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Black power advocates define objectives<br />
By IRWIN BERLIN<br />
"We want everything that<br />
America wants — but more."<br />
This was the main definition<br />
of black power given by Minister<br />
Franklin Florence at last<br />
Friday's lecture in Howell<br />
Hall.<br />
The lecture was entitled<br />
"Black Power: Theology and<br />
Politics of a People." The<br />
speakers were Dr. Harvey Guthrie,<br />
professor of .Old Testajnent<br />
at the Episcopal Theological<br />
Seminary in Cambridge,<br />
Mass.; and Florence, who was<br />
the first president of FIGHT<br />
in Rochester.<br />
Florence ably substituted<br />
for intended speaker, Dr.<br />
Charles Hamilton, who was in<br />
Chicago attending a sit-in demonstration.<br />
An interested audience listened<br />
as the two authorities<br />
expounded on black pow?r.<br />
and the problem that faces the<br />
white community because of<br />
it.<br />
With the death of Martin<br />
Luther King last month. Floretee<br />
told of a reassessment of<br />
position by the black community.<br />
King v/as assassinated by<br />
a white racist, again proving<br />
that violence is as American as<br />
cherry pie. 185 cities burned<br />
after King's déath, Amierica<br />
noticing for the first time the<br />
black community's use of violence.<br />
I rebutted this by pointing<br />
to the riots of the past two summers,<br />
but Florence said that<br />
v/hites have been more violent<br />
in the past than blacks ever<br />
dared to be.<br />
Florence warned that 1968<br />
could well be the turning<br />
point of true violence.<br />
The black community is<br />
ready to do whatever is necessary<br />
to be free, shedding their<br />
own blood to secure human<br />
rights among "all downtrodden<br />
peoples."<br />
Blacks are fed up with integration,<br />
seeing that the white<br />
institutions did not want this.<br />
The blacks tried all the "ins,"<br />
but never did get in.<br />
Franklin Florence<br />
Florence says that the possibility<br />
of a bloody revolution<br />
certainly exists, but that this<br />
fate rests in the hands of<br />
white America.<br />
Dr. Guthrie, as the theological<br />
consultant, would ascribe<br />
no significance to Florence's<br />
comments. He posed three academic<br />
assumptions made by<br />
white America in the past, all<br />
which can be summed up in<br />
one word: reconciliation.<br />
The role of th|e religious<br />
community has been to introduce<br />
Jesus as the healer who<br />
could "lay over the frustrations<br />
of life." Now the same<br />
community is faced with a disruptive<br />
issue which supercedes<br />
the former situation.<br />
Using examples from the<br />
Pible, Guthrie indicated that<br />
God has always seemed to be<br />
on one side or another, (the<br />
Isrealites leafing Egypt, and<br />
later the Zealot cult).<br />
Tradition, meaning justice<br />
and freedom, takes precedence<br />
historically, over reconciliation.<br />
Today the hierarchy "bf<br />
churches must engage in activities<br />
that are not compromising.<br />
According to Guthrie, those<br />
who are white, Christian, and<br />
western, have wrongly assumed<br />
that they were the makers<br />
of history. We are becoming<br />
aware that the vast world is<br />
not white, Christian, or western,<br />
but sometimes quite different.<br />
Black Power is a concrete<br />
reminder that cannot be escaped.<br />
It is not possible to resort<br />
to sentimentalities for<br />
solutions, Guthrie says, nor<br />
can we become despondent<br />
and seek solace in a bottle or<br />
in drugs.<br />
Guthrie said that while the<br />
religious community ,__has always<br />
tried to attack seriousness<br />
to the Biblical awareness<br />
of history, the black community<br />
(including Martin L. King),<br />
has taken the message too seriously.<br />
The imagery, today and in<br />
Egypt of Biblical times, is very<br />
much the same. Our new im-*<br />
age is like that in The Robber<br />
Barons, somewhat maudlin,<br />
but nevertheless correct.<br />
Guthrie is too abstract here<br />
for my liking; however, I accept<br />
his statement that we can<br />
work our way realistically<br />
out of this image. Guthrie<br />
warns that this cannot be believed<br />
cheaply. One cannot<br />
look at the United States in<br />
1968 and reach an idealist answer.<br />
The lectures were fascinat-<br />
Dr. Harvey Guthrie<br />
ing, if not somehow frightening<br />
in their common sense<br />
evaluation of black power.<br />
Florence was often funny, but<br />
the humor was bitter and he<br />
got his message across.<br />
Both speakers referred to<br />
the New Testament passage of<br />
"Neither Jew nor Greek . . .<br />
