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BLACK HISTORY EDITION
Ebony :3 Herald
East Carolina University, Greenville,N.C.27834
Vol. Ill, No. 7/February 1977
ANTOINETTE DELORES GIBBS will represent Columbus County and ECU in the Miss
North Carolina Pageant, June 13-18.
Miss Columbus County
represents ECU too!
KENNETH CAMPBELL
Executive Editor
North Carolina has yet to send a black Miss North Carolina to the Miss America
Pageant.
If beauty, a pleasing personality, and talent are the basis for selection, this year the
judges may find it difficult to deny the national pageant a black Miss North Carolina.
Antoinette Delores Gibbs, an ECU freshman, will compete in the Miss North Carolina
Pageant in June. She will be representing Columbus County, ~~and ECUTT, she quipped
during a recent chat.
Miss Gibbs became the first black Miss Columbus County on December 18, 1976.
~Surprised? Sure | was,TT she said, smiling as if she were reliving the moment when
she won. ~I entered (the contest) mainly to get the stage experience.TT She hopes to be a
professional dancer after she graduates.
The charming dancer was also first runner-up in the Miss West Columbus High
School Contest (Chadbourn, N.C.) last year, and is currently Miss WVOE, a small soul
radio station near her hometown of Fair Bluff.
Asher talent for the Miss Columbia County contest, Miss Gibbs performed a modern
jazz dance to the music of ~~X-RatedTT by Kool and the Gang.
Dancing since she was three, Miss Gibbs said she began learning formal dances like
ballet, jazz and tap dances when she was 12.
Her dance in Columbus County contest was ad libbed on stage.
~~| couldnTt practice my dance like | wanted to,TT she recalled. ~~| went to the dance
Studios (in the Drama building) to practice the weekend before the contest,TT she said.
~~But the heat and electricity were off.
~So, | came back to my room and tried to practice there. It was small, but | did what |
could.
~~When | got on stage at the contest, | just put myself into it. | donTt remember what |
did, but | did my best and | won.TT
Miss Gibbs said after the contest, her younger twin sisters who are also studying
dance, asked her what she was doing on stage. She couldnTt tell them.
She wore a black and green outfit while dancing, she said. It was not too spectacular
because she wanted the judges to see her.
The judges enjoyed, her dance, according to Miss Gibbs. During a critique which
followed the contest, they did not have any negative comments on her dance.
She plans to do a different dance at the North Carolina Pageant, she said. She will
probably create it since most choreographers are busy with academics or planning their
own work now.
The Miss North Carolina Pageant will be June 13-18 with the finals televised on
Saturday night. More than 60 contestants from across the state will participate.
continued on page 6
Renaming Center
still
By TIM JONES
News Editor
A resolution by The Society of United
Liberal Students (SOULS) to change the
name of the Afro-American Cultural
Center (AACC) to the Ledonia Wright
Cultural Center was not voted on by the
ECU Board of Trustees in their quarterly
meeting this month.
SGA President Tim Sullivan said the
administration did not put the resolution on
the agenda for the meeting.
Sullivan said he had sent a letter to the
chairman of the board, reminding him of
the resolution.
sullivan re-introduced the resolution to
the board, at this meeting, and made a
motion that either the Executive Commit-
tee or the Building and Grounds Commit-
tee of the board meet as soon as possible
on the name change for a final vote to be
taken in the April meeting of the board.
not final
Dalton Nicholson, president of SOULS,
feels there is a problem among the
university officials regarding the AACC,
which has delayed a reply to SOULS on the
name change.
Nicholson said Dr. Jenkins has assured
him that the board approves of the
resolution and no difficulties will arise in
obtaining an affirmative decision.
Ledonia Wright was an advisor to
SOULS and was effective in leading the
Organization in positive directions, ac
cording to the resolution.
The resolution also states that Mrs.
Wright was instrumental in obtaining the
AACC for the students of ECU.
The members of SOULS voted last fall
to Support the renaming of the AACC after
Mrs. Wright, who met an untimely death
in June, 1976.
~| knew Mrs. Wright and worked with
her,TT Sullivan commented. ~~I canTt see
where anyone would object to renaming
the center after her.TT
Governor Hunt proclaims
Black History Week
National Black History Week is ob-
served annually during the second week in
February.
This year, Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.
proclaimed February 6-12 Negro History
Week in North Carolina.
In the official proclamation, Hunt notes
that black citizens in North Carolina have
rendered much to the growth and
development of society.
He states that many contributions and
deeds of valor by blacks have not been
recognized in North Carolina.
NC Minorities
~~Paths Toward FreedomTT, a bio-
graphical history of North Carolina Blacks
and Indians was recently published by the
Center for Urban Affairs at N.C. State
University.
The 250 page book is the first of its kind
in the nation and is the most complete
single source for information on the
experiences of Blacks and Indians.
