Comments on: CNN’s problematic article on the first white valedictorian at Morehouse http://readethos.com/2008/05/21/cnn%e2%80%99s-problematic-article-on-the-first-white-valedictorian-at-morehouse/ A blog on race, class, politics & culture Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:55:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dom http://readethos.com/2008/05/21/cnn%e2%80%99s-problematic-article-on-the-first-white-valedictorian-at-morehouse/#comment-352 Dom Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:49:49 +0000 http://ourtwocents.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-352 The Unidentified "ethinic" child is his little sister. I was reading an article when he graduated last year that mentioned that the little girl in the picture is his sister. The Unidentified “ethinic” child is his little sister. I was reading an article when he graduated last year that mentioned that the little girl in the picture is his sister.

]]> By: Paul http://readethos.com/2008/05/21/cnn%e2%80%99s-problematic-article-on-the-first-white-valedictorian-at-morehouse/#comment-160 Paul Mon, 26 May 2008 23:02:03 +0000 http://ourtwocents.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-160 Doesn't he stand out in "black academia" tho. I'm confused because everyone seems to be upset by the "undertone" of this article. But considering he goes to a poorly underfunded HBCU, with diminishing prestige, wouldn't he stand out as a Rhodes Scholar. I mean listen most of us are Ivy League black students (sorry Eric) and I HIGHLY doubt...outside of self-righteous posturing...that any of us honestly considered an HBCU. This is because the standards are not the same as they are at Penn. That's not elitist at all...it's just simply fact. I mean HBCU's are historical insomuch they were the only places we could go. But now that we can attend wherever and big institutions need the best and brightest black (if solely for quotas) that is where the vast majority go. I mean kid got into Columbia. He's most likely one of the smartest dudes in the college, not because he's white but because he's smart as hell and HBCUs have been relegated to a lower level of the academic totem pole. So yes he does stand out as a possible Ivy League student, which does not necessarily make him extremely smart...but chances are...he's a pretty intelligent "top of his class" white kid. I understand the anger with the article. However, I have also heard the rhetoric throughout "Black America" about not being happy that this white kid achieved at the highest level at "our institution". So I wouldn't simply brush that off as something Packwood made up. Also, I believe that he was saying that it's easy for others to call him "white boy" which if you know that one white dude in the black clique he is generally that "white boy" as he has received a ghetto pass through cultural commodification. I doubt he refers to himself in such a manner, considering I don't go around referring to myself as "black boy" with my white friends. The real issue, I believe, is just that: black people offended that the white kid succeeded as if it's "our" university. If we want to take it that way, it's the white man's institution considering the biggest philanthropists of HBCUs happen to be rich liberal white folks. So he theoretically has more of a claim to the school. Finally, I will take into consideration that you say that you have beef with the article and not him (which is not the case with like 98.9% of others who attack everything about him and the coverage to mask the fact their just a little pissy about the "white boy"...achieving) So what I will say is that I too ultimately find all this coverage kind of silly...there's a million and one other important stories to cover...I think there is a war going on somewhere or something...but I think it is an interesting story that a white kid who got into Columbia went to an HBCU. Let's not shrug it off as if CNN being implicitly racist. I mean I would be surprised to hear that a BLACK kid who got into Columbia went to an HBCU. Doesn’t he stand out in “black academia” tho. I’m confused because everyone seems to be upset by the “undertone” of this article. But considering he goes to a poorly underfunded HBCU, with diminishing prestige, wouldn’t he stand out as a Rhodes Scholar. I mean listen most of us are Ivy League black students (sorry Eric) and I HIGHLY doubt…outside of self-righteous posturing…that any of us honestly considered an HBCU. This is because the standards are not the same as they are at Penn. That’s not elitist at all…it’s just simply fact. I mean HBCU’s are historical insomuch they were the only places we could go. But now that we can attend wherever and big institutions need the best and brightest black (if solely for quotas) that is where the vast majority go. I mean kid got into Columbia. He’s most likely one of the smartest dudes in the college, not because he’s white but because he’s smart as hell and HBCUs have been relegated to a lower level of the academic totem pole. So yes he does stand out as a possible Ivy League student, which does not necessarily make him extremely smart…but chances are…he’s a pretty intelligent “top of his class” white kid.

