A member of the Campus Digest News Service and the National News Bureau. VOL. XXXIII, NO. 6 Atlanta, Georgia February 25,1980 A First At Spelman Black Woman Heads oard Atlanta, Ga. -- January 17, 26, she was the first and only public-interest law firm. Former 1980 -- Making another first, black woman ever to pass the director of the Center for Law Marian Wright Edelman is the Mississippi State Bar Exam and and Education at Harvard first black woman to Chair the to be elected to the Yale Univer­ University, Mrs.Edelman foun­ Board of Trustees of Spelman sity Corporation She was one of ded the non-profit CDF out of the College, Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. the First Crusaders when she Washington Research Project as Edelman, 40, an attorney and headed the NAACP’s Legal a way of providing systematic and director of the Children’s De­ Defense Team in Mississippi. A long-range advocacy for fense Fund, a child advocacy native of Bennetsville, South children. group based in Washington, Carolina, Mrs. Edelman decided Mrs.Edelman is married to D.C., has a history of firsts. to go to Mississippi in 1963 after Peter Benjamin Edelman, an at­ In 1960, she graduated first in graduating from Spelman and torney with Foley, Lardner, her class from Spelman having Yale for the simple reason Hollabaugh, and J acobs. The been a Merrill Scholar for a “There were nine hundred Edelman’s have three year’s study at the University of thousand blacks there and three sons—J oshua, J onah, and Ezra. Paris and Geneva, Switzerland, black lawyers.” In addition to Spelman’s board during her junior year. A In 1968, she joined the Poor membership where she has ser­ graduate of the Yale Law School People’s Campaign in ved since 1972, Mrs. Edelman is a (Ll.B. 1963), where she had a Washington and later began the member of The Board of John Hay Whitney Fellowship, at Washington Research Project, a See BOARD p. 7 Michelle Wallace Visits Spelman By Angela Cumberlander contains this quote, “I am saying don’t realize that sexism is The audience, male and female ...there is profound distrust, if indeed a major problem. Ms. anxiously awaited the approach not hatred, between black men Wallace expressed the impor­ Dr. Donald M. Stewart of Michelle Wallace to the and black women that has been tance of recognizing that a prob­ podium at Sister’s Chapel. Was nursed along largely by white lem exists so that it can be Spelman's President Elected To this anxiety caused by the con­ racism but also by an almost conquered. troversies of her book, Black deliberate ignorance on the part The majority of Michelle Wal­ ACE's Board of Directors Macho and the Myth of the Super of blacks about the sexual poli­ lace’s presentation consisted Woman? Perhaps many expected tics of their experience in this of excerpts from her book. She Donald M. Stewart, president 1980’s. The problems faced by to hear heated debates on some country.” She stated that she was did not relate on a personal level of Spelman College, was elected higher education are immense of the issues covered in the not complaining about the criti­ until afterwards when she was to serve on the board of directors and will require creative book. Many seemed to be waiting cism of her book, just ex­ questioned by inquisitive stu­ of the American Council on solutions. Dr. Stewart will help us for a forceful feministic speech. plaining. She said she knew dents: Education (ACE). The Council is find those solutions.” What was received, however, when she began that her book based in Washington, D.C. The American Council on was a mild toned, informative would not be complete, but some Student: The problem that Dr. Stewart, formerly a Education, comprising more than explanation concerning the birth one had to start somewhere. exists between us (male and program officer of the Ford 1,600 higher education in­ of Black Macho and the Myth female) is a result of sexism and Foundation specializing in stitutions and national and of Superwoman. Among her explanations were facism; what is the solution? Africa, has been president of regional education associations, Ms. Wallace’s mannerisms pro­ her reasons for writing the book. Ms. Wallace: Strong self- Spelman since 1976. is the nation’s principal, in­ jected an Tra tired of defending A primary reason was the image, a strong sense of culture J. W. Peltason, ACE’s dependent nonprofit coor­ my book” image. Her book fact that most Black people and one’s role will help to pre­ president, announced Dr. dinating body for postsecondary pare us to deal with this oppres­ Stewart’s election, by saying, “I education. The Council serves