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October 30, 1982/The Maroon Tiger/Page 5 Assembly: Mis-Used Time By Robert C. White This year, for the first time the entire student body of Morehouse College is assembled weekly in the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Memorial Chapel. I feel that this required assembly is not being effectively utilized for the benefit of Morehouse students. Last year one student circulated an expose demonstrating that the student body has no real power in deciding who speaks at assemblies. The charge was never fully countered. At the first assembly of this year however, Academic Dean Hubert did attempt to relate the history of mandatory assembly and argue that if assembly were not mandatory there would be no way to ensure respectable audiences for distinguished speakers. No. Well-known figures draw their own audiences. I willingly admit that less well - known figures often have valuable messages and deserve an audience. It is the quality of assembly speakers and their messages which troubles me most. I think I represent the consensus of opinions from upper classmen in declar ing that assebmly speakers have steadily deteriorated in quality. Of late assemblies have generally been a farce with few redeeming moments. I have been appalled and insulted by meaningless rhetoric and ridiculous ser .., I rtIS I im£ j-j CONGRESS^EU UJHO VOTE A6AIKJST vjouR NEEDS, L| ( 'Be -pAcyiJC, Somtowe To Short change Ljou." Pan-African Series Identity- Who Are You? A serious problem which we Africans born and/or living in the Carribean, North, South and Central America and Europe have is the fact that we don't know who we are. We have been deliberately kept ignorant of Africa and African achievements by Europeans for centuries. The purpose of such action was both to paint a picture of Africa as a savage land and to force us to disassociate ourselves from our homeland. By doing this, we Africans, who had been removed from our home and made into slaves would be afraid to admit, even to ourselves that we are AFRICANS- Let’s take a scientific look at who we are. Our distinctive characteristics and behavior by which we are recognized serve as the tenets of our identity. These traits have biological (internal) and societal (external) origins which are both inherent in our universal and specific observation; we can see that all black people wherever we are living, ar£ in fact African people. Biological and biochemical obser vations point out the facts that whatever your phenotype (the physical expressions that are the result of the gene make-up and the modifications by the environ ment - the characteristics that are visible or evident) it comes directly from our genotype (the collection of all the hereditary characteristics of an individual - the actual chemicals that are passed to an individual from his parents and expressed as his physical appearance and his traits). The phenotypic expression of our genetic traits also show the interaction of our bodies with our specific physical environ ment. So the color of our skin is the outward expression of the content of melanin in the skin. The amount of this pigment is due to the genetic content of the specific genes controlling this pathway and also the intensity of external factors such as sunlight. Likewise, the presence of a trait for sickle cell anemia is a genetic trait prevalent in many Africans - a selection resulting from the high incidence of malaria in certain parts of Africa. Traits like broad nose, thick lips, wooly hair, all are the outward ex pressions of the genetic make - up of the African. The persistence of these characteristics through generations of intermarriage and being a minority in this American society is enough to give one pride in being African. Through biological and biochemical observation then, black people are Africans, having traits and characteristics peculiar to the people of Africa. To further clarify who you are, you may raise and endeavor to answer these questions: Who am I? What am I? When am I? Why am I? To what extent am I? These questions when related to African people take on the entire spectrum of human existence as it is known. In this light, we might want to look at African history, African culture and African society. These external factors from the society further clarity, specify and qualify who we are as a people. In general, society molds the individual given his genetic make - up, into a part of the acting body. Accepted and correct interpersonal monizing. There are vital issues to be addressed intelligently and analytically. There is a great body of tradition to be preserved and passed on. But no, we suffer an hour a week the stupefying onslaught of unconstructive criticism and irrelevant information. On the other hand, I have been impressed, on occasion, by excellent and moving presentations, especially those directly involving our own fellow students. I would suggest that much more time be made accessible to Morehouse students. Morehouse is a great institution, and to speak before an assemblage of 1,800 young black men should, must represent Letters To Editors: It is strange that our major media people will wail to high heaven about the slightest violation of human rights in any country in the world, except one. Israel confiscates Arab property, shoots Palestinian demonstrators, blows up their houses, physically removes duly elected Arab mayors of occupied towns, and uses other brutal methods of repression against the Palestinians, but few U.S. editors, columnists or commentators will an honor, a privilege, and a responsibility. The student body is clearly in need of inspiration and visible role - models, as 'may be seen by an observation of pitifully inadequate assembly speakers and general student behavior within and outside of the chapel. Alumni have related wonderful ex periences by which they were made better in “Chapel”. Are we to be denied these experiences? We are in need more than ever of the inspiration, affirmation, and understanding that an effective assembly program provides. Let us not hope, but work to obtain that which is our right and our heritage as men of Morehouse College. The Editor write or utter any criticism of this. Surely they don’t approve of these vicious violations of human rights; no fairminded person could do so. Then why don’t we read or hear their criticism, their condemnation? They boast of freedom of the press and of speech so that honest opinions can be given, but when Israel is the violator they become disturbingly silent. Why? T.J. Campbell Keep Up The Good Work I just read a copy of the Maroon Tiger (Sept 22, 1982) and I found it very appealing, informative and positive. Of course, the tragedies were of concern to me; I know all three brothers personally. As a former editor, I am always in terested in the newspaper for it reflects the entire ethos of a community if done with care and concern in mind. This issue did just that and I am proud of you and that tradition. Your Friend Karl Robinson, ‘82 “The Wisdom Of Our Forefathers” To the degree that Africa is indepen dent and respected, we are independent and respected. But to the same degree that the Africans at home are dis respected, we are disrespected. Our origin is the same and our destiny is the same, like it or not. Malcolm X ***** Those who believe that one race is superior to another are in fundamental error; they reject the crucial fact of human nature. Birth and death are indifferent to race or sex. The maternity clinic, the hospital, the prison and cemetery should be a constant reminder of our common humanity, the subjection of all human beings to the same i natural laws and the same ultimate fate. Thomas Nsenga Kanza If we make money the object of man - training, we shall develop money-makers but not necessarily men; if we make technical skill the object of education, we may possess artisans but not, in nature, men. Men we shall have only as we make manhood the object of the work of schools. W.E.B. DuBois Common sense affairs and folly denies that the man who has suffered the wrong is the man to demand redress, that the man struck is»the man to cry out, and that he who has endured the cruel pangs of slavery is the man to advocate liberty. Frederick Douglass ♦♦♦♦♦Compiled by Wendell Williams relationships are taught and enforced. Relationships can be learned and un learned. These are things provided by the society. Citizenship is granted based on time of residence and personal desire to become a citizen. African people, having been in the United States for about three centuries, definitely have a right to citizenship if they so choose, but Africans never asked to come here. Some things the society cannot change and that is the physical genetic make - up of an in dividual. Coming to America from Africa didn’t change that and from many of our appearances, the time here; the in terracial mixing and other harsh realities didn’t change that. We are Africans and refuse to admit it, therefore we live a dangerous life like a man who has amnesia. Even though some people know his identity and may tell him of his identity, he doesn’t know it and goes from one situation to another using only recent recall and memory. He doesn’t benefit from all of his history, in the caseof African people — thousandsof years of history. We must know our history! We are African People!