Very interesting, readable and inform-
ative essays discuss features of Indian
experiences as follows: ~~The Pre-Colonial
Indian in The New World,TT ~~Some
Cultural Aspects of Native American Life,TT
~Indian Religion,TT ~~Arts and Crafts of
Native Americans,TT ~~Federal and State
Relationships Since 1776,TT ~~ Migrations of
North Carolina Indians,T ~Indian Edu-
~*By recognizing the contribution made
by our black citizens,TT Hunt states in the
proclamation, ~o~we foster better under-
standing between people and encourage a
keener appreciation of the heritage of all
Americans.�T
Hunt concludes that North Carolina will
be a leader among states towards the goal
of improving the political and human rights
atmosphere for its citizens through con-
tinued leadership and dedication of North
CarolinaTs black citizens and the minority
community.
Publish Book
cation in Post Colonial North Carolina,T
and ~~ Economic and Professional Growth of
Native Americans in North Carolina.TT
Essays on Blacks discuss ~~ Blacks
Before Arriving in North Carolina,T ~~The
Antebellum Experience,TT ~~Blacks and the
Professions,TT ~*~Agriculture and Labor,T
~~Inventors and Their Inventions,TT ~~Some
Aspects of the Black Experience and
Politics,TT *~Protests,TT ~~Social Organi-
zations and Culture,T and ~~The Black
Church.�T
In addition to the essays the book
features biographical sketches of more
than 100 outstanding personalities both
living and dead from such fields as sports,
the arts, education, business, agriculture,
law, health occupations and politics.
continued on page 5
EB E
_/Il,. NO. 7/FEBRUARY 1977
King, topic of thesis
Black history presented inprints
KENNETH CAMPBELL
Executive Editor
The second week in February is set
aside for National Black History week in
the United States, not because black
history is different fromAmerican history
but rather to reinforce the fact that black
history is an important part of American
history.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of
the most important figures in black
American history. His life, aims, and
successes are interpreted in many ways by
critics worldwide.
Sometimes these critics present their
criticisms as if there is no room for other
criticism. Theirs is the final word.
ECU art student, David McDowell, has
found a way to present black history and
one of its personalities, without making
definitive statements.
McDowell is a graduate student in
lithography in the Printmaking Depart-
ment of the School of Art. He is currently
doing his thesis titled, ~~A Personal
Investigation and Manifestation of Form
and Content.TT
Lack ofunity amyth,
Students have written to the editor of
EBONY HERALD and complained at
SOULS meetings about blacks not sticking
together on campus. A general opinion of
most blacks at ECU is that we h ave a low
sense of unity, Causing a severe setback in
our collegiate careers.
| can recall when the black student body
was about half the size it is now, and |
remember that we were closer. Social
affairs were usually successful. Blacks
always met in the old CU between classes.
Often SOULS would sponsor events on
weekdays, relieving boredom and inevit-
ably bringing us closer together.
Themeanin
Americans, both black and white had
an opportunity to watch one of the best cast
programs ever made for television recently
- yet a large number of them did not. Some
might ask why? ITm quite sure that the
reasons are very rangeful and of different
degrees yet one of them is undoubtably the
fact that some people do not wish to be
reminded of the fact that their ancestors
were as hypocritical as portrayed on the
scene. It is one thing to read about it and
have an intellectual knowledge of the black
manTs past but it is completely different to
sit and watch it take place. A profound
writer said the facts given in ~~RootsTT are
Printmaking, according to McDowell, is
an area of art which deals with printing a
series of a particular image. The purpose is
to get certain consistency such as color.
Lithography is a printing process which
is closely related to drawing. It involves
drawing with a grease base pencil on
limestone which is porous or a non-porous
surface such as zinc or metal plates.
McDowell said he prefers limestone
because the surface allows for more
creativity.
In his thesis, McDowell is using the life
of King to illustrate the importance of form
in lithography.
Impetus for his series of images on
King came from photos and literature of
King, according to McDowell. One print in
the series is taken from a statement King
made while praying during a mass meeting
in support of the Montgomery Bus boycott
in 1956.
~~Lord, | hope no one will die as a result
of our struggle for freedom in Mont-
gomery. Certainly, | donTt want to die --
but if anyone has to die, let it be me!TT
Like KingTs comment, McDowellTs
print is vulnerable to criticism. McDowell
refuses to reveal what he was attempting to
depct in his images. It destroys the effect
on the viewer he says.
With a smaller student body, as a
whole, few blacks even entertained the
idea of living off-campus. Everyone lived in
the general campus area, and people were
easier to locate. Since practically every
black knew every other black there was
more communication--more exchange of
ideas.
Now that the black population has
doubled, black students have extended to
practically all areas of the university and
Greenville. We now enjoy small social
functions with those students who are
closer to us.
Seemingly blacks are more active in
campus activities, political, academic, etc.
not new yet the series had an appeal that
reached home for all those that watched it.
The story telling how things were (and
shouldnTt have been. Some of the same ill
created acts still exist today in the forms of
prejudices and other injustices heaped
upon the black man and other less
fortunate individuals.
Many who watched ~~RootsTT felt that
the movie was an over exaggeration of how
things really were. Admittedly, what took
place in ~~RootsTT didnTt happen to every
black family, but if it happened to just one
person, then the tragedy protrayed in
~RootsT is just as great. It was a tragedy.
