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As a black alumni of two universities, I have several thoughts about this incident.
I basically believe that there is a certain decorum to be followed during a graduation ceremony to ensure that the event flows and remain on schedule.
Although I have three degrees, I never attended graduation but I imagine that I would have had a nice 100% worsted wool suit, crisp cut away contrasted collar shirt, well-shined laced oxfords and proceeded to shake the University President's hand, obtained the diploma and probably a fist pump and then pointed upwards - thanking God for the perseverance and hard work that I endured to be the first person in my family to graduate from college!
While in college, the only organizations that I was a part of was the Finance Club, a co-ed business fraternity and started my own organization - Young Entrepreneurs' Society.
I can understand if there are other students who feel the need to dance to celebrate their accomplishment.Particularly if there were members of a social fraternity or sorority where oftentimes there is a tradition of representing your organization on the stage.
However, the dance should be relatively short and not interfere with the flow of the graduation ceremony.
I do not know all of the facts regarding who was dancing and the average duration of the dance to make a judgement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MPowering1
Should graduation have a certain decorum or should dancing on stage be allowed? Which is it, because those two statements are inconsistent.
Quote:
Originally Posted by uggabugga
bs. you whined that they 'didn't want black people dancing at graduation IMO lol' while completely ignoring the dancing white students who were yanked.
let them all save the celebrating until the last person has walked.
Mr uggabugga (lol) see above - I was speaking on SpeedThink's wishy-washy ness in this regard and agreed with MPowering that their statement was contradictory. You either want it or not want it.
And again black people who want to dance at graduation can and should attend an HBCU where dancing is a part of our culture in regards to physical celebrations of happiness. Note non-black people can also go to HBCUs if they want to dance without someone pulling them off stage after they've paid tens of thousands of dollars to attend a university. IMO after all that money paid people should be able to do whatever the hell they want to do as long as it is not hurting anyone, but I understand that traditional universities have "traditional" graduations. For HBCUs it is a "tradition" to have a long ceremony (like black church lol) and to celebrate and enjoy the event and realize that it is a culmination and achievement of a large goal that some people (especially in our past as a people in this country) have not been able to achieve. I am not a good dancer, but I did have my mom come on stage with me (she was a high school drop out and teen mom and so was VERY proud of me) and take a pic with me for my graduation - something that wouldn't have been allowed at a traditional college. My grandmother died not too long before I graduated college and I held a pic of her as well. She was very supportive of me and both of us felt my graduation was a goal achieved for our mothers and grandmothers and it was a very emotional, wonderful time and I'm glad I went to a school that understands this from a "traditional" perspective in regards to black culture in America - which is very celebratory.
ETA: SpeedThink inidicated they were black and the blue is something that is VERY common at HBCU graduations in regards to a fraternity/sorority "representing" on stage during the graduation. Dances are also common so I think the wishy-washy-ness comes from the fact that they are black and are trying to reconcile why there should and should not be dancing. My joke in maybe they don't want the black people dancing was about the fact that oftentimes other black people want the rest of the blacks to be "better" than other people (especially in "mixed company" - meaning in front of white people) and behave better than other people so as not to cause issues for themselves as a black person. It was just a joke and I agree it's hypocritical to first say there should be a "sense of decorum" then stating it is okay for a "little dance." From a more "traditionalist" view no dance at a graduation shows decorum. However, at a black graduation dancing is typical and only outrageous displays would be seen as not following decorum.
At mine there were flips and dances and big smiles and pictures taken, some even had their moms/dads/grandparents/kids, etc., come on stage with them and take a picture. It was a great experience and event.
Yes, it was boring. I think if they had done all that with 1,000 kids we'd still be there.
Saw some of the film last night. I didn't count, but there were people of many races escorted off the stage for acting like morons. It was ALL inappropriate and the handler did his best to get them off stage promptly. Before anyone wails about discrimination they need to be a little self reflective and consider whether behaving like a clown at a solemn and important ceremony was the thing to do. I think not.
With luck it is all on film for future employers to scrutinize when making employment decisions. "Hey we just completed a major project; lets all dance around like fools in front of the client". I think the same when I see athletes, especially football players, dancing around after they have scored or made a significant play. Waste of energy which they need later in the game. Do other employees run around high fiving when they get an email back from the boss or get information that the order they placed for paper towels has arrived? Think about...it is just people doing their jobs. Normal people don't celebrate every minor accomplishment at work. Dignity and self control define behavior and respect.
I'm black and I will say that sometimes black folks "do too much". LOL I would have been annoyed if I was waiting in line to get my diploma.Just get your diploma and sit the hell down. There is plenty of time for celebrating and dancing after the ceremony.
Saw some of the film last night. I didn't count, but there were people of many races escorted off the stage for acting like morons.
I'd read this also. why does the media portray discrimination against dark skinned people when there is none? to sell papers? I always discount the media's discrimination stories these days as hyperbole or outright lies. If anything, it seems bad behavior by black skinned people is treated with deference rather than discrimination.
Graduation used to be a dignified ceremony and now some idiots want to make it a fools fest. They should be ushered off.
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LOL I would have been annoyed if I was waiting in line to get my diploma.Just get your diploma and sit the hell down. There is plenty of time for celebrating and dancing after the ceremony.
