afelton's Blog

BFD - if he was a black going to a white school...he wouldn't make the news. The novelty of the idea will wear off when he applies for a job and discovers that he should've went to Columbia. Truth be known, most of the blacks didn't want him there, and even more didn't want his as valedictorian.

"Truth be known, most of the blacks didn't want him there, and even more didn't want his as valedictorian."

TM apparently you didnt read the WHOLE article.

Still, the MAJORITY of students told CNN that he earned his accolades and they STAND BEHIND HIM!!!

Always someone has to turn something positive into something negative.

African-American Have any of you ever meet someone that is from Africa? I guess not so lets stop putting African in front of American. Lets call it what it really is BLACK.

Well, I would prefer Black-American, but African-American is the new PC term thorn.

On topic, I would say Packwood is a courageous individual indeed. To be the only white in an all black male college would scare me to death!
But these students are not your average thugs on the street, and most likely came from well to do familys that do not speak Ebonics, and harbor little racism in thier hearts. Of course there is always exceptions, but I mean most.
It is an astounding achievement, and shows that Morehouse will recognize achievement over race. That is the most important point here I believe, and I think MLK would be proud.

DF He wasnt the only white in that college. he wasnt the only white to graduate from that college either. he was the first white VALEDICTORIAN at Morehouse.

Wow! Now that took some backbone! Good for him!
I'll bet that shook up Princeton and the rest
of them, didn't it? It just goes to prove that you don't have to be Black in a Black setting, or White in a White setting, if you have what it takes to cut the mustard, you can make the sandwich!

Hey DF I didnt mean to come across as offensive to you. sorry if I did. I am just giving you some more information. and that is a good idea.. I should include stats.

Interesting demographics. 4 White non-Hispanic students out of a total of 3,029? That makes to odds about 750 to 1 against a White Non-Hispanic student becoming Valedictorian. How odd.

Went back and re-read the story, Seems that while afelton was doing the cut and paset- he conveniently left out an an interesting comment....

"They approached me and said, 'Yeah, I have a problem with you being valedictorian. I know you've earned it and even though I know you on a personal level - I like you a lot - but it disturbs me that out of roughly 3,000 black men - there's not one that's done as well as or better than you academically,' " says Packwood

Hmmmmmmm

yeah I left that comment out what Packwood said because that came from ONE student. but anyway, why are you all raining on this guy's parade? TM, Morehouse is a VERY prestigious school. You dont have to go to an IVY LEAGUE school in order to get a job.
I give this guy credit. he did what SOME white males are afraid to do. Go to a PREDOMINATELY BLACK SCHOOL! It seems to me TM and mscsailor, that you like to hear negative stories in the media. I agree with Hawkeye when he said, " I'll bet a DOLLAR to that penny that it WASN'T nearly as HARD to accept for THEM as was the Intergration of the 60s to US...."

afelton said- "because that came from ONE student"

Maybe I didn't cut and paste enough to make the point. From the prior sentence- "When word got out that he might become the next valedictorian, some of his classmates - even friends - were admittedly chafed."

"They" is plural.

Actually, I would like to hear a positive story once in a while, especially on US race relations. How about a byline like
"Morehouse Affirmative Action Committee Recruits Asian Students to Promote Diversity on Campus" ? That would be very postive, yes?

hey mscsailor.. that would be cool IF there were an Asian who wanted to go to Morehouse. Black college doesnt have a problem with another ethnic group going to their schools. I dont agree with this division of schools anyway but thats the way it is. Black America didnt start the segregation of schools but instead help to start the integration.

Gammies, I think you are right. "Unknown" most likely is mixed race students.

Afelt, no offense taken. It fact I thought I offended you, and was explaining my comment.

So to the question of "unknown", let me ask you something. If your children were to attend Morehouse, would they classify themselves as black, white, or unknown?

DF Good question.

Because of the one drop of Black blood rule that whites and blacks have clunged to for years, they will be considered Black. My experience is that Black people are more willing to accept a bi racial child than Whites are. This has been throughout the ages. I dont like the OTHER category because my kids arent an OTHER. If they want to embrace their Black heritage and be called black, I wouldnt care. If they want to embrace their White heritage and be called white, I wouldnt care either. But the majority of people see biracial kids as Black depending on how dark their skin is. Mariah Carey is bi racial but is considered White but Halle Berry and Alicia are considered Black. Although both ladies do considered THEMSELVES as Black.

I understand the dilemma. I grew up in a VERY small town in NY. There were no black familys at all.
There was a mixed race couple though. They were never harrassed in any way, and we were all friends with both of thier children. The older one, a boy, was black just like his father. The younger, a girl, was not white, but was very light skinned black. She was a definite beauty, and was sought after by many boys in our little town.
(No she is not the one I mentioned before in another post)
So as you mentioned Mariah and Halle, what classification should this girl choose if she had to pick a category at ANY college, not just Morehouse.
Should she say black? Should the boy that was black as black can be pick white?
They have the same heritage. MUST it be black for the one drop of blood, or can it be "other"?