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Page 3 Spelman Spotlight September 1981
No One To Save Us But Us
by Karen Burroughs
News Editor
On September 28, 1981, the
second annual Black College
Day march and rally was held in-
15 states across the country. Nine
colleges, including those in the
AU center, participated in the
Atlanta march.
The march originated from
Morris Brown Herndon Stadium
at 10:30 Monday morning. Jesse
Jackson, president of Operation
Push, spoke to the students
before the march. “This is a very
significant day,” he said. "We
congratulate those who have
had the sensibility and the judge
ment to be present today. If you
do not fight today, you may not
be here next semester to fight
back. Our schools have a right to
exist.” ■
The marchers, which were
comprised mostly of Spelman
students, marched from the
starting point to the state capitol
located in downtown Atlanta.
Once there, the program was
begun by the governor of
Georgia, George Busbee, who
read an official proclamation
declaring Monday, September
28, 1981, as Black College Sup--
port Day. He stated in the
proclamation that Georgia is
"dedicated to the survival of its
historically black private and
public colleges."
Following Governor Busbee’s
proclamation, there was a
speech by Maynard Jackson,
mayor of Atlanta. “We're proud
to welcome from all across this
nation and from all walks of life,
those of you who have come to
Atlanta to study and get ready to
lead,” he said. “You must
prepare yourselves for the
struggle of acquiring our best
and finest intellect and integrity.
We have an added burden on us
to reach back and remember
what it used to be like. Too many
of us today are forgetting what it
used to be like. We need to
remember in order to remind
ourselves to never let it happen
again.” He ended his speech by
telling the students not to
despair, but to continue the
struggle.
Speeches were then given by
Dr. Charles Meredith,
Chancellor of the Atlanta Un
iversity Center, Mrs. Jondell
Johnson, Executive Director, of
the NAACP in Atlanta, and
Shirley Norman, President of the
SGA of the Fort Valley State
College, one of the out - of - state
participating colleges.
Reverend Joseph Lowery,
National President of SCLC, in
delivering his speech, said,
"What we love, we shall preserve
and protect. We love our Black
colleges, and we shall not let
them perish." Following his
speech, he received an
enthusiastic standing ovation
from the crowd.
The last speaker was the
Reverend Jesse Jackson. “This is
a new and different day in which
we struggle,” he said. "Study the
struggle you’re a part of. You
cannot be merely students in this
movement, you must be
students of this movement.
Twenty years ago we were
fighting to get in white schools,
today we’re fighting to keep our
own. Don’t stand around look
ing pitiful, feeling impotent.
That’s their purpose, to rip your
self - esteem. We can save
ourselves with our power. Let
nobody fool you; there is
nothing more powerful than a
mind that is clear, sensitive, and
sober. We demand the right to
have our minds developed.
Don't let them break your spirit,
and convince you that you can’t
make it. You must never lose the
desire to rise above your cir
cumstances.”
Most of the speakers emphasiz
ed that there is a serious problem
facing our Black colleges. It was
Mayor Maynard Jackson,
however, who offered a solu
tion: "Thequestionishowdowe
intend to save our Black
colleges?” How do we change
what we care about into the law
that will eliminate the need to
march? The answer is as easy as
one, two, three. One vote, two
votes, three votes. We are upset
about a public policy that says,
‘Forget about the black colleges,
ignore them, neglect them; we
don't need to give them money
anymore.’ But elected oficials
make those policies . . . officials
elected by the people, officials
who control almost every aspect
of our lives. We, with all the
numbers we have, don't have to
beg anybody for anything. There
is no one to save us but us.”
Students Express Views On Black College Day
The Republican Administra
tion has seemingly gone public
in its support of Black colleges.
However, authority of social and
economic programming is now
being given to the states. This
federalism gives governors, state
legislatures, and board of higher
education the power to
manipulate more so than ever.
For these reasons, Black College
Day 1981 was held.
The following are quotes from
students of the AU center con
cerning their thoughts, concerns
and opinions regarding Black
College Day:
Kelly DeGraff - Spelman
College:
“I participated in Black
College Day last year and I feel
we accomplished something to
the effect that it was mass
participation. To really make an
impact, though, we need to
participate with all the other
Black colleges. The only thing I
don’t understand is that if this is
for the good of Black colleges,
why weren't we excused from
classes?”
Laura Brown - Spelman
College:
"I think there should have
been a larger turnout. When
there are only a few people, it
has no meaning. Also, it should
have beeen held in Washington,
where it would have more im
pact.”
Alvin Miles - Clark College:
"We have to try to help whites
realize what Reagan is doing to
us. Hopefully we can get him to
change his policies and give
Black colleges more money.”
Damon Moaney - Morris
Brown College:
“I don’t see this as productive.
Marches seem like Atlanta’s
pastime; they don’t really have
any relevance. We say we want
our Black colleges, but what
really came out of last year’s
march? The biggest thing was the
crowning of a queen."
Lillian Lewis - Spelman
College:
"It’s important that we stop
this separation of schools. What
happens to one Black college
will happen to all Black colleges.
Maybe the march isn’t the solu
tion, but it is a beginning. We
have to start somewhere.”
Terri Bradley - Spelman
College:
“I realize that there is a serious
problem facing Black colleges
today. I went to the march with
the impression that the speakers
would give us at least an idea as
to what to do, but that didn’t
happen.”
Theodora Lee - Spelman
College:
"The purpose of the march
was not for entertainment or to
get students out of class, but to
make them aware of the fact that
we are facing problems. I think
the march motivated those in
attendance to the point where
they felt they should do
something to keep Black
colleges."
Name Withheld - Morehouse
College:
“There were students par
ticipating in the march who
really didn’t know why they were
there. They were just marching
to get out of class when they
should have been in class lear
ning how to deal with the
problems that we, as black
college students, are facing. We
are the future and it's just around
the corner. If they didn’t know
why they were marching, they
should have been in class
preparing for that future.”
By Karen Burroughs
——s*r