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THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
December, 1966
The Spelman Spotlight
Published monthly by the students
of Spelman College
Anna B. Porter, Editor-in-Chief
Andrea Williams, Associate Editor
Henrietta Turnguest, Business Manager
Melody McDowell, Yvette Sawvior, Feature Editors
Margaret Mills, Cartoonist
Joyce Akridge, Berdie Ricks, Photographers
Layout Staff: Yvonne Jackson, Marjorie Ricks, Eilleen Bass, Joyce Young
Advertising Staff: Eilleen Bass, Luella Nichols, Phyllis Johnson
Poet-in-Residence: Joan Gaillard
Contributors: Marilyn Hunt, Janice Holloway, Ruth Baety
News Editor: Chris Singleton
Dr. Richard Carroll, Faculty Advisor
PRESS
The Christmas and New Year holidays provide excellent
opportunity for self-examination. As we recall the story of the
birth of Christ, we are reminded how far we are from the
principles and beliefs that Christianity entails. Christmas is a
time for parties and gaity, for laughter and hilarity, for giving
and receiving sumptuous gifts, for a brief respite from school
and most of the things that go along with it. Christmas is
traditionally a time for forgetting about the unpleasant reali
ties, concentrating on the way things ought to be and pretend
ing that they really are that way. But this year as you feast on
Christmas turkey and receive your gifts and go to the parties,
remember the fellows in fox holes in Viet Nam, the children in
your city that Santa Claus Forgets. Remember those who have
lost hope, faith and all sense of being because of the harshness
of life. Remember these things and pray for true peace and
for people who have the courage to try and achieve it.
A. P.
APATHY—What Can You Do About It?
Do you hear a shout of enthusiasm spreading over the
Spelman College campus? We of the Spotlight are appalled at
the lack of interest shown by the student body as a whole
on questions which closely concern its members.
During the period surrounding the Thanksgiving Rally we
heard many opinions expressed both positively and negatively
about the rally. We heard complaints about the fact that the
students do not have enough voice in student affairs and life
on campus in general. Here, we felt, was our big opportunity
to serve as the voice of student opinion. Questionnaires were
provided on the subject of the Thanksgiving Rally. They were
available in each dormitory, in the day students’ lounge, and
in the snack shop. Approximately sixty (60) students re
sponded— about 1 /13th of the student body. Next month
and in the months to follow, more questionnaires will appear,
on subjects drawn from grapevine discussion.
It remains one of the ambitions of the Spotlight to express
student opinion. Votings, questionnaires, measures of student
interest — all seem to fail. Help the Spotlight and help your
selves — push aside the Apathy Curtain. Express your opinions
not only by word of mouth but by some method where you
may be counted. Be positive —be negative — be anything
but apathetic.
A. W.
Christmas at Spelman
JOY and AND I
Christmas at Spelman is
getting your worst enemy for your Biffer Sister,
waiting patiently in the gym for the Christmas Carol Concert,
tripping over the cord and blowing out the tree lights on
the lawn.
going to the joint breakfast in your pajamas,
learning that all seats on flights to your home town have
been taken for three days.
having all your Saturday classes cancelled — except the
last one.
having your mother send a present for your housemother
and for all your teachers,
three flakes of snow.
three tests on the day before you go home,
being in the Glee Club and having your dream man call for
dates on the 9th, 10th, and 11th.
buying your boyfriend a present only to have him quit you
before you can give it to him.
But with all this, Christmas at Spelman is a time of
friendship and joy—it has to be—that’s the defi
nition of Christmas.
Want A Gun
Black Man?
by Janice Hale
“America is great!” “When
ever a country needs help,
America is there to give it.”
“We are the good guys, and
everyone else is selfish, always
out for what they can get.”
“We think of others!”
Don’t those statements
make you proud? Don’t they
make you happy to be a part
of such a great country that
is always thinking about the
other guy and looking out for
his best interest?
