I had the honor of being invited to speak at this year's Kente Cloth Ceremony at Vassar and afterward talked with my publisher, Yvonne DiVita, about the event (including ... groan! ... the airline delays that made me late):
You can find more information on the origins, meaning, and adoption of Kente stoles as a graduation symbol at site like the Association of Black Professionals at Radford University or the Black Law Students Alliance at the University of Michigan.\
Later that day, I attended another part of the Commencement 2008 events, the Baccalaureate ceremony hosted by the Vassar Council of Black Seniors. I enjoyed it even more because my host for the weekend, Professor Joyce Bickerstaff, was honored for her years of service to Vassar.
She's been on the faculty since the year I graduated (1971), played an important role in building the Africana Studies program, and is currently Associate Professor of Education and Africana Studies.
According to information on the program,
"the Baccalaureate service originated in a statute of 1432 at Oxford University, requiring each graduate to deliver a sermon in Latin. Over the years, the Baccalaureate has come to signify a sermon of farewell to a graduating class. Historically, Vassar participated in this practice, however during the 1960s the tradition was lost. In 1991 the Council of Black Seniors rejuvenated the service as a Commencement weekend event."
This year's Vassar Baccalaureate was entitled "By Any Means Necessary" (Wikipedia entry on the origin of the phrase) and Reverend Dr. Michael Eric Dyson gave the address.
Afterward, I had the opportunity to meet him, give him a copy of my book, and get my picture taken.
All in all, a wonderful day.
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