The Black Graduation

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Originally uploaded by aphyd

At many universities across the nation are recognizing and are participating in a ceremony called the black graduation. This graduation recognizes the African American population on campus and those who are graduating. It is said to be an extra pat on the back for the African American students, but it does not take place of the traditional ceremony. The statistics for blacks graduating are very low.

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education says, “Nationwide, the black student college graduation rate remains at a dismally low 43 percent. But the college completion rate has improved by four percentage points over the past three years. As ever, the black-white gap in college graduation rates remains very large and little or no progress has been achieved in bridging the divide”.

Universities such as Berkeley, Michigan State and USC are just a few who acknowledge the black ceremony. USC has created a mission statement to give a better understanding of what the graduation is  on their campus.

Although, the ceremony exists the graduating rate for African Americans is still very low. The number of enrolled blacks has increased over the years, but the graduation rate has fallen. Many are not completing their degrees.

At some universities the black graduation rate is higher then others. This happens because some schools like Hampton or Grambling State which are historical black institutions favor the black population. Compare to other schools that are diverse like USC and Michigan State. There has been race turmoil at University of California, Berkeley, which has created an unwelcoming feeling to the African American population on campus. These issues have caused a low black graduating rate and have raised serious concerns.

The black graduation at some universities is recognized as an organization on campus that allows students to participate in. This was not created to generate division on universities, but it is an event that the people in this organization can feel apart of. At Stephan F. Austin State University, the black graduation is put on by a black organization on campus.

“Black Graduation, which has been renamed the Black Congratulatory Ceremony (BCC), was originated at SFA by The African American Student Association (TAASA)”This ceremony is to give recognition to the organizations graduating members,” Urisonya Roberson, Multicultural Center coordinator, said. “Other programs such as the nursing program, the School of Social Work and many others usually have a special thing they do for their graduating members too.”