Stephane Dunn, author of the forthcoming University of Illinois Press book “Baad Bitches” and Sassy Supermamas: Black Power Action Films, contributed a commentary to NewsOne.com about Morehouse College’s white valedictorian in the class of 2008.

“Since I teach at Morehouse, folks I know have made it a point to offer their opinions on the ‘historic’ event. I must confess, I was a bit surprised by it myself since one can indeed go for weeks at a time and not encounter a young white man on campus. I wasn’t shocked, however. No one familiar with Packwood’s outstanding social and scholastic achievements and his heartfelt speech on Sunday would find his valedictorian status surprising at any institution.”