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Page 7 - Spelman Spotlight
“I AM AN INVISIBLE MAN_
They Don’t Even See Me
No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allen Poe,
nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am of
substance ... I am invisible, understand, simply because people
refuse to see me.”
Mr. J.T. Thomas
by Tamasha Ujuzi
Mr. J. T. Thomas, his tawny
hands crossed easily>over his
knee, squinted and slowly
repeated the question I had
just hsked of him.
“When was the last time an
A .U. Center . . . student . . .
spoke to me?” He hesitated,
his warm eyes scanning my
face as he thought. Then rais
ing his hands he recalled. “I
spoze . . . spoze it was this liF
gal that went by here last week
or so. She were hurrying to
somewhere and she had a lot of
books in her arms. She waz in
such a rush, she dropped some
of them all over the sidewalk,
right in front of me, here.” He
pointed to the spot and chuc
kled to himself.
“Yeah, she laughed at
herself and then she saw me
sitting here, just like I am now
and mostly always do. She
said ‘hello’ and I gave her a big
smile ’cuz I didn’t ’spect her to
speak . . . They don't usually
speak, you know.”
“Why do you think that’s
so?” I asked.
“Well...his voice dropped
to a low regrettable tone.
“They just come down here
walking, lookin’ every which
Viva Maria Alba!
by Valita Sellers
The Maria Alba Spanish
Dance Company climaxed
their week of dance instruction
at Spelman with a final,
magnificent performance in
the Fine Arts Building. Ms.
Mozel Spriggs, commentator
and dance instructor at
Spelman, commented during
her introductory address “The
program was designed to help
us with our culture as well as
with the culture of other
people.”
The performance consisted
of flamenco dances performed
by Ms. Alba and her special
guest star Luis Rivera. They
were accompanied by
Guillermo Rios, the company’s
guitarist, and Luis Vargas, the
singer. Brilliant costumes
dazzled the audience in ad
dition to excellent dancing.
variations, arm movements,
and the major composites of
this type of Spanish dance.
The Alba experience was
culturally enriching, and very
enjoyable.
Ms. Alba wore vivid colored
dresses, all with a long train,
which she later told the
audience weighed 15 pounds.
Mr. Rivera was exceptionally
good, especially in his
performance of the dance
“Alegrias,” which displayed
so well his proud, statuesque
style.
Ms. Alba concluded the
performance with a question
and answer period. In it, she
explained the toe-heel
Maria Alba Spanish Dance Company ,
(Maria Alba, Foreground)
way. They don’ even see me or
most of the folk ’roun here to
even speak to us. You got to
see someone in order to speak
to ’em. Yep, they just be
walkin’ and talkin’ lookin' up
and down and around.” After a
long pause he added, “Looking
at everything but me.”
Mr. J . T. Thomas and
others in the Atlanta
Universtiy Center’s surroun
ding community are and have'
been experiencing, on the part
of the students, faculty and ad
ministration, a kind of non
chalant, socially distant at
titude which inhibits us from
actually seeing and feeling a
relationship with the people of
this community.
The projects, the liquor store-
hangout are all ‘places’ and
‘those’ people that live and die
within ‘those’ places are to
many of us, no more than rude
and undesirable reminders
that black folk are not ‘free’
C
and that the Barbara Jordans
and Arthur Ashes do not
cancel out where the majority
of black people in this country
are socially, politically and
economically.
We drive, walk and run to
and from class past many a
face, many a need and many
an unkept promise, oblivious
to it till under the illusion that
it is they who tire peasants and
that we are the dukes, kings
and queens. When in reality
the role that many ‘educated'
blacks and institutions play is
more court jester than anyth
ing else in the power and
policy-making areas of this
country. In effect, the com
munity as a living and vital
network of human beings are
consciously or unconsciously
unseen ... are invisible. Such a
situation is sad, a waste and
totally unaffordable in light of
our position in this world.
None, thus far, are unwilling
to share a smile, a sit-down on
the porch rocker and a down to
earth rap about the way things
be, as they see it.
Ms.
Fortune.
Some folks depend on Lady Luck to get
the good things in life.
But most everyone kpows it’s good savings,
not good fortune, that bring the things you want.
And a really good way to save is with U.S.
Savings Bonds.
Bonds are steady, secure interest earners.
And if you join the Payroll Savings Plan at
work, or the Bond-a-Month Plan where you
save, you can be buying Bonds regularly.
Automatically. (And for little more than the
change rolling around in the bottom of your
purse.)
So, sign up today. While you may never be
known as Lady Luck, U.S. Savings Bonds could
make you Ms. Fortune.
Series E Bonds pay 6% interest when held to maturity of a years
(4Vfc% the first year). Interest is not subject to state or,local
income taxes, and federal tax may be deferred until redemption.