The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 22, 1996, Page 4, Image 4
_4
Culture
victimizes
inHivi Hi iqIq
ii ivii y iviuuiu
I never
STEWART thought twice
about the fact
that there were
only two African-American students in
my elementaiy school, population 444,
as I recall. I didn't worry about the fact
we "prayed" eveiy day or said the pledge
or that Bible stories were read to us. I
think I vaguely recall that it was okay
to punish student misbehavior via
spanking or something to that effect. I
didn't worry about my after-school care
teacher blowing smoke rings as we
napped.
But now that I look back upon it,
was I a victim of circumstance? Was I
somehow adulterated or imposed upon?
Maybe, but the real question is, should
I plea as such?
I can honestly say I don't think these
situations I experienced marred my
adult life. Was I a victim because I didn't
experience real life, or were the two
African-American students victimized
for having to attend a school with such
ratios? Did I turn out different somehow?
Well, I do not believe I am a racist Would
pninp to a verv interrarial srhonl Viava
changed my feelings? I hope not.
Okay. What about the fact that
religion was imposed upon me as a
vulnerable child. That's fine. I have used
those experiences to cultivate what I
feel is best for me, religion-wise. I
appreciate the Bible stories, as they are
a representation of history and civilization.
Not to mention how handy knowing
these passages has come in English
classes, where, like-it-or-not, Biblical
allusions are plentiful.
Can't we just see these "injustices"
as learning utensils? Why must we
always play victim? Whether the way
you grew up was right or wrong doesn't
matter anymore.
And about school officials physically
punishing students: arguably, it may
be the parents'job to discipline their
children, but children these days are
seemingly more disrespectful and out
of control. I recall being punished for
doing something evil like throwing erasers
across the room, and I never did it again.
Case closed, it worked. And as far as I
know, I am not mentally disturbed as
a result.
Finally, I must boast that I am not
a smoker, even though I found the smokering-blowing
preschool instructor
fascinating to watch. Key word?watch.
I watched and learned as he hacked
uncontrollably, too. Kids are not stupid.
Does it seem that too much in life
boils down to who was victimized?
Further, how can we get our just
compensation (money and/or publicity)
for our tragic victimization.
Maybe Fm an idealist, but life would
be much easier if it was okay to just live
and not have to worry about being
attacked for doing something every time
you turn around. Fm not saying it's okay
to use this logic against certain groups
of individuals, but rather as a mechanism
to unite individuals. We are one people.
We learn from one another.
For instance, Fm sick of worrying
about speaking politically correctly, but
if I don't, some "victim" out there will
be further victimized. I don't like the
cheap rationalizations people have for
using racial, social or political slurs,
contending that since they are victims
somehow, then it is justified. I'm tired
of contending with the theory of how "I
should be compensated" for each and
every minor imposition life has cruelly
thrown at me. I am female, I am black,
I am Native American, I come from a
poor family, my mother is disabled, my
father went to Vietnam, thus I deserve
to be compensated for what I have been
given.
What ever happened to "take it as
it comes" and make the best of it? Why
don't we try working for our goals instead
of finding ways we were victimized to
get ahead. It is true, "All men are created
equal, but that does not mean all lives
are the same. In other words, take what
you are given and make it work! If
nothing else remember, "Where one door
shuts, another opens."
This would be
a good place
for your stun.
Contact
The Gamecock,
777-7181.
1
Mrij^nrsni
QUOTE. UNQUOTE
"People also
White Greek
a
Weight woe:
The sounds from the dressing room
reminded me of a bad TV movie, like
one of those after-school specials where
the anorexic or bulimic girl ends up
in the hospital with bony arms and
blue lips.
"We need to work out again," the
voice said.
She was standing in front of the
mirror at the end of the long, white
hallway that ran through the middle
of all dressing rooms. She put a hand
on her stomach and sucked in so her
belly would disappear.
"The size 11 looks like a whale. I
need to be a seven and stay a seven,"
she said.
The dressing room: the epitome of
America's weight obsession. The voices
are always there on busy days,
mourning too-tight dresses and the
weakness of eating breakfast, lunch
and dinner all in the same day.
People fret over precious pounds
lost and horrific pounds gained. Both
men and women are frustrated, because
in real life there's no computer that
can stretch out people's legs to make
them longer, no way to erase an inch
or two from your waist in an instant.
