A Few Words From Morehouse’s Valedictorian
Joshua Packwood is a Kansas City, MO, native who is graduating later this week from Dear Old Morehouse. He has a 4.0 GPA and is a Rhodes Scholar Finalist. He turned down Columbia and Yale for the opportunity to be educated at the august instituion of higher learning that is Morehouse College.
It was not as if this was the first time Packwood experienced life in the minority. He was among the few white students in his class at Grandview Senior High School in suburban Kansas City, Mo. He has mixed-race siblings and his mother was married to an African-American.
The State Of . . . Morehouse College. This is not the first white student has ever had. That would be Howard Zehr, who graduated in 1966. It’s understandable if some are a little shocked at this. But Morehouse is a world-class college that is welcoming to all. We wish the brother good fortune on his future.
BUT what if the school started turning out a lot more white students as Valedictorians? Wouldn’t the face of the college change and, therefore, its purpose?
Sounds good to me… More power to this young man.
Morehouse doesn’t have the same purpose as other (smaller and less known) HBCUs anyway…
I have known Josh personally since his sophomore year and was introduced to him by Goodgame…who mentioned at the time that he was on his way to being valedictorian.
He’s a great kid and frankly has done more for the community (he founded a youth mentorship program as one of his biggest hits) most folks who pass through Morehouse while they are students.
He is one of the most genuine kids I have ever known and will represent The College in ways (and places) that not too many other alums would be able to.
That being said…it would have certainly been easier for most folks to handle if Shannon Joyner (his father Gordon Joyner’ 72 was at Morehouse with my old man) had won…but Shannon ended up with one A- for a 3.99 GPA.
Maceo, do you know anymore about his experience at Morehouse? This is a very interesting story and when it comes to a Valedictorian position—may the best man win—congratulations to him. I hope noone tries to spin the story—like it was not challenging to him (being white) versus a black student. We would all know it’s not true.
I’m against the globalization of Morehouse that Massey attempted to start. Morehouse is a school with the mission to train young Black leaders…simple and plain. It’s the BEST school in the world for a Black man to get educated for many reasons. You’re among the best and brightest who are also Black which does wonders for your confidence and belief in your abilities. Surrounded by excellence, one aspires.
Harvard? Yale? ….whatever……I remember when I was at Morehouse, a Brown exchange student who i befriended almost failed ALL his classes because it was too intense for him. Brown didn’t even challenge him. The hardest thing about Ivy League schools is getting into them….once you’re in…..it’s all good. F’s are unheard of at schools like that and it has nothing to do with your academic performance and more to do w/ upholding an image so the money keeps coming in. At Morehouse, you EARN your grades.
Morehouse provides a tailor made education for Black men to excel.
I’m cool with students from other parts of the globe, but Morehouse is a college for young black men. Period.
Paul, put the haterade down. Maybe this is a wake up call for the black Morehouse students to bring their A++ game.
Don’t hate on white bread because he brought his; congratulate him for raising the bar.
Rod…my opinion has nothing to do w/ that man…….it’s not personal….
raise the bar?? wth are you talking about…..he’s not the first valedictorian w/ a 4.0 and won’t be the last.
He’s also not the first Morehouse Rhodes scholar….so once again what bar did he raise?
Matter of fact is he a Rhodes scholar? What does Rhodes scholar finalist mean?
If the guy was a Rhodes scholar…and Morehouse had the first from an HBCU (Nima!) and has had more than any other HBCU, it would say he was a Rhodes scholar. Not a finalist. I’m not hating either. I don’t doubt that he’s a good kid.
Josh was one of two finalists that Morehouse had this year…meaning that he didn’t make it. I am not sure how many finalists there are nationwide but it was a pretty big deal.
yani…his experience at Morehouse was great. He was one of the more popular and well liked students in his class. I know that your sisters at Spelman absolutely loved him.
Dude didn’t just decide to go hang out with black people in college. His mother married a black man and he has mixed siblings. He was one of just a few white folks in his high school. When I asked him a couple years ago why he chose Morehouse, Josh looked me dead in my eye and in all seriousness answered, “I just love black people.”
Anyway, he actually repeated 2 or 3 classes that he got an A- in just so he could get an A+ the 2nd go ’round to protect his GPA (as did Shannon…who finished 2nd).
paul: raise the bar?? wth are you talking about…..he’s not the first valedictorian w/ a 4.0 and won’t be the last.
He obviously had the best GPA for this graduating class.
Your racism is sad.
In order to be pro-black.. I should hate/disregard/shun whites huh?
I’ll pass.
Maceo,
If “Game” called it back then, that’s good enough for me. I’m just surprised that he didn’t try to make him an Alpha…LOL
While i didn’t go to Morehouse or even and HBCU, I think Morehouse would benefit even more by admitting and matriculating students from all backgrounds.
I have this discussion alot with folks who attended and graduated from HBCU’s and while they all argue that their HBCU is better than all the rest, they all agree that their experience at their school has shaped their views in life.
I’ve read the articles on this guy and he seems to have had a great experience at Morehouse…….for a white guy.
I’ll give props to Mr. Packwood! That being said I have no problem with Morehouse recruiting students of different races, however, I don’t think the face and mission of the school would change.
Morehouse has always had a white student or two, even in my day ‘82.
It is a great lternative for white folks too who want a fine education for less money than comperable ivy Leagues.
Juan over at Highbrid Nation put me on to thewhite valedictorian of Morehouse story. Seems like a lot of people are upset. Lol, some people didn’t even know white people were allowed to attend Morehouse. Honestly my opinion is that this is good for race relations. If us black people wanted to be fully embraced in American culture, we have to fully embrace the rest of America in ours.
I read somewhere that Morehouse actually had two valedictorians for the class of 2008. The other one was black, Joshua L. Harris but obviously he doesn’t get any press, no mention whatsoever of the fact that the white dude was not the only valedictorian. Are there really co-valedictorians?
That is not accurate. The College emailed the names of the top 3 students in the class to the alumni. No mention of Joshua Harris in the top 3.
Okay..we must not look at race..Sum people are born with it and some are not…I am proud of you Packwood keep up the great work
I admire the courage of Packwood, I say he was well deserving of being named valedictorian, and how can we as African Americans so aggressively seek out equality, if we ourselves aren’t willing to embrace it.
Congrats Packwood! I am sure you’ll will be an inspiration to many.