Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 - EDITORIALS
Spelman Spotlight
May, 1981
Last Words from the Editors
Our Greatest Challenge: Sisterhood
By Pamela Denise Moore
Editor-in-Chief
A few weeks ago, as 1 sat in Quarles
Library persuing through old issues of the
Spelman Spotlight, I came across a
particularly striking article in an issue
whose month and year I do not recall at
the present. What was so striking about
the article had nothing to do with style or
size. Indeed, I could have easily passed
right over it if I had not been examining
each page as intently as I was.
This one particular article caught my
attention because it reflected to me
evidence of a different kind of Spelman
woman residing within the cherished
grounds of our institution. In it was
reference to a survey that had been taken
in which the majority of Spelman
students voted in favor of not having
sororities on campus, fearing that
otherwise would bring harm to that very
special Spelman sisterhood.
What was so interesting about this
particular attitude was not its aversion to
sororities but its preoccupation with
Spelman sisterhood to the point that any
other kind of sisterhood was secondary.
Much has changed since the time this
article was written. Spelman sisterhood is
still here, but I often wonder if we become
so preoccupied with our own individual
groups (be they sorority, dorm, or honor
society) that we seem to often forget that
there is a Spelman sisterhood. What is so
tragic about losing sight of Spelman
Sisterhood is that when we fail to
recognize the commonality and history
that we all share by virtue of our presence
at Spelman College, we lose sight of our
mission.and purpose as black women.
Spelman College has given 100 years of
service to black women who have
achieved. It is an institution that saw a
value and worth in black women when
nobody else cared. With only $100 to
Pamela Denise Moore and Kiran Kanina Skinner
their name, our founders Sophia Packard
and Harriet Giles, dared to have a dream
amidst a time of despair and broken
ambitions, and they sacrificed their lives
to make their dreamand,now,ourdream
a reality. Such has always been the story
of Spelman College.
For even today as we rejoice and glorify
ourselves for making it thus far, we must
still face the reality that life at Spelman
College for those who work here is still a
sacrifice and that it is only the belief in the
dream that black women can and shall
achieve that binds us all together.
My last will and testament is to all of
my Spelman sisters. I ask that you never
lose sight of the fact that you are a
Spelman lady and that you belong to a
very very special sisterhood. Being a
Spelman lady means that you know and
understand what it is like to be a black
woman in America and that you’re
determined as hell to succeed in spite of
the odds. It means that you have a special
kind of pride and dignity and that you
recognize and accept your responsibility
to be a torchbearer, to lead and to guide
others who have gotten lost along the
way. This is our mission and purpose.
Let’s Never forget it.
Spelman: Architect of Black Women
By Kir on Kanina Skinner
Associate Editor
Spelman is like an architect. It
v.onstructs plans and develops the lives of
its inhabitants. Spelman has done this for
me. It has developed my intellectual,
social, and leadership potential.
The time has come that I must move
out of this secure home and face much
larger homes. Yes, l am frightened and
happy simultaneously. But when I think
of my experiences since I transferred to
this college, I am saddened.
Two years ago I came to Spelman. I did
not know what to expect, coming from
California. I had never visited the south
before. I had never visited a black college.
Spelman was the right place for me. I
have learned so much about the
importance of our institutions, and the
monumental role they play as architects
of the black avant garde. And I truly feel
that my previous academic and social
growth could have been accentuated if 1
had the earlier advantage of attending a
black school.
1 have learned that the south is the seat
of our heritage in this country, and will
always be. The struggle for human and
civil rights is an undaunting fight that has
been and is led by black men and women
of the south. In fact, the leaders that I
have grown to love and respect, attended
black colleges like Spelman and are living
in this part of North America.
Oh Spelman, 1 hate to leave you, but I
know that you are sending me on. You
have been a good architect, you have
equipped me well. I take with me your
lessons and your blessings. You’ve added
to my self-confidence. You’ve made me
extra proud of being a black woman in a
society that ignores the inherent beauty
and strength of black women.
Spelman I love you!
By Nancy Travis
Contributing Writer
Note: The following is an excerpt from an
essay, “The Spelman Spirit and Essence,”
which won first place in the Delta Sigma
Theta essay contest.
In order to recognize the great value of
a Spelman education, however, we must
first discover the true Spelman woman.
The true Spelman woman demands
respect. She holds her head up high, but
does not have her nose in the air. She does
not find pleasure in putting others down.
She realizes that Black people in America
will never be able to overcome the
inequalities and the racism we face until
we cast aside the petty differences
between us. She knows who she is, but
never makes the foolish mistake of over
estimating her own importance. She
strives to grow intellectually and
emotionally. She strives for perfection,
but understands that she can only succeed
with God’s help.
The true Spelman woman realizes her
priorities. She realizes that family and
friends are priceless. She also realizes that
obtaining knowledge is invaluable. She
.her studying before her socializing,
teering and English must come
before entertainment and evaluating
The True Spelman Woman
AUC men. She knows that the young lady
who makes “partying” her major will not
last long in the academic world.
The true Spelman woman appreciates
the Black man. With him she will pursue a
relationship of love and mutual respect.
She will neither blame him, nor accept the
blame for the problems they may
encounter, problems whose root cause is
minority status in America. Together
they will overcome the economic, racial,
and emotional stresses and strains before
them. They will grow strong by
supporting one another, and realize the
futility of tearing each other down. They
will teach their children to be proud of the
Afro-American’s cultural heritage and
natural beauty.
Spelman College has provided “A
Century of Service to Women who
Achieve.” Over the next hundred years
the natural beauty, grace, and intelligence
of the Black woman will be fully
appreciated. She will conquer new fields
and put to use the God-given talents that
until recent history have been left
untapped. Her new accomplishments will
demand recognition. Spelman, at the
same time, will continue to inspire and
encourage its students to achieve
academically, and to develop attitudes of graduates will continue to be the dynamic
confidence and maturity. Spelman’s professional women of tomorrow.
Editor-in-Chief - Pamela D. Moore
Associate Editor - Kiron K. Skinner
News Editor - Bridgett Davis
Feature Editors - Lisha Brown
LaRhonda Morris
Photography Editor - Denise Reynolds
Art Editor - Mary Barkley
Advertising Manager - Janice Tillerson
Asst. Advertising Manager - Elaine Terry
Business Manager - Betty Jackson
Circulation Manager - Lisa Vaughn
Office Manager - Susan Hart
Annie Alexander Story - February Issue
Ms. Phyllis Jones, not Alison Wills, wrote the story on Annie Alexander, Spelman's
oldest living alumna.
NBSA Story 8 March Issue
The Spelman Spotlight apologizes to NBSA for unintentionally misrepresenting
A 'BSA's position in regard to the NBSA-Duke Debate.
According to NBSA. when the Spotlight reported that lacev stated that Duke
speaks the truth in respect to the race issue and that nothing else (but the debate) would
arouse the consciousness of blacks in the Atlanta University Center (A UC). the paper
faded to give the total perspective in regard to these points.
According to NBSA Representative Clinton lacev, "Duke does speak the truth
sometimes in respect to black people’s behavior, and he twists this little truth into his
whole ideology."
Lacey also stated that NBSA believes that the debate was "just one method of
dealing with the problem of white supremacy and that there will be more activities and
projects."