VIRGINIA BEACH
E.J. Manuel plays football. And he’s good. Manuel is also a student in Bayside High School’s Health Sciences Academy. He’s good at that, too.
To Manuel, athletic and academic prowess don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
“You just gotta know what comes first,” the 18-year-old said.
Hint: It’s the schoolwork.
Manuel’s performance in the classroom earned him a spot at a recognition breakfast held Saturday. Organized by the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, the event honored black male high school students graduating with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
Nationwide, black males graduate at a lower rate than their peers – an achievement gap Bruce Hacker calls a “crisis.”
“We’ve got to focus like never before on just trying to reinforce the value of education,” said Hacker, education chairman for the Committee of 200+ Men. Members are black men who seek to improve the community.
The organization invited 347 seniors from Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore to Saturday’s 11th annual breakfast. About 140 of those students attended the three-hour ceremony at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Keynote speaker Tony Harris, a morning news anchor for CNN, explained that success requires a plan, determination and discipline.
Harris told the soon-to-be graduates that he was proud of their accomplishments but wished more young black men would “do what they ought to do” – graduate and find a career, not simply a job.
Marcus Lee, one of the seniors recognized Saturday, said he is looking forward to working in environmental science . Four years ago, as a freshman entering Green Run High School, Lee met with his guidance counselor. She reviewed his grades and gave him news that still stuns him.
“She said, 'You keep this up, you can go to Princeton,’” Lee said. “I was, like, in a daze.”
The 18-year-old has worked overtime ever since, juggling a part-time job, three Advanced Placement courses and participation on the volleyball and basketball teams this school year alone.
He has a 3.7 GPA and is headed to Penn State.
Manuel will attend Florida State University on a football scholarship. If his dream of playing for the National Football League doesn’t pan out, he said, he’ll likely enter the biomedical engineering field.
Wearing a red button-down shirt and a tie, Manuel sat in the convention center lobby alongside three of his Bayside High buddies before the ceremony. They all participate in a different sport yet are able to maintain at least a B average, he pointed out. “People think athletes, especially black athletes, don’t apply themselves in the classroom,” Manuel said.
Classmate Dajuan Stallworth added: “It’s a great honor to be recognized. It just goes to show that we can achieve, against what some people see as a group that can’t or won’t achieve.”
Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
not fair
Why was i one of the first to post a comment on this article yet it was not approved? i did not curse nor "hate" on anyone yet was censored? many of these that were allowed are really quite rude....
Nope, no egg on your face
You are correct
SCV isn't a "white" organization
cboath said, "let's disband Sons of the Confederacy".
Sorry to disappoint you, but the Sons of Confederate Veterans has black members, because the Confederate Army had black soldiers. They also admit Cherokees, which is how I was able to obtain membership in the SCV. The Confederate Army even promoted a Cherokee to the rank of General (General Stand Waite), though no Native American ever attained such a high rank within the Union Army.
Beware spouting the Party line. Someone may disprove your assertions, with facts.
Question for CH
Quote "Now they're complaining because blacks have achieved the same success as their white counterparts without having had these standards lowered-success achieved while being judged based on the same standards as their white peers."
Interesting remark CH. I've read and re-read each post carefully and can't find a single instance of someone complaining because blacks achieved the same success as white counterparts. Can you point it out to those of us apparently no able to see it? I can see some valid complaints about black segregation by blacks.
I am a white female and am
I am a white female and am not offended by any of this. Why is it so horrible for one group to be honored at one event? Why do we have to honor everyone all of the time?
I work in a field that is dominated by white, middle-class men. Believe me when I say that every day is "Celebrate White Men Day" in their world. Let someone else have the chance for once.
I wonder
If any teachers, who saw a senior had like a 3.06 and wanted to go to this banquet would give him a B instead of a C so he could attend? But that would be really a whole different discussion.
The big problem with this program
Is that a 3.0 GPA is not really that good. With grade inflation, curving, AP credit, and the easiness of most classes, I don't think it is something that we should be honoring. That is, unless they are saying that if black males get a 3.0 then it is a big thing whereas, it is not with whites or females. If they are saying that, then they aren't doing young black men any favors. Really, do the Pilot readers really think a 3.0 is a good GPA? That won't even get you into most med schools or law schools. That is what I think is bothersome about this whole idea, that they are saying that it is unique and impressive for black young adults to graduate with a 3.0. I think it is insulting to young black men.
These young men are to be commended, however.......
As many other posters have pointed out, if there is to be equality among the races, then events like this should be open to all races, unless there is a VALID discriminator which would dictate its necessity. Until that time, there will remain an outcry for a White athletes' breakfast, a Miss White America, etc.
All of the complaining needs to stop
People complain when institutions of higher education want to "lower the standards" for blacks. Now they're complaining because blacks have achieved the same success as their white counterparts without having had these standards lowered-success achieved while being judged based on the same standards as their white peers. Make up your mind. Do you want blacks to fail, or will you rejoice in their achievements? Why does it matter that this event was for black men? Historically they have performed at lower levels than anyone else, so why can't we be happy for those who are doing well. I bet if a local church sponsored a dinner for homeless people, some of you would complain that they didn't save you any food. The special olympics . . . you would probably complain about not getting a trophy even though you're not handicapped. Give people who haven't had the same opportunities as others to succeed a chance, and when they achieve this success, congratulate them. Grow a heart.
georges615555
You should have left your cotton picking scenerio out of your first statement.because it made you sound self righteous..It is great that you have taken an active part in the history of society..for all others we are not asking you to lower your standards...dumb down the education system or affirmative action..what we are asking is that you to realize that as Black Americans we are playing catch up because we were not offered the same opportunities as our American counterparts previously in history. I am a huge supporter of education I think it is the key to opening many doors for people of all colors. To think that a group of people that endured so much adversity would automatically be on the same playing field as a group of people that did not endure the same makes no sense at all!
