THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1969
McCarthy Discusses Biafra
By RHONDA BLANK
Collegian Staff Writer
OVer a century ago, the United States embarked on
a Civil War to reunify a nation, to return its seceded
states to the fold. Many American statesmen are
comparing the war to a struggle currently taking
place in Africa, where the Federal Government of
Nigeria is waging a full-scale war against
secessionist tribes forming the Independent Republic
of Biafra.
However, according to Senator Eugene J.
McCarthy (D-Minn.), the analogy of the secession of
Biafra to the secession of the American Confederacy
is rot valid.
'Political preconceptions have kept us from
realistic examination," he said. "They have kept us
from recognizing that the boundaries of Nigeria im
posed artificially by a colonial power are not so
sacred -as to justify the deaths of several million
people. The price of 'unity is too high."
New U.S. Policy
In a report delivered May 16 to the U.S. Senate,
McCarthy called for re-examination of the U.S. policy
of "one Nigeria" and proposed a new diplomatic
policy to help end the struggle which has brought
starvation and death to millions of Biatrans.
McCarthy recommended, "The United States
should immediately call for an arms embargo. We
Should actively seek a truce. We should use our good
offices to promote negotiations for resolving dif
ferences. We should press for a deescalation of Great
Power involvement. We should seek to form a
multinational effort to provide the logistic support re
quired for an adequate relief effort. We should accept
Biafra's right to a separate national existence and
look to possible eattj recognition of Biafra by the
United States and other nations."
The American people have been sympathetic to the
suffering of the millions of Biafran refugees who
have been compressed into an area one-quarter the
size of their homelands. Air-lifts carry food and
medicine to Biafra, and the U.S. government has
donated food and equipment to relief organizations on
both sides.
Current Efforts 'Superficial'
McCarthy said, however, that "as long as official
United States policy awaits a 'military solution'
.present relief efforts will remain superficial and
inadequate, if not contradictory to official policy."
The Nigerian struggle, according to the report, has
Its roots in the fact that, upon receiving its in
dependence from Great Britain in 1960. "Nigeria was
a colonial ' amalgamation of several hundred
relatively autonomous peoples who had by no means
developed, a national consciousness."
The easterners were best educated, and many left
Sociology Prof
Black ghetto children don't
grow up in today's society,
they call it "coming up," ac
cording to David A. Schulz,
assistant professor of
Sociology.
In his book. "Coming Up
Black: Patterns of Ghetto
Socialization," Schulz gives his
readers a dramatic view of
children living in rat infested
rooms, parents with no jobs,
girls pregnant at 14, boys
violently earning their
reputations in the streets.
According to Schulz. "com
ing up" is a matter of learning
quickly that laughter and
gaiety in the ghetto are more
often than not, a backdrop to
misery, that joy is short-lived
and pain is constant.
"But even more important,"
Schulz said, "it is learning that
survival is the major goal of
the ghetto dweller—not
because he wants it that way,
but because it is forced on
him. Just surviving drains all
his energy and determination."
Based on a three and a half
year study of 10 ghetto
families, representing 108 peo
ple, Schulz sheds new light on
why almost half of all black
Americans are poor, and why
they comprise about one-fifth
of the entire poor population in
the United States even though
they constitute only about one
tenth of the overall population.
"Ghetto dwellers want very
much to be able to live like the
average American," Schulz
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their overcrowded homeland to find jobs in other
parts of the country. The people of the northern
region were the most regionally oriented and
threatened to secede from Nigeria, unless they
dominated it. -
"Shifting political coalitions, eth n i c conflict,
regional jealousies, and governmental corruption"
were characteristic of the first' six years of the
Nigerian Republic, the report said.
An attempt at political unity was made in 1966 with
a coup by nationalistic officers, mostly easterners.
However, a counter-coup in July 1966 was followed by
the killing of 30,000 Ibos and other easterners, who
were living in the north.
The easterners, losing trust in the Federal Govern
ment, moved back to their homeland.
A confederated union with equality among all the
regions was designed at a conference at Aburi,
Ghana, in January 1967. The government at Lagos
violated the new agreement, however, by seeking to
create a 12-state system which would confine the Ibos
to a small area and break their influence.
The easterners, feeling excluded from the govern
ment, seceded in May 1967, declaring the Independent
Republic of Biafra.