Contrary to beliefs shared by a few,
EBONY HERALD STAFF
Beegcinwe CCtnws oot ok
Spas EChors so. eons cos. ei. eee
COORG e, c's oe aon os ee
eeseeree ese eee eee eee eee eee ee
Jerry Simmons
William Davis
One of his prints of the bus boycott is
taken from a variety of pictures during the
boycott. He has taken a picture of a women
sitting alone on a public transportation
bus, a black lady standing on a corner and
another black woman standing on the side
walk waiting for a car to take her home.
McDowell combined these pictures into
one image.
He created yet another image on KingTs
life from the statement, ~~King carried the
Bible in one hand and the constitution in
another.TT Titled ~~Mr. UniverseT, the
print contains images of the Statue of
Liberty, and King. It won second place in
the Graduate Student Art Show last
Spring.
McDowell said he is trying to get
away from giving titles to his prints. They
destroy the impact of the print, he said.
He chose KingTs life as his topic
because he could relate to it.
~~When | came to graduate school at
ECU, | was doing several types of
images,T� McDowell said. ~~Many of them
were not related to anything.
~~In a graduate program, there should
be a consistency in media and subject
matter. And | needed a subject with
meaning so that | could channel all my
images in one direction.
fhe growth of black Greek organi-
zation has helped a great deal in our social
separation.
Those students who complain about
black unity need to realize that each of us
is an individual with individual interests.
With a growth in. the black student body,
we are naturally going to acquire a
population of varied interests and goals
and viewpoints.
To often we distinguish ourselves as
just blacks, instead of men and women who
claim our equality and are working towards
a comfortable position in life. To reach this
position we canTt devote enough a to
~~RootsTT (the book not T.V. series) was not
designed to cause anamosities between
blacks and whites. ~~I like to consider that
Roots speaks of the American human
drama.TT Say it author, Alex Haley. Haley
wasnTt trying to cause any ill feelings,
simply trying to lift the veil of ignorance
that has existed around the cultural values
and importants of the black man _ in
America. He was trying to show that the
time for brainwashing has passed. At-
tempting to show that the time for blacks to
Stand and show all the nobility and intellect
which is inherent of those of the human
race, not just black, or white but the
~human raceT.
People embarrassed by the way whites
as a whole were portrayed in the series say
that they donTt believe whites were really
like that. Mark Twain once said that;
| once watched a some what clummsy
Negro boy struck in the forehead after
dropping certain precious items as [hats
from France|. The boy was dead in five
~One of my professors suggested that |
look in my own back yard. | did and | chose
King because | felt it would provide
imagery | could related to physically and
emotionally.
His complete thesis is not on King, he
said. Just the part which concerns images
and form. The purpose of images is to help
the artist recognize how plastic elements
such as lines, tecture, and color can be
utilized to produce a coherent and unified
result.
The Presbytery in eastern North
Carolina recently commissioned the School
of Art to do some pictures. McDowell
submitted two prints and there were rated
as the top two in the collection.
He also had three prints in the recent
Rebel Art Show.
McDowell acknowledges that the pur-
pose of his thesis is not to make a personal
comment on King or his _ philosophy.
Nevertheless, the nature of the subject of
the prints are open to criticisms. ItTs part of
their purpose - to be criticized and enjoyed.
McDowellTs style of presenting black
history is not unique as art has always been
a method of criticism. However the
criticisms are not definitive. The prints
allow each person to interpret King.
says editor
associating every other black brother on
campus.
Instead of complaining, blacks should
be pleased to see the brothers and sisters
involved in more campus activities. This is
when we know that we are really
advancing.
A spreadout of blacks in campus
organizations is the ~~strength in
numbersT that we really need. When and
if the time arrives that we need to
congregate as a mass, | have faith that
black ECU students will realize the need
and act accordingly.
TIM JONES
News Editor
g of ~RootsT exp/ored
hours. Of course no one liked it, but no one
said anything about it either - to think that
an owner would be deprived of such
valuable property because of one moment
of anger in some unfortunate white man.
Another writer said, ~~the whites hated
blacks because it was a very useful way to
project their shortcomings onto the
creatures they owned. If they didnTt want
to seem wrong raping a black girl they
_ simply called the ~nigger a lustful animal
that couldnTt control herselfT .TT
Roots is not trying to start up new
troubles between the races but simply a
story of the ~~obscure abduction of an
African warrior whose story and childrenTs
story has tried to reach out and give us all a
sense of belonging. It is a story of ~~sagaTT
that is trying to give us a glimpse of our
~richT African heritage to which we may
add our own far reaching American
dreams.
JERRY SIMMONS
Features Editor
EBONY HERALD/VOL. III, NO. 6/JANUARY 1977
Only Detroit Symphony was nota sellout
Alexander; Artist Series has successfulyear
JOYCE EVANS
Staff Writer
The Student Union Artist Series
Concerts have had a good year, according
to Rudolph Alexander, assistant dean of
student affairs.
Every concert on the Artists Series,
except the Detroit Symphony were sell
outs.
The Artists Series committee is one of
the 12 committees in the Student Union
and is headed by a president which is
chosen by the Board of Directors. The
committee is responsible for providing
entertainment, cultural events, and re-
creation for the students.
