To The Future, Blackwards
Hello, I’m Ihe new editor of the Black Ink.
Any publication tends to bear the distinctive stamp of its editor and
editorial staff, so to fully understand why certain articles were written,
one must also understand the writers. In the coming weeks, 1 will try to
help you know me through my opinions as expressed in what I will call
the “Issue of the Week.” Let me reiterate that this is my opinion and not
that of my trusty staff. So without further adieu, let me tell you:
Why I prefer “black” as a race description over all other alterna
tives, including “African American.”
I have no objections to usage of the term “African American” in
written or oral discourse; I am justconfused by some of our leaders who
push for this word to the exclusion of the powerfully simple “black.”
It is disheartening to hear the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others claim that
“black” represents only a color and nothing more. History proves this
way of thinking to be merely cynical oversimplificauon. “Black” is a
crcation of our own, unlike the terms “negro” and “colored,” which were
more or less saddled upon us by white popular will. In protest to the overt
racist practices pervading the nation in the 1950s and 1960s, we coined
the phrase ourselves, and it represented the first time in American
history we participated in our own naming. So “black” represents not
only the skin color brown, but a race’s self-determination and self-
reliance.
Proponents of “African American” say that this word tells the
nation and the world at-large about our collective history, i.e., where we
came frt)m. But one glance at my skin instantly tells the most obtuse
person from where and from what people 1 descended. Do you think it
is a coincidence that ignorant racists (a redundancy?) have been known
to call American blacks “jungle bunnies” and “spearchuckers”? To
what continent are we encouraged to return when we really aggravate
the while establishment?
The point is that either term, “black” or “African American,” is
perfectly legitimate. Even though the latter makes our race sound like
immigrants (such as Italian Americans or Asian Americans) when in
fact we are ex-slaves, it is still a black creation. And when I use “African
American,” I’m recognizing the legitimacy and utility of the term while
at the same time, not abandoning "black," the original and best The
Black Ink will continue to use the two terms interchangeably.
To wrap up. let me open up our pages to anyone with a conflicting
wt woiicdpoiKiiu^ vivw^A^iiu tu Un./ oilcs you read in our biweekly
newspaper. We always accept letters from our readers because that is
how true diversity of opinion is achieved. If the staff does not l^ar from
you, the UNC community, then we can only assume that our printed
word is generally agreed upon and can take pride in the fact that we truly
represent the interests of this campus.
God Bless,
Myron B. Pitts
Black Ink
"The essence of freedom is understanding"
Editor: Myron B. Pitts
Associate Editor: Corey Brown
Staff Writers: Natalie Baucum, Pamela Best, Michael Bowden, Keisha
Brown, Sherry Byrd, Jacqueline Charles, Zaire Davis, Edwin Evans,
Latricia M. Henry, Scou Johnson, Lisa Lavelle, Felts Lewis, John J.
McCann, Chandra McLean. Lee Richardson, Thomas Scott, T.J. Stan-
cil, Kynia Starkey. Corey Sturdivant, Stefan Tyson. Fred Wherry.
Natarsha Witherspoon
Editorial Advisors: Erika F. Campbell, Akinwole N’Gai Wright
Copy Editors: Lynette Blair, Rolanda Buniey, Lee Richardson
Cartoonists: Delancey Bennet, Lem Butler
Inside Black Ink
Tuesday, October 1,1991
Cover Story
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Chuck Stone has been just about everywhere and done nearly everything. Now the 67-year-
old is trying his hand at teaching...and making a big impression at the University. Page 4
MOORE SPEAKS HIS MIND
Tim Moore, contraversial Speaker of Student Congress, still holds that the Carolina Gay and
Lesbian Association deserves no student funding. But other minority groups should not feel
threatened, he says. Page 3
AFTER 11 YEARS, NADA
The Black Cultural Center has yet to find a home of its own, and theUniversity has no plans
on the book for building one. Page 5.
EISA'S BACK
After 10 years, the Black Interdominational Associaton returns to campus with a mission to
recruit members from varied religions. Page 6.
REMEMBERING A WOMAN WARRIOR
BISA Chaplain Jo Watson, former BSM President, writes a resoultion for her mentor, late
professor Sonja H. Stone. Page 6
BLACK TRACKS
Ink reviewers take a look at Queen Latifah, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Naughty By Nature and
Vanessa Williams. Page 7
“CARS DRIVE BY WITH THE BOOMING SYSTEM”
But does this translate into a booming bankbook? See what Wonderboy says. Page 8
About the Cover
Chuck Stone, celebrated journalist, lectures to his censorship class. The syndicated columnist
and former senior editor ofThe Philadelphia Daily News was chosen from more than 80
applicants to fill the Walter Spearwman professorship in the School of Jounmalism. See story.
Page 4
BlacM hnk, founded in 1969, >» Ihe weekly ncw;.paper of the Black Studeni Movemem ai ihe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
k is published Moixiays during the acadrmic year and does r»l tscriminalr on the basis of sot, sexual orienUtk)n, religion, race, eihinc
origirwr handicap. All manuscripts, letteis, photos, iUusuations and other materials submitted are welcome and must be signed. The Black
Ink office is located In Suite 108-D of the Student Union. Mailing address, C&* 5210 Student Uniorv, University of North Carolina, Chapel
Hill, NC 27514. Phone, 962-4336. One year subsciption in U.S. and possessions $20.00. Singk: copy. $1.00 (Make checks payable to Black
!rJC Aliy annoucement or advrrtisettient to be printed must be submitted the Wednesday before any pubUcatk>n date. Black Ink is
published completely by university students on the SCAPEGOAT ilesktop publishing system and printed by Village Printing Company.