The Black Elite: Are
YOU too good for YOUR people?
September 10,
2003
We talked about the origins of the elitism in the black community. The definition of elite is socially superior. Elitism started under slavery, a house slave versus a field slave. Today in continues in forms such as educated versus non-educated and light-skinned versus dark-skinned. Nikki mention at one point that elitism starts before you even have a degree.
Christina started by talking about people acting as though she was elite. She mentioned that when she first came here she was told by darker women not to let her hair grow out because it would make people bitter with her.
Erika talked about the Affirmative Action bus ride to DC. Central had asked if we knew the definitions of a few words. The implication was that we didn't know the trials of our own black people. Tiobahn echoed those frustrations, saying that people judge Carolina students as if we don't get a sense of blackness. Vanessa said that the day she told her granddad she was coming to Carolina he said he was disappointed, and her pastor said she could always transfer.
Eboni looked at another angle, wondering how often we judge those at black schools, thinking that we are smarter and will therefore get better jobs. This is what college advisors tell us; they tell us black school aren't as good. One student mentioned that the issue should be where you'll be better served.
Jovian commented that the black community seems to divide itself. Elitism seems to be those who think they are more fit to lead, and therefore leaders put the rest of the people down. We all need to learn from each other.
Then the question was raised as to whether or not elitism was bad. After all, it's good to be at Carolina rather than in jail. But Brian said we cannot forget the guys in prison or on welfare… we are not better than them; we're luckier. Someone added that we cannot forget where we came from, and cannot forget that the people who did the work to get you here had nothing.
Nicole said that black people need to embrace each other. Daren said there are two different types of elite, and we are elite in what we do rather than in who we are. Joe promoted a mindset of being in this together, so that by me doing what I do it brings up the rest of the group. Mike said that in a sense everyone's elite… everyone has more than someone… so we need to help those who are below us. Erin said that elitism is only bad when you don't help the community.
"The only time you should look down on another man is when you're helping him up," Jarrod reminded us. Then he added a plug for the upcoming service project, a chance to give back to the community.
People mentioned a number of different solutions, such as starting our own communities rather than moving to the white community and giving them our money. Others said we should go out… the white community loves our culture but what do we get from it?
Jarbari said we need to hit home first by coming together on campus.
The tone changed as we brought up that we need to change what people see… change elite to education and morality and values. Eboni said that what we say is what we'll be. Elitism supports separatism, and education should be the norm.
Eric said you need to question within yourself what you think education really is, because everything you learn isn't always in the classroom. Bobby said we should watch what we call elite, because money doesn't always mean there was an education, and education doesn't always bring money.
We ended by saying that it's not about where you're from but what you can give back. We should be working toward targeting the youth. We made plugs for Big Buddy and STRIDES.
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