Blacks only graduation at U of T...WTF!
- Thread starter bazokajoe
- Start date
Think we need to look at school's like Harvard which I think was the inspiration for UofT. The universities involvement is probably fairly minimal aside from providing a space and perhaps some decorations. Considering higher education is a business that turns a decent profit not a big deal. And to answer your question about other ethnics? Sure why not? I mean let's say your Asian parents don't know English, wouldn't it be nice for a ceremony to be in mandarin or what not?
Oh but I am closer then you think. I am the 154 person born off our reservation. LOL
I am just messing with you. Well yes and no. I am the 154, but I don't feel at the bottom or even close to it.
lmao I think we are making progress frank ! 
Totally agree. Hey look at that we agree on something!!!!!
Frankie, that was funny.. But do you not see a parallel in having a special celebration for black graduates only???
Can't believe I'm even bothering to wade into another Race Thread but as one of the few Black TERB members I guess I should at least pipe up a little.
In this world I would say the majority of people try/prefer to surround themselves with their "fellows": some define this as a shared cultural background/religion/ethnicity; others (and more progressive people in my opinion) define it more by like-mindedness / kindred spirits (race-independent). I am the latter, these Black students are the former. I could cite cultural associations, or Indian / Chinese neighborhoods, etc. but that's not the real point here, any cultural grouping example will do. Personally I can't stand the artificial divides we impose upon ourselves: as a Black Engineering Student I vehemently rejected ALL invitations to Black Science events simply because I'm tired of people treating my above-average intellect as some kind of freak occurrence and being lauded for it: there are plenty of smart/capable people in the world and to be taken aback when one happens to be Black is insulting. The amount of times I've been told "I speak so well..." (sub-consciously insert "... for a Black" here) it drove me insane.
I wish for nothing more for a world in which people don't balk at the fact a Black guy gets a Masters Degree in Engineering - their reaction should be "big whoop, of course Black people are capable of this". But you'd be surprised how many people are still taken aback by this meager accomplishment - you'd think I was fresh off the boat and still in chains instead of a native-born Canadian with a middle class family upbringing... And the Black Community can often be guilty of the same lowered expectations of themselves, hence their insipid need to celebrate any achievement in the hopes it will encourage other Black children to do the same. I get why they might think that way when growing up they can be pigeon-holed by everyone they encounter, but I wish they'd get angry enough to truly effect change by refusing to be pigeon-holed by ANYONE and fight tooth & nail to achieve, even if it's just to spit their diplomas in the faces of those that didn't think them capable. THAT would be a cultural victory - each Black person temporarily (at least) renouncing all stereotypes associated with them and disprove Whites/Others once and for all. No acting the fool, no basketball, no Baby Mommas, no ghetto culture, no bastardization of the English language... Just Black people achieving and shrugging it off nonchalantly as though it was nothing unusual because that's how it should have always BEEN had we come to this New World under better/equal circumstances.
Lastly, just remember that a lot of stuff went down a mere 50-70 years ago that people are still reeling from: Segregation just finally ended in the States 50+ years ago, Women have finally been recognized in the workforce yet must still fight tooth and nail to debunk wage inequality and encourage more young women into the "hard sciences", the Holocaust was only 70+ years ago, and there are even Japanese Canadians that grew up in Canadian Internment camps in WWII (my karate instructor amongst them). So if you were to round up a group of 80+ year-old men, women, Jews, Japanese and blacks there's a good chance you could still be told first-hand accounts of: being forcibly displaced/imprisoned, not being allowed to use a water fountain, being casually sexually harassed at every turn and being discouraged from educating themselves/advancing their career. The world hasn't changed THAT much yet, but we're working on it, and hopefully we'll eventually all work on it TOGETHER.
In this world I would say the majority of people try/prefer to surround themselves with their "fellows": some define this as a shared cultural background/religion/ethnicity; others (and more progressive people in my opinion) define it more by like-mindedness / kindred spirits (race-independent). I am the latter, these Black students are the former. I could cite cultural associations, or Indian / Chinese neighborhoods, etc. but that's not the real point here, any cultural grouping example will do. Personally I can't stand the artificial divides we impose upon ourselves: as a Black Engineering Student I vehemently rejected ALL invitations to Black Science events simply because I'm tired of people treating my above-average intellect as some kind of freak occurrence and being lauded for it: there are plenty of smart/capable people in the world and to be taken aback when one happens to be Black is insulting. The amount of times I've been told "I speak so well..." (sub-consciously insert "... for a Black" here) it drove me insane.
