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103  New  Africa  House 
University  of  Massachusetts 
i^MHERST  01003 

Volume  XXIV,  Issue  1 (413)  545-5141  October  • November  1991 


NOMMO  is  a Dogan  word  meaning  the  power  of  the  spoken  and  written  word. 


avis 


9 


M9I 


FOOD  FOR THOUGHT 


By  Michele  D.  Monteiro 

Another  semester  at  the  University  of  Massachusetts  has  begun.  Question:  How  are  you  going  to  make  a difference 
at  this  institution?  What  positive  expectations  do  you  have  about  yourself?  How  will  this  outlook  affect  the  ALANA 
(African,  Latino,  Asian,  Native  American)  community  on  this  campus?  Think  about  it. 

As  you  know,  the  budget  cuts  have  severely  hindered  many  of  the  Registered  Student  Organizations  (RSOs)  on  this 
campus.  The  RSOs  which  have  suffered  tremendously  were  the  ALANA  organizations.  Why? 

One  might  first  assume  that  the  budget  cuts  came  as  a result  of  racism.  Well,  that  may  not  be  altogether  true.  The 
budget  cuts  came  because  of  a lack  of  involvement  with  the  ALANA  RSOs. 

There  are  thirty-eight  ALANA  organizations  on  campus..  Membership  figures  range  from  five  to  fifteen.  There  are 
about  five  - hundred  people  of  color  registered  as  students  of  this  University.  What  is  wrong  with  this  ratio?  How 
will  you  factor  into  this  ratio?  Again,  what  difference  will  you  make? 

Remember,  we  cannot  complain  about  what  the  University's  system  is  doing  to  us  if  we  first  do  not  take  a look  at 
what  we  are  doing  to  ourselves.  Enrollment,  or  active  involvement  wi  th  the  ALANA  organizations  is  increasing,  but 
is  still  at  an  all  time  low  since  the  1970s.  Will  we  forget  our  predecessors'  struggle? 

To  the  Freshmen,  incoming  students.  Sophomores  and  Juniors:  Beall  that  you  are  and  get  involvedV.lWV.  The  ALANA 
organizations  need  you\\\ 

To  the  Seniors:  We  need  your  active  input  to  carry  on.  You  may  be  ready  for  graduation,  but  remember,  without  some 
sense  of  community  on  this  campus,  you  might  not  have  made  it  through.  You  didn't  do  it  alone.  Give  back  to  the 
ALANA  community  what  positive  energy  you've  been  given.  A 


NOMMO  IS  AN  EFFORT  WE  ENCOURAGE 
ALLTOTAKEPARTIN.  COMMUNITYRESPONSE 
THUS  FAR  HAS  BEEN  TREMENDOUS.  FOR 
THAT,  WE  THANK  YOU. 

WE  HAVE  TAKEN  THIS  SPACE  TO  INVITE 
YOUTOOURWEEKLYMEETINGS.HELDEVERY 
WEDNESDAYAT  5:00PM  IN  ROOM  103  OF  THE 
NEW  AFRICA  HOUSE. 

AS  ALWAYS,  WE  ENCOURAGE  ALL  SISTERS 
AND  BROTHERS  TO  SUBMIT  ARTIGLES, 
EDITORIALS,  POEMS,  ADVERTISEMENTS,  ETC. 


( '(  lOBFR  • \ovtV1BHv  ' 


ADVERTISEMENTS 


Amherst  Typewriter  Service 

p.08 

• NSBE 

(National  Society  of  Black  Engineers) 

p.  25 

Martin  Luther  King  Jr.  Cultural  Center 

p.  08 

• BMCP 

The  Benjamin  Banneker 

(Black  Mass  Communications  Project) 

p.  27 

Microcomputer  Learning  Facility 

p.  13 

• D.J.  KnockOut 

p.  29 

Five  College  Area  Black  Greek  Lettered 
Organizations 

p.  18 

• Malcolm  X Cultural  Center 

p.  29 

Sylvan  Cultural  Center 

p.  20 

• American  IndianCultural  Center 

p.  31 

Anacaona  Cultural  Center 

p.  20 

ADVERTISE 

A 

CCEBMS 

IN 

(Collegiate  Committee  for  the  Education  of  Black 
and  other  Minority  Students)  p.  22 

NOMMO 

a 

PSEUDO 


THE  OPINIONS  . IN  THIS  PUBLICATION  ARE  THOSE 
OF  THE  INDIVIDUAL  WRITERAND  DO  NOT  NECESSARILY 
REFLECT  THE  VIEWS  Of  NOMMO  NEWS.  UMASS  OR  THE 
FIVE  COLLEGE  ARIA UNIISS  OTHERWISE  NOTED. 


FEATURE  ARTICLES 

Because  I My  Re$pect 

Subliminal  MeSSSgeS 
Black  Greeks 

He  is  One  of  Us,  But  is  He  Ours? 

SPECIAL  SEGMENTS 

Tribute  to  Laurin  Aycox 

The  History  of  Black  Fraternities  and  Sororities: 
Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Fraternity,  Inc. 
Multiculturalism: 

Foe  or  Ally  of  Free  Inquiry 
The  Real  Issues 


07 

12 

14 

22 


p.  04 

p.  15 

p.  24 
p.  25 


OCTOBER  « NOVEMBER  1991 


THIS  ISSUE  OF  NOMMO  NEWS  IS  DEDICATED  TO  OUR  SISTER, 


LAURIN  AYCOX 


By  Joanne  G.  Paul 

This  issue  of  Nommo  News  is  dedicated  to  our 
sister,  Laurin  Aycox.  Miss  Aycox  was  an  18-year  old 
Uni  versi  ty  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst  sophomore  who 
died  August  25, 1991  at  a Schenectady,  NewYork  hospital 
from  injuries  sustained  in  an  automobile  accident  on 
August  21. 

Miss  Aycox  was  bom  in  Schectady,  NY  to  Julius 
"Skip"  Aycox  and  Gail  Smith  on  September  7, 1972.  She 
graduated  from  Linton  High  School  in  Glenville,  NY. 
where  she  had  performed  in  several  plays. 

In  1990,  Miss  Aycox  attended  the  University  of 
Massachusetts  at  Amherst  to  pursue  a degree  in  Theater. 
While  at  UMass,  Miss  Aycox  lived  in  Webster  Residence 
Hall  and  was  a member  of  Greenpeace  and  Amnesty 
International. 

"Laurin  was  very  warm  and  caring,"  said  Heather 
Golm,  a friend  of  Miss  Aycox's  and  resident  of  Webster 
Hall.  "Not  only  was  she  ^n  to  talk  to  and  be  around,  but 
she  was  a very  down-to-earth  person." 

Last  May,  Miss  Aycox  appeared  in  the  play. 
Black  Women's  Survival  Kit  which  was  performed  at 
UMass.  She  gave  a stunning  performance  as  Oshun,  the 
Yomba  goddess,  a warrior  who  represented  feminine 
beauty  and  strength. 

"The  reason  I cast  her  as  a goddess,"  said  Kim 
Moore,  Director  of  the  Black  Women's  Survival  Kit, " was 
because  of  her  inner  strength.  She  had  the  qualities  of 
Oshun  that  were  strong  and  powerful.  Laurin  was  very 
warm  and  idealistic." 

On  September  29, 1991,  Miss  Aycox's  family  and 
friends  gathered  around  a weeping  willow  tree  planted 


near  the  campus  pond  in  honor  of  her  memory.  The 
memorial,  which  was  organized  by  Christopher  Taylor, 
included  the  reading  of  "The  Giving  Tree"  by  Shel 
Sil verstein  and  the  planting  of  the  weeping  willow  tree — 
both  of  which  were  Miss  Aycox's  favorites. 

"The  tree  is  symbolic  of  my  daughter,"  Skip 
Aycox  said,  "because  it  represents  life — which  is  what 
Laurin  gave  when  she  died." 

The  tree  was  planted  on  the  east  side  of  the 
campus  pond  near  the  Fine  Arts  Center. 

"It  was  put  near  the  pond,"  said  Golm,  "because 
Laurin  liked  the  pond  and  that  area  of  campus.  The  tree 
was  for  us  because  it's  someplace  we  can  go  to  and 
remember  her.  " 

"I  miss  her,"  said  Monique  Tabon,  a friend  of 
Miss  Aycox's  and  a performer  from  the  Black  Women's 
Survival  Kit.  "Everyone  talks  about  how  they  added  to 
her  life,  well  she  added  to  mine.  When  I first  heard  that 
Laurin  had  died,  I was  so  angry... I was  pissed  off.  It's  not 
fair!  She  had  so  much  more  to  learn  and  grow." 

Linton  High  School  has  established  a Drama 
scholarship  in  her  name. 

Miss  Aycox  is  survived  by  her  mother,  Gail 
Smith;  her  father,  Julius  "Skip"  Aycox;  her  sister,  Karin 
Aycox;  her  brother,  Christoper  Aycox;  her  stepmother, 
Patricia  Aycox;  her  stepsisters  Jon  and  Kristen  Osterlitz; 
her  stepbrother,  Kurt  Osterlitz;  and  many  other  relatives 
and  friends. 

"Laurin  was  an  organ  donor,"  Golm  continued. 
"Many  people  have  benefitted  from  her  bones  and  organs. 
She  was  cremated.  It  was  Laurin's  wish  to  be  cremated 
due  to  her  own  personal  belief  about  death  and 
spirituality."^ 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


5 


A POEM  FOR  LAURIN 


by  Jo  Ella  Costello 

There  are  things  happening  around  us  that  can't  be 
explained. 

Such  as  war,  suffering,  hunger,  and  oppression. 

In  a world,  where  our  sense  of  human  compassion  is 
supposed 

to  prevail  over  these  evils. 

Somehow  we,  the  human  race,  have  closed  our  eyes  and 
ears. 

Living  a life  with  a false  sense  of  satiety  and  exaggerated 
calm*. 

However,  you  choses  not  to  ignore  the  obvious 

By  continually  questioning,  challenging,  and  advocating 

fora 

world  of  peace  and  justice. 

Displaying  tremendous  courage  in  such  a discouraging 
society. 

Including  your  intense  desire  for  racial  harmony. 

As  you  were  the  product  of  a sometimes  socially  forbidden 
unity. 

You  helped  me  to  believe  that  love  and  friendship  can 
indeed 

come  in  all  colors. 

Recently,  1 had  a dream  about  you. 


I was  in  a room  with  other  people  discussing  the  state  of 
affairs 

When  you  suddenly  appeared. 

Shock  and  terror  immediately  permeated  my  body 
causing  me 

to  exclaim,  "I  thought  you  were  dead!" 

With  a sparkle  in  your  eyes  and  a reassuring  grin,  you 
replied, 

"If  I were,  would  I be  here  with  you  now." 

My  fear  was  replaced  with  warmth  and  joy. 

I feel  your  presence  permanently  in  my  heart 

With  the  spirit  of  the  African  goddess  Oshun  living 

through  you 

As  you  truly  became  the  part  you  played. 

Although,  I only  came  to  know  Laiu*ing  Aycox  through 
the  play  last  semester,  the  opening  song  truly  describes 
our  closeness,  "Umo  ja — unity  that  bring  us  together".** 
Jo  Ella  Costello 

* The  word  "exaggerated  calm"  was  taken  from  the  play. 
The  Black  Women's  Survival  Kit,  written  by  Andrea 
Hairston. 

**  Sweet  Honey  In  The  Rock. 


THE  ROAD  TO  ETERNITY 


Author  Unknown 

Life  is  but  a stopping  a place, 

A pause  in  what's  to  be, 

A resting  place  along  the  road 
To  sweet  eternity. 

We  all  have  different  journeys. 

Different  paths  along  the  way. 

We  all  were  meant  to  learn  some  things. 


But  never  meant  to  stay... 

Our  destination  is  a place 
Far  greater  than  we  know. 

For  some,  the  journey's  quicker. 

For  some,  the  journey's  slow. 

And  when  the  journey  finally  ends. 
We'll  claim  a great  reward. 

And  find  an  everlasting  peace. 
Together  with  the  Lord. 


BLACKMAN  I BLACK  WOMAN 


By  Jean- Antony  Joassainte 


By  Lady  Sundiata 

Black  Man  where  doth  thou  be 

I sit  here  Black  Man  wondering 

Why  we  suffer  this  devastation 

Why  you  can't  find  me 

Don't  you  know  that  we  belong  together 

To  rebuild  what  was  once  ours 

Yes,  our  precious  family 

Together  always-forever 

I see  you  but  I can't  touch  you 

I see  you  running,  scared  for  your  life 

1 see  them,  too. 

But  you're  too  far  for  me  to  reach 
Grab  my  hand  , Black  Man 
Let  us  walk  the  lands 
And  sail  the  seas 
Together. 

There  is  hope  for  tomorrow 
Lift  your  head  high 
Think  not  of  yesterday 
Put  down  your  guilt  and  sorrow 
We  can  begin  again,  you  know 
All  is  not  lost.  Black  Man 
But  first  we  must 
Find  each  other  again. 

My  beautiful  Black  Man. 


Strong,  willing,  and  able 
You  are  the  origin  of  our  gene. 

We  know  that  you  are  respectable 
But  why  looking  so  mean? 

Your  tender  smiles 
Can  they  be  trusted?? 

Please  show  us  sincere  smiles 
So  we  can  become  your  beloved. 

Your  identity  is  fragile 
The  way  you  do  certain  things: 

Dance,  sing,  walk  and  smile 
Originate  the  quality  of  the  true  princess 
Afraid  of  being  near  you 
Is  afraid  of  being  with  class. 

Afraid  of  approaching  you 
Is  afraid  of  being  crushed  by  ice. 

Not  loving  you 

Is  not  loving  our  great  ancestors. 
Disrespecting  you 
Is  disrespecting  our  mothers. 

The  magnificent  clothing  that  you  wear 
Build  you  into  a magnificent  princess. 

The  way  that  you  suppressed  our  fear 
Won't  make  us  feel  fearless. 

You  are  the  only  one 
That  can  show  us  the  beauty  of  true  love, 
stop  playing  the  hard  to  understand  game! 
' Cause  you  are  our  number  one. 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


BECAUSE  I DESERVE  MY  RESPECT 


Ladie  Sundiata 

July  1991.  Here  I sit  reflecting  on  the  times  - 
looking  at  where  I am  as  a Black  woman  in  AmeriKKKa 
today.  I am  searching  for  improvements;  wanting  to 
believe  that  we  are  better  off  than  our  brothers  and  sisters 
were  in  history's  past.  However,  I have  come  to  the  sad 
conclusion  that  we  are  living  in  a time  that  that  is 
synonymous  to  both  slavery  and  Reconstruction. 

If  one  would  recall,  during  slavery,  we  were 
considered  to  be  less  than  human.  During  slavery,  we 
were  considered  to  be  less 


than  human.  During  the 
Reconstruction  Era,  we 
were  given  limited  rights 
and  empty  promises  ( 
remember  forty  acres  and 
a mule)-  neither  of  which 
helped  us  to  help 
ourselves.  Today  we  are 
living  in  a time  where  we 
still  have  no  voice  - even 
those  of  us  who  choose  to 
exercise  our  pseudo  voice 
through  voting.  Today  we 
are  still  fighting  to  be 
recognized  as  first  class 
citizens.  Today  our 
education  is  below 
average  standards.  Today 
our  men  are  still  degraded, 
uneducated,  and 
incarcerated.  Today 
sisters  are  still  rearing  their  children  alone.  And  today  I 
sit  here  as  a graduating  senior  from  UMASS  Amherst- 
still  fighting  for  my  respect. 

Since  elementary  school,  I have  had  to  walk  that 
walk  and  talk  that  talk  just  to  make  it  to  Corporate 
America  and  be  disrespected  by  guilty  white  liberals  and 
overt  racists.  I have  found  that  I have  had  to  restrain 
myself  from  my  "gift  of  gab"  and  learn  to  seek  strength 
through  silence.  I have  had  to  smile  a plastic  smile 
because  I am  despised  because  of  my  talents ; or  shall  I 
say,  the  color  of  my  skin.  They  still  seek  to  destroy  my 
soul  with  their  hatred.  However,  my  strength  has  come 
from  within.  I have  examined  our  cruel  and  undeserving 
punishment  since  our  arrival  to  the  AmeriKKKas.  I have 


"SINCE  ELEMENTARY 
SCHOOL,  I HAVE  HAD 
TO  WALK  THAT  WALK 
AND  TALK  THAT  TALK 
JUST  TO  MAKE  IT  IN 
CORPORATE  AMERICA 
AND  BE  DISRESPECTED 
BY  GUILTY  WHITE 
LIBERALS  AND  OVERT 
RACISTS." 


1^ 


been  searching  for  comradery  from  my  sisters-  trying  to 
understand  our  place,  and  unspoken  truths.  I have 
ripped  apart  my  very  existence-  seeking  knowledge  as 
my  refuge.  I have  found  that  staying  focused,  staying 
centered,  and  staying  spiritual,  to  be  my  guiding  light.  I 
pray  for  God's  mercy  on  me  and  my  people  because  I 
know  not  what  the  future  holds  for  us  - esp>ecially  with 
racists  like  George  Bush  vetoing  our  Civil  Rights  Bill.  I 
see  all  of  our  efforts  being  undone  with  the  scribble  of  a 
pen.  And  yet  we  have  no  leaders  that  are  willing  to  brave 
the  troubled  waters  of  our  plight  here  in  AmeriKKKa. 

I wish  I could  speak 
more  highly  of  our  people- 
wishing  that  my  every 
word  did  not  contain  de- 
spair and  hopelessness. 
But  we  know  ourselves. 
We  know  what  it  takes  and 
what  it  has  taken  in  the 
past  - a collective  effort  on 
the  part  of  the  entire  Afri- 
kan  - American  race. 
Today  we  do  not  have 
room  for  Uncle  Toms, 
House  Negroes,  or  Sell- 
outs for  they  are  the  ones 
who  keep  us  static-  "in  our 
place"  so  to  speak.  We 
have  got  to  learn  to  stop 
depending  on  the  white 
man  for  handouts.  They 
are  tired  of  our  ignorance 
and  unambitious  nature. 
Yes,  I know , my  brothers  and  sisters,  that  "the  system" 
has  done  this  to  us.  Some  argue  change  can  come  about 
if  we  vote,  but  realize  that  it  is  not  the  vote  alone  that  we 
need.  We  must  support  each  other  in  every  endeavor. 
We  must  put  our  own  in  office  regardless  if  the  candidate 
is  qualified  or  not.  We  must  be  willing  to  take  a chance 
our  own-  in  essence,  we  must  be  willing  to  be  responsible 
for  ourselves.  If  the  system  is  what  is  keeping  us  down, 
then  go  around  the  system;  make  the  system  work  for 
you,  instead  of  against  you.  We  know  that  in  order  for  the 
capitalist  system  to  work,  someone  needs  to  be  exploited, 
that  someone  has  been  us  for  nearly  400  hundred  years; 
and  continues  to  be  with  us  until  this  day. 

cont.  onto  page  8 


OBER  • NOVEMBER  1991  I 


8 


Because  I deserve. . . cont.  from  page  7 

There  are  things  that  need  to  happen.  We  need  to  challenge  them  for  our  rights.  We  have  got  to  create  our 
own  agenda.  We  must  decide  what  we  will  take  and  what  we  will  not.  We  have  got  to  rebuild  the  family  unit.  Before 
we  can  deal  with  external  forces,  we  must  be  unified  internally,  that  is  not  a choice  anymore.  Moreover,  for  those 
sisters  and  brothers  who  are  not  down  with  progression,  we  have  got  to  go  on  without  them.  It  is  sad  to  say,  but  we 
all  know  that  if  we  try  to  change  them,  then  we  will  never  get  started,  and  this  ship  has  been  docked  too  long.  If  a 
progressive  movement  is  successful,  then  they  will  want  to  come  join  us,  we  will  not  have  to  beg  them.  We  must  be 
willing  to  embrace  all  brothers  and  sisters  regardless  of  origin  because  everyone  can  be  an  asset.  However,  be 
mindful  that  every  good  will  be  counteracted  with  bad  which  translates  to  traitors,  but  we  must,  and  that  is  okay 
because  even  they  will  something. 

Yes,  I have  gone  off  on  a tangent,  but  a necessary  tangent  indeed.  At  21,  in  my  sixth  corporation,  I am  already 
tired  of  bureaucracy.  I am  tired  of  the  hopeless  mess  of  my  people.  I am  tired  of  blaming  others  for  our  condition. 
I am  tired  of  us  judging  each  other  based  upon  material  gains.  I am  tired  of  us  lacking  in  vision  for  the  future.  Dammit, 
I am  just  plain  tired,  and  my  mother  has  the  nerve  to  say,  "honey  you  ain't  seen  nothing  yet,  just  keep  living ."  Well, 
Ma  I am  gonna  keep  living  and  die  too,  but  not  before  Ido  something;  not  before  I make  my  meaningful  contribution. 
And  so  no,  nothing  may  happen  in  my  lifetime,  but  I am  gonna  die  trying  to  save  my  people  from  hopelessness  and 
despair,  because  today  in  1991,  we  deserve  to  be  first  class  citizens,  and  because  I deserve  my  respect.  4 


Authorized  Dealer  for 
Smith-Corona 
Olivetti  ^ 

Adler 


Robert  W.  Green 


(413)  253-5087 


Amherst  Typewriter  Service 


Sales  • SeiA'ice  • Rentals 
Calculators  & Office  Products 


65  North  Pleasant  Street 
Amherst,  Massachusetts  01002 


Martin  Luther  King  Jr. 
Cultural  Center 

"When  we  let  j-reedom  ring,  when  we  let  it  ►*in0  fron\ 
eve»*y  how  let,  f rom  e.ve.rY  state  and  eve»*y  city,  we  will  be 
able  to  speed  wp  that  day  when  all  of  CAods  child**en. 
Black  men  and  White  men,  ^e-WS  and  C^entiles, 
Protestants  and  tSatholics,  will  be  able  to  join  hands  and 
sin0  the  words  of  the  old  ne0ro  spiritual:  Hree  at  J_ast, 
T*ree  at  Last.  Xhank  C^od  ^Imi0hty,  we  are  |-ree  at 

Last." 

Monday  - Friday  7 - llpm 
Saturday  - Sunday  4 * 6pm 


® 1 990  NuBA  lntarn:)tioru)l 

Located  at  Dickinson  ill,  Orchard  Hill  For  more  information,  call  S4S'OS7S 


r^TOBER  » NOVEMBER  1991 


M9MM# 


9 


By  Otis  Kaleem  Ali  and  Family 

A people  history  is  their  conveyance  for  excursions  to  the  future 
and  past 

And  this  conveyance  is  one  of  the  most  prized  possessions  as  long  as 
the  social  order  lasts. 

The  heinous  thefts  and  mass  reductions  we  have  sustained  when  our 
normal  evolution  was  spirited  away  by  hook  or  crook — 

Will  be  realized  when  every  nation  will  be  called  to  account 
for  what  is  written  in  their  book. 

But  even  though  we're  bereft  of  it,  our  history  still  exist  in 
the  master  record  of  all  nations. 

It  is  with  God  and  if  he  wills  we  once  again  can  bring  it  into  the 
humans'  dispensation. 

Once  we  learn  that  the  basic  patterns  of  history  cycle  through  each 
and  every  generation. 

This  gives  us  a clue  to  unraveling  the  elusive  blocks  to  real 

progress  planted  in  our  subconscious  minds  to  work  against  us 
through  indoctrination. 

Doesn't  our  divine  book  say  that  everything  that  a people  do  is 
in  the  writing? 

This  hint  can  help  us  to  unearth  all  mis-administration  of  the 
late  historians  which  need  cancellation  and  indicting  . 

Now  if  in  judgement  every  idle  thought  and  word  will  be  called  into 
account — 


((INCOMPLETE  HISTORY)) 

Shouldn't  that  suggest  to  every  people  to  be  extremely  careful  in 
what  they  launch  and  mount? 

(Dn  the  day  of  judgement,  individuals  and  entire  nations  will  be 
called  nto  question  for  their  books,  and  their  deeds; 

So  our  demand  for  the  right  to  know  our  true  history  is  one  of  our 
most  earnest  and  pressing  needs. 

((( Omissions  of  contributions  of  disinherited  ethnic  groups))) 

(((  Lack  of  recognition  of  importance  of  multi-culture))) 

Most  of  our  ancestors  who  suffered  and  died  before  us  and  are  long 
gone  and  mostly  forgotten. 

And  many  of  them,  their  precious  life-blood  watered  many  a field  of 
sugar  cane,  indigo,  tobacco  and  old  king  cotton. 

And  even  though  they  are  seldom  thought  of,  seldom  if  ever 
remembered — 

Our  lack  of  empathy  and  sympathy  is  due  to  our  collective  ethnic 
consciousness  being  disconnected  and  dismembered  . 

What  is  our  history  and  where  has  it  gone — 

( ( MIS-  EDUCATION  ) ) 

But  into  the  nation's  social  substratum,  so  wantonly  sown? 

cont.  onto 


14 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


WHAT'S  WRONG  . . . 


WITH  THIS  PICTURE? 


12 


SUBLIMINAL  MESSAGES 


by  a Conscious  Sister 

Why  didn't  they  just  put 
some  flames  behind  him,  or  maybe 
have  him  hold  a pitchfork  in  his 
hand?  When  I look  at  this  picture  I 
can't  help  but  wonder  exactly  what 
these  advertisers  were  trying  to 
"advertise"  to  the  public.  Maybe 
that  white  is  good,  and  black  is  evil, 
or  do  you  think  I am  assuming  too 
much?  You  think  maybe  they  put 
them  together  like  this  to  show  us 
how  obvious  the  differences  between 
good  and  evil  are? 

Whatever  their 
reasons  were,  I 
know  what  I see 
when  I look  at  this 
picture.  But  I have 
gotten  a lot  of 
different  reactions 
from  people.  "It 
shows  peace  between  two  races,"  "It 
shows  that  good  and  evil  can  live 
together."  I don't  think  so.  Itisquite 
clear  to  me  what  this  picture  says. 
And  whether  it  was  meant  to  come 
out  as  a negative  statement  or  not,  it 
has.  I don't  appreciate  these  "little" 
things  that  are  being  sent  out  to  not 
only  me,  but  to  millions  of  viewers. 
Not  just  college  students  and  gro  wn- 
ups  either.  Children  see  these 
advertisements  too.  As  a matter  of 
fact  these  same  children  find  it  quite 
easy  to  define  what  is  being  said. 
The  subliminal  messages  aren't  that 
hard  to  find. 

