When Morehouse Became the WHITE House
May 13, 2008 — lrubin39Thanks for sharing, Dwayne.
Morehouse is an institution that is recognized for its longstanding tradition of educating young Black men. It is one of the nation’s premier HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
However, a unique situation at Morehouse this year provides an opportunity for discussion.
For the first time in the school’s 141 year history…the valedictorian is White. (see article)
Joshua Packwood, from the Kansas City area, is graduating from Morehouse with a 4.0 GPA in Economics. According to the article, Packwood is familiar with being in the minority. He was one of a few white students in his high school class. Also, some of his siblings are “mixed” because his mother was married to a Black man.
Do you see any issues with White students attending predominant Black schools?
May 13, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I don’t see anything wrong with a white person graduating from any institution of higher learning. I attended FAMU for two semesters after high school. There were (although few in number) some white students in classes with me. I should say I never saw any of them living there but we definitely had white students on campus - on the football team and in the marching 100!
HBCUs still own the title of graduating the largest number of black students in the world. However, after my experience at FAMU and in the active component of the US Army, I came to a different conclusion about HBCUs altogether. We need to immerse ourselves in diverse settings to get a better view of a competitive world. The world isn’t just us like HBCUs sometimes offer…we need to prepare ourselves for the competition at all levels. Therefore, I am of the opinion that we attend schools that reflect a diverse society in which we live. I am delighted to be a graduate of Univeristy of Maryland which definitely exposed me to a world that was different yet necessary for life after the undergraduate experience.
May 13, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I don’t have a problem with some non-Blacks going to HBCU. but when 90% of the schools sports team is white, you have to ask what is goin’ on. i went to del state and this is the first page of the sports pages. this dont look like a HBCU to me. http://www.dsuhornets.com/. I thought it was Towson!
May 13, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I attended the world’s greatest HBCU, Hampton University (Class of ‘96), and while we did have some white students on campus, it was definitely a BLACK institution. Now, I don’t know the circumstances surrounding this young man and his upbringing and I could care less. But what I do know is that it is a shame on Morehouse and it’s graduating class of 2008 if they could not produce a Black valedictorian. This is supposedd to be one of the leading institutions in America; some of the greatest minds of the 20th Century hail from the ‘House. Such profound thinkers as Dr. M. L. King and Julian Bond and Lerone Bennett, Jr. are pround graduates. Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson walked the yard. So success can be bred and needs to be cultivated at these institutions.
I’m not against anyone going to any college, but there is still a dire need for HBCU’s in America. They were founded because Blacks could not obtain an education at “white” colleges, and there is a proud legacy of Black college graduates that exists even until this day. I was nurtured at Hampton University and I know alumni from other HBCUs that feel that pride every time any Black college or graduate excels or gains positive recognition. Honestlly, this is a travesty, and I hope that Black college students work harder to do their best and always be found at the head of their class.
May 13, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Nope, I don’t see any issue. The only issue is I have is where is the BLACK brother that earned a cumulative 4.0 GPA at Morehouse?
May 13, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Juan over at Highbrid Nation put me on to thewhite valedictorian of Morehouse story. Seems like a lot of people are upset. Lol, some people didn’t even know white people were allowed to attend Morehouse. Honestly my opinion is that this is good for race relations. If us black people wanted to be fully embraced in American culture, we have to fully embrace the rest of America in ours.
May 14, 2008 at 1:17 am
B.B., what is the real issue? Is it that white people are allowed to go to black schools, or is it that white people came to a black school and was superior?
thats why i have a problem with black schools. yes, they produce successful people (like the names you mentioned). but they aren’t THE BEST out of EVERYBODY. I dont want to just see black valedictorians at black schools. I want to see black valedictorians at WHITE schools!
May 14, 2008 at 1:41 am
I first responded without reading the article on Mr. Packwood. Now that I’ve read it in its entirety, I’m even more alarmed. There is a quote from a young Black man that bascially states if Morehouse is good enough for (Packwood), then it is good enough for him. Why do we as Blacks, Negroes, African-Americans continue to let white America dictate what is “good enough” or acceptable. I chose to attend Hampton University because my parents, and my maternal grandmother went there, not based on what white folk thought. If we continued to go by what white folks thought, we’d still be shackled, lynched, voteless and otherwise marginalized by whites.
May 14, 2008 at 2:02 am
Black people shout in the streets when Tiger wins, or Venus/Serena win. In other words, Black people love it when a Black person goes into a “white arena” and beats them. We cant cry or be so upset when a white person comes into a black school and is the best.
May 14, 2008 at 3:02 am
I am confused perhaps concerned. This young man with a mixed racial background felt Morehouse was his best choice. (Perhaps his steps were ordered by the Lord). His decision was not to prove he was better than anyone but that he would gain from the continued experience he had in high school. Once there he did what he was supposed to do, his best. This brought him the honor as valedictorian. This did not means whites are smarter than blacks it meant that this young man had the highest grades in his class.
If I read ther article correctly he has been well received by the student body and faculty alike. His statement is that no other school could have provided what Morehouse did.
