Negro Digest - Freedom Archives

sity for preparing students to meet
the challenges of change in today's
and tomorrow's world. And, with
respect to both responsibilities, the
overriding consideration should
and must be to give these students
that education and training sought
after in today's and tomorrow's
labor market .
Essentially, then, the education
of black Americans must encompass
at least three objectives-i .e .
(1) an increased awareness and
knowledge of their heritage and of
the contributions they have made
throughout history ; ( 2) a motivation
and ability to render muchneeded
assistance and services, of
various kinds, to the total black
community; and (3) the development
of knowledge and skills necessary
for gainful employment and
satisfactory living in the larger
ever-changing society . In terms of
what is necessary for sustained upward
economic and social mobility
of black Americans, I think it
meaningless, if not dangerous, to
attempt to assign priorities as between
these three objectives . They
are all necessary . Moreover, they
constitute the basis for the continuing
validity and relevance of predominantly
or traditionally black
institutions of higher learning.
These considerations dictate
some rather basic modifications in
the curricula of our colleges and
universities, modifications which
involve new directions, new and
different courses, and innovatively
different techniques and methodologies
of instruction. Moreover,
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there is the necessity for relating
our curricula and campus activities
more definitively and directly to
the needs of the communities of
which we are a part . None of this
will be easy, but all is possible with
varying degrees of ease or difficulty
dependent upon conditions pertaining
to particular colleges or
universities .
At Fisk, we are attempting to
meet the challenges represented by
the need and desire for black identity,
dignity, and status, on the one
hand, and by the new career opportunities
for black college graduates,
on the other. Regarding the
former, we have instituted courses
in African-Caribbean Studies, the
Fine Arts, Literature, History,
Race Relations, Sociology and Anthropology
which focus on contributions,
problems and developments
of black people. Regarding
the latter, for example, we are in
the process of establishing an ambitious
program in Business Administration
which will prepare students
who choose this area of
study for promising employment
immediately upon graduation as
well as for graduate study in the
field . We are cognizant of the need
to do even more to meet the twin
challenges above, and are continually
alert to the opportunities for
doing more . We are convinced,
however, that meeting the first
challenge should represent a supplement
to and enrichment of our
basic program and our efforts to
meet the second challenge .
March 1969 NEGRO DIGEST