Stereotyping HBCU's

[Eclipse]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I only "heard" of this activity, I did not say it was true. It was a well known fact that Spelman requested "pictures" on their applicants, because I had to submit one in 1986 Whether that made a different of my acceptance to the school or not, I will never know. Or the fact that I was admitted to UC Berkeley and chose not to attend because I wanted to attend Spelman, who knows? ?

I've "heard" it too, usually from folks who either did not get accepted or had some chip on their shoulders regarding our fine alma mater. I honestly don't recall submitting a photo in 1984 when I applied. *shrug* What is the point of recounting something like that when there is really no evidence that it happened? I am sure our Spelman Sister Esther Rolle would have an issue with that.

T

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

he Spelman name... Well, let's just say I had Ms. Gebre-Hewitt for English... And she gave us this assignment to determine why Spelman College was named that way. And if you wanted a grade above an F-, you would be one to figure out E-X-A-C-T-L-Y what it was with references. So, somehow, I actually managed to get into Club Woodruff's Special Collections... And I found some books and programmes stating the reason:



But why honor his wife? My findings in Special Collections:



Yeah, I could have written the paragraph better , and, what would be my reasons to be an idiot about what I know regarding Spelman College and most HBCU's giving my history here on GC?

Yeah, I had Gebre-Hewitt too. The memories....
That is not some obsure fact though. Most Spelmanites should know that part of the Spelman History. I thought you were connecting it to the "paper bag" test and going to repeat another unsubstainated story that I "heard" about how Spelman came to be. I certainly won't repeat it here.


I think we all know that paper bag tests have happened in the past. There is a historic church in Savannah (the name escapes me right now) that had a board next to the door and potential worshippers had to compare their arm to the board to see if they were light enough to come in. I remember visiting that church as a child and being dismayed that I would not have been able to attend that church. It is important to remember from wense we came, but why pass along things that might not be true?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Eclipse

What is the point of recounting something like that when there is really no evidence that it happened?

I only have personal evidence. It may not be like that for everyone admitted. I concede that point.

In hindsight, in the late 1980's, Spelman barely had the computer support equipment to generated card identification. Spelman did not have a lot of things I had cavalierly thought everyone in America should have. Back then, I was young and naive. That is my personal story.

I thought you were connecting it to the "paper bag" test and going to repeat another unsubstainated story that I "heard" about how Spelman came to be. I certainly won't repeat it here.

Well, yeah, we are passing on some stereotypes about some HBCU that are notorious for have these "tests".

Many people from the Atlanta Metro area have come right out and happily told me all the inadequacies of a Spelman education while I was going there. Their stupid comments made a huge impact when I was harshly treated by the Spelman Admin.

I remember a lot of girls, besides myself, crying profusely due to lack of "social assistance resources"... And I say all this to say in the late 1980's, Spelman Admin. had a piss poor plan for kids in mental/physical trouble. The **** I went thru--let's just say it was paltry after I found out a lot girls had been physically/sexually abused and were trying to slit their wrists.

I think we all know that paper bag tests have happened in the past. It is important to remember from wense we came, but why pass along things that might not be true?

Let me say for the record: A Spelman Education is DIFFERENT from ATTENDING Spelman. My education was MORE that scientific and technical--it was a time of a truly Spiritual rennovation and recreation of myself and my entire world. It took >2 years after graduation for the Spelman-mania to wear off in my hiatus in SoCal. And to this day, I still am nervous when I set foot on that campus no matter what new buildings are there or how beautiful it has become.

Spelman will always be my alma mater, I met some great ladies there who ofter remember me. Spelman did prepare me for my current successes. It would be a lie to for me to say that it did not. And Spelman still is about cultivating women to acheive. And IMHO, Spelman's plan to do that thru alumnae associations is poor. I pay my Alumnae dues and I donate to the funds.

I like to think that I know what it takes to get African American girls to womanhood out of any college. I have been doing it nearly 20 years at all universities I have attended. And on the eve of my professorships at a PWI, I already expect to get routed all the Black kids who are suffering in the sciences, then wondering how I made it...

Well, YOU KNOW Mrs. Gebre-Hewitt, Dr. Bayse, Dr. Rena Jones, HAYLE, Dr. Jann Primus!! You really think they LET me give up on myself? Really? That care can be re-paved.

Even my husband had Dr. Clark, Dr. Mapp, and Dr. Story at Morehouse... Of course his dad paved the course...

[Wonderful1908]

I am sorry but I graduated from Southern and am finishing my masters at PVAMU and for the first time I have no desire to continue my education at a HBCU. I could tolerate the foolishness undergrad at Southern but now that I am a grown women who realizes I am paying for this, I am looking for doctoral programs at PWI's now. I just don't understand why we have to be so unorganized. How hard can it be?

I will spare you the details but I really feel like my masters is a series of power points and take home test (which I do appreciate ) but the lack of organization is disgusting, the lack of wanting more for the University and the fact that I would work on my doctorate there if someone would just be ORGANIZED!

