Ui-ideekiy pc^roj- Wack"e£" v^if\eP5 *•'Vi£Y^0*l4kQt{< ^ i? CJrr*s2?l^/ Miss I'ameln ( lark, hi. I.mulctilali'. h la., freshman, apol¬ ogies Jm hoi tunning her piny, "three ( heers." I he /tiny, a literary piece oj merit, isn'l tunning as a consei/uence oj the fuel ihnl u lol of mi nils hiiven I \el been I i beta li'il. II e're nailing. Our aim is to perioilicnlly injeil somi' bind, thought into this great while conset valive bastion <>l pseuilo-inlellei luulism ami tub rah. II e re lolil l<>o much newspupet spnee wus ilemleil lo liluck (nee \egro) llislor\ II eel,. (Juile the contrary. II hut folk hail best realize is lhal every week is black history week. I he liliuk ^little ills' f Ili¬ um e inlenils lit keep this upper-m osl in the mi nils of llie general popu luce. I his I nirersily. this community, this country citniiol ufforil lo neglect llie wenllh of artistry lhal is black peopb'. lilack stuilenls on this cam¬ pus recognize litis, hlnck people everywhere recognize litis. lieiiil on. ilig us anil ilig your¬ selves. -I . I. This book, Sine lllnck I'ihUs. is now avail¬ (olluge lliunks nil those utilfts who respoiuleil so munificently lo inn- able in East Lansing book stores. Richard W. last request Jin material. II e can still use \lOHh. slior.t stories, poems, Thomas, a student at MSU, has a large selec¬ /flays, whatnots anil especially hnmor (though that's usually asking for tion of his poems featured in the book. Thomas is said to be one of the finest black poets trouble). I he regular collage staff (noticing opportunity's knock) uses of his generation. this special issue—all writing, art anil eiliting ilone by hlnck sluilents— to encourage all sluilents to utile for (olluge all the lime. Iton'l nail for a special issue—contribute now! II rile: )our l ocal ( allure I nltures. Ito il now. N I N Y. POETS co-directors special graphics executive editor frankie thornton tfavid gilbert chalita brossett michael oneal cover photos, pp. 2. 3, photos pp 3. 6. 7 8. photo, p 4 8. 9 11 chalita brossett . gerrv bray wayne martn . bob ivins 4 art. pp 2. 3. 4. 5. 6- chalita brossett graphics editor sandy moffat calendar. p 10 . jim yousling art. p. 12 sharon dk-key Copyright 1969 Michigan State News R. Baird SHI "MAN, i.Jh Tuesday, February 25, 1969 3 Functional Im of Black EDITOR'S NOTE: This essay is reprinted with permission from the publication of a Hearing before the Special Sub-Committee on the Arts and Humanities of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the United States Senate, Ninetieth Congress, Second Session, July 23,1968. By RONALD BAILEY s i \ih is t\n illl\(,s History, especially as I have known the dis¬ cipline. has always been rather narrowly de¬ she picked up In licht t-s tenia \ fined. or at least narrowly construed. I have only the details remain always seen it as that branch of knowledge to he worker! out that records and explains, in a systematic in samba time and chronological fashion, past events in the . or at i pane ma petting a tan unfolding of human activities. Included as a squinting against ton bright reflections major component of this recording is perhaps oj little soccer sans filmed on smut something of a philosophical explanation of the and brown boys cause and origin of the events themselves. selli iig J'lowers a nd fru it It is becoming increasingly evident, in my opinion, that one is no longer to be allowed the but the evening neus luxury of being able to so clearly "segmentize" cancelled carnival this year the various branches of knowledgeable en¬ and rio just won't be the same deavor. Traditional disciplines are over-lapping, since those ragged people on the hill and necessarily so, and our efforts to accept, have blown up corcovado adapt, or fight this fact, as the case may be. must begin with this realization. —Jill U itherspooi "History is the matrix of our very lives." 1 From it. we gain some conception of the ideas and modes of existence we must live with. History lends some-continuity to life. Similar¬ ly, we are in a fashion trapped by manifesta¬ tions of our civilization and culture over which we nave had very little control. As we reflect on the world situation today and extend our re¬ flections to include the world as we would want This has led me to consider some aspects of tomorrow, we must consider the facts of the The implications of a strong, positive self- this interrelation rather than attempt to con¬ past. History, therefore, enables one to better image rooted in a historically valid knowledge relate to the reality of things. struct a heavily-documented, scholarly jaunt of the Afro-American existence for black self- The study of black history has assumed a into some phase of history, which would prob¬ ably, upon having been read by an historian, development of other ethnic groups in Amer¬ much greater proportion of my interest over the ica. as compared to the black minority, has been be considered seemingly plagiarized and rather last year. It is not surprising that my increased sometimes attributed to the fact that they came interest seems to parallel that of the entire superficial at best. My primary aim is to dis¬ to America with a history and culture still cuss the functional implications of the in¬ country. Some writers have stated "that today intact and capable of supporting them as they creased study of black history to our social we are witnessing somewhat of a boom in Negro weathered the storms that all ethnic groups order. Because of the current debate in the history, a boom which shows no signs of abat¬ must, to become fully incorporated into the area of social inquiry, the term "function" ing. If one refers back to mv definition of American mainstream. For black Americans, should be clarified. For the purposes of this history above, such occurrences as the boom" however, attempts to re-establish this heritage paper, function can be defined as that activity in the study of black history can not be without and counteract the abortive effects of an almost which is considered useful for the achievement cause. This leads to. in a sense, another obser¬ of certain purposes. This definition, at best, complete separation from it are only now be¬ vation, albeit inexperienced, that