When  I sat  down  to  watch 
television  as  a child,  I cannot  say  as 
I look  back  now  that  I know  what  the 
children  of  today  know.  First  of  all 
they  did  not  grow  up  watching 
negative  television  shows  such  as 
'Good  Times,'  'Gimme  A Break,'  and 
'Benson'  to  name  just  a few.  They 


were  not  subject  to  the  stereotypical 
roles  that  these  programs  showed  us. 
In  the  case  with  the  show  'Gimme  A 
Break,'  here  we  had  a typical  Mamie- 
like  character.  Chubby,  she  had  coarse 
manners  and  was  very  loyal  and 
protective  of  the  white  household. 
Maybe  I am  the  only  one,  but  when  I 
grew  up  watching  this  show  I laughed. 
I never  understood  what  was  being 
said.  It  was  as  if  they  were  trying  to 
put  the  Black  woman  in  her  place. 
Showing  her  where  she  was  meant  to 
be.  But  today  although  they  do  show 


reruns  of  this  particular  show,  your 
average  child  would  not  watch  it.  They 
have  other  shows  to  choose  from,  such 
as  True  Colors.'  Here  Blacks  and 
whites  are  living  together  as  a family. 
Not  just  as  a servant  and  the  master. 
But  as  a real  family  in  every  sense  of 
the  word.  Here  they  are  showing 
audiences  that  this  is  how  Black  p>eople 
live  today.  With  the  rise  of  more  Black 
television  shows  we  are  seeing  that 
some  producers  are  actually  showing 
audiences  how  Blacks  live,  and  the 
child  watching  that  show  may  even  be 
living  like  that  too.  But  don't  get  me 
wrong,  they  are  still  not  showing  some 
truth.  Also,  we  have  a similar  situation 
with  the  show  'Benson,'  In  this  show 
we  had  the  old  stereotypes  of  the  butler 
running  the  house  and  solving  all  the 
problems.  Here  we  saw  a similarity 
between  Benson  and  Br'er  Rabbit  who 
was  very  mischievous,  and  always 
outsmarting  the  person  in  authority. 


Instead  of  being  subject  to  these  old 
stereotypical  roles,  the  children  of 
today  are  instead  watching  their  own 
people  being  portrayed  as  people  in 
authoritative  positions.  Such  as  in 
the  'Cosby  Show'  and  'Family 
Matters.'  Here  we  have  men  and 
women  in  authoritative  positions. 
Either  as  doctors,  lawyers  or 
policemen.  When  children  growing 
up  today  see  their  people  being 
represented  as  doctors  and  basically 
just  hard  working  people  they  are 
not  programmed  to  believe  that  all 
Blacks  are  not 
meant  to  do  great 
things.  When  they 
grow  up  watching 
positive  portrayals 
they  are  given  the 
incentive  to  do  the 
same.  Like  in  the 
show,  "Fresh 
Prince  of  Bel  Air."  There  are  a lot  of 
rich  and  successful  Blacks  in  this 
world,  but  some  producers  don't 
want  this  to  be  known.  I believe  that 
the  children  who  are  growing  up 
watching  these  particular  shows  will 
know  how  Blacks  are  like  today. 
Not  how  they  used  to  live.  If  they 
see  how  great  they  can  truly  be  first, 
they  won't  have  the  negative 
stereotypes  to  deal  with  and  perhaps 
prevent  them  from  being  what  they 
want  to  in  this  society.  Along  with 
television  shows  there  are  some 
movies  which  portray  Blacks  as 
mostly  victims.  Helpless  victims 
who  have  no  say  whatsoever  in  a 
particular  situation. 

The  first  thing  that  came  to 
my  mind  was  "Yo,  why  they  gotta 
use  a Black  Man?"  When  I went  to 
see  "Silence  of  the  Lambs"  for  the 
third  time  I did  not  expect  to  notice 


cont.  onto  page  13 


I 


The  first  thing  that  came  to  my 
mind  was  "Yo,  why  they  gotta 
use  a Black  man?" 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


Subliminal . . . cont.  from  page  12 
things  that  I didn't  see  the  first  time. 
But  I did. 

There  is  one  particular  scene 
in  which  a Black  man  is  sent  to  the 
door  of  the  killer  pretending  to  be  a 
florist.  Now  it  didn't  occur  to  me 
before  to  wonder  why  they  had  to 
use  a Black  man  for  this  particular 
scene.  But  this  last  time  I had  to 
wonder.  Throughout  the  whole 
movie  no  one  has  seen  or  been 
around  this  killer,  except  for  of 
course  his  victims.  Why  does  the 
Black  man  have  to  be  used  as  possibly 
this  killers  next  victim?  Do  you  think 
the  producers  were  trying  to  tell  us 
something?  Let  the  Black  man  do 
this,  get  rid  of  him  first.  It  may  have 
just  been  one  scene,  but  isn't  that  all 
it  takes?  Just  for  one  person  to  see 
this  scene  and  from  then  on  create 
images.  Images  in  our  minds  that 
affect  our  way  of  thinking.  Of 
categorizing  and  of  stereotyping 
people.  Puttingpeoplein  their  place. 
Believing  them  to  the  point  where 


when  we  do  come  across  something 
stereotypical  it  doesn't  affect  us.  Our 
minds  have  been  conditioned  to  think 
"that'showitissupposedtobe."  When 
in  reality  that  is  how  the  media  has 
made  us  believe  things  should  be  in 
the  society  in  which  we  live  in. 

These  subliminal  messages  are 
also  brought  to  us  in  magazines  as  you 
can  see.  There  is  one  particular  article 
from  Benetton  that  shows  a big  white 
hand  and  a little  Black  hand  in  the 
naiddle.  What  do  you  suppose  this 
particular  ad  is  trying  and  succeeding 
in  saying  to  us?  "Let  the  Black  follow 
white,"  in  other  words  we  are  your 
followers.  "Black  is  smaller,  inferior  to 
white."  If  anything,  if  they  want  to 
show  some  truth,  they  should  have  a 
huge  white  hand  hovering  over  Africa 
just  waiting  to  snatch  it  up.  But  getting 
back  to  the  ad  with  the  little  girl  and 
boy.  I believe  that  it  is  quite  clear  what 
this  picture  is  trying  to  say,  and  does 
say  quite  clearly.  White  is  good  and 
always  will  be  good  and  Black  will  and 
always  be  bad."  Just  like  this  little  girl 


is  made  to  look  angelic  and  innocent, 
the  little  boy  is  made  to  look  mean 
and  devilish.  There  were  no  hidden 
messages  where  the  viewer  would 
have  to  decide  whether  or  not 
something  was  trying  to  be  said  in  a 
very  blunt  way.  Because  we  all  know 
it  was.  Even  when  a little  child  was 
asked  to  describe  this  picture,  he 
said  "An  angel  and  a devil."  We  got 
the  message,  all  of  us,  loud  and  clear. 

As  you  can  see  a picture 
really  is  worth  a thousand  words. 
This  particular  picture  says  a lot  to 
the  Black  community.  It  says  that 
we  are  still  being  looked  upon  as 
being  evil  in  this  society.  Obviously 
evil  enough  to  be  considered  devil- 
like. 

Maybe  I'm  being  paranoid 
and  this  picture  does  not  say  that 
much,  but  it  says  something.  Why 
don't  you  take  a long  look  around 
and  think  long  and  hard  about  what 
you  see.  f 


The  Benjamin  Banneker 
Microcomputer  Learning  Facility 


Sunday  2pm-10pm 

MONDAY  - THURSDAY  6 PM  - 1 O PM 

Friday  ioam-2pm 


Open  to  CCEBMS  and 
BCP  STUDENTS  AND 

Afro-American 
Studies  majors 


41  1 NEW  AFRICA  HOUSE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  AT  AMHERST 
(413)  545-3169 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


BLACK  GREEKS 


By  Douglas  Greer 

Brother  of  Phi  Beta  Sigma  Fraternity,  Inc. 

Black  Greeks;  without  a doubt  the  words  don't  go  together.  But  that  is  what  African-American  men  and  women 
in  fraternities  and  sororities  call  themselves.  Why  is  that?  This  question  is  often  asked. 

The  answer  I feel  is  simple.  The  first  predominantly  Collegiate  African-American  fraternity  was  founded 
in  1906  (Alpha  Phi  Alpha).  This  was  at  the  most  twenty  years  after  slavery  was  abolished.  When  one  considers  the 
low  tolerance  for  diversity  in  cultures  in  today's  world.  One  could  imagine  what  would  have  happened  if  these  men 
and  women  back  in  1906  decided  to  name  themselves  after  the  African  alphabet : they  would  have  literally  been 
lynched. 

In  order  to  survive,  men  and  women  had  to  conform.  If  one  thinks  about  it,  we  are  still  conforming  to  survive 
in  this  country  to  this  very  day.  One  has  to  dress  a certain  way  in  order  to  get  a job.  One  has  to  talk  a certain  way: 
one  has  to  act  a certain  way.  Presently,  it  is  a matter  of  economic  survival.  In  1906,  conforming  was  a matter  of  life 
or  death. 

Hopefully  this  little  passage  gives  people  a better  understanding  of  why  African  men  and  women  in 
fraternities  and  sororities  call  themselves 
Black  Greeks.  ^ 


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Message . . . cont.  front  page  9 

Our  history,  like  most  of  our  formal  times,  seems  gone  into  a 
permanent  eclipse; 

But  then  when  we  work  and  study  further,  we  know  it's  only  in  a 
temporary , several  centuries-  long  ellipse. 

History  is  to  a nation  or  people  like  the  eyes  are  to  the  bosy — 

It  is  part  of  its  guidance,  protection,  and  visions. 

So  a people  without  their  history  is  like  a plant  without  roots — 

and  they  will  be  unable  to  draw  up  suitable  nourishment  and 

moisture  even  if  they  are  planted  in  fertile  soil  fields,  by 
progressive  mental  brooks. 

A people's  history  is  their  legacy  of  liability  which  cycles  for  or 

against  through  all  their  related  times. . . . 

As  a warning  or  encouraging  example  of  their  success  or  failure  in 
living  true  to  the  favors  and  injunctions  which  come  sacred 

signs !! 


ADVERTISE 

IN 

NOMMO 


THERE 
IS  POWER 
IN  THE  WORD 


n 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


HrSTORTYOF  BLACK 
FRATERNITIES  AND  SORORITIES: 


ALPHA  PHI  ALPHA  FRATERNITY,  INC. 


A LEGACY  OF  LEADERSHIP  AND  SERVICE 


Born  out  of  a desire  to  promote  close  association 
and  mutual  support  among  the  small  population  of 
African-American  mates  who  were  college  students  at 
the  turn  of  the  century.  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Fraternity,  Inc. 
has  provided  leadership  development  and  community 
service  training  to  young  men  for  more  than  eight  decades. 
Thanks  largely  to  its  visionary  founders  and  dedicated 
early  leaders,  the  Fraternity  has  become  the  most 
prestigious  organization  of  its  kind  in  existence  today. 

Fraternal  History 

Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Fraternity,  Inc.,  the  first 
intercollegiateGreek-letter  fraternity  established  for  Black 
college  students,  was  organized  at  Cornell  University, 
Ithaca,  New  York,  in  1906.  The  prejudices  of  the  time, 
even  at  a relatively  liberal  institution  such  as  Cornell, 
placed  an  extra  burden  on  minority  students.  The  first 
unit  of  this  national  fraternity,  organized  by  college  men 
of  African  descent,  was  called  "Alpha  Chapter." 

The  seven  visionary  founders  at  Cornell — Henry 
Arthur  Callis,  Charles  H.  Chapman,  Eugene  Kinckle  Jones, 
George  B.  Kelley,  Nathaniel  A.  Murray,  Robert  H.  Ogle  and 


Vertner  W.  Tandy — labored  in  years  of  severe  economic 
struggle  and  racial  conflict  in  the  United  States.  Despite 
their  difficulties  of  organization  in  this  untried  field  of 
student  life,  the  early  fraternity  pioneers  succeeded  in 
laying  a firm  foundation  and  remained  steadfast  in  their 
goals — the  espousing  of  the  principles  of  good  character, 
sound  scholarship,  fellowship  and  the  uplifting  of 
humanity  (especially  the  struggling  Black  minority  in 
America). 

The  Fraternity  has  grown  steadily  in  influence 
throughout  the  years.  125,000  men  have  been  initiated 
into  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  since  its  founding  in  1906.  It  has 
been  interracial  since  1945.  There  are  now  350  college 
chapters  on  campuses,  and  350  alumni  chapters  in  local 
communities,  located  in  44  states,  the  District  of  Columbia, 
the  Caribbean,  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa. 

The  Programs  of  Alpha  Phi  Alpha. 

Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Fraternity,  Inc.  on  the  national 
level  and  through  its  network  of  Chapters,  maintains 
ex  tensi  ve  progra  ming  to  su  pport  the  needs  of  i ts  members 

cont  onto  page  16 


I OCTOBER  « NOVEMBER  1991 


HISTORTYOF  BLACK 
FRATERNITIES  AND  SORORITIES: 

ALPHA  PHI  ALPHA  FRATERNITY,  INC. 


cont.  from  page  15 

and  to  enhance  the  quality  of  life  for  all  humanity. 

Membership  Development  Programs 

The  internal  programs  of  the  Fraternity  are  the 
least  known  and,  in  some  ways,  the  most  important 
contributions  made  to  society  by  the  organization.  Such 
efforts  imbue  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  men  with  a sense  of  pride 
and  determination  which  allows  them  to  largely  avoid 
the  pitfalls  which  entrap  so  many  Black  males  in  this 
society.  It  is  because  of  this  internal  development  that 
succeeding  generations  of  Alpha  Men  rise  to  the  call  to 
leadership  within  their  communities. 

"Training  For  Leadership" — As  a self-run, 
volunteer  organization.  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  provides  a 
forum  for  men  of  all  ages  to  hone  the  skills  necessary  for 
leadership  in  the  larger  society.  As  chapter  presidents, 
delegates  to  conventions  and  members  of  committees, 
members  acquire  the  requisite  skills  in  parliamentary 
procedure,  public  speaking  and  presentation,  background 
preparation  and  networking;  which  serve  them  well 
throughout  their  lives.  As  a result  of  this  comprehensive 
leadership  training  experience.  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  members 
consistently  reach  great  heights.  Twenty  percent  (20%) 
or  more  of  the  persons  recorded  in  Ebony  Magazine's  list 
of  the  "100  Most  Influential  Black  Americans"  are  always 
Alpha  Brothers,  this  from  a group  which  comprises  less 
than  1 /2  of  1 % of  the  African-American  population  in 
this  country.  This  is  but  one  indication  of  the  efficacy  of 
eighty  years  of  training  for  leadership. 

"Undergraduate  Scholarship" — Alpha  Phi 
Alpha  stresses  the  importance  of  a quality  education  to 
members  and  potential  members  at  every  available 
opportunity.  The  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Education  Foundation, 
Inc.,  was  established  as  a tax-exempt  organization  to 
further  the  goals  of  high  scholastic  achievement.  Each 
year  the  Foundation  presents  scholarships  to  worthy 
College  Brothers  on  the  basis  of  merit  and  need.  Many 
other  programs  of  educational  assistance  are  undertaken 
by  local  chapters,  ranging  from  small  book  awards  to  full 
four-year  tuition  scholarships. 

"The  Honors  Program"  — ^To  further  inspire  and 
reward  undergraduate  members  of  the  Fraternity  who 
achieve  in  the  acadenuc  arena,  the  Honors  Program  of 
the  Education  Foundation  has  been  established.  This 
program  pays  the  induction  fees  for  any  College  Brother 
who  is  granted  membership  in  the  following  honor 
societies:  Alpha  Kappa  Mu,  Alpha  Chi,  Beta  Kappa  Chi, 
Mortar  Board,  Tau  Beta  Pi,  Phi  Kappa  Phi  and  Phi  Beta  Kappa. 

"Belford  V.  Lawson  Oratorical  Contest" — 


Public  speaking  and  personal  presentation  are  essential 
skills  for  success  in  our  society.  The  national  oratorical 
contest  for  College  Brothers  involves  hundreds  of 
undergraduates  in  an  effort  to  refine  these  traits.  The 
contest  is  dedicated  lo  the  memory  of  Brother  Belford  V. 
Lawson,  Jr.,  the  Fraternity's  16th.  General  President — a 
distinguished  lawyer  and  skilled  orator. 

"Recognitions" — To  promote  the  aims  and 
objectives  of  the  Fraternity,  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  maintains 
an  extensive  program  of  awards  and  recognitions  to 
re.ward  outstanding  achievements  by  its  members. 
Awards  are  given  for  outstanding  achievements  in  the 
following  areas: — for  students:  academic  achievement, 
campus  leadership  and  all  around  achievement — for 
alumni:  intra-fratemal  leadership,  community  leadership, 
"Distinguished  Service  Awards"  and  the  "Alpha  Award 
of  Merit." 

Community  Service  Programs 

Alpha  Phi  Alpha  has  a long  and  distinguished 
history  of  involvement,  achievement  and  leadership  in 
civil  and  human  rights  efforts.  Over  the  years,  the 
Fraternity  has  espoused  many  charitable  and  service 
projects.  The  Million  Dollar  Fund  Drive,  which  was 
launched  in  1906,  catapulted  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  to  the 
forefront  of  an  emergent  self-help  movement  within  our 
community.  Counting  both  local  and  national 
contribuHons,  more  than  one  million  dollars  was  donated 
to  the  prime  beneficiaries  of  this  program  — the  United 
Negro  College  Fund,  the  National  Urban  League  and  the 
National  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Colored  People. 
NAACP  Executive  Director  Benjamin  Hooks  often 
reminds  audiences  that  Alpha  Phi  Alpha,  during  this 
campaign,  provided  the  largest  single  gift  ever  received 
by  that  organization. 

"Philanthropic  Efforts" — Alpha  Phi  Alpha 
asserts  that  Black  Americans  who  have  benefited  from 
the  struggles  of  our  forefathers  can  and  must  support 
theirown  institutions.  The  effort  generated  by  the  Million 
Dollar  Fund  Drive — has  firmly  enshrined  charitable 
giving  in  the  programs  of  the  Fraternity  at  all  levels.  As 
a result.  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  Chapters  annually  give  over 
one  million  dollars  to  philanthropic  causes. 

In  addition,  the  General  Organization  each  year 
establishes  a "Designated  Charity"  which  benefits  from 
fund-raising  efforts  culminating  at  the  General 
Convention.  Recent  beneficiaries  have  included:  Africare 
(1985);  0l\q  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr.  Memorial  Project,  anef  fort 
to  erect  a statue  of  the  late  leader  in  the  nation's  capital 

cont.  onto  page  17 


\ OCTOBER  « NOVEMBER  1991 


HISTORTYOF  BLACK 
FRATERNITIES  AND  SORORITIES: 


ALPHA  PHI  ALPHA  FRATERNITY,  INC. 


cont.  from  page  16 

(1986);and  the  South  African  Council  of  Churches  Emergency 
Fund  (1987).  Approximately  $10,000  is  annually 
contributed  to  the  Designated  Charity. 

'Troject  Alpha" — Project  Alpha  explores  the 
problem  of  teen  preg^iancy  from  the  male  perspective. 
This  unique  educational  program,  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
the  nation,  helps  young  men  learn  about  their  role  in 
preventing  untimely  pregnancies.  It  has  served  as  the 
model  for  a new  generation  of  male  responsibility 
programs  now  in  existence. 

Co-sponsored  by  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  and  the  March 
of  Dimes  Birth  Defects  Foundation,  the  Project  Alpha 
conferences  are  led  by  volunteers,  along  with  community 
leaders,  doctors,  lawyers  and  clergymen.  More  than  100 
local  projects  are  now  in  existence,  serving  more  than 
7,500  young  men  each  year. 

"Alliance  With  Scouting" — Scouting  and  Alpha 
Phi  Alpha  are  a natural  alliance.  They  share  many  goals 
and  help  each  other  fulfill  these  goals,  as  Alpha  Chapters 
use  scouting  as  a resource  for  youth  development.  To 
accomplish  this  end.  Alpha  Chapters  operate  their  own 
Scouting  units;  provide  Alumni  Brothers  to  serve  as 
district  and  council  Scout  leaders;  refer  promising  young 
men  and  women  to  the  Scouting  profession;  and  develop 
special  programs  in  conjunction  with  established  Boy 
Scout  units. 

This  program  provides  a practical  way  for  Alphas 
to  help  neighborhood  youth  and  helps  build  future 
leadership  for  the  community. 

"Leadership  Development/Citizenship 
Education  Institutes"  — The  LD/CF  Institutes  train 
outstanding  high  school  students,  male  and  female,  in 
vital  leadership  skills.  The  institutes  focus  on 
organizational  skills,  program  development,  public 
presentation,  group  dynamics,  self-actualization, 
assertiveness  training,  and  parliamentary  procedures. 

Regional  Institutes  are  held  annually  by  the  five 
regions,  most  often  on  the  campuses  of  historically  Black 
colleges.  Local  Chapters  underwrite  all  fees  for 
participation.  In  addition,  LD/ CL  Institutes  are  sponsored 
by  local  chapters  for  youth  in  their  communities.  Annually 
more  than  50  Institutes  are  held,  serving  more  than  5,000 
young  people. 

"Educational  Assistance"  — The  "Go  To  High 
School,  Go  To  College"  program,  initiated  in  1929, 
counseled  youth  on  the  importance  of  a post-secondary 
education  and  the  professions  which  show  promise  for 
advancement. 

This  effort  continues  today,  as  the  Education 
Foundation  provides  information  on  college  entrance 


requirements  and  financial  aid  to  local  chapters  for  use 
by  youth  in  their  community.  This  counseling  thrust  is 
augmented  by  a vigorous  scholarship  program  for  college- 
bound  youth  (among  our  Alumni  and  College  Chapters). 
3/4  thsof  the  charitable  giving  by  Chapters,  some  $750,0(X) 
each  year,  is  devoted  to  education-related  enterprises. 

"Housing  Assistance"  — Since  the  19^' s,  the 
Fraternity  has  lent  its  resources  to  an  effort  to  provide 
decent,  affordable  housing  to  those  in  need.  Alpha- 
sponsored  projects  in  Missouri,  Ohio  and  Illinois  offer 
more  than  1,CK)0  units  of  affordable  housing  to  low  and 
moderate  income  residents. 

"Citizenship  Programs" — Alpha  has  also  been 
long  involved  in  the  advancement  of  civil  rights  for  all 
citizens  through  citizenship  education  programs  as  well 
as  through  the  provision  of  financial  and  material  support 
for  legal  battles.  Many  landmark  legal  cases,  including 
several  aimed  at  integrating  institutions  of  higher 
education,  were  financed  in  the  1930's.  Our  slogan  "A 
Voteless  People  Is  A Hopeless  People,"  continues  to  serve  as 
a battle  cry  for  the  Fraternity's  ongoing  voter  registration 
efforts.  Alpha  Phi  Alpha  is  a member  organization  of  the 
Leadership  Council  on  Civil  Rights,  the  National  Coalition  on 
Black  Voter  Participation  and  is  a sp>onsoring  unit  of 
"Operation  Big  Vote." 

"Cooperative  Programs"  — In  addition  to  these 
ongoing  projects,  the  General  Organization  and  local 
Chapters  frequently  join  with  other  non-profit 
organizations  and  social  service  a;agencies  to  implement 
special  projects.  The  American  Cancer  Society,  The  American 
Heart  Association,  the  Sickle  Cell  Anemia  Foundation, 
Operation  PUSH,  the  Southern  Christian  Leadership 
Conference  e,  the  Salvation  Army  and  the  United  Way  are 
among  the  many  groups  which  benefi  t from  donations  of 
time,  money  and  talent  from  the  thousands  of  Alpha  Phi 
Alpha  Brothers  across  the  nation  committed  to  public 
service  as  a way  of  life. 


Sons  of  Alpha  Phi  Alpha 


(Partial  listing  of  prominent  Alphas) 


W.E.B.  DuBois 
Philosopher 
Dick  Gregory 
Activist 

Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. 

Activist 
Paul  Robeson 
Actor/  A thlete/  Activist 
Thurgood  Marshall 
U.S.  Supreme  Court 


Andrew  Young 
Mayor  - Atlanta,  GA 
Tony  Brown 
Joumalist/Producer 
Jesse  Owens 
Olympic  star 
Garrett  Morgan 
Inventor  - Traffic  Signal 
John  H.  Johnson 
Johnson  Publications 


! OCTOBER  ■ NOVEMBER  1991 


FIVE  COLLEOE  AREA 
BLACK  OREEK 

LETTERED  ORCANIZATIONS 


Raymond  Clarke  (UM) 
(413)  585-5887 
Cory  Mickens  (AIC) 
(413)  731-9874 


Alpha  Kappa  Alpha 
Sorority,  Inc. 


Nicole  Harmon  (UM) 
(413)  546-0433 


Kappa  Alpha  Psi 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 


Van  Johnson  111  (UM) 
(413)  546-7058 
Peter  Conroy  (AC) 
(413)  542-4250 


Omega  Psi  Phi 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 

Delta  Sigma  Theta 
Sorority,  Inc. 

Justin  Robenson  (UM) 
(413)  546-0483 
Cedric  Gaddy  (AIC) 
(413)  731-0743 

Pascale  Bernard  (UM) 
(413)  546-3458 
Kimberly  Berry  (MHC) 
(413)  538-3707 

Phi  Beta  Sigma 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 


Douglas  Greer  (UM) 
(413)  546-2706 


Zeta  Phi  Beta 
Sorority,  Inc. 

Iota  Phi  Theta 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 

/ \ 

Rose  Edwards  (UM) 
(413)  546-2634 

James  Roberts  II  (UM) 
(413)  546-1048 
Robert  Venator  (UM) 
(413)  546-0604 

NOTICE:  Sigma  Gamma  Rho  is  not  represented  in  the  Five  College  Area, 
yet  is  recognized  as  a Black  Greek  Lettered  Organization. 


