As I have shared before, I attend a white institution. Last week I gave a lecture at a HBCU and it invigorated me. The opportunity to feel the energy of a black college environment was refreshing, necessary, purposeful and overwhelming. The response I received from students and faculty were self absorbed yet at the same time I knew that I had an impact on them. I entered the room very confident about me, my purpose and excited about what the future holds for me in the academy. I left the HBCU confused about all three aspects. Where is my purpose best served? Am I to teach at a white establishment (like the one I attend) and only touch the lives of a small number of black students or am I to teach at an HBCU where there are more people that look like me, more people that I relate to, more people that may have faced some of the "speed bumps" that I have endured on the quest of dream chasing? Am I to breath hope in those that I only come in contact with or am I to do it on another level? Understanding that there are a small number of black male criminologists in the academy, understanding that white institutions have more access to resources that will give me the opportunity to affect policy, effectively impact the mental paradigm shift on how whites view blacks, effectively show the white and black students that black men are not identified by what the media, society or a majority of the criminal justice literature says about us being in jail or dead, this is a struggle.
Where should blacks serve their purposes best, white institutions or HBCUs?
A man cannot serve two masters.
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B. Chad, that dilemma is one a lot of us are faced with. When you get down to it, you have to think about what impact you want to make. The HBCU you attended I'm sure is like many others being they could really use a young man that could relate to the students and bring new ideas to the institution. The other hand white institutions will provide you with more resources. The question is only one you can answer, knowing you and what you stand for, I know you will figure out a way to do both. The younger generation at either institution will be greatly impacted by your presence. You will relate to the students at the HBCUs and the institution as a whole. Don't consume yourself with that dilemma because like the many others you have already over come, you'll make the best of the situation.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maaly.
ReplyDeleteIs this a situation that you personally have encountered in your career and if so how did you handle it?
B.Chad,
ReplyDeleteHere are some principles that were passed along to me in order not to limit or expose what has been given to me...1)Live Passionately 2)Love Completely 3)Learn Humbly and 4)Leave Boldly. The rest is up Him.
Hello B.Chad
ReplyDeleteI think that this blog is very refreshing. Although I don't want to go the academic route with my degree, I do understand having to make a choice between being in a comfortable environment with your peers or being in an all white establishment. Personally when I had to make this choice I tried very hard to remove race and made the decision based on which was going to be the best opportunity for my career. If I could do it again not sure that I would have made the same choice lol. Being a young black female and single without children makes it harder to be in an environment where I can't relate to people around me. Like the person before me stated, make the decision that is right for you, but put everything on the table before you do. Just my thoughts.
Hello Ms. Roberts, first let me apologize for my leave of absence and not responding to your comments in a timely manner. Secondly, let me thank you for bringing the blog to corporate America and sharing your experiences with us.
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