I have made is still rather hazy but hopefully its meaning ginning to bear fruit. The harvest time is right, about much that is called history: a seeming and the fruit is ripe! will sharpen in the use of the concept. preoccupation with the causes of various events, with little or no major attempts to equally treat While the self-image enhancement of black their effects. By far the most fundamental notion that has Americans is probably most important, the struck some Americans about the topic on which effects that the increased study of black his¬ This may serve to introduce the purpose of this paper. Contradictions seem somewhat ap¬ I am writing is that the study of black history tory has had in restructuring the frame of ref¬ fulfills the very important function of aiding erence used by whites to control racial rela¬ parent in the rise of black history; Some schol¬ tions in America is clearly a significant consid¬ in the development of a strong, positive self- ars hold that "the current civil rights revolu¬ tion has brought with it a heightened interest image among black people in America. Any eration. Without even a sketchy knowledge of in the Negro's role in the American past,"3 discussion of this aspect really tends to be an in- black history, many conservative and, in¬ while others seem to imply that it has rather group discussion for black people, but possibly deed, liberal whites are apt to think they are been the "growing interest in Africa and a re¬ others may be enlightened by listening in. doing black America a "favor" by tokenly in¬ discovery of the lost African heritage launched Perhaps the major tenet of the current con¬ tegrating schools, business corporations and cept of Black Power is this drive toward self- the like. If they were aware of the "real deal" the spread of black consciousness among young development and self-respect. in American history, they would readily admit civil rights militants."4 Upon reflection, the It is all but impossible to remember the num¬ that the blood, sweat, and tears of black Amer¬ two statements are not so much revealing of a ber of times I have heard both white and black icans have watered and enriched the soil of contradiction as they are of a different type of Americans deprecate the past and present role this country to such a great extent that black relationship. That is, it can hardy be gainsaid that the study of black history and the current of black people in this country. This was done people should own a major portion of the by whites and allowed by blacks because of ig- entire country. Is it not really the black man movement of "civil rights" are all but inex¬ norance-an ignorance that did not know of the who is doing the favor, that of allowing white tricably bound to each other. An understanding many riches contained in the African and Afro- America one more chance to do justice to a of one requres thorough consideration of the other. American experience. The rate at which black people graced through their toil for this coun¬ America has been sensitized to the many atro¬ try and the wrongs that an ungrateful country cities and injustices she has suffered may be has visited upon him9 mainly attributed to the completeness of this The second aspect of the study of black his¬ ignorance. This veil of ignorance is now being tory I wish to discuss is one that is international lifted and "even when one acknowledges how in scope Black history provides a needed link grotesquely slow is the pace at which black with the rest of the "third world—the humiliat¬ people are moving on to the American stage, ed and oppressed, the colonized and exploited, the knowledge of their history is still absolute¬ thereby fulfilling the function of stimulating ly indispensable as they proceed."5 the struggle for human rights. It is not a too It is psychologically important, I think, for easily discernable fact, especially when one black children to be systematically exposed employs the highly developed method of selec¬ to the history of their forefathers. To ask a tive perception as most Americans do. that the child to face the realities of American racism vast majority of the earth's humiliated and op¬ today, though often very subtle, in a state of pressed people in the last few centuries-have historical amnesia is tantamount to relegating been non-white, and their humiliation has been that child to a permanent second-class exis¬ the result of oppression by the white, mainly tence. It is both necessary and healthy that western world.6 black young have at least a historical over¬ That the role of America in this oppression view that will explain the existence of the has been nothing less than that of fearless lead- hatred and fear that they will inescapably see and feel in the black community. (continued on page 11) 4 Michigan State News, East Lansing, Michigan The summer By PHILIPS. HART of '67 proved to be the most violent and destructive one that this country and physical aspects of visibility. This is why. the theme of doctrine, and this involved the attempt to bring the white community around to recognizing the mental black, to see beyond the physical black Issfew! integration was once the central is still holding them back, and this " schizo¬ phrenia arises from the inescapable remind¬ ers of their vulnerability. 