HBCUs & PWIs

Recently, I visited one of my new favorite blogs - Stuff Educated Black People Like, and a question was posed asking which type of institution, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) does a better job of educating black students. Let me just say that I think this is a dumb question - leave it to some idiot to try to sow discord between black college grads. However, I do get tired of graduates of PWIs always saying how HBCUs provide a "false sense of reality." As I stated in my response, HBCUs aren’t for everyone, but please don’t criticize those of us who chose to attend one. See my response below.

Let me begin by saying that I am a proud graduate of an HBCU, and I’d recommend it to any black student. I grew up attending PWIs, and I, in addition to my other black classmates chose to attend HBCUs upon graduation, because we wanted a different experience. I always find it amusing how some graduates of PWIs feel the need to "validate" themselves by stating that HBCUs provide a "false sense of reality." What’s even more amusing was that they’d break their necks to get to our campus for parties, step shows, probates, etc. Hmm, I thought we were living in a false sense of reality! Why don’t y’all stay on your campus and party with each other? Why are ya’ll pressed to show up at our Homecoming? HBCUs provide black students with the opportunity to be in the majority – a chance to live and socialize with other students who look like them and share some of the same interests and experiences. HBCUs aren’t for everyone, but don’t try to discourage students who may be considering attending one - that sounds like the "crabs in a barrel" mentality to me. I earned my degree just like you did!

A More Perfect Union

Ok, let me start by saying that I'm a speechwriter. This is one of the best written and most eloquently delivered speeches I've ever heard. I especially like the way Sen. Obama likened Rev. Wright to an older, sometimes unpredictable uncle. The Senator did not disrespect Rev. Wright, nor did he try to defame his character OR Christianity. Instead, Obama basically explained that while Wright’s views may be a bit extreme, they are not totally unfounded. We as a people have been through a lot – that cannot be negated, but now is the time for us to work together with all Americans to get our country to where it needs to be. I've heard that Sen. Obama wrote the majority of this speech himself - if so, we NEED this man to be our president. Even though it could mean putting speechwriters like me out of work, lol, he NEEDS to be our president!

Indian In My Family? /The Black American

Every 30 years or so, it seems like the name that others call us changes - from colored, to negro, to black to African-American. Personally, I call myself black. I am also an American. Plain and simple - I don't feel the need to say the connection to Africa, simply b/c everyone can look at me and see it. My Daddy, my Granddaddy, and his Daddy were all born here, which is more than I can say for many of the other groups walking around calling themselves Americans.


Italians, the Irish, etc. often refer to themselves as such (even though they were born here) because they have a tangible connection to those countries. Being that our ancestors were stolen from Africa so long ago, few Blacks are able to make that connection. So yes, even though I'm Black, and clearly have some African blood in me - I am an American...it's just that simple.

Here's something I found amusing. A few weeks ago I was watching a show on PBS, where a few Black celebrities were given the chance to trace their family histories. They were also given a DNA test, which (apparently) was able to decipher their genetic make up, so they would know where in Africa their people came from. The amusing part was that, of those tested, very few of them had significant amounts nearly impossible for them to have gotten together with Blacks (free and enslaved) and had enough children for ALL of us to have "Indian in our family." What the tests found is that, the majority of what we perceive to be the "Indian" in us, is actually White blood.

With that said, here's Smokey Robinson's poem, "The Black American."

The Black American……
by Smokey Robinson
Source:Poetology.com

I love being Black. I love being called Black. I love being an American.
I love being a Black American, but as a Black man in this country I think it's a shame
That every few years we get a change of name.

Since those first ships arrived here from Africa that came across the sea
There were already Black men in this country who were free.
And as for those that came over here on those terrible boats,
They were called niggah and slave
And told what to do and how to behave.

And then master started trippin' and doing his midnight tippin',
Down to the slave shacks where he forced he and Great-Great Grandma to be together,
And if Great-Great Grandpa protested, he got tarred and feathered.


And at the same time, the Black men in the country who were free,
Were mating with the tribes like the Apache and the Cherokee.
And as a result of all that, we're a parade of every shade.
And as in this late day and age, you can be sure,
They ain't too many of us in this country whose bloodline is pure.


But, according to a geological, geographical, genealogy study published in Time Magazine,
The Black African people were the first on the scene,
So for what it's worth, the Black African people were the first on earth
And through migration, our characteristics started to change, and rearrange,
To adapt to whatever climate we migrated to.
And that's how I became me, and you became you.

