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Page 2 BLACK INK February, 1972 Epps Best Choice UNC is now faced with its first Black candidate for tiie student body presidency. This race will be a test of the liberal attitudes that supposedly prevail in Chapel Hill. Richard James Epps, a junior RTVMP and journalism major, has accepted a major challenge and is running a serious campaign for the office. He has some commendable programs, including a Legal Advisory Program, a curriculum change proposal which would provide class credit for work in the Chapel Hill community, and insured black voices in student government. Looking back on the history of the University, we realize that only years ago black people were not allowed to attend the University. Our fathers returning from WW II looking for an education could not look to state supported UNC. The black student representation is still woefully inadequate and it will be years before the University repays the black man for the years he was neglected. A black student body president in 1972 will mean a cultural change for UNC. It will prove that people, both black and white, are open-minded enough to realize a black man like Epps is more than qualified to do the job. You know, when white people refer to a black candidate they always insist on asking if he is qualified. To be black and make it, you’ve got to be “super supreme.” Contrary to popular belief, there are many potential black Tom Bellos on this campus and one has made himself evident. A tremendous amount of pressure now rests on Epps. Many whites are focusing a prime eye on him, waiting to see if he will survive. Blacks will be watching Epps to insure he is responsive to black needs. Richard James Epps in a young man of integrity. He has served as Chairman of the Men’s Honor Court and played a key part in recruiting many black students on this campus today. He is a competent politician and an aware human being. BLACK INK officially endorses and supports Epps as a candidate for the office of student body president. After careful consideration we are convinced, regardless, that Epps in the most qualified candidate for the office. Nineteen Seventy-Two will be a test of general attitudes on campus. As was the case at tlie University of South Carolina, Vanderbelt, Northwestern and N.C. State, it will determing the progress in human relations made at this major Southern University. Student Stores Play Eye Spy If any black people on campus are starving for attention or pleading for the limelight, then the place for you is the UNC student stores. As one student put it, “you shadow is filled by student store personal.” Once you enter the student stores, the Dick Tracy closed-circuit cameras focus in on your black being. The camera pans left and back to the right following your every move. It’s like being on reruns of “Candid Camera” with the audience limited to a few crimestoppers viewing the monitors. You continue through the store and a clerk picks up your trail. From then on he stands in your shadow, watching your every move until you depart. Black people are definitely victims of circumstances. Why assume that blacks are habitiual thieves? After conducting an informal survey, we found a number of blacks who claim being “eye-spied” in the student stores. While we are being watched, others are stealing them blind. This is not to say all student stores managers and employees are members of the Dick Tracy Crimestoppers Fan Club. We realize that the student stores provide many students with needed scholarships and for this they are to be commended. But they, along with many downtown merchants, must stop treating black people as universal rogues. If they expect our continued financial support, it is imperative that the student stores discontinue their constant virgil on black students. Victor Boone Black Tutors Needed Cureton Johnson Black Nationalism Must Survive As a supplement to the January 18th article in the Dl'H concerning the YM-YWCA- sponsored Chapel Hill Tutorial Project, we want to further emphasize the special need for greater participation by black students. Although we are able to speak knowledgeable of only one phase of the program, we can say without hcstitation that black student participation would be very vcncficial to the many black students who are recipients in the projcct. We can specifically rcler to the See Kids, pg. 4 The last time I had an opportunity to gather with black brothers and sisters at the University of North Carolina the Black Student Movement (BSM) warriors who have fallen into the warriors who have fallen into the clutches of national atrocities. Since the early days of the BSM when radicalism and militancy were at their zenith and giants such as Preston Dobbins and Jack McClean were modling events, 1 and others of my 1971 class have entered the world and felt its abrasiveness. For the past four years 1 have nurtured the ideas affiliated with Black Nationalism in my heart and have grown to see its revolutionary worth. But fortunately I have come face to face with the most important aspect of Black Nationalism and the only aspect that can eventually save our race — economic nationalism. In this vein we all must face the reality that Black people don’t OWN very much in America. As actors on T.V.’s Sesame Street would say, what is 0-W-N? Webster says OWN means belonging to oneself. The white man not only should .be able to write an interpretively correct definition of the word, but should also know its diabolical meaning, that being, OWN what one takes for oneself; example, America. But not to go