The Afrocentric concept is oi
the move in America as people
seek liberation and knowledge oi
strategies that must be undeigird
ed by educational institutions con
trolled by blacks.
Black universities and colleges
must answer the latest call foi
Afrocentricity as a challenge oi
change to be both black and raise
the excellence that is a
characteristic of the black in
tellectual tradition to its proper
place in the curriculum so that il
achieves and appropriate rela
tionship to the Eurocentric
aspects of the curriculum.
The new framework must move
beyond the crisis-driven
responses that have produced the
new Afro-American studies re
quirements without sufficient in
stitutional supports. And if this
new model is focused on “the
necessity of African-American
control over our environment,”
then the black intellectual tradi
tion provides a much-needed con
text for the elements of Afro
American education.
What should a university think
about Afrocentric education?
One way to answer this question
would be to say that in many
courses, African-American facul
i ty members are able to bring out
■ the Afrocentric aspect, even
' though that is not their basic pur
pose. Certainly, in an Afrocentric
university, this is desirable, as
Prof. Molefi K. Asante has noted
in his discussion of the African
university.
“If the symbols are African but
the content of the curriculum re
mains European, the motifs [of
Afrocentricity] are only at the
superficial level. They must
become substantive through a
radical change in content. Cer
tainly what was sociology, an
thropology, economics, etc., for
white Rhodesians cannot remain
so for Zimbabweans of any color.
This has been a resounding lesson
for many societies seeking to ac
commodate new social and
political realities.”
Thus, the new institutional
framework should be a school, or
college, or at the very least, a
Center for African or African
Diaspora studies with university
wide scope and responsibilities.
If such a unit is developed, one
could challenge whether or not a
university believes in the integri
ty of its own history and culture
and the necessity to teach it, to
protect it and cultivate it.
For The Money
Regardless of your political
point of view, religious beliefs, or
personal station in life, in all pro
bability you will agree: black
America’s economic situation is a
matter of great concern.
Many point to the advances
made over the past 25 years or so
and would have one believe that in
a democratic society, there will
always be the haves and the have
nots. Furthermore, many believe
that if we leave matters to the
government or to the “other" peo
ple, everything will be all right
tomorrow.
If you happen to believe any of
the above or a combination
thereof, this is not for you.
However, if you think that
African-Americans need to be
about the business of economic
development, then let’s seek solu
tions.
Some African-Americans see
little need to read the barrage of
private and government reports
detailing the dismal economic and
physical health of blacks. A look
in the refrigerator or at the bank
book provides a stark reminder.
Yet, even in the midst of this
economic milieu, black America
has an opportunity to enhance its
economic standing by selectively
using its more than $200 billion an
nual purchasing power. For years
we have heard that we should do
more to patronize black
businesses that hire and promote
black workers; that reinvest in
the community through educa
tional, cultural and developmen
tal programs. However, for the
most part, that advice has been
like pouring from the empty into
the void.
Part of the problem is to expect
all black people to respond or
Tribun* Media Services
Stay away from him. Ha just triad to buy
tiHh rtf mill* •»
behave in a certain way, although
it would be in their best interest.
When things don’t happen, the
idea is usually dropped.
Another part of the problem has
been the systematic racism that
African-Americans have had to
endure. Most have felt that pain.
We know from whence it comes.
Now it is time to move to another
plateau, a higher level of self
preservation, of cooperation.
The question which confronts us
today is not who will we support
and vote for in 1992. The question
is how do we effectively mobilize
the purchasing power of the com
munity for the economic advance
ment of our people.
We must display the impor
tance of withholding economic
support from the businesses and
individuals who don’t do any
business with us. The reality of
the matter is the lack ofeconomic
parity as long as we keep giving
others 90 percent of our money.
What do we do? Organize, unite
to make a concerted effort to
spend our money more wisely.
Only when we collectively use
our enormous clout at grocery
stores, drug stores, gas stations,
dry cleaners, florists, black
owned social and entertainment
establishments, etc., will we
achieve economic parity and ad
vance politically.
