1985_11 The Daily Collegian November 1985

              Editorial
BLACK
APATHY
Students are the hardest work¬
ing, over-stressed people around
on any college campus. Most of
us are here to eventually increse
our salaries when we enter the
working world in our chosen
field.
Many clubs, organization, and
fraternities are engaged in var¬
ious activities where they could
use your support. For some
strange reason, the majoriy of
Black students only show up at
parties. What about the rallies
and speakers brought in from
outside the
valley'
We all know you can dance.
hut what about working together
through community service pro¬
jects and campus events. Black
History Month is coming up, and
there are meetings on Mondays
at 12:30 pm and Thursdays at
2:00pm.
If you are interested in livening
up this campus and learning
about dealing with reality GET
INVOLVED!!
Sincerely.
Tracey Bernard
Editors Note
Uhuru
mny u
end il
also time lo make addi
I: huru staff. We worked extremely hard
io get the paper out iwicc a month and
found   it  lo  be a  good   learning ex-
If you are interested in improving
your writing and getting some valuable
work experience, submit your name to
ihe Uhuru office located in the Daily
Collegian by December I. 1985.
Any major of study can apply, as long
as you are dedicated. Our staff com¬
posed of psychology, criminology,
sociology, art. political science, busi¬
ness, and eel . this semester and we hope
lo have the same diversity in fields next
semester. To do so we need you!
This is just one ofthe many ways you
can get involved on campus and deal
with the real world of business.
Sincerely,
Tracey Bernard
LETTERS   TO   THE     EDITOR
Dear Editor.
I'm writing in response to thc letter printed on the
editorial page of the October 25. 1985 issue of Uhuru Na
Umoja addressed lo 100 black educators. I don't know where
lo begin. First of all. I am appalled that anyone, regardless
of race, could be so ignorant. I must apologize for this
person's stupidity and ignorance. I also ask you to remember
that this is the opinion of just one man and no man speaks
When ihis person spoke of black people as being
semi-civilized I think he had il backwards, he is
to ,i   i  ilitcd. Any person with common sense could see
that in order to end wars between races and end oppression
of the minority we must learn to live together as brothers
and sisters of humanity, to make this city, this country
and this world a better place to live.
Again I apologize for this person undoubtedly, unfortunately,
is white, he is a fool.
Dear Editor.
Yes. il is true. Racism is alive and strong in the United
Stales as well as the rest of this world. But it is NOT
well. I doubt it will ever be.
1 have experienced racism first hand ever since I arrived
in this country aboul thirteen years ago. I was prey to
every aspect of Ihis oppression from unprovoked racial
slurs to gang fights. IVe often asked myself. "Why?"
We. the non-whiles, are ihe racial suboordinales in this
country, bul in no way are we sub-par in ability and/or
character. I sec ugly, crude, loud, noisy, big mouth, and
trouble-causing Whites. I know Whites on welfare; Whites
living on alcohol, drugs, and crime. But if I described
all Whites in this manner. I would not only be racist,
I'd also be lying. Your stereotypes are shocking. Your
mentality is hazardous to society. It only shows your
ignorance in culture and social issues.
I haven't learned to fully comprehend or accept the
phenomenon of racism, but IVe learned lo live wilh it.
I confess. I hold some prejudices myself. In fact, everybody
The physical and psychological sanctic
with are not easy. You don't make it any
again. 1 don't suppose you intended to. Being m
in race, we have succumbed to countless harassment: we
are victims ofthe most detrimental form of oppression.
Prejudice is oppression plus the power to utilize it.
By writing that letter you have manipulated the feelings
- of many people. Don't be proud, racist: you are also a
victim. Nobody is born with a preconceived bias. The process
of socialization involves change, and not all of it is
positive. Where did you learn the words "Chink" and
"Nigger" from? Environment and society have made you
as ugly as racism itself.
Though you'd probably never admit it. you are ignorant,
if nol sick. I would gladly oblige to a confrontation with
you, but I don't think I could stoop that low.
Bobby K., NSE student
Senior Advisor,
Asian-Am.- Stu. Assn.
U Mass-Amherst
Uhuru
Former Uhuru Editor
Bill Riddlesprigger
fySaM**Kelky
In this week's community profile weYt
focusing on Mr. Bill Riddlesprigger. Mr.
Riddlesprigger is an English and Cultural
Studies professor at Fresno City College.
He was born in Little Rock Arkansas,
July 14,1942. He graduated from Edison
High in I960. Bill attended Fresno City
College, where he received his Associates
of Arts degree in 1969. He received his
Bachelors of Arts degree at Fresno Sute
in 1971. and bis Masters degree at Sac¬
ramento Suite in 1980.
