White valedictorian: A first for historically black Morehouse

[Mabs2]

Also, what does class population have to do with anything?  I was usually on of two or three white kids in classes of 30+.  I was the only white kid on my school bus, and it was sometimes 3 kids to a seat.

[Sergeant Bob]

Oh, he knows more about racism than anyone else because he is supposedly "off white" or something.
For people like him, unless you are "other than" white, you know nothing of racism.
According to him, those students are to be admired for speaking out about their racist feelings. White people who do that are usually called "Klukkers".

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Racism is judging someone badly based solely on their race, not on their merits.  That's precisely what the quoted black students at Morehouse did to the Valedictorian.  They judged him as somehow being the wrong man to receive their school's top honor, not because he hadn't earned it academically, but because he didn't have enough pigment in his skin.


no argument there


but supposing you don't have an opportunity to judge merit. the classic scene used is you are walking at night alone  do you react the same way if you see three black teen agers behind you as you do if the three kids are white?

[Mabs2]

but supposing you don't have an opportunity to judge merit. the classic scene used is you are walking at night alone  do you react the same way if you see three black teen agers behind you as you do if the three kids are white?

Yes, I do.  But more importantly I look at their behavior.  Are they acting like thugs/gangbangers/idiots?  Then their style of dress.  Are they dressed like thugs/gangbangers/idiots?
Still doesn't make me ignore them when they're dressed nicely and acting like mormons, but I do take it into account.

Also, protip:  You're assuming that we (white people) WILL act differently depending on the color of some group of teenagers just because we're white.  Doesn't that make you racist yourself?

[Balog]

If I've been married for over 5 years to a non-white woman does that count?  You're listing towards McPaddy territory there cdad.

[De Selby]

what wrong was done this man? those folks have a right to feel how they feel and the right to epress it. they neither seek nor require your permission or approval. were they acting out this young man wouldn't be valedictorian. the fact they are open enough to epress how they feel in public as well as directly to this young man speaks well of them as well as speaks well of how totally they accept him as a human and classmate. you imagine that were a black guy to be valedictorian of harvard the white kids that resented it would be man enough to tell him? or in your fantasy would none of them have the same kinda resentments?
there are no thought /attitude police and the folks at morehouse are allowed to think and feel what they want. and hopefully grow from it

This is a good take, imho. 

[Balog]

His position is that everyone is racist. The best one can do is admit it. I guess that explains why he's so in favor of La Raza et al. You must really love the black panthers and the Klan eh?

Saying everyone is racist to justify your own racism is like a pedophile saying "Well everyone thinks of 9 y/o's sexually, I just have the courage to admit it." It's bullshit, it's very insulting, and it's a pathetic excuse to try to slide out of your own problems.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

absolutely   you'll never hear me try to claim that i'm not racist. never hid it from the black folks i lived and worked with. they for the most part rather prefer the honesty.  it seems that calling yourself racist does knot the knickers of a lotta white folks. kinda funny that.  


"If I've been married for over 5 years to a non-white woman does that count?   You're listing towards McPaddy territory there cdad." 
heck i'm a racist  with a black son that i couldn't love more or be prouder of.  life is a hoot


and shooting student?  can we keep it kinda quiet about us agreeing?  i have a reputation to protect

"
"Saying everyone is racist to justify your own racism is like a pedophile saying "Well everyone thinks of 9 y/o's sexually, I just have the courage to admit it." It's bullshit, it's very insulting, and it's a pathetic excuse to try to slide out of your own problems."


theres that white thing again why would anyone try to justify racism? i don't try to justify breathing or the weather  they just are. its a thing  neither good or bad.  its what you do with it that matters. the funniest thing is most black folks understand when i say it  only yhe white folks demand explanations.

[Perd Hapley]

What a bunch of bull.  By the broadest possible definition, yeah, having occasional racist thoughts might make me a racist.  But then by that kind of measure, we're all murderers, too. 

