Celebrating and Teaching Children about Race and Culture

Throughout Black History Month this year, I have been asked to speak about how to talk to children about race and racism. I've expressed one each instance, that recognition and appreciation of differences and diversity is a good starting point.  When children are introduced to the elements and concepts of diversity early, parents are preparing them to become aware of the “biases and stereotypes on their social identities and others.” Francoise Thenoux, also noted that this type of awareness also allows kids to develop critical thinking skills. Parents and even educators can assist them in identifying various social components of their identities. These include race, ethnicity, gender, culture, and family structure-just to name a few. Additionally, Thenoux recommended various ways for parents to help kids develop a social justice lens to fight injustice.

 

“Self-Work: Recognize Your Identities and Biases”

The first step to recognize your own identity and biases is self-work. As a parent, you should acknowledge and recognize your own implicit biases and “develop a perspective in which you see identities with an intersectional lens.” At your leisure, please listen to this TED talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a novel storyteller and novelist. Ms. Adichie describes how she found her authentic cultural voice. As an adult, your goal should be to deconstruct your biases while dwelling on their impact.

 

 “Helping Kids Recognize Their Own Identities and Biases”

Once parents recognize their own biases, it would be great to teach their kids to really value all aspects of their identities and recognize, accept and celebrate the identities of others. You can certainly help your kids identify similarities and even differences among people. You can encourage them to appreciate diversity, help them develop a respectful attitude toward various identities and “give them tools to build bridges of connection and understanding with anyone.” If you are a parent, educator, or both, a little research can help teach kids to appreciate diversity. As an educator, it would also be helpful to determine your students’ ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, family structure and gender identity-as well as the different “social identities that they may have been exposed to.” According to Thenoux, Anti-Black or anti-Asian biases, homophobia, misogyny, machismo and anti-immigrant attitudes can be very pervasive.

 

“How Picture Books Can Help”

A different way to initiate this conversation with children is through pictures and picture books. According to Rudine Sims Bishop, a multicultural literacy educator said diverse books are necessary. Kids should see themselves in them and they should see other people and their worlds. Lack of diversity and representation is a serious problem in kid’s literature publishing since the industry has such strong reflections of the dominant biases and privileges in our world today. However, many parents, teachers, librarians, and authors are advocating for diverse literature at schools. In school districts, you can now find many books with diverse authors. These books can spark children’s interests and help celebrate different identities and value their own.

Other ways parents can teach their children about exploring various cultures:

  • Teach the Language- teaching kids to be bilingual or even multilingual has several advantages. Language is very powerful and it can provide enhanced insight on family history, stories and especially traditions.
  • Celebrate Holidays and Traditions- the importance of holidays and traditions spans across most cultures. Parents can help teach their kids about different holidays and traditions to help them understand that their personal traditions may be different than their friends at school.

Sources: Raising the Future: Teaching Kids How to Celebrate our Differences & Celebrate Tradition and Cultural Awareness with Young Children

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Celebrate Black History 2022

As we observe and celebrate Black History Month, I would like to jumpstart your family conversations about diversity, inclusion and the tough topic of racism in America.  I have culled book titles from resources like the Oakland Public Library, Amazon, and my own bookshelf.  They are provided below.  I also invite you to view my video series on cultivating cultural awareness in children. See links below.

So, start talking!

 

TODDLERS

A is for Activist  by Innosanto Nagara

Antiracist Baby Picture Book by Ibram X. Kendi and Ashley Lukashevsky

 

GRADES K – 2ND

Let’s Talk about Race by Julius Lester

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

Sit-In:  How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney

 

GRADES 3RD –  6TH

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Little Rock Nine by Marshall Poe

 

GRADES 7TH  AND UP

March:  Books 1, 2, and 3 by John Lewis with Andrew Aydin

A Young People’s History of The United States by Howard Zinn

Police Brutality (Opposing Viewpoints Series) by Sheila Fitzgerald

 

PARENTS

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You:  A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

The Sum of Us:  What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Carol Muleta, interviewed by Robbye Fox, Parent Encouragement Program Podcast:  A Conversation About Race

Carol Muleta:  Quick Tips on Cultivating Cultural Competence, Part https://youtu.be/CbFTwxpuCCQ

