Stereotyping HBCU's

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Eclipse

Where did you "hear" that Spelman did the "paper bag" test? Based on early photographers of the first graduating class (before it was even "Spelman") there were women of all hues represented (you should be familiar with the picture I am speaking of) I have also seen other pictures from the late 1800s until now and there certainly is not evidence that this was the case. AS a matter of fact, the first African students arived at Spelman in before the turn of the century. Most sub Saharan African would not be able to pass a paper bag test

And what is the reason that Spelman was named Spelman versus Rockefeller? It seems that you tie this to the 'paper bag' test. I am only aware of his desiire to honor his wife and her family after he saw that Sophia Packard and Harriet Giles would "stick" with their mission to educate newly freed slaves in the south. If you have more information, please share!

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?

The 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:

Spelman was named as such for Laura Spelman Rockafeller, John D. Rockafeller's wife. John D. Rockafeller provided financial to Harriett Giles and Sofia B. Packard to educate former slaves and children of slaves how to read the Bible and write to their families in the North.

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

John D. Rockafeller and his wife, chose to have her family's name, because the Spelman's provided a safehouse for the underground railroad before and during the Civil War.

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?