Her Turn Grandmother, Returning Stateside to Gain an Education
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Winner of Nine Collegiate Excellence in Journalism Awards fromo Our college. Our news. Our voice. Naugatuck Valley Community College February 1, 2017 Waterbury, Connecticut Vol. 61, Iss. 1 Shirley Chisholm made history. Born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Chisholm spent most of her childhood in Barbados with her Black History: Her Turn grandmother, returning stateside to gain an education. In 1946, she graduated Brooklyn Nicole Hayes College with a teaching degree and worked for her Masters in Elementary Education from Columbia University. After serving as educational consultant for New York City’s Bureau of Child Welfare, 1959 - 1964, Chisholm began adventuring into politics, becoming the first Black congresswoman in 1968; in 1969, she became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Chisholm rep- resented New York State in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms. Additionally, she was the first major-party Black candidate to run for the Democratic nomination in 1972. She later said, “I ran because most people thought the country was not ready for a Black Maggie Lena Walker Alice Coachman Shirley Chisholm Toni Morrison candidate, not ready for a woman candidate. Most often, Black History Month is associated any race— to become a bank president. Born in Athletic Union (AAU) national championship Someday. It was time in 1972 to make that with the Civil Rights Movement. However, Richmond, VA in 1864 to former slave Elizabeth in high jump. She continued to win national someday come.” American Black history has more aspects that Draper, and to Irish-American, Eccles Cuthbert, titles in sprints and high jump while attend- Celebrated just once a year, Black History still need to be uncovered. Along with male Walker attended two educational institutions ing Tuskegee Institute, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Month honors those who have made great icons, like Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther designed for Black students. She later joined the where she graduated high school. She would’ve achievements. This year, we focus on women King Jr., there are several Black women who Independent Order of St. Luke, an organization qualified for the 1940 and ‘44 Olympics, can- whose legacy enriches our everyday lives. From made major contributions throughout history. committed to advancing Black Americans finan- celled due to World War II. During the 1948 Garner’s tragedy to Coachman’s triumph, Black Their achievements shaped the fate of our cially and socially. Later in life, she continued to Olympics in London, she became the first Black women have fought to forge pathways for oth- nation. As part of February’s Black History work for the organization, becoming St. Luke’s woman to win an Olympic gold medal and ers. These are just a few of countless Black Month, let’s focus on some American women Grand Secretary. Walker opened her own chap- first Black American woman to benefit from women who struggled against racism and sex- who made history. ter in 1903 called St. Luke Penny Saving Bank endorsements. With her success, she opened ism to achieve great things. They take their One woman’s pre-Civil War story was so and remained president until 1929. Under her a nonprofit organization, Alice Coachman place with the likes of poet, Maya Angelou; powerful, it is still being told today. Born into leadership, she served 50,000 members and 1,500 Track and Field Foundation, providing assis- contralto, Marian Anderson; aviator, Bessie slavery in 1834 on John Pollard Gaines’ plan- local chapters. tance to young athletes and former Olympic Coleman; Children’s Defense Fund Founder, tation in Boone County, Kentucky, Margaret Growing up, Alice Coachman didn’t have athletes to adjust to life after their careers. In Marian Wright Edelman; First Lady, Michelle Garner and her husband and children fled access to public sports facilities due to southern 1966, she was honored as one of the 100 great- Obama, and many more. As Shirley Chisholm across the Ohio River and sought shelter at a segregation laws. However, this did not stop est Olympic Athletes in history and soon after stated, “In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and relative’s Cincinnati home. When slaveholders her from achieving an athletic career. In 1939, inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the demanded the family surrender, Garner, fear- Coachman competed and won her first Amateur As U.S. Representative from 1969-1983, same thing: anti-humanism.” ing her children would return to a life of slav- ery—and believing death was preferable to the horrible condition of enslavement—took the life The accompanying image illustrates a recent of her daughter and unsuccessfully attempted case of on-campus hate speech documented by to kill her other children. A Hamilton County Unacceptable a Tamarack staff member. The Student Alliance Grand Jury indicted