NAACP holds Black Relationship Forum
Lorpu Cooper
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Students poured into Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium on Nov.5 to attend the "Black Relationships" forum hosted by the NAACP. The forum was moderated by Dr. Omari Dyson therapist and adviser to SC State's Chapter.
Discussions were led by a panel that included Former Miss SC State (1991) Carlita S. Davis, Professor and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) adviser Brandi L. Wright, senior chemistry major and member of the NAACP Bradley Childs, Senator-at-large for the Student Government Association (SGA) Chassidy Hinton, and junior math education major Darius LouAllen.
The panel began with a discussion of their personal views of black relationships and family structure. "I want you all to think of where you stand when it comes to a black relationship and what it means to you to be in a black relationship" said Dyson. "I believe in black relationships, because they work for us," said Davis. "My grand parents are now deceased, but were married for 54 years, my parents are still together. I am the first person to have gotten a divorce in my family." Hinton agreed, "I believe that there is high power in black relationships, I strongly believe in the essence of black love."
The panel outlined that there are many successful black relationships, whether it is in the White House, Hollywood, or in one's community; as cliché as it may sound the panel said people do believe in ethnic love.
Wright believes that one of the prevalent issues in black relationships is single parent households. Although she believes that a single parent can indeed raise a wonderful individual, a mother can not teach a boy how to be a man and a father can not teach a girl how to be a woman. "There are certain things that an opposite sex parent can not teach," she said.
With that said Dyson explained that there is a four to one ratio of black women to black men in the marriageable category and asked eligible young black men in the audience how they dealt with the knowledge of that issue.
Senior Bradley Childs said he could not relate to the issue because he is already in a relationship. "As a young black man in a relationship with a black young lady, I don't deal with that situation" he said. "I don't find it to be an issue."
His panel member LouAllen said he thinks that there are pros and cons to the situation. "At this institution, you know you have a plethora of ladies to choose from; however you have to decide, do you choose wisely about what you want, or what you can get."
The audience erupted in an enormous applaud of agreement.
The forum was part of the chapter's NAACP week and in keeping with their theme for the week long activities, "From a Past Time of Struggle to a Present Time of Change."
"SC State's NAACP Week is a week where we utilize our mission as a collegiate division, to enrich the lives of our peers by creating awareness for problems that affect the African-American society," said Preston Zimmerman, president for SC State's Chapter of the NAACP.
The NAACP was founded on Feb. 12, 1909. The NAACP's principal objective is to ensure political, educational, social and economic equality of all persons and to eliminate racial prejudice. The NAACP seeks to remove all barriers of racial discrimination through the democratic process. It is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization.
Other events hosted by the organization included a Health Forum, Jazz/ Open Mic Session, HIV Testing, and a "Party with a Purpose" to benefit the W.E.B. DuBois Scholarship Fund.
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