‘Whys’ of Wisdom to the Class of 2021
By Prof. McKinley E. Melton
Long before I became a professor of African American Literature, I’ve had a fascination with words. I’ve always been drawn to artful turns-of-phrase and inspired by eloquently articulated pearls of wisdom, and I wholeheartedly confess to being a word nerd who is still excited by the prospect of expanding my vocabulary. That said, I also recognize that sometimes the simplest words can be the most powerful, such as one that we don’t use nearly often enough: ‘why.’
For most toddlers, the popularity of ‘why’ is second only to the sharp and well-placed ‘no!’ Our fondness for the word ‘no!’ is about establishing boundaries and discovering the power of our voice to give, deny, or withdraw consent. Our ‘whys,’ however, signal our openness to the world and the desire to know more about the wonders contained within it.
Somewhere along the way, curiosity loses its coolness and the vulnerability of admitting that we don’t know everything is replaced by the forceful confidence of ‘I can do it myself!’ To all of the students about to embark upon their collegiate careers, I encourage you to rediscover the power and the potential of the word ‘why.’
Your use of the word ‘why’ should never be limited to your classrooms or to this campus. Remember that your undergraduate experience is not designed to shield you from the outside world, but to prepare you to engage, thoughtfully and conscientiously, with the world of which you are very much a part. The interconnectedness of the real world and our nation’s campuses has been showcased in dramatic fashion as of late, with impassioned protests and cries for social justice and heated debates about the fundamental importance as well as the limitations and the responsibility of free speech.
Of course, the events of the past month, when white supremacists incited violence and terror on the campus of the University of Virginia, remain fresh in our minds. The images that came to us from Charlottesville, in particular, provide tremendous evidence of the power of ‘why,’ and the need to interrogate the motivations for such acts, to question the narratives that emerge in response, and to challenge ourselves with the question of not only ‘why’ these things happen, but what we’re going to do about it.
You need not wait for such explosive incidents, however, to pursue the connections between your experiences here and the world around us.
The aim of a college education is always that you actively seek the synergy between your courses but also that you consider the broader implications of all that you are learning. Do not limit your ‘whys’ to your assignments or your grades, but learn to pursue the questions worth asking. Be actively engaged citizens, capable of understanding the world in which you live and committed to transforming it into the world that may someday be.
As much as ‘why’ is about broadening your own horizons, remember that ‘why’ is conversational by nature. It is an interrogative which elicits a response, and I urge you to use ‘whys’ to enter into dialogues that are equal parts respectful and fearless. Whether in a classroom, a residential hall, or breaking bread — or cookies — in the dining hall, do not shy away from the discomfort that often comes with debate.
Let ‘why’ lead you to more thoughtful conversations, as you probe your peers and your professors, challenging one another to better articulate why you believe what you do. Ask one another about the perspectives that guide your interactions, and be prepared to listen to the response.
If you should find that your own opinions falter in the face of questioning, that you cannot explain the ‘whys’ underlying your personal ideologies, then take the time to re-evaluate where you stand. There is no shame in changing your mind. In fact, in a world such as this — with its misinformation and alternative facts, and the obstinance with which we commit to narrow definitions of who counts as ‘us’ and ‘them’ — intellectual dexterity is greatly to be praised. Ensure that you build your own beliefs on the strongest of foundations and engage with one another so that you can recognize those things that you never knew you didn’t know, even as you remain steadfast in the values that are at your core.
This is the charge that I close with, not just for the class of 2021, but for all of us: let us continue to look, unflinchingly, into the mirror and ask ourselves the challenging questions. Let us not be afraid to interrogate ourselves and one another, our actions and our motivations, and let us not be intimidated by the power and potential of ‘why.’
We will not only strengthen our campuses and the community into which we gladly welcome this new class, but we might just empower ourselves to illuminate the world.
Excerpt taken from a Convocation speech to the class of 2021.
McKinley E. Melton is an English professor at Gettysburg College.