MEN  OF  DISTINCTION 


20 


RASTA 


In  Memory  pf^^Peter  Tosh  and  the  all  mighty  Bob  Marley 


by  Leah  B.  McGowen 

r-..  VHey 

Yop>tan#R^g^^%li^.fc  Wfl^^^^'Vi^»es  oPfoQrr^?.<:j<... 


You  take  nu| 
So  telt^€  < 


lors^ 


,s 

•een 


^ what  d^ieeafe'^solofs  meA|i.  / 


^,^e  black  th^'^olor  of  who  hav^^^n  deprived  of  dlfeent  lives 

The  Ved  is  for  the  blood  That  Kas  b?^<§bedded  by  {he-man's  guns,  ropes  and  knives 

The  gold  is  for  what  w'e  labor?hard  for  ^d.is  tak^  away  by  the  man 
And  the  green  is  for  Mother  Africa,  which  will  ohe  day  be  our  ri^tful  homeland" 

' X > i 

^ 5 > 

"Our  race  will  raise  td  the  glory  vfe  once  had",  yoii  ^y 

We  will  take  baick  what  is  rightfulfy  ours  soon,  sofheday 

>,  '•:  > 

5 .5  >■ 

Rasta  mon,  yoii  ehant  the  colors  red,  white  and  blue 
For  we  know  that  these  colors  haven't  and  never"  will  be  true 


So  continue  Rasta  with. the  reggae  songs  ybu  sing 
For  there  are  no  mightier  colors  than  the  BLACK,  RED,  GOLD  and  GREEN!!!! 


SYLVAN  CULTURAL  CENTER 


STUDY  HOURS: 

SUNDAY  - WEDNESDAY  7PM  - 11PM 


GENERAL  MEETINGS: 
7PM  MONDAY®  CASHIN  02 
(413)  545-4712 


Anacaona  Cultural  Center 


Study  Hours: 

Monday  - Thursday  7pm  - 11  pm 


Located  in  Thatcher  B6 
Northeast  Area 
(413)  545-4387 


OCTOBER  > NOVEMBER  1991 


— m — 


CONCEPTO  LATINO 


Latin  American  Mass  Media  Organization 

With  the  number  of  minority  students  increasing; 
college  campuses  have  to  look  for  ways  to  involve  these 
students  and  encourage  their  participation  in  different 
activities.  In  this  way  minority  students  will  feel  more 
comfortable  in  the  environment  they  are  experiencing. 
At  UMass  the  goal  of  increasing  the  participation  of 
minorities  has  been  achieved  by  the  creation  and 
development  of  cultural  centers,  clubs  and  organizations 
that  give  us  an  idea  of  the  great  diversity  of  cultures  we 
have  in  our  campus. 

Concepto  Latino  is  one  of  the  student 
organizations  which  has  help>ed  in  the  representation  of 
minorities,  especially  Hispanics,  on  campus.  Concepto 
Latino  is  a Latin  American  mass  media  organization. 
The  organization  has  been  in  existence  for  the  past  10 
years  promoting  Latin  American  culture  through  radio 
programming  in  WMUA,  social  activities  and  sp>ecial 
presentations  by  speakers  and  other  artists. 

Concepto  Latino  is  one  of  the  landmark  Hispanic 
organizations  at  the  Amherst  campus.  The  main  goal  of 
the  organization  is  to  serve  the  Latin  American  community 
by  means  of  radio,  video  and  written  media.  Concepto  is 
aimed  to  the  development  of  programming  that  will 
educate,  inform  and  entertain  the  spanish-speaking 
audience  in  UMass,  the  five  college  area  and  the  general 
public.  Concepto  along  with  AHORA,  BCP,  Latin 
American  Cultural  Center  and  Latin  American  Theater 
Project  has  carried  out  its  mission  to  educate,  inform  and 
entertain  the  spanish-speaking  audience  and  general 
audiences.  The  organization  works  towards  improving 
campus  life  and  plans  activities  to  bring  the  Latino 
communities  together.  The  organization  has  a long 
history  of  working  in  the  community  at  UMass  to  expose 
them  to  the  richness  of  Latin  American  culture.  Concepto 
also  has  an  important  mission  of  helping  students  with  a 
Latino  background  to  stay  in  contact  with  their  Latino 
heritage. 

Concepto  Latino  acts  as  a liaison  between  WMUA 
(UMass  radio  station)  and  the  Latino  community. 
Concepto  offers  the  audience  a block  of  music 


programming  from  all  Latin  America.  Latin  jazz, 
merenge,  salsa,  cumbia  and  lambada  are  but  just  a few  of 
the  rhythms  from  different  countries  played  in  Concepto 
shows.  This  programming  reaffirms  the  pride  Latin 
American  students  feel  for  their  culture  and  heritage.  As 
part  of  WMUA,  the  organization  airs  Spanish 
programming  through  out  the  year. 

Concepto  Latino  is  looking  for  Latin  American 
students  as  well  as  other  UMass  students  who  will  like  to 
acquire/ or  share  their  knowledge  of  communications 
and  assist  the  organization  in  offering  a greater  variety  of 
programming.  We  also  offer  experience  within  the 
following  career  fields  and  more: 
Marketing/Promotions 
Business  Finance 
Interpreting/Translating 
Information  Management 
Radio  Programming 
Joumalism/Publishing 
TV/Video  Productions 
Office  Administration/Management 
This  semester  Concepto  Latino  hascome  in  strong 
and  with  a desire  of  working  hard  for  the  Latino 
community.  Concepto  is  the  product  of  the  joint  effort  of 
active  and  creative  students  willing  to  serve  the  spanish- 
speaking  communities.  Membership  increase  is  the  goal 
and  to  keep  it  increasing. 

The  organization  is  working  on  the  production 
of  various  newscast  which  will  provide  a weekly  coverage 
of  current  events  in  Latin  America.  We  are  also  working 
on  Latin  American  art  exhibits,  conferences  with  all 
Latino  organizations  in  the  area,  revenue  development 
activities,  journal  publication  and  many  more  activities. 

Thanks  to  the  support  of  the  Bilingual  Collegiate 
Program  and  other  organizations;  Concepto  Latino  is  on 
the  air  at  WMUA  and  will  be  in  years  to  come. 

Concepto  Latino  welcomes  all  studentsinterested 
in  exposing  the  community  to  the  richness  of  the  Latino 
culture  and  invites  them  to  join  the  Concepto  Latino 
organization  as  well  as  tune  in  to  WMUA  91.1  FM  for  its 
shows.  ^ 


OCTOBER  * NOVEMBER  1991 


M9MM 


HE  IS  ONE  OF  US,  BUT  IS  HE  OURS? 


By  Michelle  Taylor 

Once  again,  the  self-serving,  pseudo-egalitarian 
government  of  the  United  States,  headed  by  none  other 
than  the  power  hungry  George  Bush  and  his  bumbling 
sidekick  Dan  Qualye,  have  succeeded  in  turning  the 
calm  winds  of  politics  into  a storm  of  racial  innuendos 
and  chaos  with  Bush's  nomination  of  Qarence  Thomas 
to  the  Supreme  Court.  Thomas,  who  himself  is  indicative 
of  the  confusion  that  often  clouds  the  interior  of  the  Oval 
Office,  is  nothing  more  than  a pawn  that  is  being  used  to 
divide  the  African-  American  community  in  the  United 
States. 

On  July  1,  Bush  nominated  Clarence  Thomas,  a 
conservative,  African-  American  Republican  to  fill  the 
seat  that  was  left  vacant  by  the  former  Chief  Justice 
Thurgood  Marshall.  Now  this  move  may  not  have  been 
a severe  problem  for  many  African-  American  civil  rights 
groups  had  Thomas  not  turned  out  to  be  the  double 
talker  that  he  is.  Thomas  is  an  outspoken  opponent  of 
affirmative  action,  despite  the  fact  that  affirmative  action 
programs  played  center  stage  in  his  rise  to  dubious  fame. 
Thomas  has  also  voiced  his  disapproval  of  taking  jobs 
that  deal  with  race-  related  issues  although  he  did  accept 
the  position  of  head  of  civil  rights  in  the  Education 
Department  during  the  Reagan  administration.  Now, 
did  Thomas  accept  this  because  he  experienced  a sudden 
change  of  heart  ? Probably  not.  Most  likely,  this  move 
surrounded  his  desire  to  use  his  ethnic  background  to  his 
advantage,  and  then  turn  around  and  then  turn  around 
and  disown  it.  Once  again,  Thomas  presents  himself  as 


being  the  thinker  of  muddled  thoughts,  because  one 
wonders  if  he  has  realized  that  he  was  nominated  on  the 
basis  of  race. 

The  National  Association  for  the  Advancement 
of  Colored  People  (NAACP),  has  acknowledged  the 
calculated  "mistake"  that  President  Bush  has  made.  The 
NAACP  has  decided  to  oppose  the  nomination  of 
Clarence  Thomas,  and  the  National  Urban  League  has 
declined  to  take  a jx)sition.  But  despite  the  controversy 
surrounding  Thomas,  the  Southern  Christian  Leadership 
Conference  (SCLC),  has  recently  endorsed  Thomas.  The 
president  of  SCLC,  Reverend  Joseph  Lowery  feels  that  if 
approved,  Thomas  does  ultimately  fill  the  seat,  one 
hopes  that  Rev.  Lowery  and  the  SCLC  will  not  be  surprised 
when  Thomas  returns  to  the  use  of  turncoat  tactics. 

Well  President  Bush,  if  you  are  quietly  plotting 
political  genocide  for  African-  Americans  in  the  United 
States,  then  you  may  be  on  the  way  to  success.  Even  if 
Thomas  does  gain  the  highly  prized  seat  on  the  Court,  he 
will  pose  a challenge  for  all  African-  Americans 
to  actively  participate  in  the  political  process,  ands  to 
keep  a watchful  eye  over  his  actions.  The  final  decision 
is  forthcoming  and  the  judgement  will  have  a lasting 
effect  on  African-  American  interests  in  the  United  States. 
But  from  this,  a valuable  lesson  can  be  learned  : you 
cannot  judge  a book  by  its  cover,  and  you  cannot  judge 
this  judge  as  a Brother.  ^ 


Editor's  note: 
Student 


Michelle  Taylor  is  a Mount  Holyoke  College 


The  Committee  for  the  Collegiate  Education  of 

BLACK  AND  OTHER  MINORITY  STUDENTS 

The  Committee  for  the  Education  of  Black  and  other  Minority  Students 
(CCEBMS)  is  an  academic  support  program  at  the  University  of  Massachusetts 
at  Amherst.  The  Porgram’s  primary  mission  is  to  facilitate  the  admission, 
graduation,  and  development  of  African  American,  Asian  American,  Native 
American.  Cape  Verdean,  Hispanic,  and  other  minority  students.  CCEBMS 
serves  as  an  advocate  for  its  students  and  works  to  ensure  that  the  university 
of  Massachusetts  and  its  components  respond  appropriately  to  their  needs. 


• Academic  and  personal  Counseling 


• Peer  Counseling 


• Tutorials 


For  More  Information  Call  (413)  545-0031 
2nd  Floor,  New  Africa  House,  University  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


RIDDLE  FROM  THE  SPHINX... 

'v.  IS.,  AN 


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SSS  *S^' 

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INCOGNITO 

OR 

AN  INCOG"NEGRO"? 


M9MM 


MULTICULTURALISM;  FOE  ORALLY  OF 

FREE  INQUIRY 


Lakeisha  Criswell 

On  Wednesday,  September  25, 1991,  in  the  Cape 
Cod  Lounge  of  the  Student  Union  the  issue  of 
multiculturalism  was  debated.  The  debaters  included 
foe:  Paul  Hollander  from  the  Sociology  department  and 
Arnold  Silver  from  the  English  department,  and  on  the 
ally  side  was  William  Strickland  from  the  Afro-American 
Studies  and  Margaret  Cerullo  of  Hampshire  College 
from  the  Social  Science  department. 

The  debate  opened  with  William  Strickland 
stating,  "multiculturalism  is  a threat  to  common 
history....".  Strickland  went  on  to  explain  that  the  issue 
of  multiculturalism  was  a minute  issue  compared  to  the 
present  issues.  He  used  the  example  of  Rodney  King,  a 
black  Los  Angeles  citizen  who  was  brutally  beaten  by  a 
group  Los  Angeles  pxjlice  officers.  He  used  this  as  an 
example  because  the  government  stated  the  King's  was 
an  isolated  incident,  but  in  reality  under  the  Reagan/ 
Bush  administration  that  there  had  been  15,000 
documented  cases.  Examples  like  Rodney  King's 
supported  the  fact  that  the  issue  of  multiculturalism  was 
a minute  issue  stemming  from  the  root  of  bigger  issues. 
The  essence  of  his  opening  was  that  American  society 
does  not  want  to  hear  the  truth.n  He  used  the  analogy 
that  American  society  was  like  individuals  because  like 
individuals  they  have  defense  mechanisms.  In  other 
words  the  argument  against  multiculturalism  was 
society's  self-defense  mechanism  to  protect  itself  from 
the  truth  which  multiculturalism  presents. 

In  Paul  Hollander's  opening  statement  he 
questioned  whether  multiculturalism  was  "good  for  the 
mind"  or  "good  for  the  minority."  He  argued  that 
multiculturalism  creates  ethnocentricity  which  in  return 
caters  to  racism.  It  p>erp>etuates  racism  because  each 
ethnic  group  begins  to  think  it  is  better  than  another 
ethnic  group.  He  also  argued  that  multiculturalism 
contributes  to  racism  because  it  advocates  separatism 
among  ethnic  groups.  He  felt  students  did  not  know 


enough  about  Western  history  to  make  multiculturalism 
part  of  an  institution's  curriculum.  He  also  argued  that 
multiculturalism  advocated  an  ideology  of  anti-white 
America.  Hollander's  argument  against 
multiculaturalism  is  based  on  the  idea  that  it  is  not 
beneficial  to  the  society  because  it  provides  a climate 
conducive  to  racism  by  its  creation  of  ethnocentrism  and 
separatism. 

Margaret  Cerullo  made  her  argument  for 
multiculturalism.  She  said  multiculturalism  was  an 
issue  of  access,  she  continued  to  argue  that  without 
multiculturalism  certain  information  is  not  accessible. 
She  also  recited  the  required  readings  from  Stanford's 
curriculum.  The  curriculum  did  not  include  any  readings 
from  women,  blacks,  or  any  other  minority  group.  She 
said  there  is  a need  for  multiculturalism  because  American 
history  starts  with  Columbus  so  called  "discovery"  of 
America. 

Arnold  Silver's  rebuttal  followed  the  ideology  of 
Hollander's  thatmulticulturalism  creates  ethnocentrism, 
but  he  carried  the  point  further  by  saying  that  it  stifled 
free  inquiry.  In  other  words  multiculturalism  blocks  free 
inquiry  or  criticism  of  an  ethnic  group  because 
multiculturalism  creates  ethnocentrism.  He  used  the 
incident  of  Julius  Lester,  an  Afro-American  instructor 
who  was  allegedly  fired  from  the  Afro-american  Studies 
department  because  he  questioned  black  leaders  like 
James  Baldwin  and  Jesse  Jackson,  silver  felt 
multiculturalism  would  not  be  beneficial  because  it 
discourages  criticism  and  free  inquiry. 

Strickland  denied  the  charges  that  the  Afro- 
American  Studies  department  fired  Julius  Lester  because 
he  questioned  black  leaders.  He  finished  his  debate  by 
saying  multiculturalism  pursues  the  truth  and  that  white 
America  is  threatened  by  the  truth,  so  it  rejects  anything 
that  exposes  the  truth. 

The  debate  ended  with  a questions  and  answer 
session.  The  evening  was  very  informative  and  at  times 
explosive.  ^ 


Multicultralism 


MULTICULTURALISM:  THE  REAL  ISSUES 


By  Martin  Jones,  a Umass  Student 

On  Wednesday,  September  25, 1991,  the  University  of  Massachusetts  hosted  a debate  on  Multiculturalism 
in  the  Cap>e  Cod  lounge  in  the  Student  Union  Building.  The  topic  of  the  debate  was"Multiculturalism:  Foe  or  Ally 
of  Free  Inquiry."  The  defendants  of  Multiculturalism  were  William  Strickland,  a professor  from  the  Afro-American 
Studies  Department  at  the  University  of  Massachusetts  and  Margaret  Cerullo,  a professor  from  the  Social  Sciences 
Department  at  Hampshire  College.  The  opponents  of  Multiculturalism  were  Paul  Hollander,  a professor  in  the 
Sociology  Department  and  Arnold  Silver,  a professor  in  the  English  Department,  both  from  the  University  of 
Massachusetts. 

Both  sides  presented  strong  arguments,  but  there  were  two  major  flaws  apparent  in  both  presentations. 
William  Strickland,  who  spoke  first,  made  a wide  shift  in  the  case  when  he  focused  his  presentation  upx)n  issues 
concerning  the  corruption  of  the  United  States'  foreign  and  domestic  policies.  He  appeared  to  be  using  the  debate 
as  a platform  for  expressing  views  not  directly  related  to  the  debate  topic.  He  went  on  to  describe  the  debate  topic 
as  a "dubious"  issue  compared  to  the  issues  he  raised  on  American  politics.  Paul  Hollander  used  the  influence  of 
Western  culture  on  Third  World  nations  to  defend  the  integrity  of  Western  Thought  against  the  "threat  to  free 
inquiry"  jX)sed  by  Multiculturalism. 

In  reality,  Multiculturalism  was  created  as  a response  to  the  "invasion"  of  Western  Thought  into  the  cultures 
of  the  Third  World  people  of  color  during  the  colonial  expansion  of  Europe.  Those  that  claim  Western  culture  is  a 
champion  of  free  inquiry  must  be  reminded  that  Western  culture  was  instilled  into  these  people  of  color  by  force, 
not  by  choice  or  "free  inquiry."  Those  who  resisted  this  "imperial  acculturation"  were  dealt  with  by  socially 
destructive  means.  Many  f>eoples,  such  as  African-Americans  for  example,  were  stripped  of  most  of  their  indigenous 
culture  to  have  it  forcibly  replaced  by  the  "free  inquiry"  of  Western  Thought.  When  it  comes  to  being  a threat  to  free 
inquiry,  the  West  has  demonstrated  its  refusal  to  fully  accept  the  ideals  of  other  peoples.  That  is  why  today  so  many 
Third  World  nations  have  "copied"  Western  culture.  The  West  forcibly  transformed  them  in  its  own  image. 

This  acculturation  of  p>eople  of  color  left  behind  another  major  legacy;  racism.  Racism  was  a major  issue  that 
was  touched  upon  during  Mr.  Strickland's  presentation,  and  when  he  called  the  issue  of  Multiculturalism  a 
"dubious"  one,  he  obviously  did  not  make  the  link  between  Multiculturalism  and  racism.  Racism  is  fueled  and 
perpetuated  by  the  ignorance  of  people  to  cultures  different  from  their  own.  Multiculturalism  aims  to  combat  racism 
by  educating  people  on  the  various  contributions  people  of  color  have  made  towards  all  of  human  civilization, 
including  the  West  as  well.  Multiculturalism  also  represents  the  struggle  by  people  of  color  to  reclaim  the  culture 
that  was  stolen  from  them.  These  are  the  real  issues  of  Multiculturalism.^ 


Th:e  National  Society  of  Black  Engineers 

4\6'  Ne^Y  Africa  House,  University  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst 


ident  ,/ 

toi^^ 


Jr 

Succe 
Minorities  in 


4uate 

plied  Sciences 

Phone:  (413) 545-2152  (413) 545-2030 


The  NSBE  torch  symbolizes  our 
everlasting  burning  desire  to  achieve 
success  in  this  competitive  society  and  to 
affect  a positive  change  on  the  quality  oflife 
for  all  people.  The  lightning  bolt  represents 
the  striking  impact  that  will  be  felt  by  the 
societyand  industry  due  to  the  contributions 
and  accomplishments  made  by  Ih  eNational 
Society  of  Black  Engineers. 


Multiculturalism 


26 


TALK  ABOUT  THIS  FORA  WHILE 


Jeff  Lawrence 

There  we  all  were,  sitting  and  talking  about  the  same  old  tired  topics.  Jungle  Fever,  Police  Harassment, 
Racism  on  Campus  and  other  issues  that  have  been  run  into  the  ground.  iRen  the  question  of  relationships  came 
to  the  floor.  Not  just  relationships  in  general,  but  more  on  the  lines  of  why  there  are  so  many  controversies  between 
males  and  females  of  the  African-American  community.  Well,  here  are  some  of  the  ways  to  try  to  relieve  some  of 
the  tensions  between  the  sexes. 

Females:  Don't  assume  that  all  the  men  that  you  meet  just  want  to  get  the  ‘'booty".  Just  because  a man 
says  "hi"  when  walking  past  you  doesn't  mean  that  he's  trying  to  get  paid.  We  know  that  there  are  men  in  this  world 
that  try  to  dog  women  out,  but  you  should  judge  individuals  as  individuals.  Take  the  time  to  find  out  what  the  person 
is  about  before  you  jump  to  conclusions.  You  say  that  you  want  us  to  respect  you;  how  can  we  respect  you  if  you  don't  respect 
us  or  yourselves.  There  is  no  need  to  call  us  out  in  public.  If  you  have  a grievance  with  someone  then  take  it  up  with 
the  in  a private  environment.  Thereis  no  need  to  start  telling  rumors.  Stop  saying  that  there  are  no  good  men  left  in  the  world. 
We're  out  here,  all  you  have  to  do  is  stop  believing  the  hype.  Once  again  I say  get  to  know  someone  for  yourself.  Don't 
playgames.  Women,  you  are  not  stupid.  You  can  tell  which  ones  are  on  the  "one  night  stand"  tip.  Let  the  men  know 
up  front  and  foremost  what  you're  looking  for  and  what  you  expect  from  him  out  of  the  relationship.  NO  MORE 
GOLD  DIGGING.  Don't  expect  a man  to  buy  you  a lot  of  things  just  because  he  has  financial  stability.  Stop  living 
for  the  money,  money,  money,  MONEY.  Chill  on  the  jealousy  tip.  Don' t make  your  man  unhappy  by  stopping  him  from 
going  out  with  his  friends.  Don't  assume  the  just  because  he  has  females  calling  him  that  he  is  down  with  O.P.P. 
Lastly.  Stop  mistakiinig  Boys  for  MEN.  The  boy  is  the  one  that  treats  you  wrong,  gives  you  the  run  around  and 
can't  express  his  feelings  for  you  to  you.  The  Man  is  the  one  that  treats  you  with  respect,  knows  what  he  wants  and 
has  more  than  sex  on  the  mind. 

Males:  Stop  calling  women  BITCHES  and  WHORES.  Show  them  a little  respect  in  public  and  private. 
They  don't  need  you  adding  to  their  constant  struggle  to  survive.  Don't  assume  that  all  women  are  out  for  a romantic 
relationship.  Yo  Don't  Sleep!  Women  can  mess  around  just  like  you  can,  and  if  they  do  there  is  no  need  to  go  around 
telling  the  world.  Keep  that  shit  between  you  and  her;  nobody  else  needs  to  know  your  business.  GROW  UPlSfop 
dogging  women.  There  is  no  need  to  for  you  and  one  of  your  boys  to  go  after  the  same  female  to  see  who  will  get  paid 
first.  A woman  is  not  a toy  or  a game.  If  you  want  her  to  treat  you  with  respect  the  you  have  to  treat  he  with  respect 
also.  Don't  make  a woman  think  that  you' re  going  to  giveher  the  world  when  you  can't  afford  to  spare  the  lint  out  of  your  pocket. 
There  is  no  need  to  lie.  If  a woman  really  likes  you  she  will  like  you  for  what  and  who  you  are.  You  need  not  make 
up  a world  of  make-believe  to  try  to  show  that  you  are  the  mack.  Empty  promises  will  only  mess  you  up  in  the  long 
run.  If  you  find  a piece  of  paper  with  another  man's  name  and  number  don't  assume  that  she  is  cheating.  Why  don't  you  try 
asking  questions  before  jumping  of  the  deep  end.  Women  tend  to  be  more  loyal  than  men;  so  keep  this  in  mind  in 
questionable  situations.  THERE  IS  NO  REASON  IN  THE  WORLD  FOR  YOU  TO  HIT  A WOMAN.  You're  not  a 
bigger  man  if  you  can  show  your  boys  that  you  can  over  power  a female.  A real  man  doesn't  have  to  prove  himself 
through  force.  Try  a little  conversation  and  understanding.  If  that  doesn't  work  then  step  off  without  leaving  a black 
eye.  Don't  think  that  just  because  a female  knows  a lot  of  males  that  she  is  a "HO".  Some  women  tend  to  get  along  with  men 
better  that  women.  Don't  listen  to  what  other  men  say  about  her.  Most  of  the  time  they  are  talking  shit  just  because 
she  didn't  want  to  give  them  any  type  of  play.  Take  things  for  face  value.  If  she  dances  reggae  with  you  at  the  "Malcolm 
X Center"  don't  assume  that  she  is  your  property  and  is  going  home  with  you  at  the  end  of  the  night.  She  can  dance 
with  whom  she  wants  how  she  wants  and  when  she  wants.  A dance  is  just  a dance.  If  she  is  interested  she  will  let 
you  know.  No  need  to  follow  her  around  like  a dog  in  heat. 

Finally.  For  MALE  and  FEMALE  alike.  Talk  to  one  another,  and  more  importantly  listen  to  what 
the  other  has  to  say.  Treat  the  other  as  you  would  want  to  be  treated  yourself.  Respect  yourself  before  you  expect 
anyone  else  to  respect  you.  Let  the  other  know  what  you  want  up  front  and  don't  play  games  with  each  other.  MOST 
IMPORTANTLY.  If  someone  breaks  up  with  you  MOVE  ON!  Don't  sweat  the  other,  it  may  be  hard  but  you  must 

cont.  onto  page  17 


BLACK  RECONSTRUCTION 


Martin  F.  Jones 

"If  the  Black  Man  can  become  more  sensitive  to  the  problems  and  needs  of  the  Black  Woman,  and  do  everything  in 
his  power  to  make  her  rise. 

