Stage I: Fledglings
A peaceful hour passed when Rachel
surprised me by knocking on my door. She had one of the mentoring fliers
in her hand. Its torn edges indicated she'd pulled it off one of the bulletin
boards.
"Hello, Rachel. I see you found the fliers. You didn't have to take
that one. The university's going to mail one to you." I wouldn't have
expected her to be interested. "Now officially, you're supposed to
sign up at the administration office, but I'll let them know you're interested.
I'll also be glad to answer any questions you might have."
She stood a little straighter so that she could look down her nose at me.
"I am not here to sign up for the program. I'm here to ask you to stop
posting these things," she said, disgustedly.
This wasn't what Dr. Banks wanted. "It should be a good program. If
you sign up now, I could be your mentor.
"I don't want you for a mentor." She tossed the paper at me and
turned to leave.
"Wait, Rachel. Let's talk?"
She looked at her watch. "I don't have time. I have to get my books
before the line at the store gets too long."
"OK. I'll walk with you." I think if she hadn't been surprised
by my request, she wouldn't have agreed. "Just let me get my wallet
and keys?" I rushed back into the room and grabbed them before she
could change her mind. The bookstore was only a couple blocks away. We walked.
"So, tell me why you don't like the fliers?"
"It's not the fliers. It's the program and others like it."
"What don't you like about it?"
"It's counterproductive."
"How?"
She gave me an earnest expression. "All it's going to do is upset people.
It's not going to keep anyone in school."
"Upset what people? Your friends? Have they said something negative
to you about the program? "
"No. But, programs like this are divisive. I see no need to promote
things that are divisive." As we walked down the street, several guys
stopped to watch us. They obviously weren't looking at me.
"If your friends haven't mentioned the program, why do you think they
consider it divisive?"
"They don't like special privileges programs."
"It's just a mentoring program." We'd reached the book store.
I didn't want to continue the conversation in mixed company, but she stayed
with it after we'd gone inside.
"It's not just a mentoring program," she said, insistently. "My
mother warned me not to get involved with separatist groups."
"The program is sponsored by the university, not a separatist group...
Stage I: Fledglings
Stage II: Chocolate Cream
Stage III: Rage & Destroy
Stage IV: Wanna Be Blacks
Stage V: Empowered
Stage VI: Passing