December 2014
n a i l l i v e z n o r B e th
nt Suppleme A newsletter from the An electronic newsletter from the Department of African African American American and and African African Studies Studies Community Extension Extension Center Center Community
The Political Awakening of the Black Professoriate By: James A. Caldwell
Features Pages 1,3: The Political Awakening of the Black Professoriate – James A. Caldwell, Ph.D. Page 5: From Cosby To Ferguson – Aaron Dixon Upcoming Events Page 6: Girls Go Techbridge Page 7: The Math and Science Program Ads Page 4: Urbana– Urban Affairs & Public Policy
Over the past few months much has been made of the various political statements made by NBA athletes, especially Black athletes, regarding the deaths of several Black males at the hands of the police. High profile athletes like Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, LeBron James of the Cavaliers, and D. Rose of the Bulls have donned black t-shirts with the words “I Can’t Breathe” emblazoned in white. Lesser-known athletes at the collegiate level have done likewise. In some cases, entire basketball teams have taken the floor during warm-ups wearing the “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirt. Not to be outdone, several NFL players have also gotten in on the act, the most notable of which were the five St. Louis Rams players who emerged from the tunnel during introductions with both arms raised. Some writers compare what they did to the political symbolism of Olympic sprinters Dr. Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games—not even close, but I understand where these writers are coming from, a stretch no doubt. More like what coach John Thompson did twenty-five years ago when he walked off the floor minutes before his Georgetown Hoyas tipped off against the Boston College Eagles. His actions were in protest of Proposition 42, an amendment to the controversial Proposition 48, which stated that no scholarship could be awarded to an athlete for his freshman year who had not attained both a 2.0 GPA and the minimum 700 on the SAT (or 15 on the ACT). In previous years, student-athletes were required to meet only one of those stipulations. Reporters and writers long for the return of people like Curt Flood, Jackie Robinson, and the athletes who publicly stood with Muhammad Ali when he claimed conscientious objector status and refused induction into the U.S. Army in the late 1960s. Among the athletes that gathered around Ali at the 1967 press conference I referenced above were Jim Brown, Bill Russell, Willie Davis, Curtis McClinton, John Wooten, Bobby Mitchell, and Lew Alcindor, who had not yet graduated from UCLA. continued on page 3
Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center 905 Mount Vernon Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43203-1413
Phone: (614) 292-3922 Fax: (614) 292-3892 http://aaascec.osu.edu aaascec@osu.edu
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of the CEC 12Core Programs 6 T he Ohio State University’s AAAS Community Extension Center is the outreach component of the Department of African American and African Studies. The CEC is one of the few off-campus facilities of its kind in the nation. Originally housed at two different locations on Ohio Avenue, the CEC moved to its current location in 1986. The CEC plays an integral role in enhancing the life chances of those who live in and around the Mount Vernon Avenue Area. Toward that end, the CEC offers an array of programs at no or nominal cost to the public. Programs include, but are not limited to, the following: conferences, symposia, computer classes, credit and noncredit courses, summer programs, lecture series, and film series. People from all walks of life have participated in these programs. Based on evaluations of our programs and personal testimonies, the CEC is having an impact on residents living in and around the Bronzeville Neighborhood.
1 Black Veterans Day Salute During the salute, Black men and women from Ohio who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces are publicly recognized. Since the salute’s inception in 2006, the CEC has honored Vietnam War veterans (2007), Korean War veterans (2008), African-American servicewomen (2009), World War II veterans (2010), Gulf War Era veterans (2011) ,Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans (2012) and Black Civil War Veterans (2013)
2 Ray Miller Institute for Change & Leadership This 10-week long leadership course trains young Black professionals from the Columbus community in various areas of leadership. The Institute was founded in 2006 by former State Senator and Minority Whip Ray Miller. Miller has built a reputation as a strong advocate for those who have historically not had access to power. Admission to the Institute is highly competitive. The Institute is offered during OSU’s autumn and spring semesters with the support of OSU’s Office of Continuing Education. Participants who complete the course receive three CEU credits.
3 Senior Citizens Movie Matinee The movie matinee is a chance for senior citizens to watch a film that otherwise might be cost prohibitive in an accommodating environment. A discussion, usually led by an OSU professor or administrator, is held at the end of the film.
4 Computer Literacy Program Throughout the academic year, the CEC offers free and reduced-cost computer technology courses. The program is geared toward seniors but open to everyone. Courses include the following: Senior Computer Orientation, Internet, Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.
5 Lecture Series Presentations given by OSU faculty, students and/or community members about topics pertinent to the Black community.
Math and Science Program
The Math and Science Program was established in partnership with the OSU Medical Center in 2003. The Math and Science Program exposes students in grades 4 through 12 to the wonders of math and science using hands-on activities. The purpose of the program is three-fold: 1) To increase competency in math and science among students of color; 2) To expose students of color to math and science related careers; and 3) To encourage students of color to major in math or science. The program meets on the fourth Monday of each month from October to May.