Eight of the members on the committee
are students and two are faculty. With a
budget of approximately $30,000 a year,
they choose the concerts and present them.
This money comes from two sources--
student fees and ticket sales. Ticket sales
make up about one third of the budget.
According to Alexander, the committee
books at least a year in advance. Artists are
difficult to get because they book so far
ahead of time.
~~WeTve tried to book Leontyne Price
for several years and have not been able to
get her because she books so far in
advance,TT said Alexander.
Although the difficulty in booking the
really super stars is beyond the realm of
ECU, Alexander contends that the com-
mittee tries to have a balanced series each
year.
Concerts with instrumentalists (pianos
and violins), vocalists or choral groups, and
major orchestras combine to give variety
and to try to meet the tastes of everyone,
according to Alexander.
But todayTs audience is so segmented
that it is difficult to book an artist with
broad enough appeal to reach everyone.
~~One group likes soul, jazz, rock, or
folk music and thereTs not enough in any
one group to make it feasible to bring in a
big time star,TT said Alexander.
An Elton John concert would cost
approximately $100,000, according to
Alexander. Tickets might cost as much as
$10 a seat.
~A lot of colleges have found this to be
true and have lost money too,T said
Alexander.
Every full-time student at ECU is a
member of the Student Union. Their
payment of an activity fee makes them
eligible. But just because they are, they
cannot say what group to get. ItTs not that
simple, according to Alexander.
Among the problems encountered by
the committee are ticket sales. Once a
correction
In the January 1977 edition of EBONY
HERALD, in the article, ~~West African
student discusses self and ECU,TT it was
mistakenly reported that the bridegroom in
Africa pays a dowry for his wife. However,
as in American, it is no longer the custom.
Also, it was mistakenly reported that in
1968, the Prime Minister of Nigeria
refused to resign. It was actually a
Governor of a prominent state who refused
to resign.
person purchases a ticket, he holds a seat
whether he attends the concert or not.
Ticket holders donTt always attend the
concert, thus causing potential ticket
purchasers difficulty.
~~We donTt oversell the house, but we
do sell at the door if there are empty
By C.R. KNIGHT
Staff Writer
During the fifties and sixties the era of
~~jazzTT was at its peak. Hearing Louis
Armstrong sing ~~Hello DollyT is a
reminder of an age diverse enough as to
almost defy definition.
Jazz is the result of the Black ManTs
attempt to imbue some of the same feeling
found in his Black roots into the musical
compositions of the time. Even though jazz
is still listened to, it hardly has the
popularity it had during the fifties and
sixties.
seats,TT said Alexander.
Another problem is inadequate facili-
ties to bring in the truly big time stars,
according to Alexander.
Since Minges is no longer available for
rock concerts because of damages from
cigarette burns, the problem is greater.
Count Basie and Duke Ellington are
equitable to Armstrong. Ellington, by the
mid-sixties, had played at the Lincoln
Center and had conducted the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra. Basie also de-
serves acclaim as a senior musician and big
band leader.
The magic and style of men like
Armstrong and Ellington are now only
memories. Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and B.B.
King are among the remaining jazz
devotees, who gave the world some of its
most unimitable music.
There was a time when Blacks
entertained completely White audiences at
night clubs but were refused entrance to
The Artists Series has two remaining
concerts. Waverly Consort will perform on
March 16 in Mendenhall and Abbey
Simon, a pianist, will perform on April 6.
The Waverly Consort concert is the music
of the middle ages--from medieval songs
and pieces through the Renaissance.
Jazz survives third decade
these very same clubs. In those days the
Black man had to accept such terms if he
wanted to perform. The innovative urge of
the musicians during the fifites, in addition
to the philosophical and spiritual state of
the Black man is responsible for the vitality
that jazz possessed.
Even though Armstrong and Ellington
have left us we still have some of the
threads of the age to hold on to. The world
could never forget Coltrane, Coleman or
the master of ~~cool jazz,TT Miles Davis.
The nostalgia of the age is still ever
present today. Music is still the Black
manTs ~~thingTT and jazz is music at its
best.
I'm an Air Force officer and this is my
sweet chariot. When | visit home people
are happy to see me. And proud. They
say I'm doing my part in the community
by showing the young people and the
adults that you really can make it. You
really can get your share of A Great
Way of Life.
| also feel good about my position in the
Air Force community. ITm a leader there,
too. ITm someone the other brothers
and sisters | meet in the service can
look to. And it reassures them to know
they have a voice in Air Force matters
that concern them.
The Air Force needs more leaders...
pilots... aircrew members...math
majors ... science and engineering ma-
Force ROTC program. There are two,
and non-scholarship. Why not look into
all of them and see if one fits your
plans? ItTs worth it, brother.
Sophomores
should apply now!
Contact
Captain Richard Rowan
ECU Wright Annex 206
or Phone 757-6598
Sweet
jors. You might be one of them, and the ¢
best way to find that out is in an Air
and four-year programs. Scholarship
Air Force ROTC
Gateway to a Great Way of Life
t
ie eee ee Le eae eee
EBONY HERALD/ VOL. III, NO 7/FEBRUARY 1977
ECU integrates withoutviolence
KENNETH CAMPBELL
Executive Editor
East Carolina University was one of the
few major North Carolina universities to
integrate without a court order. It was due,
largely, to the careful planning of Dr.