The report continues, "Secession was followed
quickly by war in July, 1967. The 'quick, surgical
police operation' of ending secession, expected to
take several weeks, has been followed by five 'final
offensives' and a war which is now almost two years
old. Armed with British tanks and bullets and with
Russian MIGs piloted by Egyptians, the Nigerians
have surrounded the Biafrans and cut them off from
traditional sources of food and outlets to the sea.
"A strategy of siege, deigned to produce military
victory, has produced massive starvation unparallel
ed in modern warfare. Refugees make up more than
50 per cent of the population of Biafra, yet the
Biafrans continue to struggle for their right to exist.
Though the Nigerians occupy many deserted towns,
the Biafrans control the countryside and the villages.
Their will and determination have discredited the ad
vocates of 'quick kill' and the prophets of imminent
collapse. Biafra continues to maintain a stable ad
ministrative structure. The Biafran army remains in
tact and effective."
British Give Support
The British have supported the Federal Military
Government of Nigeria since the, beginning of the
civil war, McCarthy said, partly because of oil inter
ests in Nigeria, and partly because of an emotional
desires to see a unified Nigeria, which would demon
strate the ability of "the British colonial technique of
indirect rule and of the successful transition from
colonial rule to independence."
'Coming Up' ln Toda 's Societ
said. "But because they cannot
and because it is painful to
continue to evaluate oneself by
norms that are unattainable,
they have accepted an alter
nate set of norms that allows
them to maintain, in the midst
of their isolation a n d
deprivation, some sense of self
esteem—'living sweet' as they
like to call it."
"Don't ask me why I eat
chittlins, I eat chittlins because
I can't afford steak," one ghet
to dweller said.
And chittlins, notes Schulz,
have become "a significant
part of what is called 'soul
food,' a name that is a further
attempt t o make mo s t
desirable what is most at
tainable and to provide a
sacrament bestowing identity
within a black brotherhood."
Through his study, conducted
in a large black housing pro
ject in the St. Louis area—but
pertinent to any black
tenement—Schulz explores the
family structure of the black
ghetto. He focuses primarily
on how poor migrant families
make a life for themselves in
the city and how they make a
home where they can rear
their children, children who
are often not wanted, but once'
born must be loved and cared
for.
He shows the reader,
perhaps more dramatically
than ever before, how children
begin "catching on" to the
truth that their lives are lead-
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ing to a dead-end. This "dead
endedness," Schulz said, is
learned from their mothers
and fathers, their mothers'
boyfriends, and their older
brothers and sisters.
The study examines every
phase of ghetto existence—
unwanted pregnancies, t h e
strategy of "cool." fathers
wanting to prove their
manhood by having children
but frustrated because they
can't provide for them, the
proud independence of the
ghetto girl who says she's "no
one's woman" and able to "go
for herself."
There is Madeline. Schulz
said, who has had f iv e
illegitimate children, b u t
refuses to get married.
"I think it is more the idea
of getting married," she said.
"I keep thinking about the
types of marriages they have
on television and in the books.
I know it's not like that. I
always said I would never get
married because lots of men
do their wives so bad..."
There is also Richard, the
oldest literate member of his
family at 15.
"Richard handles the
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One American who shares such a commitment to
"One Nigeria" is the U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for African Affairs, Joseph Palmer, who was
the first U.S. ambassador to Nigeria.
McCarthy said, "He accepted the analogy of the
secession of Biafra to the secession of the American
Confederacy, entirely overlooking the fact that
Nigeria, unlike the United States, was not unified by
a common language. culture, and historical tradition.
'and had no background of stable, capable govern
ment."
McCarthy predicted that his proposals would meet
opposition by those who accept the current American
policy in' West Africa. He said many will claim
minority tribes of the east will suffer if Biafra gains
independence.
He refuted such an argument by pointing out that
"local grievances, local animosities, and local in
justices are more important than outside influences
in accounting for revolutionary developments within
a country."
Countries Recognize Biafra
He added that four African countries have
recognized Biafra, and "each of them has large
minority groups, but none of them seemed to fear
that its recognition of a secessionist regime
elsewhere would encourage secession within its own
boundaries."
McCarthy also disregarded the argument that his
,proposals would undermine the position of the U.S.
British ally in Africa, by pointing out that British oil
interests would not be threatened by Biafran in
dependence, since most of the oil is in the
midwestern section of Nigeria, and the Biafrans have
never "expressed any intention of expropriating
British oil."
