First White Valedictorian at Morehouse College
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I must admit that I was a bit ambivalent when I saw this headline and read this article. Part of the reason for black universities was to raise the status and education of black people, and for a white person to go in there and become valedictorian seemed to be an insult, even if he’s the best performer out there.
On the other hand, there really is no reason to segregate based on race since schools like Morehouse are predominantly black. Black people can still go there and feel as if they aren’t the minority, and they can focus on building up their culture through an educational institution that puts their needs first. Plus, trends don’t go on forever; after 140 black valedictorians who preceded Packwood, one would expect that a non-black valedictorian would eventually emerge.
So after pondering the situation, I can’t see any reasons not to celebrate this guy’s achievement. It’s clear from the article that he’s a bright guy and quite popular with the other students. Plus, there was a quote that 44’s might find funny:
“One guy came up to me and told me — he didn’t like the fact that I was here,” recalls Packwood. “He absolutely didn’t like the fact that I dated black women.”
“So I heard him out, and said, ‘I appreciate your opinion but don’t agree with what you have to say,’…and now we’ve become, not necessarily close, but very cool,” Packwood says.
About Packwood’s detractors, he says:
Even though he received the support of school administrators, Packwood’s scholastic success did not come without some controversy. When word got out that he might become the next valedictorian, some of his classmates - even friends - were admittedly chafed.
“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.
I don’t think people should be disturbed though. He’s just 1 out of 140, and from the description about Packwood and his popularity at the university, it’s clear that he’s genuine. Plus, it’s just grades. It’s not as if he’s claiming to be anything other than what he really is.
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nskripchun
5:44 pm | May 17, 2008Most laughable quote ever:
“Joshua Packwood knows what it’s like to be a minority.”
Maybe he has an inkling. Maybe even a brief glimpse.
But KNOW?
A lot of presumption there.
nightshade
5:45 pm | May 17, 2008I can’t help but think it’s suspicious that a white man would choose to attend a historically black university. I know I’m being an ass here, but it’s the same gut feeling I get from white men who choose to live out their lives in Asia as English teachers. I realize that there’s a different dynamic at play, and there’s all of American history to consider…but I feel like a white man who was respectful of black history would not attend Morehouse.
Ike
5:50 pm | May 17, 2008Packwood being valedictorian doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the media coverage given to him and this “historic” event. There is no major news coverage when black students become the first black valedictorian of a “historically white” college/university. Again, it becomes all about white people and their accomplishments.
kwak76
6:54 pm | May 17, 2008Maybe Packwood wants to be black.
TheMac
9:29 pm | May 17, 2008I don’t think anyone should be trying to take his success away from him. Morehouse men are classic creme of the crop, regardless of color.
However, maybe the black women he ‘dates’ (on campus?) shouldn’t hook up with him for a while. Just in the name of solidarity.
jaehwan
11:54 pm | May 17, 2008TheMac wrote:
Haha…that’s awesome! “Sorry, no can do in the name of solidarity!!!”
Xian
11:29 am | May 18, 2008I agree 100% on the media coverage. As to why he choses to do it, I think as long as HE doesn’t overrate his “struggle”, he should be commended. Even to use NS’ example, a white person who goes to Asia to teach and does an exemplary job should be commended for all of the obstacles that they overcame in NOT becoming a racist, asiaphilic foreign teacher.
Those obstacles should not be inflated or overacknowledged–merely noted at face value.
Otherwise, we merely reinforce the world white supremacy rooted in segregated culture and environments.
I hear the same argument used a lot to support segregation in the U.S.–”White people would have to be crazy to send their kids there!”
The result is of course, segregated institutions with different funding, curricula and ultimately achievement. Having non-segregation wouldn’t fix all problems, but it sure would help.
My problem with Packwood beyond his ridiculous name (:)) is that in some of his comments, he it doesn’t appear that he has developed the empathy that would be indicative of him really gaining some insight into the myraid black experiences in the country or even on that campus.
