A Choice to Change the World

This is the new bulletin board I did for my residents with a western “Wanted” theme. The goal is to encourage them with about 40 days left in school to finish strong by answering the “wanted” ads for academic excellence, integrity, change agents, etc. 

This past weekend, I along with Mays RA Jaleel Johnson and Brazeal RA Reggie McCrimmon hosted the 3rd Annual “If You Really Knew Me.” Attendees were able to participate in various activities that helped them to break down social and emotional barriers. One of the photos above is a screen shot of an attendees response to the event. Special shout out to RDs Leigh and Green who attended as well. 

As my mother is in Afghanistan, I chose to construct cards from myself and residents for her and her platoon. I had the residents sign the card and mailed them to the platoon. 

This is the new bulletin board as you enter White Hall. It is a 3-D dream catcher made of yarn, thumb tacks and an Ethernet cord. I wanted to do a dream catcher during Black History Month as a way to think differently about our greatest alumnus MLK Jr. and the dream he had. Dream catchers are meant to catch the nightmares we have. I want to redefine the dream catcher to be something positive, something that catches all the positive dreams and centers them upon the shoulders and back bones of those we have come to call ancestors. The background of the board, I made myself; it consists of pictures on influential Black men and women including but not limited to bell hooks, Barack Obama, RuPaul, Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm, and Essex Hemphill. 

Last night I hosted my program “Targeted and Privileged.” The program took at look at the varying identities, and the inherent oppression, we have and how we use them to navigate our places in society. Attendees were asked to be introspective answering the questions, “When are you black?” “When are you white?” “When are you male?” “When are you heterosexual?” and “When are you homosexual?” This allowed us to look at male privilege, heterosexual privilege, white and black privilege. 

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to present a few programs of mine at the Georgia Resident Assistant Saturday Seminar (GRASS) conference. I presented “No Homo,” “Closet Cases” (with RA Marcus Lee) and “How to Handle the Gay Problem…” (with RA Marcus Lee). Each session was packed to capacity and the program evaluations were all positive. One person even offered his email as a way to keep in contact as he begins the process of coming out to his family. This is why we need more people living authentically and reflecting that in their RA programs. 

For Thanksgiving, myself, fellow White Hall RA Mark Smith and my best friend cooked a traditional meal for our residents who were not able to go home for the short break. Complete with turkey, ham, dressing, mac & cheese, sweet potato pie among other dishes, we truly enjoyed this day with our White Hall family. 

We even went around the circle and said what we all were thankful for. 

This is the new entrance board of White Hall. We have been having conversations with the residents about their own personal legacies and how their present-day actions will affect those legacies. This board represents that same concept. We have taken pages from a history book and lined the background of the board. With the words “What Will History Say of You?” we hope the guys will respond through positive actions as finals approach us. 

Last week I moderated a session for the 68th Annual Family Institute sponsored by the Faces of Manhood Initiative and the Department of Sociology. The topic “Navigating Student Identities in the Classroom” was geared toward faculty to help equip them with skills to appropriately handle these conversations in class. The panel featured RD of Dubois Hall Frederick Salyers, Professor Anne Borden (Sociology - Media and Gender), Professor Nathan Nobis (Philosophy of Sex and Gender), Dr. Linda Zatlin (English) and Dr. Jafari Allen (Yale University, Black Queer Studies). 

Myself and former RA Matt Robinson are coaches for the White Hall Stroll Team. The beginning of this week was the Homecoming Stroll Off. Our theme of ninja/mortal kombat was well received with our wardrobe. Though we did not place, we had a great time and are ready to prepare for the St. Jude Stroll Off. 

In conjunction with National Coming Out Day (October 11) events, I held a program entitled “Closet Cases.” This program was a panel of 6 openly gay students who shared their coming out experiences: Jamal Lewis (Safe Space, Bayard Rustin Scholars), Danny Shelton (Safe Space, ROTC), Malik Ray (RHA, Sophomore Class Council, former White Hall Resident), Marcus Lee (Hubert Hall RA, Morehouse Sociological Association President), Michael Curry (a current White Hall resident) and myself. This was an opportunity for gay identified men of Morehouse to share their stories so that they may be beacons of hope for other students who may not be open. Each person had approx. 12 minutes to answer a set number of questions: How long have you been out; How long have you known you were gay; Who did you come out to first; How did they respond; How did your parents/family respond; and How has it been being openly gay at Morehouse?

Questions were also posed to the panelists that ranged from questioning my  balance between religion, spirituality and sexuality to all of our opinions on gay marriage and the gay liberation movement.

My best friend, Matthew Robinson, (former Graves and Hubert Hall RA, Mr. Ally of Safe Space), offered his comments on the evolution of our friendship. He encouraged those present who were not apart of the LGBTQ community to also come out as straight supporters or allies for the community. 

Over 70 students, male and female, attended. Faculty and staff members present included Mrs. Hardwick of Student Life, Mr. Green and Mr. Salyers of OHRL, Nurse Gamble of the Infirmary, and Mr. Peterson and Dr. Hodge of the Sociology Department. 

Special thanks to funding for food from OHRL, the Faces of Manhood Initiative and the Sociology Dept. 

Last week, myself and a group of residents visited Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church where Bishop Paul S. Morton is the pastor. It was the church’s College Day and we surely represented Morehouse and the 8-Deuce extremely well. We had a great time.