Alumnus offers insight on VSU, WSSU incident

     Jonathan Jackson, a 2012 graduate of Winston-Salem State and former SGA president, recently posted his thoughts on the Nov. 15 incident involving WSSU quarterback Rudy Johnson and several Virginia State players. The following was featured on his blog, yeahthismatters.com:

     I'm sitting here in the airport preparing to board a plane filled with businessmen that share similar roles in their respective functions, making my way through HSC (Holy Starbucks Coffee) and read­ing a magazine put out by Time on the characteristics that define geniuses. I also had on my WSSU paraphernalia - standard airport/clearport uniform.

     Often times, I'm provided the privilege of telling one of these gentlemen about the great things my University has to offer and why I'm now sitting in the same section as them on the plane.

     This time was different.

     I was approached and innocently asked if I went to WSSU. "Yes" was the answer I humbly provided, I knew where this was going... He continued to ask me questions about how our quarterback got jumped and why schools would even recruit guys (pretty much Black guys) they know serve as a "risk" to the program and school. We concluded on a good note. He said he hoped the thug who got arrested for what he did got what he deserved. The "thug."

     I never got the chance to tell him about my HBCU... he got everything he needed from Twitter and the news.

     My coworker heard today while going to the restroom he needs to make sure there are not any VState players in there first.

     I don't think you guys understand yet. Do you realize how many times a conference championship for a D2 school has received true national attention? Zero. None. One minus one. It's not surprising there is little expectation of our HBCUs to perform well in academics.

     The comments under news articles supported the obvious notion that Black communities create more charity cases out of their universities than industry standard institutions of higher learning. People don't look at us for our nation­ally recognized nursing pro­grams or our state of the art facilities. They do not care for our efforts in the communities that surround us, working to build the people up in all facets of their life. No one will speak to the fact more and more talent is being identified at higher rates than "other" universities.

     You know what they now have to walk away with... Black people still bringing down Black people... now it's just in sports, one of the final things they are actually good at.

     Surprisingly, I'm not even upset with the players from VState that are being accused of this doing. Maybe they are not thugs; maybe they got caught up in the moment, maybe our quarterback pissed on one of their shoes... I don't know and I don't care to. What is disappointing is the fact no one has done anything to resolve the situation, only finger pointing. Something we have grown so good at doing over the years, since like, slavery.

     Instead of parents on the VState side working with the school to fix the trouble their sons created, they are asking why we didn't play the game. WSSU people threatening to find the hotel where the play­ers were staying and fighting. Yes, very classy.

     At some point, sooner than later, everyone will forget. We always tend to do that with things that matter. I will keep wearing my paraphernalia... and maybe by the next time a good story on HBCUs will have been published... but for now, I just need someone to grow up.