W.E.B. Du Bois Society

Bobby Seale to Come to MSU tomorrow!

2009-01-14T16:24:00.002-05:00

The W.E.B. Du Bois Society and the Young Democratic Socialists of Michigan State University Present:

Co-founder and former Chairman of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense

Bobby Seale

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

Join us for an inspiring lecture given by a historic icon and legend within the Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements:

"The State of Black Politics in the 21st Century"

Lecture begins at 5pm in the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center Auditorium, located at 55 South Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI. The lecture will be followed promptly by a Q&A Session. This event is free and open to the public.

Doors open at 4:45pm

For more information, please e-mail

msuduboissociety@gmail.com or

msuyds@gmail.com.

DuBois member published in State News

2008-11-14T17:39:00.005-05:00

DuBois member Kyle Mays has been published in the State News, with an opinion article titled: Racism not erased by "Obama's Win, real change still needed." It is a good read, and as always for Kyle, it has produced a lot of reaction. The article is below, as can be found on the State News website.

Racism not erased by Obama's win, real change still needed

“Change we can believe in” and “Yes we can” were some of the slogans used in propelling President-elect Obama, D-Ill., into the White House. Indeed, his win was both convincing and historic. However, what does Obama’s presidency mean for racism? Is racism in fact eradicated? What is the relationship between Sen. Obama being elected and the eradication of structural racism?

I believe some whites voted for him because of his policies and because it helped them deal with their own racism, but it did not change the nature of structural racism. America will never be a post-racial society because it has not gotten to the root of the problem facing poor and colored people. Is Obama prepared to get to the root of the problem? Will he take the suggestion of the colonialist theoretician Frantz Fanon who said, “The prognosis is in the hands of those who are prepared to shake the worm-eaten foundations of the edifice.”

If Obama is prepared to do this, then his presidency will move from a modern day symbolic tokenism to actual “change we can believe in.” Tokenism may seem harsh, but America has already seen symbols such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. How effective were those symbols? One can go to the south side of Chicago or the east side of Detroit to look and see. Based upon the rhetoric of his campaign, poor black, Latino and Native Americans will continue to suffer the injustices of this so-called democracy.

Kyle Mays

African American and African studies graduate student

Meeting 10/22-COINTEL PRO: The FBI's War on Black America

2008-10-23T01:06:00.002-04:00

Today, the Du Bois Society met to watch and discuss the government's role in dismantling Black Power groups during the 1960's and 70's. We watched a 48 minute video, entitled "COINTEL PRO: The FBI's War on Black America." It detailed the actions taken by the FBI, under the directive of J. Edgar Hoover, to silently and coordinately kill, jail, or destroy the reputations of black leaders, including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Huey P. Newton, Fred Hampton, and others. It contained multiple interviews with professors and people involved, as well as rare documents and footage.

Afterward, the Society had a robust discussion regarding COINTEL PRO, its actions, and the repercussions still felt today. Unsuprisingly, many people's initial reaction was anger. We discussed the role of the media, as well as the lack of education opportunities provided for black children, especially to learn about their own history. Some members shared personal experiences they had with racism, as well as problems the black community is facing, one being perverted standards of beauty.

For our "current events" presentation, we were presented with the staggering fact that for every five black women who graduate from college, one black man will. There are many theories as to why this is: some say it is due to the unrealistic expectations set upon and accepted by black men, that they must be drug dealers, athletes, or rappers to be successful. Some asserted that black men didn't have many role models who were successful via education, and that was to blame. Others argued that White America put black men at more of a disadvantage since they are a potential threat.

Whatever the case may be, it was a great discussion, and a productive meeting. Our next will be on Wednesday, October 29 in 340 Case Hall. The video we watched is below.

A Short History of Dick Gregory

2008-10-23T00:54:00.000-04:00

Since Dick Gregory is coming to speak at the Black Power Rally on Thursday, October 23 at Michigan State University, here is a very brief history on him:

Richard Claxton Gregory, better known as Dick Gregory, is not only one of the best standup comedians of all time, but he is a pioneer and an activist as well. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 12, 1932, Gregory was a track star in high school, earning himself a scholarship to Southern Illinois University. He joined the US Army, where he began his work as a standup comedian, winning various Army talent shows. He then began to work in Chicago following his service. Soon after, Gregory went to Selma, Alabama to participate in a voter registration drive for blacks, where he spoke as well. Gregory was also involved in the anti-Vietnam war movement, economic empowerment, and anti-War on Drug movements.

Gregory ran for mayor of Chicago, as well as President of the United States, with fellow civil rights advocate Mark Lane as his VP candidate. He ran as the nominee of the Freedom and Peace Party, and garnered exactly 47,097 votes. This is very remarkable, given that he was a write-in candidate, and that he ran in 1968. Gregory was among the first blacks to every run for the President of the United States, along with Charlene Mitchell, who also ran for President in 1968, as the nominee of the Communist Party.

Gregory is married to Lillian, with whom he has ten children. Gregory’s work is known for his satirical, biting style than encompasses all subject matters, from racial relations to politics to religion.