all are one in Jesus." Florence<br />
said that black power has finally<br />
brought out the hypocrisy<br />
of the white community.<br />
"White folks preach one thing<br />
and practice another."<br />
He related some experiences<br />
he has had with religious leaders,<br />
who instead of having a<br />
"respect for the humanity of<br />
man," were compromising racists.<br />
"We have nothing personally<br />
against nigras. You have<br />
your Church; we have ours."<br />
To evaluate the lecture is<br />
difficult. It raised provoking<br />
questions, some of which were<br />
posed in the question-answer<br />
period that followed. For me<br />
the question of "why violegpe"<br />
has not been satisfactorily<br />
answered.<br />
During the riots that took<br />
place in Rochester following<br />
King's assassination, as well as<br />
during last summer's riots.<br />
Florence wtas one of the leaders<br />
asking the people to exercise<br />
control. But the blacks<br />
who are for unrestrained violence<br />
far outnumber those, who<br />
desire control.<br />
The white community that<br />
sympathizes with the black<br />
community and want to do<br />
something constructive, were<br />
advised by Florence to stay in<br />
their own neighborhoods.<br />
There is a distinct need to<br />
"un-brainwash" their white<br />
neighbors. To me, this seems<br />
the only course that is really<br />
open to America.<br />
Professors seen as expendable<br />
By LARRY S. FRIEDMAN<br />
An open letter to the Administration<br />
of Alfred University<br />
concerning faculty and student<br />
participation in demonstrations:<br />
I am writing this open letter<br />
in the hope that Alfred Univesity<br />
will not become lanother<br />
"Columbia." While the right<br />
to dissent cannot be denied, I<br />
do believe that the course of<br />
events wftiidh Wave transpired<br />
during the present academic<br />
year and which has culminated!<br />
in the demonstration this past<br />
weekend will eventually destroy<br />
the educational system at<br />
this University.<br />
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR<br />
In praise of 'sandbox politics'<br />
To the Editor:<br />
The Political Affairs Club<br />
has been asked by several<br />
members of the Alfred community<br />
to write a rebuttal to<br />
Prof. Hils' letter of last week<br />
referring to Alfred's sandbox<br />
politics.<br />
Calendar of Events<br />
Tuesday<br />
Tennis: Rochester, home,<br />
1:30 p.m. F & V.<br />
Forum: 11 a.m. CC, Alfred<br />
Debate Club, "Resolved 1 : Violence<br />
is a Legitimate Meamis to<br />
Achieve Civil Rights for the<br />
Black Men."<br />
Wednesday<br />
Track: U. of Rochester.<br />
OWENS Féast, Howell Hall,<br />
6:30 p.m.<br />
Sophomore Declaration of<br />
Majors: 7 p.m., 34 Myers Hall<br />
Thursday<br />
Lacrosse: Cortland, Away,<br />
3:30 p.m.<br />
GoM; [Brockport, Away, 1<br />
p.m.<br />
Student Dissent Symposium;<br />
Parents' Lounge, 7:30 p.m.<br />
Friday<br />
Fraternity Spring Weekend<br />
Some contend that he was<br />
referring to the mock convention<br />
held on the 26th and 27th<br />
of April. Basing tMs leltter on<br />
the assumption tjhat this is<br />
what the good professar was<br />
speaking of, I wonder if he<br />
has managed to clean all of the<br />
sand from his fingernails.<br />
I would like to congratulate<br />
Prof. Hils and the S.D.S for<br />
the role they played in making<br />
the Convention as realistic<br />
as possible. Their actions<br />
at the various Convention functions<br />
were similar to those<br />
taken by radical groups at the<br />
real conventions in 1964 and<br />
What they will be doing at Chicago<br />
and Miami this summer.<br />
Prof. Hils has charged that<br />
your coverage was incomplete.<br />
The Fialt seemed to concentrate<br />
its efforts on a Convention involving<br />
over 500 people rather<br />
than such activities as a<br />
Teach-in composed of almost<br />
200. I sympathize with Prof.<br />
Hils here, butt we must keep<br />
in mind that the FIAT LUX<br />
has only eight pages and is<br />
forced to delimit its coverage<br />
on some issues in order to report<br />
on what is of primary interest<br />
to its readers.<br />
The Convention's Executive<br />
Committee was also a trifle<br />
incensed over certain inaccuracies<br />
in your coverage. We decided<br />
against complaining<br />
abdut them, however, as there<br />
is no use crying over Spilt milk<br />
and it might also seem a frivolous<br />
attempt for free publicity<br />
for our organization.<br />
In conclusion, we belive that<br />
the S.D.S. has been calling for<br />
positive political involvement<br />
since its inception in Alfred.<br />
Two weeks ago the students<br />
nominated a man who they felt<br />
could run this country capably.<br />