Egg on my face
Oh my, I must have egg on my face. Of course there are no Portugese American associations here in the U.S.
To quote the Right's favorite son, Newt Gingrich
"Senator Obama is right about the destructive impact of historic injustices and the anger they cause in different groups of Americans. And as a historian, of course, I agree with [William] Faulkner, as quoted in Senator Obama’s speech: “The past isn’t dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.”
"Segregation was a horrible institution imposed by force by the state. It ruined the lives of people, it crippled their futures, it was a terrible injustice, and it is totally authentic to be angry about it."
"Anyone who thinks that there was not this destructive impact is simply not in touch with the reality of American history for African-Americans."
Thanks Cboath..did the research
I just found out that I am a Lusitanic American. LOL
RE:are you guilty
"For the person that said I would still be picking cotton..the reality is you really wish I was still picking cotton...oooh as normal you would take credit for the civil rights movement and the rights that black people have fought for, yes there were some white people there marching but i'm sure you wouldn't have been one of them."
You make total assumption and comments about people you don't even know. I was at the Million Man Walk and your attempt is still to lump all white people in the same pile. I was in Selma Alabama, I had the honor of meeting Dr. Matin Luther King, Jr. (one of America's greatest leaders) and I attended his funeral. I don't take credit for anything other than being a supporter of humanity of all races and the equality of rights. BTW my skin tone is white. I am an American, I am not a seperatist, but I feel some of your comments lean in that direction. So sad!
Let them have their breakfast in peace
Stereotypes are rooted in fact. The FACT is, black males, as a GROUP, do not achieve as high as other races. So when a black male does well, there IS a reason to celebrate because it seldom happens. I am Asian, and by Asian standards, I guess I am a failure because I didn't turn out to be a brain surgeon or great scientist...LOL! It seems to me that when a young black male wants to succeed, he is frowned upon by the majority of under-achieving black males and labeled as 'trying to be white'. Well, if 'being white' means succeeding and contributing to society in a positive way, then I'm trying to be white too. The breakfast is divisive, but knowing the current status of the young black male, I can understand why it is celebrated. I would love to be part of a breakfast that celebrates young whites and Asians ONLY....and also have the Pilot cover the story in a positive light. And then I would love to see all the negative comments by blacks.....
Did you Read the entire Article
I beleive that main idea of this breakfast, was not only to salute the young black males that did succeed, but to draw a light to other young black males that are lacking, that hard work is not always overlooked. The article began in the first paragraph & i paraphrase that young black males graduate at a lower rate than their peers, so this breakfast was simply a way of recognizing those that are doing what the rest arent, as well as showing off that if these guys can, so can the rest. I applaud the organizers of this event, because if it changes one or keeps the gun out of one of these youths hands then mission accomplished. Its really not a racist thing, but reality has showed us that it is young black males that are being killed in the streets, not only by their peers, but by officers as well. Reality has shown us that its young black males that keep the prisons so heavily populated, so why cant their be an article for once celebrating these men instead of detailing the sentencing guidelines. Okay, no "Billy" or "Tom" wasnt mentioned in THIS article, but the surely are listed in the other 200 in this paper, so let these young men shine & have their moment in the limelight.
Legalized Racism
It's great to take a moment to reflect and honor good deeds, but do it specifically for a certain race is racism. This is just another example WHY this country will never have equality. You cannot have equality when the playing field is unbalance. If blacks can have a breakfast how come whites can't? And don't give me that garbage of blacks being held down by the white man, that garbage doesn't exist anymore and you know it.
Just like Barak Obama, isn't it ironic that 97% of blacks in this country support him. Let me guess, is it for what he stands for? I think not and we all know it. Once we do away with Affirmitive Action, Blacks only scholarships, and the government telling employers who they have to hire, we can then discuss EQUALITY!
Overlooking the POINT!
The point is this, if it were a breakfast for "WHITE" males it would be protested, called racist, sued, shutdown etc etc etc. And whether it was a private organization or not would mean nothing.
Anyone who does not see the point cares not too and agrees with the unequal treatment of individuals based on skin color and gender.
I personally think the breakfast was great and have no problem with it just as long as the playing field is equal and it is not.
No African-American Here
I only see Americans here on this forum, no hyphens. I did have an African-American friend who was born in Rhodesia and immigrated to the US. He was white, and the only one who could claim being an African-American. Were any of you black people contributing here, born in Africa? What about any born in Jamaica? Does that make you African-Jamaicans, Jamaican-Americans, or just what? I can't figure it out.
Check it out
It's real nice all you folks who only identify with the term American, but here's an idea. Choose your favorite search engine and do a search for your ethnic group/American. I'll bet you'll find plenty of organizations or groups that identify that way. Must be a more common trend than you want to let on.