 "Photo:")
At 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, students who were casually walking past the Blackburn Center were stopped by students dressed in all black with their faces painted in black and white. While handing out signs that stated "WHITE ONLY" and "COLORED ONLY" in black bold letters, those dressed in black asked "Do you know what's going on?"
On Dec. 4, 2006, two lawsuits, Meredith v. Jefferson County Public Schools and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District, will be heard by the Supreme Court to determine whether desegregation in public schools for grades K-12 and affirmative action will remain legal.
In order to increase awareness around the campus, UGSA participants and volunteers willingly dressed in their respective wardrobes to stand outside Blackburn and on the Yard to inform students about the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling.
"They are trying to overturn the progress that our ancestors made," sophomore international business major and UGSA representative Tamia McClain said. "I feel like if we don't come against the attacks on the progress that our ancestors made, then not only will our future be in jeopardy but our children's future as well."
Junior political science major and fellow protestor Abimbola George agreed with McClain. "We want to make sure that everyone understands that if we don't take a stand now there's no way that we can get through," he stated. "This will affect our children and grandchildren so why not take a stand now?"
In collaboration with BAMN -- the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary -- UGSA intends to motivate students to protest and participate in a rally hosted by HUSA and held at the National Mall on Dec. 4.
Arnita Hayden, UGSA coordinator and coordinator for the protest, said that she was surprised by the shocked reactions of students.
"To my surprise, a lot of students didn't know about what was going on," she said.
Volunteer Andrea Jackson claimed that once she informed students about the upcoming case proceedings, some did not believe that it was true.
"I got a comment that someone believed that it would never happen," she said. "I told them that I don't think we should take it lying down. It's like prayer in the schools: no one thought that would be taken out [but it was] so maybe enough wasn't done."
Hayden said that the only way students can be informed is through word of mouth since the cases have not been publicized in the media. Hayden and UGSA were informed through HUSA and contact from BAMN.
According to Hayden, the protest will be a perfect opportunity for Howard students to get involved to dispute the stereotype that Howard University students are no longer as proactive as they were in the past.
"I feel like this is especially important," she said. "If the cases go through it will set a precedent for people to continue to attack the issues and the beliefs that are in the Brown v. Board of Education case."
"Our participation will show that Howard is no longer sleeping when it comes to our youth and population," she added. "We're in a state of hibernation and it's time to wake up and stand up for something. Every Howard student should feel charged to [go] against the stereotype and belief that Howard students don't do anything."
Besides UGSA and HUSA, the NAACP, Alpha Chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and Alpha Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated are currently involved in the protest.
Hayden added that UGSA welcomes any willing participants and urged students to get involved in some way.
"There are a wide spectrum of ways that people can get involved," she said. "They can contact BAMN directly. If they want to help UGSA in particular, we need help speaking to professors in different schools and notifying them about what's going on with the program, or if they want to help HUSA they can help with the rally and planning it."
On Monday, Nov. 13, UGSA will again protest in black wardrobe and black and white face paint in front of Blackburn and on The Yard between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. At 7 p.m that evening, UGSA will host speaker Shanta Driver, an attorney, civil rights activist and National Spokesperson for BAMN in Cramton Auditorium. Organizers encourage the Howard community to attend.
