https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/54066/archive/files/9bb97b20e8142a9ccff8034d2f1639f5.pdf?Expires=1779321600&Signature=XIrwLlyTaz9FTKEHwOaoMbY6MrdoFMaEZKcDoYROw3PN4sKj-%7E%7ENzzTNl6sCT8Nv0SDcFzbplTZS1Yp-LcPEJ-cTvogOSSVOaX19Ap3coDeb0xGuQFR1AfXMNvjCzAPsGTfXIPg4rt1Oo7Me9E25RJMA%7EMgZ4OxXC1Uj3jW5f1F7ydxkEaDAx0qqhcX8p0g1F8BEG-70LX-A-rwrhps4P2RBUV9my3mhBD60PnDN4o5W5ok5FopWInr230FVBgrEm5s2iLoSxJ3KwPUdOzcIsPP35KHKOcgHpj5Y-lIKoUM1E5rnV9Q99r89wgSrEGMheMIhn5E-9BgYSrOO3sngcw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM e905e92c69ae59bc0caab5bd57b72e08 PDF Text Text THE BLACK FLASH NOV./DEC. 1995 ISSUE NO .2 BLACK HISTORY BRIEF Be Thankful By WILLIAM PAGE The plight of a slave has always been looked upon in context with his or her bondage in America. There has never been any real attention placed upon anything that occurred on their journey to America. Years ago on the continent of Africa, natives were free and living among a very diverse culture. In fact, West Africa (where most African Americans' ancestors originated) had three major tongues with 250 lingual subgroups. It is even said that 200 years before the discovery of America, there were three great empires in the countries of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, all thriving from grassland below the Sahara Desert. This all came to a screeching halt at the end of the 15th century. During the late 15th century there was competition to annex new territories that became quite heated between Spain and Portugal. This conflict, having later been solved by Pope Alexander VI and his Treaty of Tordesillas, left Spain with control of South America, except Brazil and Africa, which was under Portugal control, This gave Portugal the right to start trading with African tribal chiefs. It started with gold and ivory, but over a span of 50 years shifted to something even more precious, human beings. The need in the New World for free labor had grown out of proportion and tribal chiefs were more than willing to fulfill that need with captured warriors and undesirables from their village. This was all in exchange for goods. Soon however, African traders grew more dependent on slave trade and as time went on and demand grew;-they even began to hunt their own. To the natives who were captured (mostly males and females 1835) this was the beginning of a cruel and agonizing trip. Once there were enough slaves (usually 700 or so), they would be corralled into a ship that would be their home for the next four to eight weeks. Their living quarters consisted of "the betweendecks" of a vessel located below the main deck and above the cargo hold. The ceiling usually extended no higher than five feet in this area and across the ship ran planking which protruded six to nine feet toward the center. Here they would sleep on hard wood with no pillows and no mattresses. They were allowed two meals a day and very little exercise. Their bathroom privileges consisted of a bucket that was often turned over and was no use to those who were too cramped or too weak to move. This ordeal was so demoralizing that many tried to commit suicide or sank into a depression known as Suicidal Melancho!J. The lack of consideration of the lives of the slave by their captors often caused slaves themselves to care less whether they lived or died. Our history (the trials of our ancestors) should be as important to us as our next meal. To let the memory of their struggle die is to let the struggle die. It would be wrong for us to do that because if it were not for our �ancestors we would not be here today. This is something to be thankful for. "Always strive for better but remember how far you have come." AFRICAN PROVERBS Knowledge is better than riches. One who recovers from sickness, forgets about God. Knowledge is like a garden: if is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested. Wisdom is like mushrooms that come after you have finished eating (too late!). COMMENTARY Comfortable By MONK Generically speaking mankind in his very nature often seeks to be comfortable in any and almost every given situation he may find himself in. You might often hear these same men say such things as "don't rock the boat" or "don't bite the hand that feeds you." These men might also say things such as "sometimes I feel I have to watch what I say around them, because I don't want to offend them." This type of behavior which has become the "norm" can be deemed as social politeness or social conformity This behavior as most know it, is natural. Who or what dictates your norms? Naturally, we buy clothing or shoes that make us feel comfortable. Socially speaking most people observe that some clothing may be inappropriate or appropriate based on factors such as: the time of day, the season, the person or his/her age, or the place or even what is going on at that time. Those who violate this dress code may produce or induce a discomfort for them or for others. Moreover, we often situate ourselves in a position in a space as large as a sports complex to a space as small as the same chair in a large room or a particular side of the bed to suit our comfortableness. This behavior often lends itself to the social phenomenon of Traditional Spaces. This factor of comfortablen(:ss may explain why, here at Tennessee Tech, there exists particular and almost traditional spaces where certain groups of people tend to congregate. 