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

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Being black has never made me feel the need to make excuses for my thoughts, my mistakes. and my aspirations. U l a Black Female s Role in Society by Brenda Dooling Since the dawn of creation, man's ultimate desire was to have control over himself, to be free. This idea has permeated every agony filled struggle of man, whether physical or emotional, and yet remains prevalent in society today. Each step toward freedom was an important one and with each battle, the fervor became more acute. Finally, the bell of freedom rang as the actuality of slavery vanished and all men were legally declared free and equal. The concept of freedom and equality is not easily tangible and with the mere declaration of emancipa- tion, a man who was once in bondage still has to overcome a feeling of inadequacy. If freedom is being able to think, to act and to move without hinderance, how can a man who has been suppressed suddenly find his identity? The history of the black man is a brilliant and remarkable one. Although enslaved for more than 200 years. he was able to merge into the white world and eventually find his identity, thereby finding his manhood. The black female evolved into a dominant figure. During the time in which she had to care for the children of their masters' she often learned to write and read. Her role was important to that particular family, but perhaps even more so to herself than she actually realized. By constantly living and mingling in the home, her experiences were enumerable and valuable. A tendency to ignore contributions of the black man still exists because a feeling of superiority still exists. Although the abolishment of slavery occurred over 100 years ago, the premise that the black man is a thing to be used rather than a person to be respected, yet shadows the minds of people. The dream of the black man to be equal. though once dim, now illuminates the hearts of man as the dawn of a new day bursts through. He has found his purpose and no longer does he want to be dark imitations of whites. His purpose is an ever increasing plea for black unity and black pride. To be more specific, the role of the black female will essentially dominate the major focus of attention. She was the backbone of the family. They were like sponges constantly absorbing knowledge and teaching their family. It is quite evident that the educational background of the black man was a crude, sub-level one, though improvement eventually came. One individual who was devoted to educating blacks was Mary McLeod Bethune. Her parents were born slaves and were freed after 1865. Mary was born free and had an opportunity to become educated. She founded an institute which is continuously growing. A beautiful, outstanding lady was this educator. Her

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, 'Ifl please to go naked in the streets I would be stopped because it would offend the morals of the society, not because it would be against the law which is a secondary causal reaction to the dictation of the morals. U The first difficult differentiation a young child learns is the difference between his own and the opposite sex, in an attitudinal aspect. fThe physiological differences will become more obvious some years later, when they will matterj Why is it that the young boy is encouraged towards active participation in sports and general rough housing, and the girl is aimed towards nladylike conduct and learning how to be a wife and mother by playing house',? Why is it that boys are asked what they want to be in life, whereas girls are told how pretty they look or asked where they got their golden locks? In this aspect, I feel sorry for the girl who is being trained to present herself as the big prize for the big winner. It follows in school that girls are either categorized in home economics or college preparatory, and boys are directed towards a vocation or college prep. The college prep girls are getting a stay of sentence. During this discipline of the young man towards his doom as a wage slave and security hound, he is also taught his proper subservient position in regard to the traditions, morals, laws, and preferences of his own society. Whether or not he cares to admit it, he is grossly a product of his environment, and strictly subject to its regulations. If I please to go naked in the streets, I would be stopped because it would offend the morals of the society, not because it would be against the law, which is a secondary and causal reaction to the - dictation of the morals. He is nurtured in a society that bends and shapes him to conform to a vast majority of its values, goals, attitudes, habits, and traditions. Within his own family he is subject to even more disciplines that his own folks lay down. A family of bankers is not likely to be enthusiastic aboutjunior's decision to be an avant-garde artist. But back to me. As an eighth-grade graduate, at the mature and responsible age of I3, I was directed to decide how I would spend the rest of my life, as a skilled laborer or a college educated career man. Through the years of high school I expanded upon and at the same time narrowed this field of interest, through participation in various school clubs and outside interests, in the hope that this would prepare me for college, where I would of course know whither I was bound. Whither I was bound was limbo. With the draft hot at my heels. awaiting my failure or submission, I try to prepare myself for a life of who-knows-what with an education in the same. Why is it that so many of my compatriots echo the cry whither am I bound? Weren't the grade schools supposed to help us towards an intelligent answer? Or were they herding us? I was told I was college material. l was also told that I ought to do this and ought not to do that. I was told that woodshop was not for me, that college was THE ONLY ANSWER, that education was the glittering dream of a lifetime of planning by everybody else but nie. It is not that I don't think college is or has been worth it. Il's just that I didn't have the mtomiation to decide. I honestly question whether I would have gone to college immediately after high school if I hadn't been acutely aware of Uncle Sam's beady eyes and sweaty palms, and the scorn of my family and friends. Might it not have been better to have had some vocational courses in high school, to have lived a little longer before being thrust into the world ill equipped? Might it not be better even now to receive a more general education, and specialize later? Perhaps it is the bane of modern society. But here I stand, knee-deep in it. I must now consider my place in the sun. I am to be a responsible citizen. I shall obey all laws, conform to the morals, vote no matter how poor the choices be, and not make waves. The law is the law, so it is and ever more shall be. Law and Order. Yet sometimes that seems to be more law and more orders than is fair and just. I must not offend the sacred standards of my society. My government tells me I must wear a safety helmet when I drive a motorcycle because I don't know what is good for me. I cannot smoke marijuana because I don't know what is good for me. I had better not protest in God and country, Mississippi, if I know what is good for me. I must do as the Romans do when in Rome, they say. In other words, don't make waves. I am subject to severe punishment if I voice my disappointment with or alienation from my country. As confounded as I am with my own lot, I am constantly called on to enlarge upon this preparation for nothing. So I decide to escape, to drop out, to take off for a while and think things out. Yes? No. Not unless I like carrying an MI4, I don't. While I was young, I was indoctrinated with Americanism, with the ideals of free speech, the right to dissent, the right to assert my beliefs. Yet ifl attend a demonstration against any government action, I am liable to get my head beat in and be labeled a Communist. Ifl wear my hair long, advocate free love, or push peace in the world, I might be called a hippie degenerate peace creep. Somehow these conditions don't parallel my supposed rights. I am an individual human being, with particular assets land a number of liabilities, I might addj, but a perfect stranger is likely to think he can pinpoint me, prejudge me, analyze me like some fish he is dissecting. That is, to say the least, somewhat ego defeating. It is not surprising, when seen from a bird's-eye view, that life on the whole looks rather hypocritical, unjust, and shallow at times. But then there are those days when the wind blows around my head, the earth is warm, and children and animals run around and play, and it is then that I realize that lifels pleasures far outweigh its miseries. I still see the need for a hell of a lot of change in the government, in people, and in policies. But as long as life is still as groovy as it is, it's worth the effort.

