As I've said in posts before, I am a graduate of an HBCU. In fact, Southern University is the ONLY HBCU that is in it's own system: SUBR, SUNO, SUSBO and the SU Law School. Now that's something to shout about! Ever since the inception of the first HBCU, Cheyney University, established in Pennyslvania in 1831, the world has often questioned the authenticity and purpose of such schools, as if to say that by purposefully not educating people of color, the world would be a better place. We can see by the way things are going now, that isn't true. So I don't find it odd that there is serious talk and contemplation of merging one part of my alma mater's school system, SUNO, or for those of you that have been living under a rock, Southern University-New Orleans, with the University of New Orleans. True, the campuses are within walking distance of each other, but they serve 2 totally different populations. For one, SUNO is located in the historical Ponchatrain Park neighborhood. This was the first all-Black, middle-class neighborhood established in the NO, but it most recently known because of the damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina. What many don't know is that Southern University was established in the NO in 1881. This was when the capital of Louisiana was New Orleans. But when that changed and the campus grew, it was decided to move to a larger location on the bluff of the bayou in Baton Rouge, now known as the main SU campus or SUBR. This was done in 1914. Southern University has a long-standing tradition in the Louisiana community as well as with the world, so again, I am not surprised that someone that isn't a native of the state or a supporter of HBCU's, would be willing to end that legacy for his own political party gain. Yes, I am talking about Louisiana's own, Governor Bobby Jindal. An Indian-American, who is as white-washed as they come. I'd hate to tell him that the same people that claim to be on board with him are probably at home telling some really nasty Ghandi jokes on his expense. But I digress.
Jindal and his band of thugs believe that the graduation rate at SUNO is too low and thus, by merging with the PWI (predominately white institution) UNO, that it will be a better alternative for the greater NO community. This, coming from someone that knows absolutely nothing about Louisiana, other than the fact that he's the governor. He didn't grow up there, he doesn't communicate with anyone from there and I'm sure his kids go to private school. He doesn't know about the city, besides seeing some numbers on a page. He can't relate to the struggle of African-Americans for equality in education. It was not too long ago that Thurgood Marshall argued to the Supreme Court for the Brown vs Board of Education case that made segregation in education illegal. But even before then, people of color had little to no access to higher education other than that of their own institutions. Yes, it's true that the graduation rate is low. However, what we are talking about is an institution where the majority of its students are first-time, first-generation. (As a college instructor, I know what I'm talking about.) At SUNO, the majority of the students are adults, aged 28 and up, with kids and full-time jobs, so no, they aren't going to graduate in 4 years or even 5. But SUNO has allowed them the opportunity to obtain a degree in their own time. Who are you, Bobby Jindal, to say that their time is too long? SUNO's population don't come from a privileged background and cannot afford to attend classes at any other institution. The professors are caring, the class sizes are small and it is the perfect place for a student that is too young and naive to go far from home or for a working father who has three kids, a wife and 2-hour free window to take a class for a job promotion. So what's so wrong for keeping it open? It sustained heavy damage from Katrina and though it's not back to 100%, the students and staff appreciate how far they have come. Who is to say that merging the campus with UNO is best anyway? UNO's graduation rate isn't tip-top either, but it services a totally different community. Essentially, they are both doing what they have to do, but by merging them, Jindal isn't making the problems go away, but in fact, may make them worse.
SU Alumni from across the country have rallied together to ensure that the legacy of our beloved SU System does not die because of the political agenda of one such, Bobby Jindal and his band of merry Republican thieves. I shudder to think that if this SUNO-UNO merger becomes final (voting began today at 2 p.m.) what that will mean for other HBCU's around the country. This is just the first step in a series of moves to ensure that the voices of people of color are silenced by a political party with a history of racial oppression. By merging SUNO and UNO, Jindal is ensuring that the state of Louisiana continues to lag behind significantly in education. In a city where the majority of its children are at least 2-3 grade levels behind, they cannot afford to suffer another setback. As a proud alumnus of Southern University, I can only do so much from Texas. But I pray that I can count on my fellow Jaguar Nation members in Louisiana and HBCU supporters around the globe, to ensure that this doesn't happen to anyone else.
Be careful who you vote for. Folks are selling wolf tickets these days.
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