astray, Black Nationalism is dependent upon black ownership, not black culture or black politics. We who are fortunate in this period of racial genocide to obtain college educations should gear ourselves to some form of creative ownership rather than eternally fix our eyes upon a lucrative and independence robbing career in the white world’s economic system. Naturally everyone is not destined to be a leader in the building, creating and developing of black self-sufficiency, but knowing the potential that lies in the black students at UNC I believe my message will fall on some listening ears prone to serious directions in life rather than minds obsessed with things “anybody can do.” Here I must part from my theme momentarily for there are some things anybody can do. Anybody can smoke a couple of reefers for breakfast, have a quart of Ripple for lunch and shoot scag during dinner. Any man, if he works diligently, can be one of the coolest dudes on campus. Any girl can be Miss Hot Pants 1972. But how many niggers can take the lead in building Black Nationalism? Black entrepreneurs? Black ownership? Very few. And the problem is not multiplied because potential in our race is lacking, but because the “man” has us wrapped up in too many games. For instance: 1) When you get your hands on money, will you be a spender or a saver? Blacks are the spendingest people in the world. 2) Are you always talking and woofing or always getting things done? -^) When was the last time you studied something on your own, not related to a class? 4) It’s nice to help others find their way, but have you found yours? Black people in the continental United States must realize that every European minority group that entered this country consolidated some form of economic power. And one rule of nature is that a person will look out for his own kind first — a lesson black people haven’t learned yet. Still another fact is that,„^ whites will never treat blacl^i\ of poverty, many men talk themselves up on wealth or many men accomplish very much in death. We know that our ancestors, appearing to be servile and humble subjects while confined to slavery, were actually contemplating ways of tricking the white boss. Even though we have a ijmited amount of freedom ay, we must learn to get jobs people equally or practice equ^*) ^ene without resorting to useless opportunity,'no matter what tfa&^ "jQbscene language such as “you law reads. There are laiw^v, f..... screwer-up faggot requiring equal opporttinity ‘M?^honkie.” jobs, but since the South began Words don’t mean as much the task of mixing schools, thet. number of black principals and teachers has dropped considerably. The only thing a black man can put faith in backing him up in times of trouble is what he has developed himself, or in economic terms, what he has belonging to himself. Hence those of us conscientious to the liberation of black people from white tyranny will have to resort to the revolutionary chicanery of our ancestors. There is time to speak up, a time to fight and often a time to die, but 1 am yet to see many men use fisticuffs to climb out now, that’s why rallies and militant rhetoric are slowly dying out. It’s the man you never hear from that’s often doing his thing. It’s the woman that won’t always catch your eye that’s “getting it together.” It’s the person with a skill, a love for his people and unselfish desire who will bail the Black man out of America’s hell. Knock and the door shall open. If it won’t, there are independent keys to bring the door ajar. Cureton Lee Johnson Former BSM President (1970) 1st Black Ink Editor S' Tonight My Black Woman by Tom Jones When we listenei > ilie silen of life, We become placiftcd v/ith tb^ tiittnsc' hoa. t hcils of hi;. k .war aiiu -.vOi.-un. Take a quick look :nd, whi'.' you c’leck o. ■ yov.t Perched above u.^ ■■ke etK-'o of bcaulv. We see six Black vop:en And yet, I look agiin cni' lo see one st;;ini> even hipiier than ^er sisters. Who is this Black wonr.in? While she sits there, memories of a distant land come up to me like a flood of pride. I feel the warmth of your body deeply. I can hear the voices of men and beasts on their hunts. Loud, and reverberating the sound of your heart. Deep within the eden of your breasts. Tonight my Black woman, I touch you because I search you. I talk with you because I need you. I walk with you because 1 am lonely without you. I criticize you because I care. I sing with you because you rejoice in life and expect death without fear. 1 love you because I have discovered you. Tonight my Black woman, I challenge you to remember these things: Live each day to the fullest, Get the most from each hour, each day, and each age of your life. Then you can look to the future with confidence and on the past without regrets. Be yourself, but be your best self. Dare to be different and to follow the wills of your brothers and sisters. And don’t be afraid to be happy. Enjoy what is beautiful. Allen Mask Editor in Chief Mitiz Bond Associate Editor Doris Stith Managing Editor Deborah Austin News Editor James Monroe Community Editor Warren Carson Sports Editor Sterling Swann Business Manager BLACK INK, Published monthly by the UNC BLACK STUDENT MOVEMENT. All unsigned editorials represent the opinions of the editor. All columns represent only the opinions of the individual contributors. Letters to the Editor may be addressed to BLACK INK, 26IB Carolina Student Union, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514.
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Feb. 1, 1972, edition 1
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