From recent media coverage and social media reaction, you get the impression that Morehouse College is in the midst of a great crisis. An alumnus sends a letter asking for accountability, the letter is made public, and people react to it.

But does a public inquiry from a graduate necessarily mean the school is in jeopardy? Or does it mean that there is group of folks who want better for their institution?

And nothing more?

It’s a Catch-22 for Mother Morehouse. The school is so steeped in legacy, so necessary in higher education for black people, that from most appearances, it should be above criticism; and it offends some folks when it attracts attention in a negative way.

But there’s always room for improvement, even at Morehouse. And if there’s a secret legacy of “it ain’t broke, so we don’t need to fix anything,” Morehouse could very well be jeopardizing its ability to match its mission with the changing times.

Asking if someone smells smoke doesn’t mean there’s a fire, and a lack of smelling smoke doesn’t mean the whole joint is on the verge of burning down. It easy to commend dedicated alums who want better, and those who want to preserve the positive images of HBCUs.

There’s no crisis at Morehouse. Room for improvement? Absolutely. But no crisis.

Morehouse College