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February 24, 2016
The African American Experience at Meredith College
M'Beyanna Robinson, Staff Writer
As an African American student at
Meredith College, you stand out in the
classroom and on campus. Sometimes
you might get so overjoyed to see
another person of color, just to know
you’re not alone. With hair that defies
gravity and a persona so radiant, it’s
hard to ignore us. Also, not to mention
it’s stressful feeling like you always
have to prove your worth. We always
feel obligated to answer a question
in class about race relations or have
the best presentation, because
somehow we’ve been elected as the
spokesperson for African Americans
nationwide. You have to constantly
argue the idea that you can be an
intellectual and also use colloquial
euphemisms to express yourself.
Also, the annoying pain caused by
explaining to your peers that your
name is, not “ghetto,” it’s - authentic.
These are just some of the things
included in the experience of being
a black woman. The pressure to be
successful can be overwhelming when
you know what others before you had
to overcome, just so you can sit in a
classroom.
Most of us would go to the ends of
the Earth to meet Gwendolyn Hilliard,
the first African American to graduate
from Meredith in 1971, because to us
she’s legendary. However, the most
amazing part about the Meredith
experience is what that means to each
student, professor and staff member.
Here’s what a few people had to say
about diversity over the years:
Deborah Davis, Food Services
18 years employed at Meredith
College
“There are definitely more international
students! Also, Meredith students
have the opportunity to study abroad
is definitely a good thing. Mainly
because studying abroad helps
broaden their outlook on life and
how they view people. That is very
important, especially during this time!”
Del Crudup, Food Services, 15 years
“When I first started working, there
was not many minorities attending
the college. The college feels more
comfortable now and the school
has more spirit. The few minorities
that attend, I believe they feel more
comfortable now.”
Lahoma Smith, Food Services
13 years
“I have seen a development in
leadership in a positive way,”
Dr. Wetonah Parker, 23 years
“The faculty in the Department of
Education hope to continue to recruit
a more diverse student population in
education. Our schools are becoming
more diverse and need a more diverse
population to teach them!”
Dr. Cameron Johnson, 8 years
“The biggest thing for me is the college
is more stable as far as the faculty and
the leadership. Also, I think there is
push for more international students
and diversity within the school. The
recognition Meredith is getting on a
regional and national level has been
great over the years too,”
Mary Massenburg, Food Services
45 years
“When i first started working here at
Meredith, the girls would go through
the kitchen and get separate bowls
for the food. Only 8 girls could sit at a
table and one girl would serve all the
food. On Sunday back then the dining
hall closed at 5 and we would the girls
bag lunches. Sometimes they would
have an apple, sandwich and a bag of
chips and that was dinner! Also, when
I started there was only one black girl
and her name was Gwendolyn, She
was very friendly! We talked all the
time and I would ask her about her
day and just her experience here. She
told me the girls were very nice to her
for the most part, she had one or two
problems with other girls but that was
it! I just really love what I do and I love
the girls!”
Raven Gregory, Class of 2016
“You definitely stand out and it’s
difficult because college is a time
where you’re trying to get to know
yourself and figure out what you want
to do with your future. So, it’s hard to
be surrounded by things that you fail
to identify with, but it forces you to
go and find those things that you’re
missing. Mainly because it’s not a part
of your everyday Meredith College
experience. It kind of empowers you
because with us being such a small
population here, we represent African
Americans to our peers. I think it’s
a big responsibility and I don’t feel
like I meet up to those expectations.
Especially when you think all the great
African Americans in the media, like
The President and his wife, Oprah
and Shonda Rhimes! We are their
black impression. So, we have to
know ourselves and we have to carry
ourselves well, so essentially we can
educate them.”
The "Problem" with Black Power
Brooke Mayo, Staff Writer
An excerpt from “’Black Power’
Philosophy Explained, Discussed
Here” by Jeannie Sams on October
26, 1967.
“Dr. Hedgeman was making
Meredith students think. They were
misinformed, as are most whites, of
the meaning of black power. ‘Black
power is not something to be afraid of;
black power,’ as Dr. Hedgeman says,
‘is pushing America towards her best
self. Three hundred some years is a
lot of free labor. It’s a great debt this
country owes,’
‘What do Negroes want?’ she is often
asked. Her reply, ‘We want everything
- The things Americans want. When?
