Jones wants
to be involved
by Linda Florence
Staff Writer
February, 1973 BLACK INK 5
Gospel vibrations
The Reverend Preston Jones,
Chairman of Religion and Race
of the United Methodist Church,
has recently been appointed
Black Chaplain at the University.
Though the duties of Chaplain
Jones have not been specifically
defined, he expects to spend
most of his time as counselor
and advisor for Black students.
Jones hopes to be looked
upon as a fellow Black among
the students. “I have had the
same kinds of problems and I am
presently involved in the same
struggle that confronts them,”
Jones said.
Jones realizes that it will take
time to get to know the students
and to establish rapport with
them. “Right now my main
interest is to listen to the
students to find out where they
are and where they would like to
go,” Jones said. “After getting
some perspective of their goals,
then 1 will try to help them to
achieve their goals,” he added.
Jones does not like to be
classified as a typical ‘religious
leader’ because it usually
suggests too many traditional
implications which he thinks
should be done away with. “I’m
not a religious leader per se,”
Jones explained. “I’m concerned
with all types of problems in all
areas.” Jones believes that the
Black church has always been a
great asset and focal point for
the community but has failed in
many instances as an agency of
change in the lives of Black
people.
“We are not attempting to
change the Church but the
Church should re-evaluate its
message in light of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ,” Jones explained.
“The church should be involved
with social and all issues that the
people face.”
Jones thinks that the white
church should re-evaluate its
message also, “and become
involved in matters of justice
and equality for all people.”
Jones then quoted from the
book of Amos. “. . . Let justice
fall down like waters, and
righteousness like an
ever-flowing stream” (Amos
5:24). “Any church must take
this mandate of the Prophet if it
is serious,” he said.
To explain this mandate
Jones suggests reading Luke
4:18-19.
by Rosevelf Farmer
Hditors note: Farmer is u
graduate student in Linguistics.
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our
God,” “O God Our Help in Ages
Past”, “The Star Spangled
Banner”, etc. are just a few of
the so-called standards
considered to be expressive
music basically of the “other
expression” which seem to be
disappearing in many Black
gathering. What’s replacing it?
You mean...so you don’t know?
Obviously, you haven’t heard
the BSM Gospel Choir lately.
The BSM Gospeal Choir is
doing “Its thang” in Black
Gospel Music! How do I know?
Well, let me turn you on to some
aspects of the living word.
It was a warm, sticky,
beautiful “Black” night last fall,
when I first heard the choir and
believe you me, the sounds that
came from the 10th floor of
James sent exhiliration
vibrations of the living word of
our Black inheritance as
By Mary L. Lacewell
Staff Writer
It is almost that time again —
nominations for the academy
awards. The nominees for the
awards will be officially
announced on Feb. 12, however,
the academy has leaked out
clues as to who the possible
nominees will be. The major clue
came when the academy’s
technical branches revealed their
preliminary selections in eight
categories (cinematography,
editing, art direction, costumes
and three aspects of music). Ten
selections were made in each of
these categories of which will be
only five nominations.
Judging from these 10
selections in the various
categories, a number of noted
movie critics have speculated on
who will be nominated in the
major categories. If these
speculations can be believed
(and 1 think they can), Blacks
will for the first time play a
prominent role in the major
categories such as Best Picture,
Best Director and Best Actress.
‘Sounder’, the Robert
Radnitz-Martin Ritz story of a
Black share-cropper family in
rural Louisiana around 1934 is
expectd to be a main contender
for the Best Picture nomination.
‘Sounder’ is one of the few
Black films on the market today
that gives a realistic portrayal of
the plight of the Black man in
America. ‘Sounder’ is not only
admired for its almost superb
script (in terms of depicting
reality) but the photography is
so beautiful that it possesses a
dream-like quality.
Two Black actresses. Cicely
Tyson starring in ‘Sounder’ and
Diana Ross featured in ‘Lady
Sings the Blues’, are speculated
to be key prospects in the Best
Actress nominations. Cicely
expressed in gospel.
As I approached James
dormitory, the music got louder,
hand clapping became more
rhythmic and my brotheers and
sisters were praising Divine
Providence tor “not moving the
mountains, but giving them the
strength to climb them.” Yes,
the choir realize that they have a
long way to go and this they
welcome as a challenge.
The choir has been acclaimed
as having one of the best gospel
pianists in these U-N-l-T-t-D
States. If you’ve heard her
“tickle the 88 keys of ivory,”
this you can attest is another
aspect of the living soulful-word.
Miss Francine Randolph (Miss
BSM ’72-73) is truly a James
Cleveland-Aretha Franklin
protegee and also an excellent
soloist.
This is a talented group of
young people. Talents vary
extensively which makes the
repertoire more appealing. They
are too numerous to mention all
of them, but here’s a few: Mona
Tyson gave a very moving
performance as a loyal
sharecropper’s wife, an
understanding mother and, most
of all, as a Black woman who
was in love with her Black man.
