Newspaper Page Text
Spelman Spotlight, Page 3
September 12,1980
A Freshman Writes Home
By Spike Lee
August 29,1980
Dear Mother Dear,
I hope this letter finds you in good
health. I’m doing OK. Orientation week
has finally ended and classes start soon.
I can’t believe Fm a freshmen at More
house in Atlanta, in the beginning of a
new decade. Our colors are maroon and
white.
When 1 got here they didn’t have a
room for me (what was that $100 de
posit for?). So they put me in the base
ment of Graves Hall, It’s a nice historic
building. You would like my roommates.
Their names are Joseph, Frank, David,
Chris, John and Craig (it’s a little
crowded).
My time so far has been spent at the
“Yard”. That’s what we call Spelman. It’s
right across the street. This is their Cen
tennial year. The first day we got here
niggers hadn’t even unpacked their bags
before they were hounding over there.
We walk around campus all day and try
to crack (getting names and phone num
bers). My roommates are good at it, I’ve
gotten a few. But they know all the
babes. There are four freshmen dorms;
Abby, Laura Spelman, Packard and
Chadwick. I don’t know anyone in Chad-
which yet, it’s too far to walk.
The upperclassmen have started to
arrive. You can always tell them from us.
They walk around like they own the
joint. Already Fve been told a hundred
times “I don’t got no hours.” Some have
gone out of their way to help me, I must
say.
Tonight the fraternities stepped over
at Spelman. You wouldn’t have believed
it They do these fancy steps in perfect
unison, but that’s not what the girls were
screaming about (X-rated). As we walked
back everybody said they were going to
pledge too. I think I might like hundreds
of females yelling my name also.
From day one, we have been bom
barded with Morehouse mystique stuff.
Did you know Morehouse Men are the
protectors of the oppressed, righter of
the wronged? I didn’t either. My room
mate’s father went to Morehouse and he
told us this story about his first day here.
In those days chapel was held every day
in Sale Hall. Freshmen one by one had
to stand up in front of the entire student
body and tell why they chose
Morehouse For the most part everybody
gave the standard answers “I want to
lead my race out of the darkness.” But
on occasion there would be some funny
ones. “I didn’t want to be a cotton picker
like my daddy.” This one guy, he must
have been 4 feet tall and 80 pounds
calmly stated, “I came to Morehouse to
be a HE-MAN. ” From then on he was
called HE-MAN. Finally it was my room
mate ’s father’s turn. He stood up slowly,
looked around and began, “I was a
juvenile delinquent, then I went to reform
school, then I got sent to the state pen, I
wanted to continue my education so I
came to Morehouse.” President Mays
like to have died on the spot. He almost
fell out of his chair. I’m not down with
this elitist thinking. I refuse to believe Fm
better than someone at Morris Brown,
Clark or Spelman for that matter. Fve
met people from those schools and
they’re just like us—BLACK. I just wish
my brothers at “DA HOUSE” would
realize this.
The food here at best is edible. Fve
never eaten so many grits in my life. We
also get a lot of pork. My roommate,
Joseph, is constantly getting on me
about that pig. He calls me the “swine
merchant.” I think Fm going to be a
vegetarian. By the way, somebody has
been stealing the shower curtains, rumor
has it, it’s the doing of the homo’s.
I haven’t decided on my major yet but
my advisor says I will have time to chose
my field. I don’t intend to waste your
hard earned money. I will do my best.
In closing Fve met a very nice girl. Her
name is Beulah Brown. She’s from
Baton Rouge, Louisiana They call coun
try people “BAMAS” here. In my eye
they are more real than these slick,
plastic Negroes Fve met from LA, NY or
D.C. She seems interested in me and she
never asked if I had a ride (a lot have). I
have told her already that she is invited
to our home for Thanksgiving. I know I
should have asked you first but she has
my nose wide open. Anyway you’ll like
her. Take care. Your loving son,
Miles Toomer.
P.S. If you can, please send money.
Beulah has a thing for Church’s Fried
Chicken.
SPIKE LEE
is a member
of the distinguished
class of 1979 at
Morehouse College.
He is presently
Studying at New York
University Graduate School
of Film
: :
,
“They do fancy steps in perfect unison, but that’s not what the girls were
screaming about (x-rated) ... I think I might like hundred of females
yelling my name also.”
“We walk around campus all day and try to crack (getting names and
phone numbers)... I’ve gotten a few.”