Broward Community College - Silver Sands Yearbook (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

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I . MIA A-'-t k ll' 'Teix- Tlzv l'IIur'lf man must recognize 11 is Culture. while at the NIIII 14' Iinzv rf-spevlirig the t'llIllll't' ofjellozv xII7l6'I'Il'f1l1S.U 6 Black ale's Role in Society by Curtis Palmore Black is beautiful , It's your thingng 'Tm black and I'm proudf' These are just a'few of the black cliches of our day, but these are not merely cliches, these phrases are part of a dialogue which not only aids in binding a subculture, but also serves to identify a philosophy, namely 'SBlack Powerf' To be Black and Militant means to be black and active, and that activity may be constructive, or destructive. I am an active black man. I am trying to destroy the ills of this society, asl see them, and as I come in conflict with them, not by hating other men, but by learning to understand all men through my dream of Peace, Love, and Brotherhood for all men. I am a black militant, I am part of a Black Revolution which is part of a world revolution. My fight is not only for the black poor, but for all the poor in this country and in the world. Before I can describe for you the role of the black man in this society, whom I have named Mr. Soul, I must define two terms. These terms will reveal the true identity of Mr. Soul. These two terms are Black and Black Power. Black for me is the awareness of my

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Shiftmg Roles In Today's Society Is every woman in today's society destined to become a housewife and mother? Will the man,continue to be labeled the wage earner and devoted father? ln today's world it seems unlikely that these traditional roles will always be met. The boy high school graduate may look forward to college or the draft. The choice is a rather limited one. The girl graduate may also attend college if she wishes and strive for a fulfilling career. Marriage, however. is a position which many women will happily choose. The contrast in the standards of the past is quite clear. The past portrait of a muscular man plowing fields of corn to feed his family and a fragile woman churning buttermilk with a straggly- haired child clinging to her skirts is almost obsolete in most of the world today, certainly in the United States. The picture of a man in today's society is one which portrays a figure in a dark suit and tie or in the jungle fatigues of Vietnam. His skin may be black, white, red, yellow. or blue. it makes no difference. They may strive in business and help their people or they may carry a gun overseas. The choice may not always be theirs, but the role they are given or thc role they have earned must be accepted. The woman's image in the world of today has also undergone a drastic change. She has gained a place beside the prominent male leaders of the country. She wants her equality with men. Women jockeys, wrestlers, jour- nalists, senators. doctors, and lawyers are no longer an exception to the code in today's society. They are generally accepted. although rather reluctantly, by most men. The single girl is no longer looked upon as an old maid or frustrated spinster. She is com- monly labeled a career girl or a single girl by choice. Marriage, mother. and the faithful wife are still quite dominant as a woman's role today. however. The final choice is left up to the individual herself. Adam and Eve began this continu- ous circle of the man and woman, we are merely a small arc in the curve. Our roles may be chosen, dissected. and possibly discarded. but the contin- uous curve of life will continue as each human being strives for his or her Role in Society.

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cultural heritage, recognizing that my ancestors did make contributions to the world and society, and that my black heroes were brave and daring. I feel integrity in knowing that the Egyptians of Black Africa were the first people to produce a working irrigation system, invent mathematics and record history by inventing hieroglyphics. I feel a surge of courage and masculinity when I remember that Hannibal was a black warrior and a brilliant general who conquered most of Roman Italy by moving an entire army and elephants across the Alps, and most of all I am thankful of the fact that my race gave birth to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who loved all men and died making his dream come true. This is the essence of my blackness and a part of every black man's blackness. Black Power is the united effort ofa black people to better themselves economically, politically, educa- tionally, and socially, by operating in this sensate society and fighting either inside the system or outside the system. The black man has the obligation of providing for the women of his race, and seeing to it that they live the most comfortable life they can. He must also remind his women that black is beautiful and that they are beautiful women. The black man has the burden of proof. I-Ie must prove to himself and to the world that the opportunities which he has fought so hard for were not gained in vain, and that the martyrs ofjustice and civil liberty did not die in vain, immortals such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Malcolm X, Goodman, Chainey, and Shriver, Medgar Evers, five little girls in Birmingham's Bethlehem Baptist Church and Robert Francis Kennedy. The Black man's role in this society is to make a place for himself and his people in this society. The Black man must prove to the world and to himself that he is a man. To do this he must strive to excel in every endeavor, not to be the best when compared to others, but to be the best man he can be. The educated Black man has the responsibility of leadership. It is he who must inspire the masses of black in this country toward the goals of education. and employment. It is his duty to reveal to his people that education is the tool that breaks the tools of ignorance and economic servitude. It is the obligation of each Black man to help himself, and to help his brothers as best he can, before seeking help from any other source. The Black man must be able to transform hate into love, and to see bigotry and yet continue to strive toward the goals of liberty and justice for all regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin including the Indian in his quest. The Black man must recognize his culture, while at the same time respecting the culture of fellow Americans, for as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, The Negro needs the White man to free him of his fears, and the white man needs the Negro to free him of his guilt. A doctrine of Black supremacy is just as evil as that of white supremacy. We, as 'Americans - both Black and White. must prove to ourselves and to the world that a better day is coming because if we do not the collision course that we started 350 years ago will destroy us all. .KX l up 'WITZE' . 1 White IVIale's Role in Society by Roger Wilcox Any day now, I shall be released. I stand between preparation and application. I am a marginal man. I am a college student. I was born into the world a bawling mass of sensory perception. I see, I feel, I taste, smell, and hear the world about me. I was gifted with vocal chords, and have managed to become even more vocal than most. I have depth perception which keeps me from reaching for my coffee cup and putting my hand through the window behind it. I have a brain that usually functions well enough after 9:00 a.m. These and other assets I have with which to deal with the world. It seems, however, to deal with me. From the time I left the womb I was bombarded with stimuli from which I could only be expected to learn, and learn I did. I spent a year or two learning how to walk, experimenting with sounds. developing a limited cognizance of symbolic communication, and performing in the disgusting manner that most babies do. Then, they put the screws to me.