Negro Digest - Freedom Archives

concerned with concepts like the
Black University . We can describe
three kinds of institutions, two representing
the forces of oppression.
Direct colonial control comes from
agencies of the federal government,
private foundations, and white universities.
These colonial forces
combine to influence and to direct
their neo-colonial extensions, the
"predominantly Negro" colleges .
The third really shouldn't be
called an institution, but a growing
number of organized thrusts emerging
from the black community with
the sole purpose of making education
relevant to/for/within our liberation
struggle .
Colonial forces employ the twofaced
approach to Black people,
using one hand to actively suppress
us, while using the other hand to
urge the vanguard forward into full
view for the slaughter . Some see
this as a paradox, but it is really a
vise, one that is closing faster all
~of the time. Why is it that institutions
like Princeton, Harvard,
Yale, Rockefeller, and the U. S.
Congress will sometimes encourage
small groups or individuals who
are (to them) "Black nationalist
extremists," while at the same time
refusing to rid their investment
portfolios of South African stocks
or economic interests supporting
racism throughout the U.S.A.?
IB
How can the Congress pass civil
rights legislation to help Black to
become like whites, and then persecute
Adam Clayton Powell for
being just like them? (You surely
can fill in additional questions for
yourself? )
Neo-colonial forces are virtual
laboratories for Negro citizens who
want the security of a place in (or
at least of) white society, while at
the same time becoming masters
of survival culture fun and games .
Here the vise is cloaked in hues of
brown, a coloration meant to confuse-if
not to convince-us into
acceptance . Demands for a program
more relevant to Black needs
are usually met with two responses
which clearly reveal their position :
(1) "We have always been interested
in the study of the Negro .
We have a good library collection
andwe have a tradition of research
and teaching ." What is left out is
that this "tradition" stopped 10 to
20 years ago, and exactly the opposite
trend has reached its summit .
A brief search for current materials
and a look at course catalogs will
demonstrate the reactionary reality
of this sickness. (2) "We will not
support racism and reject as racist
the demand for Black history, especially
if it is stipulated that the
instructor be Black." However,
there is normally no argument
when choosing Negro presidents
for "predominantly Negro" colleges,
but holy hell explodes when
demanding Black teachers for
Black courses.
March 1969 NEGRO DIGEST