Newspaper Page Text
3
January 30, 1991
And They Speak of Revolution
Community
Service
Watch
By Karen Neely
Yes, we speak of a Revolution.
My brother, my sister, we
must unite to free our people
of the oppression to which
the "man" has sentenced us.
My brother, my sister, we
must free our minds and
return to the source - the
Motherland, sweet, sweet,
Africa. My brother, my
sister, we must reach out to
our Bla—, I mean, our
African-American community.
But are we really aware of what it
takes to implement or even follow
through with a Revolution? Do we
really know what this Revolution is to
accomplish? Is it a peaceful
Revolution or will there be more
violence to wipe out our community?
No, we don’t know. And this
should scare us more than the socio
economic state in which our
community has been placed. We are
being mentally prosecuted. Our
thoughts are being controlled. Our
knowledge intake is limited. The
following generations who should be
the bearers of great hope and optimism
are bringing nothing but despair. Our
commun'ty is at a point where we
don’t know who we are, where we
came from, what we have
accomplished, or where to go. How is
it that we can employ a Revolution
that requires we come together as a
race united in pride when we are not
aware of the foundation of Black
Pride? That foundation being
knowledge of self which is gained
through knowledge of race and culture.
So yes, once again, we speak of a
Revolution. We speak. And we
discuss our trials and tribulations. And
we mourn the unjustified deaths of our
youth. Then we go back to our abodes
and sleep peacefully. Never to feel
that fire and anguish again until
another brother or sister begins to talk
about it. Constantly, talk.
This idealistic environment that
surrounds us on our campuses has led
us to believe that discussing the
problem absolves it. We are the
fountain from where our race’s next
leaders shall come and yet we do not
even know how to solve a problem
outside of the classrooms.
Speakers come and speakers go.
When they come, they present the
problems that are ripping our
community apart and leave us
motivated with no methods of arriving
at a conclusion (if one does exist). As
our thoughts of the speaker fade, we
incorrectly assume that the problems
fade away with them. Until, of course,
another speaker presents the problem
once again.
If we are to create a foundation for
a Revolution, we must be able to
constantly motivate. If the feeling
dies, then so does the movement and
our community along with it. Instead
of only igniting the fire, we must
immediately put the fire to use before
it burns down. In speaking of the
problem, which we so often do, it is
necessary that we conceive of solutions
and implement them. In doing this, we
create a Revolution. We begin a
movement designed to effect changes
in the socioeconomic situation which is
what a Revolution really is. So as you
see my brother, my sister, a Revolution
does not require enemies that we have
identified as the "man". A Revolution
does not require that we violently
overthrow the government and overtake
the "system" which is run by the
"man". All that a Revolution requires
is change. Change that needs to take
place within our community for our
community. Get involved in programs
within the community to educate our
youth about their heritage. Get
involved in programs designed to
provide housing for members of our
community who need help. There is
no need for you to violently proclaim
your Blackness if you don’t help the
situation. The children that are
suffering on the streets receive no
benefit from your dreadlocks. Hie
woman who can’t find a job because
the civil rights proposal was vetoed
sees no comfort in you saying "It’s
time for a Revolution". That young
man who sells drugs to provide for his
household ain’t find the wealth in the
peace symbol around your neck.
I’m not asking you to change
something you believe in (if you really
believe in it and know what it means).
I’m suggesting that you stand behind
your Blackness and push it forward
instead of letting your Blackness stand
behind you to hold you up.
Community Service Watch informs
students of programs and organizations in
and around our community that are in need
of dedicated volunteers.
* Jomandi’s "Volunteers in Action":
Volunteers are needed to conduct
inventory of stock at Rich’s. In
exheange for your volunteered hours,
Rich’s will send Jomandi a check. For
further information, contact Jomandi at
876-6346.
* Camp Breathe Easy: The American
Lung Association of Atlanta needs
volunteers to serve as counselors at
Camp Breathe Easy, June 8-14, 1991.
r ITic camp is designed for children with
asthma ages 8 to 16. For more
information contact Jane Tunno at 872-
9653.
* Bike-Aid ‘91: A project of the
overseas development network is
seeking riders to join in the 6th annual
cross-country bike ride beginning June
16, 1991. The project is geared to
raise awareness of, and funds for the
community, self-help groups across the
globe. For more information write the
Bike-Aid ‘91 office at 333 Valencia
Ave., Suite 330, San Francisco,
California, 94103, or call (415) 431 -
4489.
* Super Cities Walk: On April 7,
1991 the National Multiple Sclerosis
Society will hold its Annual One-Day
Super Cities Walk in 250 loattions
across America - Atlanta being one of
these loattions. If you are interested
in participating in the Georgia Chapter’s
15 kilometer walk, please contact Lynn
Graelz at (404) 874-9797 or 1-800-
822-3379.
