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VIEWPOINT
BMCK INK
Hie etsence of freedom.
Votmne 11, Number 7
Theresa WUllamf and James Alexander
Co-Edttort
Complacency reigns
among UNC Blacks —
By D. WHITAKER
Associate E^tor
It Is interesting how we as Black people are so complacent when it comes to impor
tant issues. It is also interesting how we as a Black student populous at UNC-CH can
ignore the most meaningful opportunities.
Take, for instance, the approximately 70 Afro-American Studies (AFAM) students
who failed to grab the opportunity to attend the North Carolina Conference on Black
Studies (NCCBS) on Oct. 12-13 at the Sheraton Inn in Charlotte.
Out of that group of students, which is composed largely of Blacks, only one young
lady cared enough to go. Only three other students (including me) and an ad
ministrative assistant went, aside from Dr. Sonja Stone and Wekesa Madzimoyo,
chairman of NCCBS.
But you had a good excuse, right? Of course you could not miss the football game
(UNC vs. Wake Forest) and you had to go the weekend jams. Or maybe you could not
afford 112 for the registration fee or $15 for the hotel room.
Whatever the excuse, you blew it! You missed an enlightening learning experience
I learned a number of things that I did not know before and was forced to think about
things I had not thought about before.
For instance, do you know that Black studies is not the same as Black History?
Black Studies is the study of all facets of the Black community (economic, social,
political, cultural) in an effort to develop new ideas and solutions to problems facing
the Black community today.
Do you know that there were once 200 Black high school principals in North Carolina
but now there are less than 12?
Western Carolina is a part of the UNC system. Do you know that there are no Black
faculty members there? (And we thought we were bad off.)
And do you know that Black faculty members around the country are being denied
tenure at white universities while Black pohticians and leaders do not think tenure is
important?
Dr. Daniel Newsome, Associate Dean of the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio,
lead the discussion of the tenure crisis, which was one of the work sessions at the con
ference.
Dr. Newsome said, “All kinds of unimpressive, unknown whites get tenure every
day while Blacks have to have monumental work equal to Darwin’s Theory of Evolu
tion ... to get tenure.”
NCCBS resolved to support Dr. Sonja Stone in her fight for tenure.
Those who were absent from the conference missed the opportunity to meet promi
nent Black professionals who gave insight on and encouragement in dealing with the
Black Struggle.
You missed meeting Milton Jordon, editor of the first Black magazine in North
Carolina; View Sooth.
Jordon proved to be a positive influence because his attitude about himself is
positive. He said. ‘‘I choose to perceive myself in a context that says ‘You can’t beat
He said that this message has to penetrate Black students so that they can feel that
they are somebody.
Evangeline Grant Redding, the first Black woman gubernatorial candidate was
also at the conference. She urged Blacks to become more involved in pohtics.
Redding is an author, lecturer and former television producer. She was the first
Black female host of a North Carolina television talk show. She needs Black support in
her efforts. The election is less than a year away.
Hoyt Fuller, editor of Black World magazine, spoke at the Saturday luncheon. He
said. ’‘The work of transforming America into a truly democratic society is still un
finished."
He spoke forcefully in support of Black Studies, saying that we can find ways to
fight injustices in America through Black Studies.
Many Black people must have felt as the majority of the AFAM class, since only
about 30 people showed for the conference.
No wonder Black people are still in slavery; not enough of us want to fight for
freedom.
Now is the time to think about your future. What will you be doing five or 10 years
from now? You may not have a job since no one will hire you because of “reverse
discrimuiation.”
Your children may not have any Black teachers or professors thoughout their
educational years because of unreasonable requirements for state teachers exams
and tenure, or for lack of Black colleges.
Now is the time to mold your future into what you want it to be. Now is the time to
contribute to the struggle.
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NEWS FOCUS
Black input needed
By JAMES ALEXANDER
Co-editor
In past years, the only major Black artist to perform here has been Kool & the Gang,
who flopped with a Memorial Hall date in 1977 when they were at the bottom of their
career.
However, the group has rebounded since and has once again regained their original
respect and it is almost certain that a Chapel Hill date today would likely be an about-
face from the disaster of a couple years ago.
A concert Advisory Committee has since been formed at UNC, to advise the
Carolina Union Activities Board of which acts may be appealing enough to attract an
audience at the University.
Black students can no longer sit back and whimper about the lack of soul or rhythm
and blues groups now that this committee has been formed.
Your voice can be heard effectvely through open letters and personal contacts with
CAC committee members about musical preferences and suggestions.
But if this effectiveness is to be reached rapidly, the Black sororities, fraternities
and other Black organizations will have to move to the forefront and take the charge
of leading the way.
Thus far, none of these groups has raised ever an eyebrow of concern for this matter
which could be simply handled.
No letters have been written to the campus daily publications and no suggestions
have been made as to what artists might be suitable for Black concert-opers.
It would be nice if the Black organizations would reach out and show some interest
or support for the advancement and respect of Black culture on our campus.
We cannot sit back and point our finger at Union activities administration or
members of the predominantly-white selection conrunittee for the lack of Black artists
among the campus concert roster.
They do not know (or will not try to guess) our preferences, and of course we have a
better knowledge of our own culture. We are expected to educate the conmiittees
about our needs.
The Mother’s Finest Homecoming concert held Friday night was the biggest major
Black show to come on campus in the last 10 yrs., and if we continually show our in
terest and voice our feelings there can be more.
Presently, the conmiittee is considering the Bar-Kays, C^meo, Sister Sledge and A1
Jarreau as some of the possible performers for next semester’s concert series.