Mr. Riddlesprigger worked as a re¬
gistered nurse at Valley Medical Center,
and as an Industrial Nurse at Pitts Plate
Glass Company in order to pay for his
college tuition.
Bill is somewhat of an historical figure
to the staff of the Uhuru: He was the first
When asked what motivated him to
start the paper he replied, "1 always
questioned the jounalistic responsibility
ofthe school press as it related to blacks in
general. Blacks couldn't speak for them¬
selves, other people were always telling
our story in a distorted view. There is a
definite difference between the opinion of
the oppressor and those being oppressed.
We had to develop journalist skills in
order to convey our ideas properly.
"If we were to continue to allow the
oppressor to write articles concerning the
welfare of blacks and our society, then the
oppressor would always have a chance to
justify his oppression."
In the struggle to sustain a biweekly
publication of the Uhuru, Mr. Riddle¬
sprigger faced many problems. One ofthe
problems was Bill Jones, who was the
Student Body President of Fresno Sute in
1970. Mr. Jones attempted to demolish
the publication of the Uhuru by stating,:
"the school paper would not be fulfilling
it's journalistic responsibility as long a it
had a special section for blacks."
Mr. Riddlesprigger began teaching at*
Fresno City College two years after his]
graduation from Fresno State. He started
the first Black Student Union at Fresno
City College, and he was the first pre-*
sident of the organization. He is also the
president ofthe Black Political Council, a
community awareness group that intro¬
duces candidates to city boards that aid in
the progress of the black community.
The Black Political Council endorsed
our newest addition "the the Fresno City
School Board Trustee, Mrs. Marry Curry.
She is an excellent addition to the School
Board and she will definitely work hard to
improve the quality of education for all
students in Fresno.
In addition, Mr. RiddlespriRger holds'
the seat of vice president on the board of
the Fresno Private Industry Council. This
committee educates individuals in various
underprivileged cummunities, enabling
them to become independant of social
Besides being a professor and a commu¬
nity activist. Bill enjoys playing tennis in
his spare time. He is also married and the
father of three children.
Mr. Riddlesprigger fought against wjiat he considered tc
"racial, injustice,
Black Reporters Accuse Soliders
In South Africa
Four black reporters said yesterday they were beaten by white soldiers and
forced to lie face down in an armored vehicle while they were driven around
Soweto for four hours.
77iev said they were hit with fists and rifle butts as they emerged from a bar and
were freed just before dawn without being charged or told why they had been held.
The four reporters for the Sowetan. South Africa's largest daily newspaper for
blacks. Sowetan Deputy Editor Aggrey Klaaste said he told the four to draw up
affidavits, consult a lawyer and file charges immediately.
A spokesman at police headqualers said he could nol comment on ihe case.
The four - reporter All Mphaki. consumer reporter Matthew Makobane and
photographer Robert Magwaza-gave this account:
All four men worked late Monday. They visited a Soweto shebeen, an unlicensed
bar, on the way home, from confident that documentsfrom their employer would get
them past any roadblocks on Soweto. where a statc-of-emergency curfew is in forced
from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Thefouremerged at 12:15a.m. Mphaki said that as Maseko got into his car. three
armored cars apporached carrying about 30 soliders. Mphaki said that Maseko was
beaten and a dog was set loose on him. leaving bite marks on his thigh.
The soldiers approached another car where Mphaki was with Makobane and
Magwaza, and 'they started beating us up. too." Mphaki said.
After 30 minutes or so. the four men were madeto lie face down tnside an armored
vehicle. For four hours, they were driven through Soweto. They were released about
a half-mile from where they were seized.
Associated Press
Willie Brown
on Dressing for Success
Toe November it«u<
Quarterly magazine, which calls WHne
Brow* The Best-Dressed Poflbciar^ in
America,' conuins these sartorial ap
raisals fro* *»AswaWy speaker:
Oft politicians: Time's no need to be
dandy, but yon don't have to look Uke if
you closed your eyes, they'd bury you.'
Ob »ii? Cwter: Those sweaters he
racist, bnt ifs awfully
black public figui     '
On BmhsU stmspm: The best-dressed
men in the netiossal political scene... He
wid wear assort coat, a litdrtsnit in the
suamerume, the rigbtboots and the right
belt to there***."
On Cswy itort: 'Hecottld pass for an
On To* ■sutler :'l»taM U(« *w*t^
tailored banker."
On Geory Da-ikisjaia : The white
version on Tom Bradfcy. If Bradley wins
the next election, nobody will have to
move; they can just trade wardrobes*
On WBU Brown: Tolitieiens, particu¬
larly in Califcema, are expected some¬
times to be star*.... To asms a styW that
p«wpte admire at* to bea part of people's
'    ""ye* **H*V'