#winning

Black Groups Sponsor Desegregation Events

This year's desegregation events combined history, tradition and culture with help from campus groups.

In the 50th celebration of desegregation at the University of Georgia, many student organizations came together to sponsor events and programs on campus.

“They aide and assist in acculturation,” said Culpepper Clark, Dean of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at UGA. These black student groups held galas, preformed ceremonies and put on productions, inviting the UGA campus to celebrate 50 years of desegregation.

“We need an environment where we are open to our differences and welcome them,” said Clark. “You get the rich experience of interacting with anybody and everybody.”

One club, the Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society, is devoted to “scholarship, leadership, and service” on the UGA campus and surrounding areas. Founded in 1977, the ABK is devoted to the pursuit of greatness in all areas and they provide “educational, career, and personal assistance to members of ABK and others.”

“We are the first and only African-centered honor society on campus,” said Bridgette Burton, Director of Community Service for ABK.

The ABK also works with the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, W. R. Coile Middle School and the Northeast Georgia Food Bank.

On Feb. 5th, ABK held their 2011 member induction as part of the events of desegregation. Members participated in rituals and ceremonies as part of their induction into the honor society.

“Our induction is unique in that we have a specific tradition of pinning and giving our members stoles,” said Burton. “The stoles are worn at all of the formal occasions hosted by our society.”
In Swahili, Abeneefoo Kuo means “circle of honor.”

“During the desegregation events, we added 12 new members into our circle,” said Burton.

ABK also holds an annual spelling bee called “Play on Words” in which other multicultural organizations participate. At the spelling bee, “student groups play and spell both dictionary and slang words to win prizes from local businesses,” Burton adds.

Another society, the Black Affairs Council, also sponsored desegregation events this year.
Formally known as the Black Student Union, the Black Affairs Council aims to encourage black students to create programs and to reach out on the UGA campus. With 140 members, the Black Affairs council calls themselves the “socio-cultural educational arm of the African American community” at UGA.

The Black Affairs Council has many objectives as a large student organization. First, the council aims to supplement widespread understanding of black culture and to support the ideas of the Multicultural Services and Programs at UGA.

The council also promotes the leadership of black students and encourages their attendance at national workshops and conventions. Also, the BAC aims to expand the perspective of black students and highlight their skills and talents while they are UGA students.

This year's Unity Ball, as part of the 50th Anniversary of Desegregation at UGA events, was sponsored by the BAC.

“It is an annual event to commemorate and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of unity and brotherhood across any and all cultural lines,” said Michelle Gibson, Cultural and Social Programming Committee Chair for the Black Affairs Council. “This is one of the only formal annual events hosted by a myriad of organizations to not only showcase culture, but truly celebrate it.”

The BAC meets every other Wednesday at the Miller Learning Center room 248 at 5:15 p.m.
Another student group, the UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble, is promoting the celebration of desegregation through the fine arts.

The BTE is for students interested in drama, giving them an outlet for their talents even if they have little or no experience. The BTE aims to introduce members of the audience to aspects of African American theater.

“Our purpose is to produce shows that celebrate African American playwrights and artists,” said Burton, the Marketing and PR Director for the BTE.

The BTE is open to all students regardless of theatrical background. They also provide members with opportunities to work in production, costumes, design, managing and community service.

“All parts of the show are done by students - writing, directing, acting, technical, marketing, et cetera,” said Burton.

This winter's performance, “Supernatural Courage: Love, Passion, Sacrifice,” was promoted as a desegregation event and was held on the night of Feb. 17.

“The program was put on in honor of Mr. Lynwoodt Benard Jenkins, a graduate student in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies,” said Burton. The late Jenkins was also the director of the BTE's fall production, Sweet Mama Stringbean, and a graduate assistant in the LGBT Resource Center.

“As an organization, we wanted to celebrate the artist that Lynwoodt was and the passion he had for theatre,” said Burton.

The title of the program was inspired by Lynwoodt's final original piece titled “Supernatural.”
Students in the department of Theatre and Film Studies, a well as members of Pamoja dance company, the LGBT Resource Center, and the Beta Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. worked together to present “Supernatural Courage” as an addition to this year's desegregation events.

Multimedia

Here is an example of a story that was made better by video. The video and the slide show of pictures really helps to illustrate how dire the situation is for the girl in the story. When you are reading a long narrative, you can picture in your head what is happening, but having pictures along with the story adds to the full effect.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/04/danielle.html

Black Student Organizations Helping with Desegregation Events

This year's desegregation events came together in an amazing display of history and culture, but not without help from local outreach groups. In the celebration of desegregation at the University of Georgia, many student organizations came together to sponsor events and programs on campus.

