"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. " - Malxolm x
Black women helpsHape American 'Her-story'
African American History
African American History
African American Whose-story
Looking from the inside out
Looking from the outside in
Wanting to know
More about me
Where I came from What was done before What can be done ahead
Needing you to know
More about me
What was done What scars are left
Where we can work together
African American History
African American Her-story
African American Whose-story It's time
Elizabeth Bridges Smith
HARAMBEE
Darryl Peal, Adviser Office of Ethnic Diversity (614) 823-1250
Editor: Nichole Powell
Contributing Writers
Crystal Clarke, Tonya Coles, Renee Nemec, Tami Nopper, Darryl Peal, Albert Sanders, Tamara Staley, Roberta Warren
Special Thanks To: James T. Scott
Harambee is an editorially independent newsletter that does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the college. Its purpose is to provide a voice for students of color and report news affecting them. To insure our role as a voice , Harambee invites and encourages letters. We reserve the right to edit for grammar and libel. Send your letters to:
1. Her hairstyling formula and innovations in the cosmetic industry made h her the first African-American millionaire .
In 1978, ... became the first AfricanAmerican woman to be honored with her picture on a postage stamp.
became the first woman ; elected Attorney General of the state of Indiana.
4. In 1970, 1 Miss Iowa, became the first African-American C0Jltestant in a Miss America Pageant.
won the women's s singles championship at the 1957 Wimbled ttennis tournament. I \ of Illinois became · the first African-Americanwoman elected to the United States Senate.
became the first African-Ameriof Washington, D.C.
erican woman to win mpics.
9. In 1988, ____ was the first African-American to win a medal at the winter Oiympics.
10. earned $53 million in 1994, second only to Steven Spielberg among celebrity wage-ep-pers.
Answers to "The Alpha Phi Alpha Her-story Quiz" o on page 12
HARAMBEE
All-Ohio Conference Honoree
Color of Success Photo Page Racism Abroad Habari Gani Africa Repairs Damage p . 3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10
. 11
Spring 3
Strickland schools competition
Darryl Peal, Contributing Writer
With his stethoscope in hand, Pryestt Strickland could not bring the 0- 10 Otterbein Football Program back to life - but he sure did make it interesting
In one of the season's more exciting moments, Strickland cruised past cross-town rival Capital University on his way to breaking the Otterbein single-game rushing record. Shedding potential tacklers, the senior running back rushed for 269 yards on 43 carries.
It was that type of performance that helped Strickland earn All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors an impressive feat during a season in which the Cardinals did not win a single game.
"We should have won at least four of the games that we lost last season," said Strickland.
"I'm used to winning but I think some of the guys [on the team] just didn't expect to win. Many times they just gave up you have to want to win, and sometimes we didn't want to win bad enough."
Strickland, however, said he wants to win in every way, including academically. In fact, he is as competitive in the classroom as he is on the gridiron
As a nursing major and the newly elected academic chair for the African-American Student Union, Strickland works hard to break the negative stereotypes that surround athletes . This particular student-athlete takes great pride in his academic performance and encourages his peers to put academics first.
As a result of his commitment to
Strickland was recently selected to receive the
Ohio Founda-
Colleges
Scholarship
Strickland plans to use the scholarship to achieve his lifetime goal of being a nurse anesthetist.
He transferred to Otterbein in January of 1994 after learning that Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) was closing its nursing
ji
College defense. program and jeopardizing his dream
Strickland enrolled at OWU as a freshman after playing safety at Akron East High School. He immediately joined Ohio Wesleyan's football program where he played comerback in his first year and defensive end as a sophomore.
As a junior at Ohio Wesleyan and in his first season as a running back, Strickland rushed for a team high 771 yards and nine touchdowns
As a senior running back at Otterbein, Strickland capped off an impressive career with a never quit attitude and a record -breaking game
"I don't regret coming to Otterbein," Strickland said "I have truly enjoyed my classes and met many great people."
