White teen returns black scholarship
by Donna Krache, CNN
(CNN) - If a person wins a scholarship intended for someone of a different race, should he or she give it back?
When Jeffrey Warren, a senior at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, was looking for financial help to pay for college, he applied for several scholarships. When he applied for one of those scholarships, he had no idea it was intended for an African-American student. He says the application only said that African-Americans were encouraged to apply.
The scholarship awarding committee didn’t know that he was white – until he got up to receive the award.
"It was kind of funny at first, everyone was laughing. They announced it for an African-American, they saw me walk up," Warren said.
Warren decided to return the scholarship. He says he could have really used the money but decided it was best to return it.
“I know that they were trying to a good deed for the African-American community, and I saw that too so I had no trouble giving it back to them at all,” Warren told KABC-TV.
What would you do if you won a scholarship that was intended for someone else?
Related: Student News
CNN Student News is ten minutes of commercial-free, cost free news for middle and high school classrooms. It is available on line on our website, as a free downloadable podcast on iTunes and on HLN at 4:00 a.m. ET weekdays during the school year. Go to www.CNNStudentNews.com@CNNSchools on Twitter
Favorite Videos
I would keep it....why is it based on race in the first place....pretty sure there are none out there that are only for white kids....EJ...yes that would be reverse descrimination...get it?
OK, now if a scholarship offered was only for WHITE people, the entire NAACP would be freaking out. Sick of being the minority in this backwardsly racist country.
No scholarship should be awarded on the basis of race- ever. The young man should be applauded for being so mature about it.
I think the scholarship committee should insist that he takes the scholarship, to pay it forward to have him pay forward to the African-American community.
I would not given the scholarship back, you do not put a price on education. It seems like RACISM is still here and it will stich around for a long time.
I'm black, and its garbage that there are blacks only scholarships. Our grandparents were picketing and taking a stand for equality, not an overcompensation that results in further inequality (like something so asinine as a race specific scholarship). Do people seriously not get this? I'm embarassed, and so are all of you sheep who are going along to avoid appearing insensitive to race relations, you just dont know it. Oh, and yes young man if thats what you think is right....kudos for doing it. If i were a caucasian young man, I would have kept it, and used it as an opportunity to point out the absurdity of something so deleterious as even mentioning race as a qualification for a scholarship.
Well put
Oh you would have kept it? I'm sure the world is shocked..
They should all be destroyed.
He did what HE thought was right for his own conscience, and for that I applaud him
Good Kid. Scholarship money is for education isn't it? "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" black or white. Let's help our young people regardless of their skin color. Many white families and businesses give money to black students, my son recieved one and we are ever grateful. Let's not talk about this please, let the kid keep the money.
I would have kept it but would have asked that this never happen again if it was meant for black americans.
I would keep the scholarship, I wouldnt let a race defeat the purpose of my education. Plus I think the African-Americans thing is a little racist, what happend to diversity? Is this to get back at whites? :/
Way I see it all Americans are mixed with each other anyway so he could have kept it. I bet he has a black in his family tree.
So what if there were an application for a scholarship that was only for whites? Everyone would be ok with that? But we can have scholarships for blacks only. Nice.
A quick search on the internet will show you that there are scholarships only for white students. There are private donors who can put any sort of criteria they want on a scholarship applicant. There are scholarships of all kinds. Do some research.
So? That's wrong too. Just because other people or races do it , everyone should? I'm sure you'd agree; that would be an absolutely ignorant line of reasoning. What do people not get here? Keep using race as a tool by which to seperate americans, and race relations with always be poor here, just as they are now and always have been. White people, and some of their similarly minded groups need to stop trying "do it too" or placate America by accepting and or participating in ANY race inequality whether its supporting black people in achieving it or perpetuating "white power"! Black people, and their ethno-centric organizations need to stop presumtuously defending the illegal or questionable actions of black people across the country without having all the facts or giving fair and reasonable consideration to whether or said party was simply WRONG. When this type of ineffectual behavior stops, racism's validity will cease to exist.
Why is it that African Americans have their own scholarships? If white people had a scholarship for only whites it would be discriminating agains blacks, and considered racism........All scholarships should be available to all colors.
Totally agree.
yes, It does n't matter what your race if you are qualify for a scholarship. I think that is fair.
There are IN FACT scholarships for Italians only, Irish only, and so on...do a search online and it's easy to prove. This has been in existence for years. It's not new. If you have money to give for scholarships, you can put whatever criteria you want geared toward the people you want to help make sure get into to college. Everything doesn't have to turn into a racial debate.
He should keep the money, since African-Americans are only "encouraged" to apply. Also, this organization should give him the scholarship anyway. If Whites are not eligible it should have said it on the application.
The organization should have done their research if they wanted to make sure and african amaerican got the scholarship. They should also apologize to the young man, and thank him for giving the money back... that is never an easy thing to do. And, to save face, the organization shoul dgive him a scholarship as well. In the effort to show that they are not bias or prejudice. There isn't much racism in this as it may seem, more prejudicial in expecting and assuming that the recipient from Martin Luther King HS would be an African American. It really should all be based on merit, or financial conditions.
The only reason we have racism in this country is because we classify everyone as a different race. If this guy was white and born in South Africa, would he be eligible for the "African American" scholarship or do they mean for black Americans who really have no relationship to Africa whatsoever? The entire situation is insane and a hypocrisy towards itself. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a minority group who even by their own "race" has a deemed the word "colored" as inappropriate, offensive and racist. I truly do not understand the purpose.
We have racism and other forms of discrimation in this country because of human nature. Not because we have names to categorize people. People treat others differently because of how they look. It's just a fact. Attractive, unattractive, fat, skinny, dark, light, clean, dirty, whatever.
FINALLY, an intelligent comment!
agreed.