In addition, our businesses must
be helped to realize they are
deserving of business outside the
black community as well. Whites
and blacks will patronize a black
owned firm if it is clean, in a good
location, if the prices are com
petitive, and if they provide
courteous service with a smile
and a thank-you every now and
then.
Letters To
The Editor
I recently obtained a copy
of The CAROLINIAN and
noticed a new forum,
“Mind’s Eye.”
Your efforts to provide a
forum for your readers to
raise questions regarding
our social environment in
addition to your editorial
page gives your readers an
opportunity to espouse their
position with some authori
ty
Blacks, whites, rich, and
poor, liberals and conser
vatives, the community
needs to have the «wi
necessary to voice a con
cern, raise a question, pro
vide a solution in depth.
Your April 4, 1991 edition
of “Mind’s Eye” by Agatha
Carroo is an interesting and
innovative viewpoint, as
well as refreshing and
thought-provoking.
She makes several
remarkable points. I sup
port her statement: “Unless
the problem is manifested
outside the environment of
the victim, it is largely ig
nored by the system.”
U.A. Young Raleign
rNNPA FEATURE
iSES?
COPING
by
^Dr. Charles W. Faulkner
BRAINWASHED BY ASTROLOGY
Dear Dr. Faulkner:
Many of my friends believe in astrology
and even fortune telling. I don’t see
anything wrong with it. Do you?
Mr. P
Indianapolis, Ind.
Dear Mr. P:
Astrology, fortune telling and other
similar phenomena are okay, if the
believer realizes that they are similar to
fairy tales and should have no influence on
their behavior. The problem, of course, la
that people who believe in them tend to
give these phenomena some control over
their lives. Some people argue that they
read the daily astrological information in
their newspapers, but do not use it as the
basis for the decisions that they make.
If you say that you believe in something,
by definition, you are saying that It in
fluences your thinking. Anything that in
fluences your thinking, necessarily in
fluences your behavior. A person who
regularly reads the astrological Informa
tion in the newspapers is influenced, to
some degree, by the unscientific forecasts.
Practically everyone has heard about
Santa Claus, but no informed person ac
tually believes in his existence, even
though you see Santa Claus in department
stores every Christmas. Young children
believe Santa Claus to be a real person.
They were not born with the idea, but were
brainwashed with it by adults who should
know better.
They key word here, again, is belief.
Many adults believe in phenomena that
have no more solid scientific support than
does Santa Claus. Adults were brainwash
ed by their parents, too, when they were
children. Now as adults, parents depend on
these myths to provide them with guidance
in their lives. Many of the myths have
become the “parents” of believers. This
relegates the believers to the status of
“children.”
The negative feature of myths is that
they stop the adult from growing up by
making him/her rely on instruments other
than their own brains for solutions to pro
blems and for Information about how to
live. In some instance, a trickster can open
an office and profess to have the mystical
ability to see into the future and Influence
world events. This Imposter might have
thousands of troubled people coming to the
office and paying huge sums of money for
advice. These Innocent victims have been
misguided and, in turn, will misguide their
children.
There are many “Santa Clauses” In our
lives. Hers are a few. Astrology, extrasen
sory perception (ESP), mind-reading,
palmistry, Easter, heaven/hell (religious
myths), superstition, visitors from outer
space, our own “inferiority,” most of the
Bible (biblical scholars, after five years of
intense research, have stated that Christ
made only 20 percent of the statements at
tributed to Him in the Bible. The re
mainder were created by others). MOST of
what you believe is strictly mythological,
with little or no scientific support. It is lit
tle more than fairy tales.
Here is what you can do to determine if
what you believe is myth or fact: (1) Find
out what the scientific community think*
about your ideas; (2) Obtain copies (free,
from the library) of scientific tests that
support or refute your ideas; (3) Find out
why you really believe these ideas to be
true (do you have a psychological need to
accept them?), (4) Find out if your friends
who believe these ideas to be true have
strong scientific data that support them, or
simply have a strong emotional need to ac
cept them.