Again I am confused about the comments and the concerns raised. If I wasn’t secure that the Lord had and continues to lead my steps I guess I would have to do rethink my life. I compliment Mr. Packmond on a job well done.
May 14, 2008 at 5:44 am
Interesting discussion. HBCUs point back to what’s occurring in high schools in my opinion. For instance, take the number of black students in honors / AP courses. They aren’t seated - and one of the reasons they aren’t taking more challenging courses is because they don’t want to be told by their peers they are “acting white”. Another justification is because they don’t want to be the “only one” in a course that might propel them into a more challenge level of curriculum. The rationale goes on and on - trust me - I’m doing my research on it. We’ve got to convince our kids that separate doesn’t mean equal — it helps to add to the notion of them and us. What the heck was Brown vs Board of Education all about then?
HBCUs, although they definitely have their history of producing black graduates, lend to the same seperatist thinking, isolation and yet great pride. Again, I question is this a good thing if we want to be apart of the playing field in this multicultural society? Just food for thought.
May 14, 2008 at 8:12 am
Very interesting conversation going on up in here today! I graduated from Rutgers University.
I was amazed that when I visited my twin, Yoshi, at FAMU how students there would be in awe that I was at a “white” school or liken it to Ivy League. So I think that perception of other people’s situations is often defined by one’s own personal experiences…and yep, sometimes that comes from a limited view. I never felt like RU was a “white school” but I certainly thought I stood a better chance coming out a bit more well rounded on the reality of what I was going to face in life as well as in the job market. (No offense to graduates of HBCU’s…it was my view) I do think these schools give something ( a lot of things) that other institutions cannot provide, otherwise, they would not flourish. However, if someone of another culture or race should seize the opportunity to attend and get the most out of the experience, then who are we to judge?
The other point that needs to be addressed is that while this young man was selected to lead his class…it could have been that an essay, his experience, and leadership got him the spot. It undoubtedly went beyond the color line. My point is this…let’s celebrate this young man’s accomplishment for the right reason…he finished college, he maintained great grades, and clearly was able to effectively represent himself so that he could even be considered for the spot. It shows his ability to step up to the plate, go where no man (white man) has ever gone before at Morehouse…and he should feel no shame in that.
We need to look past his color and come to grips with the fact that he was the right man at the right time!
May 15, 2008 at 1:34 am
I must agree that this is a very interesting conversation, one that is probably needed. I am a recent graduate of the AUC, Spelman College ‘06. For me, race has always played a significant role in my life…I grew up in a small rural town, where black people were the minority. Reading the above replies made me think of a conversation I had with my optometrist. After my first semester at Spelman, I had my annual eye check. My doctor asked the basic questions, how I felt about college…you know how were my classes, what was life like without any parental control. I thought these were typical questions and so I responded with typical answers but the last question he asked me will always stand out to me. He asked me did I think I was living in the real world.
The real world to him was like many have described above, one of diversity. I was shocked. How could my world be any different from him sending his children to an all white, ivy league school? Just as Joshua was seen as a speck among his classmates on campus, so would any black student(s) who chose to go to Harvard or Yale.
I took his question and chose to embrace my environment. I enjoyed every moment of being surrounded by people who looked just like me but that’s not what made my experience so special. I was amazed to see so many young black people yearn to be educated, to be successful, make a difference and accomplish their goals.
An HBCU experience is like no other and I applaud Joshua for choosing to experience what is considered to be unreal. Yes, there is a great pride within all HBCUs. Are they isolated? Ivy league schools aren’t considered to be isolated. Most of these were founded by blacks ((and some whites) who just wanted the same opportunities that were seen as privileged.
Yes, I agree we need to look beyond color…heal the past, live the present and dream the future.
May 16, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Brad:
Sam Jackson is a very successful actor. He is hardly to be esteemed as a leader in the community though. He was a crackhead. To mention him in the same sentence as MLK is gross. And Julian Bond taught a class at Harvard and showed up twice. I was there. He is useless too and simply piggy backing on MLK.
May 16, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Additionally Brad:
Morehouse is a great college. However, its admissions are hardly as competitive as many state schools, including Georgia Tech, Michigan, UNC and UVA. So its not surprising that this Packwood guy is valedictorian. The talented 10th generally attends top-tier schools.
May 16, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Brad: You seem to be one of the many Black Americans who doesn’t want anyone to have success besides yourself. You don’t like it when white join the black arena/community and earn a place at the time. Moreover, you don’t like it when one of your black peers perform better than you, whether it be academically, socially, or athletically. You’re basically a crab that tries to pull the other crabs from climbing out of the bucket and thriving in the world. YOU and other Black Americans like you need to get a grip and accept that you aren’t the best at everything and must appreciate and congratulate those who work hard to better themselves. I personally believe that we, as Black Americans, need to emulate Black Europeans and Black African by encouraging our brethren to best that they can be and giving them a pat on the back when their credit is due.
May 16, 2008 at 10:46 pm
T3:
What is the difference between DSU having a white softball team and Notre Dame having a black football team? Or Miami? Or Michigan? Or USC. Or Washington? or Oregon?
