Newspaper Page Text
Spelman Spotlight
Page 2
Divided We FAIL
By Elisa Smith
Editor-in-Chief
As I reflect upon last weekend, I
see newspaper headlines that read
"NOT GUILTY."
I see flashbacks of the videotape of
Rodney King’s beating and I am
astonished that anyone could possibly
render a not guilty verdict.
I see helicopters swarming over the
Atlanta University Center.
I see my AU.C. brothers and
sisters yelling impassionately for
justice.
I see rows upon rows of policemen
and the GBI at every entrance to the
A.U.C., locking us into a makeshift
prison.
I see myself teary-eyes and
coughing from the burning stench of
tear gas.
I see the biased broadcast media
showing student retaliation and not
initial police attacks on students.
I see my angry, infuriated brothers
and sisters overturning a police car and
setting it afire.
I see my enraged brothers and
sisters tearing into a liquor store, a
supermarket, and bookstore, stealing.
I see my brothers and sisters being
arrested, and I see. . .'
SELF-DESTRUCTION!
The furious anger that fed the
rallies, marches and destructive action
clearly demonstrates that ours, is a
violent generation. It also sadly
demonstrates that we are a divided
generation.
In an effort to emulate the
strategies of the Civil Rights Movement
during the ’60s, we "planned" marches
and "organized" rallies, but we failed
to unite. That failure rendered an
ineffective "attack."
We failed to devise a political
agenda.
We failed to research our civil
rights.
We failed to get approval (a
permit) to march.
We failed to consider the effects of
our actions on the larger community.
We failed to focus on ■ the real
issue - injustice to Rodney King.
We failed to support our student
leaders. “•>
We failed to deflate our egos
before assembling.
We failed to unite!
So, yes, we failed Effective Protest
101. But, the real failure is yet to be
seen.
The real failure will come if we
don’t turn out at the polls to vote in
November.
The real failure will come if we
continue to put our dollars into non-
Black owned businesses that do not
give us the respect that we deserve.
The real failure will come if we
don’t demand respect and top quality
service from Black-owned businesses.
The real failure will come if we
'continue to patronize businesses that
don’t hire Blacks, that don’t contribute
to scholarships. '
The real failure will come if we
leave the A.U.C., going back to our
respective hometowns, and fail to
involve ourselves in an organization
that effectively lobbies for our civil
rights.
The real failure will come if we
continue to let drugs corrode our
minds.
The real failure will come if we
continue to be apathetic.
But the most devastating tragedy
will come if we remain a divided
people.
We have every right to be
outraged, but we have no right to
destroy our communities.
To some, the letter-writing
campaigns, petitions, and peaceful
protests organized by our student
leaders may seem far from immediate.
But the violent, destructive protests
proved counterproductive.
We must learn to support our
student leaders. We elected them, so
why not use them? Next time, attend
the planning meetings, make your ideas
known then, not in front of the
television cameras to show the world
true dissension.
Well, we must admit, the _violent
protests did prove one thing. We are
full of explosive energy. If this energy
is not channeled into positive, effective
solutions for change, we will destroy
ourselves.
Time Is Up
By Rich& Richardson
Associate Editor
At this time, women of Spelman
are rather upset over the vindication of
the officers who brutally beat Rodney
King. This is yet another experience
that lets us know how real racism is.
The scales of justice are undoubtedly
tipped against African-Americans.
I’ve learned so much in the past
few days. Certainly, the discussions
that we’ve had at Town Meetings have
proven to me how effective intimate
talks can be. Essentially, the
gatherings allowed me to make sense
of all the prevailing confusion. I was
touched that administrators such as Dr.
Johnnetta B. Cole and Dean Freddye
Hill were so nurturing. As young
African-Americans, we should be
grateful that a Spelman family is
always present to reinforce us as
individuals. Everyone is not fortunate
enough to have that support.
Definitely, I know that the nature of
this environment allowed us to
organize ourselves and work
effectively. Much is yet to be done.