I Wajid’s Word I
BY F. GODFREY
Here we go again! The British prune
minister is presenting a proposal to the
United Nations seeking its approval of a
plan which would monitor the develop
ment of military power by smaller coun
tries to ensure that there will be no more
Iraqs!
You probably read in the news today
that the Untied States Air Force Just decid
ed on what companies would be issued con
tracts to build the latest weapon of
destruction to the tune of ftt billion in U.S.
taxpayer dollars. This new bomber will
replace the F-Us in the U.S. arsenal.
Once again we see a vivid example of
Eurpean arrogrance and superiority. It is
all right for the United States to continue to
build up its already devastating
capabilities, but smaller countries have no
right to do so. Is this yet another stage of
the “New World Order?” Who is a threat
to America? Russia?
While muttons are homeless, hungry and
dying from a lack of adequate healthcare
right here in the land of the free, the
government elects to spend $K billion oo
more weapons? When will the American
people wake up? When will we begin to hil
ly participate in the democratic process
and force the politicians to respond to the
numerous and varied social ills found in
this country?
Who gives Great Britain and the united
States the right to decide what another
country can or cannot do? You will notice,
never mention countries like NOrUiKsrw!
Vietnam, or China when they mention
their monitoring system. As I suggested
before, they carefully rhooee whom to pick
Jo. These countries will quickly tell the
U.S. and the rest ot them juo» nw v w ^ui
The real reason why this proposal is be
ing presented to this puppet organization
(the United Nations) is to ensure that these
smaller countries will not be able to defend
themselves if they elect not to respond in
accordance with the new world order. I
have suggested before that every country
has the right to defend itself against those
who might demonstrate acts of aggression
toward them. Just as the United States and
other so-called powers have the right to
enhance their military capabilities, so do
other countries.
What was done to Iraq was merely to put
other such countries on notice, that what
happened to Iraq can and will happen to
them if they do not play the game accor
ding to the rules established by the Euro
peans. Failure to do so is punishable by
death and the virtual destruction of your
country. This is the new world order.
All people of color must never forget how
they are perceived by the European and
how most of our civilizations have been
virtually destroyed over the years of Euro
pean domination and oppression. Just ask
the native American and the African for
mramplr
The fact of the matter is that if these so
called world powers did not have their
weapons, they would be powerless.
Greatness should not be measured by the
amount of power one is able to exert over
another, but rather on how much good one
is able to do to assist others. Just as a
parent cannot demand respect from a
child through fear, abuse and intimidation,
the world's powers will never be respected
merely for being aide to annihilate a peo
ple who do not respond when they pull their
strings. Peace!
okhle. inuuum
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For
here is no power but of God: the powers that are ordained
if God. Whosoever therefore reslsteth the power, reeisteth
he ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to
hemselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good
rorks, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of
he power? Do that which is good, and thou shall have
raise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for
[ood. But if thou do that which is eVil, be afraid; for he
leareth not the sword in viin: for he is the minister of God,
i revenger to execute wrath updn him that doeth evil.
\ Romans 13:1-4
TONY BROWN'S
JOURNAL
THE NEWLY-LEFT-OUT DEMOCRATS
You might wonder what is happening in the world.
Eastern Europe is breaking up into ethnic, racial and
cultural enclaves.
The Soviet Union has splintered
into an ethnic disunion, resembl
ing Lebanon and Iraq’s Sunni,
Shiite and Kurd factions.
They are all beginning to
resemble the Democratic Party in
this country. Last year, I wrote
that the outside-the-Whit House
party had splintered into a white
wing and a black wing, headed by
Jesse Jackson.
Recent events have splintered
those splinter groups into even
smaller (or different) factions.
The Democratic National Com
mittee is the traditional authority of the party. The black
wing is an ally and partner to that white-controlled faction,
although Ron Brown is its chairman.
