) ••• ••••7 Vol. 1 No.3 Bowie State College, Bowie Md.•••• 20 q' December 1970 , . BLACK EXPERIENCE ., MOTIVATES TOGETHERNESS by Vera McLeod - Staff Writer A young, beautiful, and talented Damon Kenyatta voiced his The Black Experience, a blues, company, many having worked on personal philosophy at the con­ .. jazz, gospel, and revolutionary and off Broadway, "The Family" clusion of the presentation by play, was presented to a most would prefer to be judged by asserting that the only true free­ empathetic audience in the gym what they do on stage now, and dom for the Black Man is a P. G. Police last week. It was produced by not by what training and credits return to Africa, a return that a troupe of black performers they have received in the "pro­ is not necessarily a physical who believe in what they say and fessional world." This belief was return, but a spiritual one. do on stage. In this dynamic best expressed by Mr. Kenyatta Exploit BSC presentation of ideologies con­ when he said, " We are not about cerning black identity, the group Hollywood." Mr. Kenyatta, expressing the expressed a most explosive The band, conSisting of a plans and hopes of the group, harmony through their dialogue, pianist, a bassist, a drummer, said, "The Family's greatest song and dance. and two saxists, provided a unique hope is to become financially in­ Campus quality which added to the vitality dependent so that we may freely Damon Kenyatta, a brother with of this revue, and, perhaps, to the speak truth to brothers and much talent and charisma, is the stirring of the innermost feelings Sisters, everywhere, on the im­ Richard Dozier Staff Writer director, writer, and composer of of the onlookers. Along with this portance of Black love and free­ "The Family." as they call them­ moving music, the language, ac­ dom through Pan-Africanism. On Tuesday, December 8,1970, that the police were in quest of selves. Sonny Red, Joe Bonner, tions, and beliefs common to Prince George's Pollce, paid part of some loot taken from a Omar Clay, and Mickey Bass black people added to the cohes­ a visit to the BowIe State College local haberdashery in Belair re­ make up the musical and drama­ ion of the performers and the Mr. Kenyatta's summary mes­ campus. One officer entered Ken­ cently. The officer sought per­ tic unit. Singers, dancers, and audience. Several "Right on's," sage moved the audience to a nard Hall and was directed by a mission from the dormitory actors include Dave Connel, Deb­ "Yeah's," and " all-right's" standing ovation-- " Get together dormitory m:l.tron to the second matron to go to a student room bie Chapman, Herb Kerr, An ad were shouted out by the assembly Black people and bulld Black; floor. Understandably we stu­ In search of the loot, but nothing oula, and Veronica Redd. so caught up in the performance. you know what I mean." dents were disturbed by their was found. presence and sought to get an­ I was told that two years ago swers to questions Itke; why the administration met with were they called? Why was an Prince George pollce offlcials officer allowed in the dormt­ and came to an agreement, that Dr. Myers Describes tory? Why couldn't our own sec­ the poUce would not interfere urity guards handle the situa­ with school disturbances, unless tion without outside intervention? called, or were in quest of a Why didn't one administrator student who committed a state want a security guard to gIve or community felony. But for out information? Investigating the what ever reason, they would go Christmas At Bowie incident led me to Dean Stall­ to the administration of the col­ ings, who gave me answers to lege, for sake of courtesy, be­ these questions. fore carrying out their official f • business. This had not been done Impllcit assumptions of the In 1969 the College decided The Dean of Faculty stated meaning and signlficance of that whether stUdents use the Tuesday and Dean Stallings Christmas form the basis of holiday for celebration, rest, suspected a change in personnel many programs and procedures work, or study, more time was Pre-Law Minority at Prince George's police head­ at Bowie State College. needed. Accordingly, the vaca­ quarters, since the agreement tion period was extended to a had been made, was the reason. full two-week period. More re­ Groups Confer An appointment has been set, The festive atmosphere that to meet with the PG offiCials, prevails on the campus during cently, college committees have Fred Buckine Associate Editor been studying a proposed new on Dec. 17, 1970, to clarify December, the gay, bright, The University of Virginia's panel discussions, question and procedures with inCidents. He colorful Ughts that dot our shrub­ calendar for the College which would end the first semester Law schOOl, at Charlottesv1l1e, answer periods and model hopes