(Above) Pryestt Strickland turns the corner and heads toward the Otterbein Cardinal endzone.
(Below) Strickland looks for an opening in the Muskingum
•••
n Spring
and the struggle continues
Darryl Peal, Contributing Writer
We are experiencing a very interesting time in our history. After such incidents as the Oklahoma City bombing and the beating of the young brother in Cincinnati, many people have described the United States as a nation at war with itself.
With all of the negative political and social events occurring across the country, I believe that it is imperitive that I take time out to acknowledge the positive advancements that are occurring both in the African-American Student Union and in the campus community because of the A.A.S U
Last year, I used my editorial space to chastise the African-American men for not participating in A.A.S.U.'s programs However, this year I am proud to take this same space to celebrate those men who have indeed met my challenge to become involved . Moreover, I salute the women of the A.A.S.U. who continue to be the organization's unsung "sheroes." I commend all of you for your hard work and dedication to uplifting this community.
I am extremely proud of this organization and the political sophistication that you are beginning to show in the campus community . The AfricanAmerican Student Union has flexed its political and social muscles several times this year
The year opened with a very successsful freshmen outreach effort and an even more successful Homecoming weekend. Winter and spring quarters were also eventful, and I am looking forward to graduation and the expansion of the Otterbein College African-American Alumni Association.
To those of you who will be returning in the fall, I encourage you to get ready for another productive year of education and celebration of who we are. Remember that our success is based on our effort Finally , I leave you with these words of inspiration
from Frederick Douglass, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle . Power concedes nothing without a demand."
Do not be a promoter of mere rhetoric Take charge of your community and your education. Together , we can make a difference.
Mapenzi Mapingano Ushindi.
Victory.
Coming back hard again
Harambee is an editorially independent newsletter that does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Otterbein College It is the official newsletterof the African-American Student Union.
This publication's purpose is to provide a voice for students of color and be a primary source for news and events affecting them . The focus of Harambee is mainly, but not limited to, issues and news of this campus. It is not Harambee's intention to appeal to the Otterbein majority.
Our intent is to be a voice of and for the African-American community. To insure our role as a voice, Harambee provides the public free access. Thus, we accept and encourage letters to the editor. Since we cannot use all letters we receive, timeliness , clarity and accuracy are general criteria in choosing what letters will be published.
This publication reserves the right to reject or edit letters for length, correctness and/or libelous material .
Spring Empty stomachs lead to violence
Tonya Coles, Contributing Writer
I hear many people complain about the violence in the streets. Many people are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being shot or mugged.
The same people who complain about this violence are causing it. No, they are not out there with guns, and they are not mass murderers or rapists. (On second thought, they may be mass murderers). They are the people holding government offices who do not care about anyone but the person occupying the plush seat beside them .
These very same people do not realize that much of this violence they are so afraid of stems from an empty stomach
How can you expect someone who has not had a bite to eat in weeks to care about you or your safety? If you do, I am here to tell you different.
At some point, everyone has gone to school. And while there, everyone was expected to do their best in order to move on to college, obtain a dream job and live happily ever after.
But how many people were expected to excel on an empty stomach?
Many elementary, middle and high school students will be, if a new law is passed axing the free school breakfast and lunch program.
How can a society who says that education is the key to successs rob children of the brain food they need to receive adequate education?
It saddens me to think of the thousands of children who will be sitting in schools all over the country
'Backyard' may hold answers
Crystal Clarke, Contributing Writer
We often hear parts of Martin Luther King Jr.' s speeches being quoted. One statement that is always mentioned is when King, in reference to his children, said, "I have a dream that one day soon they will no longer be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
As an African-American, I know that King's dream will not become reality because "the strands of prejudice toward non -whites are tightly wound around the American character." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
My frustration explodes because of the recent investigation of the Oklahoma City bombing. As soon as this incident occurred, many people pointed their fingers toward foreign terrorists and individuals of Middle Eastern descent.
