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Volume 1, Issue 2 A Publication of the Texas A&M African-American Professional Organization February 2005 Black History Double Issue AAPO n Point Black History: One Historian’s Perspective-Dr. Albert S. Broussard “...race remains a primary and defining event I am an optimist by nature, and struck by the number of cases in annual celebration of Black His- in the lives of millions of the year 2004 gave me many the past year where juries have tory Month, which began in reasons to be hopeful: the U.S. found companies liable for race- 1926 as Negro History Week, I African Americans, and it Supreme Court decision in June based discrimination. “2 Win take great comfort in the fact informs, to some degree, that upheld the use of race as a $2.6 Million Each in Bias Suit,” that despite the persistence of factor in college admissions; the reported the Washington Post on class and racial inequality in our how people across the upswing in African American and December 22. This unremark- society, African Americans, racial divide continue to Hispanic freshmen enrollment at able case, which was decided by much like yourselves, rather Texas A&M following a seven- a majority-white federal jury in than dwelling on the past, are relate to each other. “ year decline; the leadership of Alexandria, Virginia, involved two busy raising families, educating Mell and Willie Pruitt in spear- African American sanitation your children, laboring to ad- heading the construction of the workers who had been system- vance your careers and profes- Brazos Valley African American atically harassed and discrimi- sions, and volunteering in count- Museum; the large number of nated against since the mid- less ways to make this a Inside this issue: African Americans who regis- 1990s. The supervisors and co- stronger community. That is tered to vote in the recent presi- workers of these men consis- what we should celebrate in AAPO Retreat Recap 2 dential election; the sharp de- tently used racial slurs, racial 2005 and pass on to our chil- clines in violent crime in numer- epithets, and demeaning lan- dren. On Board With... 2 ous inner-city black communities guage when addressing both across the nation; and the elec- African American garbage men tion of Barack Obama to the U.S. and black women, on occasion Diversity at Texas A&M 3 Senate by a landslide over the even making comparisons to black conservative Alan Keyes. animals. The Washington Post The Real World History of Picnic 3 These disparate events illustrate reported that this is the largest that race remains a primary and racial discrimination case won defining event in the lives of by individuals in Virginia history Evans & Cushing Black History 4 millions of African Americans, and one of the larger discrimina- Resources and it informs, to some degree, tion verdicts nationwide. 2004: The Year in Review 5 how people across the racial divide continue to relate to each What gives me hope is that other. I have been reminded of this kind of behavior, although CommUnity Beat 6 this in the past month as I pre- still practiced, is no longer pare to teach a course on the widely tolerated, and that Afri- can Americans, as well as CommUnity Beat continues 7 civil rights movement and its legacy at the University of Kan- women, now have the means to sas in the Spring. Perusing na- legal redress and monetary set- Dr. Broussard “Do you know?” Answers 7 tional newspapers, I have been tlements. So as we approach the BGSA Spring Update 8 Upcoming Events AAPO On Point Newsletter Staff ♦ February 3 AAPO General Body Meeting @ 11:30 a.m., Rudder 510 ♦ February 4 AAPO First Friday Lecture Series featuring Dr. Karen Butler-Purry @ 12:00, MSC 292 Issue Editor - Rebecca Hankins ♦ February 10 Life of the Buffalo Soldiers @ 10:30 a.m., Annenberg Presidential Conference Center Writer - Dr. Karen Butler-Purry ♦ February 19 Community Calendar Planning Meeting - 11:30 a.m. , North Bryan Community Center Writer - Kassandra Agee-Letton ♦ March 9 Winston-Salem State University Choir @7:00 p.m., George Bush Library & Museum Layout Specialist - Marla Richardson ♦ March 16 47th Annual Ebony Fashion Fair @ 8:00 p.m., Bryan Civic Auditorium For more events check out the CommUnity Calendar on the web at aapo.tamu.edu. Page 2 AAPO Retreat Recap - Dr. Karen Butler-Purry recruitment of black faculty and short term. The group agreed The African–American Profes- staff. A major issue expressed that a major short term goal is sional Organization (AAPO) Re- is the need for greater active to solicit the active participation treat was held January 8, 2005 participation of the member- of AAPO’s members. The identi- with the theme, “Rebuild, Refo- ship. fied objectives include: cus, Revive.” Ten AAPO members reflected, fellowshipped, Next, the group enthusiastically ♦ Update the organizational and ardently worked collectively discussed their