SEPTEMBER 17, 1982
THE BENNETT BANNER
PAGE THREE
Counting blessings
Despite the disorder and irritation that arise from leaving home and coming
to campus, Belles do have some blessings to count.
The college’s grounds have never been so carefully groomed or looked so
lovely. August in Greensboro, which may still seem oppressive to those students
from less humid places, has rarely been so merciful. It’s been a long time since
we’ve had such a cool eighth month.
Maybe the weather is a positive omen for this academic year. The adminis
tration is trying to attune itself to the needs of students. Although, as usual,
Belles may grumble, the College’s dedication to its charges has been evidenced
by an increase in campus activities, an altered curfew policy and an inspiring
matriculation ceremony for freshmen. The College is trying.
So is the city. In response to the often-voiced complaint that “There’s nothing
to do in Greensboro,” the Gate City is offering the third annual City Stage
Celebration, Oct. 2 and 3.
City Stage is a time when downtown takes on the carnival atmosphere of
midtown-Manhattan on a pleasant autumn afternoon. Ethnic cooking, displays
of arts, crafts, and animal husbandry, and, most important, almost non-stop music
dominate the usually sedate (some might say say “dead”) central city. From
jazz to reggae to soul, your favorite music will be played.
Headline acts include Dizzy Gillesnie—master of bebop, synthesist of ghetto
and Latin rhythms and heir to Louis Armstrong as jazz’s main ambassador—
and celebrated saxophonist Lou Donaldson.
An African market atmosphere will run from Jefferson Square to Washing
ton St. where Donaldson, Archie Bell, Yusef and Friends and blues performers
Richard Henry and Bernell McLaughlin will work along with various choirs and
dance groups.
Only the most confirmed skeptic or stay-at-home can fail to join and enjoy
the big Celebration.
Miami hosts pageant
Andrus B. Grayson, president of
St. Bonaventure Enterprises of
Miami, proudly announces the
creation of the Miss Black U.S.A.
Pageant in December.
Grayson, a former radio talk
show host, who has produced and
directed such critically acclaimed
shows as the Miami television spe
cial “Harambee” and “The Miss
Black Miami Beauty Pageant,”
expressed enthusiasm for the de
velopment of the Pageant as a
viable source for positive role
models for future generations.
“The Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant
was conceived as a part of the
great American dream. It was
created specifically for the black
woman who strives for personal
excellence, while defying medi
ocrity,” he said.
Contestants vying for the Miss
Black U.S.A. title, must reign as
her college or university campus
queen. She must be a U. S. citizen
and between the ages of 18 and 27.
The Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant
Letters to tlie editor:
stresses the importance of higher
education as a vital element in
obtaining upward mobility and
professionalism.
It promises to serve as a source
of motivation for young girls as
piring to become campus queens
by strengthening their pride and
awareness.
The Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant
carries a message of pride and a
statement of unity among young
black college American women,
and is trumpeted as the ultimate
competition in the world of
collegiiate royalty.
Beholder rides
Swinging into the school year: A variety of “styles” glittered during the
Freshman Talent Show. Among the participants was Yolanda Lloyd, who twirled
for the fashion-conscious. (photo by Lisa Harris)
Program becomes academic enrichment
(Continued from page 2)
beamed their affirmation of
the proposal, but not so lusti
ly as to frighten me away.
After much bending and more
beaming, I was crouched in
the Honda, reciting my bio:
“Junior . . . Philadelphia . . .
Poli-sci.”
When we arrived at Ben
nett, I said I lived in Cone,
across from the gym. With a
chuckle, the driver assured
me that he knew his way
around campus. This should
not have been news to me
since they’d said they were
A&T seniors.
Still it gave me a shock to
realize that to them I might
be just another easy Belle. My
“good will” left me. I wanted
to get out of that car as soon
as possible. The Honda
stopped in front of Cone. The
driver opened the door.
In my haste, I practically
fell out. I heard no “See ya
’gain,” no “Yer phone num-
ba.” Just “Nice meeting you.”
I was relieved. What did I
want anyway?
Parents’ Weekend and
Founders’ Day Schedule
Sept. 29: Greek Olympics; Sept.
30; “Women of the Bible,”
Chapel, 10:00 a.m.; Oct. 1:
Photographic Exhibition at the
library; Serendipidy Birthday
Celebration, 9:00 p.m.. Coffee
house; Oct. 2: Parent’s Finan
cial Workshop, 9:00 a.m.-noon.
Science Assembly; Parents-
Faculty Mini-Conference; Con
cert, 8:00 p.m.. Chapel; Oct. 3:
Founders’ Day Convocation,
3:30 p.m., Chapel.
The power of blackness
Editor:
Being born and reared in B'elize,
British Honduras, in Central
America, and staying there until
the age of nine, I was exposed to
a different culture from that of
the North American people.
I did not understand what it
meant to be Black until I came
to Bennett College. Although I
knew that I was not white, I could
not apply the term “Black” to
describe me. There is not a great
consciousness or awareness of
racism in British Honduras.
I did not understand why Blacks
in America were so concerned
about racism, the insignificance of
Black dialect, the values of the
people and the goals of the Black
race.