And  if  the  Black  Woman  can  gain  a better  understanding  of  the  genocide  being  committed  against  the  Black  Man  and 
o everything  in  her  power  to  make  him  rise. 

Then  surely.  The  Black  Man  and  Black  Woman  can  truly  come  together  and  fulfill  their  destiny: 

To  Rebuild 

The  Black  Family 
The  Black  Nation,  and 
The  Black  World." 


Talk  about  this. . . cont.  from  page  26 

move  on  with  your  life  and  let  them  move  on  with  theirs.  You  will  both  be  a lot  happier  in  the  long  run. 

There  you  have  it,  a view  from  both  sides  of  the  coin.  Of  course  there  are  things  that  were  not  talked  about 
but  this  was  not  written  to  solve  any  problems,  but  rather  to  give  a bit  of  insight  that  will  hopefully  start  conversation. 
PEACE  and  LOVE!! 

Black  A/Uss  Communication  Project 

BMCP  WAS  FOUNDED  IN  1969  TO  PROVIDE  THE  THIRD  WORLD  COMMUNITY  IN 
AND  AROUND  THE  FIVE  COLLEGE  AREA  WITH  A WEALTH  OF  RADIO  AND  TELEVISION 
PROGRAMMING.  BMCP  ALSO  HOST  SOCIAL  AND  EDUCATION  EVENTS  SUCH  AS  CULTURAL 
FILMS  AND  PLAYS,  GUEST  LECTURERS  AND  THE  ANNUAL  BMCP  FUNK-O-THON. 

' ' ' GENERAL  BODY  MEETINGS  ' ' ' 


NOVEMBER  05,  1991  DECEMBER  03,  1991 

NOVEMBERS,  1991 

7:00PM  CAMPUS  CENTER  ROOM  TBA 


• STUDENT  UNION  ROOM  402,  UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  AT  AMHERST  • 

• (413)  545-2426  • 


OCTOBER  » NOVEMBER  1991 


28 


A MAN  CAN 


Editor's  note:  This  poem  was  submitted  with  the  intent  of  being  read  aloud.  The  author 
suggests  that  the  poem  be  read  not  only  silently,  but  among  friends. 


By  Peter  Holmes 

Slow  setting  of  the  summer  sun 

I can  even 

Isssssss  because  they're  pretty 

Cry 

I like  pretty  things 

And  I like  pretty  things 

On  her  shoulder 

Like  flowers 

And  1 kriQwihat  if 

Pause 

Flowers  like  the 

BirdSiCOUldiSih^  slow  songs 

One 

Ih^  would  9camd  like 

Can  a man? 

I saw  this  morning 

Stephanie  Mills 

Yes,  a man  can 

A sunflower 

Who  is  a 

Flower  from  the  sun 

Sexy,  seductive,  songstress 

And  I don't  mind 

Was  missing  two  rays 

Singing  sweehsounding,  slow. 

Being  my 

Blown 

Soul  songs  soulfully 

Momma's  boy 

Whoosh! 

The  way  only  a serious 

And 

Blown 

Soulsister  can  sing  'em 

1 don't  wince 

Swoosh! 

See  what  I'm  saying 

Or  blush 

From  the  top 

Pause  ' 

When  she  lovingly 

And  though  it  had  been  ^ 

Says 

Robbed  of  two  prcciou$ 
By  the  world  m 
Which  we  live 


■S  .s*  , 

That  sunflower  wasgjUII  ^ J'l ' 
Liv-ing  and  will^ing 
To  share  ' ' ^ 


A xnaa 

Mice  the  way  the 
T«rma]^te^Mp<>w4l)sto  a 


Its  other  rays  ^ 
Ofjoyamjl  ", 
Strongbve  ^ ' 


% <-s  S V 
S O'*  \ 


I also 

Summer  eveti^ngs  * 


Particularly  aftera>^ 

Slow  setting  of  the^^mfttef  1sW^' 
Not  because  they  say:  as? 

Slow  songsput  women  In  the  mood 

You  know  what 

I'm  talkin'  'bout 

No,  that's  not  the  reasoa 

No,  that's  not  the  reason 

The  reason  I like  slow  songs 

On  beautifully  slow 
summer  evenings 
Particularly,  after  a particularly 


Tbai^yc^  very  mtidfe  m>on 

Pause  ' '' 

Listen  eac^liy 
A maaean' , 

LiketoM^^S.v 
lust  hoi 
i Holdiail 

X V •'j-  ■\  's  ■•■'•rf' 

You 
I said 

4 -0  *x 

A man<^  ' 

Like  io|]gg|h.old  ^is  woman 
Qos^y^t^tly'  ,, 

You  know  ''  ^ ' 

Oaeoftho^ 

Never-let-you-go  hugs 

Smile  if  you  know  what  I'm  talking 

'bout 

My  woman 

Don't  have  to  ask  me  to  cuddle 
And  if  I ever  be  hurt  or  scared 


He  Still  my  baby 
And  always  will  be 
That's  right 
A man  can 

And  I don't  need 
No  harem 
Of  adoring  wameo 
To  sing  praises 
And  ' 

Write  psalms  erf 

Adulation  to  my  manhood 

Because  my  manhood  lies  not  in  my 

pants 

Rather 

It  IS  anchored 

A blackpower  tree 

Rooted  in  my  heart 

And  if  I keep 

Watering  it  with 
Pretty  things 
Like  sunflowers. 

Slow  songs, 

and  moonlit  waters 

And  throw  in  a whooooole  heapa 

Mothers'love 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


29 


It  will  grow 

(Act  like  you're  through) 

Hold  up 
Wait  a minute 
It  ain't  over 

Cause  I got  some  mo  to  say 
Because 

Contrary  to  popular  belief 
A man  can 
Be  a man 
And 

Raise  kids 
And  do  de  dishes 
After  cooking 

A five-course  gourmet  meal 
Fit  for  a grand-daddy  or 
A grand-mama 
That's  right 
A man  can 

Get  burnt  by  popping  grease 
And  then  get 
Dishpan  hands 
Aaaannnndddd... 

AA  AAllll  things  being  equal 


The  Lord  knows 
A man  can 
Sing  slow  songs  too 
The  word  Luther  is 
Another  word  for  lovesong 
Look  it  up 

Luther,  Luther,  Luther 

Ain't  no  lightweight 
The  man  is  large 
In  other  words 
He  ain't  from  the 
Land  called  Lilliput 
Listen, 

Luther  can  lift  his  voice 

And  sing 

Till  earth 

And  Heaven  ring 

Luther  be  laying 

It  on  the  line  and 

Letting  loose  like  a 

Lilting,  lyrical  lark 

Left  in  the  promised  land 

A better  server  of  love  than  Lendl 

Luther's 


Lovesongs  literally 

Drive  the  ladies  loco 

Luther  be  lullabying  ladies-  and 

gents 

Into  la-la  land 

And 

Last 

But  definitely  not  least 
There  are  a lot  of  things 
A man  can  do 
But  I have  yet 
To  meet  or 
Hear  of 

The  man  who  can- 
Being  a man- 
Make  love 
Or 

Make  more  life 
Without  a woman 
Somewhere  in  the  plan 
Can  I get  a 
Amen? 

Thank  you. 


DJ.  KNOCKOUT 


KENLEYOBAS 

546-4966 

PROFESSIONAL  DJ. 


MALCOLM  X 
CULTURAL  CENTER 


PROVIDING  COMMUNITY  SERVICE 
BY  ANY  MEANS  NECESSARY. 


FOR  MORE  INFORMATION  CALL  545-OJ19 


OCTOBER  • NOVEMBER  1991 


30 


WHY  DO  WE  TAKE  AN 
AFRO-AMERICAN  COURSE? 


By  Joanne  Hunt,  a UM  ASS  Student  ' admitted  and  I was  elated. 

Throughout  the  course  I became  very 
I was  kind  of  tired  when  I walked my  disappointed.  Not  at  the  course  itself,  but  at  the  reasons 

American  class  the  other  day,  so  I lajdc^Jhi6|g|.do>»^^  wbysome  people  were  taking  it.  I was  hearing  that  many 
the  desk  to  rest.  I was  falling  were  told  that  it  was  an  easy  "A,"  and  that  only 

darkness  of  the  room.  As  the  papers  were  required,  not  exams.  These  comments 

into  the  video  cassette  recorder,  1 really  made  me  mad.  1 began  to  think  about  the  class 

singing  announcing  title  of  the  documetrta:^  itself,  and  started  to  look  around.  1 came  to  realize  that 

the  Prize:  The  Civil  Rights  MovemCsib*'  ' outof  the  whole  class  about  70%  was  white,  and  you  can 

Asisatand  watched  this  vid€£>^fJiavefOi«)nesdy  ' guess  what  the  other  percentage  was.  Isitfair?  lean  just 
admit  that  I became  very  angry.  This  may  sound  a litde'  betthathalfoftheblackpeoplethat  wanted  togetintothe 
ignorant,  but  how  could  those  Caucasian  people  in  the  i class  could  not  because  of  insufficient  reasons,  but  yet 
class  watch  this  video  and  afterwards  look  around  at  sand  still  aU  of  the  ones  w wanted  easy  "A' s"  probably 
their  fellow  classmates  of  color  and  not  be  embarrassed  managed  to  get  in. 

to  see  the  inhumane  treatment  by  their  ancestors  against  Today,  1 looked  around  my  present  Afro- 

people  of  color.  I do  not  look  at  myself  as  being  prejudice  American  class  and  saw  the  same  percentage  of  students 
towards  white  people,  but  there  is  always  a spot  in  my  in  a classroom,  more  whites  than  blacks.  I am  not  trying 
skin  that  irritates  me  whenever  I watch  documentaries  to  say  that  all  white  people  take  these  classes  for  easy 
such  as  this  one,  and  then  have  to  converse  with  my  "A's"  and  that  black  p>eople  take  them  purely  for  the 
fellow  Caucasian  classmates  afterwards.  1 believe  that  it  ■ knowledge.  However,  for  some  people  in  each  of  these 
has  always  been  a struggle  for  us  and,  from  videos  like  groups;^  ^eir  reasons  for  taking  these  courses  are  not 
this  one,  we  learn  to  appreciate  what  freedoms  we  have,  pure,  and  I personally  believe  that  it  is  a shame.  For  those 
This  appreciation  stems  from  the  battles  and 'ofyoutakingtheseAfro-Americanclassesfor  the  learning 
confrontations  faced  by  our  ancestors  who  were  not  experience,  from  whichever  race,  1 commend  you  for 
frightened  by  the  ignorance  of  those  who  claimed  power,  wanting  to  expand  your  field  of  knowledge.  For  those  of 
1 remember  my  first  semester  sophomore  year,  1 yOu  seeking  the  easy  "A",  find  a physical  education  class, 
had  to  come  up  with  a good  enough  reason  to  get  into  and  leave  the  opportunities  for  those  who  would  like  to 
Afro-American  132.  I was  told  by  my  peers  that  it  was  a learn  about  a different  culture,  or  in  my  case,  my  own 
great  class  to  take,  if  I really  want^  to  learn  some  history,  culture,  open,  because  some  people  do  want  to  learn.  ^ 
After  going  to  the  class  a couple  of  times,  I was  finally 


FUNCTIONS  OF  THE  CULTURAL  CENTERS: 


To  provide  a space  for  studying,  tutorials,  and  cultural 
activities  which  enhance  cultural  enrichment. 

STATEMENT  OF  OBIECTIVES: 

To  improve  tlio  quality  of  life  for  students  of  color  and 
impact  positively  on  their  development. 

To  provide  opportunities  for  students  of  color  to  share, 
discuss,  and  strategize  ways  to  enhance  and  improve 
their  intellectual  and  social  development. 


To  assist  students  of  color  in  identifying,  defining,  and 
assessing  issues  that  confront  them  on  a predominantly 
white  campus. 

To  learn  and  implement  effective  facilitating  skills  in 
leading  small  group  discussions. 

To  enhance  personal  development  and  increase 
communication,  observation,  problem-solving,  morale- 
building skills.  ^ 


OCTOBER  « NOVEMBER  1991 


M9MM 


31 


ALAN  A AFFAIRS 

(AFRICAN,  LATINO,  ASIAN,  NATIVE  AMERICAN) 

WMUA-  University  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst 

WMU  A's  ALAN  A Affairs  project,  at  UMass/ Amherst,  is  being  developed  as  both  a liaison  group  between  ALANA 
members  and  non-ALANA  staff  as  well  as  a networking/  suppxjrt  group  for  thew  ALANA  communities.  This 
organization  is  attempting  to  break  away  from  various  social  barriers,  by  recruiting  progressive  students,  and  help 
them  develop  their  full  potential  within  the  communications  arena. 

Although  the  ALANA  Affairs  project  is  mainly  responsible  to  the  domestic  (Anglo-American)  population,  we  work 
in  association  with  the  Third  World  Affairs  project  of  WMUA. 

For  further  information,  please  contact  the  co-directors  Peter  Ribeiro  and  Charles  R.  Venator  at  545-2876 . We  need 
your  support  in  order  to  support  you!  ij^ 


DR.  JOSEPHINE  WHITE  EAGLE  MEMORIAL 

American  Indian  Cultural  Center 

LOCATION:  B3  CHADBOURNE  HOUSE  (CENTRAL) 

HOURS:  Call  the  Canter 
PHONE:  545-1888 


• • • • Future  Events  • • • • 


Study  Halls  (weekly),  Movie  Nights 
(weekly).  Guest  Speakers,  Panel 
Discussions.  Exhibits  (art,  photo),  campus 
workshops  dealing  with  Indian  people. 
Dispelling  the  Christopher  Columbus  Myth. 
Indian  Newsletter,  and  More. 

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(X'TOBFR  • NOVEMBER  N91 


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It's  time  to  educate  our  people:  NOMMO 
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103  New  Africa  House 
University  of  Massachusetts 
Amherst,  MA  01003 

Volume  XXV,  Issue  1 (413)545-5141  February  1992 

NOMMO  is  a Dogan  word  meaning  the  power  of  the  spoken  and  written  word. 


XkDBLATS-  to  ^BROKAN-jAMORDC-A}^ 
"Our"sTORV  Mc»A)T+-I 


A LOVE'LETTERTO  MY  BROTHERS  AND  SISTERS 


Frances  Nwayinma  Nwajei 
UMass  Alumna 
Class  of  1991 


My  Black  brother...  1 salute  you 
My  Black  sister...!  salute  you 

Even  if  your  skin  is  so  light  or  so  dark  that  the  adjective 
"Black"  becomes  a blatant  misrepresentation,  I embrace 
you  and  will  continue  to  do  so  for  your  soul  is  Black. 
When  I see  you,  you  grow  more  beautiful  each  day.  You 
have  survived.  Your  survival  gives  me  strength.  At  the 
same  time,  you  have  forsaken  me.  You  have  allowed  a 
river  to  form  between  us. 

Some  stand  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  some  stand 
on  the  right.  Some  fall  into  the  river  and  drown,  others 
continue  to  ride  with  the  current  into  oblivion.  The  river 
has  also  forsaken  me.  The  river  is  the  root  of  the  problems 
in  our  society. 

"Our  Society",  not  because  of  the  state  you  are  in  or  the 
country  you  are  from. 

"Our  Society",  because  of  the  history  that  we  share  and 


r ! ADVERTISE  IN  NOMMO  ! ^ 

I I 


the  pigment  we  see. 

We  have  committed  one  crime  on  ourselves.  We  have 
allowed  the  river  to  flourish  and  divide  us. 

With  the  strength  you  give  me,  1 now  ask  for  one  thing 
more. 

1 ask  for  Peace. 

Peace  amongst  ourselves.  Peace  which  enables  us  to 
share  , enjoy  and  understand  our  differences.  Peace  to 
enable  us  to  stand  together  and  dry  the  river  out.  Peace, 
so  that  we  may  one  day  be  united!!!!!! 

My  Black  Sister...!  salute  you! 

My  Black  brother...!  salute  you! 

1 embrace  you  all. 

As  they  say  in  my  native  Igbo  tongue,  "Anyi  ga  ejikota", 
"We  Will  Be  Unitedr 


NOMMO  IS  AN  EFFORT  WE  ENCOURAGE 
ALLTO  TAKE  PART  IN.  COMMUNITY  RESPONSE 
THUS  FAR  HAS  BEEN  TREMENDOUS.  FOR 
THAT,  WE  THANK  YOU. 

WE  HAVE  TAKEN  THIS  SPACE  TO  INVITE 
YOUTOOURWEEKLYMEETINGS,  HELD  EVERY 
MONDAY  AT  5:00PM  IN  ROOM  103  OF  THE 
NEW  AFRICA  HOUSE. 

AS  ALWAYS,  WE  ENCOURAGE  ALL  SISTERS 
AND  BROTHERS  TO  SUBMIT  ARTICLES, 
EDITORIALS,  POEMS,  ADVERTISEMENTS,  ETC. 


& 


g 


FEBRUARY  1992 


THE  BLACK  BOURGEOISIE 

Name  Withheld 


We  may  not  be  aware  of  it  when  we  enter  this 
school,  but  there  is  a sort  of  bourgeoisie  on  the  campus  of 
UM  ASS.  How  you  dress,  how  you  socialize  and  how  you 
react  to  new  students,  basically  entering  this  college. 
How  did  this  all  come  about,  and  what  kind  of  a first 
impression  does  tEiis  give  these  outsiders  that  are  trying 
lo  fit  into  the  campus  community  life? 

She  came  to  me  for  advice.  She  wanted  to  know 
why  the  Black  women  on  this  campus  did  not  like  her. 
What  was  I supposed  to  say?  I was  wondering  the  same 
thing  myself,  and  I've  been  attending  this  University  for 
awhile  now.  Was  it  the  way  she  dressed?  The  way  she 
talked?  It  could  have  been  either  one.  I was  searching  for 
the  answers  to  give  her. 

With  the  way  this  college  is;  social  cliques, 
fraternities,  and  sororities,  some  people  come  here  with 


the  intense  purpose  of  fitting  into  one  of  these  social 
classes.  And  if  you  don't,  God  forbid  you  would  have  to 
eat  at  the  local  dining  commons  by  yourself!  Making 
friends  and  knowing  how  to  fit  in  is  practically  a General 
Education  Requirement  at  UMASS.  And  we  all  know 
what  happens  if  don't  fulfill  all  your  requirements.  You 
don't  graduate,  and  to  me  that  means  that  you  don't  get 
the  chance  to  experience  what  the  college  life  is  all  about. 
Belonging  to  a community  that  accepts  you  is  sometimes 
very  important.  Do  I tell  her  to  go  out  and  join  lots  of 
organizations,  go  to  parties  more  often  to  meet  people? 
Dress  like  the  group  she  wants  to  like?  I don't  think  so. 
I would  like  to  tell  her  to  be  herself,  make  friends  and  not 
be  a clone.  Don't  dress  like  them  or  act  like  them. 
Concentrate  on  whether  or  not  they  will  accept  you  as 
you  came  to  them;  accent  and  all.  But  I don't  know  if  I 
believe  this  myself.  I came  to  this  school  hoping  to  meet 

cont.  onto  page  4 


F-y 


ViVk  ('  T'l 


AFRICA 
IS  OUR 

MOTHERLAND 


6’’' v^> 

wo 


Oi  .j-VH 


wo 


UNLIMITED 

THE  OPINIONS  JN  THIS  PUBLICATION  ARE  THOSE 
OF  THE  INDIVIDUAL  WRiTERAND  DO  NOT  NECESSARILY 

KREATIONS 

REFLECT  THE  VIEWS  OI  NOMMO  NEWS.  UMASS 
FIVE  COLLEGE  ARIA  UNLESS  OTHERWISE  NOTED. 

OR  THE 

FEATURE  ARTICLES 

• Fuck  Dem  CbjpsI 

p.  05 

• How  Do  We  Respond? 

p.  15 

• And  I Don't  Know  Who  , » ^ 

p.  18 

• Black  Newspaper  Appeal. 

p.  20 

GRAPHIC  DESIGN, 
CORPORATE  IDENTITY. 
DESKTOP  PUBLISHING. 

SPECIAL  SEGMENTS 

resume  SERVICES 

• Take  Heed! 

• The  History  of  Black  Fraternities  and  Sororities: 

p.  16 

413.546.3265 

Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Soronty,  Incorporated 

p.ll 

GORMAN  HOUSE.  SUITE  249 

• Afrikan- American  "Our"Story  Quiz 

p.  23 

AMHERST.  MAO  1003 

FEBURARY  1992 


cont.  front  page  3 

friends,  and  I did.  But  did  I unknowingly  change  to  fit  in? 
Did  I change  so  much  that  I did  not  feel  the  changes  this 
group  was  creating  within  me?  I hope  not,  but  I am  not 
sure  anymore.  I don't  want  this  to  happen  to  this  girl 
though.  She  would  not  have  to  change.  Change  has  been 
all  she  has  gone  through  this  past  year.  From  England  to 
Saudi  Arabia  and  now  to  a college  campus.  No  wonder 
she  is  so  confused.  Seeing  so  many  different  life  styles 
and  having  to  adapt  to  them  in  such  a short  period  of  time 
is  hard.  It  is  even  harder  when  you  know  that  you  have 
to  adapt  to  things  that  you  are  not  comfortable  with. 
Knowing  all  of  this,  how  can  I tell  her  to  do  the  same  thing 
at  UM  ASS?  In  doing  so  I will  be  subjecting  her  to  not  only 
more  changes  in  her  life,  but  also  more  confusion.  I wish 
I could  tell  her  to  be  herself,  but  I do  not  even  think  she 
know  what  that  is  anymore. 

Last  night  she  said  something  to  me  that  at  the 
time  I did  not  believe  it  was  true,  but  now  I see  the  truth 
quite  clearly.  "Black  Americans  and  Africans  are 
generations  apart,  in  sp>eech,  styles  and  community  life." 
As  sad  as  it  is  this  statement  is  true.  We  were  separated 
from  our  roots  and  everything  that  went  with  it.  The 


language,  customs,  practices,  and  styles.  Because  of  this 
we  can  not  relate.  She  can  not  understand  things  Black 
Americans  do  and  we  can't  understand  her  African 
ways.  Isn't  that  exactly  how  the  Americans  first  saw  us? 
They  could  not  understand  us,  nor  us  them.  I see  a 
similarity  here  that  is  not  only  scary  but  discouraging.  I 
don't  want  to  see  her  lose  her  African  ways,  but  I believe 
that  eventually  she  will  have  to  in  order  to  fit  in  with  the 
Black  Americans  who  in  a way  have  done  the  same  thing. 

I don't  have  the  solution  for  her  or  myself.  But  I 
do  feel  that  if  a community  is  supposed  to  be  a unified 
group  of  individuals,  then  each  p>erson  should  not  be  the 
same.  Sameness  is  boring.  A community  can  have 
different  people  with  differing  interests,  likes,  dislikes 
and  whatever  else,  and  still  be  unified.  By  this  we  are  not 
only  learning  more  about  new  people  and  their  way  of 
life,  but  we  are  losing  some  of  the  ignorance  that  we  may 
have  carried  about  them  over  the  years.  The  only  advice 
I could  give  her  was  to  create  her  own  community  and  be 
herself.  As  the  saying  goes,  "The  best  worn  path  is  not 
always  the  best  to  follow,  create  your  own  and  leave  a 
trail  for  others  to  follow.  $ 


REVOLUTIONARY  SISTER 

By  Nikole  Y.  Smith  '94 
Mount  Holyoke  College 


Everybody's  talkin'  'bout  a Revolution 
A Revolution  of  the  worst  kind 
Tm  sorry  to  tell  you  my  sisters 
But  you  will  all  be  left  behind 

I hear  your  cries  for  equality 
You  often  ask  me  "why?" 

While  you  sit  complacent 
As  time  is  roaring  by 

Yeah  you're  talkin'  'bout  a Revolution 
But  from  Revolution  there  must  be  change 
It  should  not  be  alx)ut  recognition 
This  is  not  for  personal  gain 

How  much  longer  do  you  want  us  to  wait 

And  sell  another  sister  out 

Tm  sorry  to  tell  you  my  sister 

But  you  don't  know  what  revolution  is  all  about 


You  may  sing  "Fight  The  Power" 

You  may  strut  around  in  braids 
But  when  it  comes  down  to  it 
All  the  Rhetoric  will  fade 

So  are  you  really  ready 
Not  tomorrow  but  today 

"Can't  we  put  it  off  for  now 
No  one  called  me  nigger  today" 

Passivity  is  not  the  answer 
A fickle  mind  not  the  key 
We  don't  need  your  sometimeish 
Revolutionary  mentality 

So  you  keep  talkin'  'bout  your  Revolution 
And  dreamin'  on  for  years 
'Cause  when  you're  finally  ready 
I will  already  be  there 


FEBRUARY  1992 


5 


FUCK  DEM  COPS 

By  A Conscious  Brother 


Since  the  rap  group  N.W.A.  (Niggers  with 
Attitudes)  received  a letter  from  the  F.B.I.  about  the 
lyrical  content  of  the  song  "FUCK  Da  Police",  I always 
wondered  why  they  received  it.  The  F.B.l.'s  reasoning 
was  because  they  felt  that  the  song  would  promote  a 
negative  attitude  towards  the  police,  but  what  they  really 
meant  was  that  they  were  afraid  the  public  would  become 
aware  of  the  crimes  that  are  perpetrated  against  the 
African-American  community  by  the  police.  With  alt  of 
the  incidents  of  police  brutality  that  have  recently  come 
to  the  public's  attention,  many  people  are  now  seeing  the 
reality  of  what  N.W.A.  preached  in  their  record. 

As  a child  you  were  taught  to  seek  the  assistance 
of  a police  officer  if  you  were  ever  lost,  or  in  trouble,  but 
now  in  this  day  and  age,  that  is  the  last  thing  that  people 
are  teaching.  There  is  a general  consensus  among  African- 
Americans  not  to  put  their  safety  in  the  hands  of  the 
police,  especially  white  ones.  When  we  reflect  upon 
Eleanor  Bump>ers  and  Michael  Stewart,  who  died  at  the 
hands  of  white  police,  is  there  any  reason  why  we  should 
think  differently? 