Having been scared away by a massive defection of
white voters (especially white men) and policies shaped to
please every group with a pocketful of votes, the Southern,
moderate and conservative white heavyweights started the
Democratic Leadership Conference.
With only 29 percent of Americans calling themselves
Democrats, the “Southem-White-Boy Caucus,” as its
critics derisively call it, saw the marketing opportunities
elsewhere.
Next month in Cleveland at a national convention of
Democrats, these self-styled “mainstream” leaders such
is Sen. Sam Nunn and Sen. Charles Robb, who just got
jounced from the Senate Budget Committee for insisting
that other Democrats stop hiding extra spending, will ap
peal to the white majority.
The agenda of this “new generation of Democrats” will
jffer a "new choice to Americans.” The delegates from 28
itates will endorse an opposition to quotas in civil-rights
aws, support for a limit on federal spending (no more
racial programs for blacks) and a hawkish Republican
lounding plank to use force abroad.
In effect, the Democratic Party’s heavyweights have
idopted a Republican agenda to get back into the White
louse.
Where does this leave Jesse Jackson’s scorned left wing
>f taxing the middle class to spend more for groups that
lave voter bases and the traditional white wing of the
democratic Party that has inherited the legacy of “tradi
(See TONY BROWN, P. 9)
MIND'S $ EYE
by Agatha E. Carroo
VIOLENCE
Violence continue* to rise in our nation and in our local
communities. It is best understood on the three levels pro
posed by H.A. Bulhan: interpersonal, institutional and
structural.
Statistics depicting interpersonal violence are alarm
ing. New York City reported a record number of murders
for 1990. The National Center for Health recently revealed
an astonishing increase of gun homicides for teens bet
ween the ages of IS and 19. The figure rose from 1,922 in
1964 to 1,641 in 1988.
For AfHcan-American males IS to .19, the homicide
rate was more than 11 times higher than whites In the
same age bracket. Their homicide rate climbed from 418
in 1984 to 9S5 in 1988.
Locally, 1990 was designated the bloodiest year on
record in the city of Raleigh. Of the 28 people slain, 17
were black males; 23 were acquaintances and most
murders occurred in the predominantly black Southeast
quarter of the city.
Interpersonal violence involves direct action and is
restricted to place and time. It is the direct result of the
cumulative effects of unemployment, everyday abuses,
and frustration which is turned against oneself and one's
own people.
Strategies for preventing interpersonal violence must
be community-based as police departments tend to take a
hands-off policy. A statement by Chief Heineman in the
Dec. 19, 1998 issue of the News and Observer reflects this
position: “I would be deeply concerned if we had victims
who were unknown to their killers—that makes everybody
vulnerable. But this really tells me that there is very little
we can do to prevent it.”
Communities which feel helpless in the wake of ram
pant drug abuse, homicides and lawlessness must regain
control and Institute means of eliminating disruptive
forms of behavior.
First, there needs to be a reclamation of sons by absent
fathers and a concomitant disarming of our young men.
The police department must thwart the sale of Illegal
guns, the new preferred black market business in African
American communities.
Families and community leaders must organise and
use public demonstrations to bring pressure on drug
dealers who saturate residential areas with dope and in
timidate the residents. Courageous African-American
soon in Detroit and Philadelphia have been successful in
employing these strategies.
On an Interpersonal level, schools, churches ind
families must teach impulse control and respect for
human life. Now values and common civilities must be ia
calated in our youth and adults.
Neighborhood watch programs should be revitalised
where neighbors look out for each other’s welfare.
Cultural and educational programs that alfkm a
strong self-identity and cultural Identity should bo in
augurated la the schools, churches, recreational centers
sad at borne. Rites of Passage programs, prspssed by
Nathan Hare, Jawansa Kunjufu and others, designed to
bring the African-American boy to manhood, are needed
to teach responsibility and the true meaning of strength.
The African-American community is also beset with
institutional aad structural violence. That perpetrated by
(See MIND’S EYE. P.9)