Comments on: Thriving or Surviving: A Discussion on Black Student Success in PWIs

By: Amanda Josephs

Amanda Josephs — Thu, 09 May 2019 22:24:16 +0000

Shaynie, I love the way in which this question and concept portrays being a part of the collective while also being an individual. On one hand, those experiences of trauma do impact the collective and require the collective to draw attention to in order for change to even be considered, when it’s part of the collective it is surviving but when you are viewing a person as an individual for everything, and those successes it is thriving and requires acknowledging that people are individuals as well.

It reminds me a lot of the looking glass self, but instead of constantly looking at yourself through the way in which others see you in that big mirror, more like a pocket mirror that is with you when you take a selfie on your front camera but when you’re not looking at that camera you still know who you are and recognize yourself for other ways and things than what’s being reflected from societal norms and structures.

By: Mike Cannon

Mike Cannon — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 21:21:47 +0000

In what ways can a college ensure all students of color are not merely surviving? How can the discourse shift so that all students of color are given the opportunity to thrie on these campuses?

By: Bill Brunt

Bill Brunt — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 16:46:47 +0000

This is an interesting introduction to a very long and difficult discussion. There is some baked-in bias in the question; but that is natural, because we all have different perspectives and perceptions colored by our individual life experience. …from toddlerhood to adulthood.
I would offer, the minimization of the experience of any group or individual in the discussion is counterproductive, and only provides an opportunity to gloss over the absolute reality of the impact that that experience has had on the group or individual. This avoidance of the difficult stifles the acquisition of knowledge, and the understanding of the perspectives of the other.
I would guess, due to the lower raw number of accomplishments among minority students, simply due to their lower number among the student body, their accomplishments may seem to get buried just by the disparity in population. This could lead to the appearance that some force is in effect, attempting to stifle their recognition.
Perhaps added diligence on the part of the institution with respect to the highly visible recognition of all student accomplishments, would have a positive effect on any such misinterpretations.
Having been only a survivor myself, I have no experience upon which to base advice for thriving, except that I suspect a bit of drive combined with work ethic, and a dash of innate intelligence might improve one’s chances.