Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / Nov. 26, 1990, edition 1 / Page 12
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Express Yourself In Black Ink Black Ink invites all students to showcase their talents in a special literary edition of Black Ink. We will be accepting poems, fiction, graphic art and other innovative artistic forms. Black Ink will accept entries until Monday, February 4, 1991 Look for dirop boxes in the Black Cultural Center, the Black Student ^ fEm Movement Office, Lenoir, Chase, Morrison, Hinton James, Craige, ^ Ehringhaus, Avery, Teague, Carmichael, the Campus Y and the Black Ink Office (Suite 108-Union) Ever-Evolving Student continued from p. 10 ing an expected non-discriminate African-American audi ence was based on personal experience— attendence at James B. Dudley Senior High School, a 90 percent Afri can-American school in Greensboro, where at some as semblies, I felt uncomfortable because some African- American speakers seemed to suggest a “hate-all-whites” agenda, receiving what I felt was too quick a response of support, with too many students not seeming to take time to analyze what was being said. Since Farrakhan spoke, I have read the responses of the Greensboro and Chapel Hill communities in different publications. From my “Farrakhan” experience, one thing I learned is not to become too strong in my convictions, without first researching and learning as much as possible about a subject (too many have made this mistake). No article nor opinion I have read about Farrakhan’s speech c^tured being there in person, and the quotes these articles reported too often could be misinterpreted when not accompanied by the full text of his speech. In the case of Farrakhan, I must question anyone expressing an opin ion about him— positive or negative— without having actually heard him speak. Otherwise, you are likely choos ing to accept as fact the opinions of others who most often will demand that you either approve or dispprove of Farrakhan entirely. In fact, I have been most turned off by those expressing opinions, who have not acknowledged both positive and negative portions of his speech — regariess of whether the opinion-writer approved or disapproved of Farrakhan overall. Even if you have heard Farrakhan speak, you owe it to yourself to seek as many different perspectives as pos sible—both those supporting and condemning Farrakhan. Consideration of others’ perspectives is a prerequisite for others having any reason to consider your own perspec tive. I have rambled at length it seems. I did not begin to address many portions of Farrakhan’s speech— his stances on such issues as violence, drugs, genocide, abortion, homosexuality, religion, rape. This is only because others have already expressed their reactions to Farrakhan’s positions on these topics, and I hoped to address some other points I considered relevant to Farrakhan’s speech. I had meant to express my views earlier, but I am glad 1 did not. I was able first to expose myself to more perspectives— viewpoints that didn ’ t neccessarily change my own, but that at least served as a reminder that my views are not everyone elses. This was not actually why I took so long, however. Actually, I had difficulty choosing how to express myself — and even now, I am not certain that I did half as good a job as I had hoped to do. I thank the following newsapers for printing responses to Farrakhan’s speech in Greensboro: Black Ink, The Carolina Peacemaker ,TheDailyTar Heel and the Greens boro News & Record. And I would like to suggest to everyone that throughout life, we all be committed to being “ever-evolving stu dents." We need a lot more or them — even at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Express yourself about issues that concern Black Ink readers. Drop yoiu article by Suite 108-D Student Union, or mail to Black Ink, CB# 5210, Student Union, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Think Black Ink! Wasted^ continued from p. 11 didn’t portray the African-American female with her back bent and disfigured. Her face was not in disarray nor did it show expressions of pain or ofbeing overbur dened. The artist depicted the African American female wth her back straight, her head held high and possessing a 5ense of ease and content on her face as if lo say that even though her load was too heavy to carry, she was able to carry it with grace, resilience and pride. The one book I saw as a world of knowledge. My philosophy is that it doesn’t matter in the guantity of books but the quality; the quality of knowledge that one acquires is one detentunanl of how far he or she can travel on the road to success. I am aware of the need for all of us to take an active stand with pride and dignity. The need for us to stamp outinjusticeandoffensiveaction in all forms. However» I feel thatitisequaUyimportanttoknowwhen toactand how to act so that our actions aren’t construed as over renting. I feel that there are mOTe important issues that we need to unite and deal with such as supporting JfCeith Edwards in her fight for equality and justice within the University Police Department,raising money for a BCC building to ie{»esent the African-Americans and mi norities here at this oiriversity and let’s not forget the issue of having an African and Afro-American studies department instead of a curriculum. I feel these issues are where we shouldput oor ^ergy, because regardless of wh€»ethe statues are moved, the negati vestereotypes and myths will lonain in the minds of those who unfortunately are sick with the iQness of ignorance and are scarred with the festered sore of racism. Let^s get to the heart of the matter and fight for a building that will stand as a representation of Afiican- Amerjcanpnde,coltureanduRttyandleavetfaeissueof the statuestobedeaitwith bythe conscious of those who have fedintothese fictitious tmagmes.—Michelle Cot> ton
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Nov. 26, 1990, edition 1
12
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