5 Black subordination and the reaction to it has been with this country since 1619. The has experienced internally, and served to History has shown that this ideal has proven notion of black awareness and a break from polarize forces even more than originally was to be repugnant to the white community and the white structure was given roots by the ex¬ the case. The hope for integration was rendered as Robert S. Browne pointed out. the black pressive leader. Marcus Garvey. the Black vet another rude blow, and on both sides (black community also has rejected this empty doc¬ Moses desiring to take his people back to their and white i there was the increasing cognizance trine as a result of the white's response. land of origin. The move was then to a Nation that hope indeed is a false illusion. And to hold Thus we have found ourselves upon a pre¬ of Islam in the 30's with Master W H D. Fard integration up as a hope is an illusion, which cipice of internal bifurcation in which not passing his message on to Ilijah Muhammed. if believed can only lead to delusion. That is. even the legal system can bring about needed who in turn converted' the black saint. Mal¬ we are only fooling ourselves by holding onto change. For the law of the land, founded by a colm X So the question of a separate black integration in both theory and or practice as a body of individuals with certain vested inter¬ (continued on page 5) ests in the perpetuation of their way of life panacea unless basic attitudes are changed. Whereas the disenchantment with integration has proven to be subjective in nature, i.e.. it has received a severe shock within the white is constructed in such a way a to discriminate community (which may be based upon the against certain segments of the population A ethnocentric assumption of how anyone could case-in-point is the Fourteenth Amendment, reject white values, rather than with the ulti¬ which was supposed to be a contribution to mate worth of such a reality' i. the black com¬ human freedom but instead. munity is moving toward the zenith of rejec¬ ' The history of the Fourteenth Amend¬ tion of such a doctrine, ergo, the arisal of black ment. prohibiting the states from de¬ nationalism. For there has occurred the mo¬ priving any person of life, liberty, or mentous realization by many integrated' Ne¬ property, epitomizes the ambiguity on groes that, in the U.S.. full integration can only- this score. As every educated person mean full assimilation-a loss of racial iden¬ knows, the Fourteenth Amendment has tity."1 This realization has served to cause a done precious little to protect Negroes mental negrescence' among many blacks with¬ and a tremendous amount to protect in many confines of society. This process of be¬ corporations.' 3 coming mentally' black springs from the physi¬ The educated, as well as the uneducated (or cal fact of blackness and the resultant rejec¬ perhaps I should say the uneducated and now tion of such persons so characterized by the so- the educated' blacks are coming to realize ciety-at-large. Talcott Parsons in The \egro more and more that to rely on the structure I merit-it n makes a good case, but misses the of society to implement needed change is basic point when he said that "The most serious engaging in empty realism. The uneducated difference of all. perhaps, is not color, as such, blacks have always been cognizant of their but the fact that historically the Negro has sad plight, while the educated few have not served as the primary symbol of inferiority 2 perceived their equally sad plight because To this I would say that the fact of blackness is they were not abstracting beyond their indi¬ the reason why such an historical -symbol has vidual existence. These individuals were (and arisen and is perpetuated yet today. Blackness still some arei guilty of perpetuating the white is the symbol, and inherent in this blackness physical and mental domination in that they is the false notion of inferiority. The black com¬ were given a few. choice crumbs from the munity (and the individuals comprising it' in master's table and they in turn told those who this country are indeed highly visible physi¬ were not so fortunate that things are not so bad cally: the real tragedy is that this physical and they are getting better. So just be patient, acuteness is transcended by an invisibility of work hard and if you persevere, then the mas¬ character, e.g.. Ralph Ellison's stirring novel ter will recognize and reward you. But the The Invisible Wan. The individual black person master needs only so many blacks and the fo¬ is highly visible and the black collectivity menting of a black elite has served the master (community^ is also highly visible (though not well. This scheme of domination however, from the suburbs! i. and this merging of the is becoming less and less viable in that " the collective and the individual that we have is a black masses are becoming politicized, they case of metaphysical individualism which is a are developing a class consciousness, and are reductionist argument. This reductionist doc¬ rejecting the existing Negro leadership.' 4 trine which is seemingly indigenous to the The resultant force has been in the direction white. American community does not allow for of a negrescence on the part of the elite, they mental visibility and this stifles the totality of are joining hands with the masses in the effort blacks in that they are regarded as invisibly- to combat the structure of domination in its to¬ visible. historically trying to merge the mental tality. The schizophrenic mentality of the elite l» III \ HROTHT.RS KH«,I I when brothers forget iitme bombs iiml polities. come creeds that send the armies marching, sittinf! down to ten inspires plotting and men clasp hands to give the sign before tomorrow's battle, warmth watches at the edge of Ihe world waiting for them who have gone tint far— mama leaning out the window calling her chiltlren home. -Jill II itherspoot Tuesday, February 25, 1969 5 (continued from page 4) nation has historic roots, thus when Stokelv Carmichael speaks of Black Power, no one should be surprised. This concern wifh a sep¬ aratist movement arises from a rejection of the blacks by the whites, and the white structure should not be surprised that such a question should arise. There is a sense of alienation over the land, and this sense has always been here. ^ Only the level of awareness has changed. The Black Power Conference held in Newark in 1967 had as one ot its areas of concern that of black separatism Segments of the resolution advocated partitioning:' Whereas the black people in America find that their interests are in contradic¬ tion with those of white America Whereas the black people in America are psychologically handicapped by virtue of their having no national home¬ land Whereas the physical, moral, ethical, and aesthetic standards of white Ameri¬ can society are not those of black so¬ ciety and indeed do violence to the self- image of the black man . . . im iir Be it resolved that the Black Power Conference initiate a national dialogue on the desirability of partitioning