I think if one would try to hate on Josh should remember that a 4.0 anywhere from anyone is reason for recognition. It makes me wonder what the white folks were thinking and talking about when they had their first minority valedictorian at their majority school.

Joshua Packwood’s role as a Morehouse student, who happens to be the valedictorian, adds an interesting and complicated dynamic to the national discussion of racial and economic equality and perhaps more importantly the role of access in this hyper-competitive world. In the age of Obama and helicopter parents, Packwood serves as a guide, expanding the educational possibilities for white college bound students and their parents, especially those seeking an edge, any advantage in this battle for the perfect school. The Morehouse culture which shapes young high school graduates into “Morehouse Men” is legendary. Packwood has made this legend accessible to white students and their families who are seeking the best education available. For these families, the historical significance of Morehouse as an answer to the foolishness and evil of white supremacy is less significant than its contemporary role as an elite-some say elitist-educational and cultural institution. The real challenge will be faced by Morehouse’s admission’s committee as white millennials hope to follow in the footsteps of Spike Lee, Dr. Rice and Joshua Packwood, pushing Morehouse’s traditions and identity. One need only stroll around Harlem to see how much a tradition can change in four short years.

Please change the word alumnae to alumni.

OK OK nice so the white guy is smart and got a 4.0... what i want to know is..."did he learn how to play spades while he was there?" ....because, you really haven't learned much about the HBCU experience if haven't played spades at one now thats brotherhood!!! sitting up in the room all night trump tight!!!!! making books!!!!! when you have the general chemistry exam the next day.......LOL LOL LOL LOL

When my blue-eyed, blonde, west coast born-and-bred husband was in college in CA in the mid-60's, he decided to spend a year as an exchange student. His first and only choice was to attend another fine, black college, Fisk in Nashville, TN. From his college and grad school years, his best stories come from that year he loved at Fisk.

I placed a post on my Facebook account about Mr. Packwood and it's interesting no comments whatsoever. This is a great story and further underscores why I plan to direct my kids towards an HBCU like Morehouse. For more rants on global topics, check out my blog at NPR http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/ and scroll down to Mindset 3.0.

What I have discovered, as Alisa Miller describes is that people would rather read about R. Kelly's trial, Britney, Paris Hilton. Not many people really care about the imminent death of over 100,000 children that will likely die due to food shortages. Cheers!

I, for one, agree with Mr. Rice. While Packwood was an exceptional student, all the media does not focus on his academic achievements. He is famous for being a successful white guy, which in my opinion, is nothing to be famous for. Don't get me wrong, the guy did get a 4.0 and should definitely be commended for that, but I think that he should be famous for his scholarly achievement rather than suggesting that it was an achievement to graduate as a white guy from an HBCU.

It's funny that Morehouse College was not in the press more recently, but something that could be seen as a controversy or out of the norm makes many people curious. Rather than focus on the many black men who work hard and have been successful for countless years at Morehouse College, the institution receives focus because of a white valedictorian.