The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that God declared no matter what condition we are in, the so-called American Negroes are righteous by nature. He also instructed us to “stop wanton criticism of everything that is Black owned and Black operated.” This paradigm is the mode of thought used by those who claim to follow his teachings. Therefore, I must give our people from the streets to the suites the benefit of the doubt.

Texas Southern University has taken a beating in the press for the 22 years I have been in Houston. If we use the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s model, we are forced to approach the criticism of TSU by Black alumni, faculty, staff, students and press as being fed by a righteous zeal for perfection. Righteous motivation, however, does not guarantee that critics of TSU have presented all the facts or are using righteous means to convey their criticism. Nor does it mean that any of those being criticized are immune from being used as tools of oppression by our former slave masters’ children. It does mean the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad desires that we understand that underneath all the Negro mess is righteousness.

With all the negative press over the years, one could ask: “Can any good come out of Texas Southern University?” With very little research, I was able to conclude that TSU is one of the greatest institutions in Black America. Even if every word of criticism about the University is true, it does not change these truths: TSU has awarded almost 40,000 degrees, since its inception. The University awarded 13% of all pharmacy degrees in the state last year, accounting for 73% of those earned by Blacks. Thurgood Marshall Law School accounted for 62% of law degrees earned by Blacks and 22% of those earned by Latinos. TSU students come from all states in the union and over 50 countries.

The faculty at TSU is made up of scholars as ethnically diverse as the student body. Close to 70% of the faculty hold earned doctorate degrees. These aren’t lightweight nutty professors. They are involved in important environmental, medical, transportation and computer science research. Dr. Thomas Freeman and the world famous TSU debate team have brought home the gold from all over the globe. I am a Dr. James Douglas fan and supporter. He is my friend and brother in the struggle. We fought many a battle together in the past and have many yet to fight in the future.

It was the evil from within and without that contributed to the decline in enrollment and other problems during his tenure as University president. In all fairness, his successor, Dr. Priscilla Slade has presided over the largest percentage increase in enrollment among public institutions in the state.  First year student retention has measurably improved at TSU. The $154 million funded to TSU as part of the State’s agreement with the Office of Civil Rights has paid for new dormitories and refurbished buildings.  Drs. Douglas, Slade, and the community should celebrate the fruits of our struggle, which is evident in the ambitious building program taking place on the campus. The money also affords the University administration an opportunity to put new financial and management systems in place.

In all honesty, I wrote this article while considering whether or not to enroll in grad school at TSU after reading criticism of the University in the Black press. What I have written is only part of what I discovered while arriving at my final decision to enroll.  In truth, when it comes to the Black college experience, I am not objective. I am a graduate of Hampton Institute (University).
If it were not for a Black college, I would not have attended college at all. I love my HBCU’s, warts and all. That means I love Texas Southern University. I appeal to those who criticize or write about TSU or any other Black institution to operate from the premise that we, Black people, are the righteous.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said, “Each of us should live long enough to out live our ignorance.” Show respect for Dr. Priscilla Slade as the President of our University, as we showed for Dr. James Douglas. Criticism of our leaders should never be personal, but principled. So it is with criticism of our institutions.  The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches that “the good takes care of itself - we must correct the wrong.” In correcting the wrong, we must be balanced and fair in our presentations.

As my grandmother used to say: “Remember, what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.” Jesus said it better: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”  Not only has TSU survived, she is surviving and prospering today. If we learn how to properly criticize the University using the righteousness premise, TSU will continue to prosper in the future. Can any good come out of Texas Southern University? Emphatically, yes!

Minster Robert Muhammad is the Southwest Regional Representative of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam.