Hello College Folks!
I am the mom of an incredible HBCU college kid so, I am going to take a different direction. Much that has been posted is simply mean. I opened this thread because I thought it was "tongue-in-cheek". My bad.
While this thread is only 6 months old the words, thoughts and displaced passion will be with us for many decades to come. That's life.
My take on some of the writing is simple: This is the internet and so many people come to message boards to insult, enrage and distract. Stay focused on the real beauty: Historical Black Colleges and Universities are not for everybody...this is a good thing.
While the original poster and a more recent poster are in deep pain do not let that give you more pause than its worth. Prayer and patience are in order.
"Ignorant, Miseducated, Uncle Toms, Dumb, BET, Compton, Stanford, Homecoming and The Yard" are all words that some folks will mis-use to pull you into their funk. Outside of the internet folks will go even further. Be strong and know that you are being targeted by those who do not wish you well.
So, are their some "dumb" folks( Presidents, Deans, Professors, Students, Office Workers, Janitors, Security, Trustees, etc.) at HBCU's, the Ivy League Colleges/Universities, the various Liberal Arts Colleges/Universities, the Community Colleges? Of course! Their are also some "dumb" folks that have never been to nor plan to go to any college.
I responded to this thread because today some folks of all races, religions, ethnicities, incomes, ages, education, genders, professions, social status, etc. are threatened by the numbers of kids of all races, incomes, etc. who are selecting HBCU's. Check the facts by contacting any HBCU admissions office and request the demographic spread for Fall 2005 applicants. Many HBCU's can not and do not accept all of the very qualified applicants because of the demand. If you want to do some "fast" research then go to the website for The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. They house this data and lots more for those seeking facts and knowledge about students and more at the HBCU's.
Still, with all the validation that HBCU's have, you will always have "haters" out there. To wrap this up, I want to tell you that I have a "friend" who responded to my son's acceptances at HBCU's with utter disdain. She said: "... well, I am sure that you are not going to let him waste his excellent and very expensive high school education at one of those black schools right?"
My reply to her was calm and simple. I said: " I plan to send him to the college or university that will not make him a "dumb", racist, ignorant bigot like you..."
She is black. She is a black Greek. She is in black social and civic organizations and clubs. She is married to a black man and her kids are black. You see ignorance about HBCU students can come from those close to you and from those whom you will (thankfully) never have the "pleasure" of meeting.
...Absolutely!!!!! The HBCU student also effects SO many other people.
Our son is home for the summer and so many HBCU "haters" ask him "dumb" questions about his school, the professors, the other students and so on. He, being an intelligent, polite and funny young man answers them in a way that I never could.
WOW, "successful people" is an understatement ( You are forgiven :grin: ). You simply get much more out of an HBCU than a great education which can lead to success. You get the moxie to really stand up for yourself and others because your HBCU legacy dictates nothing less.
Successful people...are happy, nice, proud, intelligent, formally educated or street smart, giving, kind, prayful, forgiving and peaceful. Thats my short list. I know some say success is money, fame, fortune, women, men, cars, kids, title, labels, addresses etc...those are cool but the real successful people have an abundance of the first category which deals with one's character.
Our son is home for the summer and so many HBCU "haters" ask him "dumb" questions about his school, the professors, the other students and so on. He, being an intelligent, polite and funny young man answers them in a way that I never could. .
I know how this could be. This is nothing but ignorance coming from the sidelines. Wat should be more important: That your Son earns his Education - Or that he earn it, but earn it where THEY want him to earn it at?
College Mom wrote:
WOW, "successful people" is an understatement .
I know it is. I just said that in hopes that you would understand what I meant.
College Mom wrote:
I know some say success is money, fame, fortune, women, men, cars, kids, title, labels, addresses etc...those are cool but the real successful people have an abundance of the first category which deals with one's character.
Actually, I would say that this stuff is the LAST thing that students should concentrate on. Remember that first, they must seek out the Love of God; Then, all things will be added unto them. The problem that many people have, is that they like to take things into their won hands. By this, I mean they do what they want to do, because they feel that it is right. They do not do what God wants them to do. No matter what school you attend or what college you attend, you are only going as far as God originally planned to take you. It is not good to always seek out what you want, and at the same time ignore what you need. Seeking out the Love of God is a need; riding in nice cars is a want.
I am not saying that people should give up their dreams; I am just saying that these are the things that they should be aware of.
In up-and-coming years, it will not matter WHAT college you graduated from; for you to be selected, it will depend on what you can bring to the company, and that is if you plan to work for a company. People need to realize this.
CD
I dont know how to cut and paste on the internet so: YES! to all you said.
Laugh...this past Sunday we took our son to church. He had only been home for a few hours but he really wanted to go. I bring this up because he is like any other college kid in wanting the "other" success icons. I think his first year he found himself a long way from God on one too many occasions. We talk about everything because I do not judge him.
While his HBCU is surrounded by a ton of churches he only went once this past semester. He and I usually go most Sundays when he is home. He says that "nobody" goes to church at school. I told him that he just has not met those people yet. So much of any college is about being cool, fitting in and all that. He reads his bible and he prays. He knows that God will put him where he is suppose to be. We thank God that he has placed him at a HBCU.
Goodnight "son"... :-D
I dont know how to cut and paste on the internet so: YES! to all you said.
Laugh...this past Sunday we took our son to church. He had only been home for a few hours but he really wanted to go. I bring this up because he is like any other college kid in wanting the "other" success icons. I think his first year he found himself a long way from God on one too many occasions. We talk about everything because I do not judge him.
While his HBCU is surrounded by a ton of churches he only went once this past semester. He and I usually go most Sundays when he is home. He says that "nobody" goes to church at school. I told him that he just has not met those people yet. So much of any college is about being cool, fitting in and all that. He reads his bible and he prays. He knows that God will put him where he is suppose to be. We thank God that he has placed him at a HBCU.
Goodnight "son"... :-D