the l .S into two separate and independent nations, and one to be a homeland for white the other to be a homeland for lutei lri/5? black Americans." (Taken from Browne's 'The Case for Black Separa¬ tism. Hum/mils. Dec. 1967 (Vol. 6. No. This call for a dialogue is thus a crucial move within the black community. This community is in essence saying. "The white structure de¬ nies us individual development and scars our self-image, we cannot and do not desire to be socialized into the white community because such a process is nigh impossible and if ever achieved, my identity will be forfeited." Where¬ as historically the black has been alienated not only from the larger society, but also from himself, he has not been accorded the right to the development of a personality. This aliena- tive dualism has rendered the black a non- person' because he cannot speak to who he is. and the white structure has not. does not and cannot speak to who he is. Thus to look to the larger society for an identity is fruitless, for they will not give it to you. So you must turn within, not only within yourself, but also with¬ in your own people to attain self-esteem and a personality. Your structure must become rele¬ cultural definition. We will define ourselves tent of their character.' then the rhetoric of vant. your brothers must be accorded worth and you yourself must be accorded worth and we will concommitantly disregard your black separatism will become more real and What this entails is the construction of a definition of us because it is irrelevant. more pronounced and it will move beyond rhe¬ With the black is beautiful' movement, the toric to constructive action. structure within which you can operate and from which you can receive some measure reality of alienation from self is coming to be obsolete, i.e., a healthy my worth is me' feel¬ of worth, dependent upon your place, role and function within the structure. The structure ing is arising. At this point, this is largely a no¬ will not contain seeds of inhibition, one can tion of quasi-nationalism: however, generations Footnotes make it on his own worth, which must be de¬ to come (speaking optimistically) will exhibit 1. Robert S. Browne. "The Case for Black rived from an internal sense of value and a and embrace this I am black, ergo I am beau¬ Separatism," Hnmpurls. Dec. 1967 (Vol. 6, sense of value received from others. tiful' as a genuine expression. As opposed to No. 5). lip-service, this belief will approach , mere There has been and is occurring among the 2. Kenneth Clark and Talcott Parsons(eds.) majority of blacks a mental negrescence which reality and there will no longer be a feeling of self-alienation as a reflection of the larger //)«• \i-gru Imerivnn. "Introduction: 'Freedom has physical roots, i.e.. the fact of blackness, Now,' Not Yesterday?" by Parsons, p. xxv. and this is self-imposed self-esteem. That is. white structure and their values. If a resultant alteration of attitudes toward the 3. Barrington Moore, Jr. Social Origins of we no longer care what you think of us. just black community does not ensue on the white IHclnlomhip mill Democracy, p. 149. as long as we ourselves feel our worth. This 4. (>/>. cii.. Browne, p. 48. side of the fence in relation to the existence implies that there is a move to a sub-cultural lUid. p. 49. definition of self and a rejection of the larger of autonomous blacks to be judged on the con¬ 6 Michigan State Nev/s, East Lansing, Michigan EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was old everyday talk. SEX. For somehow the siderations in relations pre¬ race (pertaining to viously published in the MSI Orient, ii publi¬ notion of certain kinds of social i sexual > in¬ black and white people in America >: and. it cation of college student personnel at MSI . timacy immediately brings to mv mind much is quite evident that most of these were dam¬ Reprinted with the author's permission. about the question of the black man's iden¬ aged or dehumanized relationships. By MAXIE S. GORDON. JR tity. status, and lot < both historically and pres¬ To return to Baldwin once more, note' how I imagine that if one were asked the follow ently i in this quite wicked society. There¬ he characterizes some of the dehumanizing ing question, namely: What do you feel is fore. I urge you to try very hard to get-with- modes of thinking and acting that somehow the primary factor behind white racism in me" and take a serious look at what might purport to justify the " southern way of life " America"''. many of you would indicate that enable us to better deal" with the reality For anyone to deny that psycho-sexual con¬ economic considerations are foremost, or take of white racism in America cerns have had a direct bearing on white ra¬ precedent over everything else, etc Others To be sure. Langston Hughes (one of the cism in America and have influenced and de¬ of you would readily reject this notion per se. most outstanding Black Americans that has cisively shaped the history of our inter-racial and attempt to justify" why the problem adequately summed up viouslvi lies in the area of education. Still the message that I attempted to convey in the ciously-Would be a serious mistake: or per¬ others might reply negatively to either above paragraph In his own words: eco¬ haps I should say. would even be a lie. Let nomic or educational considerations and re¬ Baldwin speak for himself: quest that we view this particular problem in Within the last decade, every other ' terms of the political structure or machinery In the fall of last year, my plane hov¬ angle of racism but this one has been in dur society And. I am well aware, too. ered over the rust-red earth of Georgia. voluminously discussed in print. But of responses that might be given for sev¬ no writer I have I come across except was past thirty, and I had never seen eral other areas-although the three afore¬ Hernton has this land before I pressed my face as yet had the temerity mentioned ones are more often heard (time to so frankly tackle that old bugaboo. against the window, watching the earth and time again• than others. S-E-X. it relates to life come closer: soon we were just above as liberty, and Moreover. I am certain that