By Carmen Woodruff
cawoodru@email.unc.edu
After a long struggle, stu
dents and faculty alike
will celebrate the
groundbreaking of the free-stand
ing Black Cultural Center on April
26.
"The students felt they needed a
space of their own," said BCC pub
licist Lorie Clark.
Clark explained that the desire
among students to celebrate
African-American history and cul
ture emerged in the 60's and 70's
with the birth of cultural centers
across the country.
Shortly after the 1991 death of
beloved professor and activist
Sonja Haynes Stone, these dreams
were put into action.
"The students got together for a
memorial with two goals," said
Ih- St'utjql*
Interim Director Harry Amana,
"One, there should be a building
and two, it should be a tribute to
Dr. Stone."
Amana served as chair of the
BCC advisory board in 1992 and
1993 when rallying was at its peak.
He recalls celebrities including
Spike Lee, George Lynch and
Jimmy Hitchcock who came to
campus to speak up for the cause.
Along with their support, students
and other faculty members protest
ed against their chancellor and oth
ers in opposition. The non-sup
porters assumed that a Black
Cultural Center would promote
separatism.
"We need to move past that
myth," said Clark, who looks at the
Center as a learning experience for
all races and cultures.
The University's Board of
Trustees approved the free-stand-
The Victory
ing BCC on May 25, 2000. The
36,000 square foot building
includes offices for the subgroups
of the Black Student Movement, a
library geared toward African-
American studies, an auditorium,
an art museum and a dance studio.
"I think it's going to be quite a
showpiece,” said Amana.
Amana also expressed future
goals of the expansion of pro
grams, continued fundraising and
space for visiting scholars and resi
dents.
The groundbreaking ceremony
will take place at 10 a.m. on April
26 in the Bell Tower parking lot.
Performances by Harmonyx,
Ebony Readers and Gospel Choir
will entertain spectators. Other
guests and speakers include Dr.
Chuck Stone, Chancellor Moeser
and UNC alumni who shared with
the efforts in the 80's and 90's.
The Freestanding
5
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