Eyewitness
Andrew A. Best and ECU Chancellor Leo
W. Jenkins.
Best, remembering when no _ black
undergraduates attended ECU, said he and
Dr. Jenkins faced the problems integration
might present and then planned to prevent
them.
reporter
discusses media job
By JOYCE EVANS
Staff Writer
Click. ..Click...Click...Click!
Sounds of typewriters clicking and
telephones ringing are typical of any .
newsroom when a news broadcast time
approaches, and Channel 7 in Washington,
N.C. is no different.
ItTs 10:00 p.m. and Gene Motley busily
prepares his script for the evening news.
His sense of humor is extraordinary so
much so that itTs difficult to tell whether
heTs serious or joking. The ability to make
His sense of humor is extraordinary so
much-so that itTs difficult to tell whether
heTs serious or joking. The ability to take
the worse side of a situation and add
sunshine seems to be a gift of MotleyTs.
EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER GENE MOTLEY, reports, announces, edits
newsfilm, and recently substituted for the weather person.
Eyewitness News reporter, Motley, has
worked at WITN TV for three years and
heTs more than just a sportscaster aS many
of his viewers know him as. Motley is a
reporter, announcer, newsfilm editor,
photographer, and recently he substituted
for the weather person.
~~! used to get violently angry when
people called me the weatherman because
| had never done the weather in my life,�T
said Motley.
But on New YearT s Day, he reported the
weather for the first time.
~~ And itTs been bitter cold ever since,TT
frowned Motley.
~~Now comes the best part of the
night--when you throw out what you donTt
want,TT said Motley after completing his
news copy.
Getting rid of unwanted news copy is
not really the highlight of the evening,
especially not for the viewers. MotleyTs
delivery of the latest sports news is what
the sports fans want. & communicates
effectively and fluently in an interesting
fashion. Motley writes his own stories so
that makes the copy suitable for his unique
delivery. He adds witty phrases to make
things more interesting.
Working at a local TV station is an
advantage, according to Motley.
oStarting at a small outfit, you learn
everything. There is so much to take
advantage of, but the pay is horrifying,�T
laughted Motley.
In the immediate area, Motley is the
only black reporter for local TV. More
blacks are on ~~the tubeT in eastern North
Carolina because no blacks are applying for
positions such as his Motley said. But ac-
cording to Motley a small number of black
reporters sometimes is an advantage.
Working for a TV station isnTt as
glamorous as many of the viewers believe.
Motley works long, irregular hours, and his
weekends are tied up too. But he loves his
iob just the same.
o| love it because itTs what ITve always
wanted to do,TT exclaimed Motley. ~~No two
days are ever the dame"itTs (television)
constantly growing, changing.
~You go through an entire life cycle in
one story. You are carried, you crawl, you
walk stumblingly. Then you walk slowly
and you run,TT he said in summary.
The situation Motley will be in, for that
particular day depends on the type of story
and the nature of the story.
On an out-of-town assignment, Motley
said many times news assignments are set
up often without prior knowledge of the
story.
~~Because we're such a small outfit,
that is, we have no assignment editor, we
often cover out-of-town assignments with
no prior knowledge of the story.TT
According to Motley, advancement
depends on a lot of things.
continued onpage 6
~~In discussions with Dr. Jenkins, we
recognized four potential problems in
allowing black students to come to ECU,�T
said Best who was representing the
Greenville Human Relations Council dur-
ing his attempts to get ECU integrated.
~~The first problem we felt would be
Student body acceptance of a black on
campus and in classes,TT Best continued.
~*Then there was the problem of housing.
~~The third problem was finding a black
student with the academic ability and the
courage to meet the challenge. And finally,
we were concerned about faculty reaction.
We felt that only housing and finding the
right student were major problems.�T
Both major problems were solved when
Best convinced one of his former students,
Laura Leary, to apply to ECU.
A native of Pitt County, Miss Leary
commuted to school which solves the
housing problem. She was a_ business
administration major.
Miss Leary enrolled in the Fall of 1963
and attended ECU a full academic year as
the only black undergraduate enrollee.
However, she was joined the following year
by approximately 10 more blacks. Finish-
ing in four years, Miss Leary proved to be
the perfect student for the situation.
Best attributes the nonviolent inte-
gration of ECU to planning. He said Miss
Leary ~~knew that it if she got into any
situation which smacked of discrimi-
nation,TT she could call on him for support.
The black students who followed Leary
began staying in the dormitories without
any violent incidents.
One of the black students who enrolled
soon after Miss Leary broke the color
barrier was Tommy Harris. Harris was a
Psychology major from Greenville.
oThere was a maximum of 50 blacks
enrolled here when | came in 1966,TT said
Harris. We were closely knitted together.
Harris is currently attending ECU to
fulfill requirement for entering medical
School. He received his bachelorTs degree
from ECU in 1972. He also holds a masterTs
degree in special education from North
Carolina Central University.
oThe so-called Revplutionary Era af-
fected ECU as it did other campuses,TT
Harris continued. ~~SOULS (Society of
United Liberal Students) started during
this period (the late sixties).
