March .M. 1W2
Features
13
HMMM ... Is BSM Approach Correct?
Wonderboy!
I wonder if I can praise the Lord
in my house?
I wonder if white people can eat
chicken and watermelon?
1 wonder if I got to be from New
York to wear a Yankees baseball
cap?
The reason I ask this is because
I also wonder if the only way I can
learn about African culture is in a
building that is labeled, THE
AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER.
The hottest topic on campus is
fueled by the debate on whether the
Black Student Movement should
receive a free-standing building to
call its very own. The BSM feels it
needs to get out of the confines of
the Student Union and obtain a
building they can call their own.
Well from first analysis this
seems like a pretty chill idea. I mean,
yo’... it will be a place that black
students can call there own and
where they will be able to say, “Hey,
this feels like home.”
But if the BSM is going to do it,
then it needs to do it right!
I mean, just don’t have pictures
of Malcolm X and Martin Luther
King on the wall. Instead, have a
public address system that
continually plays the sounds of tribal
rituals and exotic festivals. Have a
few lions and giraffes running
around the joint to really provide
that atmosphere of the Motherland.
Everyone should dress in nothing
more than two bath towels and it
would be a complete disgrace to
allow any shoes on the premises.
A little far fetched... as usual.
But this is to point out that we
must not become so engulfed in the
belief that we need an African
Studies building because we are
African descendants. If that was
the case, we would need campus
pubs and taverns for the Irish
students. We would need a boxing
gym for those turbulent Italians.
We’d also need to have bams for all
those red necks on campus like Paul
Har... never mind.
Let us realize that I can take
AFAM40 in Greenlaw, Murphy, or
even in the Pit, for that matter. The
class setting is not the thing. If that
were the case. Astronomy would
have to be taught at NASA with
frequent visits to Pluto and Jupiter
for the lab requirement.
Let us also come to terms with
the fact that this is not so much a
“black” thing even though it will
enhance black {»ide on campus.
The free-standing building
should be a cultural thing that is
open to all races. This means that
when a white person entCTS, he or
she should not be eyeballed. Instead
the white kid should be embraced
and educated about what it means to
be African, not black— there is a
difference!
Now, a multicultural center
would be ideal. We talk about race
relations— what better way to
increase racial bonds than having a
building that houses aspects of all
races.
This seems logical to me. I mean,
don’t you think a multi-cultural
center would receive more support
that would in turn help the efforts of
the BSM as well by bring cultures
together?
Number of racial harassment incidents on the rise
we would get some information,”
said Latham, whose search into
possible leads turned up negative.
While University policy states
that racial harassment is
unacceptable and will not be
tolerated, it has not stifled the
number of incidents that occur each
year. Since 1989, the year the
University first began keeping
statistics on the number of racial
incidents reported, the numbers have
increased significantly.
According to Assistant Dean
Sibby Anderson-Thompkins, only
eight cases were reported in 1989.
And besides, Howell Hall is a
good sized building that could easily
accommodate more than one group.
Perhaps designate one floor for the
BSM that could be decorated to
instill pride, dignity, and point out
the “African Way,” if you will. The
other floor could house, possibly, a
center for Asian students where their
eastern affiliations could come to
surface. These are merely
suggestions to show the potential of
a multi-cultural center.
Now, if the BSM really wanted
to make an advancement in the black
community, it would concentrate
its efforts on the housekeepers’
situation so they may enjoy the
security of a free-standing house,
instead of tolerating the hassles that
goes with renting an ^artment
The BSM must be careful with
its approach towards achieving its
goal.
I know times have changed but
there is no way to fwevent harassing
phone calls, threatening letters, and
who knows what else.
Not at all trying to be an
accommodator like our friend
BookerT.Washington,buttheBSM
must take precautions to make sure
that it allows sleeping dogs to lie or
else stand the chance of awakening
a rottweiler!
I am not overlooking the racial
tensions that exist but the situation
we are faced with is much differc'nt
from what guys like Malcolm,
Martin, and our parents were faced
with.
If you don’t believe me, ask
Chuck Stone— a man with eons of
ethnicity who really knows what
time it is!
Now, I’m sure the BSM is not
trying to create its own civil rights
movement or perhaps a March or.
Franklin St.— is it?
Hmmmm
Perhaps the best way I can
explain my point is to compar the
BSM as possibly having the
“emancipated slave mentality”.
This mentality shows how the,
slaves, rightfully, demanded
freedom from the clutches of
slavery. Upon receiving it, however
they found themselves with no land
no viable skills, and facing a dead
end.
This is to not to say the BSM
shouldn’t pursue a free-stamJin^j,
building.Instead, the organization
should make sure all options are
weighed and every aver.ue is
explored before it finds itself
demanding mwe than 40 acres ao(^
a mule. Peace Y’all???
Wonderboy (a.k.a. John McCar.i;
from page 5
In 1990-91, there were 22 cases
reported.
“From the cases I have seen so
far and the number of students whom
I have spoken with, I would say that
number is rising,” Anderson-
Thompkins said. An official count
will be available in June.
^ fAy
FLSfSY
^enx> THexft
The increase is not only because
students are reporting incidents
more, but due to events on campus
like the struggle with the BCC,
Anderson-Thompkins said.
“After certain programs on
campus, like R^e Relations Week
or a series of marches or protests
regarding somecontroversial issues,
the numbers increase,” she said. “I
do think there is a correlation there.”
While S turdivant and Browning
do not know why they have become
the targets of harassment, both sa}
they aren’t moving out of Hin'on
James.
“They aren’t getting e
satisfaction of getting me ou'.
here,” Browning said. “If they have
these types of prejudices, th ,
should keep them to themse
Once they resort to rac«">i
harassment, they can be sure I'
going to take some type of action.