Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / Oct. 30, 1979, edition 1 / Page 4
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PAGE 4 ARTS Soul Train A night to remember When necesstty and imagination get together, they can breed some serious off spring. A case in point is the spectrum of Black entertainment on campus. When it became clear at the outset that the UNC establishe- ment was not going to bend over backward or frontward, or even slightly stoop to pro vide cultural activities for Black students, we did our own. The BSM’s Opeyo Dancers, Gospel Choir, Ebony Readers and Onyx Theatre were spawned by this benign neglect. So were Black fraternities and sororities and social organizations. And so was Produc tions 84, a classroom project which became bigger and bigger until it Entertainment By Allen M Johnson III enveloped half the campus as performers or spectators. One of the most noteworthy children of neglect, however, was mothered not only by negligence but also by those green, rec tangular little slips of paper that have made grown men cry and brave undergraduates major in accounting or pharmacy or some other foolishness — Money. The Black Student Movement found itself mired m $3,000 debt last fall and had to come up with imaginative, entertaining programming that the UNC populace would pay to see. There were several options: — The Almighty Turn-Out-the-Lights- Turn-Up-the-Bass Disco Jam. Un fortunately, not too many folks are going to shell out more than a couple of quarters for a night of rhythm and sweat in Upendo. — The talent show, which always goes over big in Chapel Hill because of the tremendous wealth of talent in the Black community. Problem was, so many talent shows had been held recently that yet still another one might not draw anyt)ody but the performers and their boyfriends and girlfriends. — The concert with a big-name band. It can be effective, but a concert got the BSM into $3,000 debt in the first place. Then one day, while munching on chili dogs in the BSM office. Central Committee members Sheila Peters and Greg Penn ington came up with a solution. The plan was put into action immediate ly and on a chilly, rainy evening last November, when Black folk traditionally stay inside, Great Hall was packed wall to wall to greet the first edition of the ‘‘Soul Train Disco.” Charles Davis, a graduate student in psychology, played the role of emcee “John” Cornelius and sounded remarkably like the guy on TV as he prefaced each act with a deep-voiced in troduction. One of the more memorable acts of the night was “Chaka Can’s” con vincing lip-synch of “I’m Every Woman.” Can, alias sophomore Roxanne Stanard, enjoyed every minute of it. “I did it because I’m in love with the woman (Chaka Kahan),” says Stanard. “I like her positiveness about being Black and being a woman.” Stanard, a drama major, says she would like to portray Minnie Riperton or Deniece Williams because they would offer her a new challenge. Also gracing the Great Hall stage was “Teddy Pendergraff,” who elicited oohs, aahs and a mob of eager females at his feet as he lip-synched “Close the Door.” “I don’t know what made the women behave like that tonight,” said Roscoe, “Teddy McClain, a senior who had been a little shy about doing the whole thing, but I ain’t even gonna complain.” If Teddy and Chaka didn’t suit your fan cy, Beveily Wells portrayed “Diane Ross,” James Alexander, now a Blank Ink co-editor, led “Parlerment” and Rosalind McGhee, I..elo Hester, Carla Whitlock, and Janis Watlington brought us the “Brides of Frankenstein.” Besides the lip-synchs, there was serious talent as well. Sophomore Karen Cuthrell, who now reigns as Miss Black North Carolina, sang a tune from “Purlie” and Gary Griggs, a poor man’s local version of Isaac Hayes, added the mellow “Don’t Go Changin!” “Soul Train also enjoyed a broader au dience than most Black-oriented campus events. Co-sponsored with campus radio station WXYC-FM, which provided music and lights, the affair even drew white patrons. This was most clearly evidenced when flashily a tired white couple walked off with first place in the dance contest. Indeed, the first gig was so successful that “Soul Train II” was done in the spring with the return of some old acts and the ad dition of such luminaries as “Evelyn Mar tini King” and the “Madhattans.” It was only one of several BSM fun draisers that forced the organization to come up with fresh, innovative concepts. “‘Soul Train’ had something for everylxxiy,” says Sheila Peters. “Even though we had performers, the audience participated, too.” “It fulfilled a lot of things that needed to Clinton's cuties on the hill? Well not quite, but they might well have been. Janis Watlington, Lela Hester, Rosalind McGhee and Karla Whitlock parody the Brides of Funkenstein in the Soul Train Disco, the most unique and successful fundraiser in BSM history. Yackety-Yack photo by Keith Worrell. be fulfilled,” says Roxanne Stanard. “It helped the BSM pay off the loan and it brought people together.” Phil Woods, a junior who sang in the se cond “Soul Train,” would like to see a third edition with more campus talent in volved. “There’s so much talent on this campus that hasn’t been exposed,” he says. Thank goodness the BSM is not in debt this year. And let us hope that it won’t take another $3,000 debt to get us some unique, well-conceived programming. In my next two columns, I’ll continue to highlight significant developments in cam pus social and cultural activities. Next issue (if you decide to tolerate my writing again) we’ll look at the hows and whys of the biggest consistent attraction on cam pus — the block show. AHEA HAPPEISIJSGS ConcertB The Emotions, Greensboro Coliseum, Nov. 2 The Jacksons, Fayetteville Cuml)€rland County Arena, Nov. (tentative). The O’Jays, Greensboro Coliseum,Nov. 10. -4 CmmpuB EventB BSM Homecoming featuring All-Campus Block Show, Nov. 10. Faculty Council Meeting discussing Long Commit tee Reconunendations, Oct. 19 Variety Anthslogy Langston Hughes, 103 Bingham, Dec. 5, 6, 8 p.m. Watch for any BSM gospel choir concerts, per formances by Opeyo dancers, and Ebony Readers. Anyone with any information concerning Arts on cam pus or any events, writing you would like to see published , please contact Karen L. Smith, 313 James, or call 933-4586.
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Oct. 30, 1979, edition 1
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