In the continuing quest for real 'green shoots'--the cultural kind that will finally lead out of the malaise--this article from Inside Higher Ed is heartening.
John Silvanus Wilson Jr., the Obama administration's director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities is very clear in an interview that he's looking for a new approach to talking about black colleges.
The standard "against great odds" narrative, he said, needs to be replaced. It suggests a focus on "survival and maybe victimization," said Wilson. "Black colleges will never be as strong as they can be unless that narrative changes.... We need to shift from how to survive to how to thrive."
The operative phrase that sticks out is 'unless that narrative changes'.
Words are powerful things. Repeat them to yourself long enough, and they take on a life of their own, for good or ill.
It's a good read. Have a bit of hope with the morning java--I just hope the Jacksons and Sharptons of this country don't discover what Dr. Wilson is up to. If he succeeds in 'changing the narrative', they're done for.
Showing posts with label Black Colleges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Colleges. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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