October, 1972
BLACK INK
3
Better
People?
Often, when a Black youth leaves home to pursue a college
education, he or she finds it hard to relate to old high school friends
upon returning to the community in which he or she was raised. The
student finds himself or herself in a precarious position — not
wanting to break home ties completely, but proud of the college
status and wanting it appreciated.
We as Black students must realize this dilemma and work toward
eliminating it. We must first examine'ourselves: does going to college
(and particularly one like UNC) make us feel that we are in some
way “better” than our “less fortunate” home friends? Do we talk
down to them, insinuating that we are into something which they
cannot understand?
If we honestly do not feel that college makes one “better,” and
we sincerely want to relate to other young. Black folk who are not
in college, then there are several thing we can do:
1) relate our experiences ar college, accenting that it is not all good
or bad — that it is another way to prepare to make a living.
2) invite them to visit.
3) find out what they are into — be sincere in expressing an interest.
4) talk often of how all Black people are in the same boat — of how
each of us has to work for the “cause” in whatever way he or she
can.
5) speak proudly of every friend or acquaintance — then when two
people meet from different roles (college and non-college), the
atmosphere will be one of mutual respect and appreciation.
It is time that we as Black people stop feeling separation,
isolation, or toleration of other Blacks in roles different from ours.
WE are all oppressed, whether we realize it or not, and the sooner we
all understand this, the sooner Black liberation will come about.
Let us. Black students, be a catalyst in bringing about unity
among our people. We can each start in the Black community here in
Chapel Hill and in our communities at home. Though we might
think this is a small matter, the results may prove to be remarkable.
Can it do any harm to try? UNITY IS POWER.
Brianismt
Abolish Oppression
On Central
Committee
The fundamental premise of
Brianism is that the abolition of
oppression manifests itself only
through the act of revolution. In
the United States, all forms of
oppression result from elitist
control of state power. This
means that in the United States
the pohtical, economic, and
cultural spheres, that make up
the concept of state power, are
controlled by a white elite.
This white elite consists of
the controUing stockholders of
the five hundred largest
corporations, including their
board of directors; the executive
branch of the federal
government; the chairman of the
various congressional
committees; the military
decision-makers; and the men
who make decisions concerning
mass media expression.
Consequently, any group in
society which has limited or no
access to these spheres of power
is therefore a victim of
oppression. Economic
deprivation, inability to make
political decisions affecting their
lives and cultural exploitation
are existing examples of
oppression resulting from white
elitist control of the economy,
the executive branch of the
federal government, the armed
forces, and the ma-ss medial.
Thus, revolutionary action in
America is defined as any act
which challenges nonresldcniial
ownership or control of llie
economic, political, or cultural
institutions of the Black
coniniunlty. Tlu- sci/urc or
c o n I ro I o I c o in in unity
institutions by revolutionary
majorities which reside in a
particular community
constitutes the severance of the
pyramid of centralized power
from the national to the local
level in respect to corporate and
federal control of the totality of
the American social structure.
The revolutionary seizure of
power will result when the
masses of Americans seize
control of all local institutions
while the revolutionary political
party seizes by force control of
the federal governmental
apparatus.
Today Black people must
nationally challenge present
racist licensing practices between
the FCC and the mqjor mass
communication networks.
Democratic representation into
the mass media by Black people
presents the means for
expressing the revolutionary
ideas necessary for uniting the
American people in opposition
to existing forms of society.
Liberalism in theory and
practice results in white elitist
domination of government in all
spheres of American life. The
citadel of American liberalism is
the democratic party which
proposes measures that improve
life under oppression. It never
advocates the elimination of the
causes of that oppression.
In conclusion. Black people
must reject all forms of
liberalism in e)rdcr that political,
economic ami cultural equality
be CO me a reali/.ed goal.
Otherwise, while elitist control
of state power will continue lo
exist.
Nixon ...
by Michele Alston
Staff Writer
Richard M. Nixon is seeking
re-election as President of the
United States. He bases his
platform on his past record.
According to Nixon’s political
advertisements he has done
numerous things that Black
people should consider when
they go to the polls to vote.
He has made possible more
loans to Black businesses than
any president before him. He is
the first president to ask for
governmental funds to fight
sickle cell anemia. He opened up
jobs through Federal Manpower
Programs for 1.2 million Blacks
and minority members last year
alone. He has budgeted $602
million for Civils Rights
Enforcement. He is making free
or red uced-price lunches
available to more than 8 million
children.
He drafted a bill which would
give any Black Student federal
Aid to go to college. He has
appointed more Blacks to top
government posts than any other
president in history.
Nixon’s advertisements of his
past record fails to mention a
few things that should also be
considered when voting: l)How
many Black businesses were
forced to close as a result of the
way the loans were made; 2)
Sickle Cell Anemia is not in the
top twenty diseases affecting
Black people; 3) the money for
Civil Rights Enforcement
budgeted is not presently used;
4) as a result of federal
enactments financial aid has
been cut back at many
colleges-B lacks have felt the
effects of this.
If you do go to the polls and
vote, don’t rehash the catchy
phrases and make your decision.
THINK!!!
McGovern
By Mitzi Bond
Sen. George McGovern is
seeking election as President of
the United States. He also bases
his platform on his past record.
