Jelani Cobb has a great profile of Wayne A. I. Frederick, the President of Howard University, and the difficult dynamic even elite HBCUs face as they seek to navigate Trump-dominated political waters.
Cobb does a great job giving historical context to an ongoing dilemma HBCU leaders often face between directly challenging White supremacist power structures in America versus accommodating White leaders who control desperately-needed resources and access. It grates -- obviously it grates -- for students on these campuses to see their President, say, appear in a photo-op with President Trump, or to watch as Betsy DeVos uses their campus as a backdrop to prattle on about "school choice", or (in a particularly extreme example) to hear that Lee "Willie Horton" Atwater may join the university's board. Such moves are, to say the least, way out of step with the prevailing sentiment of the campus community.
On the other hand, "Pragmatic" leaders often consider the putative conciliation to be its own form of power. What could be more revolutionary than extracting money and support from inside the belly of the beast? Yes, it might be ideal to not have to make such compromises. But, Cobb quotes Frederick as saying: "People think we’re doing God’s work, on God’s time, with God’s money. The problem is, we don’t have access to the latter two."
The paradox of being an HBCU leadership position is that "pragmatists are in the business of producing new generations of fierce idealists." It's a difficult issue, without clear answers. But Cobb's piece is well worth a read to begin unpacking it, at the very least.
Showing posts with label HBCUs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HBCUs. Show all posts
Monday, January 08, 2018
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Education Agenda
A big part of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour's (R-Wildly Corrupt) budget plan involves closing down a bunch of HBCUs, consolidating them with Jackson State University. Leaders of the schools facing merger are strongly opposed to the idea. See the Field Negro for more. He observes: "And here I thought republicans wanted blacks to be educated. Why doesn't he merge Southern Mississippi into Ole Miss? I am just saying."
Barbour, for his part, said he's "not worried about appearing racially insensitive with his proposal." Surprise.
On this blog, of course, Barbour is most well known for successfully arguing that a year is not a year, but failing to persuade the state's high court that the top is not the top.
Barbour, for his part, said he's "not worried about appearing racially insensitive with his proposal." Surprise.
On this blog, of course, Barbour is most well known for successfully arguing that a year is not a year, but failing to persuade the state's high court that the top is not the top.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/21/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news
Americans of all stripes mourn the death of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH). After graduating from Case Western University (thanks to a scholarship she attributed to affirmative action efforts), Jones went on to become the first Black woman to represent Ohio in Congress.
Supporters and opponents of an initiative to ban affirmative action in Nebraska are squabbling over the ballot language.
Meanwhile, the University of Nebraska is reporting great strides in hiring a diverse faculty.
Texas is set to execute a man who didn't kill anybody -- only the 8th time since the death penalty was reinstated that a man will be put to death as an accomplice to murder.
The Justice Department is looking into whether Princeton discriminates against Asian-American applicants through its affirmative action program.
The Hampton Roads, Virginia, city council is examining switching from a at-large to a ward-based system as a way to increase social, economic, and racial diversity on the board.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) will not renew an anti-discrimination order put out by his predecessor, Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D). It's expiration leaves gay and lsbian state workers and contractors unprotected from discrimination.
Illinois civil rights activists are suing, alleging that the state's funding mechanism grossly short-changes minority school districts and gives their children an unequal education.
George E. Curry writes in the Chicago Defender about the continuing need for HBCU's. These institutions generate a disproportionate tally of Black college graduates and -- perhaps more importantly -- are willing to take chances on low to mid-range students and get them on the path to success.
Ann Friedman tries to calm the panic about how this generation of women are not sufficiently feminist.
Shenandoah Valley schools are hosting events to highlight the benefits of diversity after the racially charged murder of a Latino resident.
Corporations celebrate supplier diversity in Battle Creek, Michigan.
A federal appeals court ruled that a Tennessee school district did not violate the constitution when it banned students from wearing the Confederate flag, citing the possibility of enflaming racial tensions.
The Oklahoman: "For Oklahoma college students, diversity is a daily lesson".
Americans of all stripes mourn the death of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH). After graduating from Case Western University (thanks to a scholarship she attributed to affirmative action efforts), Jones went on to become the first Black woman to represent Ohio in Congress.
Supporters and opponents of an initiative to ban affirmative action in Nebraska are squabbling over the ballot language.
Meanwhile, the University of Nebraska is reporting great strides in hiring a diverse faculty.
Texas is set to execute a man who didn't kill anybody -- only the 8th time since the death penalty was reinstated that a man will be put to death as an accomplice to murder.
The Justice Department is looking into whether Princeton discriminates against Asian-American applicants through its affirmative action program.
The Hampton Roads, Virginia, city council is examining switching from a at-large to a ward-based system as a way to increase social, economic, and racial diversity on the board.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) will not renew an anti-discrimination order put out by his predecessor, Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D). It's expiration leaves gay and lsbian state workers and contractors unprotected from discrimination.
Illinois civil rights activists are suing, alleging that the state's funding mechanism grossly short-changes minority school districts and gives their children an unequal education.
George E. Curry writes in the Chicago Defender about the continuing need for HBCU's. These institutions generate a disproportionate tally of Black college graduates and -- perhaps more importantly -- are willing to take chances on low to mid-range students and get them on the path to success.
Ann Friedman tries to calm the panic about how this generation of women are not sufficiently feminist.
Shenandoah Valley schools are hosting events to highlight the benefits of diversity after the racially charged murder of a Latino resident.
Corporations celebrate supplier diversity in Battle Creek, Michigan.
A federal appeals court ruled that a Tennessee school district did not violate the constitution when it banned students from wearing the Confederate flag, citing the possibility of enflaming racial tensions.
The Oklahoman: "For Oklahoma college students, diversity is a daily lesson".
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