THE BENNETT BANNER
^eensboro
'‘Believing that an informed campus is a Key to Democracy** ’
Wednesday, March 5, 1969 BENNETT COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N.C. VOL. XXXIll NO. 6
Fuller Talks
Spurs Idea
Exchange Here
As the crowd rallied around the Bennett Flagpole the Black Flag is raised as a salute to
the slain leader, Malcolm X. This ceremony ended the group's day of activities. (Photo by
Dave Nicholson, Greensboro News-Record).
Windsor Coiiiniunity Center
Students March In Memory Of Malcolm X
On Feb. 21, students from A&T
State University, UNC-GandBen.
nett College marched to Winsor
Community Center to participate
in a program commemorating
the assassination of the late black
leader, Malcolm X The purpose
of the march and program was to
emphasize that although Malcolm
X is dead, his ideas still continue
to live even four years after his
assassination.
At the front of the march, stu
dents bolstered black flags dis
playing a large red “X”, Each
participant bore a red arm band
which displayed a large black
“X.” As they proceeded down
Gorrell Street, the students en
countered the police. At one point
of the march, the police with rifles
blocked the street. The students
simply circumvented the police
and continued their peaceful
march to the center.
Upon reaching Winsor Com-
munity Center, the students ral-
lied in the parking lot. Shortly
thereafter, the police spilled tear
under one of the police cars. The
wind blew the tear gas into the
direction of the crowd of students.
However, one of the student lead
ers Walter Braham, encouraged
the students not to disperse, but
to stand their ground. He insisted,
“the will of the people is more
powerful than the white man and
his funky technology.” Several
local newspaper and television
reporters took pictures of the
crowd of students which at this
time had been joined by members
of the community center.
Last week, Bennett launched a
food drive for Jasper and Beau
fort Counties of South Carolina.
The drive lasted throu^Feb. 28.
The idea for the drive origi-
nated with davelopment officer
Theodore Carter, who said that he
conceived the idea after watching
television newscasts. It occurred
to him that if whites could be so
concerned about starving blacks,
then certainly blacks should be
W!iile awaiting the arrival of
the keynote speaker the mass
listened to albums of Malcolm’s
speeches. An eye witness to the
slaying of Malcolm, spoke brief
ly on the events leading up to
Malcolm’s death. He stated that
Malcolm was aware of his per-
sonal danger long before his
death, and that the assassination
was indeed a conspiracy. It was
conspiracy to put an end to a
man who was well on his way to
twice as concerned. Immediately,
he and several students, pro
ceeded to organize the campus-
wide food drive. A general meet-
ing was called informing other
members of the student body.
Soon after letters were drafted
and sent to Sen, George McGov
ern of S. Dakota, who was the
first to present the problem be
fore the nation as a result of his
Senate committee investigations.
By WINONA GRIFFIN
On Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m., stu-
dents, faculty, and administrators
■met in the Coffee House, at D9.
Isaac Miller’s invitation, to lis
ten to a replay of Howard Fuller’s
speech made on campus Feb. 13,
during general assembly. The
number of faculty members pre
sent included Dr. Shute, Mrs.
Sampson, Mr. French, Mrs. Wat
kins, Mr. Macmillan, Mrs. Boy
ers, Dr. Winston, and Mr. Tread
way. The purpose of the session
was to enable students, faculty,
and staff, to exchange ideas con
cerning the various subjects that
Fuller had discussed. Dr. Miller
expressed the belief that there
was not enough opportunity to
have exchanges of views with
speakers on campus. In addition,
he stated, “I don’t think we talk
enough about issues and concerns
on the campus.”
The discussion Tuesday stem
med from differences in the in
terpretation of Fuller’s speech on
the part of administrators and
students. Dr. Winston and Dr.
Miller felt that Fuller emphasized
blackness solely and that in so
doing, he was relying on a “nar
row frame of reference.” Stu
dents felt however, that Fuller’s
emphasizing of blackness was not
uniting black people. He also
stressed the point that Muslims
were not behind the conspiracy.
Following the speech, com-
ments were made by local black
student leaders. Then, the march
was led back to Bennett College
where one of the black flags used
in the march was hoisted on the
flag pole. The students and com
munity members dispersed and
returned to their respective cam
puses and homes.
Also letters and carbon copies
were sent to Senator Hollings and
Gov. McNair of South Carolina,
and Congressman Richardson
Preyer and State Rep, Henry
Frye. The total emphasis of the
drive was black people helping
other black people. Here was an
opportunity for all on campus to
show that they “care” about their
ow!i kind.
The idea was readily accepted.
at all ill-founded and explained
by pointing out that a black school
should and must deal with the
problems of the black student.
Moreover, they explained that
black schools mast be black ori
ented and that they should enable
students to better deal with the
needs of black people. In so do
ing, courses taught in black
schools should be made relevant
to the black student, in that such
courses, having a black basis,
will be made more applicable to
solutions of problems within the
black community. In response to
what the'students said concerning
the idea of black schools teaching
courses that would apply to black
students. Dr. Miller stated that
“If you have to come to college
to learn what is happening to
black people, then your experi
ence must be limited.” To this
students replied that black
schools must not necessarily
teach what is happening to black
people, because hopefully every
body knows this, but to teach stu
dents how to better survive in a
racist society.
Invariably the discussion led
to the concept of self-hatred.
Students felt that the black man’s
problem has been the fact that he
has been and still is in many
cases, the victim of self-hatred.
They cited as examples blacks
who imitate whites by striving
toward white ideals and values.
In his striving to be like the white
man, students asserted that more
emphasis' is placed on material
gains, namely money. However,
Dr. Miller stated that to him,
“This business of self-hatred is
new.”
The discussion ended with ad-
ministrators standing firm in
their belief and students even
more sure of theirs. However,
Doris Scott, student Senate Pres
ident, pointed out that the fact
that students, faculty and admin,
istrators were able to openly
exchange ideas was a step tow-
ard unity between the students and
the administration.
Counties
Girls allied to make their person-
al contributfans. Any extra money
they had was invested in food for
the drive. Canned foods of all
types were donated, canned milk,
juices, soup, rice, beans, etc.
The drive was indeed a success
ful, for many large boxes were
shipped to the needed counties.
Some thought has been given to
encouraging such a drive on oth
er black campuses.
Bennett Collects Food For S.C.