The hews Argus - Page 2
THE
IIIWS^AIIGIIS
Jamita Griffin - Editor
Gloria Martin - Advertising Manager
Dr.Valerie S. Saddler — Advisor
Dr. Brian Blount - Chair., Dept, of Mass Comm.
Editorial
Black on Black Violence
It amazes me that with all the obstacles that “we”
have to overcome, the biggest and most threatening is
ourselves. Not only do Black males have to stare down
hatred and the threat of extinction through blue eyes
underneath a white sheet, or a blue uniform for that matter.
We now have to contend with our brother as the
executioner at a time when knowledge of self, upliftment
of our race, and improvement of our living conditions
should be at the forefront of our thoughts.
I don’t have a problem with anyone reacting to the
frustration of living below the standards and conditions of
others. Nor do I have a problem with reacting to
situations of hopelessness with a show of aggression. The
problem occurs when that aggression is taken out on other
victims of the same situation instead of those responsible
for that situation to begin with.
The media is quick to place the blame for the majority
t of Black on Black crime committed by males 18-24 on
“that rap music”. While in reality the blame rests firmly
on a society that perpetuates an image of inferiority on the
minds of Blacks from generation to generation. All you
have to do is turn on the news to see the latest parade of
the black man in the orange prison suit. Are “We”
responsible for ALL crimes committed, or just those
reported? All aspects of the Black experience are not
negative and without a much needed boost of positive
reinforcement, there is little motivation to unlock ones
potential.
Unfortunately, not only do African Americans have to
deal with pressures and prejudices from outside the
community, but we must also face a great deal of apathy
from those who,for all intents and purposes, should be
standing by us.
Ultimately our future lies within our hands.
“Progressions can’t be made if we’re separate forever”. _
Staff Writers
Tonya Brewer
De'Andrea Burgess
Eric Glenn
Shelly Goines
Mildred Gumbs
Derrick Jones
Traci Tiera A. King
Lynn Neal
Monica Prince
Rhonda Reynolds
Margaret Ross
Lisa Sales
Marlene Suit
Kim Terry
Alicia Turman
Janice Williams
Preslyn Young
Let's Talk About All That Sex
Have you really listened to
some of the music being played over
the airways today? Where is this
music taking us? On a hell of a
ride! It seems like every other song
on the radio is talking about SEX!
These SEX songs aren’t singing
about love or a commited
relationship shared between men and
woman just pure SEX.
From Luke Skywalker’s, “Pop
That Coochie” to “Downtown” to
“Shhh, TEVON.” SEX is the
overall message.
Now , let’s take a look at some
of the cold, hard facts about the
music industry. First, African-
Americans don’t own, operate or
really control any main part of the
music industry. Therefore, as a
race, do we have any control over
what messages are being sent over
the airwaves? Secondly, while
“those persons” pockets are being
stuffed with our cash, the minds of
our children arp
becoming blemished.
This involves more than
money, or just loving
the beat of a song. It
involves ethics, morab ,
values and the preservation of the
Black community.
So while you’re “ ‘popin’ your
fingers, ‘shakin’ those rumps and
‘smilin’ with glee.” Stop and take a
few minutes to listen to the words
that you are grooving to. We need to
get a grip on this “music tip” and
tone the SEX-U-ALL images and
music down a bit. Think about how
often these SEX song are played on
the airwaves. The content of the beat
may be all that, but the lyrics are
another issue. We don’t have to
condone this music! Most of the
COLUMNIST
Traci Tiera A. King
songs have great musical
backgrounds; but have you really
heard the lyrics? DEEP RIGHT?!
Does the music industry need to
re-evaluate some the songs being
produced for its listeners?
Let’s save a little something for
our young people to look forward
to...like a life, without the fear of
dying to do SEX.
Volunteering Can Be Fun
Have you ever heard the saying,
“Each one, teach one?” I’m sure you
have. At one time that saying was
very popular among black college
students, but where did that helping
attitude go?
“Each one, teach one” is a very
catchy phrase but are we really
listening to our own words
(keeping in mind that there is
a difference between hearing
and listening).
When I hear that
phrase, I am reminded of .....
what it means to give and
share with another person.
Volunteering is one way that college
students can share their knowledge at
local community centers, (like the
The Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA ,
YWCA), soup kitchens, recreation
centers, hospitals, nursing homes,
and other non-profit organizations
like The Red Cross and The March
of Dimes.
Volunteering is not time-
consuming, it’s not difficult, nor is it
boring. It can be interesting and fun.
It also provides an opportunity for
students to gain lifetime
experiences. Just one or two hours
out of the week will make a
COLUMNIST
Gloria Martin
difference in the life of the person
you help.
Children at the Boys & Girls
Club, would love to have someone
to share some constructive time with,
play with or help them with their
studies. Rather than hearing the
sounds from neighborhood gun shots
or planning their funerals at 13.
Showing a child or teen-ager
that reading and going to school is
not a difficult task and that smart
people can be cool will probably
make a lasting impression on them.
As college students, we have to
show them that standing on the
comer, watching the school bus pass
them by or talking slang is
degrading to self and to the
Black race. This is not cool.
College males must also
teach young Black brothers
—I that wearing your pants
pulled all the way off your
hips is a FAD not a FASHION
STATEMENT!!!!
We must teach them that what
they see and hear on the streets and
in television videos is not the way to
win friends and influence people.
Remember, "Each one, teach
one." Teach them the right way.
Campus Beauty
I have viewed both sides of the
concept of keeping the campus
looking nice. I am a Winston-Salem
State University student and I have
also worked at the Physical Plant.
I have noticed that many
students complain about the physical
condition of the campus. I have also
noticed that these same students who
complain are doing nothing to help
improve the physical appearance of
the campus. They walk on the grass,
drop litter and basically have no
respect for the campuses facilities.
RAMS, we need to do something to
improve the appearance of the
columnist
campus. worked with some of them.
We, as students, need to show Maybe there should to be a fine
respect for our campus. There are or something for students caught
sidewalks, use them. There are trash littering or walking on the grass and
cans, use them .
too. How can we
hope to have an
attractive campus
if we, as students,
don’t do our part? —
We can’t say that
the men and women who work to
beautify the campus don’t do their
part They do! They work hard five,
sometimes six days a week from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. I should know, I have continued on page 6
Tristian Turner
doing anything else that defaces
campus property. This should not be
a financial fine; it should involve