1. Some of ya'll are REALLY like SERIOUSLY in the sunken place! These institutions didn't ascend to "excellence" because of their "innate adminstrative, academic, and programmatic superiority". Stop spouting that FOOLISHNESS! No, their ascendancy was, is, and always has been
2/ a byproduct of their progeny in proximity to white wealth (Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford, etc.). Their proximal access to white wealth (not some overblown administrative genius or philanthropic magicianry) is SINGULARLY responsible for their "achieving excellence".
3/ It IS what it IS but let's stop with this revisionist historical take. E. Franklin Frazier chronicled their cultural capitulation in exchange for access to white philanthropy quite well nearly 70 years ago. This ain't "hating" these are the factual realities of classism that
4/ have persisted in the African American community since the reconstruction. Again, it IS what it IS! But miss me with "they produce a better product" & have a record of "administrative efficiency and success" argument without simultaneously acknowledging the true underlying WHY
5/ The WHY ain't because they're inherently "better". No, the WHY is because they for good or bad had/have white progenitors. But let's be careful not to define "genius" "excellence" and "achievement" with the fortuitousness of white beneficence. That AIN'T BLACK EXCELLENCE!
6/ What IS black excellence worthy of investment is building and establishing your OWN for over 150 plus years in spite of Jim Crow and discriminatory racist economic policies and having done so largely WITHOUT white beneficence because of your refusal to not be white owned and
7/controlled (see the AME schools like EWC, Paul Quinn, Wilberforce, Allen, Morris Brown, etc.) In my view, those are the models of BLACK EXCELLENCE who have persisted without capitulation or a relinquishing of their institutional and cultural identities with an
assimilationist aim). I've tried to remain silent and I've done well to do so these past going on three years but I can't keep silent on this issue any longer. Great for them! (My Mother and sister are graduates of one and I previuosly worked in support of another) but let's
8/ have a earnest and honest conversation if we're gonna talk about it. I'm done but here this: The genius, high administrative acumen, creativity, innovation, and extraordinary product isn't reserved to the "Top 6" To the contrary, and to an even larger extent in my view, those
9/ characteristics are found in significant measure in the leadership and progeny of the Wileys, Talladegas, Morris Colleges, Voorhees, Virginia Unions, Florida Memorials. Don't believe me? Tell me how an institution like EWC with an endowment 1 thousandth the size of those in
10/ the Top 6 offer to pay the outstanding financial balances of ALL OF ITS RETURNING STUDENTS! With a $1.8 million endowment after 150 plus years! Now THAT'S administrative genius and financial dexterity worthy of INVESTMENT! And that's the consistent representative story of
11/ the "others" amongst us! Tell, Dr.'s Faison (my Mother and Sister) I tried and I know I'm in trouble but.....Zachary is gonna be.....well.....Zachary. Ya'll have a blessed day and let me go back to grindin' with and for my #EWC family! Be blessed! - Faison
******I apologize for the misspellings, poor syntax and grammar usage errors. Typed this simultaneous to habdling a myriad of other tasks. I promise you my Albany State English degree is legit.
Durnit!! ***handling***
