Radford To Hold Harlem Renaissance

This may be a dumb comment but why Radford? Nothing against Radford but does VT not have a NAACP community? I have not seen any such events at Virginia Tech lately. Also is this event open to just to the Radford Community or can "outsiders" or non-Highlanders enjoy this event.

Why not Radford? I guess you haven't been paying attention, but Tech has been having Black History programs happening throughout the month. I think that the renaissance is a great idea and another unique way to promote African-American culture. I'm glad that Radford is putting this on and hope the turnout is huge.

I second Brenton's question. Why is it we are not hosting our own Harlem Renaissance. Do we not have the black community? I mean I know our basketball is tanking and few enough are in academics, but i still believe it is possible.
Anyways, not to get off topic but I believe the article will shed some light onto Black History Month, and as the article says, more than just the importance of Martin Luther King jr. but the culture as a whole.

No offense, but what does the basketball team's recent lack of success have to do with having a sufficient enough black community to host the event? I think that is a terrible perpetuation of an ignorant stereotype. Also, is it so hard to be happy that an event like this is coming to our area? I know Radford is a whole 15 minutes away, but it shouldn't be that difficult for anyone at Virginia Tech to go there and experience it.

Joe I know that Virginia Tech has been having events throughout the month for Black History but nothing stands out like a "Harlem Renaissance" with performances, arts, poetry, and so forth. This shows more than the history but the culture of African-Americans. VT has held the usual speeches, discussion and possible "get-togethers" but nothing celebrating the culture or even more important a possible turnout. I'm glad Radford is doing this and I plan to go.
And to response to Mr. Mankey, I wasn't trying to say VT doesn't have a black community but I was saying that the black community should become more involved and active especially during this month. I hardly hear of any events and I believe that should change.

As a member of RU's NAACP, I'd like to answer one of the questions above. This event is free and open to the public. Feel free to come out, invite friends and participate if you'd like. I appreciate and am impressed by your concern for a change in the way VT celebrates Black History Month. Perhaps you all should channel your energy and emotions towards helping to innovate new traditions and events for VT to celebrate Black History Month. Since there seems to be an obvious lack of interest in Black History month programs on both campuses, perhaps next year we should consider a host of joint programs.

Renee, I'm a student at VT, and I have to ask- what do you feel that the NAACP gives back to you? I felt inclined to join this organization here during my freshman here until several items became apparent. The NAACP preaches diversity, yet they support literally a single race- an involved member who spends substantial time in NAACP activities will soon find themselves caught in quite a uniform clique, no? The NAACP is also a controversial name whose actions propogate, in my opinion, a generally negative image. Try this, go onto google and search for NAACP, and what will you bring up? Slews of stories regarding "massive lawsuits" and "controversial accusations." The NAACP's laborous beginning was truly valiant and worked to uphold freedom and equality. There were earthshaking cases like Brown v. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This soul of the 1970s NAACP is, frankly, dead. This is NOT to say that all cases of the NAACP are unjustified. However, the massive taboo that has run rampant through the American culture regarding speaking of race in any way, is itself evidence that the NAACP has abused its powers. It is a promoter of two fallacies that I refuse to be associated with: that "Colored People" should be free of competition and censure as long as social inequities exist, and that this group of people need such a crutch to achieve anything in the presence of even residual racism.

Jermaine, first of all, I feel what you’re saying as far as the NAACP supporting a single-race, with controversial lawsuits. What we’re trying to do on RU’s campus is change the soul, spirit and mission of NAACP one chapter at a time. Before this year, NAACP was pretty much a dead organization on campus with students feeling that it was unnecessary to support such a contentious group. We are currently under new leadership with students who are striving to innovate what NAACP is all about. During the past academic year, we have worked with groups on campus such as the Appalachian Events Committee, Women’s Resource Center, Chinese Club, Spectrum, Sociology/Anthropology Club, Fashion Society, PHC sororities, Student Government Association and many other organizations to spread the message that we’re not just an organization for Blacks, but for everyone with a cause who feels they’re underrepresented regardless of their race, ethnicity, or gender; this was not clear in the article above. One example; a student veteran, who was not Black, felt that his rights were being violated by the school because he had been away to war during his academic career. He came to us knowing that we were an advocacy group willing to help him out even though he wasn’t Black; this, to us, was an important step in recreating our mission. We worked with him to ensure that the school treated him fairly as he was away serving our country. If you see an apparent problem within an organization which you know that if it hadn’t been for them, you wouldn’t be attending a public institution, I certainly hope that you also felt inclined to voice this opinion to YOUR ORGANIZATION on YOUR CAMPUS. If all of you commenting on this article feel this way about your minority community, why not step up, join the organization, voice your opinion; it is different when you’re on the outside looking in. Your opinions are validated and strong, why not take an active role and get involved. Channel your energy and concern towards making a change. That is exactly what we have done at RU. Yes, NAACP on a national scale has stereotypes and a bad wrap, but it is up to us as a young generation with newer and more complex social issues everyday to step up and make a change. The times of the Civil rights era has indeed changed for the better, but there is a long road ahead of us with new societal problems developing all the time.

I totally agree with you Renee...everyone who has commented on this article should step and make a difference. Also I would like to thank you and the rest of RU's NAACP for hosting this exciting event.

What do you feel that the NAACP gives back to you?

As a very active member of RU's NAACP I feel as though it has benefited me in more than one way. For one, I am a officer, the NAACP has provided me with a position in which I can practice leadership skills. Secondly, through NAACP I not only planned but have participated in many events (including this one) and community service projects. Giving me a better sense of self worth an even more selfless view of life.
As a member of the NAACP I am faced often with issues that make a difference to many races. When we handle this situations our purpose is not to stir up trouble for non-black groups, we actually believe that there should be fair treatment and we are willing to take a stand! I have had the opportunity to participate in the March For Diversity, which brought together people of all different races, genders and disabilities, who marched for their own personal cause! These are just a few things that I feel the NAACP has given back to me.
I think the bigger question however, is not what do I feel that the NAACP gives back to me, but rather what do I bring to an organization like the NAACP and how do I make a difference as a member? The best way to bring about positive change is to get your very own feet moving...

YAY for the Harlem Renaissance...Just to get back to the matter at hand!

YEA! That's right Renee and Me! YAY for Harlem Renaissance!