Week to tell black history to Lamar
February 10, 1978
Black Awareness Week at Lamar has been scheduled for Feb. 26-March 4 and, according to one black student leader, Ranson “Duce” Jones, the week will not only be for blacks, but for the whole student body.
“It’s a time for all students and the public to come and enjoy this special cultural week with us,” said Jones as he emphasized the importance the black community at Lamar has in making Black Awareness Week a success.
“If we do not show up and support our own history through the activities planned, then how in the hell can we ask someone else to show up and support us,” said Jones. “We can’t wait around anymore for someone to help or do anything for us. We have to get it for ourselves,” he said.
Jones went on to express the importance of having all black students at Lamar participate in Black Awareness Week. “The Black Awareness week could go over big if we can get the support from our black community. This means all black students, those who commute and those who live in the dorms.
“The people in the dorms are the main black community. Without their support, this week will certainly be a disaster. We need everybody’s support, especially the support of the dorm people,” Jones emphasized.
“It wouldn’t take anything from any of us to join in and support with body and mind each activity planned for the week.” Said jones.
Jones went on to refer to a letter he had written and was printed in the University Press last semester. In that letter he said that “the university is white oriented,” but now, he says, “it’s our time and the best time to change this stigma.”
He says that blacks can do this by “coming out and supporting Black Awareness Week 100 percent.” He says that the blacks at Lamar in the past “have not been supporting our black history. Our history is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s nothing to hide. It’s to be proclaimed, honored, loved.
“Just as we can stand and sing these old familiar words, ‘O say can you see’ and really be serious, we can also stand and be unified. Proclaim our blackness and support our Black Awareness Week without excusing ourselves.
Miss Black contestants screened
The screening of the Miss Black Lamar contestants was held Wednesday in the Reading Room of the Setzer Center.
The candidates were judged by faculty members Dr. Richard Price, Katherine Keith, Vernice Monroe, and Doris J. Price. The fifth judge was student Johnny Owens.
The contestants were judged in five specific quality areas: poise, personal appearance, intellect, communication, skills, and attitude.
The four finalists are Velina Haynes, senior, French, Beaumont; Shelia Kay Allen, senior, office administration, Beaumont; Sandra Thomas, senior, mass communications, Kirbyville; and Thelma Joyce Arthur, junior, special education, Houston.
The presentation and crowning of Miss Black Lamar will be held at the semiformal Grand Ball at 10 p.m. March 4, the last day of Black Awareness Week.
An election to choose Miss Black Lamar is scheduled for March 1.
Compiled from the archives by Ja'Leigh Cerf.