As we end black history month, a month of remembrance of the struggles now and then for freedom of the African nation I am very disappointed. The reason why I am so is because of the lack of historical or current social awareness amongst the African organizations at UB.
The awareness I am speaking of is that of knowing the history of our people, which was one struggle and the necessity for the struggle to continue today. On campuses, this awareness was once the entrusted property of organizations such as the Black Student Union and other African organizations. It seems that they have forgotten their duty to our people.
On the BSU Web site, there is a document under their history tab that was submitted to The Spectrum in 1969. In it they outlaid their ideology as an organization as Pan-Africanist. That is an ideology that calls for the unity of African people across the world politically and socially and to united under a socialist African flag. This ideology rejects sectarianism amongst African people knowing that oppression across the world.
This ideology rejects sectarianism amongst African people knowing that regardless of where we were dropped off at we are till one people sharing common interests. This ideology is one of liberation and consciousness and demands constant political action and education.
My problem therefore is the lack of the BSU and other African organizations of adhering to their chosen ideology. This is illustrated in part by lack of any black history program during Black History Month. They opting instead for self-improvement series, which being good and all lacked understanding of the situation we are in. We need those in the forefront against budget cuts, tuition hikes, and even against Zionism (note not anti-Semitism) which is the traditional enemy of the African people.
As for the CSA and ASA they are also at fault because they failed to understand that they too are part of Black History contributing much to the “African-American” struggle and vice a versa. What I ask, no demand is that we go back to our roots. We must cease with things such as fashion shows, which only objectify our women and take up arms against the injustices, which are rampant on this campus. I demand that we remember that capitalism was never the African friend and act accordingly.
We must become political again, taking up arms against things such as Israeli apartheid, police brutality and poverty in the buffalo community, which host us. We must lastly cease seeing ourselves as just cultural institutions, but as social and political institutions also and act accordingly. If anyone from the BSU, ASA or CSA would like respond to my constructive criticism feel free but be assured our people’s history is on my side.
William Richardson
President of the United Socialist Movement of the Americas
wjr2@buffalo.edu
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