@ Michael, I really agree with you. Racism is quite annoying now. As a black female, i think that young man should have kept the money. Everyone needs help now adays, and no race is spared. He wants to better his life, if it was up to me, I would let him keep it.
http://www.good.is/post/debunking-the-myth-that-minorities-receive-more-college-scholarships/
gives examples of scholarships aimed at whites or for "whites only"
paragrah 2 line #6 "restricted to Caucasian students from Hawaii who are not of Polynesian blood."
those who complained because this one was "black only" start your complaints for this one that is "white only" or shut the fk up.
I'm not saying you are wrong, but you'll need to get a better source than an obviously biased web site. What about a link to the actual scholarship? Does it even exist? We need to be critical when we look at the source of our data.
you pull up an Iceland domain website to pull up some hawaiian thing?
get back under the bridge troll
does it matter where the website came from? did you bother to go to it and read anything or you just sitting there to complain?
http://www.hqudc.org/scholarships/rules.html
feel better?
You truly an idiot. It really doesn't matter the color – the point of most people's comments are that race shouldn't be singled out for ANYONE. So your example does even matter – but if it did ... that scholorship was for a minority of people in that region and they just happen to be white. We should not segregate people into groups for any reason. Treating others badly should have nothing to do with race.
Nice gesture. Few will appreciate it though. And for anybody wondering, it is ILLEGAL to discriminate by race for a scholarship. Many scholarships that were written a century ago specify a white, protestant student or some such stipulation. Those scholarship boards have had to revise their standards.
That may be the case with state-funded scholarships. The donors of privately funded scholarships can dictate not only the race of the recipient, but what county or neighborhood they are from, what color hair they have, whether their parents are alums, etc. Sounds terrible, but it's true. I work in development/fundraising at a large public university.
he should have kept the $. College is expensive for everyone and every little bit helps. Scholarships / grants based on race are racist. Of course ethnic minorities will argue that they are not racist. I'd bet that if there was a scholarship or grant only for white people that would be instantly branded as racist.
he could have but he chose not to. they are not based on race only they are just geared a bit more towards them but there aren't any that say "only ____ can apply" and there are numerous ones that can be considered "white only"
and just to note before you try to say it, no i am not a racial minority.
So your a majority white person ....funny the video had a white woman saying to give it back and two black guys saying he should keep it, it should be merit based.....So much for your pidgeon holing, stereotyping....
There's thousands of scholarships only blacks can get. They're called basketball scholarships. These far out number white scholarships. Now that's racism folks!
:::: FAIL:::::
I would like to see the list of grants for blacks and Mexicans vs. whites. The last time I was on campus late 1990s, there were clubs for every minority imaginable and nothing for white students. If white students had an banner displayed to
recruit white students same as latins, blacks, asians, gays, etc displayed, there would have been a riot. It's time Whites start staking their claim in this country, we owe no ethnic group anything, we have been paying for them tool long as it is, it's our turn now. Bet the Blacks and Mexicans won't help us when it's their turn since they scheme their take over of America.
Why not just abandon all ethnicity labels and just go by "American"? That's what other people from other countries do. They don't call themselve black germans or white italians. It's based on where they are from. If you are from America, then call yourself American. We create these labels in order for us to feel special or to belittle another group. It's all about having an inferiority complex. Just let it go and be an American.
My sentiments exactly. The only reason we have racism in this country is because we classify everyone as a different race. If this guy was white and born in South Africa, would he be eligible for the "African American" scholarship or do they mean for black Americans who really have no relationship to Africa whatsoever? The entire situation is insane and a hypocrisy towards itself. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a minority group who even by their own "race" has a deemed the word "colored" as inappropriate, offensive and racist. I truly do not understand the purpose.
Totally agree!
Germans and Italians do indeed classify members of their population by race AND national heritage, as do man of nations in Europe and around the world. Go get yourself a passport and see for yourself.
Even though he returned the scholarship, the PROPER thing to do is for the organization to go ahead and allow him to keep the scholarship. He applied and won the scholarship on his merits and had the same chances of the award just as much as the other applicants. Give him back the scholarship!!
they would have allowed him to keep it. the story would have had more uproar if the group had said "sorry you cant have it you're not ____". he CHOSE to give it back.
`This Jeffrey Warren shows a lot of character in complying with the true intent of this scholarship. I blame I blame the scholarship awarding committee for not conveying the real motive for granting this award. Jeffrey deserves something of at least of equal value to this scholarship. I wish I win the lottery and give an equivalent prize.
NOW LETS BE HONEST HERE, BLACKS WERE SLAVE AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OFF BY SOUTHERN PEOPLE....DO THEY DESERVE THE BREAKS OF FREE SCHOLARSHIPS ?? YES..
The blacks may have been abused and enslaved by people in the southern states, but at least they were not OUTRIGHT MURDERED, with pregnant women having their bellies cut open and the unborn babies killed, body parts turned into tobacco pouches and what not. They also were not forced to march thousands of miles to what was considered worthless land and then given blankets infected with diseases that they were not immune to.
Besides that it is well PAST time to GET OVER IT, It happened, we cannot change the past all we can do is work with the present and BETTER THE FUTURE!
u must not be black because racism is still here for BLACKS!!!! and no blacks will not get over it and no they will not let it go. now wht needs to be let go is this conversation he gave it back because he wanted to and thts tht!!!
i dont thnk that was the issue at hand.
Hey Jose, slavery ended 149 years ago. It's high time that all African Americans realize this and stop acting like society owes them something. Scholarships should not be awarded based on race alone, but rather should be given on merit and intelligence regardless of race.
blackandgold......no scholarship is given on race alone. all are given based on merit, essays, test scores, sports skills, etc... this scholarship (like most others) was encouraging blacks to apply....ENCOURAGING....last i checked that DOESNT mean "only for" it means "this is open to all but we'd like you to try for it" if you're saying that encouraging means "based on this only" and you don't like it then why don't you argue the ones that are for specific sports or arts only? same idea right? or the ones meant for women?
nobody is getting "free scholarships" just for being themselves...they actually do stuff and try and work for them.
