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THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
October, 1966
I EDITORIALLY I
SPEAKING
Words are undoubtedly the most important moulders of
people and events. They can bring joy if wisely used or cause
catastrophe if unheeded. No one can doubt the effectiveness
of the printed word in propagating radical ideas, achieving
public office, overthrowing a government, or disgracing an
enemy. The most powerful organ for transmitting written
ideas is the newspaper. This year the Spelman Spotlight hopes
to assume as much power as it can. However this task requires
the aid of each Spelman student. You are urged to submit
articles, poems, short stories and letters to the editor. Voice
every opinion that you have—from what’s right (or wrong)
with Spelman College to what’s wrong (or right) with Red
China.
It is impossible to be totally indifferent to the changes
and upheavals of this era. Involvement in the crises of the
times is a necessity. The Spotlight staff invites the student
body to show just how involved you are and how much you
care about the forces that are shaping your lives.
A college newspaper should be an accurate reflection of
the emotions, opinions, and activities of the college student.
The Spotlight aspires to be an organ of student expression.
This is no meager undertaking, for in previous years students
have been rather reluctant to use this instrument—being con
tent to argue about controversial issues in the dormitories
rather than bring them before the entire student body. Be as
sured that your contributions will not be censored unless
blatant impropriety and factual inaccuracy are observed.
The Spotlight will be published each month. Please read
it and offer criticism and/or praise. The deadline for articles
is the ninth of each month. In April an issue devoted to the
literary works of Spelman students will appear. We expect to
hear from each of you.
The Spelman Spotlight
ANNA B. PORTER, Editor-in-Chicf
ANDREA WILLIAMS, Associate Editor
HENRIETTA TURNQUEST, Business Manager
MELODY McDOWELL, Feature Editor
CYNTHIA SMITH, Literary Editor
Layout Staff—
JANICE HOLLOWAY, CATHARINE WATSON, ELVA EVANS,
YVONNE JACKSON
Photographer
JOYCE ACKERIDGE
Advertising Staff—
EILEEN BASS, LUELLA NICHOLS,
Cartoonist
MARGARET MILLS
JOHNSON, MOLLIE ALLEN
Exchange Editors—MARILYN HUNT, CYNTHIA SMITH
Typists—CAROLYN JONES, MARJORIE RICH, MILDRED FARLEY
Contributors—
MARILYN HUNT, PAT COLLINS, JOAN GALLARD, JANICE HALE
DR. RICHARD CARROLL, Advisor
FRATERNITIES
The Collegiate Press Service
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CPS)
— The University of Louisville
laid an ultimatum before the
school’s all-white fraternities
and sororities last week (Sep
tember 23): stop discriminat
ing against Negroes or face ex
pulsion from campus.
University President Philip
Davidson announced the regu
lation in respense to the
Greeks’ requests for housing
construction funds. He agreed
to loan 75 per cent of building
costs and to provide land only
to non-discriminatory fraterni
ties and sororities.
“Fraternities and sororities
need help to survive on this
campus,” President Lawrence
said.
A “fraternity row” is
planned along Confederate
Avenue.
Dean of students David
Lawrence said he foresaw no
problems in fraternity compli
ance with the ruling. But three
days after the announcement,
fraternity and sorority leaders
had no comment.
In another case, the Univer
sity of Colorado prohibited
discrimination in fraternities
and subsequently suspended
privileges of Sigma Chi. When
the national chapter filed suit,
a U. S. district court upheld
the University’s action.
Administrators at the Uni
versities of California, Wiscon
sin and Minnesota have also
warned fraternities against dis
crimination.
A LOOK AT BLACK POWER:
Editor’s Note: The following article is a freshman staff mem
ber’s interpretation of a vital issue. What’s your opinion?
IT’S NOT OVER
by Janice Hale
Skip kicked the tin can ahead of him as he walked the
narrow streets of the Hough area of Cleveland toward home.
Home to him was a rat infested tenement in which he lived
with his parents, his three brothers and his two sisters. His
father is a factory worker and his mother is a Nurse’s Aid.
In high school Skip heard about the new frontiers in civil
rights. His teachers continuously declared how far the Negro
has come, but isn’t he a Negro? Why hasn’t his family ad
vanced? Isn’t it true that his family is just as poor now, if
not more, as they were when the civil rights movement be
gan? Hasn’t the rent steadily increased and haven’t the bills
mounted up more quickly than his father’s salary was raised?
