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BLACK INK
FEBRUARY 23, 1982
Women of past shine IUnited states SLAVERY
DONNA WHITAKER
Columnist
In her book Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman, feminist Michele Wallace
explores the myth of black superwomen. She examines the myth that says black women are
strong, rugged and durable, and explains that it isn't necessarily so.
The black woman has been falsely defined, according to Wallace's publishers. Instead of
the powerful matriach that legend has made her out to be, "she is the most vulnerable figure
in American society . . they say.
Although we as black people should toot our own horns all the time. Black History Month
is a time to extoll the work of famous black Americans, females included. This is a time to
dispell the myths or, at least, understand them. This is a time to discover what it meant and
means to be black in America. The history of famous black women plays an important part in
that discovery.
Reg Hildebrand, lecturer in the history department at UNC-CH, recently told his view of
black women through history. Hildebrand, who teaches The History of Afro-Americans from
1865, said, "Since both sex and race imposed severe limits on the kinds of things that black
women could do, it is almost incredible that so many of them excelled in areas that were
traditionally reserved for men."
Hildebrand mentioned Harriet Tubman, who he said "was the most effective conductor of
the Underground Railroad, even though most successful refugees from slavery were young
males." Tubman also established an outstanding military record in the Civil War, at a time
when it was uncertain whether black men were capable of being soldiers, he said.
Harriet had convictions that encouraged her to express on. She said.
There was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have
one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive. I should fight for
my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the time came for me to go,
the Lord would let them take me. (from Hariet Tubman, The Moses of Her
People by Sarah Bradford, written in 1896).
Sister's Corner
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, an early feminist who reached fame in the latter 19th
century as a lecturer, talked about social and political affairs concerning blacks. She
lecturered in the North and South, "even though most males believed that it was not quite
right for ladies to tax their delicate minds with such things," Hildebrand said.
A black female newspaper editor and owner, Ida 8. Wells Barnett, lead the fight against
the lynching of black men during the late 19th centuries. She exposed lynchings for their true
causes, such as economic rivalry between black and white merchants for black patrons.
Although her newspaper business in Memphis, Tenn., was destroyed, she continued to
speak out for black people while in the North.
Other names come to mind when speaking of famous black women. Mary McLeod
Bethune, who came to fame during the early part of the 20th century, served on the staffs of
presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. She also founded Bethune-Cookman
College in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Daisy Bates, president of the Arkansas NAACP during the 1957 desegregation crisis in
Little Rock, spearheaded the struggle for school desegregation there. She initiated the
integration campaign, guided and supported the students in their long struggle, and braved
bombings and threats.
These women are but a few of the many black women who have struggled to make our
lives better. Michele Wallace says that the superwoman role black women have played has
been detrimental to them and black people because it has lead to a deep distrust, and maybe
hatred, between black men and women. But Reg Hildebrand offers another- view. He says.
Historically, black women have been expected to be subordinated and
supportive, strong and assertive, exemplars of an alien standard of beauty and
the moral cement of their families and churches. Clearly, they have been
expected to carry an unreasonable burden. Happily enough for all. they suc
ceeded in doing so.
HAITIAN
KEF'UGEE
CAMF
Carolina Free Press
r
1
1 E. Ramona Brown I
Editor
Lawrence Turner
Donna Whitaker
Managing Editor
Columnist
Lisa Lewis
Regina Smith
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
FRANCES SILVA
Special to the Ink
The United States' free press has been the
envy of many countries whose journalists
enjoy less than a free hand in what they can
report. But this month, at UNC-CH the free
press has taken on a different connotation.
The Carolina Free Press is the product of a
handful of students who feel a conservative
voice is needed on campus to balance the
other "liberal" and predictable student pub
lications. They claim that the Free Press will
"question the sagacity of our campus ponti-
ficatiors." It will also offer an outlet to the
conservative who "thinks Jesse Helms isn't
that bad and that Chapel Hill is a bit out of
touch with reality."
But is this publication necessary? With the
first issue of this newspaper published on
Feb. 2, it appears that almost every subject
that could be covered from a conservative
perspective was covered. The mix of subject
matter, however, could not have been cons
idered anything less than peculiar. Dis
arming America, abortion and the Equal
Rights Amendment were topics explored
thoroughly. But will the newspaper continue
to offer such tidbits as a movie review,
roughing it on the Wallawas, Mountains and
a preview of the upcoming Carolina basket
ball game? Couldn't those stories have been
covered in the existing campus publica
tions?
After all, what could be conservative ab
out a Carolina-Virginia game unless UNC-
CH basketball players Sam Perkins and
James Worthy could conservatively limit
Virginia's Ralph Sampson to less than 30
points?
In an effort to leave no stone unturned, the
Free Press rapped many "liberal" organiza
tions such as the Association of Women Stu
Newspaper questioned
dents and the Black Student Movement. The
BSM, according to the newspaper, puts the
entire campus in suspense "trying to figure
out who the Black Student Movement would
endorse for student body president." (For
mer BSM chairperson Mark Canady ran an
unsuccessful bid for the student body pres
idency this month.)
Although "A Free Press Doesn't Live By
Coercion," its publishers should have
thought to specify their audience. Granted,
the first free 5,000 copies of the newspaper,
which is to be financed by contributions,
were scooped up by the curious. But if
another issue is published, will the students
of this campus be compelled to pick up the
newspaper again?
Any publication has the right to exist and
to express its publisher's opinions as guaran
teed in the U.S. Constitution. The Free Press
may well serve to educate students that atti
tudes to the far left are alive and well. But
shouldn't the newspaper determine what
type of publication it will be? Will the Free
press be solely the organ of the conservative
student or will it also focus on the arts, sports
and other campus features? What then will
distinguish this publication from others
which cover the same areas?
The result of its appearance has been the
suggestion that the University lacks special
Interest publications. The Free Press has
sought to alleviate this problem, a little. But
it must be remembered that each staff of a
campus publication, whether the Black Ink,
The Daily Tar Heel, The Phoenix, SHE or
any other, works diligently to produce a
quality product.
This campus would welcome any pub
lication which seeks to uphold journalistic
standards, but those which seek only notori
ety, as the Free Press, should be left to die a
quiet and peaceful death.