First of all, this young boy did something that no one else would have done. He gave the scholarship back. Second, the group should have let him keep it. NOW...Let's get something straight here...ALL states had slavery, not just the south. And until 1670, Free black men were allowed to have white slaves. After 1670, they were only allowed to have slaves of their own race, meaning, blacks owned black slaves. White people even owned white slaves.
The past is the past. The children growing up these days all have the same opportunities. But when I was in high school, there was a girl that was in every class and every club with me. Her GPA was lower. When it game time to get scholarships at the end of the year, she got 3, and I had none. She received them because they were set aside for a minority. Her parents even made more money than mine. I agree, scholarships should be given to ANY person that qualifies for them, not just for minorities.
Ok, Jose, find me a former slave and we will be happy to give him/her a scholarship.
No it doesn't work that way. I just took a college level history class and only a small percentage of white people kept slaves. Most white people didn't think it was right. So what people have been saying for years about blame all white people for slavery is actually lumping all white people into a group they were not a part of. No person should get $$$ because of the color of their skin. They should get it because they worked their butt off, hand up not hand out.
Well done Warren so noble of you to do that.
What makes it noble? Is it because african americans are more needy than caucasians, so what he did was considered "charitable" because he's white? If his parents truly did teach equality, he would have kept it because he felt he was equal to the other applicants (except, obviously, that he excelled more academically). The laughter at the reception was what was truly racist. They laughed at him because of his skin color.
I'D KEEP IT!!
He said "the application only said that African-Americans were encouraged to apply" does not mean it is for ONLY African-Americans. I only have more questions now, like if they knew he was white, would they had denied him? key word here is "encouraged". It's all BS anyway, scholarships should be just that and not based on your skin
-Only in America
you just said yourself its encouragement, its NOT based on skin.
If it was a scholarship for a white student it would be racist and everyone would be all over it on how unfair it is...
This is different. For him to keep it would be like taking money away from a special Ed student. Blacks need "special help" to achieve things that's why they can have "special" scholarships and job openings just for their race. Show some compassion toward a group of people who aren't capable of making it on their own.
LOL, you made my day. What you said is so true.
At Jack seriously go find Jill and fall off the planet.
Jack u really need to grow up and understand what the world is!!!
actually there are all sorts of different scholarships that encourage other races as well.
JIM, GO BACK 400 YEARS. BLACKS WERE FORCE INTO SLAVERY BY WHITES...THEY WERE NOT ALLOW TO GO TO SCHOOL-OR–TO LEARN TO READ.....AMERICA OWE BLACKS BIG TIME...
Actually black people enslaved themselves in africa, and sold their own people to the whites in order to gain profit. White people were not walking around africa and kindnapping people form their homes, black people are to blame as well, or did you forget to read that part of the history book.
I was not alive 400 years ago. I was not alive about 150 years ago during the Civil War. I was not alive during the civil rights movements of the 1960's and 70's. Why should someone be treated differently than me simply because they were born with a different skin color? It isn't my fault that people who happen to have the same skin color as me enslaved people with dark skin hundreds of years ago. Equality goes both ways. If you are trying to make an argument that black people are treated unfairly because some people are racists, then I can understand that. However, the main reason why minorities are not as successful in America is because of their cultural views on education and parental involvement. For example, look at the most famous icons of modern black culture. People like Kanye West are held in much higher regard in the eyes of black high school students than people like MLK Jr.
jose, typing in all caps doesn't make your point any more important than the next guys. also if you actually are in the marines then you should know that as a military person you shouldn't be advocating your military stance within personal posts, just like you wouldn't go to political functions in uniform or the movies or mall, or out to concerts.
Is there any such thing as a scholarship in which availability is restricted to white kids would find it quite surprising. Scholarships should be needs based not race based and this, statistically, would make a larger percentage of minorities available without reverse discrimination which is clearly the case here de facto, intentional or not. The kid should have kept it just to make a point and then donate the money to charity.
This young kid shows what it's like to be a MAN regardless of the color of his skin. It sounds like he did what was in his heart without thinking about racial overtones or pulling the reverse discrimination card.
What makes it right? Is it because african americans are more needy than caucasians, so what he did was considered "charitable" because he's white? If his parents truly did teach equality, he would have kept it because he felt he was equal to the other applicants (except, obviously, that he excelled more academically). The laughter at the reception was what was really racist. They laughed at him because of his skin color.
Wish I'd have had some kind of scholarship besides the $80/mo. (supposedly for books and board) from the BEOG when I was trying to get through engineering school in Puerto Rico during the '80s. What a bunch of spoiled whiners today's mainland U.S. Americans are.
stop whining!
So you are whining about whiners? What a bunch of mexicans there are down in Puerto Rico...
You pr's have been getting help all your lves from America. So quit flapping your jaws
Ok, so this story is really a coming-of-age story and the heart and maturity of a young man who did what he believed was the right thing to do? How is that whining? Others here are calling YOU the WHINER. Maybe you should look the word up in a dictionary and educate yourself to find out why!
This is such a bunch of crap. How would any of you blacks feel if you were denied a "whites only" job? What if you were met with laughter like this young boy was?
good for you to think outside the box except you forgot one thing. this is not a blacks only scholarship.
If the shoe was on the other foot, the black kid would have sued and charged discrimination. Funny how it doesn't go both ways!
You do NOT know that for certain...case in point you saying that very thing is one of the reason we all know racism is alive and well in America!
If the scholarship encouraged blacks to apply, then why shouldn't they insist that the white kid keep the scholarship when it was based on his achievements and not the color of his skin?
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - hmm, wonder who said this?
Another case of racism towards Whites, If there was a white only scholarship cries of foul play would make world news.
Stop the negative comments. Everyone has the right to their opinion. He did what he felt was right. Good karma will come his way and he will probably get even more scholarship money than he ever dreamed.
