Journalist Speaks Out about America's Racial Immaturity
Anthony Ridge
Issue date: 3/28/06 Section: Campus News
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Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard Pitts Jr. was the main speaker for the Friends of the UNCG Libraries Annual Dinner, which according to Ned Cline, the re-appointed chairperson of the Friends of UNCG Libraries, it was the most "outstanding turn-out" and the best they had ever had.
The preliminary reception dinner in the Cone Ballroom saw the announcement of the Friends of the UNCG Libraries new board members. Pitts said the dinner left him feeling as though he had shook hands with every single guest.
The presenting sponsor of the evening was Greensboro's very own publication the News & Record, where Pitts has a syndicated column. Since 1976, Pitts has been writing professionally as a freelance journalist and author. In May, 1999, his most recent book, Becoming a Dad: Black Men and the Journey of Fatherhood, was released.
The evening speeches included UNCG Chancellor Patricia Sullivan and Rosann Bazirjian who has been the university librarian for 18 months.
Sullivan announced UNCG's new classification as a "High Research Activity University," which was received by applause from the audience. Sullivan went on to publicize the new library and EUC connector; she said that it joins both the hub of UNCG's academic center and the hub of UNCG's activity center.
Finally, Pitts was invited to the stand, where he said he was told he could talk about anything, but of course he had to give a plug for the Libraries. Over a rumble of audience laughter he said,
"I spend many hours in libraries…I would consider myself as a friend of libraries."
And with more laughter he left it at that.
It was clear from the outset that Pitts had chosen to talk about race. What was uncommon about his speech was his stance as an African American man on African American issues.
Pitts said he has a problem with Black History Month and that Black history is American history, and it should be a bigger part of general education and curriculum, not segregated by devoting an entire month to it. Pitts continued to say he was tired of hearing about "Black American icons."
