Tyson Offers Howard Grads Glimpse of Post-Racial America

Astrophysicist Neil deGrace Tyson was one of five luminaries awarded an honorary degree by Howard University this past week-end as part of the graduation exercises for the Class of 2008. In accepting the honor, Dr. Tyson was as his entertaining best, pointing out to the mainly black audience that he was never entirely comfortable at academic hooding ceremonies. He also told a story of his own past that hinted at what post-racial America can be.

Naturally, Dr. Tyson speaking live is a more enchanting event than reading about it second-hand, but even as an echo, the story is enlightening. In the late 1980s when he was a graduate student, Dr. Tyson got a call from Fox News for comment on an eruption on the surface of the sun. He explained to the reporter that the highly charged particles coming toward Earth were nothing unique, that it happened all the time, and that the planet’s magnetic field would protect the Earth. This would make the northern lights a bigger deal than usual. “Go north and enjoy the show, “ he advised.

The people at Fox were so taken with his explanation that they sent a car to bring him to their studios to repeat himself on camera. Wearing his one sports coat (what graduate student owns more than one?), he did the interview and returned home. Because of the magic of videotape, he was able to watch the interview while dining, and that’s when it struck him.

For the first time in his life, Dr. Tyson said he saw a black person on American TV being asked questions about something that has nothing to do with the “black experience.” He was astonished by this realization. “They didn’t ask, ‘so, how do black people feel about this?’” he quipped.

As America moves into the 21st century, that sense of astonishment will fade in all Americans – it is inevitable, and it is overdue. Dr. Tyson is not merely a distinguished African America, but a distinguished American. His ethnicity, while not irrelevant (it is part of his identity after all), is incidental to his accomplishments. While he most assuredly is one worthy of emulation by black kids around the world, he is equally worthy of emulation by any would be astronomer regardless of where that child’s family came from.

Dr. Tyson also told the Class of 2008 that they shouldn’t list all the great men and women who had attended Howard as if somehow the achievements of their elders would reflect well on them. Rather he said that they would achieve distinction themselves, and that Howard would then come running after them to claim them as the sons and daughters of Howard University. And indeed, that goes for every institution of higher learning and for every graduate.

Finally, special congratulations to one Howard grad in particular, Miss Brittany O. Ellis, who is well on the way to achieving such status for herself.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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