One must admit that this
depiction on the screen is a
rarity now days. Diana Ross,
making her acting debut in
‘Lady Sings the Blues’, came
across like a veteran
professional. Her portrayal of
the triumphants and tribulations
of Billie Holliday was close to
perfect.
Both of these young Black
actresses gave superb
performances and I for one
would not want to be on the
committee that would have to
eliminate one of them.
‘Sounder’s’ white director,
Martin Ritt, is much talked
about as a possible nominee for
the Best Director award. Before
directing ‘Sounder’, Mr. Ritt had
a distinguished career as a maker
of socially-concerned films. This
movie could only have added to
his prestige in this area due to
his excellent directing as
witnessed in the performances of
the cast.
Other Black names have been
mentioned in different
categories. Handsome Billy D.
Williams and comic Richard
Pryor, both Black stars in ‘Billie
Holliday’, have been mentioned
as possible nominees for Best
Actor in a Supporting Role.
Richard Pryor’s brilliant comedy
routines rescued the picture in
many of its weak spots. Billy D.
Williams’ portrayal of the
comforting and understanding
boy friend was indeed
remarkable.
It has also been speculated
that Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Super
Fly’ album will pick up the
Oscar nomination for the Best
Musical Score in a movie.
Simmons, alto, does a
remarkable interpretation of
“Precious Lord Take My Hand”:
Theresa Whitley, alto, is featured
singing “He's All You Need to
('jet By” assisted by Tony
Torain, tenor, a new addition
who presents a challenging “call
and response technique” from
the audience; Warren Carson,
tenor, who exemplifies a
melodious voice singing one of
his redition of “Lord Don’t
Move This Mountain”; Wallace
Peppers, who hails from Wilson,
North Carolina, as a bass soloist,
demonstrates his versatility
singing “Swing Low Sweet
Chariot”; Cheryl Moore, known
from coast to coast as she
captivates the audience with “I
Made a Vow” and Linda
Davidson, a new functional
member, in her debut “Give Me
a Clean Heart.”
People wonder if the BSM
Choir is affected by Zodiac. It
seems no matter what sign you
are there’s a place in the group
for you. Your contribution may
be “small” or “large”, the group
appreciates it and makes it
usable. This dynamic nucleus is
always seeking for improvement,
attainment or experimenting
with new ideas..
At the present time, the
following offers are functional:
Larry Mixon, Business Manager;
Linda Davidson, Treas-Sec.;
Tony Torain, Program Director;
and Francine Randolph,
Pianist-Director.
The group expects its new
colorful robes in approximately
2-3 weeks. This is one of the
major projects that has
materialized. It is hoped that the
robes will arrive in time for their
extensive tours this spring, the
Black Arts Cultural Festival and
their long deserved anniversary
which is expected to be one of
their biggest extravaganzas on
campus.
Yes, the BSM Gospel Choir
has high aspirations for the
future and all of us are
prayerfully hoping better things
to come in an effort that our
B-L-A-C-K Consciousness will be
momumental and soul-winning.
Certainly, nothing, nothing!
refreshes one’s mind more than a
few minutes of quiet-reflection,
prayer and a “Gospel Song” as
expressed by The BSM Gospel
Choir. Finally, Black-Gospel
Music speaks an unspeakable
message to the world and
reminds us to Live On! Think
On! Sing On! Right On!
Asante—Kwa Heri
“Some Black students have
not done their homework and
seem to think that the militant
movement began a couple of
hours before or after they joined
it . . . The heritage of Black
militancy and struggle is like a
relay race. Gabriel Prosser passed
the torch on to Denmark Vesey,
who passed it on to Fred
Douglass to Dubois and Garvey
to Robeson to Malcolm and
Martin and on to Rap and
Stokley.”
-John Oliver Killeiis
“A society that drives its
members to desperate solutions
is a non-viable society. A society
to be replaced.”
-Frantz Fanon
When You Have Forgotten Sunday: The Love Story
And when you have forgotten the bright bedclothes
on a Wednesday and a Saturday,
And most especially when you have forgotten Sunday—
When you have forgotten Sunday halves in bed.
Or me sitting on the front room radiator in the limping afternoon.
Looking off down the long street
To nowhere,
Hugged by my plain old wrapper of no-expectation
And nothing-I-have-to-do and I’m-happy-why?
And if-Monday-never-had-to-come—
When you have forgotten that, I say,
And how you swore, if somebody beeped the bell,
And how my heart played hopscotch if the telephone rang;
And how we finally went in to Sunday dinner.
That is to say, went across the front room floor to the
ink-spotted table in the southwest corner
To Sunday dinner, which was always chicken and noodles
Or chicken and rice
And salad and rye bread and tea
And chocolate chip cookies—
1 say, when you have forgotten that,
When you have forgotten my little presentiment
That the war would be over before they got to you;
And how we finally undressed and whipped out the
light and flowed into bed,
And lay loose-limbed for a moment in the week-end
Bright bedclothes.
Then gently folded into each other-
When you have, I say, forgotten all that.
Then you may tell.
Then I may believe
You have forgotten me well.
Gwendolyn Brooks
Black Oscars
are anticipated