May 16, 2008 at 11:03 pm
ocho ocho,
your question reveals your ignorance. historically black colleges were created primarily out of the reality that mainstream white universities DID NOT ALLOW black people to attend their schools. the idea of separate institutions was a result of being excluded, and black athletes that could not go to miami or michigan…had to go to hampton and FAMU, etc. Then, when sports became big business and white schools saw dollar signs by allowing these black athletes in, the black schools suffered. Let me put it to you this way, the “take your daughters to work” program was created in order to address the issue of low female representation in corporate management positions. Don’t you think it would be strange, problemmatic even, if 90% of the people that went to school on “tydtw” day were boys? when programs and institutions exist to address the needs of those typically marginalized or underserved, it concerns me when the primary benefactors are neither marginalized nor underserved. any other questions?
May 16, 2008 at 11:11 pm
T3:
My mother taught at Howard. You missed my point, not surprisingly. The point is that we cannot use race as both a shield and a sword. If we want a seat at the table, we must be willing to give the same.
May 16, 2008 at 11:15 pm
T3:
Actually yes.
Additionally, by your logic, does that mean that HBCus should no longer exist and are no longer necessary, since we can attend any school now?
May 16, 2008 at 11:21 pm
WE cant attend any school we want. THEY still choose how many, and which ones can attend. And I’m sure your mother will agree that there is tremendous value in the HBCU, including the practice of having the admissions being “not as competitive” to provide opportunities for those very bright, deserving students that were not properly prepared in the public high school system.
May 16, 2008 at 11:30 pm
They do the same to their own. Actually in a perverse accident, it is easier for the best of us to attend their best colleges than it is for the best of them.
For example: I graduated HS in 1989. That year every IVY league school took over 100 men and 100 women of color. Every other highly competitive school did as well. There were less than 50,000 African Americans with SATs over 1000 that year. These schools are fighting over academically talented black kids.
Additionally, Mr. Packwood, although white, is exactly the type of kid HBCUs were designed for. He grew up poor and disadvantaged. He was a product of what is generally a shoddy public school system. Yet somehow he did it.
HBCU are basically a plantation. Howard’s President makes 2x the salary as Harvard’s. Can anyone justify that?
May 18, 2008 at 2:44 am
If you get a 4.0, you get a 4.0! I applaud his decision to attend Morehouse, just as I applaud anyone who makes a decision based upon what they think is best for them to be “educated”. I’m sure that he had a dynamic experience and I don’t believe that this is about a white boy who is a valedictorian at a black school. Contextually, Joshua grew up with black folks and he may even be more comfortable around black folks because of his cultural experiences prior to college. From my own experiences, I’ve learned that color doesn’t necessarily equate to culture. I grew up in a predominately white town, had white friends and neighbors, then I took my happy-tail to Hampton University in hopes of avoiding the pains of racism, and what I experienced was major culture shock, but what I learned is that “crazy” doesn’t have a color and neither does “love”. People are people and we should be willing to experience people from all walks of life, because life is too short. There are other life-filters. Color isn’t the only one…religion…economics…patriotism. Well done to those of you willing to take a leap…Joshua that includes you too!
May 18, 2008 at 8:41 am
I read this story several days ago and was shocked by the story he tells regarding the Morehouse did to get him…apparently, the recruiter assumed he was black (or mixed) and after quite few conversations, the student realized that the recruiter didn’t know he was white. They’d recruited him so hard, I don’t think they could’ve taken it all back simply because they realized he was white. He excelled in high school and continued on to a school he knew was prestigious and did well. He also got some insight that most white Americans should be forced to get before leaving college.
As a reflection on the previous comments, I feel that if you think someone else is controlling what schools you can and cannot attend, you’ve already lost the battle. I had several choices for school, both historically black and historically white and I made the choice, it was not made for me. As long as we blame someone else for our misdeeds, we can never have the chance to learn from them.
stay blessed
shawna
May 18, 2008 at 8:42 am
oops…typo..
i was shocked by the story he tells regarding the RECRUITING Morehouse did to get him…
sorry
May 20, 2008 at 4:16 am
Kudos to Lee for this forum to share…awesome dialog. At least we agree to disagree - in love (I hope)
May 20, 2008 at 9:29 am
Well, being that I know Josh personally and know that he is a very hard working and humble person, I am nothing but proud of him. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. He is one of the most cultured “white boys” I know and I know that this accomplishment was not the result of him wanting to prove his superiority, but more about his determination to achieve given the circumstances he’s had to overcome. I’ve attended “white” schools all of my life and know the pressure that comes with success when you are one of very few that look like you in your class. Just as I was proud when one of my Black classmates gave the student address at my law school graduation this weekend (Lee, thanx for attending!) I am also happy to say I know the valedictorian of Morehouse class of 2008.
May 20, 2008 at 10:23 pm
black or white, how does the color of your skin dictate the school that you are “allowed” to attend to be accepted by society.. Brad seems to think that his being black is his sole reason for being so “outraged”. Get a grip, and learn to respect others and there accomplishments. Live and let live.. life is too short to exert such venom from someone who is stated to be so educated.. step away from the computer.. More power to the gentlemen that is the “valedictorian” and transcended boundries that are placed by narrow minded folks.. everything is NOT black and white people.