African culture celebrated

By Liz Carrasco
carrascl@mscd.edu

Moroccan dishes spiced with cardamom, potato salad and corn bread, live Reggae music and story telling were just a sample of the richness in the African-American Studies Department Celebration this past Monday.

All students were invited to come, celebrate and be part of an amazing grouping of speakers, entertainment and food that hint at the world of not only African-Americans, but Africa as well.

Dr. Ronald Stephens, chair and professor of African American Studies, explained that one of the department's future goals was in the proposed changing of the name to African and African-American Studies program. The inclusion of "African" is in honor and recognition of not only the more than 20,000 African immigrants in Colorado alone, but also the rich heritage that is the center of the spirit of African-American studies.

Metro's department is only one of two in Colorado to study the black experience, according to Stephens.

"Its name would aptly reflect its responsibility for the broader community ... it will broaden our appeal to people with interests in not only Africa, but African-American Studies as well."

Dr. Lucas Shamala, assistant associate professor, Martin Luther King Scholar and coordinator of the day's festivities, paid homage to Dr. Stephens' leadership by presenting him with a small wooden carved sword that was also a pen. The sword and pen are symbolic of the struggles that have been fought in the past, not only in this country, but in Africa as well.

"We are blessed here at Metro," Shamala said. "We have a wonderful leader. Leadership is about service, about moving people to another level. We want to give permission to go forward-to transform us, to transform Metro Denver, to transform America, this country."

Sankofa was the cry heard throughout the day. Sankofa, said Christina M. Sigala, the interim associate director of the Women's Studies Department, "means 'all my relations, us united.'"

Many department heads and professors attended to show support.

Opalanga Pugh, a well-known storyteller from Denver, who also studied in Nigeria to attain a greater sense of the oral tradition, led a song, prayer, meditation and storytelling. Many people in the crowd were moved to yell out the names of their ancestors and invited them to be part of the celebration.

"It is a time of looking back and looking forward," Pugh said. "If we stand tall, it is because we are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors."

Drumming ceremonies and traditional African dances, along with a local reggae band, were woven throughout the day's events.

Dr. Edward Antonio dealt with the issues of violence, not only of black on white or black on black, but violence as it exists in this country. "Every situation of injustice, of poverty, wherever the rights of people are trampled upon, breeds violence. Violence is colorless. It does not discriminate." Dr. Antonio also pointed out that Monday, Oct. 24, 2005 was the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

"Friendship, tolerance, oneness, and the pursuit of peace in the world ... Unless we take seriously the importance of these values in our homes, schools, dinner table, we have very little hope of escaping violence."

The keynote speaker, Dr. Vincent Harding, founder of Veterans of Hope Project and recipient of numerous awards, including the Colorado Endowment of the Humanities Humanitarian Award, spoke to and with everyone present. Harding was present with Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta, Ga. in 1961.

"For it is in dialogue that we are most human," he would quote periodically.

Harding spoke of the beginning of the "Afro American" studies, for that was what it was called then. He spoke of memories and elders that must not be forgotten, but honored.

"I remember vividly, amidst that strange group of folks who started the Black Studies programs in the '60s. I remember that for my benefit and for yours."

He explained how Black Studies did not come from a sterile quiet room in academia but from the streets, from the people living the experience.

"People were gathering on the streets, churches, everywhere and they were asking questions. We want to know about this black thing. About the invisible being made visible. We told academia that they can not be keepers of the truth of youth if you do not talk about us. "

Harding adamantly spoke of the origin of the Afro Studies; a beginning that started here at Metro with Dr. Rachel B. Noel in 1971. Harding hoped that in the not-too-distant future that we may say thank you to her. Noel, who at 87 years old still lives close to campus, should not be forgotten.

"I am absolutely convinced that every tradition where a human being is learning to be a human being is a tradition honoring its ancestors."