Speaking as a parent and former student-athlete at a HBCU I can say you and some other the other are off a bit in your comparsion of HBCU's and PWC's athletics and the use of their athletes...both are after the same thing there bottom line of money and winning and how they can get more...Pop33 touch on it earlier...and I am going to say this just because someone is of your color does not necessary mean they are of your kind(thanks Tavis Smiley)...At both types of schools it is first the response of ability of the STUDENT-ATHLETE , their parents teachers and coaches before they pick a college to know what their limits are both academically and athletically...It's the university to job to assess that before and during recruitment of an athlete and then deciding whether or not they can help that child achieve their goal...the kids go to these schools knowing full well that they are not good students and they get their and continue be who they are they won't take advantage of what is there they want things given to them because they feel entitled...they go out and be hood and expect people to bail them out because they are entitled...when it is all over they are left with nothing they hollar they were used or robbed...no you did not do your part and face reality before hand and that is the bottom line...I did not have one college coach come wake me up in my dorm and tell me to go to class when I fail they helped at first when I continue to do so they taught me a lesson and I got my shit together...black parents stop blaming the white man for your child's failures look at your child and in the mirror...you get what you give and the best thing my son can get when he get to LSU is that diploma and it is my job to keep him grounded and to remember our first purpose...Get what they offered you first an education for FREEEEEEEEE!
It’s your opinion and right to think I and others are off in my comparison, I respect that. But I don’t think I am (my opinion). I don’t disagree that some HBCUs as well as many pwc’s are about money when it comes to exposing Black athletes (athletes in general). Founder asked if we had a child, would we send him/her to an HBCU out of tradition/love for our school or encourage them to attend a “top” university; I answered and said I’d personally have a problem with sending my girls to a pwc. I also stated my reasons were because I wanted my girls to attend a more nurturing environment, where they’d would surrounded by like-minded individuals who share similar backgrounds, struggles; individuals who look like them and could relate to them; individuals who share the same ambition and zeal to learn and go on to advance academically. A nurturing environment doesn’t equate to professors/coaches/band directors calling and making sure you get up for classes, but more like those who show a genuine interest in you AND your learning capabilities. And since I have a degree from an HBCU and one from a pwc, I honestly know this to be true. Again, some of this is my opinion (doesn’t make it right or wrong). As for your quote from Tavis Smiley…..that certainly is true; he and I are both Black but he’s definitely not one I consider being the voice of Blacks and/or Black issues, and he’s definitely not of the same kind of many, many other Blacks.
At any school (HBCU or pwc), it is the first responsibility of the student, regardless of whether they are an athlete or not, to know their academic strengths and to pick a major field of study that will enhance those strengths for successful graduation and future career choices. If a child is not strong academically, upon admission, the university will then offer options/alternatives for the child to take advantage of to strengthen test scores/proficiencies and learning enhancement. Then, IF this is done, the university will admit the child.
But going to the part when you said “the kids go to these schools knowing full well that they are not good students”…… well, these first have to be admitted in by the university. Most colleges and universities require a minimum ACT and/or SAT for admission. Sure, some of these athletes have the minimum basic ACT score of 19 or 20, but what about their grades? An ACT or SAT score does not necessarily determine a student’s academic progress in the classroom, and as you posted, some of these kids know they aren’t good students, but yet they are still allowed admission into these universities. So really, according to you, these kids get in because the university lets them in, and not based on the pre-assessment you spoke of in your posts, but more so because of their athletic abilities.
I understand that during these economic times, the prospect of a free education is very, very, VERY appealing. But GR brought up a pretty good point on the Smack Board (I don’t know if he meant it or not); a lot of Blacks think that just because pwc’s offer our children (particularly those who are athletes) money to attend their schools, that it is AUTOMATICALLY GUARANTEED they will receive a quality education and be better prepared for a future career after the game is over, and yes, most students and their parents DO NOT take in the consideration of what happens AFTER the game is over. Most parents aren’t concerned with APRs or graduation rates of students in a particular major/field of study, or successful job rate in a particular field of study because a lot of this IS NOT divulged to our Black athletes. A lot of our Black athletes and their parents aren't aware of success rate AFTER athletics, if in the event of injury/permanent injury, what then does the pwc offer for our Black athletes? And as a Black parent, we don't blame the white man for any failures, if any, that our children have, but we do blame the white man when he withholds or alters benefits/opportunities that will purposely hinder or delay any hopes for our childrens' success.
By all means, for any parent whose child is offered a free ride, please, do what you have to, and I’m happy for any child who makes the choice to go on to higher learning. But I also think that anything in life that is worth paying big money for is fine, too, and when it comes to both of my girls’ education, I certainly don’t mind paying for them to go somewhere where they will get the absolute very best in academics and for me, I know that to be at an HBCU.
