Speakers discuss black male issues
Timothy A. Brown
Capital Times Staff
There is a crisis in America today. A
crisis among the African-American males
which threatens the future of the black
male in America.
Penn State Harrisburg was the site of
the third annual African-American Male
Crisis Issues Day. Seminars held from 2
p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, focused on four
problem areas for black males: education,
media messages about the black male,
Satellite broadcast commemorates MLK Day
Stacey Simmers
Capital Times Staff
Although they didn't have cake and
candles, Penn State Harrisburg celebrated
the birthday of Martin Luther King in a
different way.
Classes were cancelled Jan. 20 from 4
to 5 p.m. while Chuck Stone, professor of
journalism at the University of North
Carolina, spoke to all of Penn State
University via satellite from Eisenhower
Auditorium at University Park.
"We need to celebrate King's life to be
reminded of a journey not finished," Stone
said. "If we dare not celebrate, we'll never
reach a community where we can dwell
together in unity."
The program, "Commemorating King:
A Vision Redefined," was part of a
celebration of the "life of a man who
profoundly affected the lives of everyone
living today," said Dr. Ruth Leventhal,
provost, as she welcomed about 40 people
to the program in the Black Cultural Arts
Center.
Stone referred to King as "a drum
major for peace, reform and justice...with
a dangerous sense of unselfishness."
While the PSH audience nibbled at
kiwi, pineapple and assorted cheeses,
Stone reminisced about his friendship with
King.
"He was a dreamer," Stone said. "He
once said 'I dream of things that never
were and say, why not?"'
"Remember him as a dreamer, not as a
athletic roles, and raising a black male
child in a single-parent household.
According to Timothy McQilbcrry,
chairman of the seminar, the African-
American male has the highest death rate
in America, the shortest life span and a
school dropout rate that is exceptionally
high. He is also more likely to die from a
gunshot wound than anyone else.
"Our plan is to broaden peoples'
horizons and expand their scope of the
problems facing black males in America
today," McGilberry said. "It basically is a
revolutionary," Stone said.
Corey Boyer, a junior behavioral
science major, said that the program
"should help remind students how far
we've moved."
Bill Stoner, a graduate student in
community psychology, said that more
should have been done to honor King.
"Since we have to be here anyway, we
ought to have a day of activity dedicated to
an open forum," Stoner said. "A
discussion of King’s life and where we arc
now, as a country."
Others agreed that the day should be
more important.
"It's been a watered-down holiday," said
one faculty member who declined to be
identified. "He's not just a black leader.
He's a leader for peace and civil rights."
Stone said that King's dream shouldn't
be redefined, it should be reinvigoraled
through education.
"Make it possible for all children to get
the best education," he said. "Mobilize
your political resources to get rid of
problems.”
Grace Hampton, vice-provost at
University Park, said everybody must
realize that all is not well, but there is
hope for the future.
"We must move forward," Hampton
said. "Move forward with renewed hope."
Stone concluded by saying that people
should remember everybody's differences.
"Remember them," Stone said." Just
don't let them make a difference."
wake-up call, and we have to let people
know that we have to face the issues. Our
primary goal is education."
Other panel members agreed that
education is important.
Panel member John Christopher said
education is the most important factor in
raising a black male child today.
"Education will help the black male
child see through the 'gang theory',"
Christopher said. "Many young black men
arc going from the fourth and fifth grades
directly into gangs. By emphasizing
education, we are showing them that there
arc avenues to pursue other than gangs."
Thelma E. Smith, mother of Buffalo
Bills' linebacker Carlton Bailey, said,
"Parents need to teach their children that
education is the key to achieving any
goal." Smith spoke about parenting a
black male, saying parents need to be
aware of what their children arc doing.
"There arc so many distractions out
there for the child to get into," Smith said.
"A parent must make the effort to know
who the child is playing with, and where
the child is at all times."
Smith said disciplining the black male
child is important, and a mother must "put
him in his place every now and then, to
teach him respect and discipline."
An estimated 70 percent of African-
American males will be raised in a
household run by a single mother in the
'9os. According to Smith, "It is up to the
woman to be strong and teach the child to
be responsible.
Many African-American males are lured
into sports because they see sports as a
way out of poverty.
Kirk Smallwood, a basketball coach in
the Central Dauphin School District, said
ML* M IHIPIIPI
Photo by Mike Starkey
An audience of 40 faculty, staff and students gathers in the Black Cultural
Arts Center on Jan. 20 for the program "Commemorating King: A Vision
Redefined." The tribute, a live satellite telecast from University Park, featured
Chuck Stone, a journalism professor from the University of North Carolina.
CAPITAL TIMES pCIJ
February 10, 1992 JL tJ-Tl
sports are important, but education is
more important.
"Wc need to refocus and put more
emphasis on education," Smallwood said.
"Sports can be used as an avenue for an
education, (scholarships) but that is rare.”
Smallwood said that scholarships don't
always pave the way to the pros.
Carl Rachclson, former basketball
coach for Harrisburg High School, agreed.
"Sports should not be more important
than athletics," Rachclson said. "A sports
career lasts only a few ycars-an education
lasts a lifetime."
Generally, black males are portrayed as
inarticulate, indecisive, violent or
anything negative, said Derrick Wilkerson,
a reporter for WHP-TV 21.
"White people are ignorant of the black
community," Wilkerson said. "They think
that all wc can do is sing and dance and
entertain."
Wilkerson discussed ways to find and
get rid of these stereotypes.
"Until the while media decide they
want to cover [the black] community
fairly, the stereotypes will persist,"
Wilkerson said. "As a black reporter, it is
up to me to find positive stories on
blacks, so I can destroy those stereotypes."
Felicia Brown-Haywood, vice-chairman
of the seminar, said she was pleased with
the way things turned out.
"It was smaller in numbers than I
hoped for, but larger in numbers than I
anticipated,” Haywood said.
"It's probably going to take people
some time to realize that this issue is an
integral part of our whole society,”
Haywood said. "Once they open their eyes
to that, they'll know that these kinds of
seminars arc very important."