One Muslim gentleman, in particular, was on his way to London when he was immediately suspected of being involved and was said to have had "bombing material in his suitcase." (What is bombing material?)
Being an African-American, I am often a victim of the same type of prejudice.
thinking of a growling stomach instead of the math, science and English being taught in the classroom. If this senseless law passes, our future doctors, lawyers and teachers will not be able to obtain the valuable skills needed to help themselves or others
Has anyone thought about the fact that many children rely on the free lunch system?
In many cases, the breakfast and lunch they receive at school are the only meals they can look forward to all day
When I go into a department store, I usually find myself being followed or stared down by someone as if I am going to steal something. (I can probably afford more things in the store than the salesperson.) It's funny how blacks are always being followed in stores, and yet, there still seems to be a problem with theft. Are we magicians, or should whites be spying on themselves?
But the salesperson who follows me would not want to believe a white person was stealing on the other side of the store.
Similarly, it was difficult for the county sheriff, who held suspect John Doe # 1, to believe that the young man he stopped committed so heinous a crime. That young man was only stopped because he did not have a license plate on his 1977 Mercury Marquis. Such an innocent young man couldn't be the Oklahoma bomber. He was too perfect because he was the AllAmerican schoolboy; he lived in Herrington, Kan . ; he was 27 years old; he served in the United States Army; and he was from a family of devout Catholics.
It seems that whenever something goes wrong we want to blame our neighbors - next time you get the urge to do so, try searching in
How can America sit by and watch its children starve?
How can we expect our children to have hopes and dreams and to aspire to be the best if they cannot have one decent meal?
I often hear the phrase, "Children are our future ."
Well guess what, we cannot expect an even remotely promising future if our children cannot receive a decent meal.
Come on America Wake up If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
Erika Smith waits to attain her rite of passage before Otterbein 's graduation ceremony. Smith is shown wearing one of the kente cloths presented to the seniors at Black Baccalaureate.
COLOR OF Suc i
DEDICATED
When the sun rises and the moonfalls
Visions of you come one come all
In so many ways we are a budding seed If only your mind could block and believe
So precious as gold a shooting star
Come back my star, don't stray too far
If meant to be with hints of love
The sky will bless from heaven above
In time I'll see if dreams come true
With this hope I pass from me to
you.
Francwau Demond DuBose
(Above) Darryl Peal, A.A.S. U. 's advisor, and
director of admission, smile for the camera afi
ceremony.
(Below) "And so I rise " Daryrl Peal and 1994 from left to right: Vern Miller, Erika Smith, Jan Margenett Moore.
Vern Miller, Jeanne Talley, and Margenett Moore take time out from saying goodbye's to take advantage of a photo opportunity.
CESS
(Above) President C. Brent De Vore, Darryl Peal, Chip Livisay, and members of the African-American Alumni Association come together to recognize OC's African-American senior class at the first annual Black Baccalaureate ceremony.
eanne Talley, associate er the baccalaureate
s graduating members of A.A.S.U. Pictured es T. Scott, Kim Allen, Anita Greenlee, and
(Below) James T. Scott makes A.A.S. U. history as he receives the first "William Henry Fouse Leadership A ward."
RACISM ABROAD
An Asian-American studying in Spain learns the frustration of discrimination
Renee Nemec, Contributing Writer
When I first arrived in Spain, everything seemed normal. I was an American in Spain. However, it became a bigger issue to me and an internal frustration because I am an Asian-American. In the beginning, once in a while, I would hear a comment from Spaniards about my eyes being different and how I stick out more than a "regular" American I did not know how to feel nor how to handle these comments at first.
I became very self-conscious . I looked around , and I did not see any
Spring
other Asians not one. I felt like everyone else was looking at me. And for the first time in my life, I felt uncomfortable about the way I look
I don't know why it made me so mad or if I'm wrong for being offended, but it was something I dealt with from the time I arrived.
