Racial Separatism at Princeton

Human Events, Mar 3, 2008 by Langer, Jack

What Michelle Obama's Thesis Tells Us About Her Alma Mater

A lot of ink has been spilled lately about Michelle Obama's recently released thesis from Princeton University. Most of the attention has focused on the psychodrama of her opening comments, in which she relates that, as an African-American, she feels that she doesn't "belong" at Princeton even among "liberal and open-minded" whites and that she expects white society in the future "will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society."

It's probably safe to dismiss that last prediction, seeing as Obama went on to graduate from Harvard Law School and grow rich as a law firm associate, corporate board member and top-level administrator at the University of Chicago. Oh, and her husband may very well be the next President of the United States.

But the most interesting aspect of her thesis is what her findings reveal about her alma mater. Based on surveys of black Princeton alumni, Obama found that blacks identified more with other blacks at Princeton-and less with whites-than they did either before or after they attended the university. Furthermore, while at Princeton, blacks were more inclined toward racially separatist ideologies.

What Happened on Campus?

So what happened at Princeton to make blacks embrace separatism-not only as an ideology but also in their everyday social lives as well? Obama's thesis offers two main theories: that blacks at Princeton often no longer have their family nearby to whom they had previously been able to vent their "frustrations" with white society and that blacks' needs aren't met by the university, which caters to the white majority.

As evidence of this last point, Obama points to the low number of tenured black faculty at Princeton, the small number of university-recognized organizations geared specifically toward blacks and other minorities and the understaffed and undersized nature of the African-American studies program.

In essence, Obama argues that blacks become separatist because there aren't enough black separatist resources on campus. If blacks could study with more black professors (in other words, with fewer white professors), participate in more organizations without whites and take more courses that focus on black topics, somehow they'll become more integrated with the white majority, we are to believe.

Many rational observers would argue the precise opposite-that the excessive institutional focus on race on college campuses and the attendant segregation of blacks into primarily black social organizations and academic programs is actually the root cause of racial separatism in academia. Yet, even two decades after Obama wrote her thesis, during which time Princeton has dedicated ever-increasing resources to "diversity," her argument is still in vogue among the school's black student leaders.

Is Race Ignored?

In 2003, when Princeton did not appear on Black Enterprise magazine's list of the top 50 colleges for blacks, the president of Princeton's Black Student Union (BSU) expressed no surprise, commenting, "Princeton brings diverse students here, butjdoesn't really make them part of the campus." Likewise, in December 2007, after a controversy erupted over photos of a Princeton student made up in something resembling blackface, BSU senior adviser Dwight Draughon remarked, "The point is that as the BSU, we have to be cognizant of the fact that race is ignored on this campus."

Is it possible that Princeton's blacks remain marginalized on campus to this day? Does the university still cater to its white majority, as Obama argued? Is race really ignored on campus?

Princeton's website sheds some light on this issue. A quick perusal of the site reveals that if I were a black student at Princeton, I would have at least a few organizational resources on campus. For example, I could work toward a certificate in African-American studies in the Center for African-American Studies, which recently announced it will double the number of faculty in AfricanAmerican studies. Or perhaps I'd want to join the Black Student Union, the Akwaaba Princeton African Students Association or the Princeton Caribbean Connection. Or I might consider assisting the Black History Month Planning Committee. If I were a man, I could sign up for the Black Men's Awareness Group. If I were a woman, the Princeton Association of Black Women might be more appropriate. If I were artistically inclined, perhaps I'd look into the Black Arts Company Dance, the Black Arts Company Drama or the a cappella group Culturally Yours. If I wanted to enhance my job prospects, I could join the Minority Business Association, the National Society of Black Engineers or the Princeton Minority Association of Pre-Health Students. If I were interested in the black church tradition, I could worship with Hallelujah. If I were a leader of any of these groups, I might be eligible to join the Black Leaders on Campus organization. IfI wanted to further the cause of diversity, I could do so through the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding or the Union of Multiracial and Multicultural Students. If I wanted to assist the black community, I could join the Princeton Committee of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund or the Community House or the Black Student Union Leadership and Mentoring Program. If I had a complaint, perhaps I'd take it to the Diversity Working Group, the Office of Institutional Equity or one of the school's minority affairs advisors. And after I graduated, I might consider joining the Association of Black Princeton Alumni.