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BLACK INK
February. 1973
Congratulations
On Survival
by Michele Alston
Staff Writer
Everyone is putting down “us niggers.” Yep, “US NIGGERS,”
cause Bloods we all are “NIGGERS” with minor mutations. You
can’t follow that. Well, look at it this way. The elderly generation is
saying “things ain’t really changed that much in the last fifty ye^s -
granted they changed but hell still ain’t diminished no fires.” Oray!
If things ain’t changed a hell of ’va lot and our genes mutated dur\ng
slavery and niggerism — what the fuck has made them change in tile
last fifty years. This is to say nothing has occurred to mutate our
“niggerism” to any great extent.
Oh I like to class folks as much as you do. I, too, like to think I
am “thinking” and considering solutions to some problems or will be
able to work with people who are considering solutions to some
problems. But does this make me any less a nigger than you, nigger
This isn’t the point 1 wish to make, though. The thing I’m doing
is congratulating you. Now I know everybody is saying, “Thanks for
congratulating me, but why are you congratulating him, too.” ’Cause
he survived, too. I’m congratulating all the Bloods because they
survived. Now I may not like your method of survival and maybe
you don’t care for mine, BUT! the fact remains we are both still here
in our niggerism. Oh! I know you want to be called Black, but if you
were really Black why the fuck are you still here?
CONGRATULATIONS ON SURVIVAL!! At least in this case all
niggers on UNC-CH campus have the same goal even if they do have
different means.
And now that you have accepted my congratulatory remarks —
and don’t be acting all high and mighty cause niggers like praise —
you accept it. How do you feel? I hope you feel good about
surviving. I DO! I hope you check out your methods. Of course, I
AM, TOO. You see, ’cause for some strange reason I have survived,
too, and NONE OF THIS ACTUALLY FITS “OUR BLACKNESS.”
WEAR SOUTH
SomESo&U* QeTTW
b
'4
Letters to the
Editor Welcome
BSM minutes...
The BSM was “right on time”
in dealing with the new business
on 1973 on Thursday night,
January 24. In a highly
politicized atmosphere
heightened by the lingering
memory of the militant
fireworks of Amira Baraka only
the night before, UNC Blacks
applauded the candidacy of
Brother Alan Mask for President
of UNC, and dug on his
confession of a “working
knowledge of what Blackness is
on this campus.” After giving his
fellow “white liberal” candidate
Dave Gephart the silent
treatment, the BSM moved to
unanimously endorse Alan’s
campaign.
It was also publicized that
several other Black have tossed
red, black and gree hats into the
political arena of UNC. Along
with Alan, hopefully Ehot
Stevenson, Mike Moseley, and
Lester Diggs will add a httle
color to next year’s political
proceedings.
Responding to the need for
struggle for Black survival, the
BSM moved to take the initiative
in ameliorating the plight of
Black prisoners, concentrating
its efforts on the historical relic
of Hillsborough, and making
careful note that we are al
political prisoners. Ernie Pitt,
heading a Program for Prisoners,
wants us to make a concerted
drive to go into the Hillsborough
prison, if only to rap, play
poker, or pick ribs with the
Brothers.
Milton Gunn made it
perfectly clear that his social
committee is getting the new
year off “on the good foot” and
will be partying hearty in the
upcoming months. In an
unprecented break with
tradition, he announced that
from now on, parties may be
sponsored by private groups of
individuals, Lorretta Shipman,
Connie Bullock, and Sabrina
Valerie Batts
Editor in Chief
Emma Pullen
Associate Editor
Doris Stith
Marmging Editor
Gwen Harvey
Feature Editor
An^la Bryant
News Editor
Leonard Lee
Sports Editor
Ida Dew
Lay-Out Editor
Milton McCoy
Photography Editor
:+
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 addressed to BLACK INK, 261 B, Carolina
Student Union, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
N.C. 27514.
Andrews having been given the
dubious honor of this “first.”
In another decree of Gunn
power, it was announced that
bid whist and pinochile
tournaments will be starting
soon, and obviously, all those
souls who held out against
Union policy prohibiting card
playing now “hold the upper
hand.”
Since the Upendo Center has
finally gotten the furniture it has
been hassehng for all year, all
Brothers and Sisters of African
Descent are strongly urged to
sculpt, paint, draw cartoons, or
do whatever moves them to
decorate the new Afrikan den.
At least all the World of Upendo
Center won’t look like a Ghetto.
For those who haven’t a trace
of artistic talent coursing
through their veins, but who are
stocked with enthusiasm and
goodwill, or simply blessed with
a fat wallet, old quizzes or term
papers for the quiz file,
paperbacks, hardbacks, or
greenbacks will be greatly
appreciated.
Along with the return of
Black Sounds on WCAR, and the
organization of a new Black
Drama group, headed by Karen
Dacons, the BSM introduced
UNC’s new Black Chapelin,
Reverend Preston Jones. Brother
Jones professed that he wanted
to be considered “in” by the
student body, so all those
suffering in silence over personal
problems, or incurably afflicted
by “Love Jones,” go by and
check out his advice.
Guest speaker for the night
was Brother Dwight Womble,
who attended the National Black
Pohtical Assembly in Chicago
last October. Rapping hard on
the topic of “Blacks in
Independent Politics,” he
reiterated Baraka’s demands for
the unification of Africa, as well
as the acquisition of political
and economic power for Blacks
in America. Right On!
Ashanti
What’s going on at UNC?
What’s happening in the African
and Black Studies
“departments?”
Rumors concerning the
dismissal of Dr. A. Dunbar have
disturbed us. The Black students
want to know whyl What is the
reasoning behind this action? Is
the university no longer
committed to the growth and
expansion of the Black studies^
Program?
Does the University give a
damn?
If professors like Dr. Dunbar
are dismissed and qualified
faculty are not hired, what is the
future of the program? Is it
destined to DIE?
Is not the issue that should be
before the University the hiring
of more faculty for the
department (and all others) so
that a more effective academic
experience can be offered for
Black students?
What’s going on??
Lest We Forget . . .
“The thrust for Black Studies Programs developed, not on white
college campuses, but at Selma, Birmingham, and the March on
Washington. It was on the Civil Rights battlefield that Blacks learned
that an appeal to the white conscience had to be replaced by an
appeal to Black consciousness; that the alternative to white
oppression was not integration, but the mounting of Black Power;
that white people would not save Black people from exploitation
and degradation as long as white people benefited from them.”
Preston Wilcox
January 1 Emancipation Proclamation enacted and proclaimed that
all slaves and their descendents would henceforth be
free. (1865) 1973, we are still waiting!
January 3 91st Congress vote to seat Adam Clayton Powell Jr., fine
him $125,000 and strip him of his seniority (22
years) 1969.
January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) born in Atlanta,
Georgia. Keen orator and Black spokesman. Black
America still mourns his murder.
February 1 Langston Hughes (1902-1968) bom.
Four Black College students from A & T sat-in at a
Woolworth’s Lunch Counter in Greensboro, N.C., and
began a whole new phase in the Black struggle for
liberation.
February 12 NAACP organized in 1909 and began its long history of
struggle and legal achievements for Black America.
February 21 Malcolm X, mentor of our present-day Black
Consciousness was assassinated. Although silenced by
death, his legacy still burns in the hearts and minds of
present day Blacks who will not be murdered,
otherwise silenced.
or
February 21 William E.B. Dubois (1868-1963) author, educator,
historian, editor, and statesman born.
February 25 Mohammed Ali won heavyweight boxing championship
from Sonny Liston, Miami Beach. 1964.
BLACK SOUNDS
12 a.m. — 3 a.m. Sun. - Thurs.