Blaming the entertainment
industry, advertisers and other
businesses for our preoccupation with
our bodies is pointless. A demand for
these industries to do something to
change America's negative weight
obsession, to do something about the
hundreds of young people who punish
themselves for not looking like the
magazine covers, won't change society's
ideas about what is beautiful and what
Place for bla<
In 1926, historian Carter G.
Woodson began what is commonly
considered his most successful attempt
to popularize black history.
He chose the second week in
February and declared it Negro History
Week. The week was chosen to
commemorate the birthdays of
Frederick Douglass and Abraham
Lincoln.
The original celebrations involved
printing pamphlets and other
promotional literature, conducting
parades of Costumed characters
depicting the lives of famous African
Americans and holding breakfasts,
banquets and other ceremonies.
In the 1940s, the celebration became
more sophisticated and attracted larger,
more diverse audiences.
By the early 1970s, the Association
for Study of Negro Life and History
extended the celebrations to the entire
month of February and changed the
name to Black History Month.
Today, in 1996, the condition of
Mack history has improved considerably
since Woodson began his famous
celebration. But the improvements
are not enough.
Black history does not belong in
February.
It belongs in textbooks and in
classrooms.
When students of American
literature read the writings of Davy
vmm
tend to vote for who they ki
? naturally associate with ?
ind black Greeks with black.
Julye Johns, SG elections commissioner
5 begin in dre
is clumsy.
A perfect von kolnitz
example of a
Med attempt
to change the impossible ideal is the
Happy to Be Me Doll. The doll, who
Fll just call Happy, was manufactured
by the High Self-Esteem Toy
Corporation and was supposed to debut
about five years ago. A New York Times
article from 1991 described her as a
"sort of politically correct Barbie,"
whose mission was to "help young girls
develop realistic body images and
accept themselves as they are."
Happy had more realistic
proportions than Barbie, the blonde
freak who has supposedly been
distorting little girls' images of what
the ideal female body should look like
for decades. But where is Happy now?
A Kay-Bee toy store worker didn't
know what I was talking about when
I asked about Happy. I wouldn't be
surprised if she wasn't well-received
at toy stores, because self-esteem just
can't be manufactured. And I've never
heard anyone in a dressing room say,
"These jeans don't fit because I've
gained 20 pounds since last year, but,
hey, Fm just happy to be me."
I think the real problem is the feet
that people don't realize they don't 1
have to live up to society's expectations
to be happy.
Lisa Mohn, director of health and
wellness services, said one of the best
ways to prevent the problems that
arise from weight obsession is for people 1
to realize that "you don't have to live <
up to someone else's ideal." ]
:k history is ir
Crockett and I john i
study the LYONS 1
1 i t e r a r y
techniques of
local color, they should be introduced <
to James Rerson Beckworth. Beckworth
was a black frontiersman and explorer
who wrote a flamboyant, exaggerated
autobiography.
History courses should introduce
students to George Washington Carver,
a scientist and educator.
w. E. B. Du Bois, a famous j
sociologist, should be well-known among
students of all racial backgrounds. ]
These three men and other ?
important black figures must not be
neglected any longer. ^
Black History Month is currently r
no more than a token gesture. ?
It draws attention to many of the
shortcomings of the teachings of j.
American history. y
Yet, somehow, though the problems
are crystal clear, they have not been y
alleviated. y
Black history is still limited to quick
overviews of slavery and civil rights. t
A month of recognition does not r
make up for a year of neglect. c
Teachers must act throughout the j.
year to incorporate black cultures into y
their curricula.
This does not mean all courses g
should become celebrations of black
history. But in those courses where it g
OENTS
X'
J
J
1
now the best. !
rhite Greeks
" 1
i
i
<
i
ssing rooms |
t
Mohn said often someone's actual j,
looks don't have anything to do with
body image ? a person's perception (
of his or her appearance. I can't count ?
the number of times I've heard people
who look like they have about three r=
percent body fat say "I need to lose
weight."
The self-critical aspect of it is really
sad and dangerous," Mohn said.
We were discussing body image in
one of my classes, and one my
classmates said, TVe always been thin,
so I've never had a reason to be
unhappy."
But not being society's definition
of thin has never been a reason to be
unhappy. The sadness begins with '
what the individual perceives: their
reflection in a mirror, clothes that look ;
better on someone else, the amount '
of fat grams in the candy bar they've
just eaten.
