Professors discuss black history

On Feb. 12, Abraham's Lincoln's 200th birthday, the Department of Social Sciences presented a lecture and an open forum in honor of Black History Month.

Hosting this event was Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Dr. Peter Haruna. The event's featured speaker was Regents Professor and historian, Dr. Jerry Thompson, who lectured on "Black Soldiers in the Civil War."

"On this day, 200 years ago, two important historical men were born: one is the man who wrote the great book of science, Charles Darwin, and the other was born in the dense black woods and could barely write his own name, Abraham Lincoln," said Thompson when opening his speech about the Civil War.

Lincoln was elected president in 1860 and led the United States in one of the bloodiest wars in history, the Civil War.

Even though the Civil War started in 1861, it wasn't until 1862, when the Emancipation Proclamation passed, that black soldiers were allowed into combat.

According to archives.gov, black women also played a role; however, due to "prejudice against them, [their] units were not used as extensively as they might have."

Thompson stated that 180,000 African Americans participated in the Civil War and approximately 40,000 died.

As he concluded his speech, Thompson pointed out the official date, found in all history books, of the end of the civil war: 1865.

More interesting, however, is his theory of when the Civil War really ended.

"The war in Fort Sumter in 1861 ended with Barrack Obama's election in 2009, [and] those 180,000 who fought, many who died, helped in some way make the election of Obama possible," said Thompson.

So, is Obama's election, like Thompson suggests, the first sign of equality? Is it the end of affirmative action or racism in America?

These questions were addressed in an open forum. The panel consisted of Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. James Norris, Dr. Jaclyn Jeffrey, associate professor of anthropology, Daryl Vincent, head coach for women's basketball, and Stephen Leary, head coach for men's basketball.

According to Norris, Obama's election generated change in political participation.

"Minorities' political participation has been suppressed for almost 100 years, even after the 14th and 15th amendments. This year, [however], African Americans' political participation increased to 70 percent," said Norris.

Although past low participation can be attributed to lack of resources, another factor can be overt discrimination.

For example, in the 1970's-many years after the civil war and legal freedom-Leary and Vincent witnessed forms of segregation.

"I grew up in a small town in Louisiana where railroad tracks divided blacks and whites and where it was not safe to be out after dark," said Leary.

Vincent added an anecdote of his own.

"As an eight-year-old, in 1972, I visited my grandfather at his job and had to use the restroom; signs still stated colored and white," said Vincent.

Segregation might not exist anymore, but most of the panelists agreed that even after Obama's election, racism will not be immediately eliminated.

"I don't think it [Obama's election] is going to have an immediate effect; racist people aren't going to wake up and love everyone," said Vincent.

However, most do agree with the essence of Obama's campaign and election: change.

"Michelle Obama was on the cover of Vogue magazine; this says a lot about the changed views on aesthetics. It shows a great step forward in terms of proper role models," said Jeffrey.

Another essential point was made by Vincent.

"Obama's election has changed people's mind set; no longer are dreams far-fetched or unattainable, for now, everything is possible."

"Two years ago, I never imagined having an African American president, but now that we do, the playing field is leveled and anything is possible when you put your effort and mind to it," added Jose Lopez, a junior and international relations major.

Obama's election could possibly be the beginning of change in America, but his influence, power, and intelligence should not be attributed to his color; instead, he and other political figures should, as put by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"