Hopefully, the response that Rodney
King’s case has elicited from blacks
will be maintained. We can’t afford to
lose momentum now.
We will undQubtedly maintain
unyielding dedication to the struggle if
we always contextualize events instead
of merely deeming them isolated
occurrences. We need to remember
that the progressive negation of black
culture and institutional
disenfranchisement have produced the
present plight in which we find
ourselves. Furthermore, this has been
the case historically. If we remember
to put events in an historical
framework, then we will likely work to
effect change on an institutional level.
That is how to effect change. On the
other hand, no real power lies in
destruction of property.
As Billy Joel’s song says, "We
Didn’t Start the Fire." The violence
and rioting certainly indicated the
willingness of some of our brothers
and sisters to supply the fuel. Yet, I
suppose that every method of dealing
with anger has its significance. To me,
the violence reflects the impatience that
many sons and daughters of Africa
harbor regarding the American system.
Time is up. If anything, the violence
has served to displace the sense of
security and control that those in power
have harbored for so long. Did they
really think that extreme consequences
would never result from unmercifully
beating down a people on a day to day
basis? How much does "The
Establishment" think a people can
take? How much do they think we
will take? Maybe some haughty
assumptions have been made by those
who oppress us. Maybe ijow, our
oppressors have a better concept of
what time it really is, and what time it
will be henceforth.
Definitely, I know that it is time
for us as blacks to do some agenda
setting. At the top of the agenda
should be, in my opinion, a vow to end
the ego-mania that prevails among
some of us. Some of us are so
concerned about advancing our own
political ideals that we are deaf to the
perspectives of our brothers and sisters.
Mind wars are not going to solve the
external institutional battle that all of
us must face. We need to unite and
compromise, if necessary, with one
another. Is asserting one’s leadership
or one’s manhood, for instance, more
important than confronting the urgent
issues with which we should be
dealing?
As students, I do think that we
should listen to our ancestors, for they
have been there. Some of us are
stubborn and refuse to heed the words
of those who have been there.
Frankly, I embrace the proverb "with
age comes wisdom." Let us respect
the views of our predecessors in the
struggle. The impetuous behavior that
they tend not to endorse could get us
hurt, or even killed. Something tells
me that they know best. Certainly, we
need to come up with innovative ways
to approach problems (ways that are
relevant to our time), but let us not be
disrespectful to those whose backs
we’ve stepped on to get here.
Always, we should remember to
"keep hope alive."
Let us also remember the
importance of student leadership as
well, particularly from an historic
perspective. Remember the Student
Non-violent Coordinating Committee
(SNCC). Remember student leaders
like Stokely Charm ichael (now Kwame
Toure) who helped to change the
world. Sometimes, it depresses me that
yesterday’s radical, strong . student
leadership is virtually non-existent.
That’s not good. Our student leaders
should be dedicated to the struggle.
Regarding this incident (culmination of
incidents would perhaps be a more
appropriate term,, for it suggests a
progressive chain of events), I was
pleased that AUC student leaders such
as Spelman’s Katrina Myers, Clark-
Atlanta University’s Ramona Houston,
and Morehouse’s Otis Moss stepped
forward to help guide us. >
I’ve decided to remove myself
from college politics on an intimate
level because I need to reach another
plateau before my days at Spelman
end; I need to be setting the foundation
to become the ultimate scholar that I
intend to be someday. Although I
won’t be as closely involved- in SSGA
I will maintain unyielding dedication
to the struggle. Always, it will be a
major part of my life. Truly, the
Spotlight has been a joy to work with.
I love it dearly and hate to let it go. It
warms my heart to know that my close
friends and I nurtured "our voice" and
watched it grow. It’s not where we
want it to be yet, but it’s getting there.
What’s good will only get bigger and
better with time and dedication. To
Elisa and Jamellah Braddock, my
successor as Associate Editor, I wish
the best of luck next year.