valid reasons the pursuit of integration i the tops of the trees. I could not sup¬ might be offered in favor of any one of these press the blood that had dropped down three previously mentioned areas although The message that is generated from Hughes' from these trees. My mind was filled (since approximately June of 1%8> I have be¬ quotation cannot be ignored, as its meaning with the image of a black man. younger come more and more convinced that there is all-to-strikingly clear than I. perhaps, or my own age. hanging In a word, he is is one area that really gets at the " nitty-gritty'' from tree, while white men watched attempting to point out to us that: the fail¬ a of race relations-the point is. specifically, ure to look at this particular area (i.e. sex. him and cut his sex from him with a that neither of the other three really does as it pertains to racism i and all of the knife 3 impli¬ that sort of thing. This one area that I am pre¬ cations centered around tnter-racism sexual sently referring to is not often talked about or concerns, is a failure to look reality squarely in Moreoever. Baldwin further notes: discussed openly-nearly enough or in the right the face. And it is a truism that failure to manner. So I shall be And the white discussing what I feel look reality in the face diminishes a nation man must have seen his to be the real or major factor behind white as itdiminishes a person. "2 guilt written somewhere else, seen it all racism in America. James Baldwin (another truly outstanding the time, even if his sin was merely lust, One of the major cries of young people to¬ Black American! in several of his works, even if his sin lav in nothing but his day (and a cry that is rightly so> is: to tell points out many of the dreadfully negative power: in the eyes of the black men it like it is." And I personally feel that the or terrible things that have both caused He may not have stolen his woman, but real issue behind white racism in America and contributed he had certainly stolen his freedom - or to or resulted from a might be summed up in three words, namely. history of distorted, perverted, and dehuman¬ this black man. who had a body like his. pxychit-xt'xmil phfiiomcnn: or. in just plain ized relationships between black and white and passions like his. and a ruder, more people in America. These consequences (often erotic beauty. How many times had the linked to sexual concerns) too often were cruel, southern day come up to find that black harsh, and extremely severe-especiallv for man. sexless, hanging from a tree!4 the black male-consequences ranging from death to castration or mutilation. As I said To be sure. Baldwin has most adequately earlier, and especially after rereading many of summed up the importance of sex as it per¬ Baldwin's works. I am becoming more and tains to what has happened to literally thou¬ more convinced that we must turn our atten¬ sands of black men under the guise of their tion to this too long overlooked area-for here¬ wrongly saying or doing virtually anything in lies the crux of what it's all about' that 'Vnight have sexual over-tones with a view Why does the toward so-called sacred white womanhood In man get so " uptight when he sees a black man with a white woman'' other words. Baldwin is attempting to point out (The answer to this question reflects much to us that so many of the terribly negative con¬ about our history, i My answer would be two¬ sequences inflicted on the black male in Amer¬ fold: guilt and fear of vendetta or vengeance: ica must (stronglyi indicate that: we are going that's a lot about what has the man to have to deal with the reality of the "sexual- uptight And specifically, in Sports Illustrated. July ization of the race problem ' 5 I 'nfortunate- 15. 1%8. in an article entitled The Black (continued on facing page) Athlete, part 3. p 32. reference was made to the fact that sex does get at the core or root of the racial problem in America. As the Pride writer observed: It is too late for death and pride Harry Edwards and his staff of beret- the dead live on uproarious!v ed. beaded and militant assistants and pride was long since ■ i- i- swarmed all over I'TEP (I'niversitv of as a yoke too long borne Texas at El Paso> the weekend after tho never borne at all Dr Martin Luther King's assassination and one of them draped himself across Pride a chair in the Sheraton Motor Inn on Mesa Street and intoned carefully: Proud men live no moi e what it gets down to is sex. the same We kill the pride in man old story. Isn't it funny that whenever or failing that you make a thorough study of the prob¬ we kill the man lems of white and black together it al¬ There is no guilt in this ways comes out sex. " for killing's right and right things should lie done In a word, our history has shown us that sex ual factors or concerns have been major con¬ Tuesday, February 25, 1969 7 mask in time these Americans have needs to maintain security, status, and material advantage. In the area of Negro-white relations this antipathy between the ideal action and the real action of Americans causes a " moral uneasiness * ran liberty exist It is apparent then that a history of more in ii racist than 300 years-much of which is steeply root¬ Iii ml? ed in puritanical ascetism-has produced such inn there be a nightmare in America, through such dis¬ ii blnrk honest or dehumanized interracial relation¬ without ii ships that it might be impossible for black white? and white people (collectively) to ever have imi there be lore authentic or genuine relationships. In the book if there is entitled Sex and Racism In America the au¬ thor gives the following account in the sexual hnte ? soul of the south and the nation for more than vnn there, 300 years. Hernton writes: mil there, inn there be? "From all indications, our sons and —Hurry It. I mis daughters, and their sons and daugh¬ ters in turn, will be victimized by the • American sexual nightmare. The night¬ about a society founded and maintained mare began during the era of slavery, when the first light-skinned Negro in¬ on the principles of human slavery. fant was born from the loins of a black Somehow the entire "southern way of woman. When the first black man was life." sexual