Good for him... now white group step up and do the right thing.
White groups are not legally allowed to issue scholarships to whites only.
Same as White or Asians can not enter the MISS BLACK USA PAGEANT.
For all of you uneducated people saying there are no scholarships for whites only; I'm currently applying for college scholarships. I've come across scholarships by town, race, heck I even found scholarships that said you can only apply if you are of Italian descent, Romanian descent, German descent, etc. Scholarships for JUST children of military personnel. So because the kid gave back a scholarship meant for a black kid? Congratulations to him, he did the right thing, because there are tons of scholarships out there he would be eligible for if he just looked.
It is a shame he cannot keep the money he really needs to go to college because he is the wrong color. I hope someone else steps in & helps him. It is not his fault that he is white.
actually, there are many scholarships for people who are so-called "white" (scholarships based on ethnicity, not skin color, i.e., Italian, German, Russian, etc, etc) so those of you who claim that a "white" scholarship would be seemed racists, please, that is as tired a cliche as AA's who claim racism every time they may be passed over based on their character. hat being said, if that committee has integrity (which the white student showed as well well as class) they would stand up, step up and commend the student for embodying the very color-blind principles that Dr. King stood for and if not outright award him (or was it a her?) then offer a special scholarship, after all, the student is a member of the student body, regardless of their ethnicity...
Give it to Zimmerman. He has black blood.....and he's a good shot.
Thanks President Lincoln for destroying our nation.
Obvious YOU'RE no eligible for an academic merit scholarship...
That scholarship should go to our next future affirmative action President.
You mean a woman, right..?
Serious.I get that everyone gets mistreated some how but giving it back because it's for an African American.did this kid do the mistreating 60 years ago.seriously?
I don't understand the situation here wasn't the scholarship based on Merit and not race? Why did he give it back? He wasn't qualified all of the sudden so he gave it back or was it the laughter at the ceremony that guilted him into returning?
Probably because people donated with an expectation of helping the African American community. If you are a foreigner please stay out of our affairs. Because you wouldn't have a clue what you're talking about.
So you're going to come up with a new perspective all on your own?
Very well said simply and to the point
Exactly Chocolate cupcakes
He realized that the scholarship was intended for African American students. He has character, and decided to return it. It was his choice. Do you get it?
go,kid,go,i hope all the kids out there learn the good work from u !!peace:)
black scholarships??? are there white scholarships for WHITES ONLY, bet not, it would bring out all the black racist
all this under Obamas' watch
oh come on, nokat.... I'm fairly certain that racism existed long before Obama took office.
I'm a 30 year old white guy from New England with a college degree, a single family home, and a white collar job – so pretty much the least discriminated against demographic on the planet. Even from my perspective, which is a pretty happy place, I can see that in many ways racism is still alive and well. If the school this kid goes to determined that a certain group (in this case blacks) needs a helping hand making college a reality, then I'm all for it.
I agree with you I just wish we could accept each other without having to bring up ancient history. Our history was bad, I just wish we could live at peace in the present
First of all what is a bleck student and secondly who cares what you think...
obviously you do since you replied! LOL
"(CNN) – If a person wins a scholarship intended for someone of a different race, should he or she give it back?"
Why do we have scholarships intended for people of a specific race? That's very racist.
America doesn't reward for honesty anymore! Just try to get medical assistance for a pre-existing condition – the more you have stored in the bank, the less aid you get. This kid won't get very far on his honesty !
What he has is worth more than money and can't be bought. We need more honest people like him.
II don't blame him. Good move kid. Don't tarnish your record with that Affirmative Action stuff. Earn it the the fair way. No set-asides for honest hard workers.
You said it!!!
Then perhaps you should check the statistics of which group has benefitted the most from Affirmative Action...
Dang
He should have kept it.
For everyone crying that there isn't a "white american" scholarship, I will refer you to your history textbooks. It's called EVERY college up until the 1960s. Blacks were not allowed to integrate with white students in most universities. And because of segregation/discrimination many of these students parents couldn't get the the jobs that paid well enough for them to save for their childrens' educations. You can whine all you want about "reverse discrimination" but seeing as though the government had to force these schools to accept these students, and then had to force employers to stop discriminating so their parents could get good enough jobs for them to be able to afford to send their kids to college, I think that a scholarship to help these families is something you shouldn't be jealous of. And I applaud that young man for following his conscience. He would not have been wrong for keeping it because he earned it, but at least he has the sense to realize that this scholarship was intended for certain students, much like the ROTC scholarships are intended for students pursuing a military career. He will come out on top...
II'm not whining but you certainly are.
Apparently you either don't own a history book or can't read one...either way, you're still pathetic...just sayin'...
Oh, I see. It's not about equality. It's about getting special treatment.
Scholarships based on merit! WHODATHUNK???
You really dont make sense.
NES... Thank you!!!!
Agree totally. The whole "I don't get scholarships intended for people who have been stepped on and held back by their own country for years", point of view is just simply silly, ignorant, and full of denial. Pick up a book my fellow Americans, please.
@NES, it is people like yourself that find the country in the shape it is in. Stop complaining about the past, you can't change it. What happened here had absolutely nothing to do with college's prior to the 1960's. This young man did what he believed is right, (whether the premise of white or black scholarships is correct or not). He displayed honorable character and humanity. This tells me he was taught equality and fairness from his parents. I wish I could say the same about you.
The actions of American's today cannot be compared to actions 50 years or more ago. Let the past be the past and get over it. I would just about guarantee you were not around then. And don't even bring up the slave thing. African's traded their own people for slaves for food. As a proud BLACK man, I refuse to call myself African-American. There is no way I want to be associated with people who traded my anscestors. I was born in America plain and simple. Your arguments are a disgrace to my race.
Maybe you should take notes from this young man. He does the right thing because that is what is right, end of story. It's time to grow up and make your way through life on your own merit.
