Ink I
Endsights:
“White people are valued more in
this society. Blackpeople are the center
oftheBlack Cultural Center, in every
thing else, we are the fringes. ”
Endsights
Page 11
I November 19
4/
By Kimberly Ellington and Jenlse little
Staff
On Thursday, November 8, the Black Student
Movement continued its ongoing Umoja series. Umoja,
a Swahili word meaning unity, hopes to bring a sense
of community and togetherness for students, faculty
and staff. The program held on November 8, the third
this year, discussed the need for a Black Cultural
Center (BCC) at UNC.
Ann Ards, tri-chairperson of the Black Student
Movement Special Projects Committee, opened the
evening by introducing Mrs. Margo Crawford, director
of UNC’s BCC and our most prominent leader in the
struggle for a BCC that reflects the diversity of the
African-American culture. Not only is Crawford lead
ing the fight at UNC, but she is also co-chair of the
National Association of Black Cultural Centers. With
all the racial tensions running rampant through this
campus and this state, there could not be a better time
to discuss our quest for more than a mere “Black
Cultural Closet.”
Crawford began the program by explaining what
the words “Black Cultural Center” really mean. The
term Black is used instead of African-American be
cause the latter term is limiting in its scope. Black,
however, is all encompassing; it identifies people of
African and American descent and reaches farther to
include native Africans as well as West Indians. Collec
tively, these groups embody the richness of black
culture.
Crawford continued, saying the culture that Afri-
can-Americans have inherited accents the spiritual
aspect of their being. European culture focuses on the
importance of technology, whereas African culture
focuses on the study of God and of love.
Crawford said this “spiritual culture” is one of the
primary elements of African life that the Eurof>eans
tried to eradicate through a process called season-
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ing." Europeans wanted to “de-Africanize” slaves in an
attempt to destroy all recollection of their home land
and culture.
“The plan was that you would not know anything
about Africa," Crawford said. “This can also be consid
ered the origin of the complexion problem that many
African-Americans have today. You will never meet
an African who is concerned about being ‘too dark’.”
Crawford considers this “seasoning” process a part
of the justification for needing a Black Cultural Center.
Crawford also said she is often asked why there should
be a Black Cultural Center as opposed to a Multi-
Cultural Center at UNC.
“What languages are taught on this campus,’”
Crawford said. “Are there any other cultural groups
that have been exposed to this kind of seasoning.’ Did
anyone attempt to completely strip the heritage from
these groups? A Black Cultural Center at the University
of North Carolina is a place that everyone, not just
African-Americans can come to educate themselves
about an entire race.”
Crawford contends that the “European-American
Cultural Center” is a white university. She said one of
the goals of the BCC is to reconnect the black commu
nity.
“Who else is talking about the black community?”
Crawford said. “If we don’t care, who will? America
does not support people of African descent, so we
must support ourselves. White people are valued
more in ^is society. Black people are the center of the
Black Cultural Center, in everything else, we are the
fringes.”
Sick and tired. I am sick and tired of turning on
the news and seeii^ African-Americans paraded m
handoifls in front of the camerait fivown up against
a police car getting fiisked or lying in a pool of jblood
with only tiidr S150 Nikes and a bjfoken cradi vial
showing. Is it just me or axe you tired of your jrace
caitying die lone burden of iht U»S* drug catastro-
phe? The mass media seems to think the African-
American race is somewhat more responsible for the
drug crises than any c^er race. According to a study
done by the Center for Media and Put^c Afiairs in
Washin^on, D.C., African-Americans are featured
in almo« percent of all photographs accompa*
nying networic news stories about drug al»ise. That
proves to be a curious finding since AWean Ameri*
cans make up only 12.4 percent of the U.S. popula-
ticwj. I guess white middle class is not affea^ in the
least by the tragedies of dmg use. It seems that the
hip hop, iDxterate, drugdealing Negrostereotype not
only lives but is perpetuated to new heights of hip
hopness and addiction on the Tv news every night.
The study found that beginrung in Septtember 1989
when President Bush declared his war on drugs and
coiuinuing for 10 months, African-Americans were
featured in 47 percent of 1,336 camera shots, while
Caucasians were shown in 32 percent and a mixture
of Caucasians and peoples of other ethnic origins
were seen in 17 percent of the stories. The study
found the major networks to be guilty as charged.
NBC’s visuals were 4l percent black and 38 percent
white. CBS had 49 percent black and 28 percent
white, while ABC's visuals were 53 percent black
and 29 percent white. How are these false percep
tions afi^ecting our youth, black and white? What are
their impressionalble minds to believe when: night
afternightthey view demeaning^ demoralizing images
of the African American race? A message that African
Americans are subordinates and d»e cause of many
of the problems faced today and the f>erp€arators of
most aimes committed in this cou ntry is hammered
with a unrelenting barrage of photographs and
headlines in the mass media into the hearts and
minds of the youth. This continual subliminal mes
sage so early in life forms rigid attitudes and opin
ions that are hard to change with adulthood. No one
is denying that their is a drug problem in the black
community, but it is more accurate to call it a larger,
shared problem not just by minoritities but by the
human race.- Tei«sa Jefiferson
KWANZAA
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Dec. 3
KWANZAA