The Black Affairs Council
Formally known as the Black Student Union, the Black Affairs Council aims to encourage black students to create programs and to reach out on the UGA campus. With 140 members, the Black Affairs council calls themselves the “socio-cultural educational arm of the African American community” at UGA.
The Black Affairs Council has many objectives as a large student organization. First, the council aims to supplement widespread understanding of the black culture and to support the ideas of the Multicultural Services and Programs at UGA. The council also promotes the leadership of black students and encourages their attendance at national workshops and conventions. Also, the BAC aims to expand the perspective of black students and highlight their skills and talents while they are UGA students.
The BAC is comprised of different committees, including the Freshman Advisory Board and the Political Action Committee.
Throughout the year, the BAC holds several events for current and prospective members. This year the Unity Ball, as part of the 50th Anniversary of Desegregation at UGA events, was sponsored by the BAC. The Unity Ball was held on Jan. 22, 2011 for people of all races to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of unity.
The BAC meets every other Wednesday at the Miller Learning Center room 248 at 5:15 p.m.


Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society
The Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society is a multicultural group devoted to “scholarship, leadership, and service” on the UGA campus and surrounding areas. Founded in 1977, the ABK is devoted to the pursuit of greatness in all areas and they provide “educational, career, and personal assistance to members of ABK and others.”
In Swahili, Abeneefoo Kuo means “circle of honor.” The ABK upholds their values by working with the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, W. R. Coile Middle School and the Northeast Georgia Food Bank.
On Feb. 5th, ABK held their 2011 member induction as part of the events of desegregation. Members participated in rituals and ceremonies as part of their induction into the honor society.
ABK also holds an annual spelling bee called “Play on Words” in which other multicultural organizations participate.

UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble
The UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble is a campus organization for students who are interested in drama. The BTE gives students an outlet for their talents and aims to introduce members of the audience to aspects of African American theater.
The BTE is open to all students regardless of theatrical background or previous experience. They also provide members with opportunities to work in production, costumes, design, managing and community service.
The desegregation event, “Supernatural Courage: Love, Passion, Sacrifice” was held on the night of Feb. 17th, 2011. At the event, members of the BTE celebrated courage through the art of performance.

Thanks to many multicultural student groups, the 50th anniversary of desegregation celebration events have been educational and influential experiences for many UGA students.

Ethics

My ethical dilemma is a little different because the lines for libel are a little blurred for tabloids. They are always alleging ridiculous claims about celebrities and no one seems to sue, they just correct the statements in an interview. This March, Katie Holmes sued Star magazine for $50 million in damages for suggesting that she was a drug addict in a headline. The headline read, "Addiction Nightmare. Katie Drug Shocker!"

The article actually didn't make any allegations about drug use, but was really about scientology counseling. From my perspective, since I would never pick up a copy of Star, if I saw the headline, I would think Katie Holmes was a drug addict. Thats what thousands of other people thought, too and Katie Holmes sued for libel.

I would never work for a tabloid unless I was very poor, but if I did, I certainly would not have published the article with this headline. Since the article has no evidence to support the drug claims, it seems like someone must have known they were going to get sued.

Desegregation of SEC schools

Harold Franklin, Vivian Malone, James Hood and James Meredith had dreams of attending southern colleges, like Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Mississippi. For black students, this goal was made seemingly impossible until the desegregation of southern universities in the 1950s and 60s.
The University of Georgia integrated in January of 1961, but other Southeastern Conference schools were not as quick to desegregate during the shaky times of civil rights. The integration processes of other colleges compare to that of UGA in the tumultuous times of the 1960s and Jim Crow.

May 1954
With the ruling of the case of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, the Supreme Court determined that segregation is unequal.

Auburn University
At Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., integration was happening smoothly. The first black student, Harold Franklin enrolled on Jan. 4, 1964. Since the campus had been historically conservative, both politically and socially, the students were barely affected by the radical movements of the 1960s.

University of Alabama
Vivian Malone and James Hood, two black students, ventured to integrate the University of Alabama in 1963.
They were denied admission to the university by Gov. George C. Wallace, who famously vowed to protect segregation by “standing in the schoolhouse door.” President John F. Kennedy mobilized the Alabama National Guard, and Gov. Wallace was ordered to step aside as the students enrolled.
“Nowhere did the images of freedom's struggle or the faces of evil show themselves in sharper relief than in Alabama,” said civil rights historian Culpepper Clark in his book, The Schoolhouse Door. Clark, dean of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. He describes, in his book, the historic setting, people and events in the integration of the University of Alabama.

Tulane
“Tulane was desegregated in 1962,” says August Milton, Associate Director of the Office of Institutional Equity. During their integration, Tulane, in New Orleans, La., was a part of the SEC and left the conference in 1966.

University of Tennessee
In 1952, four black graduate students were admitted to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In 1957, while the state was making the change to integration, an integrated school in Nashville was blown up with dynamite by white supremacists.
Black undergraduates were not permitted to attend the University of Tennessee until 1961.