What makes it right? Is it because african americans are more needy than caucasians, so what he did was considered "charitable" because he's white? If his parents truly did teach equality, he would have kept it because he felt he was equal to the other applicants (except, obviously, that he excelled more academically). And try to figure out how to use an apostrophe. It's irritating and shows a lack of education in the language you speak.
I don't believe anyone is whining here. I think the point of most of these comments is that most people in this country are quick to judge or claim racisism or discrimination sometimes where is does not exist, but when reverse discrimination occurs, we are supposed to turn the other cheek because of the sins of our ancestors. We are talking about punishing future generations for things that they had no hand in. It baffels me that people still think we need affirmative action and special race based scholarships in the first place. If there was truly a level playing field blind to race that judged only by accomplishments our nation would be so much better off. Until that happens, both sides of the race card will continue to be tarnished.
I wasn't alive in the 1960's, so why should I hypothetically lose out to someone of lesser ability simply because of their skin color and the fact that people of my skin color treated people of another skin color unfairly? Scholarships should be given to people based solely on merit. Black, Hispanic, Asian, and "white" people are all capable of being intelligent, hard working, and successful. Time and time again the largest factor in a child's success is parental involvement, not the color of their skin. Helping people and hurting people simply because of their skin color are both racist and degrading actions.
Note that there are many "white" scholarships out there. The difference is that they are based on ethnicity (ie german, irish, etc), or religion (ie jewish). For instance, conduct a google search on jewish scholarships.
The difference is that african-americans don't subdivide into country or religion oer say. For the most part, we can't due to the middle passage.
As I said before, this sounds like a great kid. He will do great in life. That was a classy move.
The problem with your argument is that it is possible to be born both black and Jewish, or black and German, etc. If it is a scholarship for African-Americans, does that include white/Dutch people from South Africa that moved to the US?
What racist nonsense. Scholarships for blacks only? Lets see a white organization set up the same for white kids only and see how long it takes for the government to intervene and shut it down. The only racism I see in america, in this century, is aimed at whites.
I am from Louisiana and I disagree with you.
It took the government quite a while actually. Check your local library and pick up a few books on the many years between blacks being killed for attempting to learn to read a language that wasn't their own and when they were finally allowed to attend a school of their own choosing.
One designated group, White people, has been getting priority in this land since the first European set foot on it. A study of educational policy for the last 200+ years, as well as economic and social welfare policy, even housing and urban development policy, will show you that power and resources tend to aggregate around locales populated by white people, at the expense of locales populated by non-white people. These policies are in effect today; never mind intent or cause. In my opinion affirmative action is necessary until such point where resources and power are distributed equally to all locales no matter who populates those locales. When schools, for example, have equal resources across the board, then graduates will be able to compete and affirmative action will no longer be necessary. From a cost-benefit analysis, which the people in power do every so often, which is cheaper: giving a few minorities jobs, or giving all neighborhoods and schools sufficient resources? The people in power know the answer to this question and even though they may publicly decry affirmative action, they despise the alternative as a matter of principle.
There are many white's only scholarships...every one that is not geared towards blacks...
This kid showed a lot of class. Kudos. He will go far!
Can I please get a native American scholorship ? No ? Why not ? Discuss..........
There is no degree for drinking and gambling....
This kid received a scholarship intended for stealing, lying, cheating, murdering and how to blame it all on the whites. Drinking and gambling are gentlemanly pursuits in comparison.
Umm you most definitely can. have you ever looked for one or even searched the internet...type it in google. Stupid!
I have to wonder how many bleck students would have returned a scholorship intended only for white people ? Discuss........
So, where does he go for a "White- American" scholarship?
When the white people become the minority, maybe they will build a school for white people only.... like they have for black people.
When black people enslave whites, then whip, beat, discriminate against them, then treat them as less than human and torture them for a few centuries, then prevent them from voting, reading, learning...hunt them with dogs, then hang them from trees for fun and take pictures with their bodies, then create organizations that are thousands strong to kill them for sport while wearing sheets...THEN and only THEN ....they can give scholarships intended for whites 😉
There are schools for black people only??? Can you name one? PLEASE!!!
I am so tired of reverse discrimination. If the scholarship were for 'whites only', the blacks would whine that it would be discrimination. So why is it ok to have a scholarship for blacks only? I say let the student keep it. He earned it no matter what his skin color is.
Newsflash... there are existing scholarships that are intended soley for white ethnics (Italian, German, Russian, etc, etc).
You can be born with German, Italian, etc heritage and have black skin. Thus, they are not white-only. Do African-American scholarships include white/Dutch/British people who moved to the US from South Africa? What about someone who is half-Zimbabwean and half-German with white skin? I'm simply trying to ascertain if you think things like Affirmative Action should apply to people based on their ancestral heritage or simply on the color of their skin.
In reply to your previous post heres a few names of black colleges or universities.....Bethune Cookman university, Spelman College & Florida A&M
If indeed the scholarship application stated that African Americans were ENCOURAGED to apply, and did not explicitly state it was for African Americans ONLY, he by all means should have kept the scholarship. Not only that, the people giving the scholarship should NOT have taken it back.
If I were his dad I would crack his skull and make him pay for his own college. Sounds like he is headed for some military service.
There are white people in Africa. Could a white african american win? I'm just wondering.
They have to give black only scolarships,black could never get in college on brains
How ignorant can you be african american are smart human beings and can get into college on more their intellect! I normally don't post on here because comments like these don't normally change stupid and uneducated people like you! I am an African American that is currently attending college to recieve both my MD and PHD. So you may want to rethink your unfounded response!
And you wrote this all by yourself based on your educational level..?
Geez ppl. With the comments. Can we not just appreciate the kid for what he did and leave our personal feelings out of it. Let's not take away from this kids gesture. Great job young man. Life will reward this kid. I wouldn't be surprised if this article gets the kid another scholarship
How exactly will life reward him? By having higher student loans? By giving the scholarship he earned to someone who didn't? A very utopian thought but illogical at best.
