2 • BENNETT BANNER • OCTOBER 24, 1997
OPINION • OPINION • OPINION • OPINION • OPINION
Paquita
Herring
Perspectives about
60-year celebration
I was once told "The past is the beginning of a beginning.”
In other words, we should not forget the past but we should use it as
a tool to move forward in a positive direction. As Bennett College
celebrated “60 Years of Student Activism in Pursuit of Social
Justice,” we had a chance to relive and recreate
our past as a student body. Through films,
speeches, a play and a march we remembered
over 200 Bennett students that were arrested
during the civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s and those students
that picketed outside of the national theater on South Elm Street to
protest the way that blacks were depicted in films in 1937. Those
were students that stuck together to achieve the things that they all
believed in; not just at their school but in their conununity.
The activities taught me that we rarely posses those same
outstanding traits of our sisters before us. Now we choose to do
things individually rather than as a group failing to realize that we
would get more attention as a group rather than as individuals.
We’ve lost communication with each other and interest in most
everything because we feel that we don’t have a voice.
The opinion expressed in this column is that of the author and does not
necessarily reflect the opinion of the Bennett Banner staff
Student Opinion Poll:
THE BENNETT BANNER
The Newspaper produced by the
Phenomenal Women of Bennett College
EPrroRiAL
Paquita Herring Editor
Kenya A. Samuels Features Editor
Kamilah Bennett Health Center
Savella Black Public Relations
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Jobina C. Brown Sports
Christina Burch College Adminstration
Camisha Gentry Photography
Erisha Lipford Briefings
Delanissa A. Moody ACES
LaTarsha Simmons Women’s Leadership institute
Ronda Stingley Dorms
A’Shauna K. Tyler Herstory
Bianca Williams Sports
PRODUCnON
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SAI F.S ft MARKlOTNrw
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Marie A. Dixon-Smith Sales & Marketing Rep.
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Dr. Lena D. Cobb Faculty Adviser
The Bennett Banner is a laboratory newspaper published twice a
month during the academic year, except during months with College
recognized holidays or College vacations. The newspaper is pro
duced by and for students at Bennett College. The newspaper
office is located in Shell Hall C-2.
Some photographs published In the Banner are courtesy of the
Public Affairs and Marketing Office.
How did the celebration of '60 Years of Student Ac
tivism in Pursuit of Social Justice' affect you?
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LA MEKIA MCNEILL
FRESHWOMAN
MAJOR; MASS COMM
HOME STATE: WASHINGTON D.C.
The events that took place last
week were beautiful. I can truly
say that I woi touched, for once
in my life. I felt in tune with my
history, and part of a struggle-
the struggle for equal rights.
JO! ELAYNE WIGFALL
FRESHWOMAN
MAJOR; MASS COMM
HOME STATE; NEW JERSEY
The events of last week allowed
me to ponder on the numbers of
men, women and children who
died for my name sake (although
unknown to them), in order to
make a place in American
society for me.
CAMILLA SMITH
JUNIOR
MAJOR; SOCIOLOGY
HOME STATE; MARYLAND
Last week was my most valued
experience at Bennett. My
sisters and I were unified,
instead of being discriminatory
against each other over material
and physical appearances.
When we held hands and sang,
we were one love, one struggle
and one people.
*•.
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ALLISON SMITH
JUNIOR
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
HOME STATE: MARYLAND
I enjoyed most of the weeks
activities. I never realized how
involved Bennett Belles were in
the Civil Rights Movement 1
loved the march. It gave me the
inspiration to fight for social
change, and to attend the Million
Woman March.
MACHE WELLS
FRESHWOMAN
MAJOR: POLI SCI
HOME STATE: VIRGINIA
It [week-long celebration] made
me realize just how far we as a
people have come. It also made
me appreciate the stories my
parents told me about their
involvement in the Civil Rights
Movement.
SONGSERRE TAY
FRESHWOMAN
MAJOR: BIOLOGY
HOME STATE; NORTH CAROLINA
It made me have a special
appreciation for what Blacks had
to endure in those times just to
enjoy the things that we now take
for granted.