Newspaper Page Text
Spelman Spotlight October 17, 1979 Page 4
Editor-In-Chief - Rolonda G. Watts
Associate Editor - Pamela Denise Moore
Editors
Advertising Manager- Phyllis Sawyer
A rt Editor - Ellen Robinson
Arts Editor - Claire Henry
Business Managers - Trevonia Brown
Angela-Nickerson
Circulation Manager - Lavita J ohnson
News Editors - Kiron Kanina Skinner
Adele Sheron Newson
Photography Editors - Ruth Cauthen
Pamela Scott
Public Relations Manager - Sheron Covington
Religion Editor - Angela Benson
Reporters
LaRonda I. Morris
Victoria McMillan
Cynthia Williams
Torri C. Brown
Florence E. Hudson
Julie Rene Biram
Misgana Amelga
J erome Walker
Vivian Fannings
Derek Pollard
Regina Goins
Debra Beuton
Melony Matthews
Sam Matchett
W. Leighton Haynes
Donald T. Moore
Pamela J ohnson
Gayle Phillips
Angela Cumberlander
Black English
A Misunderstood Language
By Flore nee E. Hudson
What is black English? Black
English is a form of dialect used
in America’s inner cities by
blacks. Here are some examples:
“What’s the deal?,’’ “It’ don’t all
be her fault,” “Hit him upside the
head,” “Ah ‘on’ know.” The black
English dialect began during the
Civil War with house blacks. It
was primarily used as a form of
communication and unity among
blacks during slavery.
There are several factors why
black English is used in inner city
schools: 1) The inability to un
derstand standard English;
2) The inability to read and com
prehend; 3) The inability to com
municate in writing; and 4) The
inability to spell correctly. There
are programs to teach standard
English in the inner city but they
are still experimental. Standard
English must be accepted before
disadvantaged black children can
begin to show comprehension
and before the solid wall of the
ghetto will begin to show cracks.
A great deal of verbal behavior
or dialect among blacks serves
the purpose of expressing
thoughts and feelings not in an
swer to racism or repression.
Black English among inner city
blacks is used solely in response
to oppression. However Black
English cannot be accepted as a
form of correct English to pass a
test or acquire a good paying job.
Neither can Black English be
called a symbol of unity and
brotherhood among blacks in
America because Black English
is only used in the inner city in
conversations between inner city
blacks. In fact if a black student
from a middle class neigh
borhood took a test on Black
English that student would most
likely fail because of lack of ex
posure to the inner city or ghetto
culture. The Black English
dialect cannot be called a basis of
black survival in white America.
This quality of black verbal
behavior may be a source of
dismay to whites but it is ac
cepted by inner city blacks as the
way “it’s spose to be.” On the
other hand black English is a part
of black culture and it is unique
in its own way but the ignorance
of standard English rules on the
part of speakers of nonstandard
English should be made aware of
and corrected by more intelligent
educators ready to accept the
correct standard form of English
as a way of life.
SMILE i
FRIDAY WILL ARRIVE.^
sj -“5=:
The Black Macho Man
By Julie Rene Biram
He’s stronger than criptonite
and cooler than chills running up
and down your back. His
obligations are few and where the
excitement is, he is too. Women
are always at his disposal, they
just can’t help themselves. He’s
just not strong tall and hand
some, but “The package” also
comes with a lot of money which
he can throw about. He’s the
future of tomorrow. He leads, he
fights, he always wins no matter
what the odds oare. Silks and the
finest of wools cover his back,
while his feet are surrounded by
brand name leather. Cocain is his
social drink and he can afford to
drive gas guzzlers, while most of
can’t. Presenting: Mr. Black
Macho Man.
To many this man is the
ultimate of manhood and regar
ded with high respect for those
who want to be like him, mainly
are young boys growing up in in
ner city neighborhoods who’s fan
tasy image of the black macho
man is reinforced by television.
Role models are few for the or
dinary black youngster to identify
with. Thus, leaving his options
open to pimp, football star, and
lately the so-called "macho man”
as their future career goals.
A real man is someone who
takes the responsibility to raise
his children, taking care of them
both physically and emotionally,
not just the breeding of them
which has lesser significance.