So, where does he go for a "White- American" scholarship?
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "WHITE-ONLY SCHOLARSHIPS" : AFTER ALL, THAT WOULD BE RACIST!!!
Life will reward him. Santa will bring him presents. God watches over us.
let me correct that – worst, not worse... before another grammar and spelling police gets into the fray...
I understand that HE chose to return it. I just don't think he should have. I believe that he deserved to FEEL like he should keep it.
We should all applaud this kid for his character. But we should boo ourselves for getting caught up in every news article that appear to bring out the worse in us.
so blacks can have scholarships but white people cant adopt a highway why is that?
Because the white people adopting the highway were considered to be a distraction to motorists.
When black people enslave whites, then whip, beat, discriminate against them, then treat them as less than human and torture them for a few centuries, then prevent them from voting, reading, learning...hunt them with dogs, then hang them from trees for fun and take pictures with their bodies, then create organizations that are thousands strong to kill them for sport while wearing sheets...THEN and only THEN ....they can give scholarships intended for whites, MMKAAAYY.
Maybe my recollection of history is wrong, but weren't the slaves that were brought over here already enslaved by their fellow Africans back in Africa and then sold to the white guys to bring back over to America?
I never did any of those things, so all other things being equal why should I be placed at a disadvantage just because of the color of my skin? Obviously you think it is perfectly fine to punish people for the crimes of their forefathers, but what about black people who moved to the US within the last 10 years and thus were never subject to the extreme racism prevalent in America's past? Do you not see the slippery slope you are sliding down?
I believe that whichever foundation sponsors the scholarship, should be allowed to decide WHOM they want to win the thing. If an Asian or Asian-American group wants to give scholarships only to Asian-Americans, that should be their choice. A FORMER friend of mine, pretty much robbed some African-American student of grants and scholarships, by claiming to be half African-American. She was nothing of the sort. That was total FRAUD. And I have a feeling this kid in the story knew exactly what he was doing, when he applied for something he should NOT have. Get a clue.
Bull.
Read the article. The foundation did not have a problem giving him the award. He CHOSE to give it back. He obviously deserved it because he earned it. Anyone who "steals" a scholarship based on merit isn't really stealing it. It sounds like they actually awarded it based on merit and NOT race. If he never told them he was white, it's because they never ASKED.
It funny there was a group that set up funds to help out White Americans and they were critizied for it that it should not be only whites they give to. But it's ok to give to just blacks or other races. Good to see racism is alive and well in the U.S. With crap like this racism will never go away. Our Goverment and special interet groups makes sure of that.
When black people enslave whites, then whip, beat, discriminate against them, then treat them as less than human and torture them for a few centuries, then prevent them from voting, reading, learning...hunt them with dogs, then hang them from trees for fun and take pictures with their bodies, then create organizations that are thousands strong to kill them for sport while wearing sheets...THEN and only THEN ....they can give scholarships intended for whites. Your logic loses. Thanks for playing.
Sure loloa, and after these students graduate their schools they should seek employment only in a company that hires ONLY one specific, theur race. Geezus.
So you would be ok with a white-only scholarship? Not an ethnic scholarship based on ancestral heritage, since you can be of Italian, German, Russian heritage and still have black skin. I'm talking about a scholarship for people based solely on the fact that their skin is lighter than a certain color. If so, then you are still a racist, albeit a somewhat logical one.
sounds like there wasn't any worthy africans available so a white kid got it.
The young man showed a lot of class and character in returning a gift that was obviously not intended for him.
He will likely do well in life.
Hear, hear!
I would love to see a link of these so called white only scholarships some of these people speak of. Same people who wanna be treated equal unless it benefits you like free housing free schooling etc then itks ok to racially profile You as long as itks reverse racism. Most people were not around during slavery its time to quit playing the victim
Agreed. I recently graduated from high school and do not remember seeing one "white" scholarship. I am not racist, but I'll be paying off student loans until I'm 50 and could've used some more money (i qualified for a couple of small scholarships and grants).
It's really depressing that the black students that were not in the same classes as the white and asian students got more money and were accepted to better schools.
Aren't the real racists the people who think that black students can't compete at the same level? Do they believe blacks are genetically dumb? And who would go to a black doctor when there is a great likelihood that he is less intelligent than all of the others accepted to medical school (because needed affirmative action- I'm NOT saying black people dumber)?
IT is privilege-there are no white only scholarships because white people designed, receive many of the awards in the system. There is nothing wrong with giving a particular group a leg up. You are racist but we all are because that is what our privilege affords us.
So what would you say about scholarships intended for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, or Native Americans? And what does that scholarship offer have to do with reparations for slavery?
Yeah, i don't get it. I don't see how giving the money back was "the right thing". Is it because you agree that he didn't deserve it because he's white? He obviously deserved it because he won it. Is it because you think that african americans need money more than caucasians, and that what he did (because he's white) was "charitable"? If they only want african americans to apply and get it, then they should state that on the application. He was smart to apply for every scholarship he could get his hands on, and since i doubt he was the only person who applied for it, he beat out other (probably african american) applicants to get it. If he were my kid, i'd have told him to keep it. It's not wrong to excell and be rewarded for it.
Ty
If Obammy had a son, he'd be nothing like this good kid.
winer winner chicken dinner
I think that the whole thing is discrimination and racist. If there were scholarships for white people only the NAACP would be all over that like stink on s**t. If the application indicated that Blacks were encouraged to apply, that means that anyone can apply but blacks are encouraged to. He should have been able to keep the scholarship he won.
It is discrimination at its finest!
There are scholarships for whites only........
Name one please.
Im black, and you're right!!! Sad really, kid shoulda got to keep what he earned!!!