Carol Muleta:  Quick Tips on Cultivating Cultural Competence, Part https://youtu.be/e4TRKNhmXTw

Carol Muleta:  Quick Tips on Cultivating Cultural Competence, Part https://youtu.be/onIh1tIfrZY

Carol Muleta:  Quick Tips on Cultivating Cultural Competence, Part https://youtu.be/7HfhUBuJJyA

 

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Fatherhood Today

 

Source:  iStock Photos 

 

It's no secret that fatherhood has changed significantly from the days of our grandparents. A recent survey conducted by Pew Research revealed that fathers today spend more time per week on childcare than in previous generations.  In 2016, fathers reported spending an average of eight hours a week on child care – about triple the time they provided in 1965. And fathers put in about 10 hours a week on household chores in 2016, up from four hours in 1965. By comparison, mothers spent an average of about 14 hours a week on child care and 18 hours a week on housework in 2016.

This is largely due to the fact that mothers are now spending almost equal time at work as their male counterparts. But what exactly does this mean for modern-day dads? How do they balance parenting and careers? What are their thoughts about gender roles? 

While they’re spending more time with their children, many dads feel they’re not doing enough. Most dads (63%) said in a 2017 survey that they spend too little time with their kids, compared with 35% of mothers who said the same. Among both dads and moms who said they spend too little time with their kids, work obligations were cited most often as the main reason. Dads are also less positive about their own parenting abilities than are moms. Just 39% of fathers said in 2015 that they were doing a “very good job” raising their children, compared with 51% of mothers.

Dads are just as likely as moms to say that parenting is extremely important to their identity. Some 57% of fathers said this in a 2015 survey by the Center, compared with 58% of mothers. Like moms, many dads also seem to appreciate the benefits of parenthood: 54% reported that parenting is rewarding all of the time, as did 52% of moms. Meanwhile, 46% of fathers and 41% of mothers said they find parenting enjoyable all of the time.

To help you navigate this new world of fatherhood, we've listed a few tips that'll have you feeling confident about your role as dad!

  1. Be present.  Consistency is King.
  2. 2.  Create opportunities to teach.  You’ll be investing in your relationship with your child today, equipping him with skills he’ll need tomorrow,  and creating a legacy of competency for future generations.
  3. Make sure to schedule ‘hang time’ on a regular basis.  Let your children take the lead and learn what’s on their minds and in their hearts.
  4. Create a solid parenting philosophy.  Get clarity and consensus with your spouse/partner on the fundamental values and desired outcomes,  then build your own special connection with the kids.
  5. Don’t be a stranger.  Share who you are; your history, hopes, dreams.

Yes, fatherhood has changed significantly in the last 50 years. Nowadays, fathers are more involved in their children's lives and can often be found at home caring for the kids and working as hard as moms do outside of the house. These changes have a significant impact on how we raise our children, including differences in what we teach them about gender roles and expectations for their future careers. These trends point to a win-win for Moms and Dads, but the biggest winners are our kids!  

 

 

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Reflections On Motherhood

As you might expect, motherhood has really been top of mind for me (more than usual) since last month when I launched my first solo book project, Mother’s Work:  Pearls of Wisdom and Gems from my journey.  In writing Mother’s Work, I reflected on my experiences as an outmanned and overwhelmed mom of twin boys.  I unearthed many lessons and thought-provoking experiences.  I tried to capture meaningful insights that I hope will inspire and encourage other moms on their journey.     

Before we turn our focus toward Dads on Sunday, I want to share some reflections on perspectives I collected during our celebratory “Month of Mom”.  Enjoy!

 

There are many different aspects to motherhood. The most important aspect is the unconditional love that mothers have for their children. Another aspect of motherhood is the sacrifice and hard work one must endure to provide for her family, which can be a difficult task at times. Mothers also face challenges like balancing work with parenting, but it's all worth it in the end when they see what a difference they make in their children's lives.   

Mothers are the foundation of their family

 

Mothers are the foundation of their family. Mothers hold everything steady.  They provide for children while also nurturing them to become productive members in society. They bring life into this world with one single touch that is filled with love more powerful than any other force on earth.

 

Mothers are a pillar holding up their house so it doesn't crumble under pressure or collapse due to lack of support from others who should be there but aren’t there to provide either physical or emotional reinforcement when needed most.

