December 7,1984
Black Ink
Page 5
news
Black Academic
Department Heads Say
Self-Confidence Is Key
to Success
by Joy Thompson
Stall Writer
Joseph Edozien, Colin Palmer, Frank Brown, John Turner through self-
confidence, hardwork and determination, these Black men have attained pro
minent academic positions at UNC—CH.
The success of these men support the notion that success is achieved part
ly by believing in yourself. None of them are originally from North Carolina,
nor were they educated here; however, here they reap the benefits of the many
years of hard work and dedication.
Dr. Edozien came to UNC in 1971 as the head of the Nutrition Department
of the School of Public Health. Born in Asaba, Nigeria, Edozien received his
higher education primarily in England.
Edozien, a physician, has taught at a number of Universities in Nigeria,
England and other parts of the world and was a visiting professor at the
Massachusettes Institute of Technology. He has also served on numerous
United Nations and other international committes.
He said his background in England and Nigeria was advantageous to him
in terms of his success. "Racism as you see it here was not the same in Nigeria
and England," he said. "It was different in that people treated you like another
person and you could see opportunities open to you. The-perception of race is
different here."
Many Black people here feel intimidated by the pressure of prejudice, he
said. "I did not see myself as being an underdog or being handicapped" as
many Blacks see themselves in the United States, he said. “I see one of the ma
jor problems of many Black people here is that Black people have less con
fidence in themselves than they should have, and this affects their perfor
mance."
"Black people are as equal and talented as white people. Once Black peo
ple get equal opportunities they will have their fair share of high positions."
Like Edozien, Dr; Palmer, chairman of the African and Afro-American
curriculum, is not a native born American. Receiving his elementary and
secondary education in Jamaica, he came to United States to further his
education.
Prior to coming here in 1980 he worked at Oakland University in
Michigan. "Professionally, I came here to accept the challenge of building an
Afro-.^erican program in a major research institution," he said.
Palmer said he was extremely sure of himself as a student. "In a sense I felt
intellectually superior to many of the students whom I came in contact. When I
was in Wisconsin, I never for a moment doubted my ability to succeed.
"I think that is the key to one's success--confidence in one's self and not
being shaken by racism," Palmer said.
Racism did not exist in Jamaica as it did in the U.S., he said. So he was not
hindered in his aspirations by negative racist attitudes. However, he contend
ed prejudice in this country had not hindered Black people from success in the
past. "One of the hall marks of the Black race has been its resilience and
strength, because no group of people has had to confront and surmount the
problems that Black people have."
He noted that Black people could also acheive today at the University.
"There is a continuing mode for Black men and Black women to occupy impor
tant leadership positions on campus. As the University becomes more respon
sive to the needs of the community, the University will have to diversify its
faculty."
Dr. Brown, dean of the School of Education since 1983, is a native of
Alabama. Educated around the country, he spent most of his professional
career in California and New York.
"After teaching for several years I decided to go back to graduate school
and teach at the graduate level and research," Brown said. "From that point I
took advantage of opportunities as they came."
Brown attributed his success to his family, several "outstanding" teachers
and his ability to win several graduate fellowships which were scarce when he
was in school.
Success for Brown also involved discipline and some important goal set
ting and risk taking. "I had to do what was necessary to move up the academic
ladder;" he called it a "publish or perish mode of operation."
"Blacks have to have a good feel for what the game plans are in academia.
If you have realistic expectations then you can work up from them.
Dr. Turner, dean of the School of Social Work and a William R. Kenan
professor, was born in Fort Valley, Ga. A Morehouse College graduate, he
received his masters and doctoral degrees in social administration from Case
Western Reserve University. He had most of this professional experience in
Georgia and Ohio, but has spent time working in Africa.
Like Edozien, Palmer and Brown, Turner said racism and prejudice has
not affected his career. "I lived in a Black community and I went to a Black
school," he said. "I had some idea of what I could do and what I could be. (As
a result) I am a little bit more sure of myself and what I can do."
Turner said his experiences reinforced positive attitudes within him and
gave him confidence. "It is good (for Blacks) to get a sense of what you can do
before getting into integrated society," he said. "I think as Blacks, we are so
used to being hit over the head, we expect to be hit over the head."
"I'm a very competitive person," he said. "I like to do things well. Even
when I'm not comp>eting against any p>erson, I am competing with myself. A
person has to have that inner drive to excell."
Blacks will be able to attain more positions like his in the future, he main
tained. "It will happen because there are Blacks who can compete in the area
of leadership and scholarship and who are willing to conquer racist behavior
on the part of others."
Turner noted that as long as there were differences between people there
will be some sort of prejudice, whether it is racism or sexism. However, he said
Blacks could effectively deal with it.
C7NC Journalism Graduates
(contiuned from page 1)
Black Ink editor, who also earned a
master's in journalism from the
school. Other UNC-CH graduates are
James Parker, Turner Smith and
Elaine Pitt.
The story of the newspaper's suc
cess in just 10 short years is also a
tribute to Pitt's determination and
conviction in the cause of the Black
Press. Despite his success, Pitt said
the Black voice was still under
represented in the U.S.
"There are only three Black daily
papers in the U.S.," Pitt explained,
"As large as the Black community is,
there ought to be more Black daily
publications."
In addition to the scarcity of
Black papers, Pitt also objected to the
type of coverage Black people and
Black issues had traditionally gotten
in the news. For many years now, he
has kept a file of unjust and un
dignified depictions of Blacks in the
press.
He said his awareness of the pro
blem encouraged him to continue
when things seemed hopeless. He ad
ded that a responsible Black press en
couraged better Black images.
Pitt said he had received inspira
tion from other sources during his
journalism career. While still a stu
dent at UNC-CH, Pitt recalled listen
ing to a radio station in Durham,
which covered Black events in an ex
citing, upbeat manner.
Among the despairing things,
Pitt said he was dissatisfied with the
fact that there was no course on the
Black Press when he attended UNC-
CH.
He was also unhappy with his
thwarted efforts to get a story he wrote
about N.C. Central University
students' performance on the state
Law Scholastic Aptitude Test publish
ed in a local paper.
The Black paper in Durham and
the daily paper refused to publish
Pitt's story. Afterward, the daily
paper, which had kept the story for a
month before returning it, published
a similar, staff-written story, he said.
With only $1,300, Pitt moved to
Winston-Salem only a few short mon
ths after graduation to co-found with
Ndubisi Egemonye the Winston-
Salem Chronicle.
"I had no money, no business
background. My classmates thought I
was crazy," Pitt said.
Today, Pitt, who once did
everything from filling racks to sell
ing advertising, supervises a staff of
21 full-time workers, including seven
women and four whites. And in June
the paper moved into its new, modern
office facility after spending years in
a make-shift building just a few
blocks away.
The paper, Pitt said, is represen
tative of the Winston-Salem Black
community.
"When you come to Winston-
Salem and read the Chronicle you
will get a good idea of what the Black
community is like here," he said.
To keep abreast of happenings in
the community, Pitt and his staff
members are involved in several
community organizations including
the YMCA, the Chamber of Com
merce and cultural and civic
organizations.
And with the strength of David,
Ernie Pitt and his staff continue in the
crusade begun by Frederick
Douglass and John Russworm - two
Black press pioneers - for Black jour
nalism and freedom of speech.
For the future, Pitt contemplates
daily publication and increased cir
culation of the Black College Sports
Review, a tabloid that the Chronicle
sells to other papers.