In real-world terms, I'm not a racist.  Just the way I was raised, coupled with my religious beliefs.  And I DON'T tell Black people about how I used to know a black guy one time.  I don't tell them that I've lived with Black room-mates, or about the many black supervisors I've worked for.  And I don't tell them that I like blues and rap.  I just tell that to weird guys on the internet. 

[wideym]

It's not really racism if you don't like rap/hip hop music and clothes or don't live next to black people.  People tend to gravitate towards others who talk and act like themselves, not what color they are.  There are plenty of whites I wouldn't be caught dead associating with. 

[MechAg94]

That is true.  I have met people of various races who grew up in rural areas and we got along fine.  Same thing for engineer types to some extent.  Culture, background, upbringing mean a lot more than race. 

CDSD, your test is sort of weird.  I bet most people would give what I would guess to be passing answers.  I don't think I have seen any suburbs around Houston that were all white.  The closest thing I can think of might be a small area having $10 million plus homes with a lot of old oil money.  I only visited one house in that area though.   

I wouldn't term myself a racist.  I figure I am certainly prejudiced at times over any number of things including race.  I think clothes, cleanliness, and attitude would trigger that more often than race.  I think the biggest thing I encounter with black people is that some seem to approach you with an angry or distrustful look/tone.  I am generally less talkative with anyone I don't know so the combination is doomed.    I just try to smile and say howdy to anyone I meet and that always helps. 

As for the OP, congrats to the guy for accomplishing valedictorian.  I hope it provides an opportunity for every student at that college to rethink their own attitude about race. 

[Jamisjockey]

You're reading too much into the statements.  Ignore the rest of it and read this part, only:

because it shows that we need to work harder."

His point is obviously that he's bothered that 3,000 black students didn't best a handful of white students in academics. 

[richyoung]

this one of those times i'd love to be wrong

a lil test/sample if you will. how close is nearest black neighbor?

2 houses up the block

when last in school how was school demographically?

asian instructor, 1 asian female student, 2 black male students, 4 white male students

and the dreaded cell phone test  in your address book how many folks not like you racially are in it?  not allowed to count domestic help or the amigoes that cut your grass;

3 co-workers, 1 former drummer

[Sergeant Bob]

You're reading too much into the statements.  Ignore the rest of it and read this part, only:

because it shows that we need to work harder."

His point is obviously that he's bothered that 3,000 black students didn't best a handful of white students in academics. 

Excellent point.

[LadySmith]

I'm not racist, either. I tend to be more focused with my hatreds. 
I've learned that there are people out there who will hate and try to hurt you no matter what you are or what you do.
If the Stormfront types killed everyone else off, I'd bet it wouldn't be long before the blondes tried to wipe out the brunettes and the blue-eyed started fighting the green-eyed.
It's how you treat me if we were ever to meet that would determine my sentiment towards you and you alone.

Bravo to the Valedictorian. Everyone else had better hit the books harder.

[RoadKingLarry]

this one of those times i'd love to be wrong

a lil test/sample if you will. how close is nearest black neighbor? when last in school how was school demographically?

and the dreaded cell phone test  in your address book how many folks not like you racially are in it?  not allowed to count domestic help or the amigoes that cut your grass;

maybe your definition of racism is different than mine. how do you define/describe it

Meaningless test. Am I responsible for regional demographics? Or should I move because there are not enough black people in the area I live in?
I also don't have any domestic help and I cut my own damn grass. Not only are you projecting your own racial insecurities but also your classist elitism. Who the hell are you to judge anyone else?

[roo_ster]

I dunno, I have awfully low expectations, in general, for all of humanity.

Misanthropy is probably too strong a word for my beliefs, though.  More like an understanding of immutable human nature and its barbarity when unleavened by proper socialization in Western culture.

One thing I have noticed is that folks have an affinity for others similar to them.  Makes sense, since we are social critters.

I think it is a leap to go from an affinity toward some group and racism/bigotry against another group.  Unless given evidence, I would not make such claims against another.