Mothers should be respected and appreciated for

all that they do…

 

Mothers nourish and nurture everyone around them, whether they be children or adults of all ages – even pets! Mothers should never go unnoticed for the great job they do in keeping things moving smoothly at home.  They also make life outside it much better by being there to support other mothers when times get tough.

 

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Courageous Conversations about Race

As we continue to wrestle with racial equity and social justice in our country, I want to share resources with parents.  I have spoken about these topics several times over the past year.   I will periodically add resources to this list.

 

Critical Topics  in Parenting presented  by the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP)

I along with Dr. Linda McGhee presented a webinar entitled, Cultivating Racial & Cultural Awareness in Children.  You can view it here:  https://pepparentonline.org/p/cultivating-racial-and-cultural-awareness-in-children

 

A Conversation About Parenting and Race

I was interview by parent educator, Robbye Fox, on the Parenting With PEP in the Pandemic podcast.  Listen here:

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We ARE the Frontline – Get In The Fight

*****As Previously Published at Medium.com on 11/28/2020***

 

Before you dismiss this as just another rant about the coronavirus, I implore you to consider what I learned today. Since this pandemic nightmare began, we have lost more than 1,100 people who committed their lives to healing, saving, and caring for the health of others. I could have referred to them as health care workers. It certainly would have made for a shorter sentence, but I wanted to drive home that we are losing PEOPLE. They are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, colleagues, neighbors, and friends — human vessels of love, companionship, nurturing, support, partnership, mentorship, encouragement, and the list of their virtues goes on. Let’s not forget the hard-earned expertise they passionately used in the service to the rest of us. They are not disposable. Their families and colleagues will tell you they cannot simply be easily replaced. I will tell you they are not the frontline. WE are.

It’s long past time that we stop denying the severity of this crisis. Before we can get there, everyone has to recognize the reality of this crisis. It very much exists; even if it hasn’t struck you, your family, or friends (though, how could that even be possible at this point?). The far-reaching impact of this pandemic is painfully obvious:

Food insecurity is evident in the long lines where families can wait for hours to receive provisions for their families. Sixteen percent of adults in households with children reported having insufficient food over the last seven days according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Let’s not forget the importance of good nutrition in fighting illness and disease.

Job losses have soared, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that 2.3 million people had been out of work for at least 27 weeks. In addition to layoffs from large and small organizations, we have also seen business closings at an alarming rate. At the local level, small businesses serve as community anchors, the loss of which has a deeply devastating impact.

Education at the formative K-12 level has been dramatically disrupted despite the valiant efforts of innovative, hard-working administrators and educators across the country. There is a very real concern about the diminished effectiveness of distance learning, particularly for students who lack adequate resources and guidance at home and who have limited access to external support they normally received. This crisis has laid bare longstanding inequities and failures in our nation’s educational system.

Mental health professionals are reporting record numbers of inquiries and consults during over the eight months since the beginning of the pandemic. People are scared. Their lives, and livelihoods, have been upended. Parents have children they must calm and protect during this crisis. As our children lost in-person contact with friends, halted recreational activities, and missed milestone celebrations, anxiety and depression set in. A study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that emergency room visits related to mental health for children rose sharply; a 31% increase over the same period last year. There is also evidence that contracting the virus has a deleterious effect on overall mental health. Researchers from the University of Oxford reported that one-fifth of COVID patients went on to receive a psychiatric diagnosis.

Without a strong national mandate for attacking this virus in our medical system and on the street, we stumbled needlessly in the beginning. We received mixed messages from our leaders about what to do at the state and local level. Many of those leaders have reconsidered their earlier stance and are calling for more restrictive, yet protective, practices in their jurisdictions. Regardless of the missteps early on, we can no longer use them as an excuse for not meeting this moment. There a few, basic, preventative measures the experts have coalesced around for months. Let’s review:

  1. Stay at home except to take care of basic needs. Definitely remain at home, and isolated, if you are feeling sick.
  2. Wear a mask; if not for yourself to protect others. Numerous studies have shown that masks reduce community spread of the virus.
  3. Avoid large gatherings. Where possible, spend minimal time among people outside your household.
  4. Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet apart.
  5. Wash hands often. As much as possible, keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth.
  6. Practice self-care. Make time for proper rest, nutrition, and exercise. Indulge in favorite hobbies and activities to take your mind off of the challenges brought on by these unusual circumstances.
  7. Stay informed. Follow latest developments and heed guidelines prescribed by the CDC.