7 Summer Residential Program The Summer Residential Program (SRP) was established in 1999 and is designed to provide students with both an appreciation for and an understanding of African-American and African culture and history. The SRP also helps students strengthen their computer literacy skills. Past themes include: “Entrepreneurship in the Black Community and Economic Freedom” (2013), “The Underground Railroad” (2012), “All Eyez On Me: Deconstructing Images of African-American Women in Hip Hop” (2011), “letz b down: Social Justice Advocacy for Blacks During the American Revolutionary War Era” (2010), “The Low Country: Black Culture, Literacy and History in Charleston, South Carolina” (2009). The program is held every June and is for rising 11th and 12th graders. Students live on OSU’s campus.
8 African Affairs Symposium This one-day symposium brings members of the African American and African communities together to discuss issues of particular interest to Africa. The inaugural symposium in 2007 examined the life of South African civil rights activist Steve Biko. “Africa in the Age of Globalization” was the theme of the 2008 symposium. The 2009 symposium examined the life of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, West Africa. In 2010, the focus was on Pan-Africanism and the Diaspora. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was the theme of the 2011 symposium.
9 Summer Enrichment Program This week-long, non-residential day program is designed to help rising 9th and 10th graders improve their reading and writing skills. The program, which was founded in 2009, is hosted annually in June and accepts approximately 15 students.
10 History of Black Columbus Conference This one-day conference celebrates the rich history of African Americans in Columbus and increases awareness of the significant contributions African Americans have made in all areas of city life. This annual conference is held in the spring.
11 Black History Month Forum The forum is in its fourth year and is focused on celebrating African descended peoples from all over the world. This year, documentaries about the following influential Black historical figures were shown: John Henrik Clarke, Kwame Nkrumah, Fannie Lou Hamer, James Baldwin, Minister Elijah Muhummad.
12 Enemies of the State The annual event features activists from America’s most notorious radical organizations, people who pressured America to live up to its highest ideals. In past years, activists from The Revolutionary Action Movement (2013), The Us Organization (2012), and the Black Panther Party (2011) were invited to speak.
About Bronzeville During the 1930s, African-American leaders in Columbus named the predominately African-American neighborhood between the boundaries of Woodland Avenue (East), Cleveland Avenue (West), Broad Street (South) and the railroad tracks (North) “Bronzeville.” The population was approximately 40,000 residents. In 1937, the same African-American leaders elected a mayor of Bronzeville and created an eight member Cabinet to address social, political and economic issues in the neighborhood. Now, as a result of the establishment of several Neighborhood Civic Associations such as the Woodland Civic Association (East) and the Discovery District (West), Bronzeville was reduced to its current boundaries: Taylor Avenue (East), Jefferson Avenue (West), Broad Street (South), and I-670 (North). The Bronzevillian is inspired by this rich history.
CEC Advisory Board Paul Cook Wanda Dillard Francisca Figueroa-Jackson Mark S. Froehlich Ray Miller, former State Senator Lupenga Mphande, Ph.D. William E. Nelson, Jr., Ph.D. (Deceased) *Ike Newsum, Ph.D. and Chair Rick Pfeiffer, City Attorney Thomas Simpson, Ph.D. Reita Smith Charleta Tavares, State Senator Nana Watson
CEC Director *Judson L. Jeffries, Ph.D.
CEC Staff Sarah Twitty Senior Program Coordinator & Fiscal Officer Kevin L. Brooks, Ph.D. Program Coordinator Alecia Shipe Technology Program Coordinator
Address Department of African American and African Studies Community Extension Center 905 Mount Vernon Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43203-1413 *Ex officio members.
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As someone who came of age during the late 1960s, I can remember athletes standing up for what they believed. Seeing them do so was uplifting. If there is a reawakening of the Black athlete, my response is “well, it’s about time.” As a former educator, I also remember when scholars would also stand up and publicly oppose injustices. I’m talking about people like Professor Derrick Bell, Dr. Kenneth Clark, Professor Mary Fair Burks, Dr. Benjamin Mays, Dr. Luther P. Jackson, Professor Melvin Tolson, Dr. Cornell West, Dr. Angela Davis, Dr. Vincent Harding, Dr. Nathan Hare, and Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, to name but a few; academics who not only spoke truth to power, but who did not hesitate to roll up their sleeves and participate in the real work of activism. Who are the successors to these great men and women? What I see these days are academics who are concerned with very little other than getting tenure. Sure, every now and then an issue may pop up that is so weighty that they feel compelled to do something like participate in a rally or speak at some student-initiated protest. What seems to be the trendy thing these days is for professors to speak on tragedies or injustices that occur hundreds of miles, maybe even thousands of miles, from where they live. They feel safe offering a few words of protest from a considerable distance. When injustices occur right in their own backyards they are conspicuously silent, perhaps because they understand the risk associated with speaking out or protesting. Then of course there are those who will only speak out if the injustice somehow impacts them personally. When they do speak out, they do so often in hushed tones and behind closed doors. You know the type. If what is going on, whatever it is, does not hamper them in any way do not expect them to get involved. Even when their lives are impacted, there is a good chance that they might not answer the call. While I applaud the political awakening of this generation’s Black athlete, I am more interested in the political awakening of this generation’s Black professor. While I am sure that there are Black professors out there on the proverbial front lines, there aren’t nearly as many as there should be.
