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Black Stvuden't MoYement Ofliciail Newspaper
The University of Nortfc Caroiiiraa at Cbaoel Hill
Vol. 17 No. 8 AprU 3, 1986
The black male
and his major problems
by Richard White
Staff Writer
Dr. David R. Burgest, professor
of Social Work at Governors State
University at Park Forest, 111., led
approximately 50 participatnts
through a one hour and forty-five
minute workshop entitled “The Black
Male” as part of the Seventh Annual
Black Experience Workshop.
He opened by pronouncing his
honorary name, Mwalima, that his
students at the University of Nairobi
in Kenya, West Africa were he spent
one year teaching gave him.
Burgest followed by stating the
goals of the workshop. He said: “This
is not a workshop to compare black
males with black females. Instead, it is
an overview of white America’s
opinion of the black male and the
black male’s opinion of white
America.”
The greatest detriments of the
black male are negative myths,
stereotypes, and negative assump
tions, he said.
He described the most destruc
tive elements against the black male,
unemployment, health problems, and
a high mortality rate. He then encour
aged the group to be concerned with
how blacks, especially males, are
trained.
Burgest stated that the
workshop would attempt to answer
two questions — “Who do they [white
America] say that I am [the black
male]? and “Who do you say that I
am?” “The answer to these questions
would be indicative of now one views
himself,” he said.
“Assumptions are not bad,” he
said. “We just have to decide which
are negative assumptions and which
are effective assumptions.
“For example, white America
assumes black America is violent. It
then sets up institutions which
provoke violent behavior,” he added.
This, he called a double bind.
“Fifteen to 24 is the danger zone
where most black males wUl suffer
some catastrophe be it health or incar
ceration,” he said.
“We live in a society that is based
on what black isn’t and what white is.”
iwrtlnytd on pag« S
The UNC Anti-Apartheid Support Group, which photo by T.mmi Foust
seeks to end racial discrimination in South Africa
photo by Tftmmi Foust
BSAI Elects Officers
photo by Tunmi Foust
photo by Tammi I'ousi.
New BSM officers Camille Roddy - president, Eric Valker - vice-president,
Danielle Bowens - secretary, Monica Card - treasurer
by Marjorie Roach
Assistant Editor
The BSM recently elected
Camille Roddy, Eric “Wacko” Walker,
Danielle Bowens and Monica Card as
new officers for next year.
Camille Roddy, a junior public
policy analysis major from Winston-
Salem, NC is the new BSM president
replacing Sibby Anderson. Anderson
said, “I feel that the elected officers
overall have a lot of ability and experi
ence. I’m sad to be leaving (the
presidency), but I feel confident that
the BSM is in good hands. I am going
to continue to work on the same issues
next year.”
Roddy defeated Greg Bargeman,
a junior mathematics major from
Beaufort, NC with 77 votes to
Bargeman’s 33 votes.
Roddy’s goal for next year is
broad. She plans to implement more
BSM activities designed to increase
awareness. She plans to increase
social events and balance out the
political strength with some other
important areas such as academics
and culture.
Roddy said, “I’m really looking
forward to working with the BSM and
implementing the ideas I have. I am
looking forward to strengthening the
central committee of the BSM.”
Eric Walker, a junior philosophy-
speech communications major from
New Bern, NC was elected vice
president after a second election was
held because discrepancies in two
ballots were found. Janet Roach, a
sophomore, public policy analysis
major from High Point, NC led in the
first election on March 20, 60 votes to
Walker’s 50 votes. She was defeated in
the second election after Walker
contested the election due to the
discrepancies. The results of the
continued on page 7