VOL. XXXIII NO. 3 Atlanta, Georgia November 15,1979 Freedom Hall Underway By Adele S. Newson Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson told a crowd of more selling $175,000 worth of and the reading institute are the than 2,000 people that Mrs. souvenirs this year and by con­ only two of the 10 programs Coretta Scott King has done a ducting tours of Martin Luther geared to the general public. The superb job in coordinating the King’s birthplace for $1.00 per other eight programs are in­ Freedom Hall Complex, honoring adult. tellectual in scope, training in­ the late Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. King conceived of the dividuals for leadership. This fact at the ground breaking ceremony idea of a Jiving memorial to her has caused many to wonder if the Oct. 18. husband in 1968, just after his center’s chief concern is for the Jackson went on to say that death. It is now, more than 10 “disadvantaged.” Mrs. King “has the unqualified years later, that her dream will be Former UN Ambassador An­ support of this city’s govern­ realized. She views her efforts as drew Young said that this ment.” The city has pledged “a living memorial filled with all criticism is unfounded because nearly $2 million dollars to aid the vitality that was his, a center the “Martin Luther King the $3 million dollar complex “in of human endeavor, committed Movement was never an continuity.” to the causes for which he lived economic movement,” rather it Also in attendance were Vice and died.” was directed to “training people President Walter Mondale, for­ Photo by Keith Harriston Critics maintain that the King for social change.” mer Ambassador Andrew Young, Henry Ford II announced that new chapter during the 50th an­ Center is grappling for an iden­ Henry Ford II and a' host of as of date $8.2 million had been niversary of Dr. Martin Luther tity. Dudley Weeks, former Woman Molested political leaders, businessmen, raised for the project. According King, Jr.’s birth.” program director of the center, In Howard Harreld community representatives, and to Ford, “Reaching our goal The complex will be located on contends that administrators of scholars from all over this coun­ means many things: it means the “Sweet Auburn Ave.,” surroun­ the center are trying to decide if On Sunday morning, October try. center can begin construction on ding the marbel tomb of Dr. Mar­ “...they want to be ac­ 7, three o’clock a man entere 1 Vice President Mondale all buildings of the Freedom Hall tin Luther King, Jr. It is estimated tivists—reaching out to the onto the ground floor of Howard- pledged an additional $1.5 million complex. It means the center can that the complex will attract people Dr. King would have wan­ Harreld Hall. He was described from the federal Economic plan with certainity its future more than 225,000 tourists a year. ted to help if he were still alive.” as being a black male, light­ Development Administration “to programs and activities and it The complex will bring in a con­ Currently the center maintains skinned, medium build, about continue the work” of the center. means the center can begin this siderable amount of revenue by 10 programs. The day care center (See MOLESTED, p. 3) moratorium on violence while S.W.A.C. Involved peace negotiations in the Middle East continue. Academic Affairs will work on By LaRonda I. Morris President of the SCLC student/teacher evaluations and Reverend Lowery, who was elec­ October 22-26th was the week establishing an honor society; the ted to this position in August of dedicated to Protection Student Life Committee is in the 1977, gave some background in­ Awareness by the S.W.A.C. process of working on taking a formation on the problem in the Organization. The Spelman “PROF” to lunch (faculty, ad­ Middle East with the PLO while Womens Action Coalition ministration, staff). The here in Atlanta. (S.W.A.C.) took on this new remaining committees are also name after the newly elected Ad­ working on other activities. Reverend Lowery explained bv visory Board Chairperson, Carolita feels this organization telling of the formation of the Carolita Jones, felt that the will continue throughout the Nation of Israel by the United Organization would have a more years because concerned studen­ Nations in 1940. This creation of positive influence on students if ts need somewhere to channel the Nation of Israel was com­ the name were changed. their complaints. When asked posed of much of the land area The purpose of this how this organization will benefit where the Arabs or Palestinians organization is to act as a liaison Spelman students, Carolita lived. This was done without con­ to channel the concerns of the responded, “They will have a sultation of the Arabs. The Arabs