Newspaper Page Text
inside the spotlight
Spelman Sisterhood
The Spotlight takes a closer look at Spelman
sisterhood,
page 4
iUMMi
The DMV’s Owns Wale
Wale’s importance to his hometown fans,
page 7
Black Monsters
Do blacks have any chance of succeeding in enter
tainment without being misrepresented?
page 8
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Vol. 46, No. 2
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Voice of African-American Womanhood
Students Respond to Fatal Haitian Earthquake
By Rebecca Clayton
Editor-in-Chief
Gripping accounts of survival have emerged from
Haiti as the poverty-stricken nation endures the af
termath of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. The massive
earthquake that ravaged the small Caribbean country-
on Jan. 12 uncovered the tales of resilient survivors
that stirred a sense of urgency in the heart of the At
lanta University Center. As a result, the community
quickly responded to the Haiti relief efforts.
Students played a prominent role in spearheading
various events on campus. Many of their initiatives
were successfully executed only a few days after the
earthquake. With the support of the larger student
body, faculty, and staff, AUC students were able to
raise awareness and support for Haiti. The Spelman
Spotlight highlighted three individuals and groups
who brought together their talents and abilities in a
special feature, “How I’ve Helped Haiti.”
Crushed Pearls
Crushed Pearls, a fashion company founded by
Morehouse student Malcom Mitchell, specializes in
hoodies, t-shirts, and hats. The company added a lim
ited edition “I Helped Haiti” t-shirt to the 2010 spring
collection on Jan. 20. The t-shirt design was inspired
by Sean Comb’s “Vote or Die” campaign t-shirts.
Crushed Pearls hopes to encourage activism and
promote awareness through fashion. The shirts cost
$25 and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated
to Yele Haiti. To place an order, please contact Suli-
man Chillis at s.chillis@crushedpearls.com.
Continued on page 2
PHOTO COURTESY OF BONNER OFFICE
A young girl paints a star as part of the arts and crafts activities during the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Plunge.
Bonner Office Hosts “You Are
What You Do”
By Alexis Carter
and Toni Cannady
Staff Writers
In commemoration of Martin
Luther King Jr.’s legacy for ser
vice, the Bonner Office of Com
munity Service led a celebratory
three days of service at Spelman
College from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19.
Spelman students and community
members welcomed the challenge
to be more like King, even if it
was just for a few days.
“This year’s theme ‘You Are
What You Do,’ challenged indi
viduals to change themselves and
their communities through acts
of service,” commented Stacie
Bruce, community service coordi
nator for the Bonner Office.
The week’s events began in
Sisters Chapel on Sunday. Dr. Al
ton B. Pollard, III, dean and pro
fessor of religion and culture at
Howard University School of Di
vinity gave the sermon. Pollard,
known for his essay in such notable
publications as The US News and
World Report, reminded the con
gregation of King’s compassion
for civil rights and equal oppor
tunity for all. He spoke candidly
of the importance of community
service to sustain interconnected
communities. “Interconnected
communities will build a better
world for all of our people,” he
said. Pollard charged the attend
ees to emulate Martin Luther King
Jr.’s compassion for humanity.
“MLK Service Plunge” held
on Monday morning and after
noon, engaged volunteers from the
Spelman community and Atlanta
area in an array of service activi
ties in the areas of health and well
ness, environmental stability and
education.
The event, which took place
in Upper Manley Concourse, at
tracted over 600 volunteers. The
youngest volunteers, from local
area elementary schools, tried
their best to stay within the lines
as they painted artwork for poor
Costa Rican hospitals. Volunteers
also made “no-sew” blankets for
the homeless and Valentine’s Day
gift baskets for homebound se
niors. Many of the young girls
who attended also received tours
of Spelman’s campus. Addition
ally, Spelman provided free tours
of the historical West End for visi
tors.
“My husband and I feel like it is
important to begin to expose our
children at a young age to the
Little Rock
Nine Member
Debuts Book
By Kelly Harper
News Editor
A living legend visited Spelman Col
lege last semester to have an open dia
logue and book-signing with students
and members of the community. Car-
ollta Walls LaNier recently finished
her memoir, “A Mighty Long Way: My
Journey to Justice at Little Rock Cen
tral High School,” co-authored with
Lisa Frazier Page, which chronicles her
experience as the youngest member of
the “Little Rock Nine.” The book de
tails LaNier’s perspective on some of
the most pivotal historical and private
moments of her life while at Central,
and the faith and courage she required
to survive it all.
Carlotta Walls LaNier began her
journey into history as a freshman in
high school. She was a part of nine stu
dents chosen to integrate Little Rock
Central High School in Little Rock, Ar
kansas in 1957. When she began high
school at Central, she had no idea that
her simple desire for a quality education
would have such a significant effect on
American history and education.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 the Ladies
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incoro-
prated, Eta Kappa Chapter welcomed
Continued on page 2
India Arie Visits Spelman College
By Kirstin Evans
News Editor
and Alexis Carter
Staff Writer
Musician, India Arie,
shared words of inspira
tion and the importance
of her music with the
Spelman community dur
ing convocation on Jan. 21
in Sisters Chapel. After
a powerful introduction,
Arie took the stage and
began to share her jour
ney from feeling insecure
to completely accepting
herself through the help
of God, poetry and music.
Arie spoke about learn
ing to understand herself
and coping with her ex
periences from a past that
brought her sadness and
lack of self confidence.
Music became her outlet
and she believed it was
indeed her destiny in life.
Arie soon realized that it
was not her job to define
her destiny. Instead, she
allowed God to guide her
path and define her des
tiny through his eyes. So
far, God has kept music a
prominent part of India
Arie’s path and she uses
her talents to uplift her
self and others. “It was
always my intention and
my prayer to make music
that would actually be a
positive contribution to
the world,” Arie said.
According to Arie,
song writing allows us to
evolve and see ourselves
as beautiful. Arie’s hits
such as, “I Am Not My
Hair” and “Brown Skin,”
both written by Arie, con
tain powerful words that
are inspirational for Af
rican American females.
These singles address the
dogmatic views of who
Continued on page 2