Never in my life had I been told to my face that I look different, that my eyes are different, or that I stick out. The U S. is so culturally diverse compared to Spain. In the United States, any nationality is accepted as normal. I never really realized that I was different in having "rasgos Orientales" (oriental characteristics or features) because they were always accepted as normal. So this brings me to the reason that I am frustrated , writing this to vent my feelings .
Before one of my classes, my professor was talking about the conflict in Andalusia about the Japanese closing their Suzuki factory in Jaen . The Spaniards are angry with the Japanese now because thousands of Spaniards are out of work as a result. So, the professor looked right at me and said there was a manifestation in Sevilla that Friday, and Japanese girls could have been caught in the middle of it and been attacked
I told him, "I am not Japanese." He said he knew but to be careful because people can be mistaken.
As if living in a foreign country was not hard enough, I had to then be careful because of what I looked like. How awful it would be to be attacked because people mistook me for the wrong nationality Even if I were a Japanese girl, what would I have to do with these people being unemployed?
When will everyone realize that there are more Asian nationalities than Chinese and Japanese? How can people be so rude as to assume someone else's nationality? No one can say that all Asian cultures are the same. But until the time comes when this is fully realized , I will have to look at this part of my life as a
Continued on page 9
HIV: Killer stalks African-American women
Roberta Warren, Contributing Writer
What is AIDS? AIDS stands for "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome." This means that AIDS is not an inherited or genetic condition. It is a behavior related illness.
AIDS is characterized as a breakdown of the body's natural immunity against disease People with AIDS become vulnerable to certain forms of cancer, pneumonia and to various infections.
AIDS is also the leading killer of young to middle -aged AfricanAmerican adults.
According to reports from the National Center for Health Statistics, between 1989-1991 HIV infection was the number one killer of AfricanAmerican adults from 25 -44 years of age.
"Racism Abroad," Continued
learning and growing experience.
This experience made me realize how an African -American must feel being discrimnated against, attacked, even killed in their own country I know that what I had to deal with is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the discrimination, discomfort, and fear many people have to deal with in the world, simply because of the color of their skin or even their religion.
How terrible, in general, is the human race to be killing off each other simply because of external differences? When will the world realize that people are people? We all have a brain, a heart, and a soul.
I finally realized that Sevilla is not the "salad bowl" that the United States is and that the people in this area of Spain were not used to seeing Asians. It took a while, but I built up my self-esteem and self-confidence again. I guess I was just shocked by these racial comments because I had
During the last 10 years, AIDS has been diagnosed in more than 213,641 individuals in the United States. This number is low due to the fact that not all cases are reported. AIDS was originally diagnosed as a gay white man's disease. Most of the media's attention had been focused on the gay male population. This is due to the fact that AIDS was first diagnosed in homosexuals. Heterosexuals noticed, but didn't pay much attention.
Women account for approximately 11 % of AIDS cases in the United States. Fifty-three percent of women with AIDS are African -American. Heterosexual African-American women are contracting HIV faster than any other group of Americans. According to the American Journal of Public Health, " ... among women aged 15 to 44 in the United
never dealt with anything like this before, nor had I been warned.
However, it still angered me to hear "La Japonesa es griapa" (the pretty Japanese) or "Mira, la China." I am not Chinese or Japanese, and if people want to know, they should just
"When will the world realize that people are people? We all have a brain, a heart, and a soul."
ask, "What nationality are you?" I would simply respond, "My mother is Vietnamese, and my father is American. And I was born in the United States "
When I came to college and trained to be a resident assistant, I learned about issues of racism and diversity. I guess at that point, I finally realized that I am different. I
States, AIDS has become the fifth leading cause of death."
African -American women are 15 times more likely than white women to have AIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of 106,949 AIDS cases reported in the U.S, last year, 55%,(58,538), occurred among minorities. Of this, 38,544 involved African -Americans. There were 73 AIDS cases among every 100,000 African-American women, while the rate was 5 per 100,000 for white women . Fortyseven percent of AIDS cases among minority women were caused by intravenous drug use, while 36-37% contracted the virus through heterosexual contact.
