or year at American Baptist College, I have been pondering about what vocation desires I want to pursue. As a student who graduated high school with a 1.9 GPA and has been rejected by several colleges and universities, I take education seriously.
One of the ways I know that students who had rough starts like myself can be accepted and groomed professionally for great work, social justice leadership in the world, is through HBCU’s like American Baptist College.
Thus, as someone who personally knows about educational woes among Blacks and aspires to be a President of an HBCU; I am aware that the field of underserved and looked-over students is ripe for transformation to our next leaders.
“You will spend most of your time defending the existence of underresourced schools that attempt to educate students coming from underresourced schools,” Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, said to HBCU Buzz.
With the big boom of for profits, and continuation of Black students exploring options at PWI’s, we’re in an era where we’re going to lose more schools.”
You can play a vital role in saving a HBCU
Many HBCU’s are in a state of economical challenge. As a President, it will be your job to ensure your HBCU remains opened. By doing so, students with fragmented educational experiences can be afforded a chance to pursue education further.
Dr. Forrest E. Harris Sr., President of American Baptist College, asserted in a Presidential address, “American Baptist College has been an open enrollment College for gifted individuals who have limited resources and educational experiences but unlimited potential for leadership.”
Imagine what it would be like to be responsible for the transformation of thousands of students who arrive oppressed but leave liberated; to launch out and change an oppressive world.
You can change a fragmented educational system
Dr. Forrest E. Harris Sr. further asserted in his address, “While majority private and public colleges and universities have been in the
business of ‘reproducing privilege’ for the elite, American Baptist College has been in the business of educating the poor and underserved, producing leaders, nurturing prophets and teachers, social activists to ministering to human family.”
We currently operate in an educational system that marginalizes students and labels them as disposable. In this system, it’s easier for whites to succeed and much harder for Blacks to succeed.
Blacks have to work significantly harder than their white colleagues. As an HBCU President that stands for educating the underserved, marginalized and looked-over; you see to it that your school equips these persons for leadership to change the educational system you operate in.
You serve as a professional person that goes to the educational dumps to pull students out of fragmented educational experiences and train them for social change in the world.
Furthermore, in a conversation via Twitter with Dr. Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, he tweeted these words, “Love fighting for those who need advocates. Aim higher. Each generation builds on the previous one. As Jay told Wayne: ‘go farther, go further, go harder’ #NationBuilding.”
