Wanted: more black graduate students

Black Issues in Higher Education, July 11, 1996 by Julianne Malveaux

In the middle of my doctoral studies, I encountered an

elderly relative who expressed some chagrin that I was "still

in school." She noted that she had sent me a few dollars

when I earned my undergraduate degree and wondered

whether her investment was wasted.

When, she asked, might I find myself a "real job." I

drew myself up and told her that I was working on a

doctorate, a Ph.D., in economics. I thought that would

impress, but it simply muddled matters.

"Didn't you get that other degree in economics," my

relative asked caustically. I nodded. "Didn't you learn it right

the first time?" she asked, slapping her thigh to emphasize

her point.

A few of the others gathered, laughed some in

embarrassment, some in true amusement. This occurred so

long ago that I don't remember whether I gave the assembled

group a piece of my mind or laughed along. But I do

remember realizing that, for all of the African American

historical thirst for education, there are also those among us

who disparage "too much" education. Among youngsters, it

manifests itself in rumors that studying is "acting white."

Among undergraduates, it manifests itself in the focus on

careerism, instead of post-baccalaureate education.

Higher Risks

Whether the anti-educational focus is seen in youngsters or

undergraduate students, it is terribly out of step with the

realities of our nation's competitive, technological future.

African Americans will need more education, not LESS, and more

and more of us will need advanced degrees in areas from

economics and psychology TO chemistry and engineering to

tackle the complex problems, of the 21st century. Those who

aspire for more education, though,, may have to clear more

hurdles than those in my generation did. There may be fewer,

not more, opportunities as attacks on affirmative action

continue, and cases like Hopwood vs. Texas threaten to severely

restrict or eliminate minority admissions programs.

The current budgetary climate may also shrink funds

available for financial aid. Further, economic uncertainty

means that many students simply can't afford graduate

education if they have a job in hand. And changes in tenure

and other shifts in higher education employment seem to

bode ill for African Americans who aspire to the academy,

making the risks of pursuing graduate education much

higher.

Warriors Needed

Still, the ideological wars that are being fought in the

academy scream for the need for more warriors to challenge

flawed theories about eugenics, IQ, race, affirmative action

and other issues. We need an Alvin Pouissant for every

Charles Murray, a Cornel West for every Dinesh D'Souza.

These voices are needed outside, as well as inside, the

academy. The paucity of people of color in upper management

(as evidenced by the "Glass Ceiling Commission Report" of the

U.S. Department of Labor) makes it urgent that more African

Americans and others seek graduate management education. The

legal challenges that have been issued by this repressive Supreme

Court suggest that we must replicate people like the NAACP Legal

Defense and Education fund's Elaine Jones, and the Civil Rights

Leadership Roundtable's Wade Henderson. In other words, we don't just

need lawyers, but lawyers who are committed to the civil rights cause.

Conservatives have had the upper hand in recent

intellectual battles, especially where race matters are

concerned. There are more who would debunk affirmative

action than would defend it. Liberals and others tiptoe around

the affirmative action issue, wondering aloud if it isn't time

to put "preferences" to rest in the name of "fairness," Where

are the historians who will succeed John Hope Franklin ... the

young people whose research will remind us why "preference"

is an inappropriate way to describe affirmative action?

African Americans are underrepresented in every field,

and despite the hurdles that must be cleared, the need for

more African Americans to receive graduate and professional

degrees is pressing.

Support and Affirmation

It is equally pressing, though, that the African-American

community rally round those young people who undertake

graduate studies to support and affirm them -- and remind

them of their importance to our, community. Currently,

however, some students feel a gap between the academy and

the community. Indeed, the theme of the National Black

Graduate Student Association's Eighth Annual Conference was

"Bridging the Gap Between Academia and the Community." A

panel that included Dr. Mualana Karenga, Dr. Na'im Akbar,

myself and others, argued that there need not be a gap, and

that students need not accept the notion that academic people

are estranged from community.

By the same token, everybody probably has a relative like

mine, who wonders if reading, writing and talking constitutes

a "real job" --and if graduate study has any value when there

are "paying jobs" out there.

I preach to the choir when I ask readers of this publication

to make the case that graduate and professional education is

important. But I'm not sure how often we take the time to

speak to individual graduate students about the challenges to