and otherwise, create a hunted down by a mob of jealously-rid¬ symbol, an idea of grace and purity, that den white men-and the black man's would loom large in a civilization shot genitals were torn off for "raping" a through with shame, bigotry, and the in¬ " chaste" white woman-the myth human treatment of (at that time) near¬ of (continued from previous page) sacred white womanhood became a ly six million black people. Sacred white realitv."6 womanhood emerged in the south ly. however. I am certain that most people are as an immaculate mythology to glorify either unprepared or unwilling to do just that! I often ask myself, "why has this so-called It is evident that from the waves of devas¬ an otherwise indecent south. What en¬ great nation of ours condoned the severely tations. and tyranny, over the past 300 years sued was nothing less than fantastic 8 tragic and awfully inhumane things that black or so sons, and daughters of black men in men have had America have been victimized both physically What ensued was the absurdity that we have perpetrated on them-beatings. and psychologically. in America today!!!! lynchings. castrations, electrocutions, and var¬ ious other mutilations-when in reality only It is no wonder then, to return to the cen¬ It would be in error to suppose that we can an occasional few actually were guilty of tral thesis once more, that black people in (only) speak about overt acts of racism (in¬ America have been the victims of a very bad any alleged crime for which they received dividually and otherwise) that pertain just to these " punishments?" Time and time again i social scene. Specifically, this society that the south. On the contrary, the sickness in forced to conclude that could do all the dehumanizing things that it America is not limited to the south; for am since sex (i.e. one social has done to black people (historically and intimacy i is a vital and all pervasive can immediately think of many all-white com¬ force in our lives-thereby inextricably bound presently) and still purport allegiance to God munities in the '"liberal" north-communi¬ with almost every facet of our being - then by and Country is sicker than it can ever begin ties. as you might have guessed devoid of any to imagine. It would follow, then, that the so¬ implication it must all day long been built on ideas and modes of life based on from his persistent, clandestine acti¬ with black people: make similar salaries, etc.. vities with Negro women. Out of his and (other th;»n in religious convictions. That is to say. our his¬ rare instances) that's gen¬ tory has been based on religious styles of guilt grew fear-if he found it difficult erally okay-okav. that is. as long as their re¬ to stay away from the " animal" attrac¬ life-Calvinism. Puritanism, other modes of lationship is basically confined to the job sit¬ Protestantism, and Catholicism, etc tion of black women, was it not possible uation. which that his wife felt that same attraction But the following question now arises: suggests to me that the white man is (though What often to the black "bucks'"' 7 does the " man" fear about a black man's unconsciously hung up on a Chris¬ mov¬ tian ethic To be sure, the psychologists or so¬ ing into his (in most cases, previously all- In a word, try and imagine what just this very white) neighborhood'' One answer might be ciologists refer to this as cognitive disso¬ nance. (A position whereby the individual has thought must have done to the white man as his that this black man now has access to that two beliefs which fear and guilt became more and more intense which is most intimate to him (i.e.. the white are basically incompatible with each other, i And. to quote a former stu¬ man); to be sure, his wife, his daughter, and dent of mine: There were two psychological process¬ perhaps, in some cases, his mother also. What es going on in the Southerner's mind: one a dreadful thought this must be as the racist was the deep sense of In short. Americans cannot escape the guilt arising from seeks to push it out of his sick mind his cohabitation with Negro women: the values represented bv Christian and democratic ieac!n" deliverthem I'm also waiting on my God to deliver me into the black war so that Icandelivermy people intofreedom. -shirlev echols Sex and White Racism (continued from page 7i his grandmother for the summer Shortly after many white individuals in our society preoc¬ I am certain that (by now > you are somewhat he arrived at his grandmother's he was lynched, cupied with keeping black men at a "safe chained to an iron weight and thrown into the distance" from white women. Racism, or the aware of the fact that our history does point out Mississippi River. Why'' His alleged crime was fact that these individuals are racist, is ap¬ to us that much of the racial difficulty in Amer¬ that he tried to be "friendly" with a white parent. We must, then, try to deal with the ica stems from sexual overtones. I am cer¬ female clerk in a department store. For this reality of this racism. tain also that you are aware of the fact that act of social (sexual) intimacy a young bov many authors-like Hernton. Farber. and Bald- win-would (in one way or another) confirm paid the ultimate price. or substantiate most of my suspicions about Conclusion The list goes on. For example, only yester¬ sex and racism in America. But. at this point day did I reread an excerpt from a newspaper let the names of two black men in America What white America had better realize- of October 4. 