By Marie Bashengezi (‘26), Staff Writer
What defines Blackness? Is the tint of our skin? The way we speak? Our music taste? Or maybe even our choice in school? HBCUs are institutions that were historically created specifically for Black people. They are often heralded as environments in which students can be unapologetically Black.
When it was time to decide where I desired to pursue my education after high school, I was fixated on attending an HBCU. At the time, I believed it was the only place that would enable me to thrive in my Blackness. However, reality hit, and it was not the best decision for me or my family. Various factors influence one’s decision to attend a particular institution. This includes situations in which Black students choose whether to attend an HBCU or a predominantly white institution (PWI). It is all highly subjective and depends on the values that each student considers significant. In my instance, I prioritized affordability; others might prioritize experience, educational ranking, or career paths.
UNC-Chapel Hill, sometimes labeled an “Ivy” of the south, is recognized for its rigorous academics and research, which was perfect for my professional goals. Does being a Black student at a PWI make me or any other Black students less Black? Some may think “yes,” but I contend that Back cultures are diverse and do not neatly fall into one category.
Yes, we experience Black struggles such as the school-to-prison pipeline, police brutality, and discrimination in the workplace, hospitals, and the criminal justice system. However, there are Black people from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. Someone’s choice in attending a PWI does not “revoke their Black card,” and going to a PWI does not mean we can not incorporate Black culture into our college experiences. The UNC Black community has done a commendable job incorporating Black culture, specifically through dance. For example, our stomp and shake cheerleading organization UNC Blue Lightning and our African dance team Zanki. These organizations have brought joy and entertainment to our community. Associations like these have created safe spaces for Black students that probably would not have been found at other UNC dance programs.
Recently, Princess Lang, a junior at the University of Southern California, created a majorette dance team at her PWI. The Cardinal Divas debuted their performance at a USC football game. Lang’s ultimate goal was to create a safe space for Black women to flourish and find community at an institution that only holds 5.8% of Black people. Majorette dance has been a staple at HBCUs since the 1960s and continues to strengthen and uplift the HBCU community with its jazzy and energetic dance routines. These ladies have received amazing feedback from celebrities like rapper and former USC alumna Saweetie and Bring It! Majorette dance coach Dianna Williams. They received great feedback from folks on social media apps such as Twitter but were also met with backlash. I frequently see arguments on social media advocating for or opposing the introduction of a majorette team at a PWI. Critics feel that incorporating a majorette team into a PWI is “stealing” from HBCU culture and claim in the coming years that the team will include white people. They feel that the inclusion of white people will diminish the rich Black culture of majorette dancing. Others congratulate the establishment of safe spaces for Black students.
I understand the expressed concerns that white people have and continue to exploit and claim Black cultures while simultaneously discriminating against Black people. I am aware of how exhausting and frustrating it is to witness your culture being made a mockery. However, that should not hinder us from pursuing our passions and talents or cause us to suppress our true selves.
As a student that attends a PWI, I applaud Princess Lang and The Cardinal Divas for fostering Black pride through dance at a predominantly non-Black institution. Black students, and Black people in general, deserve to feel at home wherever they go, whether at work, school, or any area of their choosing.
Boakye, Millicent, and Spencer Cline. “The Cardinal Divas shine bright in USC game against Fresno.” Annenberg Media, 20 September 2022, https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2022/09/20/the-cardinal-divas-shine-bright-in-usc-game-against-fresno/. Accessed 27 October 2022.
