CAPTIMES, February 5,1996
SPECIAL GUEST EDITORIAL
PSH Pubtic Policy Stabent
February, Black
History Month, is often
wasted on celebrating
what we Black people are
and all the while blaming
Europeans for making us
into just that. Perhaps
this year we can set aside
time to search for viable
solutions to the problems
that plague Black people.
Incarceration rates
are extremely high for
young Black Americans.
Rates of teen pregnancy,
drug abuse, single moth
erhood murder and a host
of other negative cate
gories are dangerously
high. These problems
must be solved in order
for Black people to be a
part of the American
dream. What do we do?
My vision of the
Black Tomorrow is a
vision of hope and pros
perity based on cultural
sovereignty and an alle
giance to common attain
able goals. This is the
beginning of a Black
Renaissance
Our survival will
not come from the U.S.
Government, which may
love us today but loathe us
tomorrow. Our survival
will not come from either
of the major political par
ties. It won't come from
any group that simulta
neously serves another
non-Black constituency.
Our situation is dire. Our
Black
Month
needs are urgent.
Compromise and equivo
cation are our enemies.
Our survival will not
come from outside our-
selves
I n order to solve
our - own problems, we
must decide exactly what
they are. I contend that
many of us have become
so dependent on the gov
ernment that we have
solidified our fate. The
welfare system discour
ages the building of
strong families.
Consequently, the more
we indulge ourselves of
the government's "kind-
ness", the more we get, as
George Will says, "the
values of unsocialized
male adolescents made
into norms....immediate
gratification, physical
violence and predatory
sex." Sound familiar?
We must pursue a
moral course first. God's
Law, which we used to
recognize as supreme,
needs to be exalted by us
once again. Second, we
must engage in economic
cooperation, which
requires trust. Without
trust there is no coopera
tion, only infighting.
Some call economic coop-
eration "economic sepa
ratism". They have no
danger of ever being in
our shoes. Let them call it
what they like.
CULTURE & COMMENTARY
Lastly, we must
educate ourselves in all
fields. Physics is impor
tant, as are psychology
and politics. We always
have to go to others for
financial advice, medical
help, home renovations,
food, water, etc. We need
to have the ability to
choose not to pay those
who abuse us. In a free
market, freedom to
choose is a powerful tool
Today we do not enjoy
that power, but if we
work together, someday
we will.
The Black
Renaissance will occur.
It does not depend on me
any more than it depends
on you. We can, however,
play a part. Malcolm X
said thirty years ago that
we've been in this land
for four hundred years
and still haven't learned
the language. English is
the language of the land.
We must master it and
make it our tool. We must
read every day. We must
learn to communicate
effectively.
Go learn a skill that
suits you best. Master it
an use it for the good of
all. Learn to love and to
write. Then you are a
Black Renaissance Poet
Mark Walston
Public Policy Major
Cultural Currents: Multi-Layered Works Reflecting On What It
Meade Heights Futures and Felicia: A Celebration in
Gospel, Dan and Song
Featuring Felicia Brown-Haywood, Penn State Harrisburg
'Monday. February 19
Code of the Streets: Violence and the Inner-City Poor
Presented by Dr. Elijah Anderson, University of Pennsylvania
Voices of the Black Middle Class, 1904
Presented by Dr. Wilson Jeremiah Moses, Penn State Universi
Noon to 1 . .m. Tuesda Febru. 2O
Call (717) 94-6272
Jazz Night kicks off Black History Month
By Duane Brooks
Staff Reporter
The Jazz Night held
this past weekend held in
the Student Center at the
Capitol Union Building
helped many to explore a
different but unique style
of music and culture.
This event was spon
sored by Student
Activities, Student
Government Association,
and the Black Student
Union. It was designed to
be an outreach to the
community and kick off
Black History month.
The evening featured
Genghis Nor and "Magic"
with their jazz music that
inspired those in atten-
Means to be an African-American
Featuring the Art of Curlee Raven Holton
Febru
6 ..rn
Two sessions: Thursda Febru . 1
Noon to 1 p.m./PSH Downtown Center
7 to 8 p.m./Gallery Lounge
All events are free and open to the public
dance. Mr. Nor is the
father of the Black
Student Union president,
Amira Strong-Nor.
"This will bring a new
culture to Penn State
Harrisburg. Penn State
Harrisburg is normally
geared toward rock and
all that kind of stuff," said
Amira Strong-Nor. "This
is a good way to add diver
sity to Penn State
Harrisburg and kick off
Black History month."
The event was held on
a Saturday night for vari-
ous reasons over a week
night. Matt Fisher,
Cabaret chairman for the
Student Government
Association said that the
1 i to Marc
event was held on that
night to be a community
outreach.
"Saturday nig ht was
chosen because of its pos
sibility of attracting
members of the local com
munity and it was conve
nient for the performer,"
said Fisher.
The Cabaret committee
encompasses a diverse
group of members and
there was interest in
hosting an event of this
magnitude that will touch
on cultural diversity.
"The jazz event had a
lot of student interest and
we seized the opportunity
to host the jazz night,"
said Fisher.