2
BLACK INK
November, 1972
Black solidarity day
No Blacks?
Saturday, November 6 was a beautiful day for a few Black people
in Chapel Hill. At two p.m. in the Union’s Great Hall, the Ebony
Expressions Community Theatre presented “Tamborines to Glory”,
by Langston Hughes. For all who have had occasion to read any of
Hughes’ famous works the perception and method of expression of
Black life characteristic of his style, are no new phenomenon.
Written in the 1940’s, “Tamborines to Glory” is still a very relevant
portrayal of the struggle of Black people against the economic and
social predicament which is inherent in Black life in the United
States of America. And perhaps even more exciting for Saturday’s
audience was the evidence of hard work, talent, dedication, and
enthusiasm portrayed by the local cast of students and members of
the Chapel Hill community. There were approximately 60 people
present - about 30 of them UNC students.
The evening’s festivities were also very relevant to the Black
experience. We had the privilege (which is rare indeed on a campus
with an orientation such as that of UNC) to meditate on our African
heritage as Emperor Dele Ojo and his Cultural Group from Nigeria
played, danced, sang and did miraculous feats in the style of the
native land. There were approximately 125 people present - about
15 Black UNC students.
Black Solidarity Day was culminated with a party in Craig
Dormitory. There were approximately 300 Black students present.
Foi ihose who participated in Black Solidarity Day, there was an
educational experience in Blackness which one very seldom, to say
the least, absorbs from a white institution; in one day we
experienced a por trayal of the urban Black experience, a
comradeship and unity with the community, and an interaction with
our African culture.
But where were the Black students?
Are we no longer interested in the Black experience? Perhaps
we’d better consider this question seriously, brothers and sisters.
Apathy, negativism, individualism (or Chquism) seem to be the “in”
things.
Or perhaps we feel that we are so “together” we don’t need
events like Black Solidarity Day; all we need are friends and parties.
Just what’s going down, bloods? Are we tired? Are we satisfied?
There were approximately 40 Black boys and girls from the
community at the Black Solidarity Day festivities. Do we care
anything about the future of the little brothers and sisters in
America; have we forgotten that this future promises to be dim for
them if they aren’t born into the class of “uppity niggers” or if they
aren’t super stars, both of whom only think they have it made, and
that the majority of Black people are neither!
Where is our vision? 1 know we must each deal with the realities
of our day to day existence, but can we afford to be content with
handling this satisfactorially?
Black Solidarity Day, and other Black events, organizations, and
materials are important, it seems to me, not only in developing one’s
consciousness about the future of our race, but they can also help
one in dealing with the day to day existence - they enable one to
think, feel, and meditate on his or her being; they help one to
develop an understanding of self.
But f)erhaps none of this is important and relevant for the Blacks
at UNC. Maybe many feel no need for Black events, a Black Ink, or a
Black Student Movement, for that matter. Many of us seem strong,
invincible, self-sufficient.
For those among us who do need the experiences that Black
events, organization, and materials can provide, and who are just in a
slump, you missed a beautiful day on November 6 - but do come
and get involved, as there will be more of the same...
For those among us who don’t give a fuck, may you wake up
before it’s too late...
I BLACK INK -
KFOte. .
UNC «incir
Valerie Batts
Editor in Oiief
Mitzi Bond
Associate Editor
Doris Stith
Managing Editor
Gwen Harvey
Feature Editor
Angela Bryant
News Editor
Leonard Lee
Sports Editor -,
Ida Dew
iMy-Out Editor
Milton .McCoy
Photography Editor
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Mary Lacewell
Minister of Information
BLACK INK, published monthly by the UNC BLACK
STUDENT MOVEMENT. All unsigned editorials represent
the opinions of the editor. All columns represent only the
opinions of the individual contributors. Letters to the
Editor may be addre.ssed to BLACK INK, 261 B, Carolhia
Student Union, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
N.C. 27514.
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#1
Carolina darkies
everywhere!
by Larry Mixon
Staff Writer
This question may sound
simple and trite, but nonetheless
it is quite pertinent: JUST
WHERE IN THE HELL ARE
BLACK STUDENTS at
Carolina...the proud, confident,
beautiful, and together Black
Students? I’ve looked and gone
everywhere, and still have not
come across some true, down to
earth, together Black folks. I
mean even untogether Black
people are missing from this
campus!!
