Continuing the Conversation - "Soar Like an Eagle"

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ith the many great things Howard University has to offer their students, accomplished authors has to be one of the best. It’s only Freshman Week at Howard University and already, the School of Communications Class of 2017, has received a rare opportunity. On Monday, August 18^th 2013, the Freshman Class essentially debated on issues concerning the African-American community with Tom Burrell, accomplished marketing entrepreneur and author of Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority.

Brainwashed essentially discusses the inferiority complex that most black people seemingly possess about themselves and other members of their race and how they came to develop that inferiority complex through years of “propaganda.” While the book is describe as “a call to action” targeted towards blacks, it’s a perfect read for both minorities and non-minorities on the journey to self-awareness.

Immediately, Burrell opened the floor to the Howard students and the questions began flooding in. Though the students had only received brief training on the “infamous Howard introduction,” the students happily obliged as if it were second nature. Furthermore, these students, having only known each other for perhaps only a day, were extremely supportive of their fellow students with applause after each question. The students quickly showed why they were majoring in communications – not only were the students well versed, but the questions were informed and provocative not only of the black community but the author himself.

Burrell even addressed the celebrities who were negatively highlighted in Brainwashed by boldly stating; “Here’s the great thing about getting old, I’m not looking for anything else.” He further explained his stance by saying; “I’ve got great friends, great family, and a great career... I don’t care.”

Now, don’t misunderstand this, this discussion wasn’t all about patting one another on the back and agreement. The audience shared their disagreements about Burrell’s opinions as well. In one instance, an audience member brought up Burrell’s opinion about the sexualization of Keke Palmer in Nickelodeon’s True Jackson: VP, in saying that the show didn’t extend the view of black women as strictly sexual objects in contrast with Burrell’s claim that it perpetuated the Jeffersonian myth of black women as exotic sexual objects¹. Another audience member shared a more personally account when she addressed Burrell about his analysis of blacks in interracial relationships. Her question pertained to whether or not Burrell was claiming in Brainwashed that viewing interracial relationships as more desirable is inappropriate, to which Burrell responded her gripe was with African-Americans who claimed that they strictly “did not date black men or women.” Burrell further clarified in a very matter-of-fact way, that “What you groove with is what you groove with and that’s cool.”

The most interesting point that Burrell made that morning was that he supported anything that progressed and enhanced the confidence and brain activity of the black man. “If sagging your pants increases your brain activity, then I’m all for it. Sag ‘em all the way down. If science shows that confidence levels increase when hearing the n-word then I’m for it – say it all day long.” But obviously, Burrell suggested that the truth was elsewhere.

Surprisingly, the most stimulating aspect of the session was not listening to how Burrell responded (although it he was an extremely engaging speaker), but how these freshman students formulated these amazing and questions for Burrell – questions Burrell actually had to mill over in his mind before answering. It was inspiring to see so many black youths in one place discussing a book at length and impressive detail without any incentive of grades.

It was clear that as the session matured, the students were becoming more and more excited to impress Burrell and their piers with their own opinion on the book or a question. Although the students were still visibly clamoring with questions for the author, the session was concluded after about an hour and a half. Before inviting students to a book signing at the university’s library, he expressed how inspiring the session was to him.

Hopefully, as the 2017 Class of Communications moves forward in their studies, Howard University will continue to provide these students with these opportunities because they more than proved their worth.

¹ In Nickelodeon’s True Jackson: VP one of the main plot elements was True’s romantic life with one of her male Caucasian counterparts in her office.