It's all a number game and how ^
different people add their numbers (
up. It starts with the number the 1
dressing room attendant hands you, ]
the big three or four standing for the j
number of clothes you are trying on. i
Then you add the size on the tag, the
amount of calories you ate for lunch, 1
the number of pounds over 100 that
you weigh on the scale. j
The numbers keeD adding un until
r -C -r J
a size 11 is as big as a whale, and people c
:an't remember what it was like to be c
happy with the way they look. 2
i classrooms \
I
is appropriate, the contributions of f
blacks should be acknowledged and
studied. *
American history courses are
ibviously the most important places
to implement change, but they are not _
lie only courses needing improvement .
Literature classes must not limit
;he study of black authors to the
flarlem Renaissance. Black writers ^
should be seen as an integral part of
lie curriculum and not as an isolated
iddition.
rrLr? n4-i /\f A fm/>nvt AVM/MHAAM/I ?
me otuuy ui rrniuui mnci iucuis ill
listory, literature and other subjects r{
should be actively pursued.
The month of Februaiy works very
veil to celebrate black history, but it Sti
nust also serve as a reminder of the V
shortcomings of textbooks and teachers.
All Americans should realize that
African Americans have made
mportant contributions to our society. 1
The United States has been affected I
>y African Americans and attitudes 0
oward them throughout its existence.
From race riots in Los Angeles to
he creation of jazz, American music's
nost influential genre, blacks have
ontributed much to this country and The
save had a significant impact in its thro
listory.
Black History Month is a good start opi,
it improving awareness, but it should som
nly be seen as a beginning. There is
till a long way to go. , Slutl
I
)
"IBarfS
Serving USi
Wendy Hudson, Editor in Chief
Tina Morgan, Brent See
'&JES\
SMI:
Editorli
Chris Dixon, Martha Hotop, Karen Layne,
Ryan Sims, Stephanie Sonnenfeld, Cece vc
Racial bias I
in SG runoff
There's no denying the rjjjvffwj
fact that USC, like most HQiI?
major college campuses, Race anc
has racial divisions. runoff el
Unfortunately, students
and administrators alike WTI]
try to avoid, fudge or even mmmmm
sweep this idea under the Votefo1
rug far too often, causing not for
even more strife among
racial groups on campus.
Deny as we may try, today's
election may be just another
manifestation of this hot topic of debate,
tn both remaining executive runoff
races, there is one Caucasian candidate
and one African-American candidate.
Although the idea of race as an issue
in this election is often denied or even
ignored, it no longer can be avoided.
Unfortunately, only a mediocre
percentage of voters are out to vote
or the candidates' platforms of
ncreased safety, academic forgiveness,
Student Government forums or food
service. Many voters vote to support
iellow organizational members or
riends, not truly thinking out the
ssues at hand. Others will, although
hey may not admit to it, vote for race.
It is sad to realize this campus has
recome so racially motivated that it
ets Jim Crow ideals seep into almost
:very aspect of scholarship, leadership
ind overall academia.
LETTERS TR THE ERITRR
Chairperso
clubs, part:
This letter is in response to
yesterday's front-page picture of the
African-American Male Spotlight.
While I appreciate the inclusion in
your paper, I would like to make a
brief commentary of the event.
The program, which was held on
Sunday, was sponsored by the Black
Cultural Commission of Carolina
Productions and the Freshman
Council of the Association of African\merican
Students. It was a Black
History Month event designed to
salute several positive African\merirfln
males hpre at TTSfl The
LI honorees represented a vast
najority of the black organizations
hi campus: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha
3hi Alpha, AAAS, Kappa Alpha Psi,
JAP Team, National Society of Black
Engineers, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta
ligma, Sigma Gamma Rho, Society
f Minority Journalism Students and
teta Phi Beta.
