When will we get to the point where we realize our responsibilities in ensuring that everyone has equal access to educational attainment? In a staff development committee meeting late last week, I sat alongside a group of individuals that represent the various units of our department. As a committee we come together to coordinate and implement staff development trainings, workshops, programs, events, etc. for our entire department (which is made up of over 3oo employees) one unit (facilities management) which is made up of both the physical plant and custodial unit recently took a survey where they were asked what type of trainings and workshops they would want and need. Their response was basic computer and Microsoft outlook trainings.

To make a long story short, everyone thought it was a good idea except for the one person who is in charge of the custodial staff. She was against the idea because she kept repeating that it was “not our job” to teach people who are “not allowed” to use the computer on the job how to use it……When asked what she meant, she went on and on and I went from being irritated to livid. I cannot believe that this attitude still exists. What makes it worse is that I work in education! So if we are not willing to do something to educate ourselves (meaning the employees), then what exactly are any of us doing at all? Development should not be limited to the specific job that one is in, it should be extended to developing and honing skills and knowledge that can also be utilized in the future. This should be the standard at ALL levels of our “organizational structure”. Overall our outlook on how we see people, how we can help them and what are responsibilities are in their development and education needs to change. It is definitely time for a paradigm shift……

A colleague of mine sent me a link to a blog from the school newspaper at the institution where we went to grad school. The blog was from a featured blogger who is a Black male student. He is now a senior and did sort of a reflection piece on his experiences at the school. The school we attended is a large 4-year predominately white institution in the south.

He described his experiences as a Black male student there, and the racism that he endured. While I was not surprised that he had some poor experiences and endured some racism, I was surprised that this was published in the paper, and even more surprised at some of the comments to this post.

It is natural for different people to have different experiences. My colleague who sent the link to me has a slightly different perspective on the institution than even I do. Perhaps it is because she stayed an extra year after I left, but at any rate her experiences are her own. The same is true for the young man who wrote the blog post. His experiences were negated by other Black and minority students and that was the shocking part.

What he said was very real. I can believe he endured all that he did, and felt the way he described. Although being a Black woman and graduate student on campus was slightly different for me (and a little better than what he described), I have no doubt that prejudice, discrimination, pejorative treatment, and racism still exist. I work at another PWI now, in the South (in an even smaller city and state than the other) and I see and hear about it here as well.

What I am trying to understand is why people who say that they do not believe him instead of just being understanding and opening their minds to the possibility that things may not always be as positive and wonderful for everyone as they may be for them.