In addition to the opportunities listed
above, there are several programs in our
community that are in need of immediate
help. Below is a list of just a few
programs tlmt could use volunteers as soon
as possible. Bar further information
regarding these volunteer opportunities or
others in this community, contact Tamara
Nash Ammons in the Student Affairs office
located in the Upper Concourse of Manley
Center, Km 210.
—!* The Anchor Center (Homeless
Shelter for Women and Children)
Oh Ye Spelman Male Bashers
By Lionel Bums
Preceding all accounts of sincere
truth, I must proclaim to all that this
editorial is not meant in any way to
create a quagmire among the Atlanta
University Center students. This
editorial was written out of sincere
honesty and unselfish love for Black
people.
I have always marveled at the
Black male bashing that is rampant in
the A.U.C. In particular, I have
wondered about the injurious attitude
which is manifested in some of my
intelligent, understanding, and loving
Spelman sisters.
Since I touched the shores of
Morehouse College, I have been
forever fascinated with our relationship
to Spelman College. This relationship,
for the most part, is casual and deeply
based on traditional trademarks. Many
times the men of Morehouse College
wonder why we are so entangled in
our relationship with Spelman College.
The constant response is that we are
honoring so-called tradition.
Many Spelman women have
articulated the farcical statement that if
I were a student at Spelman College,
"my A’s would be C’s and my B’s
would be D’s," implying that Spelman
College is far superior to other
institutions in the A.U.C. Furthermore,
they have stated that I would be better
off elsewhere and that I am totally at
risk as a non-Spelman student.
As for myths, I must applaud the
Spelman Freshman Week guides for
again robbing and raping while shaping
the impressionable minds of their
freshman class. I have heard countless
tales. It is said that here at Morehouse
College, there is a list of "easy”
women, that Morehouse men are only
out for one thing-sexxxl, and that we
do unrestricted flips for Spelman
women who are lighter than a Kroger
brown paper bag. It is also said that
we only sleep with girls in the
"thirteenth grade" at Clark-Atlanta, but
marry the prestigious women of
Spelman College. These myths are as
worn out as the one bone gatherings at
Manley Center.
Also, I have been enlightened
many times by Spelman women as to
how the Black man is the sole and
proximate cause of our present day
racial situation. In the socially
wayward minds of Spelman women,
the Black man is dead, has long ago
been eulogized, has been buried 12 feet
underfoot, and is never, ever to be
resurrected, or heard from again to take
his place on the throne as the strong,
admirable MAN that GOD made him
to be.
Moreover, I have had to walk a
very thin line during my times at
Spelman College, while the sisters
continue to run "roughshod" at
Morehouse College. Many sisters are
disrespectful to Morehouse College
staff, the student body, or anyone who
is trodding the path of the great men
whose shoulders Morehouse College
stands upon. If this carefree attitude
were reciprocated at Spelman College,
then its security would labor harshly
trying to control Black men out to
break rules and would find very little
time to fall asleep on duty.
Indeed, the overall Spelman
attitude is one of blatant disrespect for
Black men, perfunctory gestures in
interpersonal relationships, learned
superiority which is very destructive to
the Black race, and unwillingness to
accept criticism.
As a man of Morehouse College,
I appeal to my Spelman sisters to
attempt now to change this destructive
attitude. In a day when not many
Black people - descendants of slaves -
are in college, I ask why must we
divide ourselves even further. Again,
this editorial was not written to offend,
nor is this an apology for what has
been said. I write to fight to the
wrongs that I see in you and me, but
now it is up to you - Black women.
1332 Stewart Ave., S.W. Atlanta.
Contact: Elainor McCoy, Volunteer
C<x>rdinator at 752-5654.
* AUC Volunteer Task Force
Contact: Mike Waiver, axirdinator at
221-3255.
* Black Women’s Coalition of
Atlanta/ Tutorial Program at Dunbar
Center
Contact: Marian Girier, Program
Coordinator at 627-6000.
* Cascade House ("Ihe Homeless
Shelter for Women and Children)
1384 Gordon St., S.W. Atlanta
Contact: Pat Howard, Director or
Ginger Hill, Volunteer Coordinator at
752-6199.
* Lmmaus House/Tutoring Program
1017 Capitol Ave., S.W. Atlanta
Contact: Nancy Klofas at 659-1415 or
Melba Renfro, Director of Pre-School
Program at 525-5948.
* Council on Battered Women
Contact : Mfon Ufot, Volunteer
Coordinator at 873-1766.
* John Hope Homes/Project Success
Contact: Dr. Michael Gomez, Volunteer
Coordinator at 223-7549.
* Legal Clinic for the Homeless
233 Mitchell Street, S.W. Suite 430
Contact Loma Spencer, Program
Coordinator or Elizabeth Babcock,
Paralegal Advocate at 681-0680.
... Tiffany Townsend