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memory yet lives in the hearts of the blacks and Bethune-Cookrnan College is truly representative of black pride. There have been other strong black women even before slavery was abolished. But, perhaps the discussion of black females active in today's society would be more relevant and rewarding. The first black woman in the U.S. history to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives is Mrs. Shirley Chisholm of Brooklyn. N.Y. She feels that the success of any political movement is organization and she is critical of black militants who lack organization. An advocate of Woman Power is Mrs. Betty Snabazz, widow of Malcolm X. We blacks are going to rule ourselves. Whites would consider it insane if any ethnic group tried to rule them. and we think it's insane for whites to try to rule us. About the only things we've been allowed to run are our churches and our bars. The stores, factories and businesses in black areas are owned by whites. Another outstanding person in black man's society is Mrs. Coretta King, widow of the martyred civil rights leader, Martin Luther King. She is trying to carry on the work of her slain husband by making personal appearances and speech engagements. Her goal in black movement is to maintain the policy of non-violence, which her husband had so strongly advocated. Black women are playing many roles in white man's society which have never existed for them before. They are asserting themselves in almost every conceivable field. But. this is not the picture of black women as a whole. There is a distinct line between those who have crossed and those who have not. Black students are merging to change the mood of all blacks in white man's society. During the '50s and early '60s the ultimate goal of the Negro student was integration. Now the aim is toward Black pride. Pride to the black man is psychologically rewarding and like a rebirth. In an effort to assert himself he had to play the role of a little middle-class black sambo' and orient himself to Ll western Anglo-Saxon culture. No longer is the black student willing to play that role. He is learning more and more about his history and has discovered that he was brainwashed into believing that he was inferior, The black man is very proud to be black and is striving toward Black unity. My place in society has not already been predetermined. I must decide where I am going, what I am going to do and how I will get there. I want to have a career as well as be a homemaker. The black female has to assert herself into the world by helping her man. In order for her to help. she must get an education and encourage the male to do likewise. After education, a sense of togetherness must continue to grow and be a dominate factor in the lives of all black people. At this point. the female is able to work diligently at her career as well as become an excellent wife and mother. Being black has never made me feel the need to make excuses for my thoughts. my mistakes and my aspirations. I am proud to be black and thankful that the black man has finally gained an acute sense of blackness, of pride, and of munity. Dawn has come for the black man and his dreams are slowly illuminating into reality. hite Femal by jan Roper The role of the white female in today's society is one of silent and slow rebellion. She longs to gain her equality with men. This equality encompasses such things as equal pay and equal job opportunities, etc. In short. women want their equal rights when compared with the men in the business world. The place, then, for the weaker sex no longer must be in the home. She is free to choose a career after high school, get married, or expand her education by going to college. Even women who have children and also work or go to school are no longer frowned upon by society. Of course, this does not mean that all women feel this way. Some traditionalists strongly feel that the female should stay home where she belongs, even if she is not happy there. She must gladly accept her position as the dishwasher, diaper-changer, bed-maker, husband-pleaser, and soap opera-watcher without any chance for a separate career. Many women of today don't submit to this stereotype. however. A woman's duties to her husband and her children, though, have not really changed much from the past. Because of this fact, a woman who wants to pursue a career and also raise a family, accepts a responsibility which is twice as great. Some women can handle this situation. however, while others miserably fail in one or both of their responsibilities. They find themselves completely torn between their own personal ambi- tions and their family needs. This brings up another interesting point. Women today have found that they don't necessarily have to get married at I8 anymore. Although statistics show that many girls do, the girls that don't are no longer labeled old maidsn until they are much. much older. This fact gives the white female the chance to fulfill her life-long ambitions without the pressures of society pushing her into marriage. This also gives her a chance to first accomplish her goal and then settle down to raising a family if she wants to. Perhaps this is why divorce is so high in this country. Young girls get married fresh