I wish for nothing more for a world in which people don't balk at the fact a Black guy gets a Masters Degree in Engineering - their reaction should be "big whoop, of course Black people are capable of this". But you'd be surprised how many people are still taken aback by this meager accomplishment - you'd think I was fresh off the boat and still in chains instead of a native-born Canadian with a middle class family upbringing... And the Black Community can often be guilty of the same lowered expectations of themselves, hence their insipid need to celebrate any achievement in the hopes it will encourage other Black children to do the same. I get why they might think that way when growing up they can be pigeon-holed by everyone they encounter, but I wish they'd get angry enough to truly effect change by refusing to be pigeon-holed by ANYONE and fight tooth & nail to achieve, even if it's just to spit their diplomas in the faces of those that didn't think them capable. THAT would be a cultural victory - each Black person temporarily (at least) renouncing all stereotypes associated with them and disprove Whites/Others once and for all. No acting the fool, no basketball, no Baby Mommas, no ghetto culture, no bastardization of the English language... Just Black people achieving and shrugging it off nonchalantly as though it was nothing unusual because that's how it should have always BEEN had we come to this New World under better/equal circumstances.
Lastly, just remember that a lot of stuff went down a mere 50-70 years ago that people are still reeling from: Segregation just finally ended in the States 50+ years ago, Women have finally been recognized in the workforce yet must still fight tooth and nail to debunk wage inequality and encourage more young women into the "hard sciences", the Holocaust was only 70+ years ago, and there are even Japanese Canadians that grew up in Canadian Internment camps in WWII (my karate instructor amongst them). So if you were to round up a group of 80+ year-old men, women, Jews, Japanese and blacks there's a good chance you could still be told first-hand accounts of: being forcibly displaced/imprisoned, not being allowed to use a water fountain, being casually sexually harassed at every turn and being discouraged from educating themselves/advancing their career. The world hasn't changed THAT much yet, but we're working on it, and hopefully we'll eventually all work on it TOGETHER.
Again, it is because the black community has the lowest graduation rate in Canada according to statistics Canada. Especially among black males. They are hosting an event to celebrate that they are able to overcome obstacles that they have encountered. To me they are not doing anything wrong. Other universities have done this Harvard and other us colleges. It is the first of its kind in Toronto and who knows , it could be the last. You guys are over reacting 10000% , NO ONE is offended by this. LOL
Thanks. lol
There's a difference between a private party and being paraded around for all to see. Which is why I made the joke when JR suggested it be part of the main graduation.
Thanks Jessica, you're too kind. Like I said: I personally would not have attended but I get the mentality/circumstances that led to the event being proposed, even though I don't share/agree with it.
Similarly I don't agree with BLM's methods and I don't believe all of their arguments. Yes, the past history of slavery/segregation has caused long-standing damage to the Black Community, just like the decimation of the Native Americans impacted them and misogyny/patriarchy has impacted Women, etc. but the Black Community cannot be 100% without fault in the Modern Age - MLK taught every Black person to conduct themselves with the utmost civility to dispel stereotypes and break down walls, yet the biggest danger to Black Youth are interactions/influences from other Black Youth. Our own people hold each other down with ghetto culture and yet BLM does not feel the need to acknowledge this problem.
If they can't admit fault for at least a small amount of internal problems in the community, they're no better than the Catholic Church's hypocrisy that the church is infallible despite the many allegations against their priests and the widespread global harm their anti-contraception practices have caused. Christian hypocrisy made me an atheist, Black hypocrisy made me renounce all cultural identity/affiliation, and Western naivete vis-a-vis race relations made me renounce patriotism/nationalism. I am a man with no identity/religion/nation and I'm quite happy to keep it that way.
I love my white partner, I am thankful for my rainbow of like-minded friends across all cultural lines, and I hope that one day the entire world embraces such a sense of community.
:clap2::clap2::clap2: Wow, that is fantastic.
No really did you actually get a masters degree in engineering??? (sorry could not resist).
My friends Irish grandfather was an indentured servant. He was, at the age of 14, shipped to Canada against his will and made to work on a farm without renumeration for a period of time where he was badly abused and unable to run. That was in 1923.
Unfortunately, they often perpetuate their own challenges, especially when it comes to Natives.
Awesome! That is exactly how I see it.
We should define ourselves by our own choices, struggles and accomplishments, not those made by people of the same skin colour, sex, sexual orientation, or any other factor outside our control.
Yes, a part of it was actions made by white people in generations past, what's your point? We can't go back. It's done, and no one alive today is responsible for that.
But there is no helping the Native peoples unless they assimilate as Canadians or cede their own nation apart from Canada. Neither of those are likely to happen, so this problem's not exactly going away any time soon.
Their current issue is both their "apartness" from Canada, and their proximity to it. Their identity crisis.
P.E. Trudeau (initials cuz it will be censored for some reason) said "let bygones be bygones".
But I don't think this celebration is based on the past but current challenges. They must still feel that there's still systemic discrimination, which is quite possible if not probable. (We have affirmative action hiring policies in government. Obviously, it's not just those who are African descent that face discrimination).
