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•Black Ink
^In Perspective
We Shall Overcome
I care but little what white men think
of what I say; write, or do; my sole desire
is to benefit the colored people; this be
ing done I am satisfied — the opinion of
every white person in the country or the
world, to the contrary notwithstanding.
Martin R. Delany
As well all know, but sometimes
don’t recognize, this — February — is
Black History Month. All over the coun
try, educators, advertisers, ministers, and
politicians are making strides to recall the
great historical figures of Afro-American
descent. But what about us?
Rededication to the memory of our
great figures must occur daily, but
especially in this month. Two weeks ago,
we celebrated the birthday of a man with
a dream. It’s important to realize though,
that the dream was not his alone, nor was
it his originally. Many, many figures
sacrificed their lives and their livelihoods
so that the Black race could rise above the
Western World’s stereotypes and reclaim
the greatness which was, and is, inherent
ly ours.
Eric Walker
Vice President and Guest Editorialist
Richard Allen, Prince Hall, So
journer Truth, Jean Baptiste DuSable,
Gabriel Vessey, Louis Lattimer, and
Charles W. Chestnutt — these names are
not as familiar as Fredrick Douglas, Har
riet Tubman, Nat Turner, George
Washington Carver, or Phyliss Wheatley,
but are just as important.
A. Phillip Randolf did contribute as
much as Martin King; Ella Baker brought
as much as Paul Robeson; Elijah
Muhammed and Malcolm X were, in
essence, merely repeating the same
“Black Pride” message perpetuated by
Marcus Garvey, and Martin Delany
before them.
Most important in the struggle,
however, were the people. The nameless,
faceless masses who did the organizing,
the assembling, and who put their necks
on the blocks to make changes for some
one else to take credit for. These are
the people we must remember and
rededicate our lives to in this Black
Opening the Lines of Communication
Richard J. White, III,
Associate Editor
Now that winter has arrived, Chapel
Hill has become a cold place. When the
day’s classes are over and assignments are
: completed for the next day, hugging tight
ly, kissing softly, cuddling gently, and
spending time with that special someone
does a lot to warm the heart.
Of all the emotions, love has to be the
most elusive, but yet, the most fulfilling
of human experiences. There can be no
greater feeling than to love and to know
that someone loves you in return. To love
is to take a risk, but it can offer an
overflowing payoff.
Historically, black men and women
have loved each other in the most uncar
ing of environments where they would be
separated from family and lovers without
being given a second thought. It would
seem that the easiest way to avoid this pain
would have been to love no one, but our
ancestors loved with great intensity and
compassion. We, today, have little ex
cuse. There should be no communication
breakdown between black males and
females. In this day and age, genuine
romance of wine, roses, and candlelight
is becoming a relic that belongs to the
past.
Brothers, for the sake of posterity,
Living Up to Promises and Expectations
By Sheila Simmons,
Editor
With the beginning of February
comes the installation of new political
leaders into the university’s various
leadership positions. These new leaders
will attempt, throughout the year, to make
(^laok cShk 1^ I
Sheila Simmons
Editor
Andrea Shaw
Managing Editor
Diana Lowery
Special Projects Editor
Mia Davis
Advertising Editor
Abraham Segres
Nancy Harrington
Yvette Cook
Staff Writers
Reubena Whitted
Staff Photographers
Sherry Whitesides
Richard White
Associate Editor
Taundra Woodard
News Editor
Lori Roberts
Featureb Editor
Keith Clarli
Businesb Manager
Tonya Cartel
Suzanne leiiries
Charles Will
Keith Belton
The Black Ink is published by students of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill every two weeks during the regular academic year, excluding holidays.and ex
amination periods.
The Black Ink is the Official Newspaper of tfie Black Student Movement and is
designed to cover events of the group and other issues of interest to readers of Black
Ink.
Comments and editorials written in thB ^'Perspfecti-ve" section-reflect views of the
writers and are not necessarily shared by the Black Ink Staff.
The Black Ink Office is located in 108D of the Carolina Union. The mailing ad
dress is Box 42, Carolina Union, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. The telephone number is
(919) 962-4336.
History month. Not to denigrate our
leaders in the slightest, because they were
great, and their words and deeds still
shine, but any leader is only as great as
those who follow.