Because I had been called to the
ministry, I thought that I had bet
ter come to understand the con
cept of being Black and under
stand how the very concept is in
corporated into the lives of these
American people.
My first attempt to do this was
by taking a Black Studies course
at Herbert W. Lehman College
in New York City. It was a well-
taught course; I learned the rea
sons for the attitudes, values and
purposes held by Blacks, but I did
not personally experience or feel
the pride, dignity, confidence and
awareness of what it means to be
Black.
I understood the concept on an
intellectual level, but I could not
feel it as part of me. So, after
taking the course, I still did not
have the self-awareness of being
Black.
I then decided to place myself
in an environment where I could
have to internalize what I have
learned through the environment
itself. I judged the best place to
be was the South and Bennett
College.
I can finally call myself Black
with the dignity, pride and con
fidence that is felt and that I feel
from having a rich and gracious
African heritage. Bennett has giv
en this to me in the space of one
year and I thank her.
An excerpt from “Loving
Styles: A Guide for Increasing
Intimacy” by Martin F. Rosenman
appropriately describe how I feel
about Bennett:
“Everything we share[d] and
communicate[d] [became] a per
manent part of my growth process.
Though my feelings will be dif-
frent a year from, now, or ten
years from now, part of the dif
ference is you. Because of you, I
am a different person, and the
person I will grow to become,
with or without you by my side,
will have gotten there partly be
cause of you. If you were not in
my life right now, I would not
be who I am right now.”
“Nor would I grow in exactly
the same way. Much of what I
grow toward, or change within
myself, has to do with what I
respond[ed] to in you, what I
learn [ed] from you, what I re
ceive [d] about myself through
you, and what I learn [ed] about
my feelings in the dynamics of
our relationship.”
“I do not worry about our fu
ture together since we have al
ready touched each other and af
fected each other’s lives on so
many levels that we can never be
totally removed from each other’s
consciousness. A part of me will
always be you, and a part of you
will always be me. That much is
certain, no matter what else
happens.”
Yes, Bennett shall always be my
alma mater at heart. Till we meet
again.
Jennifer Jones
Editor:
Many of us are failing to realize
the importance of sisterhood. To
clear up some vague minds on the
definition of sisterhood, Webster
simply defines it as (a) a com
munity or society of sisters, (b) a
group of women having the same
interest, status, etc.
Let’s analyze these definitions.
Any community or society of peo
ple must live by given laws which
make it possible for each person
to live in harmony with thy neigh
bor. If law and order were not
exercised within a community or
group, then chaos would rule. In
accordance to our subject matter,
this simply tells us that societies
of women should abide by given
laws in order to live in a tranquil
sisterhood.
In reference to our second given
definition, it would be a great
advantage if women of the same
community could identify or re
late to one another whether it be
to a particular interest, idea or
goal. In this way, women could
work together on a project with
equal enthusiasm; therefore, ac
complishing their objectives
successfully.
A perfect example of women
working as a whole was in 1920
during the women’s suffrage
movement. This resulted in the
19th Amendment which passed in
1920. Women from all around
worked together to strive for
equilibrium with men in the po
litical, legal, social, cultural and
economic institutions of this so
ciety. This new and brighter be
ginning for women proved their
teamwork strategy triumphant.
Even today, women are lobby
ing for the Equal Rights Amend
ment. Once again, sisterhood be
comes an important factor in
order for this goal to be achieved.
Many of us are working for
ourselves rather than our sister
hood. Sure, self-accomplishment
is important, but in order for us
women to take charge in this
“man’s economic world,” we have
to work as a whole. Much more
can be acquired.
Keep in mind that our philoso
phy should be “one for all and all
for one if not at all.”
Dee Evans
by Lisa Murray
The name of the Pilot Pro
gram, a basic skills curricu
lum for some freshmen, has
been changed to the Academic
Enrichment Program by ac
clamation of the Belles who
inaugurated this course of
study last year.
The students felt that the
new title was more appro
priate to the effects of the
discipline.
Dean of the College Chel
sea Tipton, who started the
program, believes the innova
tion has been a success. “Our
success with learning enrich
ment, or pilot as it was called
last year, was very positive.
Fifty percent of the students
made the Dean’s List. These
students, have been restricted
to 12 hours, will prove them
selves this year as they take
a heavier load,” says Tipton.
The College embarked on
the program because, accord
ing to the Dean, “We, the fac
ulty, saw a need to improve
the academic performance for
those who we feel were under
prepared for successful ma
triculation at the college level.
In doing so, we felt that we
should concentrate on the
most basic tools of learning—
reading, writing and arithme
tic. We believe that if one is
to be successful, he must
master these skills.”
Last semester, students
raised the question if en-
rollees in Academic Enrich
ment would be allowed to take
one or two courses in their
majors. Tipton replies: “No,
they will not be allowed to
take courses in their major
for the reason that we believe
that the basic skills taught
in the Academic Enrichment
Program are prerequisites to
success in most other areas.”
A staff of four directs the
discinline — Ms. Marcella
Whidbee, English instructor
and program coordinator;
Mr. Ray Treadway, instruc
tor in mathematics; Mrs.
Amy Reynolds, instructor in
reading; and Miss Jimmie
Gravely, instructor in orien
tation and the seminar
component.