This  typ>e  of  abuse  is  not  uncommon  to  us.  It  is 
usually  directed  more  towards  African-American  males. 
Harassment  is  happening  to  males  in  California  as  well 
as  in  this  "Backwards  Ass"  to  wn  of  Amherst,  yes  Amherst! 
There  are  several  incidents  that  can  be  spoken  about 
when  it  comes  to  Amherst  toy  cops  harassing  someone. 
I am  sure  most  of  us  have  some  type  of  story  that  they 
would  share  if  asked.  Many  of  you  may  recall  a few  disc 
jockey's  who  voiced  their  opinions  over  the  air  about 
their  personal  dislikes  of  the  UM  ASS  and  Amherst  police. 
Well  by  doing  this,  one  found  three  police  officers  in  the 
vicinity,  after  he  made  such  comments.  Those  officers 


were  never  there  before  any  comments  were  made. 

Why  should  we  have  to  worry  about  getting  an 
education  and  dealing  with  white  people's  shit  and 
ignorant  police  officers,  as  well.  It  is  totally  uncalled  for. 
Why  are  the  jx)lice  targeting  African-Americans  to  harass? 
As  Larry  Fishbume  said,  "They  want  us  to  kill  ourselves." 
By  defending  ourselves  against  these  blatant  attacks 
from  the  police,  we  are  giving  them  the  chance  to  beat  us 
or  kill  us.  The  police  however,  really  do  not  need  a reason 
and  will  take  advantage  of  any  opportunity  to  kill  or  hurt 
us  themselves,  as  was  the  case  in  the  Rodney  King 
beating.  Here  was  a man  who  knew  of  no  other  reason 
why  he  was  assaulted  except  for  the  fact  that  he  was 
Black.  Hisbea  ting  gives  NW  A's  song  much  more  meaning 
to  me. 

I realize  that  this  is  a generalization  of  all  police 
by  the  actions  of  a few,  but  there  is  a re-ocurring  pattern 
ofabuse,soFUCK  it  I am  generalizing  all  white  copsand 
some  "Black"  ones.  It  is  a shame,  that  as  whites  become 
the  minority  due  to  the  increase  in  the  population  of 
African-Americans,  the  jx)lice  cannot  accept  it  and  instead 
seek  to  stop  this  change  by  targeting  the  African-American 
male  to  harass  and  kill.  Well  I will  let  you  know  that  this 
is  one  Black  man  that  you  can  not  keep  down.  I wrote  this 
piece  about  the  cops  knowing  that  my  father  is  a sargeant 
on  the  New  York  City  Police  Force,  with  whom  I have  a 
good  relationship.  He  is  in  fact,  the  only  police  officer  I 
would  ever  trust. 

So  to  all  of  the  white  racist  pigs,  big  eating 
Dunkin'  Dounuts  24  hours  of  the  day,  punk  cops  who  use 
their  badge  to  hide  behind  while  they  beat  on  Black 
males,  I would  like  to  say  that  you  can  all  "Kiss  my  Big 
Black  Ass."^ 


FOR  DOZ  WHO  SLEPT. 
-BLACK  SHEEP 

(A  SHEEP  IN  WOLF  CLOTHING) 


FEBUR  ARY  1992 


M#MM#  <S>^^ 

BY  ANY  MEANS  NECESSARY  . . . 


Mary  McLeod  Bethune  Martin  Luther  King  Jr. 

WE  MUST  REACH  THEIR  DREAM. 


FEBRUARY  1992 


IN  THE  TRADITION:  BLACK  POETRY  FOR  THE  90’S 

by  Joanne  G.  Paul 


The  United  Snakes  of  Amerikkka  play  the  most 
powerful  lipsync  game  when  they  say  the  expression,  "a 
government  by  the  people,  for  the  people"  according  to 
Lorena  Craighead,  one  of  the  poets  that  spoke  at  the 
Malcolm  X Cultural  Center  on  November  18, 1991. 

"In  the  Tradition:  Black  Poetry  for  the  90's" 
featured  five  poets — Willie  Perdomo,  Lorena  M. 
Craighead,  Kevin  Powell,  Carol  Bullard,  and  Ras  Baraka, 
who  used  expressive  dialogue,  Espanol  and  Haitian 
words,  politics,  history,  rhythmic  beats  and  lyrics  from 
popular  house  songs  to  express  themselves  in  their  poetry. 

Valerie  Gosine,  a graduate  student  at  the 
University  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst,  decided  to 
organize  this  event  after  she  heard  one  of  the  poets  speak 
in  Harlem. 

"When  I first  heard  Kevin  (Powell)  at  the  Poetry 
Jam  Session  commemorating  Marcus  Garvey's  birthday 
on  August  17,  1991  in  Harlem,"  said  Gosine,  " I was 
impressed  by  what  he  had  to  say  in  his  p>oetry.  We 
exchanged  phone  numbers  and  I immediately  contacted 
him  to  see  if  he  and  some  of  his  friends  would  be  willing 
to  do  a poetry  reading  at  UMass." 

Willie  Perdomo,  a 24-year  old  native  of  Harlem, 
New  York,  studied  at  Ithaca  College  in  upstate  New 
York.  Three  years  ago,  he  became  an  associate  with 
Marie  Brown  Associates,  a literary  agency.  Perdomo  has 
read  his  poetry  throughout  the  tri-state  area  and  was 
featured  prominently  on  the  national  Public  Broadcast 
System  (PBS)  special,  "Words  in  Your  Face,"  an  episode 
of  Alive  From  Off  Center  highlighting  the  renaissance 
American  p)oetry.  Developing  his  skills  as  a playwright 
and  a poet,  Perdomo  was  the  winner  of  the  1991  Nuyorican 
Poet's  Cafe  Grand  Slam  Contest  in  New  York.  Currently, 
he  is  working  on  his  first  volume  of  poetry — Where  A 
Nickel  Costs  A Dime. 

Perdomo's  ability  to  intertwine  Espanol  with 
English,  singing,  and  slang  into  his  poetry  to  express 
some  of  his  experiences  growing  up  in  Harlem  added  to 
his  interesting  and  unique  style  of  poetry..  One  of  the 
poems  that  Perdomo  read  was  a poem  he  had  written  for 
his  mother  titled  "Unemployed  Mommie."  In  this  poem, 
one  of  his  messages  was  "Don't  cry  Mommie.  I know  you 
don' t ha ve  a job,  but  you  still  work  hard ."  Another  poem 
that  Perdomo  read  was  titled  "Petey's  Funeral"  which  he 
had  written  for  his  friend,  Petey,  who  was  the  victim  of 


street  violence.  The  last  poem  that  he  read  was  "Nigger 
Rican  Blues"  which  he  had  written  for  Perry  Thomas 
after  he  read  Thomas's  book  titled  "How  to  be  a Nigger 
Without  Really  Trying."  "Nigger  Rican  Blues"  dealt  with 
the  experience  of  suffering  from  the  Black  man's  plight 
although  he  was  not  a Black  man.  "A  Black  man  I am  not, 
Barriqua  I am." 

Lorena  M.  Craighead,  a 24  year  old  native 
Detroiter,  presently  residing  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
graduated  from  Spelman  College  in  Atlanta.  Craighead 
is  a member  of  Teach  for  America  and  teaches  English  at 
Bed  ford -Stuyvesvant  Junior  High  School. 

Incorporating  her  personal  experiences  with 
views  held  by  many  minorities  within  the  United  States 
of  Amerikkka,  Craighead  read  some  of  her  poetry  which 
expressed  many  deep  messages.  One  of  the  poems  that 
Craighead  read  was  titled,  "Make-Up",  which  is  used  to 
cover  the  "lies,  to  make  it  like  it's  your  own  world,  and 
make  nice  and  all  you  really  do  is  make  up."  The  next 
poem  that  Craighead  read  was  "The  Whole  Truth  So 
Help  Me  God  Also  Known  as  Gettin'  Rid  of  Niggers 
Business."  Craighead  explained  to  the  audience  that 
when  she  uses  the  word  "nigger,"  she  is  not  referring  to 
Blacks.  "I  am  referring  to  low-class  ignorant  people," 
said  Craighead.  "Living  Not  Dying"  was  a poem  written 
by  Craighead  during  the  Gulf  War.  "The  United  Snakes 
of  Amerikkka  play  the  most  powerful  lipsync  game 
when  they  use  the  expression — 'A  government  for  the 
people,  by  the  people',"  Craighead  continued. 

Kevin  Powell,  25,  who  was  bom  in  Jersey  City, 
New  Jersey,  studied  Political  Science  and  English  at 
Rutgers  University.  An  award  winning  poet,  Powell  has 
read  his  poetry  extensively  and  has  produced  poetry  and 
music  programs  throughout  New  York  City.  He  has 
written  articles  and  reviews  for  Essence,  Rolling  Stone. 
Young  Sisters  and  Brothers  (YSB),  and  the  San  Francisco 
Weekly.  Currently,  Powell  is  a reporter  for  the  New  York 
Amsterdam  News,  contributing  editor  of  NOBO:  Journal 
of  African-American  Dialogue,  and  is  working  his  first 
volume  of  poetry  and  is  at  work  on  a novel. 

Powell  incorporated  the  humming  of  hip  hop 
and  house  music  into  his  poetry  to  set  the  mood  for  his 
poems.  The  first  poem  that  he  read  was  Htled  "Post 
Bensonhiu-st  Clues,"  which  dealt  with  "how  history  has 
made  a sharp  U-turn.  It's  racing  full  speed  backwards. 

cont.  onto  page  8 


8 


Poets:  cont.  from  page  7 

The  scenes  have  changed,  but  the  themes  have  remained 
the  same."  One  of  the  poems  that  he  recited  was  very  sad 
and  moving  titled  "For  Aunt  Cathy"  which  he  wrote  at 
the  beginning  of  this  year  because  all  people  of  color  have 
relatives  who  are  victims  of  society."  Another  poem  that 
he  read  was  titled  "Mental  Terrorism"  which  he  wrote 
because  he  is  a fan  of  Public  Enemy  and  Chuck  D who 
have  a song,Welcome  to  the  Terror  Dome.  This  was  an 
extremely  powerful  analysis  on  the  conditions  of  people 
of  color  in  the  1990's. 

Carol  Bullard,  25,  was  bom  in  New  York  City. 
She  was  the  former  president  of  the  Audre  Lorde  Women's 
Poetry  Center  based  at  City  University  of  New  York 
(CUNY)  Hunter  College,  where  she  is  currently  majoring 
in  Political  Science  and  African  Studies.  In  addition, 
Bullard  teaches  creative  writing  and  poetry  in  various 
prisons  and  is  working  on  her  first  volume  of  poetry. 

Bullard  gave  an  energetic  and  emotional 
performance  using  singing,  body  movement  and 
expressive  dialogue  in  her  poetry.  One  of  the  poems  that 
she  read  was  titled  "At  the  Risk  of  Sounding  Ridiculous 
the  True  Revolutionary  Is  Guarded  by  Feelings  of 
Love"  which  she  wrote  for  Clarence  Thomas  hearings 
because  "we  have  to  be  clear  on  the  px)sitions  we  take, 
why  we  take  these  positions  and  what  it  is  that  guides  us 
in  our  actions.  It's  very  easy  to  just  walk  around  being 
angry  and  espousing  problems,  but  we  can't  get  no  love 
from  hate,"  said  Bullard.  Another  poem  that  she  recited 
was  titled  "Peace  Conference"  which  she  wrote  because 
Bruce  Perry  wrote  a "lying  trashy  book"  on  Malcolm  X. 
One  of  Bullard's  messages  in  her  poetry  was  that  "Black 
folks  in  this  country  can  act  crazy  on  the  general  principal 
and  then  claim  temporary  insanity  because  this  is  a 
fucked-up  place."  She  received  a standing  ovation  for 
her  poem,  "When  I Ask  You  What  Time  It  Is,  You  Say 
Nation  Time." 

The  final  poet  of  the  evening  was  Ras  Baraka. 
Baraka,  22,  was  born  in  Newark,  New  Jersey  and  is  the 
son  of  the  internationally  acclaimed  authors  Amiri  and 
Amina  Baraka.  A recent  graduate  of  Howard  University 
in  Washington,  D.C.,  Baraka  is  currently  a graduate 
student  CUNY  pursuing  a degree  in  History.  A poet, 
freelance  journalist,  and  youth  activist  who  has  read 
poetry  and  sp>oken  throughout  the  nation  and  abroad, 
Baraka  is  a frequent  contributor  to  The  Source  magazine. 
Still  a resident  of  Newark,  he  is  co-editing  In 'The  Tradition: 
An  Anthology  of  Young  Black  Writers  (Harlem  River 
Press)  with  Kevin  Powell,  which  is  scheduled  for 
publication  in  August  1992  and  is  compiling  his  first 


volume  of  poetry.  Big  Cities,  Hometowns  and  Ghettoes. 

Baraka  used  politics,  history,  and  audience 
participation  to  get  his  messages  across.  One  poem  that 
Baraka  read  was  titled  "Five-0"  which  dealt  with  the 
brutality  perpetrated  on  people  of  color  by  the  police. 
Another  poem  that  Baraka  decided  to  read  was  titled 
"We  The  People,"  which  was  written  for  Brothers  in 
Greenhaven  penitentiary  in  New  York.  The  message 
that  was  repeated  throughout  this  poem,  which  the 
audience  repeated  in  unison  with  Baraka  was  "makes 
you  just  want  to  sit  down  and  write  poetry  or  kill 
somebody."  "Fuck  the  Whales"  was  a poem  about  his 
encounter  with  a girl  who  told  him  that  the  fight  of  the 
whale  was  our  fight.  Baraka's  response  to  this  was  "Fuck 
earth  day,  fuck  the  environment,  and  fuck  the  whales 
until  somebody  saves  the  Black  boys.  Black  mothers,  and 
Black  families."  "Notes  on  Unmasking  White 
Supremacy  or  They  Too  Can  Be  Killed",  one  of  Baraka's 
favorite  poems  dealt  with  white  supremacy,  capitalism,.... 
The  last  px)em  that  Baraka  read  was  dedicated  to  his 
parents,  Amiri  and  Amina,  which  payed  respect  to  our 
ancestors  for  their  contributions  throughout  history.  "I 
thank  all  who  came  before  us.  I wanna  be  you.  Build  and 
create.  The  Klan  will  die  and  Black  people  will  be 
victorious,"  said  Baraka. 

Over  100  people  attended  the  event  which  was 
co-sponsored  by  the  Department  of  English  at  the 
University  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst  (UMass),  UMass 
Five  College  Black  Studies  Program,  UMass  Women 
Studies  Program,  UMass  Department  of  Theater,  UMass 
Third  World  Theater,  UMass  Black  Mass 
Communications  Project,  UMass  Delta  Sigma  Theta 
Sorority  Incorporated,  and  others. 

"Poetry  is  not  just  love  sonnets — it's  an 
expression  of  p>eople's  inner  most  thoughts.  It's  also  a 
social  commentary  on  the  conditions  faced  by  Black 
people  in  society.  Tm  really  pleased  that  so  many  people 
came  out  to  hear  (the  poets.) 

Closing  remarks  were  given  by  John  E.  Wideman, 
a professor  in  the  English  Department  at  the  University 
of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst,  who  is  a very  well-known 
writer. 

"Thank  you  (addressing  the  poets)  for  your 
voices...  words..."  said  Wideman,  "This  is  only  the 
beginning.  We  have  to  take  it  all  back  to  our  communities. 
We  are  part  of  an  institution,  sitting  here  in  these  chairs. 
We  need  to  build  our  own  institutions."  ij^ 

Walerie  Gosine  contributed  to  this  article. 


FEBRUARY  1992 


HISTORTYOF  BLACK 
FRATERNITIES  AND  SORORITIES: 


ALPHA  KAPPA  ALPHA  SORORITY,  INC. 


"In  1908  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  was  a new  era. 
Through  it,  young  Black  women  born  to  the  first 
generation  after  emancipation  gave  creative  meaning  to 
the  then  little  known  terms,  "Black  pride"  and  "women's 
liberation." 

Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Through  the  Years 

Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Incorporated,  the 
first  Greek  letter  sorority  organized  by  Black  college 
women,  was  founded  at  Howard  University  on  January 
15,1908.  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  was  created  under  the 
visionary  leadership  of  Ethel  Hedgeman  Lyle,  who  led 
the  "splendid  sixteen"  in  establishing  the  sorority.  Nellie 
Quander,  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  organization, 
was  the  inspirational  force  behind  the  incorporation  of 
Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Inc. 

The  Sorority  was  formulated  as  an  organization 
to  promote  closer  ties  of  friendship  among  the  women  at 
Howard  University.  Through  these  closer  ties,  they 

i 


could  support  one  another  in  their  endeavor  to  achieve 
scholastically  and  be  of  service  to  their  community.  The 
founders  realized  that  it  was  not  enough  to  only  support 
each  other,  but  they  must  also  be  prepared  to  make  some 
substantive  contribution  through  their  lives  as  Black 
women.  Thus  with  the  purpose  of  encouraging  high 
standards  and  improving  the  lives  of  Black  people,  the 
members  of  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Inc.  created 
activities  to  improve  the  quality  of  life  for  themselves  and 
others  while  living  their  motto. 

Over  the  past  eighty-three  years.  Alpha  Kappa 
Alpha  Sorority,  Inc.  has  grown  to  includean  international 
membership  of  over  100,000  women.  There  are 
approximately  750  undergraduate  and  graduate  chapters 
in  the  United  States  and  abroad. 

The  earliest  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  programs  were 
cultural  in  nature,  at  the  same  time  however,  members 
were  identified  with  service  through  their  active 
in  vol  vement  in  the  YWCA,  the  N A AGP  and  the  women's 

cont  onto  page  12 


FEBURARY  1992 


HISTORTYOF  BLACK 
FRATERNITIES  AND  SORORITIES: 

ALPHA  KAPPA  ALPHA  SORORITY,  INC. 


cont.  from  page  11 

suffrage  movement.  Today,  the  organization  has  aims 
and  ongoing  national  programs  that  consist  of  three 
basic  aspects:  scholarship,  civic  responsibility  and  service. 
As  the  sorority  grows  and  as  new  situations  evolve  with 
lime,  the  sp>ecific  aims  or  "targets"  may  shift  emphases. 
For  example,  the  element  of  civic  responsibility  once 
concerned  itself  with  the  community  health  problems 
(Mississippi  Health  Project;  Sickle  Cell  Anemia  Research 
Project),  and  another  time  was  concerned  with  organized 
lobby  groups,  at  the  Congressional  Houses,  for  human 
rights  legislation.  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha's  "targets"  today 
are  Back  to  Basics  in  Education,  Addressing  Health 
Concerns,  Attaining  Economic  Empowerment, 
Strengthening  the  Black  Family,  Focusing  on  the  Arts 
and  Enhancing  the  Global  Perspective.  Programs  are 
develop>ed  nationally  and  locally  through  chapters  to 
address  these  targets. 

Education:  The  Ivy  AKAdemy 

The  Ivy  AKAdemy  was  conceptualized  as  an 
umbrella  learning  center.  Its  purpose  is  to  serve  as  a 
conduit  through  which  chapters  may  deliver  all  of  their 
educational,  training  and  human  resource  development 
experiences.  A major  crisis  exists  for  people  of  color 
throughout  the  world.  The  crisis  is  occurring  at  a time 
when  increasing  technological  advances  require  more 
highly  educated  people  in  all  areas  of  living.  Quite 
simply,  when  education  takes  a back  seat — we  all  lose. 
Historically,  education  has  been  the  hallmark  of  Alpha 
Kappa  Alpha  and  we  have  an  on-going  commitment  to 
preserve  this  legacy.  A significant  approach  to  this 
program  target  is  a plan  for  undergraduate  and  graduate 
chapters  to  place  special  emphasis  in  (1)  helping  parents 
to  become  partners  in  education,  (2)  providing  self- 
esteem-building experiences  and  (3)  initiating  an 
AK  Ademics  Plus  project.  AKAdemics  Plus  is  an  avenue 
that  explores  strategies  beyond  the  regular  classroom 
and  serves  to  strengthen  and  develop  useful  personal  life 
skills. 

Addressing  Health  Concerns 

The  traditional  scourge  of  health  in  Black  people 
has  been  chronic  illness.  The  devastation  it  has  caused  in 
our  community  has  been  extensive.  As  a general  rule 
chronic  illness  exacts  its  tolls  over  time.  In  bold  contrast, 
the  scourges  affecting  our  young  people;  drugs,  homicide, 
suicide,  AIDS,  cigarette  smoking  and  environmental 


poisoning  have  consequences  so  severe  that  many  never 
survive  young  adulthood,  let  alone  middle  age.  Ensuring 
access  to  health  care,  routine  health  screening  and 
traditional  treatment  are  the  foundation  of  a new  coalition 
between  women  of  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha,  our  families  and 
the  greater  community,  to  prevent  the  devastating  effects 
of  chronic  illness.  Substance  abuse  prevention,  AIDS 
awareness,  violence  control  and  environmental 
responsibility  are  its  building  blocks.  Xi  Nu  Chapter 
participates  in  the  yearly  Health  Fair  organized  by  our 
graduate  chapter,  Xi  Xi  Omega,  in  Springfield. 

Attaining  Economic  Empowerment 

Among  our  efforts  to  encourage  economic 
empowerment,  was  the  "Support  Black  Business 
Program,"  sponsored  by  one  of  our  graduate  chapters. 
The  program  became  a week  long  promotion  of  Black 
businesses  ranged  from  dentistry,  haircare,  music,  retail, 
security  and  arts  and  crafts  were  on-hand  to  emphasize 
the  importance  of  the  revenue  generated  by  small  Black 
businesses.  Other  events  during  the  week  included  a 
financial  workshop  co-sponsored  with  C&S  Bank.  The 
main  focus  of  "Support  Black  Business"  week  was  to 
encourage  the  patronage  of  local  Black  businesses  with 
the  desire  of  bringing  them  to  the  forefront  of  the  United 
States  economy. 

Strengthening  the  Role  of  the  Black  Family 

The  Black  family,  one  of  the  most  important 
institutions  in  our  nation,  has  come  under  assault  by 
societal  factors  such  as  opportunities,  crime,  drugs,  and 
other  negative  influences.  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha's  concern 
for  the  Black  family  is  inherent  in  our  tradition  of  service 
to  all  mankind.  One  of  our  chapters  sponsored  a "Teen 
Parent  Supp>ort  Program  Retreat."  Workshops  focused 
on  increasing  communication  along  generational  lines, 
improving  study  habits,  and  methods  to  make  better  use 
of  time  with  children.  The  Teen  Parent  Support  Group 
sponsors  other  cultural  events  throughout  the  year  for 
the  teen  parents,  and  sponsors  two  mothers  to  visit 
colleges  in  Atlanta,  GA. 

Focusing  on  the  Arts 

Among  the  reasons  why  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha 
focuses  on  the  arts  is  our  belief  that  people  who 
communicate  through  the  subtleties  of  the  arts,  will  have 

cont  onto  page  13 


HISTORTYOF  BLACK 
FRATERNITIES  AND  SORORITIES: 

ALPHA  KAPPA  ALPHA  SORORITY,  INC. 


cont.  from  page  12 

the  skills  and  understanding  that  the  21st  valuable 
commodities  in  an  economy  that  places  premium  on 
adaptability.  The  Arts  have  a unique  capacity  to  capture 
and  convey  truths  about  life  that  escape  the  probing  eye 
of  social  and  cultural  science.  One  program  incorporated 
by  an  undergraduate  chapter  was  a series  of  events 
focusing  on  the  professors  of  African  descents,  an  Art 
Exhibit  held  to  display  creative  works  by  Black  students, 
a videotaped  presentation  of  famous  performers  and 
actors  called  a Salute  to  Black  Women  in  the  Arts.  The 
series  culminated  with  a Music  Recital  of  African, 
Caribbean  and  African-American  music. 

World  Community 

Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  recognizes  the  diversity  of 
people  around  the  world  programmatically  addresses 
some  of  their  interconnections.  The  Sorority's  global 
perspective  is  a vehicle  for  developing  and  implementing 
programs  that  provide  the  knowledge,  skills,  values  and 
attitudes  needed  forknowing,  understanding  and  aiding 
people  of  other  cultures.  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha's  major 
global  concerns  surround  the  enhancement  of 
international  sisterly  relation,  extension  of  the  African 
Village  Project,  adoption  of  international  students, 
observance  of  World  Food  Day.  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha 
addresses  Africa's  complex  problems  at  the  village  level, 
for  it  is  in  the  tens  of  thousands  of  villages  that  most 
Africans  live.  Specifically,  the  village  development 
program  aims  to  improve  the  quality  of  life  in  rural 
Africa  through  the  development  of  water  resources, 
increased  food  production  and  the  delivery  of  health 
services. 

Among  other  national  programs  are  the 
Cleveland  Jobs  Corps  Center  and  the  Educational 
Advancement  Foundation.  The  Cleveland  Center  was 
designed  to  provide  a total  training  experience  for  young 
women  and  men  at  risk  of  not  completing  high  school  of 
not  finding  jobs,  by  utilizing  the  most  modern  teaching 
techniques  and  material.  Training  is  offered  in  two 
broad  areas — academic  service  program,  the  junior 
council  on  world  affairs,  etc.  The  Center  Student  Council, 
experience  in  self-government  and  some  participation  in 
the  center's  operation.  According  to  reports  from  the 
Labor  Department,  more  that  twenty  thousand  young 
women  and  men  were  trained  at  the  Center  between  1965 
and  1986. 

Founded  in  1982,  the  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha 
Educational  Advancement  Foundation  (EAF)  seeks  to 


provide  mini-grants,  fellowships,  educational  stipends, 
scholarships,  travel  grants,  and  assistance  to  schools, 
universities  and  other  organizations.  As  a part  of  our 
commitment  to  the  Foundation,  Xi  Nu  chapter  has 
donated  to  the  Yusef  Hawkins  Memorial  Fund,  designed 
to  help  children  in  both  the  areas  of  the  arts  and  the 
education. 

