Monday, May 19, 2008

Education

USN Current Issue

White Valedictorian Makes Morehouse History

May 12, 2008 04:41 PM ET | Alison Go | Permanent Link

A white college valedictorian is nothing much to blog about, unless he went to Morehouse, the only all-male, historically black college in the country. Joshua Packwood (4.0 GPA) made history as the first white valedictorian in the 141-year history of Morehouse.

Packwood certainly wasn't the school's first white student, but he eventually became an "unlikely ambassador for the school." He was voted dorm president as a freshman and was a Rhodes scholar finalist. He was popular and nicknamed "Tom Cruise," perhaps before there was any debate whether this was a compliment or an insult.

"Josh Packwood is Morehouse," the college's president said in a February speech. "He happens to be Euro-American and brings much appreciated diversity to our campus."

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Reader Comments

White at Morehouse

Since the President mentioned this white boy in his speech, what do you expect the "powers to be" to do? If he is ok with the HNIC (head n----r in charge), he has to be ok with his followers. What about the Black males that were as good or better that did not get mentioned in the President's Speech?

President Massey is being missed every day and in every way.

Josh Packwood AND Joshua L. Harris

Josh Packwood is an ok guy. U.S. News and World Report, stand corrected. because Packwood is not THE valedictorian of Morehouse, he is the CO- Valedictorian. Another gentlemen with the same first name (Josh L. Harris) also is graduating with a 4.0. Harris should not be overlooked because he ISN'T white.

Both men are outstanding scholars and are mentionable. The president said that "Josh Packwood is Morehouse, " BUT please read the whole transcript. He also said the same thing of 3 other young men attending the school.

Please note, Morehouse is alive and well with its scholarly efforts.Both the valedictorians and the salutatorian are receiving degrees under that Division of Humanities. The top student in the Division of Math and Sciences has a 3.95! I am just saying, there are too many superstars to mention. The president did not try to put Josh P. over any other scholar. He has respect for all of the students scholar or at-risk student.

Besides, Morehouse a challenging curriculum in all diciplines. Josh earned recognition and desires best wishes. Although he still can't throw around the "N" word, and most likely would not choose to, he will soon be a Morehouse Man with all rights and privileges there unto. Rather than question, we of the Morehouse community respect him. We also respect our president.

who cares

who cares

obviously you do

....enough to read the entire article and post on this site.

Joshua Packwood

Excellant interview on with Joshua Packwood on the TJ Show!

Joshua Packwood

Excellant interview with Joshua Packwood on the TJ Show!

Its Not a Good Thing

I attend school in the Atlanta University Center ( Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, ITC, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman )

Its funny how Morehouse is getting so excited over a white Valedictorian. Think about it. A white man came into your HOUSE and took YOUR crown. You picked Morehouse because it was a BLACK school. You didn't pick it cause you thought there was nationality diversity.

It is a disrespect to HBCU's across the country that Morehouse would make it seem like they have been "validated".

By the way, I did a semester at Morehouse and then transferred. If theres one thing I learned about the education system, Its a whole bunch of bull. Morehouse is a community college in essence. Don't believe the challenging curriculum stuff. Just like Harvard gives their students A's, schools across the country do the same thing.

What happened to the black scholars? Haha ... losers.

It IS a Good Thing

How can you claim that Morehouse is a community college, but yet and still stay in the AUC? I can only assume that you transferred to Clark, or Morris Brown College based on that statement.

Secondly, how can you say its a community college? Upon what basis do you make these claims that they give out their grades like "Harvard gives their students As, schools across the country do the same thing." I'm just interested what are your sources.

Furthermore, its probably the media that feel as though Morehouse (and by extension other HBCUs) has been validated because of Packwood., and furthermore did them a favor by covering the story in such a way.

JLL

www.uppitynegronetwork.wordpress.com

Reponse to its not a good thing

First off James Clinton of GA you sound like a biggot. ANY SCHOOL of higher learning is worth attending. Comparing Morehouse to a community college in terms of its educational value is senseless. Secondly, you didn't exactly explain why you transferred from Morehouse but obviously it was not the place for you. As for Morehouse having its 'CROWN STOLEN' by a white man is the most racist remark I have ever heard. I choose Morehouse because it is a school that makes men. Whether it be black white or Asian. We live in a global world where having peers of other ethnicities benefit us in so many ways. I pray that more closed minded people like you will eventually come to understand that education is not a spectator sport.

It is DEFINITELY a Good Thing

Joshua Packwood earned this moment. As a Morehouse Man, I welcome this gentleman as my Morehouse Brother. Does his race matter? No. Our nation may see the first African American President of the United States; Morehouse College will graduate its first white Valedictorian. These are opportunities to help bridge the cultural divide that plagues our nation.

I admit that upon learning of this I had mixed feelings, but then I realized that to hold ill feeling against my alma mater and against this bright young man because of race would make me no different than the many whites that had issues with W.E.B. DuBois being the first to graduate with a PhD from Harvard, or the whites in the city of Atlanta having issues with Maynard Jackson being Atlanta’s first black mayor (I could continue with many first). Do not hold contempt to this young scholar, he is obviously a bright young man and an ambassador of '"Dear Ol' Morehouse."

This only proves that Morehouse College is not only the #1 Institution of higher Learning for African Americans, but also the #1 Institution of Higher Learning… PERIOD!

ADD

Morehouse College

c/o 2000

Community College

There is nothing wrong with a community college education. It's a good start for some who can't afford college. There are some well-known people who started out with the community college experience....Kweismi Mfume for one.

Sure James

So you did a semester at Morehouse but transferred? We really believe that.

For your information, I picked Morehouse because it was a great school and the school for me. Not because it was a black school. I could have gone to Prarie View or Texas Southern if I just wanted a "black school".

