Kevin Zeese interviews two alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Rashad Staton of Morgan State University and DeJuan Patterson of Bowie State University, about an ongoing situation. Since the early 1970’s, Maryland has been found to be in violation of its constitutional requirement to desegregate higher education by significantly under-funding its four HBCUs and duplicating their flagship programs (rather than investing in the HBCUs) at other schools, drawing students and faculty away. In what is the most significant federal court case since Brown v The Board of Education, Maryland was found again in violation in 2013 and the struggle over remediation of this continues. This is not being covered well in the commercial media. This interview was pre-recorded for the Baltimore Green Party Education Series.
Listen here:
Relevant articles and websites:
The Rich History and Current Relevance of America’s HBCUs by Andrew Hairston, JD
Baltimore Rally Draws Hundreds in Support of MD HBCU Equality Lawsuit by Deborah Bailey
Timeline of the Maryland Equality HBCU Lawsuit by Deborah Bailey
Maryland HBCUs Fight Almost 50 Years of Discrimination by Popular Resistance
Guests:
Rashad Staton is a recent graduate of Morgan State University with a B.A in Political Science. Mr. Staton now serves in the capacity of an educator in Baltimore City Public School. Known for servicing to the community, Rashad held several student leadership roles as Vice President of Morgan State’s Student Government 2013-2014, past Basilues of Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Inc., and President of the National Pan- Hellenic Council. More recently, Mr. Staton has been engaged in social advocacy working as a grassroots organizer, art curator for local art exhibitions, and has been seen nationwide speaking public as an oratorical speaker and making appearances for BET Network, WHUTV, WOLB Radio One, speaking on social injustice and youth advocacy. Mr. Staton is an active member of many local organizations, including Peace By Peace, Male Enterprise Network, Justice Or Else Local Organizing Committee, and Baltimore City Youth Commissioner.
DeJuan Patterson is a businessman, public servant, and community organizer. He received both his Bachelors in Psychology and his MPA in Public Policy from Bowie State University. He is currently the Executive Director of The BeMore Group.
Patterson deems himself a “social impact consultant” for Baltimore, where he uses strategic planning and economic development as channels to highlight and solve the challenges in the community. Economic Empowerment is dear to his mission of education, he has led and contributed his expertise to programs within under-served communities. His professional interests include societal issues in education, public policy, equity, economic empowerment and ethnic/racial studies.
DeJuan has held voter registration drives, toy drives for youth, workforce development forums, job recruitment seminars, art exhibits, and more. As a result, he has been granted several opportunities from Baltimore City Hall to Capitol Hill to consult with various stakeholders on developing progressive solutions for socioeconomic equality and criminal justice reform. Motivated by his own life experience, DeJuan aims to bring about workable, tangible solutions for. “Because it’s not about me, it’s about all of us.” Dejuan is working diligently to be a voice for the unheard and unnoticed.