4 - We see these spaces in the grill, in the cafeteria, at the basketball and football games, and in the seemingly "racial spatial" designated areas of this and other towns . People are not often physically forced to separate or segregate, but it seems that people naturally congregate and commune among themselves. Is this a learned behavior? Is this a social politeness? Why do we ridicule those who do not congregate with us in these traditional spaces? Why do some of us still desire to sit on the proverbial "back of the bus" in traditional spaces? Perhaps , because these personal spaces are comfortable. Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that most people prefer not to be uncomfortable. It is uncomfortable to talk about our personal problems. It is uncomfortable and socially impolite to discuss religion, politics, sex, or other "tabooish" type subjects. Topics such as my main focus, Race Relations; are difficult and uncomfortable to discuss. We often shun away from such discussions. We ostracize those who speak out against or for racism. We often pray silently that "they," the troublemakers, would be "taken care of. We huddle in our comfortable groups to scoff at the M.L.K.'s, the Farrakhans, the Hillarys, Newts, and the Rush Limbaughs of the world. But all the while we maintain our comfortableness. 11 Have we as a people �become so comfortable that we allow complacency to be the rule and ignorance and tolerance to be the exceptions? Have we become so afraid to speak to each other that we will allow the tremors of silence to widen the gulf between groups of people? Have we become so comfortable that we can't move to become part of the movement that will start the revolution toward a better ,vorld for all of man and mankind? Communication is the key factor to combat complacency Knowledge is the key that locks the door to ignorance .... SO WAKE UP, GET UP, STAND UP, JUMP IN AND SPEAK OUT!!! Because if you don't LEAD or FOLLOW, then you should GET OUT OF THE WAY!!! WHAT'S HAPPENING? 11-23 Thanksgiving 11-24 Holiday. 11-26 ITU v. University Mississippi (W) 2 p.m. 11-27 ITU v. Cumberland University (M) 7:30 p .m 11-29 NSBE Meeting 7 p .m., BCC 12-1/2 Holiday Classic (W) Time TBA 12-2 ITU @ Oral Roberts University (M) 7:30 p.m. 12-3 Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day 3 p.m. Trinity Baptist Church ( held at the BSU if construction of new church is not complete) 12-4 ITU v. Southern IL (W) 7:30 p.m. 12-6 ITU@ U. of AL (M) 7 :30 p.m. 12- 7 Reception for Fall graduates 6 p.m., BCC 12-8 Last Day of Classes 12-9 Study Day ITU @ NC-Charlotte (W) 6:30 p.m. ITU v. Bethel (M) 7:30 p.m. 12-11 Commencement Rehearsal - Hooper Eblen Center 4 p.m. 12-11 thru 15 Final Exams 12-13 Last Day for Spring 1996 Schedule Changes & Early Course Selection 12-14 Fee Payment Dead}ine fo_ Early r Registration Last Day for Schedule Adjustment 12-15 Last Day tG- apply for Spring Graduation (Undergraduates) 12-16 Commencement Hooper Eblen Center 10 a.m. ITU v. Lambuth (M) 7 :30 p.m. 12-19/20 ITU@ Las Vegas Tournament (W) Time TBA 12-21 ITU @AR State (M) 7:30 p.m. 12-2 1 thru 1-1 Christmas Holidays, Offices Closed, No Classes 12-29/30 ITU@ Boise State Tournament Time TBA FACULTY FOOTNOTE Love Yourself; Be Persistent By BARRY JOHNSON When every road seemed blocked, when every door seemed closed, when the nights seemed the darkest, our ancestors never doubted that they had a purpose greater than the misery they suffered. Our ancestors shared two qualities with people whom the world call successful persistence and a positive self image . Persistence simply means never giving up, never giving in, never stopping. By persistence, the patient positioning of determined lives, barred doors eventually open and stone walls crumble; the drop of water gently wears away the granite; the tender flower emerges through the concrete and lifts it petals toward the sun. Abraham Lincoln captured the essence of a positive self image when he said, "If I have lost every other friend on �earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me." Our responses to events are shaped by who and what we think we are. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the eminent black historian, said this of the power of the self image: "When you determine what a man shall think, you do not have to concern yourself about what he shall do. If yo" malr,=, him fppl infPrior you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door; he will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one." \A. .lJ. J..'-'-' .&. l. .LA. At. A--.&. A.A. o. .&.-.-...a. ' There are precious few things in life over which we have complete control. We do have complete control over how hard we're willing to try in order to succeed. We also have complete control over the thoughts we allow to take root in our minds. No one can ever take these away from you. DIRECTOR'S DESK By TONIA DUNCA~NRIVERS Farewell to Barry Johnson and his family. Barry has accepted a position at Wright State University. His last day at TIU is November 30. I also congratulate our December graduates! JET TOP 5 SINGLES 1. Fantasy Mariah Carey 2. Who Can I Run To Xscape 3. Brokenhearted Brandy 4. Sentimental Deborah Cox 5. Heaven Solo JET TOP 5 ALBUMS 1. Daydream Mariah Carey 2. Father and Son Gerald Levert & Eddie Levert Sr. 3 . Off The Hook Xscape 4. 4,5,6 Kool G Rap 5 . Faith Faith Evans Tennessee Technolo gical University A Constituent University of th e Tennessee Boa rd of Regents 7~r ITU 118-QUJ-95/An EEO/ANfitle IX/Section504/ADA Employer � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Newsletters and Publications Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tennessee Technological University Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Black Flash, 1995 November/December Issue Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tennessee Technological University. Office of Student Affairs. 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