Wednesday. February 13. 198f
Religion called an important force in blacks' lives
3
University Daily Kansan
By BRIAN VON BEVERN
Staff Reporter
Religion should play an increasing role in politics in the future, according to three panelists at a Black History Month program last night on religion in the 1980s.
The program was sponsored by the office of minority affairs.
Several Moslems who were at the program protested because their religion was not represented on the panel.
Hasia Abi, a Moslem spokesman, said last night that she had contacted the office several weeks ago and had been told the panel already had been chosen, but that a
Moslem representative would be allowed to speak if the panel monitor allowed it.
Mary Townsend, director of the office to minority affairs, said the Moslems contacted the office too late to be included in the program.
A Moslem speaker, Imam Yalya Halif Furgan, Teeka, delicately took the podium, saying he thought it was improper because he was uninvited.
Speaking from the audience, he decried the use of labels such as "black" and "white" for people.
"I'm not your brother because of the color of your skin," he said. "If you believe in God, then you're my brother."
"People are so sung up on their differences they can't see the commonality among them."
The panel discussed a variety of religious topics.
The Rev. Leo Barbee said religion had been an important part of black American life for the last 200 years.
Their introduction to Christianity gave blacks "a ray of hope through the turbulent years of slavery," Barbee said.
Songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" helped blacks look for better ways in a new home he said.
"Home was heaven," he said. "They
knew things would never get better here.
The music became an important part of our worship.
And the church was always a leader in the fight against racism, Barbee said.
"The black preacher has always been a spokesman for the black man," he said, because they were not easily touched by him, because they were looked to for direction."
Barbee said blacks today were too materialistic to properly worship God.
"The more he blesses us, the less we appreciate him," he said. "It's a sad commentary. We too busy with our own tin goods to worship him."
But a second panelist, the Rev. Edgerton Taylor, said barks were studying in the wrong fields in college.
"We are not majoring in physics, chemistry, biology or business," he said. "Blackness means nothing in a capitalist society without greenness."
Taylor said black problems affected all blacks, not just the poor. Blacks should pull together.
"Whatever happens to me in a black b格to Inopeka will affect you here," he said.
Taylor said blacks had identity problems, which caused them trouble in helping one another.
"The slave chains on our legs are now on our minds," he said.
She said the skycrowking divorce rate increased the number of women who were heads of families, and the church should expand its help to them.
Divorce, alcoholism, drugs and child abuse are just a few of the issues women will have to face in the future, Harvey said.
"I believe women will meet the challenge of the 80s," she said.
MASS. STREET DELI in
941 MASSACHUSETTS
Ham and Cheese
On
Rye
or your choice of delicious home-baked deli roll
$1.00 reg. price $2.75
you select the cheese and bread
served with potato chips
and dill pickle spear.
no coupons
accepted
with this off
Enjoy Coke
offer good
13
to
Feb. 17
no coupons accepted with this offer
US
Senior Class Officers
President Vice Pres. Secretary Treasurer
Tad Wilson Julie Sauder John Ellis Sue Sietz
Paid for by Focus
Vote
Student elections are today and tomorrow Take an active part in your future by voting.
Today 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Jayhawk Boulevard Information Booth
Wescoe—West end of Fourth floor
Summerfield—Fourth floor lobby
Union—lobby
Fraser—lobby
Satellite Union lobby
5-6:45 p.m.
Douthart GSP-Corbin Hashinger Naismith J.R.P.
7:30-9:15 p.m.
Phi Delta Theta Alpha Tau Omega Kappa Sigma A.G.D. Gamma Phi Beta
You need your KUID to vote
Paid for by Student Activity Fee