Be Careful Sistas!
learned about the United States and its unique diversity in cultures and people. Everyone is different. Difference is good. We are not all the same You cannot just say about your African -American friend, "I love Michelle! She's not black to me anymore. Color makes no difference ." I learned that we need to recognize other people's differences, yet respect them.
By the way, after class that day, my "cultured" professor, who is a lawyer, asked me, "So, you're NOT Japanese?"
"No," I answered
"But you speak Japanese, right?" he questioned.
"No!" I answered, again
"You don't speak Japanese?" he asked again, seeming surprised. For the third time, I answered, "No! I am not Japanese. My mother is Vietnamese!"
GET A BRAIN!
Homecoming events sport new look
Tami Nopper, Contributing Writer
There were some obvious changes at Otterbein during the most recent homecoming weekend.
The Campus Programming Board (CPB), which sponsors homecoming, proposed a change in the election process. CPB wanted to allow all campus organizations to nominate a representative, in hopes of expanding the court from Greeks and two independents
The proposed change was presented to the campus Affairs Committee, who voted in favor of it.
This idea was sparked by a letter from members of the African American Student Union (AASU) submitted to the Tan and Cardinal . The letter questioned whether Otterbein's homecoming was representative of the entire campus.
Three AASU members were nominated for the court. They were Nichole Powell for AASU, Damon Knight for Delta Sigma Theta, and Shala Male for CPB.
After preliminary voting, Knight remained a member of the 1994 homecoming court
Knight said he "felt proud to represent the African-American population of Otterbein."
AASU also sponsored two dances during homecoming weekend The first, dubbed Club Otterbein, featured a Reggae band and singer Friskey London . The second was the traditional homecoming dance.
Habari Gani is a Swahili greeting meaning, "What good news do you have?" The proper response to habari gani is engema habari gani, which means, "I have goodnews. Whatgoodnewsdoyouhave?"
In response to the question of 'habari gani, ' this page is dedicated to good news. Due to space limitations, however, every single piece of good news can not be included. If you have something that would be appropriate for this page, let us know. Good news is always welcome .
AASU makes deposit at food bank
On November 5, 1994, three members of AASU, Crystal Clarke, Simeon Frazier and myself (Tamara Staley) volunteered at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank . We began at 9 a.m. It was not a lot of hard work as most people might think. It was actually an enjoyable experience Our job was to go through large bags of rice and break them down into smaller bags, salvaging the good and throwing out the bad.
The Mid-Ohio Food Bank is a nonprofit organization committed to feeding the hungry and reducing the waste of wholesome food . The Food Bank serves and supports more than 300 agencies ranging from homeless shelters to meal sites for senior citizens and needy children Donated food comes from both the Operation Feed Community Food Drive and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Although our group was small in number, the three of us made a difference in someone's life. I hope the next time we send volunteers, we will see many more of your faces.
President of A.A.S.U .
Think tank breaks gender barriers
Sixteen male and female students attended the tenth annual Black Man Think Tank This year's theme was "Black Men : Let the Healing Begin."
Workshops focused on the changing roles of black men and what part black women should play in the change
Speakers included : Jawanza Kunjufu , Therman Evans, Maulana Karenga, Benjamin Chavis and Na'im Akbar.
Spring 11
Africa repairing colonists' damage
Albert Sanders, Contributing Writer
The British and French also to Otterbein , "The women raise the encouraged other Europeans and chicken, but the man sells it." Arabs to work in Africa. These However, many Africans granted Did western powers intentionally lighter emigrants were awarded women economic roles and authority exploit and underdevelop the conti- higher status than the original unheard of in Europe. nent of Africa to take advantage of its inhabitants For example, many Women in in Africa were allowed to natural and human resources? Did Asians w e not allowed to own land trade accumulatewealth, and these western powers s ategically but were lowed to set up various participate i in politics. Under coloturn Africa into a col ny that would businesses an adin ks nia5$,_gy the majority of these forever absorb Eu ean goods and, while Africans wer 1s a ivities were stopped. Europeans at the same ti , serve as a human left Africans with no access to capital isted African women, especially resource base to extract the minerals markets in their own countries. m ket women , be under strict needed t roduce those same Consequently, after colonialism, non- control Europea products?