Awe
~*oSome students were disenchanted
with it because they felt it did not have a
purpose. They were trying to make the best
of being at ECU.�T
Harris said black students twice
confronted Dr. Jenkins at his house with
demands.
In the first confrontation, in 1968, the
students asked that the flag be flown
half-mast in memorial to Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., who has just been assasinated.
Dr. Jenkins told the group he did not
have the authority to allow such an action.
He told them he would have to call the
governor and get permission. Later in the
day, the request was honored.
During the second conirontation, the
students presented Dr. Jenkins with a list
of demands. One of the demands which
was met was that some black faculty
members be hired.
There was also a small incident in the
late sixties over the playing of ~*DixieTT at
athletic events, according to Best.
A black student, Phyllis Simpson, ran
for Homecoming queen in 1970.
Black fraternity life began at ECU in
1971. Dr. Best said he presented the
argument to Dr. Jenkins that the university
was meeting academic but not social needs
of the black students. The social needs
could be fulfilled through fraternities, he
argued.
The problem in establishing a fraternity
was a university rule which says that no
student receiving financial assistance could
be in a fraternity. Most black students
were getting aid.
Best said the problem was solved when
Zeta Eta Lambda, a local graduate chapter
of Eta Un, Inc., set out to provide monetary
assistance for the students wanting to join
a fraternity.
Consequently, the ETA Nu chapter of
Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. was established at
ECU in May 1971.
The void left after the academic and
social needs of the black students wer
assured fulfillment not being satisfied
through black participation in campus
publications, the Student Government
Association, the Student Union, the
Marching Band and other extracurricular
activities.
|F
(Cy a
aya
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if ra Ly
EBONY HERALD/ VOL. III, NO. 7/FEBRUARY 1977
ETS
Writer traces black heritage
Alex Haley was born in Ithaca, N.Y.,
and reared in rural Henning, Tenn.
HaleyTs date of birth was August 11, 1921.
At the age of 17 he enlisted into the
U.S. Coast Guards. In the U.S. Coast
Guards Haley moved from a cook to a
journalist. He got his first assignments
fromEbony and Jet magazines. When he
reached the age of 37 he became a
freelance writer.
One of his most famous works is The
Autobiography of Malcolm X. This work
was published in 1965.
~ In that same year Haley began work on
tracing his family heritage back to Africa.
This tracing was the basis for Roots. Roots
has been published in hardback by
Doubleday Publishing Company.
HaleyTs concern about his ancestors
dated back as far as age five. He
remembers the conversations of his
Grandmother and her sisters in Henning,
Tenn. Haley got the beginning of his story
from Aunt Plus, Aunt Liz, Aunt Till, Aunt
Viney, and Cousin Georgia. Cousin
Georgia, the last of the relatives who told
the story on the front porch to die,
encouraged Haley greatly to achieve his
goal.
Haley was awarded $300.00 in the form
of a monthly check from ReaderTs Digest
along with reasonable necessary travel
expenses. With this and determination,
Haley went to Africa. In ~~The Mother-
landTT Haley took part in various rituals and
ceremonies with his long lost cousins.
Haley, after various small incidents,
finally got the honor of talking to one of
the ~~griotsT of the Kinte Clan. While
talking with the o~griotTT, Haley discovered
the same story had been mostly covered on
the front porch, by his grandmother and
relatives.
The novel, Roots, tells in detail the
heartwarming story of HaleyTs reunion
with his ancestors.
Throughout the journey Haley had
many emotions. He often found himself
crying at the thoughts of his ancestorsT
lives; however, there are beautiful parts to
the journey. Haley tells of the beauty of the
purity found in the rich blackness of his
African relatives.
Black history is
DONA HURST Freshman V.P.
NC minorities
continued from page 7
beautiful. . .
The novel has been televised on ABC in
a series of eight movies.
The beginning of the production, like
most of our heritages, begins in the
~~MotherlandTT. The story shows the evils
which stole the children of the ~~Mother-
landTT and forced them into the hells of
slavery.
From the slave ships, Alex Haley takes
us into the lives of his ancestors. He tells of
how his great, great grandmothers were
raped by the so called ~~masters.TT Just
listen to the listening to the story is a type
of torture.
From the years of total slavery we are
taken to the years of the so called o~free
slavesT. During this period few blacks
gained their freedom. Roots tells that
freedom was not given; it was earned
unjustly. The masters gave nothing that
they did not charge three times the price
for. Africans were set free in a Native
Land. Not knowing of anything but working
for the white man, they were still in
bondage. The few who were able to read
were punished if their knowledge was
discovered.
musical 5
The last part concerns the Civil War.
Blacks were said to be free. Alex Haley
shows how his ancestors were still
tortured. The development of the Klu Klux.
Klan and other blood-thirsty groups kept
blacks in constant agony.
The series, Roots, and the novel have
brought about various interesting opinionsi
One brother commented, ~~It made me mad
to see how my people were treated.TT
When another brother was asked the
same question he replied, ~~Ilt makes me
prouder to be black, and when | see it | feel
sorta mad. And | feel sorry for those who
can still be Uncle Toms after seeing what
they did to our blood.TT
Thanks to Alex Haley many know a
story that needed very much to be told.
