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Editorials
Page 4
Clark Atlanta University Panther
April 29, 1991
By DWAN PETE Go To Africa!
Contributing Writer
If you haven't been to Africa, you need to go. Seriously.
Now, I know that that is easier said than done. Let's face it, we
college students are broke.
But if you can't go while in college, go at some point, the
sooner the better. The experience might change your perspective
on a lot of things. It did for me.
I was fortunate enough to be one of the five CAU Junior
Delegates to attend the First African/African American Summit in
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Africa, from April 14 - 20. The most
important thing I gained was a greater sense of connectedness with
Africa. When I truly realized that I was in a country, in a
continent, where the vast majority of the natives look just like
me, it hit me. When I was welcomed with open arms by my
African brothers and sisters in Abidjan, in Yamoussoukro, in
Dakar, it hit me. And when I returned to America and received the
ever-so-familiar icy or uncomfortable stares from Euro-Americans,
it hit me like an anvil: when I was in Africa, I was truly home.
Many African Americans (myself included, before my trip) don't
feel as great a bond to Africa as they should, partially because the
bond is de-emphasized by America's Eurocentric media and
education system. We normally don't have the opportunity to
learn much about African history in America's schools until we
reach the college level.
So what's the solution? As always, what others do not do for us,
we have to do for ourselves. We need to begin educating ourselves
about our African heritage and history. Whether it is by reading
more on the subject or by actually visiting Africa, we need to learn
more about our heritage.
"Well, I don't know what part of Africa I'm from--how am I
supposed to learn about my African roots?"
Pick a country. Pick a region. And learn about it. Don't let
such a weak excuse stop you from learning about your people.
"The books on African history are Eurocentric and
stereotypical."
That's another excuse that needs to be discarded. If we can't find
Afrocentric textbooks, and we know that Euro-Americans aren't
going to write them, why not write the textbooks ourselves? Do
for ourselves.
But, the easiest way to educate ourselves about Africa, at least
today's Africa, is simply to talk to Africans. For AUC students,
it's talking to African students, especially African students who
have just recently come to America. Some African American
students claim to be sooooo Afrocentric, yet can't get past the fact
that " 'those Africans' " don’t wear any deodorant!" Those who
can't get past that pettiness and never take the time to talk to
"those Africans" (as if they have no African blood as well) don't
really feel that 'those Africans' are our brothers and sisters.
Those who wear the beads and the Malcolm X
T-shirts, but have yet to shed the small-minded Eurocentric
intolerance are missing a true sense of connectedness with their
African heritage.
We don't have to pack our bags and go back to live in Africa to
get a sense of our African roots. But, we do need to pack up and
discard any Eurocentric garbage in our minds that deemphasises
and belittles our African heritage.
CAU PANTHER
April 29, 1991
The articles on the editorial page are the
opinion of the writers. They do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of Clark Atlanta University
student body, faculty, staff or administration.
Editor-in-Chief Paulette V. Walker
News Editor Tonya Latimer
Lifestyles Editor Sheryl M. Kennedy
Sports Editor Anthony George
Staff Writers William Blackburn
Veronica Fields
Pierce Huff
The Panther welcomes the views of the faculty,
staff, administration but especially those of the
student body in the form of letters to the editor
or guest editorials. The Office is located in the
Communication Arts Center, room 120. Address
all correspondence to the Panther Newspaper,
Clark Atlanta University, James P. Brawley Drive
at Fair Street, S.W., P.O. Box 329, Atlanta, Ga.
30314 or call 880-8309 for inquiries. The staff
meets every Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in room 120 of
the Communication Arts Center.
Illustration by Anthony Carter
Graduates Must Give Back
By MARGARET HUNTER
Contributing Writer
When the graduating class of 1991 their oath at
the ceremony — professing to be a loyal alumni of
CAU and give as they have received — they will be
given the opportunity to change things they
disliked.
When I became a Panther, I remember walking
around on campus grounds and seeing the plain,
boring landscape.
This scenery surrounded was my friend's dorm
whom I visited often. I was appalled by their living
conditions. The rooms were small and dark, the
floors were brown.
Many times I would walk over to Spelman and
see my friend, Allison. The Splendor of Spelman!
There is a drastic difference between CAU and
Spelman's landscape.
Spelman had blue and purple morning glories and
poppies neatly aligning the pavement. Tall, green
bushy shrubbery led to the auditorium and I even saw
a plant like my mother had in the living room. And
Allison's dorm room at Spellman outshone Clark's
by leaps and bounds.
Spelman has these benefits, because people give
back to the college. I am aware of the Rockerfellers
giving money to Spelman, but people with less of
an account donate money, particularly, the alumni.
At CAU, we can be charitable beginning with the
1991 graduates.
I talked to a prospective graduate about giving
back and she said, "I cannot give back to this
school because the registration process is long and
unorganized, and the Financial Aid Department has
put me through a lot."
She is not the first to go through this nor will she
be the last. If she were to give monies, maybe the
school could buy more computers to speed up the
registration process. Graduates have a
responsibility to change the negatives they
experience now into positives for future CAU
students.
Anyone graduating from CAU should be eager to
give back. The institution has prepared us for a
career in the world. The class discussions that future
graduates participated in should have awakened their
senses to issues affecting society, and the world and
African Americans.
I cannot forget that almost everyday instructors
at CAU share their knowledge and experience with-
students. They remind us of how difficult it is in the
world and how you have to be prepared, because
someone out there has an edge over you. What about
that instructor who is not so encouraging? Even this
person has taught us something, because like this
instructor employers are not always tactful.
Clark Atlanta University gave you all of this. We
did pay thousands of dollars in tuition, to fund our
education and some may respond to this
commentary, "I gave back by paying tuition.” Some
things we received at CAU, money cannot buy, even
Rockerfeller and Cosby know this.
I am a mass media arts major with a concentration
in public relations. During my sophomore year, I
intended to leave CAU because the college did not
have a concentration in advertising.
I stayed at CAU, because general education
instructors were positive and always concerned
about my best interest. They gave me one-on-one
attention.
I was unable to write legibly with my right hand,
and it would take me hours to complete an
assignment. My general education instructors
allowed special privileges, including taking time to
read my writing which resembled that of a 4-year-
old, without complaints. I will never forget it.
That's why I sacrificed my talent in advertising to
remain at CAU.
It would be great to give back computers to my
department.
I remember watching "Full House," a comedy on
NBC and seeing a character that was played by a 12-
year-old and the editor of her school paper. She said,
"I could type this on the computer." This depicts
elementary students and middle school classrooms
of today. CAU mass media arts majors use
typewriters like Perry Mason used on "Ironside."
The CAU alumni, particularly the mass media majors
should make typewriters and computers top priority.
During senior week, I kindly ask all prospective
1991 graduates to make a list of things that need
sprucing up around campus. Remember, you are
making it better for other students and trying to
rank CAU higher than nine on Emerge's list of Top
10 Schools. We can show other schools in the AUC,
we do not need celebrities' bank accounts to be an
outstanding university. 1991 graduates have these
gestures, too.
You do not give to receive, but when you do it
comes back threefold.