sion; but not exactly cure it. am delighted that a man of Dr. higher education administrators, Student: You said that the Stewart’s ability and expertise students, and faculty members by reception of the book disrupted will give our board and officers providing national leadership for your life. Will you elaborate? the benefit of his advise and strengthening educational stan­ Ms. Wallace: 1) Complete­ counsel as we move into the dards, policies, and programs. ly disrupted my life maybe be­ cause it was unstable in the first place. Spelman Students March In Greensboro 2) I lost most of my friends; I no longer associate with the By Melony Matthews same people, or live in the same The purpose of the march was Over 7,000 protesters partici­ place. My friends, especially pated in the February 2, 1980 to peacefully counter-act Kian female, felt that the only Greensboro Anti-Kian Rally, in harassment. Many of the dem­ way they could be my friends Greensboro, North Carolina. onstrators brought that spirit of would be that they had to agree There was a representation of a nonviolence protest, but with me. All of these things have more than 50 colleges, including others, in the case of the Com­ been forced upon me. students from the Atlanta Uni­ munist Workers Party (CWP), 3) The book has invaded my marched to avenge the murder versity Center, and 400 different life—I cannot be a closet femi­ organizations. The Atlanta of the five CWP comrades on nist anymore. Chapter of the February 2nd November 3,1979. 4) My whole life has been The march commenced Sat­ Mobilization Committee and the publicized, (she implied that it Southern Christian Leadership urday 12:00 p.m. at the World still is.) War Memorial Stadium, ending Conference sponsored buses for Student: Has the white media at 3:00 pm with the rally in the 200 Atlanta citizens to attend used what you’ve done to further the rally. See GREENSBORO p. 7 Michelle Wallace See WALLACE p. 7 Spelman Spotlight February 25, 1980 Page 2 A Letter to the President Dear Mr. President, and he will always be the greatest well be true that you and ol’ I can not begin to tell you how (boxer). BUT, I don’t want him Cyrus feel threatened by the kind appalled I was when I learned representing me or my country of power and prestige that Andy that you had asked Muhammad on any diplomatic mission. Young had amassed through his Ali to represent the United States Just listen to the kinds of personal appeal. Consequently, I on a “sensitive mission” to Africa, remarks he has made: can understand why you chose a mission in which, he would try “They didn’t tell me in not to send him to Africa. Editor-in-Chief - Rotonda G. Watts to persuade these countries to America that Russia supports Nevertheless, your selection of Associate Editor - Pamela Denise Moore not participate in the Moscow these countries.” Ali to do the job was a slap in the Olympics. “Maybe I’m being used to face to all intelligent black Without even getting involved doing something that ain’t right.” Americans, for we know that Editors in the issue as to whether anyone “You all have made me feel there are others capable of doing Advertising Manager-Phyllis Sawyer should be trying to boycott the funny with your questions, like a good job on such a “special Art Editor - Ellen Robinson Olympics or whether it is wise for Arts Editor- Claire Henry Reporters I’m a traitor.” mission”. Needless to say, Tan­ Business Managers - Trevonia Brown LaRonda Morris the United States to engage in The U.S. and USSR are “the zania’s President J ulius Nyere did Angela Nickerson Kiron Skinner what one may call a revival of the hottest two white men in history.” the right thing when he refused to Circulation Manager - Lavita J ohnson Cynthia Williams Cold War. I think that it was If these two white men start meet with Ali and instead direc­ Samuel Matchett News Editors - Kiron Kanina Skinner highly distasteful for the United fighting, all us little black folks ted him to the Minister of Youth Sharon Snead Adele Sheron Newson States to send a person as un­ are going to be caught in the mid­ ’ and Culture. Sheron Covington Photography Editors - Ruth Cauthen diplomatic and flamboyant as Ali Angela Cumberlander dle.” Pamela Scott Melony Matthews on a “sensitive mission”. Obviously, Mr. Ali appears to Public Relations Manager - Sheron Covington Your friend, Angela Benson Mr. President, I understand be quite ignorant in this im­ Religion Editor - Angela Benson Robin Barnes how hard it is for most whites to portant area, and what makes it Pamela Denise Moore Literary Editor - Michelle Dacus distinguish one black from worse is that YOU, Mr.