University of Mississippi
In the fall of 1962, Gov. Ross Barnett of Mississippi said, "I hereby direct each official to uphold segregation laws enacted by the state of Mississippi, regardless of the federal courts." In September, riots broke out at the University of Mississippi when James Meredith attempted to begin classes. U.S. Marshals fought against an estimated 3,000 racists, Klan members and university students until President Kennedy sent in U.S. Army troops.
After the riots, racial issued calmed at the university and Meredith graduated in 1963 without incident.

Franklin, Malone, Hood, Meredith and countless others faced adversity in the process toward desegregation. Some of the changes were made during violence, and others during protest. Today we can thank the heros of the 1960s south for total integration in schools, cafeterias, busses, and eventually everywhere else.

Dream Job

My dream job is to design for The Atlantan. The magazine focuses on style, social events, dining and highlighted places in Atlanta. It is a modern luxury magazine tailored to a affluent, high class audience. The way it is designed is amazing. I would also love to be creative director for some of the shoots they do. Let's be honest, I would sweep the floors if I had to.

I need to be published and get an internship for some experience. Then maybe when I graduate, I can get a similar job or internship preparing me to work at a place like The Atlantan. Realistically, I hope to be at The Atlantan in 5-10 years.

Integration and the SEC

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of desegregation at the University of Georgia, a multitude of organizations are hosting events, exhibits, and workshops to spotlight an incredible change in our campus history. The University of Georgia integrated in January of 1961, but what about other South Eastern Conference schools and their experiences in the shaky times of civil rights? How do the integration processes of other colleges compare to that of UGA in the tumultuous times of the 1960s and Jim Crow?

May 1954
With the ruling of the case of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court determined that segregation is unequal.

Auburn University
At Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, integration was happening smoothly. The first black student, Harold Franklin enrolled on January 4, 1964. Since the campus had been historically conservative, politically and socially, the students were barely affected by the radical movements of the 1960s.

University of Alabama
Vivian Malone and James Hood, two black students, ventured to integrate the University of Alabama in 1963. They were denied admission to the university by Gov. George C. Wallace, who famously vowed to protect segregation by “standing in the schoolhouse door.” President John F. Kennedy mobilized the Alabama National Guard, and Gov. Wallace was ordered to step aside as the students enrolled.
“You have the expert on the desegregation of Alabama right there in Athens,” says Rebecca Florence, Director of College Relations and Associate Director of Development in the College of Arts and Sciences at the university. “Culpepper Clark,” Florence insists. Florence cited Clark's book The Schoolhouse Door, in which he describes the historic setting, people, and events in the integration of the University of Alabama.

Tulane
“Tulane was desegregated in 1962,” says August Milton, Associate Director of the Office of Institutional Equity. During their integration, Tulane was a part of the SEC and left the conference in 1966.

University of Tennessee
In 1952, four black graduate students were admitted to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. In 1957, while the state was making the change to integration, an integrated school in Nashville was blown up with dynamite by white supremacists. Black undergraduates were not permitted to attend the University of Tennessee until 1961.

University of Mississippi
In the fall of 1962, Gov. Ross Barnett of Mississippi said, "I hereby direct each official to uphold segregation laws enacted by the state of Mississippi, regardless of the federal courts." In September, riots broke out at the University of Mississippi when James Meredith attempted to begin classes. U.S. Marshals fought against an estimated 3,000 racists, Klan members, and university students until President Kennedy sent in U.S. Army troops. After the riots, racial issued calmed at the university and Meredith graduated in 1963 without incident.

Each of these colleges and universities faced much adversity in the process toward desegregation. Some of the changes were made during violence, and others during protest. Today we can thank the heros of the 1960s south for total integration in schools, cafeterias, busses, and eventually everywhere else.

Photos

First, I have posted a photo of the inside of a hot air balloon. I like this picture because it is taken in a angle that is not normally seen. Also the photo really conveys the size of the object and the small size of the person in comparison. The color also grabs attention.

I like this next picture of a volcano because of the clam surrounding and the chaotic explosion of colors. The flames and ash are shot in a way that look like they are going to fall on top of the houses. This photo grabbed my attention because of the way it was taken and the interesting subject.

Finally I love this photo called Notice. Even though it is supposed to be funny, the composition of the picture is really nice. I like the strange orange face and the handwriting. I also like the fact that you can tell this is really on a street somewhere creeping people out every day.

Brainstorming

1. A profile of an important person in the process of desegregation at UGA

2. A summary of the events that have taken place in celebration of the 50th anniversary

3. Telling events to come in the celebration

4. A story looking back 50 years at what happened in the process of desegregation at UGA

5. A profile of a person who attended UGA before desegregation and what it was like

6. A comparison of UGAs desegregation in comparison to other SEC schools

7. How students are celebrating desegregation

8. Accomplishments due to/after UGAs desegregation

9. Reasons to still celebrate

10. A profile of some of the best African American professors at UGA

11. Feature about accomplishments of African American alumnae

12. Feature about athletic scholarships and their benefits to African American athletes since desegregation