Afncans were left m charge of the The se var10us attempts to underAfric is a continent of vast economy . mine A rican culture set the stage for natural ressources . One resource that Colonial powers also strengthened econom1 ontrol. Culture is one is of e eme value is its inhabitants, conflicts among the various nationali- determinin actor in economic whom uropean colonial powers ties already present in Africa. practice and undermining culture exploite in numerous ways . Africa is a continent of thousands made it easier to take over e9,li.tical
With t arrival of colonialism of cultures, but most of the time, and economic functions. in traditional land different tribes had their own A main concern of European mic traditions, newdomains and systems of balance of powers was to promote a leadership types of racism an usiinttra'; an power that would allow a contin9id exploiattempt to eliminate traditional European powers, however, tation ofAfrica. African culture.
France, for example, in
In Kenya, kinship groups were the " ulture is one determining an attemptto prevent owners of land, but farmers were Africanindependence, allowed to cultivate most of that fact in economic practice and di ided its colonial which was arable. Europeans came under ining culture de it fe erations into 18 small and acquired large amounts of this easier totake over poliflcal a d sta es. The states were so land without regard for local owner- sma that they were not ship At one point, less than 4,000 eCOnO iC functions." eco mically viable.States Europeans owned three million like ogo had no e onomic hectares of the best African territory. would sid with one particular tribe infrastruct capable of su orting
With the majority of their land and play o tribal differences to thems es, which eant these states gone, the native population was promote inte -African conflicts . (An were ependent on France fortrade . forced into subsistence farming to excellent exa le of 'divide and E en today , t majority of firms feed themselves. This trickery and conquer.') The ribe made powerful doingbusiness in frica are foreigndeceit by the West was the first step by colonial assi tance was used to owned, leaving Afncans at the mercy in gaining the power to sustain eliminate other tn es, meaning of world market prices, over which colonial and neo-colonial rule Europeans never e aged in warfare J they have little influence.
In some African cultures, women With this new st cture also came While some of Africa's problems did the majority of agricultural tasks. a new form of discri ination, sexism. are indigenous, they all can be traced Europeans did not understand this Before colonialism, there was to the damaging affects of colonialand expected the male Africans to do already a patriarchal system in ism. field labor. When the African men African countries. As mentioned And while many states are making resisted, the English imported labor earlier, women performed many of strides toward independence, Africa's instead of requesting women to work. the manual labor tasks, but males main trading partner is it's former Many times, Asians , usually East were the managers and owners of the colonizer, which continues to exploit Indians, were imported as indentured operation. Africa's underdeveloped economies servants to increase the amount of As the trade minister of Ghana , as a resource for cheap agricultural labor resources Emma Mitchell, said during her visit products and natural resources.
12 Entertainment Spring
"Must read" books by African-American authors
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
Sisters and Lovers - Connie Briscoe
Visions for Black Men - Na'im Akbar
Devil in a Blue Dress - Walter Mosley
The Souls of Black Folk - W.E B Dubois
Answers to the "Alpha Phi Alpha
Her-story Quiz" from page 2
1. Madame C.J . Walker
2. Harriet Tubman
3. Pamela Fannins Carter
4 Cheryl Adrenne Brown
African-American Student Union
c/o Office of Ethnic Diversity Westerville, OH 43081
Columbus offers taste of islands
A number of Columbus-area restaurants offer authentic Carribean cuisine To get a taste of the islands , visit:
Galaxy Cafe
Tapatio
Raggae Cuisine
Carribean Food Bowl
5. Althea Gibson
6 . Carol Morsly Braun
7 Sharon Pratt Dixon
8 Wilma Rudolph
9. Debi Thomas
10. Oprah Winfrey