experience and I would not take it back for the world, but when I watch School Daze I sometimes wonder would me life be different if I went to a HBCU. Majority of my older family members and family friends graduated from HBCUs such as Spelman, Morehouse, Lincoln, and Knoxville College. Although I can appreciate what they have done in the Black community and continue to do I still realize it was not for me.
Recently there was an article on 16 year old child prodigy that chose FAMU over Harvard. After reading the article the young boy made a very informed decision about where he chose to go to college which a lot of people do not. I think students have to realize what is best for them, which may or may not be a HBCU.
I think the important thing is to get an education and get a job. You should also be able to enjoy your college experience. College is more than books, you should have fun and socialize too. One thing about me going to Vanderbilt, although I did not attend an HBCU I had 4 HBCUs (Meharry, Tennessee State, Fisk, & American Baptist College) in the city which exposed me to some of the Black College experience....that was enough for me.
Just my thoughts, not an expert, but just how I see things. I will not continue to watch the end of School Daze......
WAKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!
(had to do it)
Showing posts with label HBCUs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HBCUs. Show all posts
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sunday, April 19, 2009
From the hood to the board room
This morning I was having a convo with my mom and discussing how this generation has a lot to deal with. The picture to the right is a shirt from a company started by some of my classmates. Check out the website dangerousNEGRO. They have information about empowerment and great clothes. The shirt and the convo my mom had sparked this blog.
Let me preface this blog by saying I am a 3rd generation college student and went to, in my opinion, the best college in the country, Vanderbilt. My mother was an educator who taught in inner city schools her whole life and was great at it. She made the statement that I have to balance being educated and being able to relate to the hood also. Now don't get it twisted, my life was blessed and I am far from hood (ghetto tendencies come out, but rare). My mom was trying to portray the point that we have to balance hanging out with cousin "pookie" at the family dinner, but then go to the meeting with "Braxton Hollingsworth." You feel me???
We have to operate in two societies. This is not entirely about race, but economic, social, and class status. My mom and grandmother went to Historically Black Colleges, but I did not, but I also have cousins that did. I am not here to argue which is better, my opinion is to each is own. I have had other experiences that my family members have not and have been exposed to things they have not...and vice versa.
I take it even further and I work in two societies. I do research at two universities, one an HBCU and one at a majority institution. It is two different worlds and it is taking me a while to get use to. Being able to see both sides of each institution, neither is perfect, but each has stereotypes and ideas of the other...some true, some not. But being and African American who is accepted by both institutions it makes me think about the bigger picture.
I wrote all this to say, How do you accomplish from going to the hood to the board room? Make sense? How do you balance being able to keep your touch with everyone from different walks of life? The statement is general, but I hope you get what I am saying.
Let me preface this blog by saying I am a 3rd generation college student and went to, in my opinion, the best college in the country, Vanderbilt. My mother was an educator who taught in inner city schools her whole life and was great at it. She made the statement that I have to balance being educated and being able to relate to the hood also. Now don't get it twisted, my life was blessed and I am far from hood (ghetto tendencies come out, but rare). My mom was trying to portray the point that we have to balance hanging out with cousin "pookie" at the family dinner, but then go to the meeting with "Braxton Hollingsworth." You feel me???
We have to operate in two societies. This is not entirely about race, but economic, social, and class status. My mom and grandmother went to Historically Black Colleges, but I did not, but I also have cousins that did. I am not here to argue which is better, my opinion is to each is own. I have had other experiences that my family members have not and have been exposed to things they have not...and vice versa.
I take it even further and I work in two societies. I do research at two universities, one an HBCU and one at a majority institution. It is two different worlds and it is taking me a while to get use to. Being able to see both sides of each institution, neither is perfect, but each has stereotypes and ideas of the other...some true, some not. But being and African American who is accepted by both institutions it makes me think about the bigger picture.
I wrote all this to say, How do you accomplish from going to the hood to the board room? Make sense? How do you balance being able to keep your touch with everyone from different walks of life? The statement is general, but I hope you get what I am saying.
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