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THE VOICE
FEBRUARY 28, 1975
VOICE EDITORIAL PAGE
”SHAFT-SUPERFLY-KUNG FU”
by James E. Lyons
Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at FSU
The recent visit to our campus of a beautiful black sister from Ghana, came at a very critical
time in the history and development of the “black search”. Ms. Aidoo was very emphatic in her
remarks about the search for our true black identity. She was intrigued by the many symbols and
outward manifestations of the search, but felt that they were all a part of an attempt to answer the
questions, “Who are we? From whence did we come? Where are we going?”
The timeliness of Ms. Aidoo’s visit is significant because it comes at a time when many of our
black youth have abandoned the search that they led during the latter part of the 1960’s and early
1970’s, and gotten wound up in the Shaft - Superfly - Kung Fu phenomenon.
Perhaps the most recent negative influence on the Afro-American youth has been the motion
picture industry’s promotion of the “super-nigger”, motion pictures Shaft and Superfly set the Black
movement back 100 years. It certainly is no coincidence that following the movie Shaft, there was
less talk about the proper place of the black woman. It was no coincidence that after the movie
Superfly, the use of cocaine surged throughout the black community. It was no coincidence that after
Superfly, the “process” began to replace the Afro, the “cocaine spoon” became a popular medallion
worn around the neck, and thousands of black youth across the nation began to worship the dope
pusher.
The most recent craze, Kung Fu, has also captured the minds of the naton’s black youth. Thought
has turned from a sense of community and togetherness to a sense of destruction.
The nation’s black youth are guilty of being unable to accept these passing phenomena as fads
and enjoy their uniqueness without having them contaminate the soul. In short, there is nothing
basically wrong with taking Kung Fu lessons, wearing a “Superfly” hat, or going to a movie. What is
wrong is accepting these things as a way of life, and encompassing them as a personal philosophy.
There are those who argue that the Shaft-Superfly-Kung Fu era was a deliberately construct^
master plan to take the attention of the black youth away from the more serious issues of the day.
America’s black youth were leading the youth of the world in questioning the very essence of life. You
were asking questions which required people to look at themselves. Rather than face these issues the
attention of the youth was diverted. The plan was to keep you high on “reefer” and cocaine, trying to
be a “super-nigger”, until a strategy could be develop^ to deal with you. Is that not what has hap
pened? iHave the minds of the black youth been diverted from the serious issues of the day?
Black youth must not bear all of the blame. In a sense, our educational institutions are mutually
to blame because they have not taught you how to make decisions. They have not taught you how to
think. We as black educators must help you to learn how to make decisions. This is what education is
all about. We must teach you to look at a situation, disect it, analyze it, locate its proper place in the
system, evaluate its imm^iate and long range significance, and then deal with it.
You can be sure that other diversions will arise in the future to take your minds off of the serious
issues of the day. However, together we can deal with them. Once we move beyond the temporary
things that divide us such as titles, age, degrees, social status, etc., and join hands as a people, there
will be few things we shall not overcome.
THE
VOICE
STAFF
Editor-in-chief
Diane Neil
Staff Writers
Cheryl Mass
Ciararene Jacobs
Darcel Rhodes
Ron Williams
Staff Artist
Clemon Smith
Typists
Brenda Hester
Patricia Williams
Linda Campbell
Advisor
John B. Henderson
For Social Science Grads
Seholarships Available
The FSU Committee on Scholarship and Fellowship of the
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, composed of Dr.
Boushy (Chairman), Dr. Bowman, Dr. Myland Brown, and Ms.
Evans, would like to bring attention of the students who will be
graduating in 1975, that there are many scholarships and
fellowships available in the United States, Africa, and Europe for
those who wish to pursue graduate work in the social sciences.
Preference is given to the minority groups as well as to the
others who are interested.
Please consult the bulletin board at Rosenthal Building for
further information and Committee will be glad to give any ad
vice or assistance to those who are interested.
Aettefi tUc
Dear Editor;
My brief two months’ experience as a student at Fayetteville
State University has been a most rewarding experience for me
and I regret that in the past I was studying at Lenoir Community
College in Kinston.
My congratulations on the fine way the Student Government
Association is run. It seems like the S.G.A. President stands up
for what we need at F.S.U.
As a graduate of Gumberry High School in Northampton
County, N.C., I was flattered and pleased by the support given me
in the fall election campaign for Senator in the S.G.A. at Lenoir
Community College. Among 18 Senators I was the only black to be
elected to that position.
My transfer toF.S.U. has been a most rewarding one.
The main thing is that the instructors here show a great in
terest in the student.
Vernon W. Moses
Advanced Sophomore - FSU
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VICTORY
Expectations beyond belief
Excitement fills the air
Thunderous applause rings loud and long
Is it for real or only imaginary?
Every nerve tingles, every muscle’s tense
The heart almost bursts with anticipation
(But what is this nagging fear of defeat?)
But wait!!! Everything’s in your favor
Your wish is complete.
To the victor belongs the spoils?
Everything’s at your command?
You’re the ruler of the kingdom...
Lord and master over all?
Your wish is complete... is fulfilled
VICTORY IS YOURS?
But have you really accomplished anything?
Is your mind, your heart, your soul truly at rest?
How long will you be the victor?
When defeat comes, what next?
Will you scream in anguish, tear your hair, gnash your teeth
Or will you be strong, a true conqueror and accept your defeat
Will you stand tall and proud as you did when you were on top
Or will you withdraw, exile yourself, seek pity from those you
once commanded
But why should you worry about defeat
You’re on top now
You don’t care about tomorrow
All the world is yours to command
You have your wish. Right on!!!
Victory is yours.
BE SURE THAT THE WORDS YOU SAY
ARE MELLOW AND SWEET
FOR YOU NEVER KNOW FROM DAY TO DAY
WHICH ONES YOU’LL HAVE TO EAT.
IIIIIIIIIIMII mil
CAN SPRING BE FAR AWAY? Things are budding out all over the beautiful FSU campus in
late February. In lower left photo, Linda Burney smiles at budding flower and in upper right photo, a
pear tree explodes with white blossom splendor.
(FSU photo by Henderson)
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