He was able to keep it, he just chose to give it back.
he gave it back he has showt the rest of the country there are still some honest people around not like the losers out there
he was ABLE to if you read the whole story he CHOSE to give it back. there was debate within the scholarship committee but despite that they would have had no problem with his keeping and using it. he simply felt "oh, i won this one but i dont NEED need this one, i'll give it back im sure theres someone who could use it more than i"
Why the hell should he give back a scholarship he won. Who cares if it was intended for n*****s he was awarded it he should of kept it
because jimmy, if you READ the WHOLE article you can see he CHOSE to when he could have kept it for himself. some people aren't as ignorant as you.
Why don't you go get it back, cupcake?
Jimmy I wonder if you call a black man a n****r to his face? Another faceless coward with a computer, and I am white.
If I were to apply for a scholarship and I read "African-Americans are encouraged to apply" I would assume that I would be able to apply and not be named an African-American when I received it.
So sad! Jeffrey, best of luck to you. You are an amazing person; they should give you the scholarship. Don't they know white is a color?
what's sad is you didnt fully read the story...if you did you would have seen they DID give him the scholarship and HE CHOSE to give it back.
I now feel like a minority – middle class and white. My family makes too much money to qualify for financial aid but not enough to write a check for my education. One day I pledge to have a middleclass- Caucasian scholarship fund.
So what does your race have to do with it?
If it was the other way around then you will hear it is racist for only white student! The new age of discrimination ..
most races have at least one "intended" scholarship. the only reason people are complaining now is because it's the news article...if this article didn't come up nobody would say anything and people would probably never think about it. i also doubt this is most people's concern when they are sitting there actually applying for scholarships for themselves. i know it's not my wife's concern.
He was awarded the scholarship. HE chose to return it, it was not denied to him.
The phrases "minorities encouraged to apply" by itself is just flat out reverse discrimination. The only way all races will ever finally start to be treated equal will only happen when all races are truly treated equal, no more "equal opportunity statements" no more special emphasis on one race over another. This young man showed character by returning this award, but he earned it, he deserved it, he should have kept it. The comments about scholarships for whites only have merit, if such a scholarship was offered, it would quickly be attacked as racist. A scholarship should never be based on color, it should only be based on merit or some other qualifying characteristic.
so what you're saying is it's wrong to encourage anyone to do anything? is it wrong to encourage a girl to go try out for the soccer team that is mainly men just because nobody else does it? or the football team?
well said
Well said.
Like you say. WHEN all races are treated equally. Until then there needs to be special emphasis for minorities by some to help balance the continuing massive prejudice that occurs every day of a minority's life. I laugh at my fellow white citizens that complain of reverse discrimination. If every instance of reverse discrimination was piled upon one white person, that person would still not feel anything close to the discrimination that most minorities will have to deal with for their entire lives.
Grow up.
When did you start hating whites?
Oh yeah, I guess there should be no religion based scholarships since merit is not the only factor. Or for that matter for disabled students or single moms, etc.
The perception that whites will ALWAYS choose one of theirselves over a minority is what needs to change. As long as you foster the notion of white/black/whatever American this kind of thing will always exist. only 50 odd years since the Civil Rights Act and listen to yourselves. You created this situation...and yes I realize none of you ever owned a slave or discriminated against anyone, blah, blah. THAT DOES NOT REMOVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to avoid blaming whites for the injustices of the past or minorities for taking advantage of the Affirmative Action Programs.
There are white only scholarships. Fox News made a report about a kid receiving a scholarship funded by the Arian Nation.
Arian nation does not cover all whites.
Why are giving "stuff" out according to race? I is a heinous thing to do.
Should the kid be required to give it back? No. Would I have done the same thing? Probably not. Is this student a man of high character? Absolutely.
What does upset me, is that people have left comments upset that there are scholarships specifically for minority students. It sounds that this one gives preference to black students, but is not strictly for them, so the student was welcome to keep it.
But yes, there are scholarships for blacks only. So what. A lower percentage of black students graduate high school, they have a lower rate graduating college than whites, and on college campuses they often have an average GPA significantly lower than the all student average. Perhaps the doner wants to encourage a demographic to do better.
I am not a racist, I am pointing out facts, so if someone (or some company) wants to donate their own money to someone that fits certain specifics, that is their choice. They can say the recipient needs to be purple if they want, and if no purple people apply, no one gets the money.
snowballing off your comment "A while (conservative" there are also scholarships (low as they may be) for people who go to prom in duct tape outfits, people who have x amount of piercings, and people who dye their hair x amount of times...wouldn't it be thought in saying those are prejudiced in that people who do not do so cannot apply for it?
my point being that there are scholarships that segregate for some reason or another....who cares? those who aren't eligible for specific ones.....there are PLENTY of generic ones to apply for...plus there are ones that also segregate based on what one chooses to study i.e. "scholarships meant for law students only, or engineering students only"
It is important to note, before any further confusion that Mr. Warren returned the scholarship at his own will. A gun was not held to his head forcing him to return the money. And of course he deserved it, that's why he was awarded the scholarship.
I also want to clarify again, before any further confusion that Mr. Warren applied for a scholarship that black students are ENCOURAGED to apply for. There is no evidence of exclusion on the basis of his color.
The UNCF and other sources of funding for minority students are in place to help students who face serious financial burdens through college. There is nothing racist about that. Jewish scholarships, scholarships for the blind, scholarships for being 5'5 are all in place to benefit those respective causes and groups of individuals.
Giving it back is the right thing. The kid has good character. Refusing to accept the return and allowing him to keep it would be even more right as the error was not his fault. As for the cries of reverse racisim please get over yourself. You sound silly. A scholarship board has the right to select the criteria of recipients. there are scholarships for every group out there from asian, irish, disabled, you name it. just have a look.
Too bad the Klan doesnt give scholarships......oh wait, that would be racist.