McCarthy also said. "In my opinion, the interests
of the United States and of Great Britain may best be
served by disentangling the Nigerian-Biafran war
from the Cold War and by reducing Great Power in
tervention in the area. It would be better to use this
area as a testing ground for reducing tensions among
the Great Powers, since their interests are less
serious here than elsewhere, than to perpetuate Cold
War maneuvers out of habit."
He added that since many African countries are
distrustful of "Great Power" involvement in their af
fairs, they would welcome a reduction of Cold War
competition. The Federal Government of Nigeria cur
rently is playing off the Soviet Union against Great
Britain, in order to receive as many arms as possible
from both.
"To argue that diplomatic recognition of Biafra
would constitute intervention into purely African af
fairs is irrelevant; non-recognition is also interven
tion," McCarthy said.
Black Ghettos
finances," Schulz said. "His
parents, recently from the
South. are afraid of the city
but Richard likes it...he can
'play it cool' or in his words
'Down there you have to pick
cotton but here you know it's
different...you can get better
shoes up here.' "
Schulz's study leads to the
conclusion that poverty has a
distinctive life style which
must be reckoned with if the
social problem o f im
proverishment is to be over
come.
"Apparently the answer lies
in a radical alteration of the
conditions of isolation and
deprivation which are the basic
conditions to which the poor
must adapt." Schulz said,
Schulz said some form of in
come maintenance that goes
beyond providing a minimum
subsistance level for poor
Americans seems to be the
most just, and^in the long run.
the most likely mean of
eliminating poverty. It should
be obvious, Schulz added, that
even with an income main
tenance program, s o m
families will need special help.
"The most acceptable form
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of income maintenance, both to ,
the poor and to the average '
American, is one that ties in
come to a job," Schulz said. 1
"The majority of project
dwellers would rather work
than receive a dole, but there
are those who are unable to
work," he added. "In justice
these few should receive the
same supports through other
forms of income main
tenance."
Schulz said that the moral
question that must be weighed
is: Should we continue to
punish the vast majority of the
poor because we fear that a
few will benefit unjustly? "The
time has 'come when the af
firmative answer to such a
question can no longer be ac
cepted," Schulz asserted.
"American cities are in
crisis. The need is pressing to
rebuild the American dream in
concrete, in cities once more
fit for human habitation,"
Schulz said. "The economic
and technological resources
necessary to meet the poverty
problem head-on are at hand.
They can be evaded no
longer."
Industrial Recruitment Up
Despite Disruption Threats
NEW YORK t' Despite threats that
radical students would take jobs to disrupt
American industry this summer, corporations
across the country have increased campus
recruiting efforts.
A survey of colleges and businesses showed.
however, that many firms hesitate to hire stu
dents known to have radical leanings.
McDonnell Douglas Corp.. the St. Louis air
craft manufacturer. talked to 8.000 students
this spring—its "biggest year." At Texas
Instruments Corp. 1,000 college grads will be
hired this year compared to 250 five years ago.
A U.S. Steel spokesman reported increased
recruiting this year.
Max Jacobson. a student at the University of
Pennsylvania said recruiting is up because
"businesses are very hard up for college grads
and rather than displaying coolness are looking
harder than ever for qualified people on cam
pus."
No Effect
Most colleges and industries surveyed denied
that campus disturbances have in any way at-
College
Questionnaire
Research
Penn State students who
have received, but have
not completed and return-
ed the College Student
Questionnaires, are re-
quired to do so as soon as
possible. The response of
each individual student
adds to the potential im-
pact of the total results.
Thank you for your cooperation
and
Best Wishes for a Happy
Profitable Summer.
and
111!IMIII!!1
fectcd recruiting efforts
"Our policy hasn't changed a bit and we don't
intend it to," said Vern F. Peak, personnel
director at Kaiser Industries in Los Angeles.
"No, the disturbances aren't affecting,us. not
even in the defense-oriented industries." said
Ralph Keller. placement director at Stanford
University in California. "We have more
recruiters coming in now than ever."
But many firms have a policy of avoiding
campus trouble.
'ln case of any trouble. we have a contingen
cy plan, we'll silently close up our tent and
steal away." said Ling-Temco-Vought's pro
fessional placement officer. Tom Wright.
CIA Harassed
The Central Intelligence Agency, whose
recruiters have repeatedly been harassed by
dissidents, said it cancels or postpones in
terview plans if a demonstration looms.
"We feel strongly that we shouldn't go any
place that will cause violence because
universities are places for the pursuit of
knowledge," an agency spokesman said.
Student
Project
Gerald D. Williams
Student Affairs Research
PAGE THREE