The Only Black Student [Paperback]

Lull Mengesha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2009

The Only Black Student is a book that evolved progressively from casual group and one on one discussions into written form during the latter years of Lull's undergraduate experience. On campus, Lull worked as a student ambassador for the Office of Minority Affairs. Additionally, he provided guidance to college-bound high school students who feared that they would not succeed socially and academically at a Predominantly White Institution. Many had only interacted with people of similar economic and ethnic backgrounds before entering a PWI. Compiling input from his mentors, mentees, and peers over the course of three years, he completed and published his first edition of The Only Black Student. Lull never considered himself a writer, but was driven by the desire to inscribe the wisdom to others that he wished someone had shared with him when his academic journey began.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Life has taken Lull down an unanticipated yet rewarding path. As an undergraduate, he completed prerequisites for dental school and majored in economics, primarily because he felt that both of these areas of study were safe and practical. His senior year however, Lull made the decision to put dental school aside in pursuit of a more fulfilling profession. Throughout his life he had been interested in business, community service, and entrepreneurship, so he decided to develop his leadership skills. After graduating from college, he started applying for jobs at consulting firms and local technical companies to put his economics degree to use. He took on various odd jobs, including working for a cleaning service and tutoring high school and early college students before Boeing offered him a great position as a Functional Analyst. Lull is in the process of receiving his Master of Science Degree in Information Management and saved enough money over the past few years to purchase his first home. Looking back, people didn't expect students from his high school to graduate, let alone pursue advanced degrees.

Product Details

• Paperback: 76 pages
• Publisher: Mengesha Publishing (May 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0578023091
• ISBN-13: 978-0578023090
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lull Mengesha is an Ethiopian American author who was born in Khartoum Sudan. His family immigrated to the US when he was a child. He attended Rainier Beach high school in South Seattle and attended The University of Washington to study Economics for his undergraduate degree as well as receiving his Masters in Science in Information Management.

Since publishing The Only Black Student, Lull has had the opportunity to engage with different high schools and colleges locally and internationally. His focus is helping students navigate the social, cultural and academic settings of college environments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource, October 1, 2009

By 

Readers Paradise "Book Club" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Only Black Student (Paperback)

It was wonderful to finally have someone validate my feelings from my time spent in grade school. My mom busted my siblings and me out of the neighborhood school to a school in the better neighborhoods. P.S 113 in Glendale, NY here comes three of the "Brown "children. (Brown representing our last name and skin color)

When the bus picked us up we saw children who looked like us. However they weren't on the bus for long. By the time we got off in Queens no one looked like me and there I sat alone and somewhat afraid. My sister got off before my brother and I because she was older and was leaving P.S 113 for P.S. 119.

Mr. Mengesha congratulates us (who graduated from a PWI-Predominately White Institution) as a "positive statistic" and it's truly the greatest of compliments. Its great how the author draws on his own personal perspective of Higher Education in the United States for the "black student" it's what takes this self help book to a different level.

The Only Black Student could've also been titled "The Only Student" because as I read this book some of my other acquaintances and friends who were not kissed by nature could've gained insight from this fantastic read.

The Layout, ohmigash! I love the layout of the book, it was sectioned in chucked which made reading very easy and chapters divided and easy to follow. It was like being in an interactive lecture following the author as he prepared to get into his PWI through "where he is today" This was a fun read and very different from many self help books out there, I challenge you to read it and find out why.

Missy
Readers' Paradise

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One from the Heart, July 13, 2009

By 

Catharine H. Beyer (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Only Black Student (Paperback)

Lull Mengesha has written a helpful book for under-represented minority students who find themselves at predominantly white institutions of higher ed--in other words, at MOST institutions of higher ed. This book offers intelligent ideas for succeeding in college to students who face the obstacles of racism and inequity that both the past and the present have put in their paths. This is also a book that would be useful to majority students, college faculty, staff, and administrators--not only because Mengesha's advice is helpful to anyone in college, but because his story can show us a part of the college experience that we may not know about, and, by showing that, add to our learning. The most important message Mengesha gives in his sometimes breathtakingly honest account of his own time in college is to be honest with yourself and to not give up--no matter what--even though not giving up may ask for your time, heart, and Fridays. His story shows that the struggle to keep going is worth the costs. This is a beautiful, funny, self-revealing, and courageous book with a message important for all of us to hear. Thank you Lull for this gift.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for discussion with all races, October 1, 2009

By 

Syreeta - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Only Black Student (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. Being a student at the same university as Lull, I picked up a lot of similarities. Parts of the book made me upset, parts made me laugh, and some times I felt like writing about my own experiences.
If you want a quick general idea of what a lot of African American males go through during college, pick up this book. It is sure to open your eyes. I liked the book because now there was FINALLY a book out there that talked about college experinces that I could relate to. Even some experiences that I couldn't relate to, so it opened my eyes as well.
The book is not only for Black students. Please! Everyone read it! Get to know another perspective. You may just find out that we are not so different afterall. We are all people. We are all students. We all got into the same university. We all want to graduate. And don't be afraid to smile at people!
Lull was a mentor to me even before I started college and has helped me during my college years. His inclusive and outgoing personality made my college experience that much better.