[ladygreek]

@ Eclipse,
You sound so defensive. I don't think anyone intended to target Spelman. We all know it is a great school. Heck, my step-grandmother didn't pass the brown paper bag test at Howard. She exceeded all of the minimum qualifications, got positive responses until she had to submit her picture (and back then they were only black and white.) Then came the rejection letter. And she didn't tell me all of this until my daughter applied to HU, because she hoped it still didn't exist. Thankfully it didn't, because my daughter would not have passed the test--okay, maybe barely--she was Minnesota pale when she applied. LOL.

So it was not just Spelman, but I suspect all of the "elite" HBCUs--yanno the Our Kind of People HBCUs. And the fact is, it did exist. The fact that is doesn't now is a positive.

[Eclipse]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

@ Eclipse,
You sound so defensive. I don't think anyone intended to target Spelman. We all know it is a great school. Heck, my step-grandmother didn't pass the brown paper bag test at Howard. She exceeded all of the minimum qualifications, got positive responses until she had to submit her picture (and back then they were only black and white.) Then came the rejection letter. And she didn't tell me all of this until my daughter applied to HU, because she hoped it still didn't exist. Thankfully it didn't, because my daughter would not have passed the test--okay, maybe barely--she was Minnesota pale when she applied. LOL.

So it was not just Spelman, but I suspect all of the "elite" HBCUs--yanno the Our Kind of People HBCUs. And the fact is, it did exist. The fact that is doesn't now is a positive.

Ladygreek, you really think I sound defensive? I certainly don't see it that way. What makes you feel that?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Eclipse

Ladygreek, you really think I sound defensive? I certainly don't see it that way. What makes you feel that?

I don't know. To me it just felt as if you thought people were wrongly attacking Spelman. I'm glad that was not the case, because I think this thread had been very enlightening.

[Eclipse]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

I don't know. To me it just felt as if you thought people were wrongly attacking Spelman. I'm glad that was not the case, because I think this thread had been very enlightening.

I did not feel that people were attacking Spelman, I just hate for misinformation to get out there about something that I love and hold dear. I am sure you understand that. I was just asking for some clarification on the paperbag thing.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Wonderful1908

I am sorry but I graduated from Southern and am finishing my masters at PVAMU and for the first time I have no desire to continue my education at a HBCU. I could tolerate the foolishness undergrad at Southern but now that I am a grown women who realizes I am paying for this, I am looking for doctoral programs at PWI's now. I just don't understand why we have to be so unorganized. How hard can it be?

I will spare you the details but I really feel like my masters is a series of power points and take home test (which I do appreciate ) but the lack of organization is disgusting, the lack of wanting more for the University and the fact that I would work on my doctorate there if someone would just be ORGANIZED!

I hate to say it, but that is the very reason my daughter sought out a PWI for her MBA. She looked at the program rankings and job placement numbers and the only HBCU that was even in the ballpark was FAMU--but it was/is not accredited. (But I still think that it is one of the best B-programs.)

[Wonderful1908]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

I hate to say it, but that is the very reason my daughter sought out a PWI for her MBA. She looked at the program rankings and job placement numbers and the only HBCU that was even in the ballpark was FAMU--but it was/is not accredited. (But I still think that it is one of the best B-programs.)

Its rather sad

I can say however that their President does seem to be concerned about students. I emailed him and I got a response both times, and Wend. someone personally called to apologize to me I was like whoa! I just have to bad a taste in my mouth. I mean I'm not some chicken head running to the mall with a loan check, 18 year old.

[Eclipse]

I started a message at home this morning before work and my laptop started acting koo-koo!

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Their stupid comments made a huge impact when I was harshly treated by the Spelman Admin.

I remember a lot of girls, besides myself, crying profusely due to lack of "social assistance resources"... And I say all this to say in the late 1980's, Spelman Admin. had a piss poor plan for kids in mental/physical trouble. The sh** I went thru--let's just say it was paltry after I found out a lot girls had been physically/sexually abused and were trying to slit their wrists.

I would definately have to agree there! McVicar (is that right?) was not known as a great healthcare facility. A friend of mine (who happens to be a physican now--she of course was premed then) was having major chest pains on afternoon and I called McVicar and they would not come to the dorm--LLC--even though it was right behind the Infirmary. I also remember a girl who everyone knew "threw up" (that's all we knew then--it didn't have a name) and the only thing I knew is that folks tried to get her to eat.

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Let me say for the record: A Spelman Education is DIFFERENT from ATTENDING Spelman. My education was MORE that scientific and technical--it was a time of a truly Spiritual rennovation and recreation of myself and my entire world.


Well, YOU KNOW Mrs. Gebre-Hewitt, Dr. Bayse, Dr. Rena Jones, HAYLE, Dr. Jann Primus!! You really think they LET me give up on myself? Really? That care can be re-paved.

Even my husband had Dr. Clark, Dr. Mapp, and Dr. Story at Morehouse... Of course his dad paved the course...

I certainly agree with you on the total Spelman education! I didn't take most of the professors that you mentioned and I think some of them came after my time (like Dr. Primus; I do remember when she made her transition though) I was an Econ major so I tried to stay out of Tapley as much as possible! LOL