Plea for better race relations

Plea for better race relations

race relation, black history week

Letter to editor submitted by a student in regards to the recent stabbing on the campus its supposed connection to Black History Week and the reactions on campus which could potentially lead to more violence. The letter was in favor of Black History Week and the necessity to continue have the events throughout the year.

M.M.C

Quad Angles

West Chester University

February 16, 1971

Jacquelynne Conyers-Jordan

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https://digital.klnpa.org/digital/collection/wcnp01/id/14104

Plea for better race relations Editorial Two years ago, when the first so-called "racial incident" occurred here at West Chester State, two words raced down the halls of the dorms in a matter of minutes: "Get them." The reaction was a fearful, unthinking response to a situation which most people did not understand at that time. In the early hours of last Sunday morning, when news of a brawl and stabbing reached the dorms, those same two words were repeated: "Getthem." And this response was given with even greater fear and less thinking than was seen two years ago. This greater fear and misunderstanding was shown in the developments of last week: demands for greater security, a ban of all social events, and a sanction against the planners of the post-Cheyneygame dance. This newspaper did not exactly help the situation by printing a headline which unintentionally linked the beginning of Black History Week as a contributing factor to the violence. Any assumption that Black History Week and the incident at Lawrence Center were linked by a cause and effect relationship is absurd. Greater security on campus cannot be the answer to the problem facing us. The incident last Sunday morning, as well as past flareups at social events, was caused by outsiders. To efficiently protect against such infrequent problems, this campus would have to assume the stature of an armed camp, perhaps even limiting our own student's freedom of movement. To cancel all social events would be punishing all the students without cause; it could even lead to more problems, since the students would be forced to find other outlets after a week's work. And to sanction the planners of the event would be just as useless. If there had been no dance, the confrontation might have started at the basketball game itself, or even in the men's dorm, possibly with even greater violence. "Backlash" is the product of ignorance and offers no solution. In our present situation, it could cause much more harm than has already been done. Yet a certain group on this campus has once again promoted such a backlash, as they have done in the past with racial and non-racial developments. Physical reaction, therefore, must yield to good, sound resolution. We must resolve to help the community with its social problem, rather than separating ourselves from it. We must strive for better relations with other colleges as well, not ignore their problems. We must have greater understanding within our own academic community to eliminate the effects of racism from our students, faculty and administrators, white and black. Black History Week was an attempt to bring about this necessary understanding. What we need is 51 more weeks like it. M.M.C.