That’s a shame, and is probably a much bigger story than his academic achievement.
There are ethnic majority folk who can traverse that barrier and gain empathy, but they shouldn’t expect nice newspaper acclaim and rewards, that should expect complete and utter marginalization in the same way that people of color who do not echo the mainstream perspective face on a daily basis.
uRB4N
4:14 pm | May 18, 2008“Joshua Packwood knows what it’s like to be a minority.”
This line also made me ignore the rest of the article.
groinpull
7:25 pm | May 18, 2008sigh.
Come on. That minority line wasn’t even intended to be used that way. Did the article say he knew what it felt like to be oppressed? It was just a basic summary of what Packwood had ‘achieved’. It was a fucking tongue in cheek expression for christ skae.
groinpull
7:30 pm | May 18, 2008Sorry. That sounded harsh. I’m sure we’re all up to our necks in frustration and stuff so some things are purely reactionary, including my anger.
jaehwan
11:59 pm | May 18, 2008Xian,
I agree with just about everything you wrote. The only thing I might say is that it’s pretty likely that the authors of the article had an agenda when approaching him, and it’s likely that they may have slanted the coverage to fit their goals of elevating Packwood. He may have spoken for 30 minutes on racism against black people followed by a few weak comments about his black girlfriends, and the authors may have jumped on these comments while ignoring the rest of his talk.
Even in the print media, we live in the age of sound bytes…
Xian
7:53 am | May 19, 2008Good point. I’ll reserve judgment. If anyone has time and empathy, it’d be a good interview to do.
nycjoc
1:38 pm | May 19, 2008I find it interesting but not surprising. I went to historical Black Law School (Howard Law) and I remember the first day of class and I turned around and there was this goofy looking White dude behind me. I remember thinking Dammit why can’t i escape them. I suffer my psychos from attending Unicervisty of Chicago. I wanted to just look at Black folks the rest of my educational experience. But in the end we became cool and he never acted like he didn’t understand why many of black folks went to Black colleges. So congrats to the guy and move on. He’s not the first nor will he be the last to show up.
I do agree with Jaehwan about the coverage. further there is a segment of the society who thinks that Black colleges are a joke and people don’t get excellent educations from there. I encounter it sometimes when I tell people I got my law degree from Howard. it’s this strange look on there face like I went there because no other place would accept me. Or maybe I’m just paranoid.;)
SamuraiJack
3:13 pm | May 19, 2008While I applaud diversity, diversity is only good if it’s equally distributed.
This is yet another example of white privilege. Black man goes to an all-white college and he gets threats, and sometimes violent hostility towards him. White man goes to a black college and although some may disagree with him being there, he’s accepted, and seen as “handsome” (according to the Caucasian-dominated beauty standard), and becomes valedictorian.
Asian man comes to America and gets made fun of, limited opportunities in public-facing positions, and is seen as asexual. White man goes to Asia and is seen as handsome (again by the Caucasian-dominated beauty standard), him speaking Mandarin is seen as something to congratulate, and he gets many public appearances.
White stars in America can become successful in Asia. Asian stars can’t become successful in America (and please don’t use Jackie Chan as an example).
Diversity is good, double standards are not.
jaehwan
9:46 pm | May 19, 2008Xian,
You’re right; it would be a great interview! Volunteers?
nycjoc wrote:
Hahaha…that’s awesome!
I feel it’s unfair, but Packwood will raise the prestige of Morehouse. Even though the genius Martin Luther King went there, if this white guy does even remotely well, it’ll raise the status of the college just because the guy happens to be white and people will take notice. Sheesh, when was the last time you saw Morehouse on the front page of CNN?
On the other hand, we might as well just take it. White guy, black guy, Martian guy–if it raises the status of the university, it’s a good thing.
Xian
3:06 am | May 20, 2008Individually, sure. But there’s still the ridiculous dynamic that it takes Tom Cruise being written into Japanese history for anyone to give a shit about it.