Segregation topic of debate

By Shelley Clontz
FOR THE POST

Ohio University students gathered in Lindley Cultural Center to discuss segregation among upper and lower class African-Americans last evening.

They came together as members of the Lucy Terry Literacy Society, a group that meets every other Tuesday to share insights about literary works.

This week's book, ••Our Kinds of People: Inside Black America's Upper Class••, was written by Otis Lawrence Graham. The work focuses on class segregation within the African-American community, the function of historically black colleges and the problems and benefits of belonging to black organizations like Jack and Jill.

Jack and Jill, an elite social organization for African-Americans, stresses success among upper-class blacks. Graham wrote about Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, and her experiences with Jack and Jill.

"Jack and Jill was extremely important to me and my sisters because it constantly reinforced the role of education and excellence in the black family," Shabazz said, according to the book.

OU junior Derrick Blount - who said he grew up among elite African-Americans - said he identified with Graham's examination of Jack and Jill.

Blount said he has been a part of the elite African-American community.

"We were 'taught' to have two faces: your normal face and your Jack and Jill face," he said.

Blount said he was expected to put on airs around upper-class blacks, while he could show his true self among his "normal" friends.

While some discussion participants related to Graham's writings, others did not.

"I was opposed to class structures so I never joined any elite organization," OU graduate student Amina Hassan said. "I am what I am because I rejected all that. I don't judge people. I don't like structures."

However, other students said class division is not a form of segregation, but a way of life.

"You can call it segregation, or you can call it being with people you are comfortable being around," OU Junior Dewan Gibson said.

The group also disagreed on the merit of historically black colleges mentioned in the book like as Howard, Spelman and Morehouse.

Blount was one group member who attended such a college before OU.

"When I was growing up, I didn't even want to go to a black college," he said. "There are things that I didn't like about the black community."

He said he felt distinct lines between the Greek and athletic communities and other college organizations.

Some just said they do not understand segregation between the classes.

"We are of one brotherhood," OU senior Robert Brown said.