Think of all the folks who spent time, effort, energy and money fighting the attacks on affirmative action. Some were lawyers and policy leaders, but many of them were students. They were paying the price to secure education for other African Americans, paying the price to ensure inclusion, just as the Fisk Jubilee Singers did. How do we reconcile their passion and commitment with the Ogbu findings that educational excellence is "White"? I think that we partly challenge the Ogbu methodology, and we also partly examine issues of cultural transmission around education and excellence.
As a new semester starts, we might all reflect on the sacrifice made by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and the price that so many have paid to ensure African American access to higher education. Few regret paying the price, but we squander the gift if its cost is not acknowledged and appreciated.
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