The black macho man has
misguided understanding that
making love to a lot of women
will improve his manhood. This
a myth, because it takes a lot
more talent and knowledge to
satisfy and keep one woman.
Clothes, as beautiful as they
are, still don’t compare with real
ambition to be somebody produc
tive to both themselves and
society.
A real man takes on respon
sibilities. He reaches for higher
stars that are often alledgedlv
unreachable, tjjat other men
don't reach for or see.
Being a macho man means
using your brain, as well as your
body, for growth and a future for
our young black men.
My macho man is strong
enough to cry, warm enough to
love, smart enough to know that
school is where his future and
priorities are, strong enough to
say “no”, cares enough to help
those he can, honest and able to
touch the stars in the heavens.
"Tenderness is greater proof
of love than the most passionate
vows." Marlene Dietrich
Domestic Exchange
May Be For You
By Misgana Amelga
Exchange Student from
Simmons College, Boston, Mass.
College life is such a brief
period in your life and occurs
only once, thus you should try to
learn and do as much as possible
to get the most out of it. By the
end of freshman year, the initial
excitement and pride of being at
college has usually worn off. At
the end of sophomore year, you
are more secure about school
work and also more at home with
the campus. In fact, you may
have even become a little bored,
usually a characteristic known as
“sophomore slump.”
It is often as juniors that
students decide to go on ex
change to another school that has
an exchange program with their
school. Going on exchange offers
a chance to’ experience a new
school, a new invironment in
another part of the country and a
chance to meet different kinds of
people.
As an exchange student from
Simmons College in Boston, I can
honestly say that it is a challenge
well worth taking. Simmons is a
four-year liberal arts college with
good departments in Com
munications, Management and
Library Science. It’s located right
in the city and close to much of
the cultural and recreational ac
tivities of the city. It is also
surrounded by several large
Universities.
For those interested in par
ticipating on such a program, ad
ditional information about the
school and the exchange program
in general is available in the Of
fice of the Academic Dean. Dean
Brisbane is in charge of ap
plications for the program.
Carnations will last longer if
you add a bit of boric acid
to the water in the vase.
The Black Superwoman
By Julie Rene Biram
The superwoman has measure
ments of 36-24-36, her I.Q. equals
130. She has two children and she
has eternal youth along with a job
as an- economist at Exon where
she earns $75,000 annually.
Besides all this she’s an excellent
cook and housekeeper. • - ; • -7
What a woman! She’s in ex
cellent health and always starting
her day off with Geritol. Cooking
and cleaning are domestic
pleasures she takes enjoyment in
and she’s never too busy to attend
the P.T.A. meetings or too tired
to make love all night with her
husband. Her flawless com
plexion needs little make-up
while her teeth are of the whitest
white. (Thank-goodness for Ivory
soap and Close-up toothpaste.)
She loves to entertain and
while other marriages have star
ted to fade, her’s is more than
strong after 13 years.
O’vest! the superwoman. I
know you heard about her on the
radio and seen her on television
and in magazines.
The goddess superwoman has
one thing all women want. That’s
love and self assurance in today’s
world. So often the media enhan
ces women’s insecurities by:
luring and oersuading the m into
buying t v and that product in
hopes flawless beauty, love 1
and self-security.
After trying Farrah’s shampoo,
Ponds cold cream, Geritol and
Aviance perfume, along with
other leading female products, I
found I had been cheated out of a
lot of money. -Now I know the
cheapest shampoo is the best,
proper sleep and food will do
more for anyone than any
product on the shelf and some of
the most expensive perfumes
smell no better than sawdust,
while having an odor strong
enough to let those you are going
to see have a two minute war
ning.
Friendship is the best quality in
love, and without this, no product
that the superwoman displays will
he'p an ordinary romance pass
the test of time of those in love.
Every woman is a superwoman
in her own right. The trouble
comes when she doesn’t know
who she is and tries to imitate a
superficial model known as "the
superwoman.” A real super-
woman likes herself and tries to
be the best she can be by taking
opportunities that are given to
her and looking inside herself for
the truth of what here niche in
is.
Deadline
for the
Novembers
Issues is
Wednesday,
October 24.