To him, civil rights was nothing more than a story in a news
paper. His young mind was troubled by this disturbing
paradox.
Yet, there is an answer. The answer is in a peculiar revolu
tion. This revolution began in America when tfie voice of
the middle class Negro was finally heard. In our southern
cities, schools have been desegregated, lunch counters, hotels,
and theaters have been integrated, and visible racial barriers
have been broken down. But the northern lower-class Negro
shouted in the 1966 riots, “What about me? I can’t afford
to travel, so I don’t need integrated hotels. I can’t afford to
eat out, so I don’t need integrated restaurants, I could never
afford to live in Cicero, Chicago, so new strides there don’t
affect me.” He feels that just as the Angel of Death passed
over the homes of the Children of Israel in the days of Moses,
the benefits of the civil rights movement has passed over his
home in the ghetto.
These people don’t know the answer to their problem.
Some of them can’t define the problem, all they know is that
they are locked in with no skills for economic advancements
and large families to support.
Violence was the outlet of these frustrations. The slogan,
“Burn Baby Burn” slowly but permanently changed to cries
of “Black Power.” But because this slogan grew out of the
rioting of 1966, it has been limited in definition to mean only
militancy and mob rule. Really, it is the desire of the lower-
class Negro to be important. It is his desire to be heard and
relieved of the pressure of white power structure. He wants his
confrontation with America.
Now that many visible racial barriers have been broken
down, whites and Negroes alike have the tendency to feel
that the job is done. They feel that the Negro has come a long
way and should be satisfied, but they don’t know that the
Negro still has a long way to go, he is 300 years behind. He
needs, not only an equal opportunity, but also a better op
portunity. Often, it is simple to chop down a tree, but it is
more difficult to cut away its extensive network of roots.
Likewise, segregation and discrimination have been so firmly
entrenched in our American way of life, that it will take
more than six years of demonstrations and two civil rights
bills to right a perpetual wrong.
Americans will have to stop trying to satisfy the Negro
and start satisfying their own consciences. Because, in the
words of Martin Luther King, “We will never be satisfied,
until justice rolls down as waters and righteousness as a
mighty stream.”
So, the Black Power movement has made a significant
contribution to the civil rights movement. They have reminded
us that it is not over. The Caucasian newspapermen have
endeavored to emphasize a difference in tactics of the civil
rights groups and sum up the situation in the words, “The
Negro doesn’t know what he wants.”
But, the Negroes, united, answer together that tactics are
not the issue, but purpose is. This purpose has remained
strong through the bus boycott of the ’50’s. It remained un
daunted through the demonstrations of ’62 and remains un
tarnished by the riots of ’66. This purpose for which many
have died and for which many now live, is FREEDOM, NOW!
LETTERS
to the
EDITOR
AN OPEN LETTER
Dear Editor:
In examining our current
practices I have observed that
there is a scarcity of faculty
members attending the major
affairs of our own college and
of the center.
I feel that the failure of
faculty members to show in
terest provides a poor example
for the students.
I feel that education both
inside and outside the class
room should be directed to
ward the desirable placement
of values. At this particular
time we need to help each
other to realize that there are
values other than those tied up
with civil rights or “black
power.”
It is for this reason that I
am seeking suggestions and
support from the faculty, staff,
and administration. We (the
Social and Cultural Affairs
Committee) would like your
support at any and all functions
in the capacity of chaperon,
participant, or spectator.
Respectfully,
M. Nix, Chairman
Social and
Cultural Affairs
Dear Editor:
I would like to call to the
attention of the faculty and
governing body the need for a
particular facility lacking in
our system. This facility will
enrich the student body’s en
joyment of the musical atmos
phere of Spelman College. The
facility referred to is a juke
box. This instrument is to be
placed in the Snack Shop.
It will enhance the enjoy
ment of singles and couples
alike and will tend to be an
outlet when conversation is
lacking.
I feel a jukebox will satisfy
the dire need for entertainment
of the students’ choice at all
times.
Thank you,
Bernadine Moses
Deuces Are Wild
Madeline Nix and the
S.S.G.A. must be congratulated
for the successful Card Party
sponsored by the S.S.G.A.
Saturday, October 1.
This unique affair attracted
many of the Morehouse card
sharks as the girls from Spel
man and the Morehouse men
played their way to the prizes.
The gala affair became quite
tense as partners vied against
each other in card competi
tion. However, everyone en
joyed the affair—especially the
fellows who walked away with
the main prizes.
It is refreshing to see a
change of pace in Spelman
activities.