Negro Digest - Freedom Archives
Negro Digest - Freedom Archives Negro Digest - Freedom Archives
The Black University Concept In preparation for the second special issue of NEGRO DIGEST dealing with the concept of the Black University, copies of the first Black University issue (March 1968) were sent to a dozen prominent black educators and heads of predominantly black colleges requesting that they read the magazine and then write a brief statement setting forth their reactions to the Black University idea as presented in the magazine . At press time, responses had been received from the four college presidents listed on the cover of the magazine : Dr. James R. Lawson, president of Fisk University; Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, president emeritus of Morehouse College; Dr . Samuel D. Proctor, former president of Virginia Union University and present dean of Special Projects at the University of Wisconsin; and Dr . Benjamin F. Payton, president of Benedict College . The statements of the four gentlemen who did respond are of the utmost relevance for their experience as educators over the past several decades has provided them with a practical basis from which to view the new educational demands and orientation . NEGRO DIGEST is honored to present in the following pages the statements of Dr. Lawson, Dr. Mays, Dr . Proctor and Dr . Payton on the Black University concept . -The Editor bb FllucaroxsxESrovn ~;~~c ;~N THE March, 1968, special issue of the NEGRO DIGEST, de- ~~ voted to a consideration of the Black University concept, you editorialized, rte:S ~~cr.rw~on President, Fisk University "That something is gravely wrong with the conventional approach to the education of black children no longer is arguable . Much of the problem of course, is general: there is something gravely wrong March 1969 NEGRO DIGEST
with American education, period. However, as always in a society which-being racist by natureassigns opportunities and rewards according to race and color, those people suffer most who are regarded least, and those people in the American society are black people ." The general validity of this observation should not be a bar to repetitive assertions until all those who are responsible for and involved in education, at whatever level, in our country not only recognize the deficiencies in our total educational system but are engaged upon meaningful programs to correct what needs to be corrected . The important question is : How can the system best be changed? For black children and young adults in the United States, this question takes on some particular connotations . Since 1865, the traditionally or predominantly black colleges and universities have borne the brunt of the responsibility for educating the black leadership of this country . Many of these schools have compared favorably, and still do, with other schools of similar size with more resources and stronger faculties . In many instances, these largely segregated schools did superior jobs with their student-products despite the problems inherent in black higher education, not the least of these problems being the NEGRO DIGEST MarcF 1969 necessity for combatting and remedying the deficiencies of our general educational system so far as black students were concerned . The increasingly complex nature of our society and government beginning with the Great Depression of the 1930's, the technological advances which began with the necessity for a more efficient war machine during the 1940's, the acceleration of these developments following the launching of Sputnik I in 1957, and the ensuing age of cybernation have effected basic changes in our society . These changes-involving environmental conditions, manpower requirements, and individual and societal attitudes-have created new challenges and opportunities for all segments of our society . These challenges and opportunities demand a fundamental and continuing re-appraisal of courses of study in institutions of higher education . It occurs to me that the necessity for a changed role for the predominantly or traditionally black colleges and universities must be viewed at least partially within this context. This suggests an awesomely dual responsibility for the predominantly or traditionally black schools of higher education-i.e ., (1) a relevance and validity with regard to black students and black communities, and (2) a relevance and validity with regard to the society in which black students and black communities will exist . Inherent in both responsibilities is the neces- 67
- Page 115 and 116: Platform and Program S HL "Today we
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- Page 133 and 134: Black Perspective A cU~TU~~L, ~~~I~
- Page 135 and 136: life-style, yet they persist in the
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- Page 139 and 140: The Positiveness of Separation BL~C
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- Page 143 and 144: did) to thesis students who then gr
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- Page 147 and 148: conferees attempted to eject white
- Page 149 and 150: ~. iii1~i-i Black Life, White "Expe
- Page 151 and 152: BOOKS Black Writing : this is u, th
- Page 153 and 154: Grow old? Maan! I ain't never Gonna
- Page 155 and 156: answering ; "Monday. That is if tha
- Page 157 and 158: at a time when the ratio of Negro d
- Page 159 and 160: A Special Experience xox .a~, xi .:
- Page 161 and 162: to comment that I was a typical cre
- Page 163 and 164: students said, "Didn't Malcolm prea
- Page 165: What I did object to was the effort
- Page 169 and 170: President Emeritus, Morehouse Colle
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- Page 175 and 176: economic changes now occurring with
- Page 177 and 178: aising a question regarding in exac
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- Page 181 and 182: Fire ; steal it, borrow it or wait
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- Page 185 and 186: and what is the right procedure for
- Page 187 and 188: mentioned earlier, the whole black
- Page 189 and 190: (C) Consistency of Thought and Acti
- Page 191 and 192: J. .JICLCfj ._Jd .L'~ .FU~~e ; one
- Page 193 and 194: must carry a greater sexual burden
- Page 195 and 196: C.~e~or 3 l /ot~e3-- (Continued fro
- Page 197 and 198: and that prepares them to deal effe
- Page 199 and 200: THE DUKE NATURAL S ET EASY COMB let
- Page 202 and 203: BLACK HISTORY BLACK POWER U .S .A .
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- Page 206 and 207: "1lTew Creation or Familiar Deatla"
- Page 208 and 209: contradictions they entail . Furthe
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- Page 212 and 213: Response to Vincent Harding 12 BY R
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The Black University Concept<br />
In preparation for the second special issue of NEGRO DIGEST dealing<br />
with the concept of the Black University, copies of the first Black University<br />
issue (March 1968) were sent to a dozen prominent black educators<br />
and heads of predominantly black colleges requesting that they<br />
read the magazine and then write a brief statement setting forth their<br />
reactions to the Black University idea as presented in the magazine . At<br />
press time, responses had been received from the four college presidents<br />
listed on the cover of the magazine : Dr. James R. Lawson, president of<br />
Fisk University; Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, president emeritus of Morehouse<br />
College; Dr . Samuel D. Proctor, former president of Virginia<br />
Union University and present dean of Special Projects at the University<br />
of Wisconsin; and Dr . Benjamin F. Payton, president of Benedict College .<br />
The statements of the four gentlemen who did respond are of the utmost<br />
relevance for their experience as educators over the past several decades<br />
has provided them with a practical basis from which to view the new educational<br />
demands and orientation . NEGRO DIGEST is honored to present<br />
in the following pages the statements of Dr. Lawson, Dr. Mays, Dr .<br />
Proctor and Dr . Payton on the Black University concept .<br />
-The Editor<br />
bb<br />
FllucaroxsxESrovn<br />
~;~~c ;~N THE March, 1968,<br />
special issue of the<br />
NEGRO DIGEST, de-<br />
~~ voted to a consideration<br />
of the Black University<br />
concept, you editorialized,<br />
rte:S ~~cr.rw~on<br />
President, Fisk University<br />
"That something is gravely wrong<br />
with the conventional approach to<br />
the education of black children no<br />
longer is arguable . Much of the<br />
problem of course, is general:<br />
there is something gravely wrong<br />
March 1969 NEGRO DIGEST
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