Yesterday.’
There is no doubt that she provoked
thought. ‘Black power isn’t something
to be afraid of, though it does make
us feel little guilty. What we must do is
get on in the task of freeing ourselves,
getting man back into the center of
things, whether he be Negro, poor
white, or Oriental,”’
One would have to be living under a
rock to not know about the revolution
that has occurred within the black
community these last couple of
years, and it is arguable that the
#BlackLivesMatter movement is
stronger than it has ever been. Here
at Meredith College, we have had a
Diversity Week and an Awareness
Week to highlight minorities at our
institution this year alone. Our idols,
including “Queen” Beyonce, are
making political statements every time
they enter the spotlight. However, why.
is this movement still causing so much
controversy?
Some may argue that the problem
with the #BlackLivesMatter movement
is that it only highlights one race, and
that it’s not fair to the other races. In
fact, it could cause anybody outside
of the black community to feel a
bit uncomfortable. The alternative
#AIILivesMatter movement was
formed as a rebuttal, as it expresses
the Humanitarian principle that no
race is more important than another.
However, the #BlackLivesMatter
movement was never formed to make
the black population the superior
race, nor was it formed to discriminate
against others. Rather, it was created
to recognize the injustice that this
particular race tehds to feel ahd
experience in the United States.
One of the main problem that arises
is when other populations feel that
they are being targeted through the
uplifting of another group. The white
community may feel like the finger is
being pointed at them and that they’re
at fault for the circumstances that the
black community endures. Or, rather,
what about the police community?
The #BlackLivesMatter movement
was formed as a direct result of too
many unjust police brutalities against
the black community. However, it is
unfair to claim that the police force as a
whole is a problem in our nation. More
than likely, the #BlackLivesMatter
movement never wanted to make
these two particular populations feel
like they were being targeted, but that
is what has happened.
Just like the hesitancy towards Black
Power in the late 60’s, not much has
changed within our nation. However,
it is important to recognize the
foundation of why something exists in
the first place. The problem with Black
Power is not Black Power itself, but
rather the ignorance that other groups
tehd to confuse it with.
At our small college, weencourage and
embrace diversity, and we recognize
the importance of understanding one
another. Sania Laraib, '19, says that,
“Being an ethnic minority myself, I
stand to represent the Black Power
movement. I believe Meredith College
to be culturally diverse in every aspect
and that we should definitely continue
expanding our mindsets.” By doing
that, we all must stand together to fight
social injustice, no matter who we are
or where we have come from.
The #BlackLivesMatter movement
may be making some people
uncomfortable, but that is not
necessarily a bad thing. Whether one
agrees with the movement or not.
it is difficult to ignore that there is a
problem, and that’s improvement and
a step in the right direction. While this
movement particularly highlights the
black community, people of all races
and backgrounds are beginning to join
the cause, especially other minorities.
Amanda Lee Oakes-Foalima, ’18,
states that she thinks that “empowering
our black community is very beneficial
to the school,” and she is appreciative
thatthe Meredith College Black Student
Union is “inclusive of all students and
supportive of all students.”
Lisa Jones, ’16, recognizes the
importance of accepting the social
problems that we have in our nation,
and she emphasizes the need for
our country to continue improving.
“It is important to recognize the
wrortgdoings that the black commuhity
is experiencing,” Jones says, “but
other minorities have experienced
some terrible things too, so I think that
in order to progress as a society, we
need to recognize that people of all
race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
need to be treated equally while still
embracing our differences that make
us all unique.” Dielle McMillan, ’17,
agrees, and says that “You do not
always have to agree with someone
-- just respect who they are and what
they represent.”
STAFF
Rachel Pratl, Editor In Chief. Emily Chilton, Assistant /A&E Editor. Cheyenne Williams, Op-Ed Editor. Laura Douglass, News Editor. Faith Rogers, Layout Designer.
Olivia McElvaney, Online Editor. Instagram Manager, Sarah Kiser. Twitter Manager, Valerie Bobola. Sarah Haseeb, Website Designer.
Staff Writers; Katrina Thomas, Brooke Mayo, Caroline Garrett, Niki Bell, Kat Bonner, Kayla Kushner, Alexa lanuale, Sarah Kiser, M’Beyanna Robinson, Katie Murphy, Baileigh Jones