Spring Break
Letter from the President
Marlene Hurd
Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: Opinion
Habari Gani (Swahili for 'what's the news?') my dear Brothers and Sisters! 2008 is a year of hope, promise, greatness and we hope you pursue and fulfill your greatest dreams and aspirations.
2007 was filled with many highs and lows for our community. Many issues brought race relations in American back to the forefront while many were already aware of what lurked amongst the surface of American life.
There was a major fall-out from Michael Richards (Kramers) racist tirade at an LA Comedy Club which was followed by equally dispicable remarks made about Black women by Dom Imus. Both incidents resulted in the public chastisement of these entertainers, and even some economic actions (or threats thereof). Unfortunately, they were both just but two of many mouthpieces for racism and spoke what many people conceal.
Most of American soon became aware of the plight of the Jena 6, a group of young Black men who received unequal treatment under the law in their home in Louisiana. The town became the image of Southern racism becoming synomomous with Jim Crow era discrimination, for an alleged, "whites-only tree" and nooses, a symbol of the brutal lynchings used to intimidate Black people.
There has been a rise in the hanging of nooses, one was even hung at Cal State Fullerton this past fall.
Although these incidents reared their ugly heads against the backdrop of a war with no end in sight, there are signs of hope. In the words of Sam Cooke, a "change gone come."
The two leading Presidential candidates for the Democratic Party are a Black man (despite the media's attempt to declassify his 'Blackness') and a woman; talk about change.
Within the Golden State, there is a bleak outlook considering the $14 billion state deficit, not to mention the divide in higher education advocacy created by Proposition 92.
There is good news, however. The Black Caucus will hold its 10th Annual Leaderhip Conference at El Camino College Feb. 15-16 and it will be the greatest conference yet.
It is time to mobilize, strategize, and move together in unity.
Forward ever,
Marlene C.Hurd
Black Caucus President
2007 was filled with many highs and lows for our community. Many issues brought race relations in American back to the forefront while many were already aware of what lurked amongst the surface of American life.
There was a major fall-out from Michael Richards (Kramers) racist tirade at an LA Comedy Club which was followed by equally dispicable remarks made about Black women by Dom Imus. Both incidents resulted in the public chastisement of these entertainers, and even some economic actions (or threats thereof). Unfortunately, they were both just but two of many mouthpieces for racism and spoke what many people conceal.
Most of American soon became aware of the plight of the Jena 6, a group of young Black men who received unequal treatment under the law in their home in Louisiana. The town became the image of Southern racism becoming synomomous with Jim Crow era discrimination, for an alleged, "whites-only tree" and nooses, a symbol of the brutal lynchings used to intimidate Black people.
There has been a rise in the hanging of nooses, one was even hung at Cal State Fullerton this past fall.
Although these incidents reared their ugly heads against the backdrop of a war with no end in sight, there are signs of hope. In the words of Sam Cooke, a "change gone come."
The two leading Presidential candidates for the Democratic Party are a Black man (despite the media's attempt to declassify his 'Blackness') and a woman; talk about change.
Within the Golden State, there is a bleak outlook considering the $14 billion state deficit, not to mention the divide in higher education advocacy created by Proposition 92.
There is good news, however. The Black Caucus will hold its 10th Annual Leaderhip Conference at El Camino College Feb. 15-16 and it will be the greatest conference yet.
It is time to mobilize, strategize, and move together in unity.
Forward ever,
Marlene C.Hurd
Black Caucus President
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