A LESSON FROM OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COUSINS
By Agnes Agyepong
Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
Some may argue that Black schools go against the whole premise of the Civil Rights Movement whilst others may feel that Black schools only promote self segregation between Black students and those from other racial backgrounds. On a recent visit to Washington DC, I decided to take myself down to Howard University, the institution that has been dubbed 'The Black Harvard,' because of its reputation for producing highly talented Black graduates.
I recall the Black British politician Lee Jasper, in September 2008 calling for the opening of Black schools in the UK and the main stream media had a field day with him. At the time I must admit I did not pay that much attention to the issue but thought “hey I’m in town lets see what all the fuss is about.”
As I walked up to Howard, the first thing that struck me was the Campus. It was huge in comparison to most universities I had visited back home. Outside the local Starbucks five young Black males could be seen loitering around. In London they could have easily been mistaken as a gang as they are wearing hoodies - the supposedly new symbol of gang membership. The big give away, however, is that they are wearing blue trousers, screaming out to everyone around them that in fact these guys are trainee doctors.
The first person I stopped and talked to was Michael. J. Daniels who is a Howard Alumni. Michael informed me that he had grown up in the ghetto in Bronx, New York, and had been eager to gain a sense of “self belonging and identity as a Black man,” which he felt only Howard could give him. He went on to say that “although many people in America and around the world thought that it would be impossible for a Black man to become President of the United States, at Howard students are instilled within them a sense of confidence that as a Black man you can do anything”, and as a result, Obama's presidency did not really come as a surprise to him.
Margery a 19 year old Business Marketing major stated that “Howard is not limited to African Americans. However, Howard does a phenomenal job bringing up Black students.” Margery informed me that she had previously been to a predominantly 'White High School' but felt more at home being around “Black people with the same drive and ambition.”
Margery