White Valedictorian at Morehouse does it Matter?

[freaky_good_man]

Ok, I have been struggling with this a bit and wanted to see what the masses thought about this.

I am a Morehouse Graduate and if you haven't heard, last month Morehouse had it's first white Valedictorian. My first thoughts about it were guarded because I didn't know the full story.

Apparently the guy is a decent person with a solid academic background. He apparently turned down a scholarship to Columbia University to take a scholarship at Morehouse. So, he is not just an average Joe white boy coming off the street taking the number one spot at the school.

But, my concern / issue is: What does it say when a school that is suppose to attract some of the best and brightest the black community has to offer is upstaged by a white student that was not great but a solid student?

Does it diminish the level of education at Morehouse or other HBCUs compared to other white schools?

Does it say our best and brightest are not on par with their white counter parts educationally?

Now let me finish this with a couple of disclaimers for some of the "locos" on bgol. I am not saying that Morehouse has all the best and brightest black students. There are other brilliant and smart black students at other HBCU and white schools.

Secondly, this guy did make it as a Phi Beta Kappa nominee although he didn't get that award. To be considered for that distinction is pretty strong. He was hired by Goldman Sachs so they seem to think his education at Morehouse was solid. Goldman Sachs doesn't hire people from most schools.

Here is an article that was on the AJC about the student: http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/05/11/morehouseman_0512.html


If you didn't see my previous post about a Nike hook up with 30% to 50% off Nike products. Check out the post to save you some money.
http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=273221

 

[Mac4L1ph3]

I don't get why you struggling with this

 

[34real]

But, my concern / issue is: What does it say when a school that is suppose to attract some of the best and brightest the black community has to offer is upstaged by a white student that was not great but a solid student?

Right,and on top of that add the mindset of some white person who thinks they could attend such a college and become an easy over-achiever amongst minority students.

I have no problems with someone white saying "Hey i grewup around black people and Im going to this school because this is where i feel I can fit in and do my best at".

 

[PrettyToney]

Quite honestly, I don't think you should read too much into it. This guy, who just happens to be white, worked hard to receive that honor. I don't think it reflects negatively on anyone, but I'm sure it has to hurt the pride of some black students/alumni.

Think about it like this...whenever there is a black valedictorian at a predominately white school, do you see anyone gettin all up in arms about it? Dude at Morehouse put together an outstanding college career, and no one can ever take that away from him.

 

[Dr. Truth]

Why is this even newsworthy? It ain't like Blacks never allowed whites to attend our colleges, like them crackas did us. Why the fuck is this newsworthy? Who gives a flying fuck. Mothafuckas are making it seem triumphant. Whites have always been able to attend black colleges if they wanted to.

 

[Damn Right]

the fact that dude received the honor means he busted his azz. there's no doubt in my mind that a brother or sister could've got that honor this year if they woulda put in that extra hard work....like all the black valedictorians in previous years.

my guess is that students at 'the house' this graduating class slacked off a bit and got caught slippin

 

[linequoter]

Ok, I have been struggling with this a bit and wanted to see what the masses thought about this.

I am a Morehouse Graduate and if you haven't heard, last month Morehouse had it's first white Valedictorian. My first thoughts about it were guarded because I didn't know the full story.

Apparently the guy is a decent person with a solid academic background. He apparently turned down a scholarship to Columbia University to take a scholarship at Morehouse. So, he is not just an average Joe white boy coming off the street taking the number one spot at the school.

But, my concern / issue is: What does it say when a school that is suppose to attract some of the best and brightest the black community has to offer is upstaged by a white student that was not great but a solid student?

Does it diminish the level of education at Morehouse or other HBCUs compared to other white schools?

Does it say our best and brightest are not on par with their white counter parts educationally?

Now let me finish this with a couple of disclaimers for some of the "locos" on bgol. I am not saying that Morehouse has all the best and brightest black students. There are other brilliant and smart black students at other HBCU and white schools.

Secondly, this guy did make it as a Phi Beta Kappa nominee although he didn't get that award. To be considered for that distinction is pretty strong. He was hired by Goldman Sachs so they seem to think his education at Morehouse was solid. Goldman Sachs doesn't hire people from most schools.

Here is an article that was on the AJC about the student: http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/05/11/morehouseman_0512.html


If you didn't see my previous post about a Nike hook up with 30% to 50% off Nike products. Check out the post to save you some money.
http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=273221

From what I understand, he was the 120th valedictorian at Morehouse. So, there have been 119 before him. I'll assume that most (probably all) of them were black. He was a white guy that worked hard and made the grade, so he deserved it. And for all we know, the #2 at Morehouse might not have been too far off from his GPA.

Furthermore, there have been black valedictorians at predominately white universities.

There's really nothing for you to struggle with.

 

[34real]

there's no doubt in my mind that a brother or sister could've got that honor this year if they woulda put in that extra hard work....like all the black valedictorians in previous years.

The valedictorian of previous years didn't make national news like this guy did,which is another problem.

I remember when the school had its highest graduationing class ever a few years back and I saw it on only two news channels(bet,nbc,60sec).I remember reading some of the comments and one stuck,"why are they getting praise for something they should be doing" and I say its the same in this case.

 

[moblack]

This story isn't that big of a deal. The bigger deal is I bet he got some free education since he was going to a HBCU. Props to him thats an accomplishment anywhere.

 

[freaky_good_man]

Just to be clear, I didn't say the guy didn't bust his ass. I was a finance major with a minor in econ. He majored in Econ so we took a lot of the same classes. I know for damn sure he had to bring it to bust a 4.0. It's not a personal attack or issue with the student himself at all.

Why I am sure there have been black Valedictorians at white schools, I do not recall that making national media coverage, but I could be wrong.

 

[Blunt]

Why I am sure there have been black Valedictorians at white schools, I do not recall that making national media coverage, but I could be wrong.

Are you saying that this isn't "unusual" enough to be newsworthy? It obviously got a reaction from you.

(BTW, there are always plenty of stories about individual blacks, both homegrown and immigrants, who graduate as valedictorians in high school and college. It's a typical "good news" story. You see those stories every spring.)

 

[slimgoodbody]

No! Nuff said.............

 

[Bain316]

So what? You got the chance to go to school at a private or public university in the past did not accept colored people but now they do. You got the opportunity to learn and upgrade your career right?

 

[wetwork]

If you have a problem with this, then you never should have went to Morehouse, cause obviously you didn't learn a fucking thang. Why does the color of his skin matter?

 

[Pussy Krook]

Damn we can't have shit