Thanks to medical scientists and their teams who leaned into their expertise, and their compassion for human life in spite of early confusion about what we were facing. They applied a laser focus on understanding this virus and how it could be stopped. These efforts have been fruitful, yielding trial vaccines that look very promising. But again, they are not the frontline. WE are.

There is no doubt that we owe a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay our healthcare workers, or those in foodservice, retail, delivery, and education who continue to labor in roles that place them in close contact with the public every day. However, we cannot sit back and merely applaud them. We have to get in the fight. Otherwise, we are ensuring that they stay on a relentless treadmill with fewer of their colleagues available to hop on give them a break. Whereas a patient death on their watch had previously been an irregular loss they could take a moment to absorb as feeling human beings are wont to do, they are now confronted with agony and death in unforgiving succession, every day. They should actually be the big guns we bring into the battle AFTER the breach in the frontline. WE are the frontline. It really is up to us to seal the breach and, let’s face it, we know how.

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Study Secrets: A Guide to Setting Pre-teens up for Success (Grades 5-8)

It was my pleasure to participate on this panel where we shared homework and study secrets from middle schoolers.  Kudos to the Tutoring Club of McLean for hosting this event as the 2020 school year ramps up.  In case you missed it, you can watch here: Study Secrets for Pre-Teens.

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August 2020 Community Visionary – She Unparalleled

I felt tremendously honored to be named Community Visionary for August 2020 by She Unparalleled (See story here:https://www.she-unparalleled.com/community-visionaries).  Rooted in faith, She Unparalleled is committed to providing a support system for women on their multifaceted journey through life.  Launched in 2020, the organization's visionary founders, Leia Towe and Nicole Woody are already making a positive impact on the lives of women in the community.  She Unparalleled proudly inspires, celebrates, and honors womanhood!

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Want to End White Privilege? We Need All Hands on Deck

******As previously published at Medium.com, July 30, 2020*****

Ok. I have to admit I live in a bubble. In the midst of the double-pronged reckoning facing the U.S. in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgent fight for racial justice, my area is generally not seeing meltdowns over mask mandates or federal officers storming our neighborhood to quell protests (except for the notorious showdown in DC’s Lafayette Square near the White House). By and large, everyone here is taking the coronavirus seriously and they recognize that the police brutality and oppression suffered disproportionately by the Black community have got to stop. As white people wrestle with what to do next, what to read next, and who to talk to about it next, some people are slowly getting around to the self-examination that has to take place. Still, others continue wading in the pool of white privilege, only occasionally venturing over to the wall and peering over to see what’s happening in the real world; lobbing uninformed opinions and loathsome queries over the side like wayward pool toys.

My most recent experience in this vain: This morning, I went to the dentist with my two college-age sons. They’re still on our insurance plan, so I was just there to pick up the tab. So, I present my card (a ‘Preferred’ card of a certain color) to pay for both treatments. The white assistant takes my card and turns it over a couple of times in her hand saying, “Oh, what kind of card is this? I’ve never seen a card like this. I bank with XYZ bank [same bank] and my debit card is red…..” Taken aback by her determined intrusion, I simply respond, “It’s not a debit card.” The payment is processed and the transaction is complete and she proceeds to hand the card back to me. But STILL…”I’ve just never seen this color card before, my credit card is red (blah, blah, blah)…what kind of card is it?” Finally, I say “The card I have reflects my longstanding relationship and the level of service my family can expect at this bank.”

Before you tell me this was all innocence and curiosity, let me tell why I’m not having it:

  • At 50+ years old, I’m not ‘elderly’, but clearly this young lady’s elder. Where I come from, you don’t address your elders, or people you don’t know, this way. Further, it smacks of the condescension shown toward Black adults in decades gone by when younger white adults, or even children, addressed them by their first names despite having no personal or companionable connection to them.
  • The questioning of my credentials was unfounded. The name on the credit card was the same one listed as payer/guardian on the accounts and my sons’ dentist obviously raised no concerns about treating them. More importantly, the card proved to be valid and the transaction was processed successfully.
  • I am (or was) a longstanding client of that dental practice — 18 years. The thickness of my sons’ files certainly would have suggested this as she settled their accounts. There was no doubt about who I was.

