Newspapers / Saint Augustine’s University Student … / Jan. 1, 1989, edition 1 / Page 4
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EDITORIALS... January/February 1989_.The Pen™Page 4 From the editor’s desk Those avid soap opera watchers could probably remember the scene from All My Children: Angie and her son, Carl, just fin ished discussing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the March On Washington. Reming ton, the bad guy turned out to be good, then cscorts Carl out of the doctor’s waiting room. One hospital staff person overhearing the conversation, tells Angie how wonderful her son is and predicts that he will be great for the people of color. There is a polite return of thanks. One other staff member joins the well wisher, but not before leaving the room saying, “You know, maybe she is one of us after all.” It need not be said that Angie sat shocked and hurt because she was within earshot. It also need not be mentioned that Angie is Black and so are the other two members at the hospital. It may just be a soap opera, but some how one cannot escape the feeling of having been there before or having seen this kind of U-eatment, be it discrimination or ig norance. Too often we hear Blacks debasing one an other in the most degrading manner for no apparent reason. Most damaging is their way of recording so called “non-Black behavior” as “white.” Our convocation speaker reminded us of how typical these “brothers M. Jacquie Jones Editor-In-Chief and sisters” can be. They are the ones who do not want you to excell and even though they tell you to move towards the front of the bus, they pull you back. Some disturbing questions are: who determines what is black enough for a black person? Or better yet, what is best for a black person within a White world? What are “white ideas?” Is it the driving ambition that Angie had to not be like her criminal minded father? Is it her determination to raise her young son, Carl, in a manner befitting society? We owe it to ourselves to reflect our future, not from the standpoint of selfish thinking but from the realization that we are all in the same boat-even if some of us came on different ships. February is Black History Month and we can make the most of the 28 days by remem bering what some of our forefathers (and some of us) had to go through to get where we arc today. But remembering requires little on the part of action. WE can do. WE can be. Only if we put our minds to “it,” can we achieve most of what we dream. Speaker after dreamer after achiever can say, see, or do but it all comes down to one thing - doing for ourselves and for the betterment of our kind. “Knowledge and education are freedom,” and “ignorance costs more” TTiese words of Dr. Therman Evans keep repeating themselves in my mind for it is dif ficult to pay attention to these words when a person is trying ‘to fit in.’ It is so difficult to study when you know that most people are outside ‘chilling,’ when people are at the game, at movies, at Fevers and at A Hole in the Wall, while you are in your room studying for G.R.E., the N.T.E., or simply reading. It is difficult to avoid com placency when your classmates are satisfied when they pass a test with a “C.” Sometimes it is so difficult to accept when you and your friends are term^ as the ‘nerds’ because you prefer to stay in the dorm studying when there is a dance. The point, as Evans stated, “Is that being cool is associated with how far one can tilt one’s hat to the side of the head,” and, if I might add, cool is walking with a hat on one s head and refusing to remove it even though the instructor states his dislike for this action. Cool is driving on the yard, with the windows rolled down, playing “It Takes Two” while classes are in session. “Cool ness,” Evans stated, “is exhibited by a per son who is prepared.” This is the person who studies, who passes his test and who does not settle for mediocrity. Coolness is associated Dear Editor, I am wnting you again about your pen pal program or corresponding program. I am in prison and I have no one to write to. If you are interested, send your address and become my pen pal. Please reply as soon as possible. So I close my little letter. May the Lord bless you and all the people in your college. Thank you. St. Augustine By Yolanda E. Hall Senior Analyst Here on campus we see more and more brothers and sisters wearing medallions, sweatshirts and other items expressing black pride. This is great and I hope that it con tinues. Although this is a start we still have far to go- We as a people must educate ourselves. We can accomplish this by reading more books. We must learn about more of our great lead ers such as Biko, Malcolm X. Mandella and others who have made contributions to students such as The MIseducatlon of the Negro, The Black Students Guide to Posi tive Education, and others. I have read these books and they have both inspired me and opened my eyes to things I did not know. It is leh up to us to educate ourselves so that we can properly educate our children. They hold the key. They are the future. Our children can put an end to the racial stereotypes and inferiority that we face in our Julie Moody Associate Editor with serious students who are strong enough to withstand the ‘catty’ remarks of people - who see their exterior and not their interior - who say, “Mary what are you doing here..i thought you would be studying...! did not know you could dance,” and, the most famous of all, “girl, you study too much.” It is easy to understand, though, when these ‘studious students' receive thousands of dol lars in stipends, fellowshijK, and assistant- ships for graduate schools, and receive good job offers when they graduate, while the ‘party animals’ are forced to settle for what they can get. Do not read me wrong. There is nothing wrong with enjoying oneself, with going to parties, movies, and games; however, as with everything else, when these things are done in excess they can be our downfall. There is a right time for everything. There is a time to work and a time to play. Learn how to dis tinguish betweoi these times. It will prove helpful to you. Your loving irunate, Kenneth Passmore -107399 Union Correctional Institution P.O. Box 221 Raiford,FL 32083 P.S. I am unhappy all the time because I have no one to write to. is waking up lives. We should also start programs here at school that teach about us as a people. We need to learn about our leaders, our ancestors, and the struggle of the civil rights movement. The contributions that Africans have mad^ the foods we eat and apartheid in South Afri ca as well as here in the U.S., in essential to learn about too. The music we listen to is also important. We all like club, go-go, rap, etc. There is nothing wrong with this but such artists such as Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Sting md others give us messages of hope, inspiration and dreams. They tell us of apartheid and what the future holds. We the students of St. Aug’s, have the power to start many changes. Through us more black colleges and universities can learn and become awakened. Let us not throw it away but mstead put it to use-we can make the difference. READ THE PEN THE PEN Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF M. Jacquie Jones Associate Editor Julie Moody Managing/Ad Editor Brenda Young Circulation Managers Michael Wiggins Bonnie “Lisa” Stroud News Editor Hope Sawyer Asst. News Editor Angela Polite Feature/Entertainment Editor Jacynda Williams Sports Editor Gerald Hutchinson Photo Editor Donna Page Columnist Richard Johnson Analyst Yolanda Hall Artist Jeff Joyner Advisor Df - Helen Othow, Head English Department Coordinator Miss Regina Ford Communications Department Publisher Sample Publishing Company THE PEN is a student newspaper of Saint Augustine’s College, 1315 Oakwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27C11. This paper is published once a month for eight months through the academic year. THE PEN encourages letters to the editor and other artJclet bat reserves the right to edit ALL material submitted. All materials most be typed and double spaced. Editorials, advertisements, opinion columns and other articles of such do not necessarily reflect the (pinion of the college or the staff. Contribatioas are welcome. Telephoae: extension 2S3 Letter to the editor
Saint Augustine’s University Student Newspaper
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Jan. 1, 1989, edition 1
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