“Customized” graduation
These minority-specific graduation exercises were generally smaller in size and were designed to publicly recognize minority students for their academic achievements. The purpose also was to give these students an added sense of pride, importance and belonging  something that may have been absent from the general graduation exercise. In the black community, it was an extension of the “I’m black and I’m proud” theme.
However, in the last 30 years numerous changes have occurred in our universities. Minority students are not only represented in much higher numbers on campuses, they also are much more involved in college life and student activities.
I also don’t think that awards deficiency and lack of student recognition are still issues. Minority students are now publicly acknowledged for their accomplishments at graduations like all other students.
At the African American graduation ceremony I attended over the weekend a young man was acknowledge for receiving the Man of the Year award. Well, this same young man was acknowledged as the recipient of this award in the general graduation exercise. Consequently, he was recognized twice for his achievements. This is unnecessary. So, why continue it?
They promote further separatism and segregation. Should white students have their own private graduation exercise? I don’t think most people would appreciate that. Minorities would be the first to label it racist. Would we like to terminate the general graduation programs and let every group have its own private ceremonies? I don’t think that we want this either…more
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It seems that I have heard of this practice a while back, but I did not know they still existed today. There was a survey (sorry I cannot recall the source, but it was done not too long ago) done on current school-aged children asking them if they experienced racism in their lifetime. Most of them said no. If this is the case, then why are we trying to make these kids re-live the 1950’s? If there is some meaningful sentimental reasons behind it, maybe its not too bad of an idea. Otherwise, let the kids enjoy the moment.
