November 25, 1997
The situation in DPAS, plain
and simple, is about who is in charge. Shall the Department be run by a
man who retired five years ago, or will it be run hy the current Chair?
That is the question.
The current Chair is not
a titular head, but rather he is one who thinks for himself, acts on his
own motives and has a clear and authentic vision for this Department -
one that is consistent with the past vision, but one that allows the Department
to evolve to the next progressive level.
21 November 1997 shall forever
be a "day of infamy" for the leadership of Black United Students - the
day that young folk stained and dishonored the sacred legacy of struggle
through a premeditated, planned and orchestrated vicious and malicious
assault on the character and professional career, of a man who has given
over 35 years of his life to the struggle of his people.
For the last 21 years he
has consistently been one of the strongest advocates for Black Students
on the campuses where he has worked. It is ironic that so many people on
this campus know that to be true, and the leadership of BUS claim not to.
This leadership appears silly
in the eyes of those who have seen the Chair of DPAS over and over again:
fight for the proper climate and environment for Black Students to pursue
their education; fight for financial aid (scholarships and grants, as opposed
to loans); fight for admission criteria that will ensure
the continued presence of a diverse and heterogeneous student body; stand
with BUS in soIidarity over the issue of the occasional excess of law enforcement,
particularly where the canine corps have been employed; intervene when
and wherever Black students have been the target of racist and/or white
supremacy activities; and among other things, fought hard and sucessful
to retain compensation for the BUS board. All of this can be verified by
individuals on this campus, and throughout this city and county.
It is a day of shame for
those young people who allowed themselves to be manipulated by individuals
who have abused their position of trust and renounced all pretense to elderhood.
The mark trial where students
and faculty put themselves up as judge, jury and executioner was reminiscent
of the "Salem Witch Trials."
The Chair of DPAS is certainly
not guilty of the allegations and incrimination that have been leveled
at him. My anger gives way to sadness when I think that some of our youth
who are in important leadership positions have replaced calm, critical
and reasoned decision making, with the frenzy and hysteria of the
mob.
It seems premature at best,
for the leadership of BUS to cal1 for the Answer — There is no evidence
resignation of one in such a pivotalof this,
relative to the general position as the Chair of DPAS, when African American
student body. I do they have not given him the courtesy of discussing their
concerns with him. For all to witness, let me answer the charges brought
against the Chair of DPAS by the leadership of BUS contained in its letter
of 19 November 1997:
1. "Your blatant disregard of the historical
mission of the DPAS."
Answer – I indicated to you during your
rally that I was a member of the Black Student Union at the State University
of New York at Buffalo during the late 1960s. We were part of the youth
movement that brought Black (Pan African) Studies into existence in this
country.
I have worked in Black Studies
Departments for over twelve years, and was Chair of a full Department for
seven and one half years before coming to KSU. With the KSU period, I have
been Chair of a Black Studies department for over a decade.
I certainly know, and have
upheld, "the historical mission" of Black (Pan African) Studies. What I
have not done, and will not do, is follow blindly some individuals' misperception
of this mission, or their personal agenda.
2. "Your failure to maintain a working
relationship with the African American student body."
Answer – There is no evidence of this,
relative to the general African American student body. I do have a problem
working with anyone who is dishonest, disingenuous or who operates out
of bad faith.
3. "Your assignment of student
office space in ORH without any notice to students."
Answer – As part of the "Outreach Mission"
of DPAS, I assigned a room that had not been used with any frequency to
a community based program designed to continue the education of High school
students who have been suspended from classes.
BUS had not been using this
room for nearly two years, when I assigned this space. As Chair of the
Department and Curator of the building, not only do I have the authority
to do this, but am expected to utilize DPAS's spaces efficiently. What
you have failed to report is the fact that I have made additional space
available to BUS.
It is hard for me to believe
that the responsible leadership of BUS would find fault with my accommodating
a program designed to help our youth in the public school system.
4. "Your open opposition to the
African American student body."
Answer – I never have been, nor would I
ever be, in "open opposition to the African American student body." My
entire career in Higher education, over the last two decedes, has been
committed to enancing opportunities and helping our youth be successful.
On this the record is clear.
As an elder, it has been
by duty to oppose what has appeared too me to be misguided and errant behavior
on the part of a few. To by and do otherwise would be to set a poor example.
You will not find a stronger
supporter of Black Students on this campus than I am.
5. "Your failure to recognize
the authority of the Director of the Center for Pan African Culture."
Answer – I understand what the authority
of the Director of CPAC is, and do indeed respect it. What you apparently
are contused about is that CPAC, as well as IAAA, are subunits of DPAS.
Both directors report to the Chair.
6. "Your inability to serve as
a responsible and professional faculty member."
Answer – You have not bothered to find
out who I am as a faculty member. You know precious little about the record
I have established. If you had the information that is readily available,
you would not make that statement.
The 21 November 1997 incident
was the ugliest display of human behavior that I and some of my colleagues
have seen in a long time - students out of control, and faculty members
as "agents provocateurs." To all people of conscience involved in this
matter, it is "time to break the silence" and step up and be counted. Ultimately,
this matter is about decency and indecency, truth and falsehood, the ethical
and the unethical.
