Newspaper Page Text
Page 7
Spelman Spotlight, Atlanta, GA
March 4,1993
CAMPUS NEWS
Morehouse Forum Exposes Homophobia
By Felice Winston and Gay Ojugbana
"This has the potential to be a very
interesting and enlightening forum,"
said Alton Elmore Feb. 24 at the
beginning of "Homosexuality at the
House."
The Feb. 24 forum was sponsored
by the Morehouse College sophomore
class. The forum was held in light of
President Clinton’s lifting the ban on
gays in the military and the growing
tensions in the African American
community concerning homosexuality.
Unlike previous forums this year
dealing with homosexuality, this forum
presented panelists to answer the
students’ questions and to dispel some
of the myths surrounding
homosexuality. The panelists were
Jafari Allen, a Morehouse student, and
Lance McReady, an Emory student.
According to Allen, more panelists
had been selected but they refused to
participate for "fear of their safety."
Because of this fear, some "house
rules" were set and reiterated by the
panelists. The audience was asked to
respect each other at all times; no
questions of morality would be
answered; if the panelists felt the least
bit uncomfortable they would leave;
and a security guard was on hand to
remove unruly people.
The tone of the forum was set when
Allen asked the audience "Why are you
here, besides (convocation and
assembly) credit?"
Some students said they needed to
understand the hostility surrounding
homosexuality and others offered
testimonies of the immorality
homosexuality.
Other questions were, "How do I, as
a heterosexual, get rid of
homosexuality?" and "With the plight
of African American males in society
today, how do I explain to my sons and
daughter your choice?"
In an attempt to keep the forum
brief and under control, moderator
Bamum Nabors prepared a list of
questions for the panelists. Following
\RTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Eddie Murphy Is (Busy Mi ‘The Tune.
By Sabrina Hawkins
Sexy, entertaining, and funny are
some of the words used to describe
Eddie Murphy, the biggest man in
show business. But there is one word
that can completely describe Eddie and
his many activities and
accomplishments - BUSY.
The family man, actor, comedian
and singer has been busy working on
several projects. Along with his work
on his upcoming movie Beverly Hills
Cop III, Eddie Murphy has just
completed his latest album Love’s
Alright.
Murphy has always taken his
musical career seriously, even before
he moved into film and television. His
music of the past has been quite
successful with his 1985 #2 hit "Party
All The Time" and his 1989 top 40
single "Put Your Mouth On Me."
Love’s Alright is portraying positive
messages to enforce Black leadership
using images and concepts from Black
history. He began work on his third
album in 1990 resulting in what he
calls "psychedelic psoul" that was
created in his state-of-the-art home
studio.
He didn’t work on the album all
alone; he had a little help from his
friends. The song "Yeah" features a
wide range of artists. Garth Brooks,
Heavy D, Janet Jackson, Michael
Jackson, Patti [.allelic, Herbie Hancock
and Stevie Wonder are only seven of
the 23 artists featured on the song.
The proceeds of the song will go to
Eddie Murphy’s new "Yeah
Foundation," which is dedicated to
social reform.
Other songs are "I Was A King"
featuring Shabba Ranks,
"Whatzupwitu" featuring Michael
Jackson, and "Desdamona" with guest
performer B.B. King.
He also makes a tribute to the
Beatles, by his remake of "Good Day
Sunshine." And with the song "Hey
Joe." he nods to the late Jimi Hendrix.
Look for Eddie Murphy in an
upcoming performance with Shabba
Ranks on Saturday Night Live, in a
guest appearance on the David
Letterman Show, and on The Arsenio
Hall Show.
those, he opened the floor up for
questions from the audience.
One question was,"Was
homosexuality a choice or biological?"
Another was, "How did the panelists’
friends and families react to their
‘coming out’?"
" Not everyone in the gay and
lesbian community agrees on (the nature
of homosexuality)," McReady said. "I
believe all people are bom with the
capacity to love male and female."
Both panelists said that they received
mixed reactions from their family
members.
"My father was very accepting and
loving. What hurt the most was the non-
acceptance from my then-brothers of
KMT," Allen said.
" ‘Coming out’ is not an appropriate
term. 1 say ‘affirming’ because ‘coming
out’ implies that we have to leave the
African American community and join
the gay white community, which is not
all-accepting."
The questions from the audience
were less subtle and more personal.
One male student asked if the
panelists wanted to have children and, if
so, what kind of environment would
they provide for the child so that their
homosexuality would not be forced upon
the child.
"I would not put pressure on my son
or daughter to start dating and I would
encourage them to be themselves and
not do anything they would regret," said
McReady. "The myth of the nuclear
family has not worked. What works are
loving parents."
The panelists also expressed their
dual oppression. They said that they,
too, suffer from the evils of racism and
sexism. They also challenged the
Eurocentricity of modern-day descriptive
gender roles, questioning who has (or
has ever had) the authority to say what
is "too feminine" or what is "too
masculine."
"Ignorance will always be wherever
you go...Our goal was to be a tool, to
present information to a group of
jomumi pnoDumons,
Atlanta’s National Treasure &
Command Performance Productions, Inc.
present the Legacy Production of
i
ii:. =1 iTj i =1 ■
DIRECTED BY CHUCK SMITH
THE SETTING: A hotel room in Harlem, NY In 1965. Dr. King & Malcolm X meet.
The play is so convincing, one wishes "the meeting “ had actually taken place.
FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 7, 1993
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 • 8:00pm • $18.00 6 ■ ■
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 • 8:00 pm • $18.00
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 • 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm • $15.00
TUESDAY, MARCH 2 • 8:00 pm • $12.00, Students - $10.00
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 • 8:00 pm • $12.00, Students - $10.00
THURSDAY, MARCH 4 • 8:00 pm • $15.00
FRIDAY, MARCH 5 • 8:00 pm • $18.00
SATURDAY, MARCH 6 • NO SHOW
SUNDAY, MARCH 7 • 3:00 pm & 7:30 • pm $15
(Prices do not Include any service charges)
at
CENTER STAGE
1374 West Peachtree
For Groups, Daytime Matinees or Students Call Khalil - 876-6346
For Tickets Call TICKETMASTER - 249-6400