1968. that gave an account of the that have had tragic circumstances befall death of George Haves. He was castrated, soon. if it is not too late alreadv-is that black them suffice to demonstrate those 'deep- severely beaten, lacerated in several areas people in America aren't going to take the seated' sexual concerns: Mack Charles Park¬ of his body and killed. So. only approximate¬ abuses, scorn, degradation and injustices, etc.. er and Emitt Till. any longer. In a word, though abused and ly four months ago. Mississippi again shows her true colors. Moreover, only two months scorned, our goal now. more than ever before is FREEDOM. Thus the society can ."wake The actual and potential list of atrocities ago another black man was killed in Prich- committed by white men against black men ard. Alabama. He was hung to the town's gen¬ up and attempt to make the black man her as¬ set: or perhaps I should say: start doing in the name of "so-called" justice is un¬ eral store. believably long-and it continues to grow! For enough "positive" sorts of things that might example-in 1952. Mack Charles Parker, a black How: long will these dreadfully inhumane reasonably insure peaceful co-existence be¬ things continue to plague black men in Amer¬ tween the races. Otherwise, in my mind, the man. was dissected at each of his body joints, ica? Obviously, we aren't going to take this alternative of violent revolution may be the covered, with tar and feathers and then set on fire. Why? He was accused of looking into the nonsense much longer. The castrations, the only cogent i viable > method of dealing with the mutilations, and the lvnchings. etc. must not. "man" that is left garage apartment window of a white woman's home while she unciressed. Where else can such and cannot continue. All of these notions, how¬ ever. do strongly suggest that the reality of punishment be perpetrated against a man even sex and racism in America must be viewed though he might have been guilty of the ac¬ Maxie S. Gordon, Jr., received his BA in in its true light For if that does not happen, cused crime of voyeurism? How tragic, how Philosophy from MSI' and is currently com¬ ironic, how shameful, how stupid and absurd then we (as a society) do not have even the pleting the requirements for a doctorate in that a former soldier who had fought in a pre¬ slightest chance of ever reconciling our ra¬ Philosophy at MSI'. An active student lead¬ vious war had to come home and die like this. cial differences. er during his student career, he is past-presi¬ Emitt Till, a 12-vear-old black youngster Why are white men so fearful of integrated dent of the MSU Chapter of the NAACP. from Chicago, went south to Mississippi to vist communities? In other words, why are so ICalvin C. Hernton, s«-x ami Racism In If Grove Press, 19661 Back Cover 2James Baldwin, \obady knnus \ly Vim (New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc. 1968), p. 99 3/hirf.. p. 87 4Ibid., p 94 SHernlon, lor. ril., p. 5 6Hernton, lor. rii., p. 15 7Hernton, lor. cil. SHernton, lor. ril.. pi 16 # Tuesday, February 25, 1969 9 POEM Sun shines brightly Faces Hungry people receive gifts of steel right in their pale fat try hard bloated to be what bellies. they (Oh, gee.) deny. as men with constipated brains Beauty is in darkness intellectualize suffering , a deep wood verbalize a teddy bear i ? " " how can the maggot infested, puss filled, an African prince scab decorated agony a licorice stick. how can i write of unhappy A drop of black oil on the sidewalk of sun-jeweled oceans. people. when struck by the Sun. of the orient pregnant reveals every color and hue. with yellow intrigue, Splintered glass shatters the minds Beauty is in darkness . . or df the short black of sane men when shadows walk aborigine, who lost in reflections and breezes cool like a finger from of mirror societies when supper is ready the past tickles not seeing and stars appear; the australian's conscious. life. Sunset. i don't know these. the enmity of morning. i know only of Life the extortionist dynamiting the heavens with the tired athlete, who Color and all its hues revealing panting, gasping, wretching, puking after leaving his from its cancer. harmony guilded ring, as Madison Avenue happiness marches totality is driven back into boldly through our Beauty the invisible chains TV minds becoming serene with of Niggerness. in a wonderful world of color; night not knowing Blackness: --op davis that the tube blew out. the combination of all color, the synthesis of man. Empty tin cans become the new aesthetic. Money the new god. -toni eubanks Did the garbage man come today and carry all the rubbish away? -Barry D. Amis FOK \l) hHlh\l)S 11 llll HO) S TH tl\l\(, S( HOOl their hearts pump kool-aid and between their drottling smiles message to a black brother of phony sympathy from a gaining sister missionary complexes anil guilt The grave is sunken deep they deal death in the nerve of his flower; his and if u~e die Jrom brum helped blood ^ to helplessness flows through her veins; his or because food cold needs warmth; his stamps body needs companionship; his gel caught in our throats soul needs soul; his they'll chat about our fate orer t offee glare is sought by her ways as she case closed (pass the sugar ) knows the rays of his thoughts. Silence need not be told; his enemy but maybe "therap\ " need not know the secrets of others. for some "hostile" kid Their souls will be heard; eventually won't work through crowded eyes; Quietly and he will lead the way is seen; by false pretense us stabbing them with then own ink pens Their minds vacillate through the same blood stream and finishing them off with mirrors Through different veins reaching the same end as we escape from all the too agencies LATE. program s cells --shirley echols offices locking them inside and peering back into the cages shouting "SO I)h II "! —Jill II itherspoon 11121/68 Saturday, Mouse Roared"(7 A OCrhcahmesbtear RMtohoauraseed Wiels GWthreitehn Autdiorm "Girl <7:30. Frida,y "Gre n "The 108 "Girl <7:30. F12E5v-eMe0nabrtcs.h: 109 &9. Sunday, MSU tural . 9N1:a53¬08. Michgan Gtlery 19:5308. Syach Purde C'onrad A91n0¬. K&id9"(7. C9o:•n3r0d.Fashion C(au7se &1908. Par<7d:i3s0e. &9<7. 19:5308. Champion¬ Michgan F2e5b. TBoearrchs BMasvkSetsbUa.l, 2FWeed6nbs.ay, &91G":thony Wilson) RNeasotuurcral 9. & "The Wiells 109 "The ship Tech Tuesday, February 25, 1969 11 Punctual hnvliavU of Black H(5ta*y (continued from page 3) er makes it "obvious that one of America's most The parallels between this re-evaluation and critical blind areas is in the realm of under reassessment of history and a similar process standing the oppressed, the wretched of the occurring in a re-examination of America in earth 7 Harding draws several very thought- general is aptly expressed by the contention provoking implications from this observation, "that an American history which cannot con¬ the broadest and perhaps the most relevant tain the full story of the black pilgrimage is no at the present moment being: "if there is any more worthy of life than an American society real concern among the American people to that cannot bear the full and troublesome black understand why men are determined to fight presence in its midst. 