Alpha  Kappa  Alpha's  commitment  to 
incorporating  undergraduate  sorors  in  the  operation  of 
the  organization  is  multi-layered.  On  our  National 
Directorate,  there  are  are  positions  for  three 
undergraduate  sorors  to  ensure  that  our  voices  are 
represented.  Another  aspect  of  graduate  sorors  dedication 
to  undergraduate  sorors  is  the  annual  Leadership  Fellows 
week  long  seminar  and  internship  program. 

Each  summer  approximately  thirty  grantees, 
undergraduate  sorors  who  have  at  least  a "B"  average, 
are  chosen  to  undergo  a one-week  intensive  training  in 
such  topics  as  problem-solving , decision  making,  conflict 
management,  public  speaking,  management  by 
objectives,  research  and  organization,  networking  and 
mentoring.  In  the  second  phase  of  the  program,  each 
fellow  is  placed  as  intern  with  a major  agency  or 
corporation  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  Each  fellow 
interns  in  a work  setting  where  she  is  able  to  witness, 
practice  and  implement  theory  learned  in  the  first  phase 
of  the  program. 


Women  of  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha 

(partial  listing) 


Rosa  Parks— civil  rights  activist 
Marjorie  J.  Vincent— former  Miss  America 
Sharon  Pratt  Dixon— Mayor-Washington,  D.C. 
Phylicia  Rashaad— actress 
Maya  Angelou— poet,  author 
Faye  Wattletoh— Executive  Director  Planned 
Parenthood 

Coretta  Scott  King— Civil  Rights  activist 


For  more  information,  contact; 
Nichole  T.  Rustin  (AC)  (413)  542-4261 
Tamisha  Johnston  (AlC)  (413)  739-5552 


FEBURARY  1992 


FIVE  COLLEGE  AREA 
BLACK  OREEK 

LETTERED  ORCANIZATIONS 


Raymond  Clarke  (UM) 
(413)  585-5887 
Cory  Mickens  (AIC) 
(413)  731-9874 


Alpha  Kappa  Alpha 
Sorority,  Inc. 


Nicole  Harmon  (UM) 
(413)  546-0433 


Van  Johnson  111  (UM) 
(413)  546-7058 
Peter  Conroy  (AC) 
(413)  542-4250 


Omega  Psi  Phi 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 

Delta  Sigma  Theta 
Sorority,  Inc. 

V VW  ((^  vSSW'j  ^)) 

Justin  Robenson  (UM) 

Pascale  Bernard  (UM) 

(413)  546-0483 

(413)  546-3458 

Cedric  Gaddy  (AIC) 

Kimberly  Berry  (MHC) 

(413)  731-0743 

(413)  538-3707 

Phi  Beta  Sigma 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 


Douglas  Greer  (UM) 
(413)  546-2706 


Zeta  Phi  Beta 
Sorority,  Inc. 

Iota  Phi  Theta 

FRATERNITY,  INC. 

/ \ 

Rose  Edwards  (UM) 
(413)  546-2634 

James  Roberts  II  (UM) 
(413)  546-1048 
Robert  Venator  (UM) 
(413)  546-0604 

NOTICE:  Sigma  Gamma  Rho  is  not  represented  in  the  Five  College  Area, 
yet  is  recognized  as  a Black  Greek  Lettered  Organization. 


HOW  DO  WE  RESPOND? 

Donna  Payne 


With  the  prospect  of  the  jX)litical  reform,  entitled 
"New  World  Order,"  the  question  becomes:  How  do  we 
respond?  The  issue  is  not  our  willingness  to  serve  and  to 
protect  our  lands  and  people  of  color,  but  rather  the 
question  is  how? 

Will  the  present  patriarchal  and  capitalist  system 
of  the  ruling  values  decide  our  future?  Or  will  a new 
democratic  process,  which  we  must  create,  shape  our 
path? 

The  only  necessary  war  is  over  a vision  of  power 
and  the  primary  struggle  is  within.  The  struggle  to  build 
a democratic  decentralized  global  alternative  strategy 
and  to  create  a new  set  of  values  for  social  interactions 
and  rights  not  barbaric  tactics  and  techniques. 

"The  vision  is  one  of  democracy  with  a smile!  A 
lime  of  blooming  rainbows!" 

The  demands  of  the  soul  for  the  expression  of 
feelings,  and  creative  inner  balance  are  not  to  be  smashed 
by  the  repressive  needs  of  an  outdated,  capitalistic  mode 
of  human  production  and  social  relations.  The  patriarchal 
hierachy,  competition  and  fear  of  alienation  need  to  be 
replaced  by  a social  technological  relationship  between 
democracy  and  collective  unity. 

At  this  time,  the  majority  of  our  brothers  and 
sisters  are  going  through  a highly  similar  consciousness 
and  socialization  process,  all  within  a generalized,  highly 
contradictory,  rebellious  mass  cultural  character — 
European.  The  "anti"  stance  against  AmeriKKKan  culture 
is  not  working,  instead  the  pro-AfriKan  culture  is 
becoming  a fad  within  a society  which  wishes  to  repress 
it.  Instead  of  following  a movement  so  rich  in  values  and 
human  consciousness,  we  exploit  the  symbols  and  attire 
not  understanding  what  they  truly  mean.  We  are  selling 
ourselves  out.  Brothers  and  Sisters,  of  the  Knowledge 
that  is  so  crucial  to  our  continual  existence. 

As  a movement  for  a new  society,  the  focus  must 
go  beyond  that  of  articulating  an  "anti"  stance.  Opposed 
to  division  and  negative  attitude,  we  can  only  unite  our 
community  with  an  alternative  vision,  and  practice  of 
solutions  to  the  race  problem  among  social  groups. 

For  the  nation's  youth  in  high  school  and  colleges 
and  on  the  streets,  those  most  directly  affected  by  the  race 
issue,  we  must  begin  in  the  institutions  we  are  part  of, 
demanding  of  the  academic  authorities,  legitimation  and 
support  for  our  democratic  vision  of  an  alternative  to 
miseducation  and  to  prisons.  This  involves  developing 


ademocraticprocessofcommunityeducationand  politics 
which  requires  new  and  different  values  and  social 
relations — process  and  product  in  our  education. 

For  the  classroom  that  structures — teaching 
grades,  force  memorization  and  other  forms  of  repressive 
academic  production,  by  its  very  nature,  separates  us 
from  the  larger  working  community,  which  at  least  in 
theory,  we  are  being  trained  to  understand  and 
progressively  mold. 

Testing,  in  all  its  forms  trains  us  to  think  and 
work  as  isolated  individuals,  always  in  competition  with 
others,  which,  by  its  very  process  serves  to  maintain  an 
ideology  of  hierarchy  and  inequality.  This  educational 
process  teaching  us  to  value  the  final  product — repressing 
any  questions,  doubts  or  frustrations  denies  us  the 
ability ,beginning  in  the  earliest  schooling  process  and  to 
learn  through  practices,  the  techniques  and 
responsibilities  involved  in  the  daily  living  creation  of  a 
democratic  community. 

Therefore,  instead  of  working  in  isolation  for 
ourselves  and  by  ourselves  to  produce  intellectual 
products  who  have  no  connection  to  the  needs  of  the 
community,  we  must  collectively  unite  in  our  studies  to 
develop  an  alternative  process  and  product  to  take  back 
to  our  streets  and  neighborhoods  in  the  hope  of  uniting 
young  and  old. 

Our  communities  are  alienated  and  looking  for 
direction.  Those  on  top  continue  their  masquerade  of 
benevolent  dictatorship,  leading  us  closer  and  closer  to 
despair.  Their  values  are  blinded  by  the  feudal  past — a 
time  when  power  was  created  through  the  oppression  of 
human  labor  and  the  exploitation  of  the  land,  so  we 
cannot  look  towards  them  for  help. 

The  time  have  changed,and  we,  the  young  see 
the  world  in  a different  light.  Still  idealistic,  our  creative 
energies  need  to  be  channeled  in  a positive  light,  rejecting 
useless  and  materialistic  values.  Ho  w Will  You  Respond? 

♦ 


No  Struggle, 
No. Progress. 

• FREDERICK  DOUGLASS 


FEBURARY  1992 


APATHY  GETS  YOU  NOWHERE  FAST 


Linda  C.  Perez  '93 
Mount  Holyoke  College 

We  all  claim  to  be  supportive  of  the  so-called  ethnic  or  cultural  organizations  on  campus,  but  in  what  ways 
do  we  show  our  support? 

The  closing  of  The  Latin  American  Cultural  Center,  "due  to  lack  of  support",  is  a prime  example  of  the  apathy  that 
exists  on  many  college  campuses  today.  This  apathy  is  all  too  often  associated  solely  with  administrations  instead 
of  the  students  themselves. 

Support  for  causes  and  organizations  can  take  many  forms  whether  it  be  a sign,  a sentiment  or  a gesture. 
What  many  of  us  fail  to  realize  is  that  only  active  shows  of  supp>ort  are  recognized  by  an  organization  that  is 
s truggling  to  maintain  mere  existence  due  to  dwindling  membership.  We  must  proceed  with  extreme  caution  before 
placing  blame  on  any  one  group  of  people.  We  must  evaluate  our  own  problems  and  most  importantly  the  solutions 
these  problems  before  creating  new  ones  an  in  turn,  opening  ourselves  to  further  attack  from  all  sectors  of  the  college 
community. 

It  is  the  goal  of  most  campus  organizations  to  educate  "the  community  as  a whole"  about  anything  that  is 
not  adequately  covered  in  the  academic  arena.  As  students  of  color  on  predominantly  white  campuses,  we  are  often 
accused  of  turning  everything  into  racist  issues  and  of  course,  my  all-time  favorite  of  jumping  on  every  minority 
bandwagon  that  comes  along.  Just  as  we  ban  together  in  times  of  crises,  so  too  should  we  ban  together  to  prevent 
the  closings  of  cultural  centers,  prevent  our  organizations  from  becoming  defunct  and  most  importantly  alleviate  the 
"pressures  of  the  majority"  and  teach  everyone,  administrators  and  students  alike  that  we  are  unified  voice 
demanding  equality  and  adequate  representation,  as  well  as  a force  to  be  reckoned  with. 

We  must  have  a strong  sense  of  self  worth  as  organizations  as  well  as  realize  our  worth  and  necessity  on  a 
campus  whose  members  are  all  to  willing  to  choose  the  road  of  apathy  until  its  too  late.  No  administrations,  you  are 
not  off  the  hook,  just  out  of  the  limelight  for  now,  and  please  remember  that  the  words  "many"  and  "different"  are 
essential  to  true  claims  of  diversity.  ^ 


TAKE  HEED! 

by  Frances  N.  Nwajei 
UMass  Alumnus 
Class  of  1991 

Alienated  by  friends,  family  and  society. 

Ignorance  is  not  the  key  to  conceptuality. 

Dangerous  -it  most  certainly  is  to  your  being. 

Soon,  someone,  maybe  you  are  seeing... 

The  Acquired  Immune  Deficiency  Sjmdrome  kills.  It  is  for  life  because  it  takes  your  life. 


Please  practice  safer  sex. 


17 


“YOU  CAN’T  CHANGE  THE  WORLD,  BUT  YOU  CAN 
CHANGE  THE  WAY  YOU  LIVE” 

Ladie  Sundiata 


The  alone  title  came  from  the  opening  statement 
of  a commercial  advertisement  for  yogurt.  But  for  me  the 
meaning  is  more  than  just  some  slogan  for  yogurt.  After 
watching  the  televised  interview  of  Arsenio  Hall  with 
Maria  Shriver,  I found  a p>ersonal  significance  to  the 
quote. 

"You  can't  change  the  world  but  you  can  change 
the  way  you  live,"  was  exemplified  by  Arsenio's 
perseverance  to  overcome  the  obstacles  that  governed 
the  early  years  of  his  life.  If  any  reader  of  this  article  had 
a chance  to  view  the  interview,  then  it's  clear  that  the 
above  phrase  applies  to  him.  But  more  than  that,  Arsenio 
personified  the  dream  that  there  is  a place  for  Black  men 
(African-American  men)  in  America.  What  you  do  is 
play  by  their  rules  and  make  this  cracked,  corrupt  system 
work  for  you. 

Many  of  us  who  watch  Arsenio  Hall  judge  the 
thirty  three  year  old  late  night  talk  show  with  either 
doing  too  little  or  doing  too  much  for  the  Caucasian 
persuasion.  We  find  it  easy  to  come  up  with  solutions  for 
his  problems.  What  we  fail  to  realize  is  that  "his" 
problems  are  society's  problems.  Believe  it  or  not 
Paramount  is  still  issuing  his  paycheck. 

But  this  really  isn't  about  Arsenio  Hall,  it's  about 
my  first  love.  Black  Men.  I love  brothers  with  all  my  heart 
and  soul  but  it  distresses  me  when  brothers  are  too  busy 
being  ignorant  because  they  think  superficiality  is  the 
answer.  Is  getting  stupid  drunk  and  kicking  in  glass 
doors  exemplary  of  a college  student?  Is  being  "the  man" 
or  "the  mack  daddy"  a great  achievement?  (I  think  its 
disgusting  mixing  so  many  juices  on  one  campus,  yuk!) 


Is  racing  down  the  highway  in  a stolen  BMW  (Bimma)  or 
Benz  a boy's  idea  of  a game?  Is  shooting  another  brother 
over  a chain  or  hat  or  sneakers  or  eight  ball  jacket  cool,  on 
a crowded  MBTA  station  platform?  (Who  cares  about 
the  innocent  bystanders!  Right?) 

No  Tm  not  letting  sisters  off  the  hook  but  this 
quote  sparks  fury  in  me  when  it's  implications  so  closely 
mirror  those  of  our  brothers.  Yes,  we  can  blame  society, 
we  can  blame  slavery,  reconstruction,  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation,  The  Constitution,  the  Statue  of  Liberty,  the 

flood  of  immigrants, we  can  blame  God  even,  but  until 

we  look  inside  ourselves  and  decide  enough  is  enough 
and  check  out  the  man  in  the  mirror  (thanks  Michael) 
then  we  will  continue  to  endure  the  oppression  that  has 
been  our  constant  reality  for  the  past  400  or  so  years. 

And  this  article  does  not  come  from  simply 
watching  an  interview  of  a brother  who  is  excelling  in  his 
career.  Rather,  it  comes  as  a personal  message  to  someone 
close  to  my  heart  who  is  still  confused  about  their  place 
in  this  world.  They're  making  money  and  temporarily 
gratified  with  that,  thinking  it's  the  answer,  for  now.  But 
I had  to  realize  that  all  the  talking  in  the  world  will  not 
make  this  brother  another  Arsenio  Hall,  Michael  Jordan, 
Sinbad,  Bill  Cosby.  Will  Smith  (Fresh  Prince)  or  anyone 
else  until  he  decides  to  change  that  man  in  the  mirror. 

And  as  for  me  I must  remember  that  I can  not 
take  on  the  plight  of  Americas  problems,  nor  can  I 
internalize  everyone  else's  personal  conflicts.  All  I can 
do  is  be  me  and  be  the  best  damn  me  there  is.  Just  do  me 
a favor  and  remember,  you  can  change  the  the  world  by 
starting  at  home, 


SOMETHING  TO  THINK  ABOUT: 

IT  TOOK  NAPOLEON'S  MEN  21  SHOTS  TO 
DESTROY  THE  EACE  OF  THE  SPHINX,  WHOSE 
LIKENESS  WAS  CLEARLY  AFRI KAN.  HENCE 

THE  21  GUN  SALUTE. 


FEBURARY  1992 


18 


I “AND  I DON’T  KNOW  WHO  THE  HELL  SET  THINGS 

UP  LIKE  THIS...” 

Lorena  Craighead 


I f we  were  to  select  four  of  the  primary  components  in  the 
accurate  articulation  of  the  lives  of  Af  rikan.  Latino,  Asian 
and  Native  American  (ALANA)  peoples  in  North 
America;  they  would  be  spiritual,  mental,  physical  and 
political.  This  description  can  cover  the  diversity  of  our 
present,  the  commonality  of  our  past  and  the  potential  of 
out  future.  Due  to  the  current  state  of  affairs,  it  is 
imperative  that  we  deal  with  the  many  fragments  as  a 
part  of  an  enormous  whole.  Seeing  that  the  masses  are 
oppressed  peoples,  we  are  obligated  to  live  up  to 
responsibility  of  our  Ancestral  legacy.  This  is  quite  a 
commitment  for  any  people.  However,  the  quantity  can 
not  intimidate  us  as  long  as  we  function  with  a unified 
goal  and  a directed  vision. 

Spiritual,  first  and  foremost,  is  the  active  influence  of  our 
Ancestors.  No  systematically  destructive  efforts  have 
ever  totally  annihilated  the  bond.  This  is  the  nucleus  of 
ourindividual/collectiveexperience.  In  turn,  spirituality 
is  our  source  of  strength  and  creativity.  It  also  maintains 
the  balance  of  the  universe,  as  seen  in  any  serious  study 
of  history  or  evolution. 

Mental  openly  encompasses  intellectual  and  common 
sense.  The  bulk  of  this  is  the  collecring,  questioning, 
analyzing,  storing  and  sharing  process.  Part  is  learned 
and  part  is  intuitive.  Similarly,  in  all  four  components 
the  mental  is  able  to  be  manipulated  but  should  be 
consistently  sustained. 

Physical  is  the  realm  of  tactile  expression.  This  includes 
but  is  not  confined  to  : art,  science,  law  or  moral 
enforcement,  interpersonal,  academic  or  wartime 
exchanges. 

Political  is  the  fourth  segment.  This  portion  is  mandatory 
and  should  never  be  considered  choice.  As  people  of 
color,  your  "simple  daily  and  nightly  self-determination" 
must  unequivocally  reject  all  segments  of  globalized 
western  philosophies.  Furthermore,  this  stance  must  be 
as  instinctive  as  blinking  or  swallowing.  This  goes  along 
with  theory/fact  that  no  amount  of  money,  education, 
publicity,  accomplishment  or  expansion  will  ever  make 
you  equal  in  the  sight  of  any  oppressor.  And  although 


we  find  ourselves  in  this  culturally  retentive  situation 
now,  it  can  never  become  a sequel  to  the  many 
neverending  stories,  without  our  permission. 

In  the  spirit  of  true  revolution  and  formidable  change,  we 
will  not  over  emphasize  the  problems.  Our  real  task  is 
implementing  solutions.  As  young  adults,  as  young 
scholars  of  life  the  world  is  an  institute  that  we  must  take 
seriously.  We  are  of  the  age  now  where  we  are  obligated 
to  the  re-ascension  of  ALANA  peoples  rightful  place. 
You  see  the  world  will  not  continue  to  turn  on  the  axis  of 
hatred  and  manipulation.  While  we  flaunt  our  portions 
of  knowledge,  there  are  360  to  the  making  of  our  whole. 
There  is  never  a moment  that  we  have  to  be  idle.  Although 
we  are  raised  to  'chilT,  go  with  the  flow,  or  even  be  good 
niggers,  we  must  recognize  these  for  exactly  what  they 
are:  directives  form  our  common  oppressor.  It  is  difficult, 
as  we  are  all  aware,  to  establish  the  strictly  business 
lifestyle  necessary  to  make  us  immune  to  such 
confrontations.  However,  it  is  far  more  difficult  to  insult 
the  strength  and  achievements  of  our  Ancestors  with  the 
selfish  choice  of  complacency.  Our  collective  focus  can 
not  afford  to  include  anything  resembling  the  wasting  of 
time,  energy  or  information  by  complaining. 

As  scholars  actively  creating  a new  world,  we  can  begin 
with  a few  little  things  and  advance  from  there.  We 
should  read  something  relevant  to  struggle  at  least  fifteen 
minutes  daily.  Before  you  get  frustrated  wondering 
where  that  'free'  time  will  come  from  remember  that  as 
governess  or  governor  of  your  private  sector  (self)  of  the 
world  you  are  all  powerful  in  the  selection  and 
maintenance  of  your  primary  needs  and  desires.  Having 
said  that,  understand  that  we  do  have  time.  If  there  is 
anything  we  have  to  excess,  it  would  most  likely  be  time. 
Those  minutes  before  bed;  before  or  during  meals;  after 
or  during  that  drainingly  boring  class  (am  i allowed  to 
say  that?);  on  public  transportation;  at  work  or  with 
family  who  may  be  interested  in  your  readings.  No 
ALANA  person  should  ever  be  empty  handed.  Every 
participant  in  this  national  /global  revolution  must  always 
be  armed  with  a pen,  paper  and  reading  material,  at  the 
very  least. 

cont.  onto  page  21 


I 


I 


FEBRUARY  1992 


IT’S  NOT  MUSIC  TO  MY  EARS 

LaKeisha  Criswell 

One  night  I was  sitting  around  listening  to  the  radio,  when  it  occurred  to  me  that  the  majority  of  the  songs 
referred  to  women  in  a derogatory  manner.  The  fact  that  these  artists  are  Black,  led  me  to  believe  that  they  were 
probably  referring  to  Black  women. 

"Life  ain't  nothin',  but  bitchesand  money,"(Compton's  Most  Wanted),  "Will  you  call  me?.. .Yeah,  I'll  call  you 
a bitch  or  hoe  after  I ball  you"(Ice  Cube),  and  "Come  here  girl  I wanna  knock  your  boots"(Bell  Biv  Devoe)  are  just 
a few  of  the  many  lyric  that  pollute  our  ears. 

These  lyrics  affect  the  way  Black  men  view  Black  women.  It  especially  affects  young  children  who  can  recite 
these  songs  word  for  word.  They  look  up  to  these  artists  as  heroes,  and  they  practice  what  is  preached  to  them.  For 
example,  I was  sitting  on  my  porch  this  summer,  and  I overheard  two  boys,  aged  ten  and  twelve  talking  about  girls. 
I was  aghast  at  what  I heard.  In  essence,  one  boy  was  telling  the  other  boy  "females  are  only  good  for  hitting  the 
skins". 

I am  sure  the  type  of  music  the  boy  listened  to  was  a major  influence  on  his  beliefs.  He  was  only  twelve,  and 
young  mind  was  framed  that  girls  are  only  good  for  one  thing:  SEX. 

These  chauvinistic  lyrics  affect  girls  also  because  they  along  with  the  boys  idolizing  the  degrading  artists. 
It  is  even  more  damaging  because  the  lyrics  have  an  influence  on  their  self-image.  Female  idolize  these  artists  who 
refer  to  them  as  "skeezers",  "skins",  and  "hoochies".  Listening  to  these  degrading  continuously,  a young  girl  may 
not  expect  a man  to  respect  them  for  their  MIND,  BODY,  and  SOUL.  Females  do  not  realize  that  they  should  not 
support  these  artist  who  insult  them.  They  continue  to  support  them  by  purchasing  their  records  and  attending  their 
concerts.  Females  need  to  demand  their  due  respect. 

These  lyrics  are  destructive  to  our  communities  because  it  p>erpetuates  the  ancient  mythology  that  Black 
women  are  "whores"  or  "loose".  This  is  the  same  stereotype  whites  branded  Black  women  with  during  slavery. 

Now  we  have  our  own  brothers  telling  us  we  are  "hoes",  "bitches",  and  "skeezers",  or  they  are  not  interested 
in  a monagamous  relationship.  In  the  words  of  Granddaddy  I.U. " I ain't  with  no  relationship...  females,  I need  more 
that  one.. .Give  me  some  head  and  a whole  lot  of  freedom." 

I know  these  artists  are  trying  to  make  money,  but  it  should  not  be  at  the  expense  of  disrespecting  their  sisters. 
They  have  a responsibility  to  their  listeners  because  they  are  role  model  who  have  the  ability  to  influence  people. 
The  art  form  of  music  is  a society's  way  of  expressing  its  values,  beliefs  and  experiences.  From  what  I can  hear,  our 
brothers  need  to  take  a closer  look,and  reevaluate  the  roles  of  Black  women.  Before  another  musical  artist  or  anyone 
else  disrespects  Black  women,  remember  Black  women  are  one  of  the  strongest  species  on  earth  who  gave  birth  to 
ALL  humankind.  ® 


FEBURARY1992 


20 


M 


BLACK  NEWSPAPER  APPEAL 

FROM  THE  FILES  OF  NOMMO  NEWS  SEPT.  30, 1977,  HAMPSHIRE  COLLEGE 

"And  to  the  Republic  for  which  it  stands.. .one  nation,  under  God,  indivisible...with  Liberty  and  justice  for 
all."  This  quote  obviously  taken  from  the  "Pledge  of  Allegiance"  to  America,  is  perhaps  better  known  as  "the 
American  dream",  as  we  have  so  often  heard  of.  For  it  has  yet  to  even  resemble  a reality.  The  mere  thought  of  America 
distributing  true  liberty  and  justice  to  all,  is  truly  in  itself  a rather  far  fetched  idea.  Not  only  is  it  your  dream  that  you 
would  be  liberal  and  just,  America.  All  of  us  who  are  not  native  bom  Americans  wish  to  God. ..that  you  were  liberal 
and  just. 

Due  to  the  injustice  the  American  system  is  built  on,  over  half  of  its  population,  who  are  not  white  and  not 
of  European  heritage,  are  always  either  misrepresented  or  not  represented  at  all. 

To  the  Third  World  community. ..this  is  not  your  country.  And  the  American  system  of  government  was  not 
structured  to  protect  and  develop  Third  World  people.  If  we  do  not  represent  ourselves  within  this  country,  we  will 
continue  to  either  be  misrepresented  or  not  represented  as  being  a "living"  body  of  people.  "Living"  in  the  sense  that 
there  is  definite  positive  motion  within  our  community.  We  cannot  look  to  the  media  of  this  country  to  work  in  our 
favor,  when  the  oppressed  population  is  the  strength  of  this  country. 

The  media  is  the  most  vast  and  widespread  means  of  conununication  available.  It  is  America's  vital  source 
of  control  over  the  masses.  In  being  so,  it  is  cmcial  that  as  Third  World  oppressed  and  misrepresented  people,  we 
organize  and  represent  ourselves.  If  we  fail  to  fulfill  our  own  resp>onsibilities  we  cannot  blame  America  for  our 
conditions. 