Garner and her husband The Tamarack Staff for Gender and Sexual Diversity, one of on murder charges. Soon after, the family was NVCC’s many clubs, has the goal of promoting returned to the plantation. As her story spread inclusiveness and acceptance. To deface their through numerous newspapers, Garner’s des- flyer with the statement “Theres (sic) only two perate actions caused many to view slavery as genders” and the phrase “Liberal Morons” inhumane. Abolitionists at the time blamed the exhibits the sort of small-mindedness that has inherent tragedy of slavery for Garner’s ulti- no place at an institution of higher learning. mate sacrifice. This offensive message is ironic con- Margaret Garner’s story inspired the sidering it appears above NVCC’s non-dis- Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Beloved, by one crimination statement, which reads in part, of America’s greatest living authors, another “Naugatuck Valley Community College does astonishing Black woman, Toni Morrison. A not discriminate on the basis of race, color, reli- prolific teller of African-American truth, writer gious creed, age, sex, national origin, marital of twenty-one books, including fiction and status, present or past history of mental disor- scholarly writing, Morrison, as educator and der, learning disability or physical disability, author, has chronicled the tragedies and tri- sexual orientation, gender identity and expres- umphs of Black people. Her powerful femi- sion or genetic information…” nist voice has enriched American letters—and Incidents like this, on the rise since the hearts and minds of her wide readership. November, are unacceptable anywhere, and With composer Richard Danielpour, Morrison will not be tolerated at our college, declared a even collaborated to create an opera, Margaret safe haven for all. Students come here seeking Garner, which made its world premiere in 2005. growth through education; this is achievable Maggie Lena Walker was America’s first only with an open mind. Statements demean- Black woman—indeed, the first woman of ing others—out of anger, fear, or ignorance— are wrong. Pretending such attacks, whether voiced aloud or scribbled anonymously, are Correction: okay makes us complicit in efforts to tear down A Sincere Apology others. The Tamarack will not support bigotry, Response to our call for Unafraid Educators oppression—any form of hatred—through for the December issue was enthusiastic. silence. We will continue to shine a light on Unfortunately, through editor error, we ignorance, and we encourage you to do the omitted one name. The Tamarack staff offers same. If you or someone you know experiences, heartfelt apologies to Melanie Majeski, or witnesses, racist or sexist behavior, or any Professor of ESL. A staunch supporter of words or actions meant to intimidate, demean, students from all corners of the world, or silence another at NVCC, we encourage you Professor Majeski was actually one of the to report it to the Dean of Students. You can first people to respond to our invitation. also share your story with us at tamarack@ Sorry, Melanie, for losing your name in the nv.edu. Together, let’s bring ignorance out of shuffle. the shadows. 2 News The Tamarack, February 1, 2017 A Registry Rerun? S.T.E.A.M. EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Nicole Hayes Engines Go Make Additionally, it required individuals to notify America officials within ten days of changing residence, Choo-Choo obtaining new employment, or registering at a Great new educational institution. Those who missed Alyssa Katz registration times or chose not to register faced Now that we are criminal and immigration penalties. safely ensconced in 13,800 people were deported because of the spring semester, with minds adapting the strict requirements of the domestic reg- to the arduous task of stretching to fit new istration. However, DHS was unable to trace ideas, I felt it’s time to bring up a difficult criminal activity back to any of these indi- Courtesy of Artistic Cliparts topic: Donald Trump. viduals. Just over a year after its introduction, The newly installed President of the in December 2003, the domestic registration While S.T.E.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, S.T.E.A.M. United States has said some horribly insen- After a photo emerged of Kris Kobach, component of NSEERS was removed from the sitive things. That does not mean certain Kansas’s Secretary of State, and President- program. The port-of-entry requirement was applies those same core principles, but adds Arts to the mix. The Arts can apply to all of sound bites can’t have impact, though. elect, Donald Trump on Nov. 20, 2016, several suspended in 2011. “Make America Great Again,” is one such civil rights organizations became concerned. Not only did this program break fami- these subjects, which is why there’s so much debate in trying to change the program. phrase. For many US citizens, this is an The photo captured details of the Department lies apart, it caused great inconvenience in the insult.