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BLACK INK April, 1972 BSM survive The Black Student Movement was I'oinuled in tlie late l‘)(iO’s to serve as a unified body for Black students at tlie University of North ('arolina at ('hapcl Hill. At a period when the University was increasing the Black enrollment with some consistency, a need to establish a definite Black identity was realized. Opinions concerning tlie structure and basic goals of the group varied at that time, just as they do today. There were some who sought to follow the ways and traditions of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and others at the opposite end of the spectrum who favored an entirely separatist philosophy. And. of course, there were the fence riders, those who couldn't decide where they stood, and others who maintained J middle vigil on the Black political helix. During those critical times, the Black Student Movement accomplished much, but the overall image of the organization left much to be desired. Their tactics were infinite, and infinitely diverse, and their next move could never be predicted. This admittedly had its advantages, but today it is imperative that we remain steadfast and dedicated to our ideology. Today we need a contemporary Black Student Movement. The organization has undergone changes since the days of Preston Dobbins and Jack McClean. The majority of entering Black students today come from integrated high schools, and experience situations where they had to fight for Black influence in student government, student publications, and general student life. Their intentions are genuine, their potential high, and their talents remarkable. The major problem is these Black brothers and sisters see the Black Student Movement as bullshit. But little do they realize that the Black Student Movement is not an external force, something separate from their identity. Black students are the Black Student Movement, and the organization is whatever they make it. To say the BSM is bullshit is to say oneself is bullshit. The solution to the problem involves the Black Student Movement undergoing an image transplant. Fevv understand its ideology, its purpose, where it stands on certain issues, and its basic goals. The BSM has a responsibility to reform its image, and to reveal truly what it stands for. Some see the organization as something extremely irrational, radical, separatist, entirely anti-white, and completely uneffective. Some see it as very organized, together, with definite goals and intentions. And others see it as totally unnecessary. But all of these are misinterpretations. The Black Student Movement, if it is to survive, must become an organization which is viable, and responsive to the needs of Black students on this campus. It must be respected as an effective body, and not just a “crisis organization,” an organization which is only effective during emergency situations. This is a challenge to newly elected Black Student Movement Chairman, Warren Carson, to give the leadership and guidance Black people on this campus need. It is his job to lead a reformation of the BSM’s image, and to prove that the group is, and will continue to be, a focal point from which Black people can work. This is also a challenge to you BLACK STUDENTS. Many of you see Black student involvement as the answer on UNC’s campus. What you must understand is that this philosophy does not allienate you from being an integral part of the Black Student Movement. If the Black Student Movement is bullshit, then so are you. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. iv Allen Mask I Mitiz Bond Associate Editor Doris Stith Managing Editor Editor in Chief James Monroe Community Editor Warren Carson Sports Editor 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, 261B Carolina Student Union, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514. Protest to seek peace by Mitzi Bond Associate Editor “We cannot seek peace through the language of war and threats.” (Jawaharlal Nehru) Once again it is spring — exams arp approaching, war reigns in Southeast Asia, students are on strike in protest for peace and Richard Nixon still sits in the White House. Not much different from the spring of 1970, when Kent State exploded, students went on strike and Nixon sat. However, this spring there, was no out-of-state-student catalyst to excite UNC students. Mr. Nixon did it when he ordered the resumption of the bombing of North Vietnam. In ’68, he promised a plan to end the war. Perhaps he’s saving it for the 1972 elections. But are students, who are now eliigible to vote, to believe these empty promises? What’s more, are Black students to believe his shallow words? Students in this country are waging an internal antagonism for peace, mostly against the establishment from which they came. Black students wage a different antagonism against society — one that has sought to secure recognition and a Black sense of identity and individuality. Now we are also faced with an international conflict which affects us equally as UNC students. Student Body President Richard Epps supported antiwar protests at Carolina and in Raleigh last week. He is at the center of the choice with which blacks are faced — to participate in the peace demonstrations or to be totally apathetic and let the establishment and its acknowledged offspring square off. However, Epps has taken his stand — to protest for an end to a war this generation wants no part of. There are Black soldiers in Vietnam, fighting & being killed. Their lives are sacrificed just as wantonly as the lives of the white soldiers who have fought and died there. Black students cannot apathetically sit by and fail to voice our dissentions. We have interests — hunran interests — Black human interests — in what this country is doing — wastefully sacrificing and murdering its youth. Free Black Soldiers by Ike Oglesby There is an old folk saying which goes something like “out of sight, out of mind.” This seems to apply very well to the stand of many Black leaders when it comes to the liberation of the Black fighting man in Vietnam. The presence of the Black soldiers in Vietnam is quite evident. There has always been a long history of Black enlistments. Many Blacks join so that they can get out of the static economic situation created by a lack of training and institutionalized job discrimination. Others enlist to avoid being drafted. Without the money and resources of cobiter of the same age and draft number, there is no chance for any type of deferment. In light of all the disproportional load of the combat duty carried by Blacks in Vietnam, the peace struggle is just one more facet in the movement for Black liberation. It is the duty of those who set the paces and trends of Black priority to get U.S. forces out of Vietnam. In doing this, they will be fulfilling their obligation to our brothers who are far away to keep us aware of their need for help. If we fail them in order to avoid participatii^ in a “white struggle,” then we are cutting of our nose to spite our face. And in doing so, relegate our revolutionary rhetoric to pointlessness. 14 The new editor of ^ BLACK INK is Valerie | Batts, a sophomore ijij psychology major from Rocky Mount, N.C. i|:j She succeeds Allen Mask, who will serve next year as Chief W Preadential Assistant to % UNC Stndent Body S v: President, Richard J; Epps. S: Batts’ First Associate j::- Editor is Mitzi Bond, a I:;: junior journalism major j:- from Ahoskie, N.C. Batts was appointed $• by BSM Minister of i;} , S Information Mary ^ Lacewell, and was $; approved by the jij; Central Committee. I 1 i
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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April 1, 1972, edition 1
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