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in fall 2012
the total enrollment
for graduate an undergraduate for african-american males at UCLA was
660 students. That's 3.3 percent of the
19, 838 other males
enrolled here
out of that 660 african-american male students
sixty-five percent are undergraduate athletes
the number of entering male freshmen students
was 2,418
only 48 of them
are african-american
the graduation rates for african-american males at UCLA
is 74%
which means out of that 48 freshman last year
only 35 are predicted to graduate
when we were children we learned how to mix colors with a paintbrush
we learned that white mixed with anything makes it brighter
but we wouldn't dare mix anything with brown or black or else our entire
creation would be ruined
what we failed to realize
was that the untouched dark section of the paint brush palette became the symbol of
the melanin in our skin
the painters only used us to write words that were dark enough to be noticed
on a white background
So if words are all we are good for then don't you dare tell us to silence our
voices when we choose to speak
now you tell me
i'm supposed to be proud to be at UCLA
when only 35 of us
are predicted to walk across that stage when most of us
are dropping out from the lack of financial aid while Judy Olian
Dean of Anderson School of Management, just spent
$647,000 on first-class flights and hotel stays
the waiting for an apology is asking for the impossible
because no snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible
but you tell me when I should be proud to be a Bruin
when we have more national championships than we do black male freshmen it's evident that
are only purpose here is to
improve your winning percentage. so now black high school kids can care less about grades
just as long as the number on the back of their jersey doesn't fade
and you tell me
i'm supposed to be proud
to be a Bruin
but according to Professor Sander, 3.3% is far too many black kids
on his perfectly paved roads there are far too many black skids
this school is not diverse just because you put it on a pamphlet
but you'll name a building after Albert Carnesale who publicly opposes affirmative action
the action that can make our fraction on your demographic pie chart
look more than just a second hand on a clock its all...
talk, just to maintain this fraudulent reputation
of this institutionalized racist corporation. they don't care about the
cultural limitations of being a minority in society
so we have become our own painters, with our own palettes
and we have voices that speak defiantly. So we ignite the flames to help us find the
path to our future
increasing graduations, not incarcerations,
transforming education, because our numbers can't be any
fewer. so don't be surprised that we have become rebellious for what has happened to us
when every black student in class feels like rosa parks on the bus
we are trying to rewind time with role reversal as our revenge
because we have no other choice when the university refuses to come to our
defense
but we've come come too far to let history repeat itself
even when they are peeling off the dark fur of the Bruin pelt
because our faces are just used to cover up from the public what's really inide
revitalizing lies
to perpetuate your disguise
stop pretending that the wounds of our past have healed
we are not asking for a handout
we are asking for a level playing field
those with less opportunity are fighting for their position trying to find their place, but those with
privilege
are hitting triples, when they were already born on third base
so with all my brothers hopes and dreams
that this university has tried to ruin
how to hell am i supposed to be proud
to call myself...
a BRUIN