James A. Caldwell is a graduate of SUNY-Binghamton and a longtime resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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Urbana– Urban Affairs & Public Policy
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From Cosby To Ferguson By: Aaron Dixon I knew there was something creepy about Bill Cosby when I ran into him in 1978 in San Francisco at Enrico’s, a trendy tourist stop on Nob Hill. He was sitting with a White couple and I was passing out fliers for Huey’s upcoming trial. I handed the couple a flyer and began explaining the trial. Cosby jumped up and lit in to me as I began to speak. Cosby ranted, “Huey Newton is nothing but a thug and a hoodlum!” He continued his diatribe for about another minute. As I looked down at him, angry thoughts began to enter my mind. Before I joined the movement, I had looked up to Cosby, just as millions of other Black people had. He and Robert Culp were undercover CIA agents masquerading as globe-trotting professional tennis players. It was the first such role for a Black actor. At that moment, as I stood there, Cosby had me feeling defensive about our embattled leader whose star power had diminished by 1978. Some of Cosby’s accusations hit close to home. After all, at the time, Huey was facing his own allegations and Cosby was the squeaky-clean successful Hollywood star. Like everyone else, I did not know about Cosby’s rampage of drugging and raping women. Despite his dark secrets, Cosby was quickly becoming a rising star, just as the Black resistance movement was slowly dying. The government wanted nothing more than to wash away that period of revolution and resistance of the 60s and 70s and it was people like Cosby who played a critical role in helping Black America to forget that very special part of history. Cosby become the new funny face of Black America. First, he was the smiling Jell-O pusher. Then came the first show of its kind: a sitcom about a highly successful Black gynecologist and his upper-class family, starring yours truly, Bill Cosby. There would be no more Good Times and JJ’s ghetto community in the projects struggling for day-to-day survival or What’s Happening!! with Raj, his single Mama, his friends, Dwayne and Rerun, and his pouty little sister, Dee. With a hit show, Cosby went on to become filthy rich and very powerful, with connections in Hollywood. He was soon followed by Oprah, who wanted to be just like Bill—wealthy, accommodating to White people, and mollifying to Blacks. I remember the 80s hit “Don’t Worry Be Happy" by singer Bobby Mcferrin. In reality, there was little to be happy about while the gang wars, crack epidemic, and HIV/ AIDS hysteria were just beginning to cause havoc in the Black community. On top of that, you had Ronald Reagan ushering America into an era of neoliberal political culture. Under the spell of materialism and individualism, we forgot all about our collective resistance and the murderous killing of Fred Hampton and the sacrifices of so many others from Medgar Evers and Malcolm X to Martin Luther King, Jr. Years of police murder, brutality, and mass imprisonment of Black and Latino males pass until Ferguson erupts after the killing of the common, young Black man, Mike Brown and seemingly out of nowhere, a new movement is born, reminding us that our struggle for justice and equality is never-ending. The Ferguson rebellion, along with the deaths of Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin and all the other innocent Black males killed by overzealous cops, have sparked our memories to come back. And in the midst of this newfound resistance, Cosby’s many victims are surfacing and speaking out after years of silence, trauma, and shame, exposing him as another wealthy member of the elite that cares nothing about women, people of color, or the lower class. Cosby will eventually have to pay for his crimes, just as Darren Wilson will have to pay for his, and that justice may not come from the courts, but it will come from the condemnation of the people. This is far worse than any legal punishment.
Aaron Dixon is a speaker and writer. He is the author of My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain (2012). In 2006, he ran for US Senate as a Green Party candidate and in 2012, he travelled to Palestine/Israel with the African heritage delegation. Dixon is working on his next book and writing public commentary on current news and events. He lives in Albuquerque, NM.
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Girls Go Techbridge
. For more information visit http://aaascec.osu.edu or call 614-292-4144
the Bronzevillian Supplement December 2014
The Math and Science Program
The next Math and Science Club Session is Monday, January 26, 2015. For more information visit http://aaascec.osu.edu or call 614-292-3922 or 293-8357
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