9 This quote is a most bombers with rifles and curses, why revolu¬ suitable point of departure as we discuss the tions seem to grow wherever America's foot¬ last aspect of black history 's functions. prints mark the earth, then the Afro-Ameri¬ can story is essential reading."8 A last function, fundamental to the exis¬ tence of any ordered state, is served by the Indeed. America is perhaps fortunate to have in her midst the one source that may very well study of black history. This is the providing of a factual basis with which the past can be In the final analysis, whether or not an acti¬ prove to be her salvation because of the link to the 'alienated, humiliated and rebellious non- studied, the present understood, and more vity is judged functional depends on whether importantly, on which the future can be erect¬ it tends to contribute to the maintenance of whote world" that black America could serve ed. The parameters of racial relations in Amer¬ American society. It is much too early for Harding pushes his point further bv asserting ica today and the entire contextual framework such an assessment of the study of black his¬ that by failing to fully explore this link. Amer¬ of society are shaped by many complexities. tory to occur. However, indications are that, ica might continue to be puzzled at the world's disbelief concerning our sudden devotion to These complexities are rooted in the past and especially tor the black people of America manifested in the present, making for a host and oppressed people of the world, the ac¬ the rights of self-determination for the non- of situations that can easily escape even the celerated interest in black history will be white masses of Vietnam." Along this line there of great benefit. But perhaps the study of black is one thing I am sure of: many black Ameri¬ cans are damn puzzled. history and the lessons learned from it will most scrutinizing analysis of an untrained eve. not yield the fruits of progress but rather It is my contention that every American citi¬ those of hatred and utter indignation. Maybe zen should be armed with those tools that en¬ black history will be "that final spark needed able him to unravel the intricacies of American to ignite the entire world in a battle of the racial relations today, regardless of how small "haves and the "have nots." the oppressed Fragmentary Commentary they may appear, so that he. too may contribute and oppressors meaingfullv to the alleviation of the problems Whatever may be the possibilities, black we now face. Black history stands today as that Americans Ha If-way-up-t he-hip-length skirts owe no guarantees to anyone that most important tool! bare nothing only gooci will come from the study of black and everything history. Hopefully truth will come-a truth yet cause an inner voice* to sing that will provide a sounder foundation for our a song of sallying forth so zestly future than the one on which our past is built. as to indicate their worth Anyway, white America has had her chance' in times like these when no one's out to please Footnotes any but themselves. 1. Prof. Arthur Adams, Introductory He- -James B. Hamilton murks ht History HHt-ll (Fall 1967). Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Mich. 2. Benjamin Quarles, "The Future of the Negro Past," Vjrro I Hurst. February 1968, p. 34. 3. Ibid., p. 35. But the careful reading of black history i. John Herrick Clarke, "The Search for must also serve to remind black Americans Africa," \egro. Digest. February 1968, p. 88. that they, took are the children of oppressed 5. Vincent Harding, "The ^Uses of the and humiliated and stand in solidarity with Afro-American Past," \egro Digest. Febru¬ others all over the world. In fact, black Amer¬ ary 1968, p. 6. 6. Ibid., p. 5. ica. because of their unique juxtaposition in white America, must serve as a vanguard for 7. Ibid., p. 9. the "Third World ." Black history and the les¬ 8. Ibitl. 9. #/»»>/.. p. 81. son to be learned from its study must cause black Americans to reaffirm their belief in its own humanity and rededicate themselves to the removal of oppression from the face of the earth. In my opinion, black history serves the func¬ tion of providing America with a touchstone for the purpose of judging the genuineness Not very much can be expected when we ask someone who is not too well informed of the of its own history, indeed, of its very exis¬ Iturn tence. It cannot be gainsaid that the history of past and its relationship to the present, to di¬ Brothers against brother, America-and the black man's contribution to rect our course for the future. The implica¬ who had once loved each other. tions of the importance of black American his¬ it-has not occurred in a segregated manner. The black man's contribution to this country tory in the shaping of the present was prob¬ Iturn was made as an Anierican-and should be re¬ ably best demonstrated by the fact the U.S. Riot Commission spent over a full day of testimony Nations against nations, corded and recognized as such. Black history and will and devotes an entire chapter of their report someday destroy has not been and is not a thing apart. It is rath¬ God's creation. to an historical sketch of the black man's ex er a thread, a very dominant one among man\ threads, that are now inextricably woven into peirences on the American scene. This repre¬ Faceless am 1 the fabric of American society. This realization, sents. in my opinion, a recognition of reality at But you know that I am there the level of policy making where it counts. though much too recent, is leading to a thorough in your heart and everywhere. re-evalyation of American history, and a re¬ Hopefully, it is but one initial sign of a widen¬ assessment of the whole American experience ing consciousness that will engulf all of Amer¬ -Caroline Adams ica. that it purports to record. 12 Michigan State News, East Lansing, Michigan Tuesday, February 25, 1969 7.