students to the S.G.A. and/or channel which they (Spelman were then offered land on the President of Spelman. Under this students) can directly relate West Banks, but refused because organization are various com­ problems or complaints having to they had been left out of the mittees such as: Academic Af­ do with Spelman with the feeling original agreement. Reverend fairs, Food Services, Housing, some action will be taken to help Lowery continued by stating, Security and Student life. There modify the problem for the bet­ “Today there are three and-a-hair are presently twenty-five active terment of the student body.” Rev. Lowery Visits Middle East Palestinians who are now members in the organization. homeless. They were kicked out killing of innocent Israeli and Some of the accomplishments By Cynthia Williams of their land and the Palestian that the S.W.A.C. team hopes to Palestinian citizens. people have a ligitimate gripe. achieve during the academic year Inside In a historical trip to the Mid­ This delegation consisted of The recent peace negotiations 79-80 are: Protection Awareness dle East for a meeting with Israeli national religious leaders as well in the Middle East do not include as SCLC members and was led by during Homecoming to make •Blacks and the Ambassador to the United the Palestian Liberation students aware of protective Nations and the Palestine SCLC president the Reverend Organization even though they Kennedy Boom..........p. 4 Joseph E. Lowery. The con­ measures, also dealing with rape Liberation Organization’s United are willing to accept the West ference with the representatives on and off campus: a survey will •Special Tribute to Nation representatives, key mem­ Banks and Gaza Strip area. be taken by the Housing Com­ Stevie Wonder.........p. 12 bers of the Southern Christian of major Middle East factions Israel, Reverend Lowery further Leadership Conference (SCLC) was held August 20 and 21 of mittee to ensure better housing (See REV. LOWERY, p. 3) arrangements for next year; called for an end to the senseless 1979. The SCLC called for a joint Spelman Spotlight November 15, 1979 Page 2 NEWS lacks And The Middle East Statement by Earl Picard rank and file in lockstep to the to be a change in public opinion economic benefits that could be individuals and their unceasing desire to assume leadership of In the Fall of 1973 as a new tune of the Zionist refrain. Nary a vis-a-vis the Middle East issue derived from doing so. If the shift emerging popular movements. round of conflict raged in the soul dared to break ranks for fear and, for Blacks, a dramatic in support is based on such an op­ The suggestion that they may be Middle East, it was obvious to of economic and other reprisals opening to the Palestinians. The portunistic premise as this, then motivated by concerns other than political observers that the from the powerful Israeli lobby. indication is that Blacks have the conclusion must be that principle seems at least tenable various information media were During that hostage period the finally arrived at a politics of Black politics - especially as it This is not to say that the committed to obscuring the fun­ politics of Blacks was more a principle as regards the Middle relates to the Middle East - politics of depravity than prin­ East. I caution against such a remains a politics of depravity. Palestinian cause should pot be damental issues in that region as supported. Obviously their they elevated support for Israel ciple. conclusion, however, while If we examine the record of history can be seen as a parallel to the status of holy writ. During recognizing that it is the logical It was out of this context that a recent developments it is clear to our own. Nor is it to say that the course of that crisis every ac­ one to reach given the mad rush small, mostly Black, ad hoc that the organizations and in­ the expansionist policies and tion by Israel, however in­ to embrace the Palestinians and grouping calling itself “Friends of the Arab world. It is the context dividuals involved in the extra - genocidal practices of Israel comprehensible, was rationalized Palestine” was formed in Atlanta of this policy shift that is as im­ diplomatic shuttles and public should not be denounced. For we as the inevitable response of a with the aim of articulating a dif­ portant as the shift itself. A brief relations blitzes (i.e., SCLC, Jesse know who the real aggressor is in beleaguered nation, while the ferent perspective on the Middle word of explanation. Jackson) all trumpet a minor the Middle East. This is only to Arab cause was either ignored or East through a show of support theme which is that Blacks say that Black support for the systematically denigrated in the for the Palestinian cause.