By: Zaahid Kennedy

May 8, 2019

The Path to College

For some of us, when we focus on college, we think about what majors the college has, what their ranking is, and what social opportunities the university offers. For my peers and I, the college choice also centers around experiences with race. For many of us who have gone to public schools in Philadelphia, going to college will be the first experience we have of going to school as a racial minority.

Personally, I have experienced many different types of school environments in my K-12 education. I went a mixed school that demographic was evenly split when I was in elementary school. While in middle school I went to a school I went to two different schools; one school had a majority population of white people and the other school differed because blacks people were the majority. My schooling has afforded me a vast view of many different environments. This has also gave me a certain insight that most people don't have the privilege to have. I would say that being able to attend school in so many environments and see the way schools are set up based on demographics has been invaluable to me.

I am currently a senior at George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science, and college selection is on the minds of many of us-- and not just seniors. I have already decided that I will be attending a Historically Black College (HBCU) and this choice was something that I knew that I always wanted to do. Since the 8th grade I always dreamed of attending an HBCU, the entire idea of going to school with people who are educated and ambitious that look just like me blew my mind. While there, I truly hope to learn something about myself that I haven’t been able to find in school as of now. I also always truly sought to be taught by renowned black professors. Personally, I never had the change to have many male teachers in my life and that was always wanted to have in my life. It mattered a lot to me to have teachers who looked just like me and this is why I wanted to truly go to an HBCU. Many of my peers will follow suit, but many will also go a different path and attend a predominantly white institution.

Kevin Robinson is an investment consultant to companies and organizations. He went to University City High School which was a predominantly black high school. He applied to Bowdoin College and received a full scholarship. This a path that isn’t really talked about too often-- what happens when the Black student from West Philadelphia heads to a four year college in Brunswick, Maine?

During the interview with Mr. Robinson he talked about his experience at the school and what had compelled him to go there, aside from his full academic scholarship. I asked him a few questions to understand from his viewpoint the kind of experience that he had at the predominantly white university.

Did you ever experience racism?

“All the time! And at my job. After Bowdoin, I went to Dartmouth. We experienced it on a regular basis, in the classroom. Part of life. Working very hard is important. It’s very prevalent. I always say I like to kill people with kindness. The friendlier I am. I’m not a stereotype and I don’t get upset. Through my religion, I’m a Christian, and I fall back on that.” This is a reality for most African Americans and it is significant to note that it didn’t stop even after he completed his time in college. This is a very unfair and cruel situation that far too many people have to deal with but it’s something that every African American encounters at some point."

Still face day to day racism?

“In college and in professional setting, it’s more subtle. Not in your face. There are things you learn to pick up. It hasn’t changed that much.”

What’s a lesson you can share?

“One thing I learned the hard way - get ready for the unexpected. Sometimes professors and friends will think less of you. I went to counseling and it helped to figure out how to navigate the world. I would recommend counseling.”

The experiences that Mr. Kevin Robinson faced are all apart of the daily struggle that most African Americans face at PWIs and this problem does not have nearly enough attention. The fact that students feel as though they are discriminated against and yet still have to navigate through people, rules , and everyday life just to do the simplest things is a problem.