Don’t you beam with pride
when foreigners express their
gratitude by burning a library
that the United States built and
stocked with books? Don’t you
feel that we are really doing
a great job when our “bene
ficiaries” stone and march on
our embassies? Doesn’t it thrill
you when you learn in history
that everyone was exploiting
China and omnipotent United
States of America stepped in
and declared the open door
policy when she saw that she
wasn’t getting her share?
Aren’t you proud that our
government would rather sac
rifice the lives of our loved
ones than lose face by with
drawing from Viet Nam?
Oh, land of the free, home
of the brave, we are happy to
be second class citizens in your
great country. We are proud
that you are drafting us to
fight in an imperialistic war
slaughtering colored peoples of
the world. Why, you have done
so much for our people, we
shouldn’t wait for you to draft
us; we should volunteer by the
thousands so that our white
brothers can continue their
education and advance their
race. OH, AMERICA, YOU
ARE TRULY BEAUTIFUL!
In this world of “God is dead”
And Black Power
And Green Power
And Space Flights
And leech infested swamps
Swarming with fear-infested
men and schoolboys
What difference do I make
Lord.
And Lord when people
Stand behind a wall that
Separates them from mortal
heaven and hell everyday of
their death, and cry out for
a chance to glimpse their
children and their sisters or
brothers
What difference do I make.
And when babies get killed
And wise men suffer
And the ghettos overflow
Just tell me Lord
What difference do I make
And when you think Lord
All the problems that I have,
I foolishly and carelessly
brought upon myself. So when
1 want to forget the world
and all the other people Lord
Just ask me, “What difference
do you make?”
Anonymous
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Dear Spelmanites:
As we depart for our individual homes and states, let us
all remember that it is again Christmas time. The time of year
for giving of one’s self fully.
Carry to your homes this true Spelman Spirit of Christmas.
God bless you,
The Spotlight Staff
“Is the Great Society Really Just a Barbecue?”
by Pat Collins
If you heard Stokely Car
michael in Spelman’s parking
lot or Morehouse’s Chemistry
Building a few weeks ago, you
undoubtedly have many ques
tions and doubts about what
he had to say. He did not
mention Black Power specifi
cally, but one still wonders just
what this philosophy is all
about or, more important, how
it all came about.
One thing is certain. In or
der to pass judgment on Car
michael’s pronouncements or
those of any member of the
New Left, one must have a
perspective through which one
views these ideas.
There are many books avail
able which give in-depth dis
cussions of some of the as
sumptions of Carmichael and
the New Left. Thoughts of the
Young Radicals (a New Re
public paperback — 750) is
a very easy to read and highly
provocative book of essays
written by members of the
Student Non-Violent Coordi
nating Committee and mem
bers of the Students for a
Domestic Society. This book
reveals just what the New Left
feels is wrong with the Ameri
can society. It also contains
replies and criticisms from
several notable members of
the Old Left, notably Michael
Harrington and Robert Coles.
Richard Flacks, a member
of the SDS, feels that the trou
ble is that we do not have a
democracy at all, but a system
of “Liberal Corporatism”; i.e.,
all major decisions are made,
not by the people at the polls,
but by big business interests
(corporate) interests. People
only vote on issues chosen for
them by corporations.
Jean Smith, a SNCC work
er, writes about involvement
with the poor. She makes an
analogy between working with
the poor and passing a child
on a highway who has just
been hit by a car. You cannot
turn your back on the child.
You must go back and see
what can be done. In a sense,
this is the philosophy of the
New Left. They are horrified
by the corruption of the Amer
ican Establishment. But be
cause they are true Americans,
they cannot turn their backs.
They must go and see what
can be done.
Thoughts of the Young Rad
icals is a far cry from the com
plete theories of any members
of the New Left. It is, how
ever, an excellent introduction
to the ideas that are beginning
to mold the minds of many
young Americans.