Asante inspires SU students to make a change

By B-NOWnews staff

 “It’s your obligation to try and make progress in your community, said Morgan State professor Molefi K. Asante Jr at Southern University last week. Asante spoke to a crowd of students as part of a series that will bring other motivational speakers to Southern University. Asante, who is only 24, discussed how black students must take part in their community through whatever major they have chosen.

“What ever field you’re in whether it’s agriculture, political science or engineering it is your obligation to your community,” said Asante. 

Asante said that the black community is divided and that as a whole we are still not successful. “"We can't numb ourselves to the reality that we are still being attacked," he said.” There are individuals (black people) who have succeeded, but as a whole we are divided,” said Asante.

Asante said that there is still a struggle going on in the black community and blacks must not sit around and do nothing.

"When I was young I just came up with the phrase, 'If you make an observation...you have an obligation," Asante said. "It has been with me ever since because it's a simple phrase but it means so much.

Asante is known for addressing civil rights and social injustices is also an award-winning author and screenwriter.

Asante’s first book, Like Water Running Off My Back, received the Academy of American Poets Jean Corrie Prize for its title piece. His latest book, Beautiful, And Ugly Too, won a best book award from Black Reader and was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “a thought-provoking journey down the lonely road of wisdom and whiplash.”

“He spoke the truth,” said Damien Johnson, a Computer Science Freshman at Southern University. “The black community is divided in so many ways. We have to come together to fight a similar battle. If not we are doomed.”

contact B-NOW staff at B-NOWnewstaff@b-now.com

Kappa week 2007 at LSU

By Tia Lockett

The pretty boys of the Nu Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Incorporated are finally back and making their presence  known on Louisiana State University’s campus. Kappa Week 2007 kicked off Sunday, February 11, 2007 with a worship service at Phat Church and a cookout that afternoon at Olympia Park. Full Story