Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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Black College Day erve historically OD Washington. A nnt ior ol dr.vr to HD Biftv-rt ••'.'iKh'.'S JWV» fcH-M IX •! S. ptrirhcr iJ01h Broad castor Tony Brown, former dean of the School of Communications, spearheaded the first annual 'Biack College Day,” a campaign to revitalize interest in th© 107 traditionally Black Collage . Brown charges that Black colleges nr© baing threatened and that th© premise of the movement is to stop thus© who believe that Black colleges are Inferior and unnecessary. H© claims that th© Office of Civil Bights of th© Department of Education is the main factor in destroying Black colleges with seemingly innocent desegregation plan that neither Improve educational opportunities for Black students nor preserve these historical Institutions. Sponsored by the Project 80 Coalition for Black Colleges, a group of citizens concerned about the survival of Black colleges. Black College Day featured n rally and Black college band festival m well aa a march on the capitol THE MARCH Due to the response Tony Brown received from his •‘call for help”, he projected that there would be about a half million people attending the march and rally. In reality, about B.OOO persons participated Students from Howard University and other Black colleges started their march from Howard down to the ellipse where the program began. All the way the chant of Save Black Colleges” was heard. After band entertainment, the march to the capitol began The march was a march of orgnniza lions. A coalition of frAternai. sororal. church, civic, student, business, social, athletic, labor, political and educational groups in Black America Banners and signs mado evident the groups present. They came from all over the nation to wave banners that read 'Save Our Schools and sing songs of earlier struggles which Included We Shall Overcome THE RALLY This is the army. said D.C delegate Walter Fauntroy as he looked from the step of the capitol at the thousands of Block youth gathered on the lawn for nn nfternoon of speeches from Block congressman. D.C. officials, clergy, student leaders and others. The elders now provide the wisdom, but these young people arc our strength. We spent the seventies trying to develop brain trusts of experts and professionals and the young people said we didn't include them. It was a mistake not to. The success of the movement now depends on them. Other speaker indudod Diok Oregory who gave an example of be fed©™ government's exploitation of the Indians, which he used at on anology of the students playing pawn for the government. Surrogates for three of the presidential candidates were booed and called Uncle su» caw o

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Save Black Colleges Student orryicK a Black Collin Day bsnnrr begin the inarch to the Capitol. Marcher kow Um of unity with locked arm aa they proceed to the Capitol.