Earlier in the office today, I was havin'g a discussion with this one cat in my office. HIs name is Kyle, he's a member of the only organization that matters, and he attends a PWI.
During the discussion we were talking about how Morehouse creates an "elitist Caste" amongst the Men who graduate from there. Basically his whoe point was that he has yet to meet a MOrehouse student or graduate who didn't have that "aire" about him or believe that he was better because he came from Morehouse.
So naturally I went into my whole, "That's the schools only focus. We're designed to focus on training young black men, we don't have to worry about being fair to whites or females. It is specifically designed for black men becoming leaders."
Kyle's response was, "The thing we learn at (his PWI) is that no matter what degree or job you have, white folx are still gonna consider you just another ****."
To which I replied, "The thing is, my school teaches the students not to give a f@ck about what YT is gonna think. Because regardless of what you do, you always gotta do 110% just to get 50% of the recognition. That "aire" is the confidence needed to not give a f@ck about what everybody else around thinks, the only thing that will matter is the fact that YOU KNOW just how damn good you are."
The discussion ended in a standstill but it really made me think about how other folx see Morehouse students. Hell, maybe we do come off arrogant or "smug" but honestly, it's a means that justifies and end. Ask any graduate, they know in their heart of hearts just how damn good they are at what they do. Whether its Marketting or making beats, in their mind they know that they are, "Dat ****"
I agree...Morehouse teaches that concept very well...
One of the reasons I decided to take some time off and go to another college was because I couldnt stand that attitude. I grew up poor middleclass and my family worked for everything they have, and I met some people I wanted to just...i dont know, open up their face into rocky pavement... People are either "Neo Black" and IM not talkin about "Yay Black people." No, I mean "Uber Black, F*ck the Man, No Snitches" people who I cant stand because its like **** backwards...
But like every barrel there are a few good apples and theyve taught me a valuable lesson. Hard work and the right struggle can get you anywhere. Anywhere.
Am I smug? Do I come off smug? Maybe. But I've never cared for what people think of me, even my own peers so really it doesnt matter, now does it? :arrow:
I ALREADY HAD THAT "AIRE" BEFORE I CAME TO MOREHOUSE.......SO I JUST ROLLED WITH IT......CALL ME ARROGANT IF U WANT....BUT IF U DONT THINK U THE SH*T...NO ONE WILL
I ALREADY HAD THAT "AIRE" BEFORE I CAME TO MOREHOUSE.......SO I JUST ROLLED WITH IT......CALL ME ARROGANT IF U WANT....BUT IF U DONT THINK U THE SH*T...NO ONE WILL
I ALREADY HAD THAT "AIRE" BEFORE I CAME TO MOREHOUSE.......SO I JUST ROLLED WITH IT......CALL ME ARROGANT IF U WANT....BUT IF U DONT THINK U THE SH*T...NO ONE WILL
I ALREADY HAD THAT "AIRE" BEFORE I CAME TO MOREHOUSE.......SO I JUST ROLLED WITH IT......CALL ME ARROGANT IF U WANT....BUT IF U DONT THINK U THE SH*T...NO ONE WILL
[quote="babyfaced1908
My bad! ((dayum she keeps catching me!)) Well of course that was wrong of me....everyone thinks I'm the Shiiiiiiiyiiiit! Heh Heh! Conceited chics-gotta love em :twisted: :arrow:
I think its ok for confidence but we have to draw the line somewhere.This is why I decided to post these three articles that were written to aucdigest the AUC SGA presidents...All the old AUC heads shuld remember the dumb vanity fair issue in the Maroon Tiger.When I read what Pimptight wrote, it bought back soo many memories of what happened back in the 99-2000 school year and how all of us MBC folks got in our cars and went to Morehouse's campus in droves.
And here is why ,pimptight...
Taken from AUCdigest.com
Dear Mr. Carlos,
While reading the most recent issue of the Maroon Tiger, I came across your piece highlighting some of the alleged differences between the Atlanta University Center undergraduate institutions. For many years, there has been competition and even animosity between the different schools; but, recently as I noticed the number of students from Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman who attend classes at Morris Brown College, I believe that times were changing. Apparently, this propensity toward collective work and responsibility must contend with the divisive forces that succumb to the "Willie Lynch Syndrome" and draw unnecessary distinctions between us instead of strengthening the ties that bind us. King taught us that we are interconnected, "bound by a seamless garment of destiny, tied to an inextricable network of mutuality." Do not scoff at your legacy.
As the first college in the entire country named after a Black man and the only institution of higher learning in the state of Georgia founded by African people for African people, Morris Brown College must encounter opposition on a daily basis. Though we expect to overcome adversity and have perfected the art of transforming stumbling blocks into stepping stones, we are still hurt when we are ridiculed by our own people.
It is an honor to reside on the sacred land of Morris Brown College, including the John H. Middleton Complex. But, if you would like to select a building on our campus to highlight, perhaps in addition to the Towers you could have chosen the Honors Dorm, Gaines Hall, once part of a secret network used by enslaved Africans who escaped to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Gaines Hall was originally named North Hall, the first building in the Atlanta University Center. Or, you might have selected Fountain Hall, formerly Stone Hall where the office and classrooms of W.E.B. Dubois were located and where the W.E.B. Dubois Room rests as a commemorative monument of his life and legacy.
A more productive comparison between the schools could have taken place regarding course offerings and academic departments. I am disgusted by the contention that Morris Brown College students view attending class as an extracurricular activity, as you suggested. If there is an particular socio-economic or political issue that concerns you, feel free to call me so that we can have a discussion and reveal the true value of the educations we have received. When I graduated from high school, I received a full four-year scholarship to attend Morehouse College. I then transferred to Morris Brown College during my sophomore year when I decided to select a major that Morehouse did not offer. So, I have examined the curriculum of both institutions and I am very pleased about the selection that I have made.
