2 The Compass Wednesday, December 9, 1992
Fkotos by Jamgt Sinu
m
Kaisha Bennet, Freshman
"No. Because that would put an imposition on
heterosexuals in the military.”
Sandra Lassiter, Junior
"I feel the ban on homosexuals in the
servce should be done away with. If
you are doing your job the way you
should it shouldn't matter whether you
are homosexual or heterosexual.*
TalkofECSU:
Do you agree with President-elect Clinton's plan
to end the ban against gays in the Armed Services?
Steve Cooke, Junior
Coluntbia, N.C.
*1 feel that if a person’s personal life does
not affect the way that person performs
his or her duties they should not be
banned by the military."
Valerie ’’Cap" Bouldin, Frestrman
"Yes, because in America you have the
freedom to be whatever you would like
to be. Therefore the military should
honor the freedom granted by our Con*
stitution and honor individualism."
Guest Column
Celebrate African heritage all year long
instead of making it a one-night show
By Ursula McMillion
Culture is a hard concept for some to be
truthful about. Certain words may exit
their mouths, but as the old saying goes,
"Action speaks louder than words."
Assimulation speaks loudest because it is
not natural.
After my recent attendance of theCoro-
nation of Miss ECSU, my gut wrenched
with despair, confusion, and anger. See
ing the essence of my culture being ap
preciated only as a one-night theatrical
performance left me knowing more than
ever that I've got work to do.
The Afro-centered Americans were
there in traditional garb, or shall 1 say inas
much traditional garb as their political
positions allowed.
Our illustrious chancellor "enhanced"
(Westernized) his apparel with cowboy
boots and negated traditional head dress,
acknowledging the Euro-centric hats-off
indoors rule.
Some of the campus queens and kings
just couldn't grasp the idea of wearing
ancestral garb and thus draped, (or shall
I say dangled?) kente cloth here cind there
to "assimulate" with the theme.
Some wouldaiguethatthey had troutrfe
locating African dress but as with any
thing you love, you v«ll find a way to
ensure its presence and longevity.
1 wore a kente kufi to crown my Afri-
centered head. (Please note the spelling, a
derivative of the spelling of Africa. Tell
the Afro-Americans that an "afro" is a
hairstyle.) I wore a European black dress
because I had lent my traditional garb to
a campus queen, in light of her willing
ness to embrace her culture in its entirety.
Cultural awareness on the campus of
ECSU has blossomed since my arrival in
1988. However, cultural apathy among
our ECSU Alkebulonian community is
non extinct. (Alkebulon is the original
name of Africa.)
Students are parading around in T-
shirts vkd th the messages ofour slain lead
ers, and being bombarded with political
information that does not include their
a^nda. They ^e sporting the commer
cialized "X" v^thout being aware of the
philosphies of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz
swmging dredlocks and brains as mere
fads. But how many have really joined
the sisterhood and fraternal order for a
stronger nation?
Why put on the make-up and garb if
you're not going to take action?
Getting aU dressed up in African attire
and remaining in the samesituationisnot
progressive. What is everyone waiting
for—another Marcus, Malcom, or Mar
tin? When is everyone going to get an-
sry*
We have capable minds, hands, and
rmbves. Sister Souljah, Dr. Na'im Akbar,
Molefi Asante, Dr. Asa C. Hilliard,
1^. losef ben Jocannanand many others
have produced and are produdng the
re^arA. Now is the time to act, and
when I say act, I don't mean one-nicht
shows of the traditions of our ancestSs,
but365daysofactionperyear toward the
ei^^nce of Pan-African community.
TheWestemavilization,espedallvA-
murder-ica, has taught us to focus on self.
We have lost our communal spirit, our
cooperative economics, and our faith in
ourselves. We deem it okay to celebrate
our ancestry on occasion, but we fail to
make it a part of our daily lives.
We are constantly denouncing our
selves and trying to become like the ice
Lwkat icon, Michael Jackson. Do you
want your children to denounce their
fea^res and the color of their skin
to be happy? Society made Michael un-
h^py by sending subliminal messages
ab^tbeautyand "the way wehaS^
to be in order to be accepted." Society is
^ngthesamemessa^toy^l;^!
Look at our situation. Look at the envi
ronment. Look at your soul. [
It is imperative that we face reality
begin to mobUize the masses for social.
political and most of all economic chan^'
When an older sister 1 once thougj
was politcally correct told me she thoug
thatlwasprettywhenmyhairwaschew |
cally straight but that I was no long® ;
pretty because of my traditional brai® >
feltasiflwaslisteningtosomeonescra
the blackboard.
Bumingmyscalptolookliketheburo- ;
peans is no longer on my agenda.
I just want a majority of
sisters to get on one accord. Keep f>
culture alive. Don't be told thatyouaij
Democrat or Republican. Shidy the P
losophies and teachings of Black
alist Malcom X. Celebrate Dr- . . ■,
Karenga's African Harvest Holi p
Kwaanza. Digest some serious hip F
Demand that ECSU mandatea co^“
The Alkebulonian experience in A-
der-ica.JoinCBAC.ShakeyourlocKS
outinhibition,knowingthatyour
is more than a night out
It'stimeforchange.lt'stimeforaKtv I
LUTION.
Inthewordsof BobMarley:
"Emancipate yourselves from
slavery. No one but ourselves
our minds...."