By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
I came across this article in the news last week! I immediately let out a few well chosen swear words, copied the link and sent the article to a few of my associates.
But I think we need to make this go viral - and then rally the troupes to stop this assault!
Well, here we go! The sharks are in the waters and circling our beloved CHEYNEY University.
Did I say “beloved”?!??
Absolutely!
Even though I am a proud LINCOLN University Alumna, and we have this
friendly rivalry between us, at the end of the day Lincoln University
and Cheyney are the world’s FIRST HBCUs!!
And Pennsylvania has the
honor and distinction of being the state that has the TWO FIRST HBCUs IN THE NATION AND IN THE WORLD. You'd think they would take better care of such a legacy.
We
have to be cognizant of the fact that we have to stand with Cheney,
watch our own backs, and circle the wagons lest we all get past coed off
one by one via veiled right wingnut assaults on our beloved and
ESSENTIAL HBCUs individually and collectively!
The
old saying, “When they came for my rival, I said nothing; when they came
for my neighbor, I said and did nothing - then they came for me - and
there was no one left to help me.
Now, I’m not
saying that standards and accreditation are not important; what I am
saying is that we deserve full disclosure, assistance, and ameliorative
options - not a sneak attack, or a full frontal assault and public
condemnation that further sullies our reputation and discouraged
faculty, students, administrators and alumni!
As
with everything else in this country, Cheyney, Lincoln U, and our
others HBCUs are egregiously and chronically, and in many cases
deliberately underfunded. Yet they still do their best to prove quality
professional education to the majority population of Black students.
Sabotage
couched under the guise of professionalism is still sabotage. The most
disgusting thing these organizations can say is, “it’s not personal,
it’s ‘objective.’”
You
can tell that I’m really upset about this sneak attack on Cheyney,
because I’m writing this on my iPhone- and I have dyslexic fingers!
There are several HBCU themed organizations and publications - let’s circle the wagons for Cheyney, and the rest of our HBCUs.
Likewise,
those who owe their careers and livelihoods to HBCUs in general, and
CHEYNEY in particular, we have to close ranks and put our considerable
collective minds, talents, powers, resiliency together to protect and
enhance our treasured institutions! They were here when we could not
attend predominantly white institutions (pwi) - some were founded by
caucasians for Black people; some were founded by Black people and
church groups - and they can each point with pride at all they’ve
accomplished in Higher Education over the past 170 years.
Lincoln, which was founded as a Degree Granting University in 1854 will celebrate 170 years on April 29, 2024! We are so very proud of our Alma Mater and all the HBCUs who have stayed the course!
And it is up to us all BLACK PEOPLE WORLDWIDE TO ENSURE THEIR PLACE AN RELEVANCE FOR THE NEXT 170 YEARS - as well as the viability of all our HBCUs - whether you go to college or not. And if we don't stand up for them, shame on us as a people.
There is an old saying: IF NO ONE ELSE WILL SAVE US - WE HAVE TO SAVE OURSELVES
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
