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Tutu at Spelman College
On Jan. 20, 1986 Spelman
College was honored to received
a most distinguished guest hail-
ing all the way from
Johannesburg, the honorable
Bishop Desmond Tutu. The
reverend who had previously
participated in previous activities
throughout King Week, ad
dressed “Family, unity, and
Human Vaues at Spelman. Com
pared to walking in the footsteps
of the late Rev. M.L.K., Bishop
Tutu, a former teacher is a
recipient of many awards, in
cluding the Nobel Peace Prize.
Tutu’s address to the student
body was most commemorative
and informative. Sensing that the
audience was well informed
about South Africa's toil,
Reverend Tutu’s main concern
was relating to the audience the
urgency of devising a solution.
He also expressed his gratitude
to the United States and Spelman
for making a difference in the cry
for revolution in his country.
Stressing the importance of self-
assurance Tutu expressed the
individual capacity of all humans
to learn to be considerate and
caring through the context of a
family unit. He further stated
“people who come from this
kind of self unsuredness have no
need to prove themselves...
people who feel this need and
profess their greatness have
hollow insider.’’
One of the more prominent
points, perhaps, was Tutu’s
cleaver comparison of people to
balloon, posing a hypothetical
question, when asked why does
each balloon float regardless of
color, he replied, “It’s not the
color fo the balloon, but what’s
inside.’’ He concluded, “you and
I are the sons of Cod, let us
behave like who we are.”
Reverend Tutu was presented
with the Spelman College Inter-
national Peace and
Humanitarian Award by Presi
dent Stewart, for his work in
South Africa. Mrs. Leah Mor-
nalizo Tutu was presented the
Second Century Award for ex
traordinary women, by Dr.
Beverly Guy-Sheftall, for her
dedicated work with the
domestic workers project. The
award was accepted by Mrs.
Tutu’s daughter. Ms. Dawn
Williams presented, on behalf of
the student body, a detter of
recognition and a check for
$7,000, which is to be allotted to
the destitute wives of South
Africa. As a special gift, Dr.
Michael Lomax gave to
Reverend Tutu, a very abundant
check, on behalf of Spelman
College.
Dr. Desmond Tutu speaks of family, unity and human values on
January 30. Dr. Tutu was presented $7,000 from the Spelman
Community.
Bennett Speaks on Martin Luther King
by Sharilyn R. Bankole
Martin Luther King Jr. and the
Liberal Arts, was the topic ad
dressed during a special com
memorative convocation on Jan.
13. The Honorable William J.
Bennett, secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education spoke
on the subject of the Humanities
as an integral part of a Liberal
Arts education.
“Spelman embodies many of
the important ideas championed
by MLK Jr.," said Bennett.
In a far reaching address, Mr.
Bennett uplifted M.L.K. Jr. as an
example of a student who was
tutored by the great thinkers of
humanity.
During his education at
Morehouse, King was exposed
to the writings of many
philosophers which include
Plato, Aristotle, and Locke as
well as others. "Through this
exposure to the humanities King
was able to struggle with
questions that have plagued man
since the beginning of time,"
said Bennett.
Questions such as, What is
justice and love? What should be
defended and hoped for? What
is man? Because of his
knowledge of history and the
humanities, King was able to
answer these questions. His
answers said Bennett resulted in
the end of Jim Crow laws.
“Spelman embodies many of
the important ideas championed
by M.L.K. Jr.” remarked the
Secretary of Education. But in
recent years the philosophy of
this institution has come under
attack. “People ask what is so
important about exposing young
Black women to the ideas of the
past? Mr. Bennett answers them
by referring them to the Liberal
Arts Education of MLK Jr.
Mr. Bennett has a strong belief
in the enrichment of life thorugh
the humanities. He heads the
federal department that has a
major influence on the survival
of Black Colleges.
INSIDE
Black History
Month
Star Search
Bound
Spelmanite
Along the
Color Line ...
Dynamic Black
Women