September 19, 2007
Twenty years
ago historically
Black College and
university alumni
gathered at the
then-historic hot
spot, Smokey
John’s Barbecue
Restaurant, to talk
about building a
coalition.
The gathering was one of the
first directives that I gave to my
vice president of the Dallas-Fort
Worth Chapter of the Florida
A&M University National Alumni
Association, Dr. Vivian Bradley
Johnson (a former Miss FAMU)
from Lake City,
Florida.
I knew that many
of our alumni asso-
ciations were trying
to do the same
thing—provide
financial support to
our institutions,
recruit students and
increase public
awareness about HBCUs.
I was pleased at the turnout as
alumni joined us from several of
the schools and they agreed that
where there is unity, there is
strength. Thus, the Dallas
Metroplex Council of Black
Alumni Associations (DMCBAA)
was established.
So we became an organization
and under the leadership of our
first president, Suzie Crawford of
Norfolk State University, we
began taking care of the business
of supporting ALL Black colleges.
It was a filled-to-capacity
gathering on Saturday night as
alumni and supporters celebrated
the Black College experience.
Current president, Maxine
Luster of Alcorn State University
and event chair and past president
Jeannie Coe Flood of Tougaloo
College should be applauded for
their efforts, along with all the
members who have worked tire-
lessly over the years raising
money, attending college recruit-
ment fairs and finding ways to
support HBCUs.
Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem
Dwaine Caraway said, “It’s nothing like attending a Black
college or university. Some of
the greatest people in the
world attended HBCU.
Mr. Caraway said he
attended Langston University
in Oklahoma before returning
to Texas to attend Texas
Southern University in
Houston. He made a commit-
ment that the City would do
more to celebrate HBCUs in
the future.
In his keynote address, Dr.
Michael L. Lomax, president
and CEO of the United Negro
College Fund applauded the
work of the DMCBAA and
Black colleges. The former
president of Dillard University
said “People still ask ‘do we
still need Black colleges?’
Unequivocably the answer
is “yes,” said Dr. Lomax as he
talked about how growing up
in Los Angeles he was not
being prepared to become a
college graduate. Instead the
focus was on making sure that
he could do manual labor,
while his sisters were trained
in areas that would make them
good housewives or maids.
Dr. Lomax believes as the
DMCBAA, that children
should have options and the
best option is a Black college.
I agree with Councilman
Caraway’s assertion that if you
are good, you will still be suc-
cessful and “If you’re 7’5”,
you’ll get noticed. If you have
the talent, you are going to
make it.”
Unfortunately for HBCUs
the support from alumni is not
where it should be. According
to Dr. Lomax the figure is
around 20-30 percent. “The
best way to help them
(HBCUs) is to support...send
money,” he said. “Too many
of our alumni are missing in
action.
“The community can,
should and must support Paul
Quinn College,” he urged,
adding that “Paul Quinn does
not have the space for all the
students in this area who need
to be there.”
He continued, “We have a
covenant with the next gener-
ation and the one after. We
need to keep the covenant
because these are our
children.”
A sad point in the program
was remembering John A.
Woods. John loved Southern
University and he loved
DMCBAA and our members.
The second president of the
prestigious organization, he
was on the hearts and tongues
of many of those in atten-
dance.
I wish he could have been
with us on Saturday night.
John, with his quiet strength
would have been so proud.
And pride is exactly what
was exuding from those who
were in attendance. No matter
what the problems or issues,
we still love our HBCUs. And
that love for members of
DMCBAA extends past just
putting on a tee shirt or
begging for tickets to sporting
events. The wonderful
members of DMCBAA are
committed to the survival of
HBCUs and anyone who got
their degree from an HBCU,
or attended for one semester
should be trying to find some
way to support our schools.
Let’s sing together - “I’m
so glad, I’m from ________!”
NOTE - DMCBAA is
open to anyone who supports
the mission of the organiza-
tion. The monthly meetings
are held the 4th Saturday of
each month at noon at the
Center for Community
Cooperation.
|
