2008 Woodie Awards
Month celebrated by black student groups
Dina Baslan
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
Kim Young, vice president of the Black Student Union, said she looks forward to Black History Month each year and manages events that allow students in the union to be active on campus.
Here on SJSU's campus, organizations such as the Black Student Union and Alpha Phi Alpha have been active in spreading notions of unity, understanding and positive communication, Young said.
"We collaborate with others," Young said. "Celebrating black history in the month of February, to bring recognition to it at one time when everybody is paying attention."
At the beginning of the month, members of the union scattered around campus handing out pamphlets about Barack Obama before the California primary started.
"We believe that he's a good candidate," said Barbara Powell, president of the Black Student Union. "He represents our community in a great way, and we wanted people to know more about him when they voted."
A panel discussion was held in conjunction with Alpha Phi Alpha on Tuesday. The conversation among members revolved around being accountable to individual actions within the community. The panel mainly tackled issues directed at the use of the "n" word.
The union passed out "abolish the 'n' word cards," cards that contain information about the term "nigger," its definition and connotations that are tied to it. The idea behind the card was developed when students thought of a way to spread the word without asking others to get out of their comfort zones and talk about it.
"Basically, the purpose is just to educate and make people think," Powell said. "You say things and do things you don't think about sometimes."
The union is currently working with the Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers, the Nigerian Student Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council on being part of the Tunnel of Oppression event scheduled for April - the first time in two years.
It is a three-day event that involves students and professors setting up rooms that contain information about different groups in the community. The message is depicted in a number of different ways, depending on the choice of the group, using movies, paint murals or even pictures. Students cross the tunnel from one room to another to learn about one another's differences and experiences.
Here on SJSU's campus, organizations such as the Black Student Union and Alpha Phi Alpha have been active in spreading notions of unity, understanding and positive communication, Young said.
"We collaborate with others," Young said. "Celebrating black history in the month of February, to bring recognition to it at one time when everybody is paying attention."
At the beginning of the month, members of the union scattered around campus handing out pamphlets about Barack Obama before the California primary started.
"We believe that he's a good candidate," said Barbara Powell, president of the Black Student Union. "He represents our community in a great way, and we wanted people to know more about him when they voted."
A panel discussion was held in conjunction with Alpha Phi Alpha on Tuesday. The conversation among members revolved around being accountable to individual actions within the community. The panel mainly tackled issues directed at the use of the "n" word.
The union passed out "abolish the 'n' word cards," cards that contain information about the term "nigger," its definition and connotations that are tied to it. The idea behind the card was developed when students thought of a way to spread the word without asking others to get out of their comfort zones and talk about it.
"Basically, the purpose is just to educate and make people think," Powell said. "You say things and do things you don't think about sometimes."
The union is currently working with the Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers, the Nigerian Student Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council on being part of the Tunnel of Oppression event scheduled for April - the first time in two years.
It is a three-day event that involves students and professors setting up rooms that contain information about different groups in the community. The message is depicted in a number of different ways, depending on the choice of the group, using movies, paint murals or even pictures. Students cross the tunnel from one room to another to learn about one another's differences and experiences.
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H. Lewis Smith
posted 2/28/08 @ 10:19 AM PST
The n-word is a surviving remnant of a psychological warfare conducted to eliminate individual empowerment and self-sufficiency; create dependency; and manipulate emotions, attitudes and/or behaviors to support achievement of an inhuman national objective: mental enslavement of the African-American race. (Continued…)
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