personal needs identity and purpose. to chart the future of AAPO. as well as group needs from AAPO, with emphasis around ♦ Reinitiate Habari Gani, Dr. LaVerne Young-Hawkins brainstorming The morning session was facili- at the retreat the question, “Where do we welcome packets for newly tated by Shontarius Aikens of want to go?” A common need hired faculty and staff. the TAMU Department of Stu- articulated by the group was for dent Activities. Initially the AAPO to be an organization ♦ Actively participate as an group spent an hour individu- which provides bold leadership organization in the devel- ally, as well as in group reflec- on issues of relevance to black opment of the University “A major issue tion on the question, “Where staff, faculty, and students. The Diversity Plan. are we now? -- Strengths and group also expressed the need expressed is the need Issues.” Thanks to the planning efforts for AAPO to continue to serve of Natasha Croom and great for greater active Major strengths commonly social needs. input from all, the retreat par- participation of the identified include the diversity After a brief lunch, the group ticipants left rejuvenated and of AAPO membership (faculty, was asked to identify issues encouraged about the future membership.” staff, community), as well as AAPO should focus on in the direction of AAPO. active AAPO involvement in the On Board With... Rebecca Hankins Hispanic and Asian subject Health and Kinesiology at Recording Secretary areas. Her research areas of Texas A&M University. He is Rebecca has been an active interest include the civil rights also director of the newly member of AAPO since she movement and Black activist formed Texas A&M University arrived on campus a year ago; journalists. Center for the Study of Health Disparities. Before coming to she also serves as AAPO’s Rebecca is currently learning webmaster. She is assistant Texas A&M University, Dr. to speak Arabic and reading Green was an associate pro- professor for area studies in more historical Islamic texts. Texas A&M University's Cush- fessor with the University of Her leisure time is spent pri- Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. ing Memorial Library. Ms. marily with her family watching Hankins earned degrees from Green's research interests Jane Austen movies and for- focus on health promotion and Louisiana State University and eign films. Loyola University. Her previ- disease prevention in the Afri- ous employment includes can American community and cancer prevention and control. twelve years at The Amistad Research Center at Tulane Dr. Green received his PhD Rebecca Hankins, University in New Orleans, the from the University of Ala- Recording Secretary premier research repository bama and the University of on African American historical Alabama at Birmingham. documentation, and two years When Dr. Green is not work- ing on campus, he’s busy as assistant librarian at the University of Arizona Library, spending time with his wife of Special Collection, in Tucson. 17 years, Sheila, and their In her duties at Cushing Me- children seven year old morial Library, Ms. Hankins Dr. B. Lee Green Kamaria and six year old Lee builds collections and schol- Faculty Member-at-Large III or coaching his youth bas- ketball team. If he finds a few arly resources for the study of Dr. Green is an associate pro- spare moments, he’s is African and African American fessor in the College of Edu- probably “teeing up” on the history and culture and in- cation and Human Develop- golf greens. creases library holdings in ment in the Department of Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 3 Diversity At Texas A&M - Dr. James Anderson On November 19, 2004, the ity Recruitment Leadership The Diversity Plan will represent Office of Institutional Assess- Team a formal planning document ment and Diversity was created that compliments other major at Texas A&M University and Dr. ♦ Support of diverse learn- strategic initiatives at TAMU. It James A. Anderson assumed ing communities will contain long-term and short- the position of Vice President ♦ Participation in the state- term goals and objectives and and Associate Provost. The an action plan. During its devel- wide Texas Diversity Coun- office has taken an active role opment input and feedback will cil in organizing, supporting and be elicited from campus groups, leading campus diversity initia- ♦ Supporting diversity pro- like AAPO who will serve as tives. A major goal of the office grams for residence halls consulting organizations. More Dr. James A. Anderson is to provide evidence for the and student organizations - specific information about rich diversity and areas of excel- AAPO’s role with the diversity lence that currently exist at ♦ Support and evaluation of plan will be available this the 2004 Texas A&M His- Texas A&M, as well as the im- month.

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