The  media  of  Third  World  people  on  the  Uiuversity  of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst  campus  urges  the  support 
of  all  Third  World  students.  If  we  don't  support  ourselves,  we  will  continue  to  be  looked  upon  as  a lifeless,  leaderless, 
jX)werless,  body  of  people.. .and  we  will  be  treated  as  such.  Our  immediate  organization  is  crucial  for  our  survival 
on  this  campus.  In  hopes  perhaps  that  we  will  "crown  thy  good  with  brotherhood,  from  sea  to  shining  sea."^ 


THESE  ARE  THE  DAYS  IN 
WHICH  A COMMUNITY  MUST 
SUPPORT  THEIR  OWN, 
NOMMO  IS  YOURS;  SUPPORT  IT 
BY  CONTRIBUTING  LITERARY 
SUBMISSIONS.  WITHOUT  YOU 
WE  CANNOT  EXIST. 


FEBRUARY  1992 


I AM  A BLACK  MAN 

Martin  F.  Jones 


I am  a Black  Man. 

I think. 

I talk. 

1 live. 

I am  a Black  man. 

Intelligent,  creative,  provocative, 

I strive  to  learn. 

Taking  pride  in  being 
A disciple  of  our  world. 
Understanding  that  ignorance 
Will  ultimately  destroy  me. 

I am  a Black  Man. 

1 prefer  the  power  of  the  pen 
Over  the  power  of  the  punch. 

I prefer  the  power  of  parenthood 
Over  the  power  of  the  penis. 

1 know  that  Life  is  a precious  miracle 
That  must  be  nurtured,  and  not  destroyed. 
1 am  a Black  Man. 

I will  search  for  and  unite  with 
The  Black  Woman. 

1 love  her. 

1 need  her. 

I must  protect  and  respect  her. 

She  loves  me. 


She  needs  me. 

She  will  never  give  up  on  me. 

We  cannot  exist  without  each  other. 

We  exist  because  of  each  other. 

Together  we  will  climb  the  highest  of  mountains. 
Cross  the  widest  of  rivers. 

Overcome  the  greatest  of  obstacles. 

So  that  we  may  build  a better  world  for  our  Children. 
I am  a Black  Man. 

1 shall  seek  out  and  destroy  all  of  that  which  threatens 
My  People, 

My  Family, 

My  Soul. 

My  goals  lie  not  beyond  the  Foul  Line, 

Within  the  End  Zone,  or  behind  a microphone. 
They  rest  upon  the  complete  and  uncompromising 
struggle  for 

The  Liberation,  Salvation,  and  Self-Actualization  of 
Black  People. 

1 am  a Black  Man. 

A loyal,  untiring  servant  of  the  Creator. 

Judge  me  not  by  the  color  of  my  skin. 

But  by  the  content  of  my  character. 

That  is  my  wish  to  you. 

Straight  from  the  heart  of  a Black  Man. 


cont.  from  page  18 

The  next  thing  that  you  can  do  is  to  add  fifteen  minutes  of  daily  meditation  to  your  life.  By  meditation  I mean  quiet 
time  used  to  do  whatever  you  have  to  do  to  become  focused.  In  this  time  you  will  establish  preparation  schedules 
for  lifetime  or  immediate  goals.  You  can  consciously  give  thanks  for  the  blessings  and  praise  for  those  who  have 
made  them  possible.  Beginning  with  this  half  an  hour  of  daily  empowerment,  you  can  enlighten  yourself.  Seriously 
embrace  the  philosophy  that  Eric  B.  and  Rakim  immortalized  on  wax:"  with  knowledge  of  self  there's  nothing  I can't 
solve."  Once  you  have  obtained  mastery  of  this  you  will  feel  the  need  to  share  your  new  spirit  with  significant  others. 
To  avoid  becoming  too  minutely  focus^,  enroll  in  some  sort  of  community  service.  Look  to  campus  organizations; 
battered  women's  shelters;  children's  hospitals;  orphanages;  homeless  or  substance  abuse  shelters;  churches  and 
food  distributors  for  the  poor  are  a few  of  many  options.  You  will  find  yourself  overwhelmed  by  the  tremendous 
amount  of  need  versus  the  appropriation  of  help  to  meet  these  worthy  needs.  Finally,  in  addition  to  all  of  these, 
involve  yourself  daily  in  some  positive  nation/self  building  dialogue  with  brothas  and  sistas. 

By  developing  the  four  major  principals  in  your  life  you  will  regularly  motivate/ activate  yourself  and  those  around 
you.  You  will  develop  discipline  and  myopic  values.  You  will  further  master  the  connection  between  clearheaded 
thoughts,  actions  and  a cleansed,  tireless  spirit.  There  will  be  no  time,  system  nor  circumstance  that  will  uproot  you 
once  you  mandate  these  things  as  a part  of  your  existence.  ^ 


22 


PURE  FLAVUR?! 

B.  Kenneth  Jackson 
From  the  Nommo  News  Files  1 989 


I hEARcJ  A siSTER  CRylNQ  UsT  NlqliT,  buT  I IcNOW  NOT  wItERE.  I WENT  TO  COIVifORT  llER,  yET  I COuld  NOT  flNcJ  llER. 

Her  CRy  so  pAiNful,  ancJ  so  bEAUTiful.  I caIIecI  to  Iter,  shE  REspoNdEd  wiTb  yET  more  CRyiNq.  My  Iteart  went  out 
Iast  NiqbT,  buT  I kNOw  not  wItere.  I saw  a bROT^ER  FaU  This  MORNiNq^  so  closE,  STill  so  Far.  I ran  to  bis  Aid,  TbE 
cloSER  I CAME,  TbE  FuRTbER  bE  WAS.  He  STOOd  ONCE  MORE,  buT  FeU  AqAiN.  TbE  pAiN,  TbE  buMiliATiON,  TbE  bROTbER  I 
could  NOT  bElp.  I SAW  TbE  STRONq  Tbis  MORNiNq,  so  cloSE,  STill  so  Far. 

/ SAW  A RECipE  fOR  A STRONQ  NATION,  AN(J  /Y  REAcJ  AS  folloWS:  TbE  old  ARE  wISE  ANd  kNOW  TbE  WAy  TbAT  WE  MUST 
TRAVeI.  TbE  yOUNq  are  STRONq  ANd  can  bEAR  TbE  InFIrMAtIeS  oF  TbE  WEAk.  TbERE  sbAll  bE  joy  In  TbE  MORNiNq. 

1 . Add  TbE  EXPERIENCES,  STRuqqlES  ANd  TbE  paIn  oF  TbE  old  TO  A youNq  ANd  EAqER  AFrIIovn^  American 

natIon. 

2.  Supply  AN  AMplE  AMOUNT  oF  STOrIeS  AlONq  wbb  SOME  TaIeS  TbAT  TbE  wiSE  bold  dEAR  TO  TbEM. 

5.  Test  TbE  youNq  natIon,  It  should  bAVE  bEquN  to  rIse,  ANd  dARkEN. 

4.  Show  TbE  youNq  TbE  Feet,  TbE  bANds,  ANd  TbE  scars  oF  TbE  old.  Here  is  TbE  FIrst  Iesson  In  respect  to  TbE 

youNq  natIon. 

5.  Mix  slowly,  so  TbE  paIn  TbAT  TbE  old  bAVE  suFFEREd  Ioses  no  eFFect. 

6.  TAkE  TbE  youNq  natIon  ANd  qlvE  TbEM  TbE  power  oF  TbE  AqEs.  Add  In  smaU  coNCENTRATEd  amounts.  For 

bEST  resuIts. 

7.  AFter  aU  Is  doNE,  Iet  sIt  For  24  RislNqs  oF  TbE  AFrII<an  sun.  TbIs  will  qivE  TbE  youNq  natIon  dIvERsiTy 

ANd  TbE  PAtIeNCE  to  WAIt  on  wbAT  will  COME. 

8.  lAkE  TbE  youNq  natIon  In  bANd.  It  should  bE  dARk,  yET  not  bUck.  CarmeI,  yET  not  wblTE. 

9.  TbEy  should  bAVE  rIsen  a qREAT  dEAl  by  now.  NOTICE:  qROwrb  is  dETERMlNEd  by  TbE  amount  ANd 

sTRENqTb  oF  TbE  iNqREdlENTs  puT  Into  TbE  box. 

1 0.  TAkE  TbE  youNq  natIon  ANd  TRy  It  TbROuqb  TbE  FIre  oF  sEqREqATi'oN,  discRiMATloN,  ANd  oppRESsioN. 

Here  Is  ANOTbER  Iesson,  so  start  wbb  a FIame  ANd  pRoqRESs  to  a bUzE. 

1 1 . We  RECOMMENd  A bluE  FIaME.  For  wbATEVER  PASSES  TbROUqb  TbE  FIrE  Is  EbbER  pURlFlEd,  OR  dESTROyEd. 

1 2.  FiNAlly  Add  youR  kNOwkdqE  to  TbEM,  For  This  REcipE  Is  never  compIete. 


a 


PURE  FLAVUR?! 


1 


0 


FEBRUARY  1992 


23 


r 

i 


AFRIKAN-AMERICAN  "OUR’STORY  QUIZ 


Discoveries 

1 . Where  does  the  word  "coffee"  originate? 

•France  •Columbia  "Ethiopia 

2.  Who  was  theFIRST civilized  man  to  travel  to  the  center 
of  Africa? 

•Tipp>oo  Tib  ‘Columbus  *Napx)leon 

3.  Who  was  the  FIRST  African  American  (or  person)  to 
travel  to  the  North  Pole? 

•Robert  Peary  "Matthew  Henson  ‘Pytheas 

4.  What  Black  Man  became  the  FIRST  to  lead  a Spanish 
expedition  to  the  American  Southwest? 

•Esteban  ‘Paul  Bogle  ‘MussaDemes 

5.  Who  was  the  FIRST  American  settler  on  the  Puget 
South/Oregon  territory? 

• Matthew  Henson  ‘George  W.  Bush  ‘Cudjoe  Lewis 

6.  Who  was  the  FIRST  to  discover  the  gorilla? 

• Moses  Savante  ‘John  Dungee  ‘Paul  duChaillu 


Inventions 

7.  Who  made  the  FIRST  clock  in  the  United  States? 
•Robert  Elgin  ‘Benjamin  Banneker  ‘Ben  Franklin 

8.  Who  was  theFIRST  to  invent  and  perfect  a sail  to  guide 
ships  easier? 

•James  Forten  ‘Eli  Dupont  ‘Joseph  Antoine 

9.  Who  was  theFIRST  to  invent  a machine  for  sewing  shoe 
soles  to  the  uppers? 

•George  Bally  ‘Jan  Matzliger  ‘John  Florsheim 

10.  Who  was  the  FIRST  to  invent  the  "Jenny"  coupler, 
which  secured  two  railroad  cars  together? 

•Lloyd  Jenny  ‘Sante  Fe  RR  ‘Andrew  Beard 

11.  Who  was  the  FIRST  to  develop  curing  salts  for  the 
processing  and  preserving  of  meats? 

•Oscar  Meyer  ‘Eric  Coleman  ‘Lloyd  Hall 


12.  Who  was  theFIRST  to  develop  a refrigeration  system 
for  long-haul  trucks? 

•Frederick  Jones  ‘Durbin  Hamler  ‘James  Evans 

23.  Who  was  the  FIRST  to  invent  the  "Toggle-Iron,"  a 
new  type  of  harpoon  for  capturing  whales? 

• Lewis  Temple  ‘Alonzo  Stephens  ‘Horace  Fleming 

14.  Who  was  theFIRST  to  invent  an  overhead  conducting 
system  for  electric  railways? 

•Granville  Woods  ‘Otis  T.  Holland  ‘Isaac  Haynes 

15.  Who  was  the  FIRST  to  invent  and  perfect  a machine 
which  made  bread  crumbs  for  cooking  batter? 

• Mozell  Chase  ‘Joseph  Lee  "Sy  Gilliam  Jr. 

16.  Who  was  theFIRST  to  invent  theprocess  of  "multiple 
effect, " which  is  responsible  for  simplifying  the  process  of 
refining  sugar? 

• Marcus  Geis  ‘Odell  Porter  ‘Norbert  Rillieux 

17.  What  African  American  received  the  FIRST  US 
patent? 

• Henry  Blair  ‘Nathan  Jones  ‘Curtis  Wheatland 

18.  Who  was  the  FIRST  to  invent  an  automatic  stop  sign 
(traffic  signal)? 

• Robert Shurney  ‘Garrett Morgan  ‘George  Carruthers 

19.  Who  invented  and  patented  the  FIRST  incandescent 
electric  light  bulb? 

‘Virgil  Ware  ‘Lewis  Latimer  ‘Thomas  Watson 

20.  Who  was  the  FIRST  is  design  and  invent  bullet- 
resistant  plexiglass? 

‘Lemuel  Penn  ‘Emanuel  Logan  ‘Emmett  Till 


^ ^ ANSWERS  ^ ^ 

WILL  BE  PROVIDED  IN  THE 
MARCH  ISSUE. 


FEBURARY  1992 


THE  NOMMO  COLLECTIVE 

Business  Board 

Editors-in-Chief 
Michelle  Y.  Alleyne 
Michele  D.  Monteiro 

Editorial  Board 

Production  Manager 

Kristian  D.  Greene 

LaKeisha  Criswell 

B.  Kenneth  Jackson 

Communication 

Jeff  Lawrence 
Joanne  G.  Paul 
Donna  M.  Payne 
Monique  Tabon 

Recording  Secretary 

Coordinators 
Martin  Jones 
Rachael  Splaine 

Photographer 
Foluke  Robles 

Joanne  Hunt 

Advertisement  Agent 
B.  Kenneth  Jackson 

It's  time  to  educate  our  people:  NOMMO 
with  the  power  of  the  written  word 

It's  time  to  be  productive  and  produce:  NOMMO 
with  the  power  of  the  spoken  word 

We,  the  staff  at  NOMMO,  have  made  a commitment  to  adequately  represent  our  people  in  this  medium.  We, 
therefore,  continually  seek  your  support.  We  ask  that  you  submit  articles,  poems  and  editorials.  If  you  would  like 
to  subscribe  please  fill  out  the  following  form  and  send  it  to: 

NOMMO  NEWS 

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AMHERST,  MA  01003 

SUBSCRIBE  TODAY!! 

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Please  make  checks  payable  to  NOMMO  NEWS:  103  New  Africa  House,  Amherst,  MA  01003,  (413)  545-5141 


103  New  Africa  House  • University  of  Massachusetts  • Amherst,  MA  01003  • (413)545-5141 

Volume  XXV,  Issue  1 • November,  1992 


NOMMO  is  a Dogan  word  meaning  the  power  of  the  spoken  and  written  word 


GREETINGS  BROTHERS  AND  SISTERS, 


Nommo  News  welcomes  you,  both  new  and  returning  students  to  the  campus  of  the  University  of 
Massachusetts  at  Amherst.  The  theme  of  this  issue  is  UMOJA,  or  Unity  within  the  community.  It  is  past  the 
time. 

The  word  Nommo  comes  from  the  African,  specifically  Dogan,  dialect,  meaning  the  power  of  the  spoken 
and  written  word.  Nommo’s  sole  purpose  is  to  provide  truth — real  perspectives  to  the  African  American 
community  and  other  students  of  color — about  the  issues  and  concerns  that  face  us  at  this  institution.  We 
deal  only  with  the  FACTS! 

Nommo  is  currently  accepting  articles  about  the  Motherland,  historical  facts,  poetry,  prose,  and  other 
literary  pieces  of  truth  that  are  pertinent  to  the  community  of  color  on  this  campus.  This  biweekly  newspa- 
per is  your  voice.  The  articles  can  be  submitted  to  103  New  Africa  House.  Please  remember  that  all  materi- 
als become  property  of  Nommo  once  handed  in.  If  your  work  is  original  poetry  or  prose,  please  submit  a 
copy  of  the  original  document.  Our  general  board  meetings  are  held  each  Sunday  at  2:00  p.m.  at  103  New 
Africa  House. 

If  you  have  any  questions  you  can  call  the  office  at  545-5141  or  546  1036. Remember,  we  can’t  inform 
the  community  unless  you  first  inform  us.  Remember,  we  can’t  inform  the  community,  unless  you  first 
inform  us.  Until  we  hear  from  you  soon. 


BLACK 


Peace, 


'Q,'7Kn^'UlA» 


Michele  D.  Monteiro 

Pi  Editor-in-Chief 


STUDENT 


UNION 


Philosophy: 

We  the  Black  Students  of  the  University 
of  Massachusetts  at  Amherst  under 
stand  that  as  people  of  African 
descent  we  all  share  a common  past 
and  therefore  a common  destiny. 

As  we  strive  together  in  pursuit 
of  academic  excellence  while  fur- 
thering our  career  goals,  we  are  fully 
aware  of  our  responsibility  to  uplift  our 
people.  Because  our  ability  to  meet  this  chal- 
lenge lies  in  the  strength  of  our  unity,  we  thus  recog- 
nize the  need  to  develop  and  carry  out  a collective 
agenda  to  satisfy  our  best  interests  as  a whole. 


Goals: 

1.  To  Provide  Organizational  Support  to 
Black  RSO’s. 

II.  To  Promote  Cooperative  Finance 
among  Black  RSO’s. 

HI.  To  Provide  a Social  and 
Academic  programming  that  pro- 
motes UMOJA  in  the  black  commu- 
nity. 

IV.  To  Champion  Cause  and  rights  of  the 
black  community. 

V.  To  Unify  and  Strengthen  the  voice  of  the  Black 
community  and  Black  RSO’s. 


Nommo  News 


♦ 


u 


N 


E 


by  Sandra  West 

I’ve  been  wanting  to  write  something  to  submit  to 
Nommo  for  the  longest  time,  and  I have  not  been  able  to  place 
my  finger  on  one  topic.  1 have  a lot  to  say  but  the  tip  of  my 
tongue  and  the  tip  of  my  fingers  seem  to  be  growing  farther 
apart-until  now.  A fellow  student  of  mine  was  a catalyst  to 
shaping  this  article.  It  almost 
caught  me  off  guard,  but  it 
certainly  brought  everything 
together  for  me  once  again. 

Recently  in  one  of  my 
classes  during  a discussion 
about  James  Baldwin’s 
“Previous  Condition”  a white 
student  spoke  out  and  raised 
the  issue  of  why  the  Black 
race  can  not  stand  together.  I 
was  shocked  to  hear  him  say  this,  and  1 was  also  saddenned 
because  I often  feel  the  same  way.  He  went  on  to  point  out 
that  all  other  races  work  together(giving  Jews,  Mexicans, 
Asians  as  examples)  and  that  “blacks  do  not  have  any  one. 
They  do  not  even  have  each  other”.  I was  startled  to  see  that 
other  people  also  noticed  this  weakness  within  the  Black  com- 
munity. 1 thought  it  was  unfortunate.  For  a long  time  now,  1 
have  been  mulling  over  the  situation  of  my  people  in  America, 
and  1 had  an  overwhelming  feeling  to  reach  out  and  unite,  but 
I did  not  know  where  to  begin.  I have  decided  to  begin  with 
this  article. 

1 am  ready  to  change  things,  and  1 am  ready  to  join  with 
my  Black  brothers  and  sisters.  I think  we  all  need  one  another, 
and  1 think  together  we  can  build  up  the  Black  communities 
in  America.  We  have  to  start  somewhere.  Being  in  Amherst, 
Massachusetts,  1 believe  we  should  start  here.  Let’s  be  an 


example  to  others  and  unite.  There  is  strength  in  numbers. 
Ask  yourself  what  is  important  to  you.  My  people  are  impor- 
tant to  me.  Restoriing  the  Black  race  and  giving  our  communi- 
ty strength  is  important  to  me. Grooming  leaders  and  bestow- 
ing power  to  our  communities  is  important  to  me.  Knowledge 
is  power,  and  it  with  it  comes  strength. 

1 feel  so  proud  to  be  here.  I am  an  Afro-American  Studies 

major,  and  the  more  1 learn 
about  the  hardships  of  my 
people  the  more  compassion 
and  concern  I have  for  all 
Blacks.  There  are  days  1 see 
some  of  you  on  campus,  and  I 
just  want  to  hug  you  and  say 
I am  so  glad  we  are  here.  We 
are  here  getting  this  educa- 
tion. Let’s  kick  some  ass  with 
it.  Let’s  lift  up  our  people! 

The  suffering  and  struggles  of  our  ancestors  are  the  reason 
we  are  all  here.  They  are  the  reason  I do  not  have  to  waste  my 
energy  trying  to  break  down  walls  just  to  get  my  rights  as  a cit- 
izen. I want  to  make  them  proud  and  use  what  they  have 
passed  on  to  me.  We  are  strong  people.  We  have  endured 
more  than  my  heart  can  hold.  This  endurance  is  enough  to 
give  me  a special  bond  to  all  of  you. We  are  all  family  and 
considering  what  has  gone  on  in  history  that  could  very  well 
be  literally  not  just  figuratively. 

I know  some  of  you  are  saying  we  are  all  individuals,  and 
we  should  not  have  to  be  lumped  whith  all  Blacks.  To  you  I 
simply  say  look  at  your  skin.  We  are  all  Blacks  and  will  be 
seen  as  such  first  and  foremost.  Instead  of  letting  that  be  nega- 
tive, 1 dream  of  a time  when  we  can  be  brothers  and  sisters 
first,  hand  in  hand  helping  one  another  to  be  the  best  individu- 
als we  can  be. 


99 


I am  ready 
to  change  things. . . 


Imamu  Amiri  Baraka 


Calling  all  Black  People 
Calling  all  Black  People 
Man,  woman,  child 

Wherever  you  are,  calling  you,  urgent,  come  in 
Black  People,  come  in,  wherever  you  are, 
urgent 
calling  you, 

calling  all  Black  People, 
calling  all  Black  People, 
come  in. 

Black  People, 
come  on  in. 


3 B Nommo  News 


FROM  THE  SOUTH  TO  THE  NORTH 


The  Augusta  Savage  Art  Gallery  presents 
From  the  South  to  the  North,  an  exhibit  which 
celebrates  the  rural  South  and  Black  railroad 
workers  who  worked  on  the  rails  before 
mechanization. 

From  the  South  to  the  North,  a collection  of 
photographs  and  sculptures,  is  a collabora- 
tion between  the  University  of  Massachusetts 
at  Amherst  African  American  Studies  depart- 
ment faculty  members  Cynthia  Packard  and 
Dorrance  Hill. 

Hill’s  metal  sculptures  celebrate  the  rural 
South  and  Black  workers  who  continued  to 
labor  in  the  South  after  slavery  was  abol- 
ished. Clifton  Johnson’s  photographs  capture 
the  essence  of  these  workers  on  film.  The 
New  England  photographs  are  from  the 
Homes  Brothers  Collection,  which  is  owned 
by  the  Ashfield  Historical  Society,  located  in 
Ashfield,  MA.  The  photographs  of  the  South 
were  courtesy  of  the  Jones  Library  of 
Amherst,  MA. 

Sandra  West,  Nommo  correspondent, 
states  that  this  exhibit  is  “refreshing  and  nec- 
essary. It  honestly  tells  [our]  story... [the 
exhibitl  is  dedicated  to  the  people  in  the 
photographs  and  their  descendants...” 

The  exhibit  will  run  from  September  28th, 
1992  to  October  30th,  1992  from  1:00  - 7:00 
p.m.  in  the  Augusta  Savage  Gallery. 


The  Brotherhood  of  Iota  Phi  Theta  Fraternity  Inc. 

BETA-BETA  CHAPTER 

CHALLENGES  YOU 

or  your  organization  to  join 

the  500  Club 


We,  the  brothers  of  Iota  Phi  Theta  Fraternity,  Inc.  pledge  to  donate  $500  as  well  as 
500  hours  of  community  service  work  during  the  1992-1993  academic  year. 

For  more  information  regarding  the  500  club  please  contact: 

Manuel  Alves:  665-8627  or  Jose  Corporon:  546-2789 
10  YEARS  OF  SERVING  OUR  COMMUNITY 


VOICES  IN  THE 
WILDERNESS  OF  LOST  EYES 


The  simple  truth,  that’s 
all  we  want,  the  simple  truth 
is  all  we  ask  for. 

Why  did  they  have  to 
start  a war  in  the  Persian 
Gulf?  Who  benefits? 

why  puerto  rico 

look  like  new  york?  why  ricans 

look  like  everyone? 

why  drug  addicts  rob 
they  mother  & why  drug  deal- 
ers kill  their  brother? 


is  it  me,  or 

would  George  Bush  look  perfect  in 
a ku  klux  klan  hood? 


Nommo  News 


Uprise 

from  the  screaming 
baby  cries 
from  the  open  course 
stench  of  the  slums 
from  the  myriad  media 
prison  of  lies 
from  the  deadbeat  reactionary 
links  & ties 
from  the  streetcorner 
straight  jacket  of  false  hopes 
& misdirected  opportunity 
from  the  fucked  up  stimuli 
of  rot  gut  booze  ^ narcotics 
that  are  nothing  but  genocide 
a sty  in  the  eye 
of  a healthy  vision  of  survival 
from  the  operating  table 
of  culture  and  rape  miscegenation 
from  the  empty  hump  reactionary 
jerk  water  of  internal  exploitation 
to  build  a revolutionary  nation 
of  workers  placing  humanity 
back  into  the  hands 
of  humans 


Tony  Medina,  Puerto  Rican  poet,  was  bom  on  Jan.  10, 
1966  in  the  South  Bronx,  New  York. 
Currently  living  in  Harlem,  is  presently  working  on 
various  cultural-political-literary  projects. 
Medina  has  given  Nommo  News  permission  to  reprint 
a few  of  his  poems 

from  his  personal  anthology  of  poetry  entitled 
Emerge  and  See,  ©1991. 

This  selection  of  poetry  is  in  the  wake  of  the  1992 
Presidential  Election. 

GET  OUT  AND  VOTE! 


DR.  TUTU’S  EMOTIONAL  & INSPIRATIONAL  VISIT 


WHERE  ARE  YOU  GOING? 


Gwendolyn  Wilson- Stokes 


Where  are  you  going  my  son? 

Why  do  you  want  to  stand  on  that  corner 
with  your  homework  undone? 

What’s  that  you  say,  you  don’t  need  to  learn, 
when  you  can  stand  here  and  make  more  money 
than  I can  earn. 

