Newspaper Page Text
VOL. XXX, No. 3 Atlanta, Georgia November, 1986
Deltas Sponsor Project
South Africa Week
‘Twas the night
Before Homecoming’
By Donna Lucas
Twas the night before Homecoming and all through AUC,
Every creature was pa’tying, plus even me.
The banners were hung in Manley with care,
In the hopes that the Howardites soon would be there,
With my man in his tux and I in my frock,
We all went to Genesis — an all Negro rock.
The Buffalo’s were there, Oh! it’s Bisons I’m told,
No difference really, ’cause tomorrow they’ll fold,
They jammed the place down and the funk was so much,
That the Tigers went runnin’, screamin’, “Secret Weapon” and
such.
By Donna Lucus
October 29th marked the last
day of Project South Africa and
the completion of the Shan
tytown. The week-long activities
of celebration, unity and
awareness were officially closed
with the Project South Africa
vigil.
The vigil, that was well at
tended, consisted of a program
explaining the purpose of the
building of the Shantytown, a
summary of the week’s ac
tivities, what was accomplished
and words of wisdom, apprecia
tion and encouragement to con
tinue to “fight the good fight”
from South African student
Hlonphile Nyide, representative
of the African National Congress
- David Ndaba, and Dr. Farrar,
the faculty member who was
most supportive of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority’s endeavors.
A song of inspiration, “His
Eye is on The Sparrow,” was
sung by Stephanie Allen of the
New Life Inspirational Choirs
and “Somewhere,” an original
musical composition on South
Africa by Spelmanik Kirsten
Ray, was debuted by Mia Fuse,
Donna Lucas, Dawn Mitchell
and the composer while she ac
companied on the guitar.
Diannternne Henry read a
touching, but graphic poem
about the plight of our South
African brothers and sisters and
the vigil was concluded with a
litany led by Kenyatta Whelchel
where the audience joined in
saying, “Nkosi Sikele I Africa
(God Bless Africa).”
There was an extraordinarily
warm feeling amongst those
who attended the vigil. It was a
special understanding of South
Africa’s problems and a realiza
tion that now, armed with
awareness of the “real story” of
apartheid, even college students
could really make a difference.
Many of the faculty present,
particularly Dr. Kearns and Dr.
Farrar, said that the vigil remind
ed them of the ’60s and said
they were “pleasantly surprised”
and that “there was a feeling of
solidarity and sincerity” they had
not felt in a long time.
A bit of the essence was cap
tured on the local news pro
grams last night, but only those
who rallied, spearheaded,
created, collected materials,
hammered, sawed, nailed,
cooked, displayed, pasted,
sang, taped, experienced, and
whose eyes and hearts were
opened to the plight of the
South Africans can really com
prehend the magnitude and
great significance of this project.
The time and energy that was
placed into this project was evi
dent at the vigil, especially at its
close, where many participants
banded together, embraced and
were even moved to tears. A
thank you went out to the AUC
students that worked so hard to
make Project South Africa a
success from the Atlanta com
munity members that attended,
but as one African woman who
was overwhelmed by the project
put it, “Long live Delta Sigma
Theta,” for without these special
people who spearheaded the
project, there would not have
been a Project South Africa.
But the “Howard’s” kept it “live” with “go-go” and “rap”,
And the AUC couldn’t help, but give them some “dap”,
So the cross-section connection “be-hopped” and “wopped”,
Until on the floor from exhaustion they flopped.
The day of the game the Tigers decided to make amends,
For running out on the Bisons and became friends,
So they fed them before the game just to be “nice, ”
And served them some of the cafeteria’s “specialized” rice.
Poor Howard’s stomach’s were not yet immune,
And the Bisons began to sway and swoon,
And soon the stars of the “Buffalo Bunch”,
Were all laid up from a Morehouse lunch.
“But the game must go on,” the quarterback said,
And off to the field the Bisons were led,
With millions of fans and alumni’s cheers,
Began the game awaited since last year.
So the Bisons and Maroon Tigers began the game.
To forever live in the Hall of Fame,
They roughed and toughed and muffed and fussed,
And the stadium was enveloped in a cloud of dust . . .
So as I write here by
flashlight, in the cold at 3:00
A.M. with my Spelman Sisters
and a host of the members of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, In
corporated, I learn even more
about the plight of Black South
Africans and though officially
ended, Project South Africa
goes on and will live on as long
as we never forget the struggle
and keep the spirit of positive
change alive.
Its not on me to tell you what comes next,
But whoever wins, someone will be vexed,
Whether its the folks who roar and growl at things,
or those who on their feet wear Buffalo wings.
But seriously folks, we love Howard its true,
And we send out Black Blessings from our college to you,
And we welcome you to our humble abode,
But if you win tomorrow you must quickly hit the road.
Howard
Welcome to the crazy house,
The Spotlight Staff