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Old 05-16-2008, 11:40 AM
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Thumbs up White Valedictorian at Black College!

Here's to progress...

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Joshua Packwood knows what it's like to be a minority.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/16/whi...iref=hpmostpop

This weekend he'll be the first white valedictorian to graduate from the historically black, all male Morehouse College in the school's 141-year history.

Morehouse, in Atlanta, Georgia, is one the nation's most prestigious universities of its kind. For more than a century, the school has prided itself on personifying the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the school's most notable alums, by producing "Morehouse Men" - intelligent and successful black leaders.

"Because I'm one of the only white students, it's easy to call me 'the white boy,' I'm naturally going to stand out," says Packwood.

But Packwood, 22, doesn't stand out solely because he is white or has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. For those who don't know him, what is surprising is that a Rhodes Scholar finalist turned down a full scholarship to Columbia University to attend the all-black men's university.
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Old 05-16-2008, 12:25 PM
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"committed to merit, to hard work - no matter who it might be."

"Dr. King epitomized, it's not about black or white, it's about the content of [a person's] character," says Packwood."

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Originally Posted by nuleader View Post
Here's to progress...

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Joshua Packwood knows what it's like to be a minority.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/16/whi...iref=hpmostpop

This weekend he'll be the first white valedictorian to graduate from the historically black, all male Morehouse College in the school's 141-year history.

Morehouse, in Atlanta, Georgia, is one the nation's most prestigious universities of its kind. For more than a century, the school has prided itself on personifying the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the school's most notable alums, by producing "Morehouse Men" - intelligent and successful black leaders.

"Because I'm one of the only white students, it's easy to call me 'the white boy,' I'm naturally going to stand out," says Packwood.

But Packwood, 22, doesn't stand out solely because he is white or has maintained a 4.0 grade point average. For those who don't know him, what is surprising is that a Rhodes Scholar finalist turned down a full scholarship to Columbia University to attend the all-black men's university.
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Old 05-16-2008, 04:32 PM
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and might i add...he's one fine piece of white..chocolate!
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Old 05-16-2008, 04:37 PM
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and might i add...he's one fine piece of white..chocolate!
Damn...er...straight!

And he's a homie:

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Life hasn't always been easy for Packwood. He grew up in a poor area of Kansas City, Missouri, where he says he found himself gravitating to the black community at a young age.
Adolescence was rough. His mother's second marriage to a black man ended in divorce and family tension forced him to seek refuge with his best friend's family - who were black and middle-class.
The experience of living with his best friend's family had a profound effect on Packwood, who says he saw a "different side of black America."
I'll wager he lived east of Prospect Avenue and north of 18th Street.

The northeast part of the pre-WWII city remained mostly white.

He may have lived as far south as 27th, though -- or maybe even further south: although most of the white folks had fled the neighborhood I grew up in by the time I reached grade school age, a few intrepid souls remained throughout my youth.

I have a hard time envisioning my home neighborhood as "poor," though.
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Last edited by MarketStEl : 05-16-2008 at 04:39 PM.
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Old 05-16-2008, 04:46 PM
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I was the only white valedictorian at my all hispanic high school.

There were some unhappy people, let me tell you.

Cries of racism, terror, torture, you name it.

Oh well, I worked hard and stayed a viable member of my community.
No biggie.
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Old 05-16-2008, 08:34 PM
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It's interesting how even though his reputation at the school is very good, he has black friends and everything and therefore no one can take advantage of some mistake, still people are telling him he doesn't belong, he shouldn't get rewarded etc.

There's a word for people like that: racists, and yes, there are very definitely black racists. It's pitiful... but not pitiable.
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Old 05-16-2008, 08:36 PM
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Quote:
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and might i add...he's one fine piece of white..chocolate!
That he is!
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Old 05-17-2008, 02:55 AM
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There goes the white man taking something away from the blacks again....




















Interesting, now his brother is going to the school...


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Old 05-17-2008, 01:22 PM
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Holy toledo, what a hottie!
(Him, not the other two. )

Sorry I digress. It's a great sign of progress...black man has a chance at the White House, (beefcake) white man has the honor of being valedictorian at an all black school.

Progress is cool.
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Last edited by ChasingFoxes : 05-17-2008 at 02:46 PM.
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Old 05-17-2008, 04:32 PM
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His brother and that cheesy moustache is going to get his ass kicked for four years.

Last edited by epoxy : 05-18-2008 at 06:01 PM.
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