HMMIC: Taking the Nigga Out of the Equation

I am a minority male (referencing how minority is considered in our country). I am a black male and therefore, being realistic, there wasn’t high expectations for my future. There were two expectations for my life and I heard these expectations time and again throughout my life because I attended all black primary and secondary schools. People would always say:

“You are going to end up in two places as a black male–prison or a graveyard.”

Well, the latter is inevitable, but I guess the sentiment was that I would end up being shot because I would ultimately sell drugs as a means of income because their would not be other options for me beyond that of the community that I live. And, for other minorities, such as Hispanics, those expectations were the same. What was different in my life is that I had parents, family, teachers, and even church members who told me otherwise and therefore, although not at the point I would like to be in my life, I didn’t succumb to the low expectations society had created for me.

And, I realize that so many of my peers didn’t succumb to those expectations either.

This past weekend the regional organization for the department that I work for had its annual Tri-State conference in Charleston, SC. I served as a committee chair so for the past seven months we’ve been in constant communication with our three Tri-State chairs planning and organizing the conference. Our committees are made up of all different races, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and varying experiences in general.

Throughout the planning for this event we would have conference calls every two weeks for updates, advice, approvals, etc from our chairs and our last meeting was the Sunday the conference began this past weekend. As we sat in the hotel boardroom to begin and all three chairs sat down to begin the meeting I realized something.

All three chairs were minority men under the age of 35. Two black, one hispanic. All married and all directors of their respective programs at the home institution for which they work. All optimistic young men who consistently encourage his staff to be successful and all willing to go the extra mile to ensure their staff is guided in the right direction and all three have worked together diligently without a hint of disagreement, jealously, malice, etc.

As I sat back and watched these young men facilitate this meeting advising their committees made up of people who some exceeded them in age by more than 25 years made me proud. They had proven, even at a regional level, that young minority men can have leadership roles and be succesful. And, the reviews for the conference and its organization were mostly positive and it was both enjoyable and educational.

I would like to congratulate these young men and their continued effort to prove that myths created about race and gender are not true. Antonio Robinson, who is the Director of Upward Bound Math Science in Charleston, SC, Ray Cabrera, Coordinator of Upward Bound in Florida, and William Troy Curry, Director of Talent Search in Atlanta, Georgia.

You guys are my heroes! Much respect!

J. Prince, Princepality 35

High School Student Undermines Campus Authority Before He Even Gets to College

For years, we watched as Cartman, the fictional fat faced kid with a foul mouth, go on rampages of power in the now classic Comedy Central satire, “South Park” yelling at his peers and teachers “respect my authoriti…” as he waved his black stick of authority and a badge that read, “hall monitor.”

It seems these days its college institutions that wave its monetary baton asking for millions of high school seniors every year to afford its outlandish application fees, tuition bills, and housing costs. But, for one high school student living in Orange County, California, that authority is just one he can’t respect.

Chase Miller has devised a plan on just how he can combat the institutional authority that says you can’t get to college if you don’t have the money.  And here’s how:

THINK SMART-It’s not important to just take a rigorous curriculum that will enhance your educational experience at the institution of your choice, but it is also important to take additional courses for college credit to cut the tuition tab after completing your degree. For Chase, he not only did well with his high school courses, but he signed up to take college courses for credit through his high school, a free ride to a starting sophomore year. With 32 college credits under his belt for free, he’s saved over $28,000 because his freshmen year of college was also his senior year in high school.

GO FOR THE LONGTERM-Students across the country have developed a strategy of attending two year community colleges or technical colleges to save money on their first or second year of college because the tuition rates at these institutions are so much cheaper. But, for Chase, he says its smarter to begin at a four year institution if a bachelors degree is your heart’s desire, but sacrifice some of the keg parties and dorm room cuddling for a couple of years. He plans to stay on campus to network, make friends, and get comfortable with college life the first year and then move back home for his last two years to save on room and board.

CAR ENVY-Last but not least, this young penny pincher believes the best way to save money is to ditch the car and take public transportation or ride with friends to class. With the increase in gas prices, insurance for students under 25, and state car tax rates that sometimes equal more than the monthly payment itself, he feels it’s smarter to catch the bus to and from home.

Get your calculator because you are about to wowed. After devising such a stringent, but intelligent plan, especially for a young student such as himself, Chase will save over $81,000 in tuition and housing cost if he sticks with his program.

For all students, Chase is a shining example of what it takes to be financially savvy when institutions across the country are run more like a business than a safe space for student learning. Take notes America.

J. Prince, Princepality 7