I appreciate the awakening that is taking place among many white and other non-Black people around the unwarranted use of force, detainment, and other injustices inflicted upon Blacks in this country. Upon seeing media reports on these incidents, complete with smartphone footage, you are quick to finger those perpetrating these actions as ‘racist’. Harder for you to recognize are these offenses that we have to contend with to execute the most basic of functions in the course of a day. Instead, you want to make grand gestures like posting the stacks of books on race you’re reading, sporting Black Lives Matter t-shirts or kente cloth, and maybe even denouncing your ancestors’ actions from ‘so long ago’. In the past, we’ve seen you latch on to our culture, drape yourselves in our styles, and speak our vernacular, only to shed it all when you’re in a space where it won’t serve you, so pardon us if we are wary. We want to see you acknowledge and examine the baseless judgments you make about us every day, or their implications, as you question our rights to even be, let alone function, in spaces where you readily assume your white brothers and sisters just ‘belong’.

Even as our Black ancestors collectively fought for justice and equality, away from the battle lines, many had to exercise a little finesse about dealing with what we now define as microaggressions. They had to pick and choose when they were going to speak up vs. keeping their eyes on the larger goal, be it keeping their jobs, their homes, or their lives, but I can promise you, today’s youth and young adults don’t have that kind of patience. They want to change. Who can blame them? This foolishness, day in and day out, is exhausting. These experiences aren’t merely discouraging and disrespectful, or simply paying “the black tax”. Young folks are calling it what it is — an affront to our humanity.

And our humanity is at the heart of everything we’re asking for at this point. See us as humans that breathe, need love and care, deserve respect, have potential, and have aspirations just like you and your family. If you could just let go of the strongholds you have in these areas and trust that your egos can handle that neither your group nor any other group in the human race is inherently superior, we could all get to a better place, faster. Here’s just some of what we wish for:

  • Parents: Enlighten your children that they, and your family, are not the standard by which the rest of us are measured. Expose them to people who are ‘obviously’ different from them, AND remind them that there are differences among white people, within their families and beyond. Above all, acknowledge (don’t ignore) differences, but emphasize that diversity does not imply deficiency. Don’t fail to point out that they share similarities with people who don’t look like them as well. Consume media that reflects the diversity of our population. In age-appropriate ways, have honest discussions about our country’s history and the practices and systems that developed as a result.

. Law enforcement: Don’t assume we’re dangerous just because we’re Black. Give us the same benefit of the doubt when you’re called to the scene as you would non-Black persons of interest. Give us the same opportunity to explain our actions and even ask you why we’re being detained. If we are found to be in the wrong, follow the same procedure that somehow allows white gunmen who shoot up schools, churches, and movie theaters to survive long enough to make it to the police station, get booked, and secure representation.

  • Employment. Assume we are capable. Especially, when we have the same diplomas, certifications, and experiences (or more of all of that) as the perfect white candidate you’re so sure you’ll find if you just keep searching.
  • Education. Assume Black children are capable. Assume Black parents care about their children’s education. If a child needs assistance or support, work with the parents and educators to provide it. Just don’t decide their future based on this moment of need. Provide guidance to correct behavior as needed, but don’t over-discipline or ‘adultify’ Black children. Give them the same space to make ‘youthful’ mistakes, and learn from them, as their non-Black peers. School is not the safe place it should be for many of our children as research shows here.
  • Community: This includes neighbors, business owners, and other faces in public spaces. Assume we belong. Assume we’re decent people, operating in good faith until we’ve unequivocally shown you otherwise. Learn about people who don’t look like you, but don’t invade our physical or emotional space with confrontations or intrusive questions just because you need to feel more comfortable.
  • Healthcare: Be open to the fact that we actually experience pain. Uphold the oath of your profession and administer care like our lives matter. Because they do. Somewhere, someone loves us and wants us to live; the same way your tribe feels about you.

Understand that I am neither rejecting nor negating the support that you’re showing as you to try to grasp of our country’s true history or marching with us to show your sincere support of the cause. We need allyship. But along with that, we need a sincere change in mindset and heart-set. You have to genuinely understand and feel that we are not here to serve you, elevate you, fascinate you, or entertain you. We’re just trying to LIVE. Just like you. If you really seek this understanding, get out of the pool, and dry off. This is going to take a minute.