They worked out a political<br />
platform which can be applied<br />
to the modern American scene.<br />
In short, they took positve<br />
political action to influence<br />
their fellow students, their<br />
community, and their nation.<br />
There was no violence; there<br />
was little negativism; but there<br />
was a" reaffirmation of American<br />
democracy on ithe part of<br />
all of those who became involved<br />
in the Mock Republican<br />
Convention.<br />
Respectfully yours,<br />
Jerry Kolisch<br />
Vice-President<br />
The Political Affairs Club<br />
of Alfred<br />
I further believe that a repetition<br />
of last weekend's incident<br />
should not be tolerated<br />
by this Administration. Such<br />
a total lack of respect for parents<br />
as well as for the entire<br />
ROTC contingent is entirely inexcusable.<br />
Interfering with the planned<br />
events of the weekend accomplished<br />
'absolutely nothing except<br />
a total alienation of a substantial<br />
portion, if not all, of<br />
those involved in the Parent's<br />
Day programi.<br />
This event as well as others<br />
hlave prompted me to write<br />
this letter in the hope that if<br />
enough concerned individuals<br />
express their distaste for the<br />
methods employed by these<br />
demonstrators, the Administration<br />
will perhaps review its<br />
policy on demonstrations and<br />
the penalities involved.<br />
Faculty involvement<br />
Concerning faculty participation<br />
in these demonstrations,<br />
I assert my belief that the first<br />
obligation of any professor is<br />
to teach; NOT to indoctrinate,<br />
NOT to incite, NOT to demonstrate,<br />
and positively NOT to<br />
cancel class in favor of some<br />
demonstration.<br />
The teaching experience<br />
does not end with a 50 minute<br />
period, but rather continues<br />
outside of the immediate classroom.<br />
A professor's influence<br />
is as Strongly felt Over a cup<br />
of coffee as it is felt in the<br />
actual lecture hall.<br />
Every faculty member has<br />
the right to his or her own opinions<br />
and the right to dissent<br />
Should not be prohibited, but<br />
when Such opinions intentionally<br />
interfere with the students<br />
primary goal in college,<br />
I must take a stand.<br />
It must be remembered that<br />
the reason we are in college,<br />
is to learn, not to be indoctrinated<br />
and not to be told when<br />
we can attend class.<br />
I fully realize that I will inevitably<br />
be rebutted with the<br />
statement that dissent is also<br />
an integral part of the educational<br />
process; since it exposes<br />
areas of discontent in our society.<br />
This is in part true, but<br />
there is a time and a place<br />
for everything.<br />
While some students may<br />
prefer to demonstrate rather<br />
than attend class, I believe<br />
that I am speaking for the majority<br />
who wish to learn in the<br />
classroom, father than be coerced<br />
into attending a demonstration<br />
for an out-of-class pa-'<br />
per, or be denied the classroom<br />
situation by a professor<br />
who plaices a demonstration<br />
above his students.<br />
Desire to learn<br />
To such professors, I implore<br />
you to realize that the<br />
majority of students 'dies&re<br />
to learn and not to demonstrate.<br />
Every claSs you cancel<br />
deprives us students of one<br />
more period in a course which<br />
we have elected to take and<br />
which we have paid for.<br />
In addition, every time you<br />
involve academia with a demonstration,<br />
either by wearing<br />
your academic gown or by any<br />
other manner, remember that<br />
you are degrading the very<br />
source of your intellectual distinction.<br />
The Administration must realize<br />
that such professors, regardless<br />
of their teaching ability,<br />
are denying us our rights<br />
as students.<br />
If we are told that clalsses<br />
will not be held so that a professor<br />
may demonstrate, something<br />
is tragically wrong with .<br />
Alfred's structure.<br />
If teachers are allowed to<br />
incite students to show their<br />
total disrespect for parents,<br />
then again something is tragically<br />
wrong. "A<br />
If protest cannot be held af<br />
a time when others will not<br />
be affected, then the majority<br />
must suffer in favor of a minority.<br />
Expendable professors<br />
However, I feel that the Administration<br />
can and will do<br />
better. I believe that any professor<br />
who blatantly places his<br />
views above our interests; wlho<br />
intentionally denies the majority<br />
its rights should have his<br />
or her contract seriously reviewed.<br />
It may seem unnecessarily<br />
(Continued on Page 7)<br />
FIAT LUX Alfred, N.Y<br />
May 14, 1968 5