Everywhere 1 look all 1 can
see is a group of dark skin
students whom I label “Carolina
darkies”. Talk to a Carolina
darkle. Ask him some questions
pertinent to the condition and
direction of Blackness on this
campus, and all you’ll hear is,
“An-man, I ain’t got time”,
“Bullshit”, or “Like wow, man,
black people are beautiful, like
dig that chick over there with
long, fine, good hair.” My God
Almighty, above, its enough to
drive one into whiteness.
“Man the B.S.M. ain’t shit,
and 1 know ’cause I went to a
BSM Minutes
■V
I
Doing some “fly” politikking
of its own in a national election
week, the BSM, on Thursday
night, November 9, met the
issues head on. Endorsing the
YOBU Conference to be held
November 18th and 19th at
NCCU, it emphasized the
pressing demand for UNC Black
attendance. As a potentially
powerful coalition of students
across the state, the conference
will deal primarily with
statewide politics, the Ben
Chavis affair, and
Pan-Africanism.
,1'
So much is happening this
monthj, Nikki Giovanni is
bringing her talent to UNC on
November 21 (since she is not
fasting there will be eats
afterwards, chitlins not
included!) A fashion show is
shaping up for November 17;
and Blacks will take to the
streets to march in honor of
James Cates on the 20th of
November. The committee,
headed by Deryl Davis, has
procured speakers Rev. John
Caldwell and Brother Osofu
McDonald of WAFR, as well as
the BSM Choir to help
appropriately express anger and
grief.
For all those turned off by
the cacophony of WCAR,
“Black Sounds” is on its way,
and for all those looking for
more than that offered between
the covers of the “Yack,” a
Black yearbook may be in the
offering. Also, those interested
simply in depicting Black life at
Carolina, or yearning to follow
in the footsteps of Shaft should
contact UNC’s own budding
Melvin Van Peebles; Bumes Ray,
who is getting together a film on
Blackness at Carolina.
It was disclosed that WAFR
needs money for a new
transmittor and has asked UNC
Blood to donate fifteen hundred
dollars. “The Friends of WAFR”
(A UNC committee) has
proposed benefit dances and
speaking engagements to raise
the needed funds.
Guest speaker for the night
was Ed Caldwell who
emphasized the need for Black
students to assist in choosing the
new assistant dean of student
affairs, who will work mainly
with Black and foreign students.
Mr. Caldwell himself is being
considered for the job. Right
On!
Comic relief was provided by
none other than the alumni
as.sociation of UNC. It had had
the audacity (o submit a letter
to student body president
Richard Epps suggesting that
“Sweet Sweetback” be banned
from being shown Sunday
November 12, at the Union. “Its
racist content might cause a
riot.” Surely they were joking!
More Power!
t!
• •
meeting back in ’70 and all they
did was argue.” “I’m going at
8;30, ’cause Niggers ain’t never
on time.” “Ah man, 1 ain’t got
time for that Black Shit
Movement, Black people ain’t
never going to go anywhere, or
do anything”, “Like I said,
niggers ain’t goin to do a damn
thing for you...’ Black Students
here at Carolina don’t make me
cry!! Never before have I seen or
heard Black people indulging in
such self-negation - that’s
reserved for negroes and colored
folkses.
Black Students would never
label Black ideals - bullshit.
Never would you see Black
Students running around with
smiles and grins for whites, and
frowns and blank expressions for
Blacks. Never would you see a
Black Student act towards his
fellow non-student Black
brothers and sisters as though
they were dirt. Never would you
see a Black Student become so
identified wifh his school, that
he is a CaroUna Tarheel, and not
a part of Black people. Never
would you see or hear of a Black
Student looking upon the
childish antics of whites as
excusables, and the same acts by
Blacks as stupidity and to be
expected.
Never would you see a Black
Student become so involved and
wrapped up in his individual self
that he could care less about the
welfare or survival of his fellow
Black Students. Never, but
never, would you see a Black
Student become so involved in
using his fdlow Black Students
that he would begin to regard
them as objects and not people.
Nor would you ever see or hear a
Black Student refer to “Black”
with shame, and dislike.
And above all, never but
never would you see Black
Students allowing white people
to define what they can and
cannot do, where they can and
cannot go, and what they are
and are not. But beheve me, all
the connotations and more are
to be expected of and from
Carolina darkies.
I repeat, where in the hell are
the Black Students of Carolina.
Will they please make themselves
known, heard, respected, and
felt amidst all these Carolina
darkies.