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
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