So, if we gonna go back, let's go all the way back,
And if Adam was Black and Eve was Black,
Then that kind of makes it a natural fact that everybody in America is an African American.

Everybody in Europe is an African European; everybody in the Orient is an African Asian
And so on and so on,
That is, if the origin of man is what we're gonna go on.
And if one drop of Black blood makes you Black like they say,
Then everybody's Black anyway.

So quit trying to change my identity.
I'm already who I was meant to be
I'm a Black American, born and raised.
And brother James Brown wrote a wonderful phrase,
"Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud! Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud!"



Cause I'm proud to be Black and I ain't never lived in Africa,
And 'cause my Great-Great Granddaddy on my Daddy's side did, don't mean I want to go back.
Now I have nothing against Africa,
It's where some of the most beautiful places and people in the world are found.
But I've been blessed to go a lot of places in this world,
And if you ask me where I choose to live, I pick America, hands down.

Now, by and by, we were called Negroes, and after while, that name has vanished.
Anyway, Negro is just how you say "black" in Spanish.
Then, we were called colored, but shit, everybody's one color or another,
And I think it's a shame that we hold that against each other.

And it seems like we reverted back to a time when being called Black was an insult,
Even if it was another Black man who said it, a fight would result,
Cause we've been so brainwashed that Black was wrong,
So that even the yellow niggahs and black niggahs couldn't get along.

But then, came the 1960s when we struggled and died to be called equal and Black,
And we walked with pride with our heads held high and our shoulders pushed back,
And Black was beautiful.

But, I guess that wasn't good enough,
Cause now here they come with some other stuff.
Who comes up with this shit anyway?
Was it one, or a group of niggahs sitting around one day?

Feelin' a little insecure again about being called Black
And decided that African American sounded a little more exotic.
Well, I think you were being a little more neurotic.

It's that same mentality that got "Amos and Andy" put off the air,
Cause' they were embarrassed about the way the character's spoke.
And as a result of that action, a lot of wonderful Black actors ended up broke.
When we were just laughin' and have fun about ourselves.
So I say, "fuck you if you can't take a joke."
You didn't see the "Beverly Hillbilly's" being protested by white folks.

And if you think, that cause you think that being called African American set all Black people's mind at ease…..

Since we affectionately call each other "niggah",

I affectionately say to you, "niggah Please".

How come I didn't get the chance to vote on who I'd like to be?
Who gave you the right to make that decision for me?
I ain't under your rule or in your dominion
And I am entitled to my own opinion.


Now there are some African Americans here,
But they recently moved here from places like Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Zaire.
But, now the brother who's family has lived in the country for generations,
Occupying space in all the locations
New York, Miami, L.A., Detroit, Chicago-
Even if he's wearing a dashiki and sporting an afro.

And, if you go to Africa in search of your race,
You'll find out quick you're not an African American,
You're just a Black American in Africa takin' up space.

Why you keep trying to attach yourself to a continent,
Where if you got the chance and you went,
Most people there would even claim you as one of them; as a pure bread daughter or son of them.
Your heritage is right here now, no matter what you call yourself or what you say
And a lot of people died to make it that way.
And if you think America is a leader on inequality and suffering and grievin'
How come there so many people comin' and so few leavin'?

Rather than all this 'find fault with America' fuck you promotin',
If you want to change something, use your privilege, get to the polls!
Commence to votin'!

God knows we've earned the right to be called American Americans and be free at last.
And rather than you movin' forward progress, you dwelling in the past.
We've struggled too long; we've come too far.
Instead of focusing on who we were, let's be proud of who we are.

We are the only people whose name is always a trend.
When is this shit gonna end?
Look at all the different colors of our skin-
Black is not our color. It's our core.
It's what we been livin' and fightin' and dyin' for.

But if you choose to be called African American and that's your preference
Then I 'll give you that reference

But I know on this issue I don't stand alone on my own and if I do, then let me be me
And I'd appreciate it if when you see me, you'd say, "there goes a man who says it loud I'm Black. I'm Black. I'm a Black American, and I'm proud

Cause I love being an American. And I love being Black. I love being called Black.

Yeah, I said it, and I don't take it back.

Smokey Robinson
Def Poets, 3rd Season
May 16, 2003