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Page 4 » SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT » March-April, 1987
The New Women in the Chapel
By Teresa Elaine Leary
Wondering who the new face
is walking around our campus
is? Well, she is the friendly, soft
spoken Dr. Ella Pearson Mit
chell. Dean Mitchell was
originally here to fill in for Dr.
Rates while he was on sabbatical
last semester.
Dr. Mitchell did not inciden
tally become Spelman’s first
woman Dean of Sisters Chapel.
Negotiations began in 1981, but
funds were not available so she
went on to Virginia and served
as Director of Continuing
Education and Associate Pro
fessor of Christian Education at
the School of Theology at
Virginia Union University.
Before that position, Dr. Mitchell
worked many places all over the
country, including California
and Wisconsin. She has also lec
tured and taught all kinds of
people. To give you a brief spec
trum of the kind of work she has
done this energetic woman once
drove a huge bus used as
classroom for religious educa
tion in Berkley, and also taught
laboratory schools in Nursery
Education at the American Bap
tist Assembly in not only Green
Lake, Wisconsin, but also other
western states.
In response to the low atten
dance in Chapel Services on
Sunday she gave a possible
reason and some solutions. She
feels that because Chapel is at
the same time as other Church
Services the Chapel has to com
pete for the church-goers. They
(the chapel cabinet which con
sists of students) have already
begun Chapel Alerts —yes,
those are the announcements
that you hear early Sunday
morning which are supposed to
get the students out of bed and
make them aware of the chapel
service going on in Sisters
Chapel. Also, Freshman and
Sophomore Assembly credit is
given. The attendance fluctuates
and that is to be expected says
Dr. Mitchell, but she remembers
one Sunday back in November
when there were more men in
the congregation than women.
As for the goals of the chapel
Dean Mitchell only has to go
back to schools motto-“Our
Whole School for Christ” and
hopes that more women will
become involved in spiritual
growth and also to at least see
a floor level full of people.
Dr. Mitchell, as a woman
minister has had many struggles
and used to have problems be
ing accepted. Though she com
pleted seminary in 1943 she was
not ordained until 30 years later.
There have been many ups and
downs and times when she was
not even allowed to preach in
the pulpit of some churches, but
she went on.
Movie Review:
Native son
By Anita Canada
If audiences are to relate to
the tragedy in the movie “Native
Son,” they would have to konw
and understand the plight and
rage of black people in a white
controlled society.
The film, based on a 1940
novel written by Richard Wright,
centers around a poor black
Chicago youth who struggles
with his sense of belonging and
commits murder as a result of
his displacement.
It is obvious that the youth,
named Bigger Thomas, played
by new comer Victor Love, is
highly termpered, fearful and
confused about what he can and
can not control. The movie
showcases Bigger’s rage, but it
failed to exemplify what lurks in
his mind and heart. More
dialogue between he and his
family and friends would have
remedied this problem.
There was nothing original
about the plot; black man accus
ed of the rape and murder of a
white woman, is convicted and
sentenced to death. Bigger tries
desperately to shelter his guilt,
but because of his skin color and
circumstances leading up to the
murder, he feels trapped. Even
if he told the truth , he was black
and she was white.
In this movie, viewers must
understand that a person is a
product of his environment, in
order for them to relate to Big
ger’s make-up and situation.
The film shows that racism is
learned. How does one conform
to a lifestyle that has been
denied him since birth?
Freedom is without restriction,
according to Webster’s dic
tionary. In his rage, Bigger
found a sense of freedom and
identity in acts of violence.
The strength of the movie
does not stand with television
talkshow host Oprah Winfrey,
who plays the mother of Bigger,
instead, Love anchors to the
end without disappointment.
For a newcomer, Love puts life
into the character. He makes
Bigger quite believable and con
sistent with emotion. His perfor
mance is worth seeing.
Although the movie points
out that subtle racism does ex
ist, again, additional dialogue
and coverage of Bigger’s trial
would make the story line more
interesting. The film is slow, and
the only eye-opener is the
shocking manner in which Big
ger disposed the body. Unity
within the family, a common
practice for blacks during the
early part of the century, is miss
ing. There is no foundation.
Viewers who are easily
angered by the slightest thought
of racism, this movie can be
misleading if one does not read
between the lines. The message
is not immediately clear. For in
stance, movie-goers must listen
carefully and put two-and-two
together.
As compared to other movies
of its kind, “Native Son” rates
low on the scale because the
movie fails to let viewers feel the
impact of the message. In other
words, audiences are left emp
ty handed until a few hours after
the showing. Thanks to Love’s
outstanding acting ability, this
movie is worth viewing at
bargain rates before 5 p.m.
Consider
Continuing
Education
March 2-April 13
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Giles Hall Room 113
March 24-April 28
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Tapley Hall Room 201
Pepsi-Cola has awarded $5,000 to Spelman College through
their “Excellence in Education Marketing Program,” a new project
that encourages historically black colleges and universities to
develop and implement effective marketing strategies. Mrs. Aline
Ribers, Director of Admisions, prepared the marketing plan, “with
a very clear analysis of who our market is, and good background
data compiled from in-house statistics and information from the Col
lege Board.” Awards totaling $145,000 were made to nine other
schools.
Father/Daugther Weekend attracted 330 fathers and a
number of mothers who joined their daughters for the festivities.
Essay Contest Award winner Lisa Johson won two Eastern
Airline tickets to the destination of her choice for her beautifully
written and very moving essay on “Why My Father Should Be
Father of the Year.” The prize originally consisted of one airline
ticket for Lisa’s father, Mr. Walter Johnson, but after hearing Lisa
read her essay, Easter Airlines representative Mr. Clemon Childs
added the second ticket so that Lisa could accompany her Dad.
Vickki Gaskin’s essay honoring her father, Rev. Don Gaskin,
was the second place winner, and Camarf (Cami) Walker was
the third place winner for her essay honoring her father, Paul
Walker.
Pearline Davis, Director of Alumnae Affairs, is the first black
person elected to serve on the board of the Georgia Education Ad
vancement Council. Mrs. Davis also served as the Registration Chair
for the National United Negro College Fund Conference February
12-15 at the Omni. Hundreds of people attended the conference
and enjoyed a variety of speakers, workshops and other gala
events.
The Hidden Heritage Catalog is promoting the works of two
Spelman Alumnae — Varnette Honeywood, class of 72 and
Jackie Hale-Benson, class of 70. Varnette Honeywood is a
gifted painter whose works express the cultural experiences of blacks
in America. Her various paintings and figt cards can be ordered
through this catalog. Janice Hale-Benson’s book Black Children:
Their Roots, Culture, and Learning Styles, explores the effects of
Black-American culture on a child’s development. It retails for
$13.95. the catalog itself sells for $2.00 and can be ordered by
writing to the following address: Hidden Heritage Catalog, 1142
West indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85013.
Increased Campus Security We have added a security per
son to work from 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. patroling the outer perimeter
of the campus, and the AU Center parking lot on foot and on
scooter. He will also assist the regular campus security people when
needed. The scooter is available to all security personnel for in
creased mobility and faster response time.
Dear Readers 9
The Spotlight encourages you
to voice your opinions, make
suggestions or comments and to air
your grievances. All letters must be
typed and signed.
Sincerely yours,
Spelman Spotlight