 

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How Attending an HBCU Impacted My Life

***As previously published at Medium.com on March 1, 2020.***

During Black History Month, I was asked by a high school student to describe my experience attending an HBCU, a historically Black College and University. It was indeed a seminal experience, but it had been some time since I really tried to put into words just what it meant to me and I appreciated this opportunity to do so. Attending Cheyney University, the nation's oldest historically black college, had a remarkable impact on my life. From the first day I landed on campus, and walked on the quad among the historic buildings, I felt a spirit of hope and great expectation from the elders - that I would make the most of this opportunity and be excellent. Of course, there was the hope from my parents, that I would make sure to achieve all of my greatness in four years; and I did!

Cheyney was small; about 2,600 students, including commuters. There was an opportunity to get to know a lot of people from around the country and a few international students, but still not so diminutive that I knew EVERYbody. The majority of enrolled students were African-American and African, with most of us staying in on-campus housing. While some African-American students commuted to school each day, there were a fair number of Caucasian and other groups as well. There was definitely a sense of family among those who stayed on campus. We celebrated our sports teams, enjoyed parties, played intramural sports and occasionally commiserated about such slights as not getting seconds on ‘Steak Night', swiped pizza deliveries, or long waits in the laundry room. We also felt close to the employees who worked on campus, including residence hall deans, campus security, and even the cafeteria staff. We felt very secure knowing there were a lot of folks looking out for us. I think that is unique among smaller HBCUs.

Another aspect of my time at Cheyney that I really appreciated was the genuine investment professors felt in our success. Throughout my education, I had definitely seen educators who were passionate about their expertise and enjoyed imparting their knowledge to students. However, at HBCUs it seems that there is an extra sense of obligation that professors feel to ensure students learn the content and are able to apply it. They were counting on us to take the baton and run with it. By no means did they lower their standards for us. In fact, they were very frank about what we would face out in the world if we were not at the top of our game, but there was an extra level of care and concern about us doing well. To be honest, my experience was the same with professors who were not African-American. I can't speak for today, but I think back then, if you decided to teach at an HBCU, you really needed to buy into the culture, no matter your race or ethnicity.

On the topic of race and ethnicity, I cannot overstate what it meant to have so many African American scholars and administrators as role models on our campus. I attended public school in Washington, DC, so being taught by smart educators who looked like me was not a novel experience for me. Still, it was inspiring to see people of color in teaching positions across disciplines including the humanities, mathematics, sciences, industrial arts, education, etc. There were career academics as well as professors who infused their curricula with insights gleaned from previous careers in the corporate space as well as public service.

Professors' engagement with students extended outside the classroom with them showing up at sporting events and extracurricular activities which I'm sure happens at a lot of colleges. However, I found that our professors cared about our well-being, overall, including social, emotional and spiritual like elders in our family or community. They had no problem pulling you aside to let you know if they thought you were doing less than your best in class or were not carrying yourself with honor and decorum. One Wharton-trained professor told me I wasn't exactly ‘rockin' Accounting, and that I had better come to her office and get a handle on it. And you know I did! Seriously, I never planned to be a ‘star accountant', but putting in that extra effort provided a baseline of familiarity that helped when I got to graduate business school. Caring about us outside of class also meant that they kept us in mind when they learned of jobs, fellowships, or other opportunities that might enhance our learning experience. I had a professor ask me to deliver her speech at a campus-wide event when she fell ill. That awakened a love of public speaking in me.

Finally, attending an HBCU left me with a large collection of brothers and sisters. We have formed strong bonds across graduating classes, Greek organizations, industries, etc. We celebrate each other's successes, band together in times of need, support each other's businesses and lend a hand to each other's children. Homecoming is truly a family reunion at Cheyney. I attended a large, predominately white institution (PWI) for graduate school and I don't have the same feeling though I did make good friends, and certainly appreciate the education I received there. I hear this sentiment from others who attended predominately white institutions. There are exceptions, but in many cases, the number and intensity of the connections among African American students, just don't compare. In the end, I believe everything I have described comes back to family. I was a pretty good student and I could have made the most of just about any environment to earn my education; however, I am certain I walked away with something extra having attended an HBCU.

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