to set policy that should bery outside and the beautifully Va. was the setting of a Pre­ classroom situation for the bene­ the Prince George's Police have decorated trees inside, are all prior to the Christmas holidays. This would enable students to Law Conference for minority fit of the students. The central reason to come on campus, their indicative of an implicit assump­ groups. This three day confer­ theme of these discourses were, first stop wlll be the Internal tion that this is the most lm­ leave campus with a feeling of relief. Instead of looking back­ ence was attended by six BSC Careers in Law, Law and Social Security Bulldlng and be ac­ portant hollday in the Christian students, with Fred Buckine as Change, Law School Study and companied to any point on the year. The relatively large num­ ward they would be able to look forward to participating in mean­ coordinator. Students in atten­ Curriculum. One fact, the al­ campus by the Internal Security bers of students we have from dance were: Thomas Wigfall, most inmeasurable demands Guards. such countrles as Thailand and ingful travel and work exper­ iences, not only during the Jerome Hawkins, Linda Clark, made on one who wishes to study The question concerning, the Iran and a signlficant number of Evelyn Taylor, and Mario law, was stressed again and Administrator not wanting in­ faculty members from such coun­ Christmas holidays but through­ out January. The second Schowers. The conference was again. formation given out to anyone by tries as Pakistan, the U. A.R. sponsored by the Black American the Security guard, was explained and Taiwan, join wlth us in cele­ semester would begin in February. Law Students Assoc., the Council Of signlficant value tous, were by Dean Stallings from the posl­ brating a period which ls all­ on Legal Education opportunity, the young gifted and black lawyers tion of the Administration. He important for some of us but (CLEO), Law Student Civll Rights and law students. They exempli­ said that, "Students and their which, from a world wide point Christmas at Bowie provides Research Council and a host of fied success, black powers, abil­ best interests are the Admin1- of view, they recognize to be an outlet for the creative talent law schools in the Middle Atlantic ity, leadership, a proud black stratton's prime concern and we only one form of religious cele­ of our students. The decorations and Northeastern United States. man, sure of himself and his hesitate to do anything that might bration. on the doors and windows of some ability, ready to seek out pro­ jeopardize our students. Because individual rooms in the residence The conference succeeded blems, meet them head on, know­ of the swlfiness wUh which . the Recognlzing the importance 01 halls are concrete proof of the overwhelmingly in its purpose. ing full well that he has at his incident occurred, a complete this period, Bowie State College imagination and creative talent of All in attendance were richer command the tools to effect a and factual explanation could revised its calendar in 1969 to some of our students. for having attended. Students solution. A black man taking not be given. Untu it was cer­ extend the Christmas vacation found out first-hand about various his rightful place in society and tain that no student was in period to a full two weeks. Al­ The official Christmas card law schools and minority lawyers demanding that his offerings be jeopardy it was wise not to let though administrative offlcers of of the College, which is mailed and what they are doing to en­ recognized. A proud black man, out any information for fear of the College operate fully during to hundreds of friends and of­ hance opportunlties for minority as a group they are black men it being inadequate" this period, with the exception ficials, is designed by a Bowie groups and to promote social to be proud of. If there were We students aeserve to be of Christmas Day and New Year's student. Last year the College's changes. Those students hopeful any doubt in the BSC students well informed about any incident Day, all classes are suspended. Christmas card was deSigned by of attending law school and pur­ before they arrived, there was not which may affect our well being. For some students, this is a suing law careers received in­ Barbara Kilgore. This year the a trace to be found when they Therefore, constant av","ues lor period of respite, a period during teresting and enllghtening infor­ left. Being in the presence of communications between stu­ which they counteract fatigue that winner of the competition to de­ mation that wlll be of immense sign the College's offl.cial Christ­ these types of persons does not dents and administration, must normally sets in after periods value to them in applying and cause a feeling of inferiority, exist.