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TuesdayFocus
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The Daily Tar Heel
tuesday, february 3, 2009
“As a country, we’ve certainly evolved politically to where we’re able to realize certain potential. … We are a work in progress.”
ARCHIE ERVIN, UNC associate provost and director of diversity and multicultural affairs
“We all have many, many challenges to face and all of us as citizens have to take responsibility, roll up our sleeves and continue to open our hearts.”
KAREN STEVENSON, first black woman to receive Rhodes Scholarship and first woman from UNC to receive the scholarship
“I think the interaction among the diverse groups on campus isn’t what it should be, but we’ve come a long way … I feel like we could address the situation through education.” SHANIQUA MCCLENDON, Black Student Movement president
BLACK PROGRESS INSPIRES
Clockwise from the top left: Nigerian Edwin Okoroma integrated the soccer team; Richard Epps speaks in 1972 as the first black student body president; and several students pose on campus.
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The University’s black trailblazers
H staff writer
oping to capitalize on the excitement of the election of President Barack Obama, the Black Student Movement is planning a month’s worth of events on a scale that hasn’t been seen in years. BSM has organized events throughout February in celebration of Black History Month. Each week will have a different theme ranging from culture to politics. “I think overall it will be bigger this year because the BSM never really took a role in planning events for Black History Month,” said Tiffany Little, the month’s planning committee co-chairwoman. “With Barack Obama being president, we have more to talk about than just the Civil Rights Movement and slavery. So I think this year will be a lot more exciting because we can tie things from the past into the present.” Last February, the BSM held a demonstration march from Carroll Hall to the Pit in silent protest of the media’s lack of coverage for minorities outside of crime. “Basically, last year was a big incentive for me with just that one thing on the last day,” said Shaniqua McClendon, BSM president. “I thought it was bad for the Black Student Movement to not do more during Black History Month.” So this year, McClendon formed a committee to organize events throughout February. Senior Rachel Moss, a co-chairwoman of this committee, said it began meeting last semester with a group of 10 to 12 students to plan events.
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“What we want to stress is this is for everyone, and we really want everyone to come out and take part,” Moss said. “You don’t have to be African-American to want to know more about our history.” She said that the month will encourage cultural awareness as well as promote learning and understanding about diversity. One activity Little said she’s looking forward to this month is a tea with black professors. “It’s the one I’m most excited about because I think a lot of students don’t even realize how many African-American professors we have here,” she said. Other universities are also holding events to celebrate Black History Month. One theme will undoubtedly be where race relations can go from here, now that the country has its first black president. “It was a really momentous occasion in history, but we’re going to ask where do we go from here, what’s the next step,” Moss said. Kornelius Bascombe, president of the Black Students Board at N.C. State University, said that the presidency has had an impact with race relations on campus, noting hate speech written on the Free Expression Tunnel earlier this year about Obama. “I think people now are kind of over the fact that Barack Obama is black and a Democrat,” Bascombe said. “People are just ready to see some kind of change.” Bascombe said that several more white students have taken an interest in the board since Obama’s election and inauguration. The board will host events featuring black artists and performers. The board is trying to coordinate
a meeting with other colleges in late February to have a discussion of topics that pertain to the black community, Bascombe said. At the University of Virginia, the Black Student Alliance will be holding several events. There will be the annual Black History Bowl, where students team up to answer black history questions for cash prizes. “Black Power at UVa.” will also be held where alumni from the time of the organization’s formation in 1969 will return to Charlottesville and share their experiences with current students. “We’re hoping students will relate to these experiences and think about how it was back then,” said Lauren McGlory, Black Student Alliance president. BSM leaders said they hope that activities during Black History Month will remain a tradition at UNC. “For the Black Student Movement, this should be time where we have more a significant presence on campus,” McClendon said. “I’d like the BSM to have a more a significant presence on campus in general, but I feel like this will be the best time to help make that happen.”
Mon., Feb. 23
Sat., Feb. 28
Professional Networking Night
Segregation to Inauguration: The Evolution of Black Political Power
Multicultural Mixer
Our Ties to Africa Lecture and Discussion
Movie Night with the BSM
Tea in Honor of Black Professors
7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., SASB North, Upendo Lounge
Global Issues Week Kickoff
Literature, Art and Film Week Kickoff
Hip-Hop Symposium
“I remember in high school when the Brown (v. Board of Education) decision was rendered … I assumed that really marked the end of racial segregation. … That obviously was too naive on my part.” RALPH FRASIER, one of the first black undergraduate students to enroll at UNC
The University allows the enrollment of black undergraduate students: LeRoy Frasier, John Lewis Brandon and Ralph Frasier.
Edwin Okoroma of Nigeria becomes the first black varsity athlete. He played on the soccer team.
Karen Parker transferred to UNC from the Woman’s College in Greensboro and became the first black woman undergraduate to enroll.
Scholarship athlete Charles Scott becomes the first black scholarship athlete at UNC, playing guard on the basketball team.
Faculty member Hortense McClinton joins the faculty as its first black member.
1967
Time and location TBA
Time and location TBA
Time and location TBA
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sonja Haynes Center
“I think when you just look at people as people rather than at their color, that’s the main thing. Their character rather than their color, that’s the main thing for the future and always has been.” HORTENSE MCCLINTON, UNC’s first black faculty member
Black Student Movement Preston Dobbins and Reggie Hawkins create the Black Student Movement.
1969
Tenured faculty member Blyden Jackson is the first black professor to be offered tenure. His wife Roberta earns her tenure in 1970.
1972
Student body president
1973
Black fraternity and sorority
Richard Epps is elected as the first black student body president.
The University charters Omega Psi Phi, the University’s first black fraternity, and Delta Sigma Theta, its first black sorority.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Wed., Feb. 18
Time and location TBA
Varsity athlete
Harvey Beech becomes the first black student to earn a degree from the University of North Carolina. He gained admission after a lawsuit.
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TIFFANY LITTLE, planning committee co-chairwoman
Mon., Feb. 16
Time and location TBA
1963
“With Barack Obama being president, we have more to talk about than just the Civil Rights Movement and slavery.”
Thurs., Feb. 12
Time and location TBA
Undergraduates enroll
1966
Tues., Feb. 10
Times and locations are still being decided for some events. For more information, contact Rachel Moss at ramoss@email.unc.edu.
1955
y of Photos courtes ECTION LL O C . .C THE N
Charles Scott helped break dow barriers on and off the basketb n racial all court.
Black History Month Events
Law student graduates
Woman enrolls
BSM plans month-long celebration to honor history
Lindsay RuEbens
1952
1975
Morehead Scholarship and Rhodes Scholar Karen Stevenson becomes the first black woman to be granted a Morehead Scholarship. In 1975, she won a Rhodes Scholarship and became the first woman from the University and the first black woman to receive it.
-compiled by victoria STILwell
“While we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go … I think there is a lot of mixing; there are a lot of deep friendships coming across lines.”
J.J. RAYNOR, UNC student body president