I understand the anger with the article. However, I have also heard the rhetoric throughout “Black America” about not being happy that this white kid achieved at the highest level at “our institution”. So I wouldn’t simply brush that off as something Packwood made up. Also, I believe that he was saying that it’s easy for others to call him “white boy” which if you know that one white dude in the black clique he is generally that “white boy” as he has received a ghetto pass through cultural commodification. I doubt he refers to himself in such a manner, considering I don’t go around referring to myself as “black boy” with my white friends.

The real issue, I believe, is just that: black people offended that the white kid succeeded as if it’s “our” university. If we want to take it that way, it’s the white man’s institution considering the biggest philanthropists of HBCUs happen to be rich liberal white folks. So he theoretically has more of a claim to the school.

Finally, I will take into consideration that you say that you have beef with the article and not him (which is not the case with like 98.9% of others who attack everything about him and the coverage to mask the fact their just a little pissy about the “white boy”…achieving) So what I will say is that I too ultimately find all this coverage kind of silly…there’s a million and one other important stories to cover…I think there is a war going on somewhere or something…but I think it is an interesting story that a white kid who got into Columbia went to an HBCU. Let’s not shrug it off as if CNN being implicitly racist. I mean I would be surprised to hear that a BLACK kid who got into Columbia went to an HBCU.

]]> By: Justice in Zimbabwe http://readethos.com/2008/05/21/cnn%e2%80%99s-problematic-article-on-the-first-white-valedictorian-at-morehouse/#comment-159 Justice in Zimbabwe Sun, 25 May 2008 16:07:25 +0000 http://ourtwocents.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-159 Definitely agree. I think CNN was eager for a story and potrayed the story of Joshua Packwood in the wrong light. I equally found it amusing how they try to quantify his blackness by mentioning his history of fighting and jail time. Morehouse is well known for producting the esteemed "Morehouse Man" and Joshua's story is proof that experience(going to Morehouse) doesn't mean giving up a stellar education, after all he is starting at Goldman Sachs!! But on the other end of the spectrum, is the CNN article really over analyzing this story? If you read the article, several students had concerns about him attending the university let alone him being the valedictorian. The one student from the article said the the white valedictorian should be a signal for the black campus to wake up because they're not working hard. My own institution went through a similar experience. Is Mr. Packwoods achievement a testment to the breadth of a Morehouse education or is it a wake up call to the predominately black Morehouse student body? Obviously, that question can not be answered based on the first white valedictorian. I guess only the future will tell. Definitely agree. I think CNN was eager for a story and potrayed the story of Joshua Packwood in the wrong light. I equally found it amusing how they try to quantify his blackness by mentioning his history of fighting and jail time. Morehouse is well known for producting the esteemed “Morehouse Man” and Joshua’s story is proof that experience(going to Morehouse) doesn’t mean giving up a stellar education, after all he is starting at Goldman Sachs!!

But on the other end of the spectrum, is the CNN article really over analyzing this story? If you read the article, several students had concerns about him attending the university let alone him being the valedictorian. The one student from the article said the the white valedictorian should be a signal for the black campus to wake up because they’re not working hard. My own institution went through a similar experience. Is Mr. Packwoods achievement a testment to the breadth of a Morehouse education or is it a wake up call to the predominately black Morehouse student body? Obviously, that question can not be answered based on the first white valedictorian. I guess only the future will tell.

]]> By: rafi http://readethos.com/2008/05/21/cnn%e2%80%99s-problematic-article-on-the-first-white-valedictorian-at-morehouse/#comment-153 rafi Sun, 25 May 2008 04:07:13 +0000 http://ourtwocents.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-153 "Oh look, he’s smiling! Packwood standing out yet again from his black brethren" lol “Oh look, he’s smiling! Packwood standing out yet again from his black brethren”

lol

]]> By: thelonius http://readethos.com/2008/05/21/cnn%e2%80%99s-problematic-article-on-the-first-white-valedictorian-at-morehouse/#comment-143 thelonius Sat, 24 May 2008 01:00:12 +0000 http://ourtwocents.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-143 glad to read from you again Cami.. just in case you didn't know, I'm Isaiah... love the post.. i read the article and thought some of the same things... the one thing i didn't think of was: "These are the things that made him popular among the all-male student body (the fact that he is a charmer and a hottie)? " very good, :) glad to read from you again Cami.. just in case you didn’t know, I’m Isaiah… love the post.. i read the article and thought some of the same things… the one thing i didn’t think of was:

“These are the things that made him popular among the all-male student body (the fact that he is a charmer and a hottie)? ”

very good, :)

]]>