Depending on the specifics of the scholarship and who funded the scholarship he could not have even used it, had he not given it back. Many times there are certain certeria attached to scholarships. I once saw a requirement for a music scholarship that the individual had to have red hair and blue eyes. Needless to say that scholarship is not awarded on a regular basis. There are scholarships based on merit and those are the ones that require a very high GPA and a certain score from the ACT or SAT. I wonder what the GPA & test score requirement was for this particular scholarship.
apparently whatever the score requirements were he met them otherwise he wouldn't have won the award.
Joyce, you could have done without that last comment/question.: " I wonder what the GPA & test score requirement was for this particular scholarship..... ". Really? Do you think you're being cute? I wish I 'was' an African-American, so I could be justified in teling you to kiss my @rse. But alas, I am a white girl. Awe, hell, why not. KISS MY @RSE! You embarrass me!!
Joyce, I attended an Historically Black University and my GPA in undergrad was 3.67 and in grad school my GPA was 3.8, I applied for scholarships and each and every one required a high GPA. I am proud that this young man did what he considered to be the right thing, we could all learn something from him!
This really flies all over me...turn the table, nevermind... we can't have a white only scholarship (that would be discrimination)!!! Burns my butt, the kid qualified for it, was awarded it and should have kept it!
and he could have but if you read it, he CHOSE not to.
He did CHOSE to give it back, but guaranteed it is because of all the looks and all the criticism that came with getting the scholarship. As stated he stood up and got laughed at because it was a white kid awarded a scholarship for a black kid. I am sure there were whispers and gasp going around as he walked up and accepted it. There were pressures and probably snide comments that made him give it back. As was stated African Americans encouraged to apply it did not say only African Americans so that is the sad thing about this story. The scholarship is open to all the races and because he was not one of the encouraged African Americans he is basically shamed into giving it back. I agree with the person earlier that said the organization that offered the scholarship should insist he take it and not give it back. That would show a big step towards things not being all about race. The fact that the kid felt he had to give it back and the organization taking it back shows racism is still an issue.
@Valerie.......you mean "he did CHOOSE to give it back" thank you grammar skills......and of course people were going to laugh.....it's like if you're at an award convention and you hear "please come up and accept your award....hamir saleem!" there'd probably be some slight amusement or surprise if a white guy walked up in a suit and tie....or if you find samuel johnson and he's indian....
"“I know that they were trying to a good deed for the African-American community, and I saw that too so I had no trouble giving it back to them at all,” Warren told KABC-TV."
direct quote of his from the story......yeah he must have been so shamed in feeling right for doing a good deed towards a good deed.....what a terrible person he must be.......o.o
my thoughts exactly!
Melissa, there ARE scholarships for whites only. The one I'm thinking of is for men only though, so you are still excluded.....
there are scholarships for just white kids. And there are others that are based on your lineage which mean that 99% of applicants will be white – http://www.hqudc.org/scholarships/rules.html
The kid apparently received the scholarship based on his merits (as it should be), but it was a scholarship meant only for black students? That is so out of whack. Are there any scholarships for white kids only? Is there one where only white kids can apply? No. That's racist. So, black kids have a larger pool of scholarships available to them – ANY of the ones white kids are qualified for, plus the ones intended only for black kids. If the black community wants racism to stop, they have to stop practicing it themselves. We all know Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the ACLU would be pitching MAJOR fits of there was a white kid only scholarship, and yet...black kid only scholarships are just fine. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
"When Jeffrey Warren, a senior at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, was looking for financial help to pay for college, he applied for several scholarships. When he applied for one of those scholarships, he had no idea it was INTENDED for an African-American student. He says the application only said that African-Americans were ENCOURAGED to apply."
where do you see required?
Michelle, they may not be written that way but yes there are white only scholarships, it's just that there so many white kids that it seems like only a small amount are available. There are scholarships for red heads, lefties, Children affected by AIDS, etc. Should brunettes and blonds feel slighted? What about right-handed people? What about children Not affected by AIDS? One day I'd like to be able to offer a scholarship to women over 50 returning to college, I guess those under 50 will be angry about that!
Actually, there are scholarships for white kids only. Of course, white kids already have a larger pool in reality and it is just another knee-jerk racist reaction to an attempt to SLIGHTLY level the playing field.
What an incredible kid, he should get to keep the scholarship. Shame on the committee.... in vain, crawl back into your spider hole...
why shame on the committee? because the recipient chose to give it back on his own?
steve, you must be black....
no actually i am korean-italian but thank you for showing a perfect example of profiling me even though all i did was read the story for what it said and for the quotes provided by Mr. Morgan within the story.
Thank you Steve;-)
So racial profiling is ok if you're giving free money to the race being profiled. What a load of crap.
Wow...what character from this young man! I think the selection committee should INSIST that he keep it.
This I agree with.
Unfortunately until we can trust the people in charge to actual give jobs, awards or schorlarships based on merit the world will continue to be an imperfect place.
well said jojo
JoJo I feel sorry for you and Vanessa, you both are so blnded by your bias that you can't see the forest for the trees...for years all you had to do to get a job was wear white skin, it wasn't what you knew it was WHO you knew...NEPOTISM
This is rather amusing. We have now become so politically correct and cautious about mentioning race as a basis for consideration for scholarships that applicants cannot tell whether they are intended to apply, and the committees awarding funds cannot tell whether they are choosing the candidates for whom the funds were intended. If I received a scholarship intended for someone else, I would definitely return the scholarship – unless I was CLEARLY, EXPLICITLY chosen despite my being an "outsider" candidate.
Why should he return in. People cry all the time that racism needs to go away. the award should be based on merit. Not the color of skin. I'm sick and tired of people getting things because of race.
in vain, no one told him to return it, he made the GROWN-UP decision on his own!!!
and im sick of people not reading the story and making comments as if they know the whole detail.
Many here are pushing a false acusation of reverse discrimination...there is nothing here that suggest this...not.true people...not true.