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Page 2 i . ... f ^ October 18, 1988 Message To Black Students From Director of Black Cultural The new Black Cultural Center at UNC is yet another victory in our stride towards freedom. We now have a center that is a focal point for the expression and advancement of Black culture and this ought to boost our confidence that we will make it over the next hurdle, and the next, and the next. The “You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby” ad reflects our history—or does it? We made great strides in the 1960’s in education. White universities and col leges across the country opened their doors to us—their doors, but not their curricula. (Those, as you know, are of ten revolving doors, because it is ex tremely difficult to be constantly sub merged in a different ciilture, as you are constantly ignored as a culture-building people.) We were on the fringes, the marginal ones, not to be reckoned with; not in dialogue with others. How can isolated, non-cultural building excep- tionals relate to those who reflect, dem onstrate, and constantly dialogue about who they are? Well, as you know the Black Student Movement, years ago and recently, under the leadership of Kenny Perry, called a halt to this non- cultural status we had at UNC. You petitioned the university for a Black Cultural Center so you, too, can be a Center cultural voice on this campus, and you got it! Racism is not, of course, going to dry up because you have a BCC, but the BCC gives it a Mike Tyson punch! Rac ism is blatent mainly because they do not know who we are. They think we are what they think we are—incom plete, underdeveloped, unattached, loud, angry and very unimportant. Liberals, too, have traditionally wanted us to be, in the main, “like them.” Be we are and must be our selves. Indeed, we are extremely unique in the world. Our history has been more peculiar than possibly any other. It is history of chattel slavery, staunch segre gation, degradation, but, also, it is a history of great tenacity, determination, endurance, creativity, and, yes, bril liance. For those who do not know the brilliance of surviving, the gift of stamina, needed to overcome degrada tion, well, we must leave them in their ignorance. Black students across the country re port that predominaly white campuses are callous to their needs. As Dr. Jac queline Fleming states (and she has studied the problem): “Black «:tudents have always faced such problems on white campuses. Racism is a fact of life for the Black student, regardless of the BSM President Address To The People Well my friends the time has once again come that we must tuck in our chins and stick out our chests in order to prepare for combat. In the past we have come together to show support for the Office of Student Counseling, Black Cultural Center, Minority Recruitment and Retention. In the present, we must continue to address these problems, yet we must prepare to take on new issues (UNC-CH is steadily losing Black facul ty and deans). In the future, we must look back onto the battle field and plan new strategies based on the old and failed ones as well as the successful. Now I know that some of you are new here and you wonder, “Why do I speak in terms of combat, battle, victory and defeat?” And to you I say: Back in 1984, the University of North Carolina recognized a need for a Black Cultural Center and Vice-Chancellor Donald Boulton in a memorandum, ad vised those on the planning committee to, “DREAM BIG”. The meiribers of the planning committee, following up on Dean Boulton’s advice, proposed a comprehensive Black Cultural Center by February 1986. Well they dreamed big, and these big dreams for a 3/4 mil lion dollar facility were squeezed into a $1,000 snack lounge in the student un ion. Back in January of 1988, Dean Hay den B. Renwick resigned his post as As sociate Dean of the Office of Student Counsehng, the only office on this cam pus chiefly concerned with minority re tention. In the spring of 1988, Dean Gil lian Cell of the College of Arts and Sciences promised students that she would have the position of Dean Hay den B. Renwick filled prior to July 1, 1988. Well, July 1, 1988 came and Dean Cell had not even set up a search com mittee. For the past decade, the statistics for the graduation and retention of minor- continued on~ next page times.” My message to you is please know that you have all that it takes to be very successful at UNC in spite of the challenges, you have a tremendous heritage and history that demonstrates your gift of endurance and tenacity. Use it every day to get up, over and around racism. When it shows itself as I know it does sometimes with stares and demanding attitudes, with that expectation that you should answer to all the ills of the race, etc. smile inside and know that they know not who you really are. We have always lived mainly “inside”—inside ourselves, inside our culture. There is a resurgence of racism on campuses across the country, but there is also a new movement underfoot to root Black culture and literature in university curricula. Stay in touch with Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ work, also the work of Dr. Houston Baker and Dr. C. Eric Lincoln. This will make a difference! And know, too, that there is some goodwill out there. We don’t know yet how much but it could be more than we have ever had. Welcome the goodwill demonstrated in white students, faculty and staff who are genuinely supportive of Black culture being on this campus. If they are tired of having no options to racism, this is a good thing. Relate to the goodwill. Ignore the other as you build strategies to dismantle racism. The BCC affirms that a powerful Black culture exists! Build your Black Cultural Center to be all that you want it to be. It has the potential for becoming one of the most dynamic cen ters in the South, maybe in the nation. I am honored to serve you. In recognition of all you have already achieved, I am Margo Crawford Director Black Cultural Center Ganaud Etienne Editor Timika Shaleek Managing Editor Fred Gorham Associate Editor Gerda Gallop News Editor Charles Mills Sports Editor Natalie Godwin Photographer Shirley Fowler Nicole Majette Staff Writers Kim Maxwell Tenenco Garrison The Black Ink is a bi-weekly publication by the students ot the University of North Carolina at Chapel HiU. The Black InA is the official newspaper of the Black Student Movement. Its purpose is to link and unify the black student community through awareness and information. Comments and editorials written in The Black Ink reflect the views of the writers and are not necessarily shared by The Black Ink. The Black Ink office is located in 108D of the Carolina Union. The mailing address is Box 42, Carolina Union, Chapel Hill NC 27514. The telephone number is (919) 962-4336. Office hours: 9-2 Tue,, Thurs., and Fri. 11-1. Vi*!
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Oct. 18, 1988, edition 1
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