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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1991)
Black History Month Calendar of events February 9 Rho Phi Omega (Chapter of AKA) hosts Pre cious Pearls pageant. 13 Committee on Mulitcultural Affairs (COMA) will show “Glory." 15 PV Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi will host a Sweetheart Ball. 19 Black Awareness Committee sponsors Al vin Aitey Dance T roupe. 23 Voices of Praise Biack History Month Pro gram. 22-23 Alpha Phi Alpha State Convention- Col lege Station Hilton. 27 Soul Food Night at the Commons/Sbisa; COMA Program with the president of Prairie View A&M speaking. 'Your Role in the Dream' kicks off Black History Month By Donna Banse “I am a dreamer with a song,” said the Rev. Joe Palmore Monday at a Black History Month presentation. Palmore was the keynote speaker at “Your Role in the Dream,” a presen tation sponsored by Alpha Kappa Al pha sorority. Palmore, who is presently working on a master’s degree of divinity at Southern Methodist University, told the audience each person has a song inside of them that must be released and set free. He said blacks have a responsibility to be concerned about their song get ting out and being heard. “Don’t keep your song inside, share it,” Palmore said. “The more you share, the more power you have in singing your song.” Palmore said it is sometimes diffi cult for blacks to sing their song in to day's world. Blacks are expected to compete in an open market with individuals who have experienced more favorable backgrounds and circumstances than blacks have experienced in centuries, he said. Palmore said devastating statistics are facing the black family: • It is reported that 42 percent of all persons incarcerated are black males. • One in 20 black males will die be fore they reach the age of 21. » A study at the University of Chi cago has predicted that, at present rates, by the year 2000 70 percent of blacks will either be unemployed, in jail, on dope or dead. The loss of those individuals will have great consequences for black women, children and the world, Palm ore said. He said it is important for blacks to become leaders with a vision in the fu ture and to say what is right, rather than what is wrong. To sing your song is to understand that you cannot beat something with nothing, he said. ‘Those who tear down are a dime a dozen; those who build up are scar ce," Palmore said. He said blacks must learn to be come risk takers and not be afraid to lose. "Failure is another way to learn how to do something right,” Palmore said. He said in the future, blacks must not become consensus leaders. "A leader should not be a searcher for consensus, but a molder for consen sus,” Palmore said. "We must continue to sing with con fidence, with an ability to keep dream ing, to persist and to avoid low aim. We are surrounded by those who had the courage to sing their song,” Palm ore said. “We are dreamers with a song." Shanedria Ridley (left), a senior French communications maior from Houston, and Natalie Jackson, a senior speech communications major from San Antonio, perform a skit at the kick oft for Black History Month. Black History Month a celebration of heritage cover story Rev. Joe Palmore speaks about "Your Role in the Dream." w z m I Programs inspire, I educate all races By Pamela Lee Black History Month is the time to get pumped up and inspired about the accomplishments, contributions and historical background of blacks in the United States, Kevin Carreathers, Director of Multicultural Services, said. “There is more information visibly available now than any other time of year,” he said. Which people are getting "pumped up” is not exactly known. Christine Comer, sophomore, said it seemed as if black students were the only ones attending the programs and the month didn’t seem to serve whites to the fullest. “Through these programs, we can learn what we don’t learn in school about blacks and their history,” Comer said. "I plan to be a high school history- teacher. I want to teach history with a broader perspective, to make people aware. Education is for students to make their own decisions. “There are two sides to the coin. If you give them (students) all the facts it will allow them to make a better deci sion.” Alecia Daniel, sophomore, said that although Black History Month is geared toward blacks, and doesn’t do much to educate whites, whites who want to know more about blacks should come to the programs, or ask blacks about their history. “If you want to know about chemis try, you ask a chemist. Want to know about blacks? Ask someone black.” Last February when Daniel deco rated her door with representations of famous black Americans of the past and present, she received an anony mous letter opposing her display. The letter was an individual opinion, Daniel said, not the general attitude of whites. “Things change and tensions ease through change,” said Daniel. “Eve ryone should get an education and have an open mind about people; therefore I encourage whites to attend Black History Month programs. Just because it’s for blacks doesn’t mean whites can’t come also." page6 February 7,1991 Life Style magazine page/