Paper #4
Black Schools Must Change
by Lester Fields, Vice President, SGA
Paper #1
Langston Hughes: A Perfect Fit at
Lincoln University, by Kia Brazier
Paper #2
A timed essay on Langston Hughes'
poetry
Paper #3
Your Darker Brother "I am the
darker brother." (Langston Hughes), by Bradman John
The following front page article is reprinted from the
November 1, 1973 Lincolnian, the student newspaper
of Lincoln University. What struck me about this article,
as I researched the archive in the English department, was
that it struck the same tone and addressed the same issues
that Lincoln students discussed in academic year 1999/2000.
During that year, the faculty and administration of Lincoln
University were treated to one of the wonderful things about
Lincoln students: Their desire to be involved in all aspects
of Lincoln University life. During that wonderful year, the
Lincoln University Student Government Association came together
with the Lincoln faculty, amidst some heated dialogues, and
with the guidance of our new University President, productive
change was brought about. As you can tell by this article,
Lincoln students have always been dedicated to justice and
equality.
Paper #4
Black Schools Must Change
by Lester Fields, Vice President, SGA
In an effort to resist the attempts to destroy Black schools,
and to struggle to change Black schools from their current
orientation, a large coalition of students and non-students
have gotten together to form the National Save and Change
Black Schools Project. Before we precede, let's define some
terms.
By "save" we man keeping intact, re-establishing, and protecting
those universities and colleges designed for the purpose of
educating Black youth. By "save" we speak of directing our
thrust to some positive orientation, ergo, "change."
By "change" we speak therefore of specifics-change in the
basic bourgeoisie orientation of Black universities whose
purpose traditionally was no more than that of a carbon copy
of white college universities. By "change" we speak of reorganizing
student interests, administrative directives, and faculty
integrity.
Save and Change Black Schools involves, therefore, not only
preserving Black schools but revolutionizing them. The idea
is that it is one thing to keep the buildings alive and open
but it is another thing altogether to have them operationally
functional--housing students, holding lectures, etc.
The Save and Change Black School Project was officially organized
in January 1973 when the Your Organization for Black Unity,
an independent organization, formulated strategies, policies,
and directives. By the spring of last year an intense campaign
was launched which was followed by a national conference that
housed representatives from over 55 colleges.
As we move away from definitions to more essential considerations,
we find that what is fundamental to this entire project is
that Black people do have a right to an education. And not
just an education, but an education that will provide them
with necessary skills to help them be mobile in our system,
which every day continues to engulf Black people's humanity.
One only has to look at the cuts in welfare, education, housing,
etc., to see that where we need it most. The system is making
restrictions, cut-backs, withdrawals.
Our Black colleges and universities, both in the South and
the North, should be able to give us the intellectual skills
necessary to combat such reactionary positions. The number
of potential and former Black college students not in school
is indeed a sad commentary on the situation of Black schools
right now.
The Save and Change Black Schools Project attempts initially
to garner student support through campus programs and fund
raisers in an effort to develop a high degree of consciousness
among the masses of students. From there, outside community
participation is needed, along with support from alumni, Black
professionals, the working class, the unemployed-in short,
the total mass of Black people. More specifically, there will
be periods of solidarity on the different campuses to heighten
consciousness and maximize support.
At Lincoln, for example, solidarity week will be Nov. 2 through
Nov. 8. [...] Our schools need to be saved. Our schools need
to be changed. We cannot have one without the other. Our institutions
and we ourselves are linked together in the same way.
