Search:

Keyword

Site

Web

Quick Links: Richmond Times-Dispatch Richmond.com Goochland Gazette Mechanicsville Local Midlothian Exchange Powhatan Today Richmond Chic Brick Weekly Centro

Advertisement

Text size: small | medium | large

Nelson Graves

Published: October 21, 2008

Most minorities, as a rule, rarely have a choice in their ethnicity. Occasionally, one might be able to pass as a member of another race and as a result he or she is able to take advantages of opportunities available to them. But if you’re white, you can be a minority by choice.

For the young, white high school graduate with intentions of furthering his or her education but who has limited resources (money), I have a suggestion for you. Consider applying for a scholarship to an HBCU, Historically Black College or University as a minority.

Most people know about Affirmative Action legislation and the reason for it - to increase minority student enrollment at historically white-majority populated colleges and universities. What many, whites and minorities, may not have thought of is that the laws of Affirmative Action that apply to historically white schools also apply to historically minority-majority populated colleges and university institutions, HCBUs as well.

HBCU administrators know that government funds particularly and private donations are distributed to them because of the diversity of their institution’s study body. They now like their white college counterparts, vy for “minority” students.

For years white athletes (mainly males) have obtained scholarships and acceptance at HBCUs. African American college football teams in need of good punters and kickers have looked to white athletes for those particular skills.

In the classroom, it’s only recently that whites have applied for and HBCUs offered white students academic scholarships. White students and their black counterparts attend colleges and universities for the same reasons - to get an education to be better prepared for employment.

Also, just as their black high school classmates who must navigate in predominantly white student environments, white students may learn firsthand what it’s like when they’re in the minority.

Earlier this year on May 16, FoxNews.com ran a story about Morehouse College, an Atlanta HBCU. Morehouse is the male-only school that Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from. In its 141-year history, Morehouse on May 18 was to graduate its first white valedictorian.

According to the article, “Joshua Packwood, a 22 year-old from Kansas City, Mo., will graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a degree in economics.” Packwood’s intellect made him a Rhodes Scholar and his work ethic got him a job at Goldman Sachs in New York City.

Packwood could have attended Columbia, Stanford or Yale but chose Morehouse. Packwood also says he doesn’t have any regrets, and that he was forced to see the world in a different perspective.

It’s the opportunity a white high school graduate has of “seeing the world in a different perspective” that I think is the most important thing he or she will learn.

Of course, once the student and her or his family decide to attend an HCBU their decision should be based on what each school offers and whether the school is a good fit. In other words, do the homework before choosing a college or university.

And last but not least, seek the full-ride scholarship.

Nelson Graves, Western Virginia director of the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, writes a weekly column for The News Virginian. E-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

 

 

 

Coupons and Deals

Games, Puzzles & Trivia

Advergaming and Branded Media