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Does "HBCU" Mean "Hella Blacks Cuttin' Up?"

Photo credit: File photo/Langston University Langston University students a few years ago. What's happened?

By Divona Phillips
Black College Wire

I know in most places it seems as though chivalry is dead, but at Langston University it has been strangled, shot and thrown in the lake. I have never been among adults who are so disrespectful and impolite to their elders and other students.

Divona Phillips

I have witnessed disrespect since I first arrived at Langston this spring. When I walked through the doors on the first day of school and passed the president's office, a line of students was in the hallway.

Since it was the first day of class, I assumed these people really missed each other over their three-week break because they were very loud as they hugged and caught up with each other. The sad thing was that I heard more cursing than your favorite rap CD offers, and teachers and administrators were in earshot.

To make matters worse, the administrators never said one word about it. Maybe they are used to it and just look over the ignorance, or are afraid of getting cursed out by someone not even half their age.

On top of the cursing, I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the word "nigga" being used. You'd think there was someone on campus named "My Nigga." Don't get me wrong. I know this is an HBCU -- a historically black college or university -- and a place where black students can feel comfortable and express themselves. But if you replaced "historically" with "heathen," you'd be more accurate in describing this university. No, change that. The acronym "HBCU" should stand for "Hella Blacks Cuttin' Up," because that is what is going on here. There are many faculty, staff and students who are not black, and I don't think they would feel comfortable hearing this derogatory term around every corner; not that it should ever be said anyway.

If someone of another race calls you a "nigga," that's a fighting word because he or she is disrespecting you. Don't you think that if your homeboy calls you one, he's disrespecting you, too?

It's not just that word causing damage. Women are getting out of hand using "bitch" as a synonym for "girl." When on the yard or in class, you'll probably hear, "Come here, bitch. Where you going?" or "Bitch, let me tell you what happened."

Why is there a double standard for everything? A girl is ready to fight when a guy calls her a bitch, but she will turn to her girlfriend and say, "Bitch, this nigga got me messed up!" What? You're calling your friend a bitch and that's the word you're about to fight over?

How are we going to function in the workplace when we can't say a complete sentence without cursing? Some people say they can transition from "hood" to "professional" talk, but why not talk like you have sense all the time?

Too many young men show no manners or respect for women (unless it's their mama or granny). Call me old-fashioned, but if a man is walking through the door, I would hope he holds it open for me. But not here. I've gotten hit in the face a couple times by men who open a door just enough for them to squeeze through.

A friend said she stopped going to the cafeteria during busy times because the guys were so rude. She said there would be full tables everywhere and she couldn't get a seat because guys at crowded tables were finished eating but wouldn't get up to let someone else sit down.

I don't understand what went wrong from our parents' generation to this one. Where did such blatant disrespect come from? If we act this way toward each other and our elders, just imagine how belligerent our children are going to be. We need to get it together.

Divona Phillips, a student at Langston University, writes for the Gazette.

Posted May 8, 2006