From the determination and hard work of
Alex Haley, many have been taught. There
can never be enough gratitude given to our
brother Alex Haley for telling the story.
Information concerning Roots has been
published in Ebony, Essence, Jet and
Right On magazines.
TONI HARRIS
Staff Writer
The book will be useful to the general
public including church, civic, community
business and professional groups. Grade
School, college and university students and
teachers will find this volume useful as a
reference and as a basis for themes,
debates and discussions. Reading this book
should create more pride among the Blacks
and Indians in the contributions they have
made in the development of this state and
inspire them to higher achievements. On
the other hand, all citizens of this state can
gain a greater appreciation for the
important role played by these two groups
in this stateTs past and present.
The beautiful illustrations by James
and Earnestine Huff, a husband and wife
team of artists, appropriately complement
the work of the writers.
The editors for this volume were Dr.
Earlie E. Thorpe, Professor of History,
North Carolina Central University, Dr.
Thomas Parramore, Professor of History,
Meredith College and Dr. Doris Lucas,
Professor of English, North Carolina State
University.
The book was funded by the North
Carolina Bicentennial Commission.
Copies of the book can be obtained for
only $3.50 by writing to Frank Emory,
Managing Editor, Center for Urban
Affairs, Box 5125, N. C. State University,
Raleigh, N.C. 27607.
BROTHERS JOHNSON being cool.
cultural.. .
TIS THE SEASON...
afl
oDONTT BOTHER ME...�
EBONY HERALD/ VOL. IMI, NO. 7/FEBRUARY 1977
Jazz-funk band formed at ECU
GERALD WAYNE BARNES
Staff Writer
Because student life on campus can be
very hectic due to academic demands, it is
nearly impossible for students to partici-
pate in a time-consuming extracurricular
activity if they have full schedules.
Delightfully, the members of the
Funkadixons Band deny this and are alive
and well here at ECU.
Formerly called Program | the bandTs
name has changed to FunkadixonTs due to
the influence of sophomore keyboardist,
Barry Dixon. Dixon::is not only the
backbone of the group but originally got
the show together. Sharing equal im-
portance as coordinator is Harvey Stokes,
also a sophomore who not only arranges
the groupTs songs but contributes his
musical talents at the tenor and alto
saxophones. Other band members include
sophomores, Gerald Little on drums,
Delcis Harper, flute, and Curk Holstin on
bass.
The group itself has been together for
over a year with and has basically the same
members with the exception of Holstin.
Unfortunately, the band had problems
getting together last year and during the
fall quarter because of academic responsi-
bilities. Winter quarter has been almost
prolific for the group and they have made
an appearance at a basketball game. They
also participated in the Delta Sigma Theta
talent show.
~~Although we do play different types of
music we are primarily interested in
jazz-funk,TT explained member Harvey
Stokes. ~~We feel we are best at this and
are definitely improving as we learn how to
play with each other.TT
Their style is very enjoyable and for a
young band they play very well. They were
well-received at the basketball game and
according to Little, ~~all students enjoyed
our music. We received a lot of complaints
from both black and white players which
was especially pleasing to us.�T
But Which Way
TomorrowT s child touched down
looking for the sunrise.
TodayTs child arrived
looking towards the sunset,
and the dawn of a new day.
The two paths
perchance may cross
cause they keep after each other.
The sunset must run faster
to catch the sunrise.
HeTs been down but not down
HeTs been high up
Then he looked for the hottom, he saw
Voice From An
Ebony Man Past
Give this message to a black man
Not one who plays the role,
But give this message to a Black Man,
One ot body, mind and soul.
Tell him of our nations,T
Tell him of our Pride....
Tell him of our warriors,
Tell him how their mothers cried-
When tney in turn saw,
On that most mournful day -
Their all graceful sons,
From their embraces stolen away.
Remind him of the voyages,
Of all it did demand.
Remind him of the failures,
Who were blessed not to withstand.
Tell him of Dixie -
Tell him its power did cease.
Tell him of your fatherTs father,
Tell him how they won their peace.
Remind him of the saga, -
For he must remember well -
Remind him so earnestly -
So that his children he shall tell.
Remind of the Men of old,
And all that they tried to teach.
Remind him of all our pain,
In search of our freedom to reach.
Give this message to a Black Man!
One by body, mind and soul,
Give this message to a black man -
Not one who plays the role.
JERRY SIMMONS
So he took another path
towards the sunrise.
Sail on silver bird
sayeth he
Leave all the yesterdayTs behind
Conflict arrives
like a harsh cold wind.
TomorrowTs child cannot see
What todayTs child shows.
The sunrise was their goal
but which way.
Kehinde Tokuta
Telllt Tolt
Take off the visor
Place me on the plain
Where runneth the stream of truth.
Casts and owls see in the dark
The rattler feels what it cannot see
That colt cannot see
oCause heTs looking the other way.
| saw that colt come out
from a mare, leader of the pack
It was born free.
A quiet fire was lit
When it was blessed
It takes its time.