Finally, I didnt realize Morehouse had a crown that could be taken away. Maybe thats what Crown Forum (you would know what that is if you really went there) was all about.

James Clinton

I guess if being dumb is a crime...then you're obviously guilty...

First off, Morehouse College which I will be attending in the fall is far from a "Community College with essence." Do you really think, that schools like Harvard, Yale, UPENN, Berkeley, Columbia, Brown, NYU, and other premier instutions of higher learning would be so adamant of getting Morehouse men into their schools if Morehouse was a "Community College with essence?" Not to mention, the top jobs that they get once they have graduated Morehouse College.

Secondly, I believe it's an honor that Joshua Packwood is graduating from Morehouse College as the only white valedvictorian. The reason I say this, is beacause reading a few articles on him since this have hit the airwaves, before he accepted to Morehouse College, he was also accepted to ivy league schools like Harvard and so fourth. So what that tells me, not only is Morehouse College a very good institution and should be put back at #1 on the list, but it's good enough for a white kid to TURN DOWN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS!!! TO ATTEND THERE. So are your comments idiotic? Yes, don't get mad because you chose to transfer to a sorry ass institution...Morehouse College, is on top and it will be that way for a long time....:)

Joshua Packwood

Congratulations to Joshua! It's a great achievement for any student to be voted valedictorian.

I'm disappointed, but not surprised by some of the reactions that have been posted. As a black kid growing up in South Georgia, I was taught that I would have to be twice as good as everyone else just to be considered equal. I was, but this did not endear me to my black peers. Somehow, being smart was equated with "acting white"; as if blacks were naturally inferior...and should be proud of it. Being raised with strong multicultural values, I never considered attending an HBCU, because I knew it wouldn't prepare me for the reality of America. I received both of my degrees from Valdosta State University (a predominately white school), where I was further exposed to Americans of all walks of life. Because I know and like who I am, I can more easily accept whatever differences others may have. As a Diversity Consultant, I certainly don't regret that decision.

Of course, the media is going to make a big deal of Joshua Packwood, but don't hate on him for it. I assume he attended Morehouse for all the right reasons. While he moves on to greater things in life, I hope the haters can move on as well.

Congrats

Congratulations to another group of young men soon to become MOREHOUSE MEN! And kudos to the Class Valedictorian Joshua Packwood. The fact that he earned this honor by doing the work is commendable given the environment. As we all know, there was/is probably more than a few brothers at "Da House" unaccepting of Mr. Packwood. Racism exists at MOREHOUSE too, but he obviously persevered (as a minority in this instance) and learned some things along the way. For those so-called "men of Da House" who feel Joshua Packwood undeserving of this honor because of his skin color - you obviously have not learned anything while matriculating at MOREHOUSE. Again, congrats to the 2008 class and welcome to the Brotherhood of MOREHOUSE Alumni.

MAJ Dexter Nunnally

c/o 96

FYI

Propaganda

Thats why the news posts articles like this....to illicit moronic arguments over some bullsh*t story.....OK, hes white, Moorhouse is predominantly black....who the **** cares?? Theres how many other valedictorians graduating this season around the country?? thousands, tens of thousands? And how many black white yellow brown students just graduating in general??...plus plenty of other extremely successsful people starting out in their careers who never even went to college.....man, this is SO typical of the press...and yes, I realize Im even getting sucked into by reading this......My personal opinion, since you are asking... is Josh sounds like a complete moron, and an egomaniac..and IF he is so great, why the *** is he working at yet another scumbag Investment Bank like Goldman Sachs.....for the money!!.....if you are so GREAT JOSH......go actually do something for society now that you are so FAMOUS........what a crock! ....He just another pretty boy banker living in NYC.......

L-A-K-E of TX

Thanks, but I got all the ecomonics classes I needed when I was majoring in Mechanical Engineering....please go back to your job as a teller at the local WAMU.....

The only purpose of Investment Banks is to line their pockets with cash, and fleece shareholders, and the general public. "Create jobs"!!!! haha...who told you that??? Your eco-101 professor???

Secondly, you missed the entire point of my previous posting....which is, if the greatest minds of the next generation, such as Josh, are heading to positions in Investment Banks, rather than becoming Doctors, Fire Fighters, Teachers, Janitors or anything else that gives back to society......our Country is screwed.......

Proud of Packwood. His skin color doesn't matter, neither should it.

My name is Greling Jackson. I graduated from Morehouse in May 2007 last year as the top scholar in the Philosophy department. I knew Packwood and had conversations with him several times. He is a good guy and completely deserves this honor. It is entirely based on his merit. The commentator that wrote that Morehouse has had its "crown stolen" doesn't get it at all. It is remarks like this that make me sick and only wish that there could be more men like Packwood out there just to make them even more frustrated. Dr. King envisioned a society where we would be color-blind and our children would walk hand-in-hand. That day is today. Though we have much work to be done, we are seeing change take place within the younger generation that will inspire a society that our ancestors could have never dreamed they'd see. Just as we cheer when there is a black valedictorian at Harvard, we should be cheering when he have a white one at Morehouse. And, more and more as they years go by, the boundaries that divide us on dubious things like race, gender, and sexual orientation will fade, and a new, more free and more liberated people will arise in this nation, where we are all treated equally and truly live as one people.

This is so cool..

So finally, I heard about someone who turned down an Ivy league school for the sake of a college that fits him/her best... THIS IS SO COOL!! And I have to say Ivy League schools are not that great as people believe. They have their flaws like other institutions in the world.. I hope people can go beyond this whole school name drama. I have seen enough students devasted this admissions season b/c they did not get into any Ivy League schools. Best fit is what matters.. Go Morehouse and Spelman.

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