| Charles Davis, who graduated this spring from Edgewood College with a double major in religious studies and psychology, isn't supposed to be where he is today according to all the stereotypes and labels that are given credence in our society and the naysayers who spread them. Davis spent his first three years on the high honor roll before coasting to a 3.3 GPA during his senior year at Edgewood. Davis was what some would say an "at-risk" child. Davis is biracial with an African American father and Norwegian American mother. He was enrolled at Project Boostrap, known as the program that took children when no one else wanted to work with them. And right before he was slated to graduate from East High School in 1998, he did a "knuckle headed move," in his own words and ended up spending three years behind bars courtesy of the Wis. Dept. of Corrections. The experience ended up turning Davis' life around; similar to what happened to Malcolm X when he was sent to prison. "I went from a life where I didn't have a whole lot of direction to having this experience," Davis said during an interview in Wingra Cafe on the Edgewood campus. "It was really a spiritual foundation. When I went to prison, that's when I became a Christian. I made up my mind I was going to school and finishing what I began a long time ago. I came out and it was a 180-degree turn for me." Two years ago, Davis studied in Sweden for a year as a part of his academic program. It was another life-changing experience. "I assimilated the language extremely fast," Davis said. "That was really my introduction into the whole international experience. It opened up my eyes. After my semester in Sweden, I traveled throughout Europe -- Austria, Poland, Germany, Italy, Greece. I really think there is something to be gleaned from that experience of being abroad, not only traveling, but also actually living abroad. I think living abroad is really fundamental. Sweden was a lot different [from] America in regards to it being very clean. The people aren't as friendly initially. They are very polite on first encounters and it takes them a while to open up. But once they do, they are very kind people. They'll give you the shirt off their backs. The benefits of a universal health care system and free education up to a Master's level degree definitely make the fabric of the society completely different than the United States." And while he was there, Davis and two student colleagues conducted some research that was published in the European Journal of Psychology. "We filmed several different ethnic groups including Swedes, Americans and Germans and looked at how they communicate and whether they are introverted or extroverted," Davis said. "We looked at many different things and the results were shocking. One assumes that they understand the cultural norms and the cultural differences. But it isn't a given. So you put them in a research setting and you get to see these things manifested right before your eyes." While he was in Europe, Davis also took note how he was treated as a biracial individual. "I wasn't looked at as just a 'Black man,'" Davis said. "Here, if you have a little bit of color, it's 'Oh, he's Black.' You can't be multicultural or whatever. They treated me as an American. And when I came back, I think that helped me out. A lot of times, especially in the academic settings where I studied at the university and here, a lot of times academic settings in Madison even though it's supposed to be diverse, it isn't very welcoming to people of color. To understand that we're very much a part of American society is so important to feeling included." Davis is hardly through with his international travels. In a few weeks, Davis will be headed for South Korea where he will teach English for a year. Due to the good pay and free airfare, Davis will be able to save for the next major step in his education. "I would like to do graduate school in Oslo, Norway," Davis said. "Most of the programs they offer are in English. There are peace studies and environmental studies. I think I'm going study more along the line of peace studies. Hopefully, I will find an internship at the UN or some other international organization in Europe." While growing up biracial in Madison was very difficult, it may now be working to Davis' advantage. "It's a challenge, but maybe that's an advantage for people who are biracial, tri-racial or whatever," Davis said. "The advantage is that our world is very diverse. If you go outside the isolated, pocketed communities, you realize that people need to learn how to get along." Davis has moved on to a larger world, a far cry from where he was just a short decade ago. |
| Graduation at Edgewood College Charles Davis: The world at his doorstep By Jonathan Gramling |
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