Beyond the valley
in the land of starry skies
They waited, prepared
Setting it up, setting them up.
Perchance that colt, will fint
its way, no one thought.
To sniff the wind
Will take it time.
The colt sniffed the wind
The quiet fire lit.
Like the still water that runneth deep
The quiet fire will burn slow but sure
He must take it to the plain
And tell it to it.
Kehinde Tokuta
In lieu of this, it is unbelievable that
they have been asked not to play at any
more games by the administration due to
complaints from the alumni and coaches.
Understandably all band members felt
disappointed at this and are suspicious of
the reasons given to them. Since they were
playing for all students in order to raise
school spirit, it is hard to understand any
type of complaints. Ironically their concerts
were free which is almost unheard of
today.
The FunkadixonTs enjoy playing music
and they definitely enjoy playing together.
This was very apparent at the recent DJT
talent show although all band members
considered that a bad concert. Not
surprisingly everyone enjoyed their show
and are awaiting eagerly for their next
concert.
When asked when their next show will
be no response can be gotten since the
band members are also good at being
evasive. In accordance with their music
and their style they want their next
performance to be a surprise.
In a personal interview with Curk
Holstin, Holstin had quite a lot to Say.
o| feel that this group is very close
music-wise. We seem to have the same or
similar ideas in the type sound we want to
produce which is mainly jazz-funk. | am
quite interested in this style of music and
hopefully we will be able to do some
original songs. As for the members
personally, | hadnTt met any of them prior
to my transferring here, but it seems as if
ITve been playing with them all my life.
There is one thing that | canTt understand,
and that is the fact that with all the talent
on campus | was surprised to find out that
there are so few groups on campus. | know
academics and money are good reasons for
this, but | still feel that with talent here on
campus there should be more activities
arranged so that these people can get out
and do their thing. | myself enjoy playing
and |Tm sure the rest of the members do.
As for future concerts, weT re all for them.T
Miss Columbus County represents ECU too
continued from page 7
Miss Gibbs said her wardrobe for the week will be provided free. She also won a $500
Scholarship as winner of the Columbus County contest.
But honors aside, Miss Gibbs said she hopes to get some support from ECU students
as she competes in the state contest in Winston-Salem this summer.
ooPIl represent Columbus and ECU, too,TT she said with a smile. ~~ITm going to the
Miss North Carolina Pageant and do my best. It would be good for me to know | have
Someone in the audience supporting me besides just my family.�T
During a weekend in March, she will attend a seminar in Winston-Salem to learn what
will happen during the contest. People interested in attending the pageant, should
contact her before the seminar so that she can buy tickets.
~It will be almost impossible to get tickets after March,TT Miss Gibbs said. ~~I want to
thank my friends for their support, and | want to see some of them in Winston-Salem.T
But, if you canTt make it to Winston-Salem because of summer school or other
previous commitments, be sure to see Miss Gibbs on June 18 when the finals will be
televised. And donTt be surprised.
Eyewitness reporter discusses media job
continued from page 4
~ooThereTsno 22totelevision. You
make it on desire, ability, and luck.TT
Motivation is especially essential and
Motley believes that this is the key. HeTs
not there yet, but he knows what it takes to
get ahead and that will be the primary
factor in achieving his long term goals.
~You just have to believe in yourself
Pirates post
dismal record
Asthe ECU basketball campaign winds
down, the Pirates find themselves with a
dismal 8-13 record and out of contention for
top. honots in the Southern Conference
Tourney. Coach PattonTs troops have lost
their last four games. Their last victory was
over Davidson.
Although the team has faced numerous
defeats this season, hope still exists that
the team will come around before
tournament time.
In the PiratesT recent victories, the toal
point spread has been low.
The scrappy Pirates gave the Mount-
aineers all they could handle, Saturday
night, losing 63-60.
The Pirates are really giving an all out
effort to better themselves, and it seems
they are closer to the vital aspect of a total
team concept.
Things like Lou Crosby become more
offensive minded, Larry HuntTs leadership,
Herb GrayTs improved consistency, and
Big Ty EdwardsT improved playing are all
stepping stones toward this goal which the
team hopes will be reached.
and do it,TT concluded Motley.
Motley attended school at Univ. of N.C.
Chapel Hill, majoring in Drama. He was
one of the founders of ~~Black Ink,TT the
SchoolT s newspaper.
Recently, Motley performed as a
~Stand-upT comedian for the ECU Coffee-
house.
Freeman
second
Debbie Freeman, one of the finest
female basketball players in the state, is
one of the few bright spots for the Lady
Pirates.
Freeman, a junior from Jacksonville, is
second in the state in rebounding and
scoring.
The Lady Pirates have been faced with
numerous frustrations this season, and
their greatest loss being All-state forward
Rosie Thompson. Thompson has a fract-
ured ankle and is out for the season.
With Thompson out of the line-up,
Opponents have been able to concentrate
more on stopping Debbie. But the
magician from Jacksonville continues to
freak in her own special way.
Freeman and Thompson complemented
each other's game real well, each being
vital assets for the other, and with reserves
not being able to react to the tranaction
very well, which has hampered the team
and Freeman.
Chances are the Lady Pirates will make
the playoffs.