In 1815, a man named Morris Brown, the second consecrated bishop of the A.M.E. church, was convicted and sentenced to prison for the crime of "educating Blacks without the presence of whites." Nearly one hundred and twenty years later, we are still guilty of that offense. I love Morris Brown College with all my heart and I take pride in the fact that after all this time, we continue to prosper, serving as an indication of the economic and political empowerment that African people can achieve when we persevere. We do not mind making sacrifices if it means that we are able to control our own destiny.
The "Talented Tenth" philosophy often credited to W.E.B. Dubois was actually created by the namesake of your institution, Henry Lyman Morehouse. A member of the American Home Baptist Missionary Society, Morehouse wanted to create a place where he could program the intellectual elite of the Black community to keep revolutionary Black people in line. Unfortunately, through stereotypes and criticisms directed at your peers, you have continued in this tradition. In "The Miseducation of the Negro," Carter G. Woodson contends that once you control a man’s mind, you do not have to dictate his actions because they will follow accordingly. Is your behavior a reflection of the philosophy that is being promoted at your institution?
I recently received a full fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Chicago. And, next year when I am following in the footsteps of Benjamin Elijah Mays, I will be reflecting on the breakdown in the Morehouse College admissions process that enabled a young man with such poor judgement and integrity to enter what many consider to be an outstanding institution. Nevertheless, I trust that your beliefs are not a reflection of the dominant sentiment of students at Morehouse. Perhaps you are some strange aberration, some bizarre caricature of ignorance and disrespect among students who are otherwise committed to the unity of all African people in general and all members of the Atlanta University Center in particular. Any comparisons between the four schools should have been aligned with that objective.
With regards to the first two interrogations of the Untitled "Twenty Questions" included in the same issue: I am indeed personally offended because you personally attacked persons that I love who attend my institution. But, I know that what you contend about my school is not true, and I am committed to keeping this letter concise because miseducation is a disease that requires more attention than the space that I expect to be allotted for this response.
The sad fact is that your article does more to tarnish the image of Morehouse College than any of the other institutions you mentioned. I hope that your journalism will become more responsible and that you plan to make attending class one of your extracurricular activities. For future reference, do not dare use the official symbol of Morris Brown College unless you are preparing some document that will make a contribution to the liberation and empowerment of African people.
"The freedom that comes through ignorance enslaves the one who entertains it." Akan proverb (Ghana, West Africa)
"Great spirits have always faced opposition from mediocre minds." Albert Einstein
Respectfully,
Michael Ralph
President, Student Government Association
Morris Brown College
Deep Concern and Disapproval by Geniece R. Davis, President, Spelman SGA
In light of the article printed recently about Characteristics of the AUC, I would like to express my deep concern and disapproval on behalf of the students at Spelman College. Whether this article incited anger, hurt, disgust or simple annoyance, it has definitely drawn attention. The article, not unlike many comments, jokes or other written articles printed throughout the AUC in my past four years, has drawn attention to stereotypes and differences of students within the AUC, as opposed to the similarities that we all share. The article is not the real issue at hand, however, the ideology and mindset behind the article is. There is still insensitivity and lack of understanding of all of the AUC schools that continue to overarch any efforts of unity on our college campuses. The article has brought to many of our attentions that we as "educated" black students still do not see that tearing each other down and perpetuating stereotypes further divides our race as a whole.
As much as I disapprove of this article, I am not surprised at the content or the ideas because the ideology behind the article is alive and well throughout the AUC and is not limited to the office of the Maroon Tiger or Morehouse College. However, as students in the AUC, including myself, we have not done our part to establish unity within this community so that articles such as this would not be paid attention to, and not even written due to a broader understanding and validation of each student’s education on all campuses. I believe that if the Maroon Tiger allows such free speech and receives such attention from its paper, we as concerned students should be writing more articles that uplift the four schools, instead of sitting back quietly waiting to become reactive and pretending these ideas don’t exist. We should become more proactive to work toward solving this real and present problem of AUC disunity.
Along with my disapproval of this article, also comes a deeper concern for our grasp on the bigger picture. I am glad we are reading and responding, but why don’t we do this when it comes to larger issues that are affecting our colleges, community, family and future. I have witnessed first hand the apathy of our colleges when it comes to voting, fighting affirmative action, HBCUs shutting down or being "bought" out, the rampant spread of **** among African Americans and the basic knowledge of issues that are transforming the community around our colleges as a whole. Why are we not rallying, writing letters, calling meetings and discussing these issues in our classrooms?
The AUC Council has made a great step in this effort to bridge the community together through their recent meetings, now the AUC students, including its students governments that are representatives of the students, must and will come together to do the same. First, we must define what AUC unity means to the students of the AUC and the ideal environment that we are working toward. Second, we must stop pretending that walking together, and partying together under a so-called "Olive Branch" will solve the problems. The stereotypes are real and believed by many, and we must now try to combat those stereotypes with the truth. The AUC Council of student government presidents plan to work this semester through Town Halls, Workshops and a weeks worth of activities for the entire AUC (that are more than social) to begin this healing process. We hope to lay a foundation for understanding that will be able to defeat stereotypes perpetuated in articles, and prayerfully any mindset. I just pray that we as students take in account our own daily actions and comments of negativity, realizing that these things only add to the problem.
Geniece R. Davis
Spelman Student Government President