According to his political
advertisements, he has done
numerous things that Black
people should consider when
they go to the polls to vote.
McGovern has co-sponsored
every piece of civil rights
legislation enacted during the
last ten years. He voted to retain
all the provisions of the 1*^65
Voting Rights Act when its
extension was being considered
in 1970 and he voted against all
attempts to delay the granting of
the vote to eighteen-year-olds.
McGovern was active in the
opposition to the Haynsworth,
Carswell, and Rehnquist
Supreme Court nominations. He
has given full support to ('esar
Chavez in his efforts to ensure a
fair income for California farm
workers. He has advocated equal
representation for Blacks and
Mexican-Americans at all levels
of government as well as in
private job openings.
McCiovern was llie priniarx'
sponsor of the reform rules of
the Democratic Party which
resulted in the first convention
which fairly represenlO(.l women,
y o u I h . Blacks, and
Mexican-Americans.
' It yt>u go lo the polls lo vote,
I'llINK! ! '
by Mary Lacewell
Minister of Information
The Central Committee is the
legislative organ of the Black
Student Movement. It makes
rul?s and passes laws that affect
the entire BSM. The committee
also delves into other areas of
campus life-social, cultural and
political. Since the Central
Committee has such a powerful
influence on the activities of the
Black students on campus, it is
important ythat we know the
duties of each member.
BSM chairman, Warren
Carson, calls and presides over
all Central Committee meetings,
but votes only in a tie situation.
His primary duties are: to
regulate activities of Central
Committee members, fill
vacancies and organize special
committees if the need arises.
Therefore, he has to be
knowledgable in every area of
campus life.
Vice Chairman, Milton Gunn,
is in charge of securing locations
for any organizational activities.
As chairman of the social
committee, he is responsible for
the week-end parties and other
social events on campus.
Mary Lacewell, Minister of
information, maintains local
communication through the
This year there has been a
significant increase in church
attendence among Black
Students at UNC, particularly
freshmen. Although the exact
reason is not readily apparent,
sophomore Eric Bost gave the
typical answer to the question
“why?” - “I just felt like it.”
Whatever the reason, students
who do attend Chapel Hill area
churches, especially the Black
churches, should realize that
they are strengthening
community ties as they satisfy
their own personal needs.'Much
emphasis has always been put on
the importance of the Black
church in the Black community.
Therefore, it only seems natural
that Blacks should bind together
spiritually as well as socially,
politically and economically.
As can be expected, churches
most frequently attended are
those in closest range. These
include St, Paul's A.M.H. Church
on Merrit Mill Road. St. Joseph’s
C.M.b. Church on West
Rosemary Street, which shows
its interest by sending a bus to
pick up students needing
transportation.
There are six other Black
c h u r c h e s of v a r i o us
denominations in the Cluipel HjII
area to choose from, however.
They Include the following:
Hickor\ Cirove Baplist Church
on Bethel Church Road, Second
Baptist C'hurch on S. Graham
Street, l errell's Creek Church on
New Greensboro lliglnva\.
Ilamlefs Chapel Church on
Jones lerry Road, O'Bryani
Chapel Church on Chapel I ane
and Church of (iod on Brewer
I ane.
Anyone interested in
altciuling one or more of these
cliurclies should coni.icl the
campus newsletter. She also
appoints the Black Ink editor.
Larry Mixon, on-campus
co-ordinator, has a hst of every
Black student on campus so that
he can deliver pertinent
communications to them.
Off-campus representative, Larry
Williams, is mainly concerned
with voicing the opinions of
off-campus students and in
aiding the development of
communication with the local
Black community, also.
The campus area
representatives are Cheryl
Wilkerson - south campus,
Harriet Hannon - north campus,
Daryl Davis - Granville Towers,
and Mae McLendon - off
campus. Freshmen
representatives are Evelyn Dove,
Jupiter Owens, and Burly Page.
These representatives are
primarily responsible for voicing
the opinions of the students in
the areas they represent and
keeping them in the know.
Other Central Committee
members are: Margaret
Blackman, secretary; Bessie
Macklin, treasurer; Willie Wilson,
cultural committee chairman;
Connie Bullock, sergeant-at-
arms; Lonnie Hall,
parliamentarian, and Valerie
Batts, Black Ink editor.
minister or priest in charge to
receive information on church
times and available
transportation.
Actors
needed
by Emma Pullen
Staff Writer
Urgently needed! .Actors,
stage hands, costume designers,
lighting technicians, who are
interested in working with the
BSM Drama Group,
According to Hubert (Hugo)
Williams, co-ordinator, the
purpose of the Group is
threefold. First of all, it will
expose the Black community to
the works of contemporary
Black artists.
Secondly, it will give Blacks
who majoring in drama an
opportunity to exhibit their
style. Organized theatre groups
on campus-l'he Playniakers.
UNC Readers I'heatre and the
Carolina Readers- very seldom
choose plays that have parts for
Black actors. If they do. the
parts are usually from the
■'theatre'of the absurd": those
that could be pla\ed h\ any
actor. Black or while,
l-'inally it will "utilize the
latent talent of Blacks who have
an interest in drama but are
studying in other areas,"
Williams would like lo begin
working on a small project that
would be presented Ihe first of
December, then, start a larger
one for Ihe cultural festival in
April,
Go to Church?