2008 Woodie Awards
Davis was a Black Panther...so what?
Guest column
Letitia Jones/Special to The Carolinian
Issue date: 1/24/06 Section: Opinions
This is my first time writing into the Carolinian though I have had many things to say, but I can't possible keep quiet on this on. I was so upset when I read this that I had to take a day before I could write this without cursing or becoming really upset.
Ms. Westmoreland has truly pissed me off and I feel that it is my duty as a black student on this campus to speak up. How dare Ms. Westmoreland question the choice of the black student body to ask Ms. Davis to speak to us on our celebration of Dr. King? How dare she make false statements without researching the things that she is saying? I made the mistake of thinking that Melissa was an educated woman - that won't happen again.
She said that Ms. Davis was involved in the "violent" Black Panther party. I am so glad that Melissa can just generalize all those courageous black men and women because a few of them used weapons to be heard. Never mind that the Black Panthers got several stoplights placed in black neighborhoods were black youths were being run down by cars. Never mind that the Black Panthers started meal programs for the poor black youths in the ghettos. Never mind the fact that most Panthers were only arming themselves against racists cops who were shooting unarmed men and women in the street.
Never mind that. Then she calls Ms. Davis a hypocrite because she declined to help a group of Czech people. Since when does caring about helping your own people in your own country obligate you to the rest of the world? Ms. Davis never claimed that she wasn't going to rest till all the injustice in the world was set straight. She like any of us was more concerned with her own family and people. The fact that she was a black woman refusing to give up in the midst of a climate that would rather see her hanging from a tree than see her arguing in a courtroom makes her brave.
Westmoreland should really do some research on Dr. King - not all of his speeches nor demonstrations were peace-loving. Dr. King on numerous occasions, though not agreeing with the tactics of the Black Panthers, did applaud their efforts and their causes.
I am saddened that this "newspaper" allows its writers to just write a story without doing their research and then lace it with their own biased thoughts.
I am glad that Ms. Davis is a strong enough black woman to not care about people not liking her, and I applaud UNCG and the black student body for having Ms. Davis to speak about Dr. King's holiday.
Ms. Westmoreland has truly pissed me off and I feel that it is my duty as a black student on this campus to speak up. How dare Ms. Westmoreland question the choice of the black student body to ask Ms. Davis to speak to us on our celebration of Dr. King? How dare she make false statements without researching the things that she is saying? I made the mistake of thinking that Melissa was an educated woman - that won't happen again.
She said that Ms. Davis was involved in the "violent" Black Panther party. I am so glad that Melissa can just generalize all those courageous black men and women because a few of them used weapons to be heard. Never mind that the Black Panthers got several stoplights placed in black neighborhoods were black youths were being run down by cars. Never mind that the Black Panthers started meal programs for the poor black youths in the ghettos. Never mind the fact that most Panthers were only arming themselves against racists cops who were shooting unarmed men and women in the street.
Never mind that. Then she calls Ms. Davis a hypocrite because she declined to help a group of Czech people. Since when does caring about helping your own people in your own country obligate you to the rest of the world? Ms. Davis never claimed that she wasn't going to rest till all the injustice in the world was set straight. She like any of us was more concerned with her own family and people. The fact that she was a black woman refusing to give up in the midst of a climate that would rather see her hanging from a tree than see her arguing in a courtroom makes her brave.
Westmoreland should really do some research on Dr. King - not all of his speeches nor demonstrations were peace-loving. Dr. King on numerous occasions, though not agreeing with the tactics of the Black Panthers, did applaud their efforts and their causes.
I am saddened that this "newspaper" allows its writers to just write a story without doing their research and then lace it with their own biased thoughts.
I am glad that Ms. Davis is a strong enough black woman to not care about people not liking her, and I applaud UNCG and the black student body for having Ms. Davis to speak about Dr. King's holiday.
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