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Poet BY BETTY ANNE WILLIAMS Revolutionary poet Don L. Lee has said that black people need a redefinition of themselves with which to proceed before they can attain any goals they set for them selves. "I think one of the problems we have is we fail to define ourselves in the positive." He said the defini tion should come from "a frame of reference we can act on instead of react from. "We are an African people in this country. You cannot really become a part of what is happening in this country because we don't have the major criterion-we are not white." Lee said that black people have not been able to act concertedly because they have allowed other people to define them. "If white people didn't exist you wouldn't exist because our definition of our selves is based on them." "The first battle is to retake our b /r WHEN YOU KNOW lT'S FOP KEEPS. Love. captured forever in the beautiful brilliance of a perfect diamond Keepsake... the perfect symbol of your special love. Rings from $100 to $ 10.000 HOW TO PLAN YOUR EN4 full color fo nd 44 pg. Sid's 84 State KEEPSAKE DIAMOND RINGS. urges minds." He said this process began long ago. However, "the only reason the chains were taken off our legs is because they were put on our minds. Education has been the most effective weapon against us." He called schools like USC teachers of white nationalism. "What are you taught here? To be individuals. I got mine, you get yours. The only thing you can do individually is die." Lee addressed a predominantly black audience in Capstone's Cam pus Room Friday night as a part of the Association of Afro-American Students' Black Culture Week. After gaining as much knowledge possible, Lee said, black students owe something to their people. He offered the reminder that men should not allow themselves to be defined by their vocations and the status that they bring. "You are black men and women first and part of your vocation second. It is not for the community to relate to you. 'rad Mar Re Pn o e eees rode MErng AmentPand Cdigopu >ok gift ofe afl for only 254. FU tOX 90. SYRACUSlE, N.Y. 13701) black You relate to it." Lee said that there are 30 million black people in this country. "We do not have power to back those numbers. We have to evolve into a value system that will allow us to trust each other with an unbreak able trust." "We black people in this country are not culturally deprived. We are culturally different," he continued Black powerlessness is why "our creativity is being squashed." The time when black authors sought to be known as writers who happen to be black instead of black writers has passed according to Lee. Similarly, he said it is time for black people to discard the values which make them accept "the European corruptibles which have been keeping tis down-money, power and sex." He recommended black studies PR EC NEEI Adoption Services, Pr CALL: TOLL F Roof J DIAMONt Welcome S 3 Locations' 12219 Rosewood Sh 503 12th St. V BLOOD DONORS NEEDED! IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Age Limitations, 18-60 NEW HOURS 9:30 a.m. 'til 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m. 'til 5 p.m. Sat. CAROLINA BLOOD BANK 1317 Taylor 253-6231 Gold Wedding Set 14K gold $200 It's true! Keepsake guarantees a perfect center diamond of fine color and precise cut. (or replacement assured). MCreitnvite 'wt.s. e s'. I. *owWTOWN e.etebi. 96,9 MAIN ST. . 1437 MAIN ST. I252.2968 2s3.sta9 redefi and education as solutions for the problem. Also, "If we had the right kind of education we wouldn't have such a drug problem." Nation-building should be a black objective. "Power and nation building concern land. Land is the only thing that nobody is making more of. The white boy is hip to this. We are black nationalists which says we must have control over what is in our communities." The time to go about making changes is now, he said. "If we don't move in the 1970's to make change we won't be around to be reading poetry in the 1980's." Organization, which Lee said is difficult, is another step. "You start with the self and then branch out. Be what you teach. You must be the example of what you believe in." In addition, "you need a new com mitment. The struggle is not about NANT? HELP? gnancy Testing, Etc.... REE (800) 532-3430 ational Family Planning Council Ltd. lweIers SRING tudent Credit To Serve You 'aylor opping Center . Columbia ( ( ff( ning sacrifice it is about commitment. Everything you have should be involved in your commitment." Simply, Lee said, the four ingredients to do everything that needs to be done are work, study, creativity and building. Help. Our Cities. Our Oceans. Our Trees. Our Rivers. Our Air. Our Mountains. Our Fishes. Our Deserts. Our Tomorrows. ZI KLEEN 1320 Main Street 1-hour cleaning 4-hour Laundry Servic Monday - Saturday