This pattern still exists. Even on this
campus, in this very paper, I am recogniz
ed as a leader. But I don’t do all that
much. I just get the pub. The real
workers, the real leaders, are behind the
scenes. I’m referring to people like Joyce
Ward, BSM Special Projects Chair, who
has initiated and executed at least half of
the BSM projects this year; Richard
White, Sherri Belfield, and Eileen
Carlton, who choose to break down the
barriers of traditionally white groups so
that more Blacks can get involved; and
Greg Bargeman, who has become a staple
of the Ebony Readers and the symbol for
the Afro-American Oral Experience.
I’m referring to people like Kenneth
Perry, Thomas Turner, Divann Cofield,
Michelle Smith, Carla Marlin, and Tam
my Gilliam, who keep their groups in
volved in Black Student Movement ac
tivities, not because it’s good for their
fraternities and sororities, but because it’s
good for BSM. People like Gregory
Johnson and Robert Reid-Pharr, who fight
discrimination on many levels everyday;
Sheila Simmons, who, with little help,
busts her butt everyday to make sure you
can read this paper; and all of the hard
working members of the three BSM
subgroups who have consistently proven
themselves to be UNC’s greatest minori
ty recruitment tool and the number one
self-taught choir, dance company, and
drama troupe, respectively, in the state.
And also people like Kenneth Smith,
Evelma White, and Bob Willis, who con
tinuously innovate and initiate ideas for
the development and appreciation of Black
pride and heritage.
February. A month for rededication
of values, for reaffirmation of goals, for
realignment of priorities. No, we haven’t
achieved yet. We shall overcome, true,
but only if we start to work together to
day. I’ll do my part. Anybody with me?
love our sisters. Treat them well. They
possess natural beauty that needs little
embellishment. Respect them.
It is becoming commonplace to hear
that a good (black) man is hard to find.
Let’s prove them wrong. We must regain
their trust and renew our dedication. A
playwright once asked a question; he
wrote, “...How Do You Love a Black
Woman?”
Sisters, love your brothers for
themselves, not for what you visualize
them to be. They may not drive the latest
luxury import or have a six digit income,
but if they have a good heart, a strong
concept of manhood, a sense of commit
ment and responsibility and a desire to be
more, look at them again. You must look
beyond the obvious because one does not
always'get what one sees.
We are becoming emotionally in
dolent. We search for the immediacy. We
are becoming too disinclined to work and
to build solid relationships based on
honesty and respect and inspired by love.
Be creative, for there lies the fun and the
challenge of being in love. A surprise call
or visit, flowers, candlelight, relaxed din
ners with soft music, late night strolls, or
a weekend get-away can provide a spark
to any relationship.
Let’s stop the games and open the
lines of communication.
Love and be loved!
an impact on the campus and alter some
of the campus’s issues, hopefully for the
better.
These newly-elected leaders will pro
bably have their minds on thoughts of
what should be done about problems like
parking, cultural events, allocation of
funds, campus security, seating for
athletic events and appointments of ex
ecutive assistants.
Of course, these are important issues
and should be addressed by campus
leaders.
However, there are many minority
issues that need to be addressed. For ex
ample, the Black Cultural Center has been
in the planning stage for three years. As
of January 1, 1987, the university is no
longer required to work towards a
minitory population of 10.6 percent. And
with Reagan’s recent budget proposal, the
financial aid for many students will be
drastically cut, putting in danger, the
education of many minority students.
Now is the time to let your leaders
know what you expect of them and see
they they live up to their promises.
With the pressure taken off of minori
ty recruitment, a cut in student aid, and
a continued absence of a centralized place
of unity (such as a cultural center), the
university’s black population and minority
concerns could be dropped to an unaccep
table level.
Of course leaders have to pay atten
tion to the issues affecting the vast majori
ty of the people they represent. But that
does not mean that minorities should be
left in the cold. If I am not mistaken, a
democracy, which is the political scene of
this university, is supposed to be run by
majority rule, but must also have minori
ty rights. I would like to see the student
body president and student congress
representatives be representative of the
university population, of which blacks are
a part.
But do not fool yourself. History has
proved that many political leaders will not
act on minority issues until they are
forced to. Here, the students must utilize
their own political strengths and demand
that issues concerning them be listened to
and acted upon. If black students want a
political voice that can be heard, then on
ly black students can accomplish that by
exercising their right to speak up. Let your
leaders know early what you expect of
them. Demands are a small price to pay
for your welfare and the welfare of the
future of this university. Make the leaders
you have elected live up to your expecta
tions and their promises.