You  could  pay  cash  for  a fancy  new  car, 
because  your  money  is  long  and  will 
take  you  far. 

Is  this  all  you  want  out  of  life? 

Can’t  you  see  what  you  sell  cause  pain 
and  strife. 


Oct  24 
Oct  28 
Oct  31 

Nov  6* 
Nov  19 


Jeans^J-shirt  Party 
Mpvie.nieht  Mo’  Money 

^ ' ^ffor  community  children) 


idep  Party 

Entrepreminal  Conference 


*DcJte  si^ject  to  t^ange 


For  more  informatigj^  call  545-2426 


My  son,  in  order  to  know  where  you  are  going  - 
you  must  learn  where  you  have  been. 

How  our  ancestors  fought  hard  for  our 
freedom  to  win. 

Stay  in  school  and  learn  you  must. 

Have  faith  in  God,  and  place  your  trust. 

Get  off  that  corner  and  hit  those  books. 

Don’t  stand  there  with  that  bewildered  look! 
Our  time  is  coming,  I can’t  tell  you  when. 

But,  to  know  where  you  are  going, 
you  gotta  know  where  we’ve  been. 


Write  for 

Nommo 


We  are  currently  accepting  articles 
concerning  YOU 

For  information  call: 

Michele  Montier o at  545-5 Ml 


7 


Nommo  News 


1992-1 993 

Nommo  News 

CollMtive 

Editor-in-Chief 

Michele  Monteiro 


Managing  Editor 

Lakeisha  Criswell 


Photographer 

Foluke  Robles 


Business  Manager 

Rachael  Splaine 

Recording  Secretary 

Joanne  Hunt 


Production  Manager 

Jeff  Lawrence 

Production  Assistants 

Shani  Gay-Chen  & Ellen  Syrket 


It’s  time  to  educate  our  people  — NOMMO  — with  the  power  of  the  writtten  word 
It’s  time  to  be  productive  and  produce  — NOMMO  — with  the  power  of  the  spoken  word 

We,  the  staff  at  Nommo,  have  made  a committment  to  adequately  represent  our  people  in  this  medi- 
um. We  therefore  continually  seek  your  support.  We  ask  that  you  submit  articles,  poems  and  editori- 
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Name 


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Address 


City/State/Zip 


103  New  Africa  House 
University  of  Massachusetts 
Amherst,  MA  01003 

Volume  XXIV,  Issue  1 (413)  545-5141  November*December  1992 


NOMMO  is  a Dogan  word  meaning  the  power  of  the  spoken  and  written  word. 


Let  the  Leaders  Lead 

Mighty  Zayruss 

Leadership  is  the  ability  to  lead  and  to  guide.  It  should  be  quite  easy  to  acquiesce,  that  on  colleges,  many  student 
leaders  must  evolve  to  formulate  a positive  future.  It  can  also  be  assumed  that  in  the  future  we  as  students  will  be 
legislators , entrepreneurs,  developers,  etc..  The  beginnings  are  right  here  in  school.  Everyone  should  get  involved  in 
activities  and  programs  that  can  assist  in  future  endeavors.  First  of  all  it  could  be  beneficial  to  one's  personal  growth 
or  for  preparation  in  a corporate  life.  Secondly,  leadership  can  help  liberate  one's  mind  from  following  and  conforming 
to  already  accepted  views  and  theories  of  others.  A leader  establishes  his/her  own  trail.  Lastly,  leadership  puts 
emphasis  on  being  creative  in  nature  for  a trade,  for  relating  to  masses,  and  for  designing  a way  of  life  fit  for  a certain 
style.  Be  a leader  and  be  true  and  honest  with  one's  self. 

Unfortunately  the  subject  of  leadership  on  this  campus  of  the  University  of  Massachusetts  is  bogus.  There  needs  to 
be  more.  As  1 wander  through  some  of  the  facilities  where  students  congregate,  there  is  an  utter  feeling  that  people  are 
happy  with  mediocrity.  Yet,  fees  are  going  up,  and  administration  clearly  dictates  the  rules  to  be  abided  to  like  a 
commanding  Big  Brother  watching.  Who  is  the  regulator  for  the  students?  Which  group  keeps  the  students  coveted 
perspectives  alive?  Who  shows  the  lost  which  way  to  go?  Who  informs  the  newcomers  of  the  rights  and  wrongs  of  the 
campus  we  share?  Ultimately,  who  informs  the  blind  and  ignorant  about  the  intolerable  social  issues  of  racism,  sexism 
and  discrimination  that  keep  people  apart?  Has  this  campus  grown  unconscious  to  face  reality?  Communication  is  the 
key,  and  not  just  rallying  to  save  the  kegs. 

This  campus  seems  like  a big  "Happy  Days"  show  with  no  Fonz  to  keep  the  p»eople  in  line.  At  the  same  time  there 
are  a few  Pottsies  and  Ralph  Mouths  who  are  faces  in  the  crowd.  The  same  people  who  greet  another  with  "hello"  on 
campus  do  not  do  the  same  at  a large  party.  Remember  that  we  as  students  are  a targeted  group.  We  pay  more  and  more 
money  to  go  here  and  receive  less  and  less  benefits.  Not  to  mention  the  fact  that  resources  on  campus  and  the  five  college 
area  are  underused  and  no  one  will  tell  you  because  you  must  apply  yourselves.  Be  wide  awake  students  and  try  not 
to  fall  into  a symbolic  sleep  because  when  you  are  in  the  real  world  you  can't  be  a follower.  Don't  simply  accept 
everything  that  is  told,  investigate  and  inquire  to  higher  levels.  In  life,  everything  is  fair.  So  take  control  and  be  leaders 
so  society  will  not  run  you  down. 

Formulate  an  attitude  which  moderates  a disdain  for  mediocrity.  Mediocrity  is  excepted  for  the  members  of  our 
generation  anywhere.  Do  not  follow  other  false  leaders  and  kings  who  snake  out  of  the  wood-works  who  have  decided 
what  will  be  beneficial  to  you,  take  a stand.  ^ 


AN  OPEN  LETTER  TO  OUR  INCARCERATED  BROTHERS 
Greetings  Brothers, 

We,  the  staff  of  Nommo,  acknowledge  you  and  thank  you  for  your  support  and  your  correspondences.  It  is 
good  for  us  to  know  that  we  have  touched  you. 

This  is  not  so  much  a letter,  as  it  is  an  invitation  we  wish  to  extend.  If  you  write,  or  know  someone  who 
does,  submit  to  Nommo.  Through  any  number  of  literary  forms  you  can  show  to  everyone  the  eloquent 
emotions,  opinions  and  teachings  which  you  have  shown  us  in  your  letters. 

You  are  a vital  voice  in  our  community  and  your  perspective  is  very  important  to  us.  We  look  to  you  as 
you  look-  to  us  for  mutual  elevation.  Knowledge  is  key. 

So  send  in  any  poetic  thoughts  or  enlightening  articles  and  have  them  alongside  others  written  by  powerful 
brothers  and  sisters.  We  look  forward  to  continued  relations,  and  until  we  speak  again,  Nommo  bids  you 
peace  and  again,  we  thank  you. 


Yours  in  the  struggle  to  uplift  our  race.  The  Board  and  Staff  of  Nommo  News.*^ 


Black  Child 

Full  of  life,a  mother’s  bronzed  breast 
More  rich  and  dear 
The  fruits  of  her  wOittb 
Beautiful 

is  the  soothing  voice 

Gentle  and  Blessed,  the  hand  that  caresses 
the  perfectly  round,  brown  belly 
Sweet  is  the  cry  of  a newborn  son 
to  his  fathers  ears 
Soft,  the  little  mouth  that  nurses 
It  speaks  no  fear 
It  speaks  no  hate 

Yet,  it  speaks  not  of  love,  but  communicates 
An  instinctive  longing 
Tiny,  are  the  Black  child’s  hands  and  feet 
diat  will  later  aid  his  cause 
Searching  are  his  eyes 
Hars^  prepared  to  listen 
Oblivious  is  the  mind  that  will  direct 
his  path 

So,  innocent  and  warm 
cradled  in  Black  loving  aims 
Unknowing 

of  the  trails  his  Black  future  will  hold . 
in  the  cradle  of  a frigid  white  world*  f 

By  Yatisha  Both  well 


BERSTORY-by  BORN 

Fuck  ihe  welfare  system! 

Yot  They  got  you  it*  check 
You  aoM  your  self  esteem 
so  you  could  give  diem  respect 
They  treat  you  like  a stepchild 
and  you  know  that  it’s  true* 

You  canT  talk  shit 
you  know  what’s  up 
mey’Il  cut  you  off  too. 

You  wait  and  wait  and  wait  and  wait 
you  wait  for  that  check* 

But  in  his  offices  he  smiles 
your  files  read  REJECT 
You*ve  got  no  voice 
they  took  your  choice 
get  dressed  and  take  a look. 

You  open  your  shirt 
and  pull  up  your  skirt 
You ‘re  on  Ihe  streets  to  hook. 
You’re  on  the  stroll 
and  damn  it’s  cold 
Your  baby  cried  and  cried 
a shiilling  tone 
he’s  home  alone 
at  4 a*m,  he  died 
They  blame  it  on  an  ailment* 
You  blame  it  on  his  hunger* 

I blame  it  on  that  damn 
SYSTEM 
whose  finger 


you  wer 
under* 


NOVEMBER»DECEMBER 


The  White  Man  Who  Never  Knew  My  Pain 

by  Yatisha  Bothwell 

Sometimes  I cry for  Jesus.  Not  the  real  one,  but  the  one  on  T.V,  with  the  long  stringy  hair  and 

painfully  penetrating  blue-green  eyes.  I know  this  is  not  real.  I couldn’t  figure  out  what  compelled  me 
to  cry  for  this  white  man,  this  actor,  as  he  was  being  led  to  the  cross  to  be  killed.  A white  man....  Ironi- 
cally, these  were  the  same  tears  I cried  for  the  torment,  for  the  pain,  and  for  the  lives  of  my  own  people- 
Black  People. 

I guess  it  was  actually  seeing  the  image  of  the  this  white  man  hanging  from  the  cross.  Hanging,  like  my 
brothers  and  sister  had  from  trees  barely  hanging  on  like  rotten  fruit,  making  me  see  the  reality.  You 
don’t  want  to  believe,  and  hope  with  every  inch  of  your  being  that  these  callous  acts  never  happened,  but 
(hey  did.  It’s  for  real. 

I can’t  say  its  compassion  or  pity  I feel  for  “snow  white  Jesus.’’  His  disgust  that  settles  in  my  stomach. 
At  this  image  and  what  it  represents.  Every  time  I think  of  my  people  kidnapped  and  shackled  together, 
bloody  feet  walking  either  toward  eternal  enslavement  of  death,  my  heart  aches.  And  then  there’s  the 
cross.  This  white  man  who  really  wasn’t  a white  man  at  all.  who  meant  something.  Were  they  in  some 
way  trying  to  prove  they,  too  had  suffered?  Was  this  white  man,  an  innocent  man,  who  was  jailed  and 
beaten,  and  who  went  to  the  cross  in  shame  with  thorns  piercing  head,  and  who  died  a painful  death 
somehow  kindred  with  our  pain?  In  the  same  fashion  were  tortured  and  beaten,  shamed  by  the  very 
nakedness  exposing  the  color  of  our  skin,  experienced  suffering  that  pierced  us  to  our  every  souls  and 
finally,  finally  took  on  a second  death,  the  first  being  bondage;  they  aspire  to  prove  he  partook  on  all  of 
this  too. 

Though  this  man,  white  Jesus,  moves  me  to  tears.  I’m  still  not  convinced.  The  actor,  his  image,  does  not 
lead  me  to  believe  his  pain  is  my  own.  The  actor  is  a symbol-something  to  assure  us  that  they  know  and 
understand.  I cry  because  they  don’t  know.  They  don’t  understand.  They  never  will.^ 


NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 


M«MI 

Bl- 

iHw 

DA  'X'  (and  I'm  guilty  too)  Nikki-Jo  Blair 

That  sit  on  Frats 

Da  X da  X da  X da  X da  X da  X da  X 

Are  Kings 

"Yo  da  X is  the  shizznit!" 

Where  tall  tokens 

"Yo  I'll  meet  you  at  Da  X!" 

That  play  with  their  orange  balls 

"That's  the  ho  Tmma  hit  up  next!" 

And  don't  get  blue 

"All  these  triflin  Niggas  want  is  money  and  sex!" 

And  claim  that  they  are  but 

And  there's  a strobelight  for  those  with  a color  complex 

Aren't  true  to  you 

And  there  are  those  that  hold  up  the  walls  and  flex 

Are  Princes 

While  flat  asses  and  blonde  hair  make  the  sistahs  perplexed 

And  the  one's  that  choose  to  stand  alone 

Are  often  overlooked 

Every  Friday  in  the  comer  of  Southwest 

And  end  up  seeking  comfort 

Where  Niggas  are  displayin  their  very  best 

From  girls  that  overhook 

One  Nation  Under  A Groove 

Come  on  Niggas  move 

DaX 

DaX 

Micro  mini  skirt  wearin 

Where  the  quota  kids  unwind 

Body  displayin 

From  their  hard  worked  week 

Bmthas  approach  you 

As  you  watched 

And  they  ain't  playin 

All  My  Children 

The  D]  plays  the  dub 

You  missed 

And  you  begin  to  rub 

All  yo  classes 

Your  fat  ass 

And  all  yo  mamas 

Up  against  Brutha  Malcolms  face... 

Is  gonna  kick  all  yo  asses 

What  a disgrace 

"Did  he  take  you  to  Da  XT' 

"Hell  no  in  the  middle  of  December 

Da  X da  X da  X da  X da  X da  Xda  X 

When  if  s twenty  below!" 

How  much  breath  does  it  take  to  say,  "Da  X" 

"Like  did  your  Negro  friend 

How  much  breath  does  it  take  to  say 

Take  you  to  the  XT' 

"The  Malcolm  X Cultural  Center"  or 

"Yeah,  but  like  the  party  was  like  totally  dead 

"The  Malcolm  X Center"  or  simply 

So  we  went  to  my  room  and  jumped  in  the  bed." 

"The  Malcolm  X" 

The  Bmtha  worked  too  hard 

DaX 

to  be 

Where  fat  cats 

X'ed  ♦ 

1 NOVFMBER*DFCEMBER  1 

CHARACTER  DEFECTS 

Gwendolyn  Wilson-Stokes 

1,  want,  what  I want,  when  I want  it, 

\ ou  see. 

Some  other  time  is  not  good  enough  for  me. 

Your  opinion  is  not  in  agreement  with  mine. 
1'hen  you  are  definitely  wrong,  I am  sure 
you'll  fine. 

Other  p>eople  is  my  aim  to  please. 

Always  keeping  their  minds  at  ease. 

I’m  super  sensitive  about  criticism  of  me. 

The  pain  in  my  heart  is  more  than  it  ought  to 
be. 

reeling  that  the  world  owes  me  something. 
But  in  order  to  collect  what's  mine,  I do 
nothing. 

I'm  so  very  hard  to  please. 

I,  cannot  except  your  humble  deeds. 

I,  should  wear  a sign  that  says  don't  tread 
on  me. 

Because,  people  always  take  advantage,  you 
see. 

I'm  such  a negative  person,  a real  live 
Mr.  Gloom  and  Doom. 

When  I die  and  go  to  heaven,  with  my  luck 
there'll  be  no  room. 

Character  defects  doesn't  apply  to  me. 

I ' ni  oh  so  perfect,  can't  you  see. 

Oops!!  Character  defect.,  f 


W.G.  Selector 


I have  been  taught  that  white  is  right 

And  my  sisters  have  suffered  from  my  ignorance 

I would  rather  kiss  her  paper  thin  lips 
I would  rather  gaze  at  her  colorless  pale  skin 
I would  rather  grasp  her  boney  ass  ^an  pursue  the  original 
woman 

Hey,  I am  a W.  G.  Selector 
That  is  my  job 
I select  W.G.  s 

I don't  want  a real  women 
'They  are  much  to  hard  to  handle 

I need  a W.G.  who  will  grant  my  every  wish 
Even  if  it  is  against  my  best  interests 

I need  a W.G.  who  would  tell  all  of  her  friends  how  good  I was 
So  they  can  come  get  some  of  this  too 

Time  is  money  Jack 

And  I ain't  got  the  time  or  the  money  to  be  dealing  with 
Gold  Diggin  Sisters 

Yes,  I spend  even  more  pursuing  W.G.s 

But,  but,  but. . .'They're  worth  it  I 

Where  else  can  I find  a girl  that  loves  me  like  she  does 

She  loves  the  way  I dance 
She  loves  the  way  I sing 
She  loves  the  way  I play  basketball 
She  loves  the  way  I wax  that  ass 

No  she's  not  racist 

One  of  her  sister's  friends  best  friend  is  Black 

Don't  get  me  wrong  now  I love  my  Black  sisters 
But  I just  don't  like  'em 

No'  It  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  fact  that  they  don't  like  me 
I just  don't  get  along  with  them 

Hey,  I am  a W.G.  Selector 
That's  my  job 
I select  W.G.s 


hy  Uncle  Sellout 


NOVEMBER'DECEMBER 


Untitled 

by  Yatisha  Both  well 

Never,  have  I spent  a night  so  conscious  of  colors.  Each 
color  filled  me  with  a different  emotion.  Black,  yellow  and 
brown  feet  marching  together,  fists  upraised  in  protest  and 
rebellion  was  an  enpowerment  and  filled  me  with  pride. 
White,  angry  faces  staring  down  from  now  secure  bulwark 
of  Washington  Tower  filled  me  with  animosity.  They  hazy, 
blue-black  night  sky  we  met  under  had  an  air  of  some  sort 
of  fraudulent  clam,  but  still  uncertainty.  What  would  this 

night  hold? 

We,  not  being  lulled  into  ambivalence,  but  sure  of  our  stand 
united  to  support  a brother  who  I am  appalled  and  heartbro- 
ken to  say  has  been  victimized  under  the  terrible  institution 
of  racism.  Did  our  fathers  pave  the  way  on  for  us  (1992!) 
to  have  to  stumble  alone  the  same  rocky  path  of  oppression 
they  so  long  age  endured?  How  dare  racism  show  its  ugly, 
white  face  on  this,  a night  of  solidarity  and  peace.  Yet,  old 
man  racism  was  there,  his  cold,  white  hands  a stronghold 
gripping  the  hearts  and  minds  of  his  ignorant,  white  chil- 
dren, and  his  mouth  spewing  foul  words  of  hate.  HATE. 
And  when  old  man  racism  got  a slap  on  the  hand  and  his 
doctrine  and  followers  were  challenged,  they  claimed  the 
tables  had  turned.  Retaliation  and  defense  should  not  be 
mistaken  for  aggression.  But  maybe  it’s  about  that  time  to 
turn  a little  more  than  the  tables;  possibly  turning  over  the 

tables. 

And  they  claim  not  to  understand  this  anger.  There’s  no 
displacement  here,  they  know  the  directions  and  the  reasons 
why.  We  have  for  too  long  lived  under  the  foot  of 


continued  on  page  13. 


NOVEMBER  •DECEMBER 


It's  a E thang! 


STEP 


Corey  & Doug  Greer  tell  all 
other  frats  to  step  back! 


James  asks  the  audience  "Have 


I 


NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 


Corena  Young,  introduces  her  Sorors 


at  the  Malcolm  X.  Cultural  Center 


SHOW 


Ladies  of  Sigma  Gamma  Rho, 
display  hand  signs 


NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 


It's  a E thang! 


10 


Dr,  Leonard  Jeffries 


Dr.  Jeffries  teaches  the  press 


Dr.  Leonard  Jeffries  with  the  Brothers  of 
Phi  Beta  Sigma  Paternity 


A Systems  Analysis 
VS. 

A Paralysis  of  Analysis 


before  he  answers  a student's  question 


SPERKS  THE  TRUTH! 


NOVEMBER'DECEMBER 


Betrayed 


Hey!  Guess  who  I saw  at  that  black  rally  today? 


Abbot. 


Yeah!  And  he  was  making  a speech!' 


' Idunno. 

'' '21'' - 

' shit?! 


Nah.  Too  many  people. 


Did  he  see  ^ 

s'*  S N>Xs 


/ 


iieViy?'  . <■  ^ ' 

**  sv  ^ '"  -J  % ■<.  s*.s  is*.  ' ^ ^ ^ vw  sS^  ^ 

Sonr(etl»jii^ab<mtMakolm.X...^*a^  ' 

most  white  people  are  racist!  ■"'  .•'’  .•  f ■'■'  /'■■'■■■■ 

' y 5' ' man! 

Yeah!!  He  goes,  "Racists  Hke;fef^l»Wif«^ed^:^<»  non-threatening  Negroes  to  call  their  'black  friends', 

but  they  can't  stand  the  loud,  uppity  ^ 

^ J >\'n  ^ •'s  s*-*  •*  ■'s^  <V  <■■< 'sX  <><V  ■•••'  <•■••  : • ■'• 

" j ' ' ' " ' He  said,  "niggers"  ?? 

Yeah!!  He  goes,  ''We're gonna1)e  th*'4d«d,  pKW  uppity  they  love  ta  hate!' 


Man. 


No  shit. 


I thoughbhe  was  cooL 


ipiUii 


Yeah,  I know!  I fucking  l^feihim  a Bon  Jovi  tape  lik^  lasSstSve^  y"  kno\y?  J^t  I guess  I'm  "racist",  or 
"brainwashed'-,  or  something,  right?!!  %. 


Often,  at  the  moments 
Communication  ends. 


Mm  1. 


<,S?N  <•  SS 

\S 


- 14  . . -s 

different. 

sssXs' 

- "f-C 

^ •* 

*/  f 

X#'  . ' 

\'^''  ''  ^ *•  " ;: 

- ^ 

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L,A.  Williams 
Creative  Writing 


NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 


II•MM 

B 


So  You  Think  You're  A Man 

Jeff  A.  Lawrrence 

So  you  think  you're  a man 
There  you  stand 
Holding  your  crotch 
Marking  another  notch 
On  the  belt  of  women  with  whom  you  slept 
Think  in  your  mind  that  you  were  the  best 
She  tried  not  to  laugh  because  she  gave  you  respect 
After  you  were  done  you  got  up  and  stepp>ed 
No  holding.  No  talking,  you  just  up  and  left 
She  felt  alone  and  very  upset 
Because  she  gave  you  respect  that  you  did  not  give  back 


Is  raising  your  child  with  all  ties  severed. 
The  sneakers  on  your  feet  cost  $125. 

Your  kids  are  at  home  eating  9-lives 
The  gold  rope  and  the  ring  that  spans  your  hand 
The  BMW  you  whip  and  the  women  you  get 
I'm  willing  to  bet  you  get  mad  respect. 

But  answer  this  question  what  will  you  do 
When  your  children  grow  up  and  say  Fuck  You. 


You  ran  to  your  friends  to  proclaim  you're  the  mack 
Lying  and  saying  that  she  was  not  all  that 
They're  all  laughing  and  giving  you  dapp 
Because  they  thought  you  were  the  man 
So  you  think  you're  a man 
There  you  stand 
With  money  in  your  pockets 
A 40  in  your  hand 

While  you  have  children  across  town 
With  nothing  to  eat  and  no  shoes  on  their  feet. 
They're  holding  their  stomachs  as  they  call  your  name 
You're  out  with  some  women  running  a new  game. 
The  mother  whom  you  said  you  would  love  forever 


NOMMO! 

The  Pomer  of 
the 

LUritten  LLlord 


So  you  think  you're  a man 
There  you  stand 
Chillin 
Buggin 

On  the  college  campus  you  run  around 
Talking  to  a girl  from  a neighboring  town 
Your  conceit  is  large  because  she  thinks  you're  fly 
She's  sweet,  neat,  petite  and  in  Junior  High. 

You  deal  drugs  and  in  your  room  sits  a fat  gun 
1 ask  you  "why,"  you  say  "just  for  fun" 

So  around  campus  with  the  gun  you  roam 
Talking  mad  shit  and  holding  your  bone 
You  have  everyone  around  thinking  you're  the  worst 
But  that's  just  a front  for  when  in  Amherst. 

In  school  you're  hard  and  can  hold  your  own 
And  nothing  but  a sucker  when  back  home. 

So  you  think  you're  a man 
There  you  stand 
Looking  hard 
But  it  seems 

What  you  view  as  a man 
Most  view  as  a bad  dream,  f 


I NOVEMBER«DECEMBER 


Norman  Domino 


Hwllllllw 

IB 


In  responses  to  the  responses: 

I being  a black  student  on  this  campus  have  seen  that  there  are  alot  of  want  to  right  whites. 
Through  out  my  years  of  study,  Fve  also  seen  how  blacks  get  dirty  looks  through  white 
books. 

I was  approached  by  none  of  the  individuals  that  put  the  signs,  nor  was  I seen  by  the  Asian 
student  that  knows  the  time.  BE  REAL!!!!!!!!!!! 

I am  black  lethal  from  wrong  way  avenue.  I graduated  from  the  Street  Academy  with  a de- 
gree in  hustlers  educate.  Also,  acquired  a certificate  from  white  high  school  U.S.A.  DO  YOU 
KNOW  ME???????????? 

Come  and  Talk  to  me!!!!!!!!!! 

Tm  am  the  sun  of  the  funk  general the  grand  master  of  the  down  low  role not  a 

slave,  but  situations  got  me  strapped 

how  low  can  you  go!!!!!!!!!???????!???  I fear  no  man,  woman  or  beast they  call  me  crimi- 

nal!!!!?!! EX)  YOU  KNOW  ME?????? 

I've  died  many  times I've  saved  many  lives,  call  me  the  man  with  nine  lives DO 

YOU  KNOW  ME??????!!??? 

I have  to  keep  out  of  the  cold  knowing  that  too  much  exposure  will  give  me  the  kill-  chills. 

Now,  I ask  you  again, 

DO  YOU  KNOW  ME?????!!!!! 


Note:  this  a direct  response  to  the  "what  white  privilege  means"  posters  that  I saw  all  over 
this  campus. 


by  Helping 


i NOVEMBER*DECEMBER 


//f/Oo 


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