The contest itself was structured
imilarly to a pageant, with
ntroduction, Interview and Formal
Vear as the primary categories,
lowever the awards that were
resented were not based solely on
hese aspects. Clifton Chestnutt,
epresenting the Society of Minority
ournalism Students, received an
ward for Scholarship. Jermaine
Iritton, representing Kappa Alpha
*si fraternity, received an award for
cauciouip. v^ucxituu iumpiv.1113,
epresenting the MAP Team, received
n award for Community Service,
aid Christopher Smith, representing
hie Association of African-American
IBiallcock
. _i ^ if I * _ n 11 I T? r ton ?
juetu ivieuia * ivussch nuuse-udS-' v^Ol
Vendy Hudson Robbie Meek
Editor in Chief Matt Pruitt
Ryan Wilson Sports Editors
Managing Editor Allison
Tina Morgan Williams
Brent Seeliger Special Projects
Viewpoints Editors Ethan Myerson
Vf artha Hotop Graphics Editor ]
ece von Kolnitz Karen Layne
News Editors Copy Desk Chief
Chris Dixon Deanna
Stephanie McLendon
Sonnenfeld Copy Desk
Features Editors
Gamecock is the student newspaper of the
/ersity of South Carolina and is published Tuesday
ugh Thursday during the fall and spring semesters,
the exception of university holidays and exam
uds.
lions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the
urs or author and not those of the University of
:h Carolina.
Board of Student Publications and Communications
le publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of
lent Media is its parent organization.
Thursday, February 22,1996
fock
C Since 1908
Ryan Wilson, Managing Editor,
liger, Viewpoints Editors
il Board
Robbie Meek, Tyson Pettierew, Matt Pruitt
in Kolnitz, Robert Walton, Allison Williams
I I O N
ias no place
elections
mm So, we might be
SI advocating a dream ? to
f $Q go into today's election color\ections
blind, to mark your votes
not on who is black or who
is white, but who is the
mmamm mos^ qualified candidate.
merit, Ifs a utopian ideal that will
race probably never be fully
achieved, but if the message
reaches a few, it will be
somewhat successful.
Call us a liberal rag for wanting
some sort of color-blindness to today's
election, but when it comes down to
electing the people who represent us,
we should want people capable of
reflecting an image of intellect, ambition
and courage. Although that image
may not necessarily take the form or
skin color of choice, it is the ideal we
should strive for.
Ask yourself if you think it is fair
to deny a certain candidate the
opportunity to hold an office because
of their skin color or their heritage.
Ask yourself if you are voting for
someone because their skin is the
same uuiur as yours or u you are
refusing to vote for a candidate because
their skin is different from yours. The
ultimate goal of a democracy is to be
somewhat democratic with your vote
? and being democratic does not mean
being racist.
n thanks
icipants
Students, was named Man-of-theYear.
I would like to take this
opportunity to personally thank
everyone who helped make the show
a success. As the main coordinator
of the event, I was pleased with the
outcome and think it went very well
for a first-time project. I want to
congratulate all of the candidates ?
Lorenzo, Michael, Chris, Jermaine,
Quenton, James, Kerrick, Lee, Shon,
Clifton, Walter ? who did a wonderful
job and were very cooperative
throughout the whole ordeal.
I'm especially happy about the
large number of parents who came
out to support their children. I say
thank you to all the judges and
emcees, for whose participation we
are very grateful. I'd like to thank
Sharpe's Formal Wear, who was
generous enough to donate the formal
wear for the contestants. I appreciate
the entertainers ? Krystal Kenely,
Akil Pinckney and Shannen Thomas
?whose talents were an added bonus.
I thank Carolina Productions for their
faith as well as their finances. I thank
AAAS, who, as usual, always comes
through in times of crisis. And last,
but certainly not least, I want to thank
my committee who was with me from
day one; I could not have done it
without you. In short, I want to thank
EVERYONE who helped me fulfill
this dream of mine.
Klmbevty T. Baxter
AAAS Freshman Council Committee
Chairperson
777-7726
tising: 777-4249
777-6482 Chris Carroll
umbia, SC 29208 Dmct0f of StudenI ^
Laura Day
Tyson Pettigrew Creative Director
Robert Walton Jeff A. Breaux
Photo Editors Art Director
Adam Snyder Sue McDonald
Jennifer Stanley JimSpeelmon
Asst. News Graduate Assistant
Jennifer Hansen Marilyn Edwards
Dipka Bhambhani Taylor
Asst. Features Marketing Director
Achim Hunt Erik Collins
Asst. Sports Faculty Advisor
Ryan Sims Jason Jeffers
Online Editor Cartoonist
Letters Policy
The Gamecock will try to print all letters received.
Letters should be 200-250 words and must include hill
name, professional title or year and major if a student.
Letters must be personally delivered by the author to
The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 333.
The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for
style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not
be withheld under any circumstances.
: i