UnisonDiversity Committee for Communities of Interest

Terrence Roberts of the “Lit-tle Rock Nine” Comes To UNCP

The UNC Pembroke community stood face to face with a living legend of the Civil Rights movement

on January 19.Dr. Terrence Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine who integrated Central High School in 1957, made two appearances on Wednesday. In the afternoon, he met with about 50 students, faculty and staff in what he called “a conversa-tion.”After remarks, Dr. Roberts opened the floor to questions, which turned the clock back to the 1950s. He said he and the other eight black students were beaten and abused during the entire year that they attended the all-white school.“The first day we did not get in at all,” he said. “I wanted to quit every single second I was there.”On the first day, the Arkansas Na-tional Guard, under orders from Gov. Orval Faubus, stopped the black students from entering the school, but on the second day, on orders from President Dwight Eisenhower, U.S. troops escorted them in.It was one of the most important events of the Civil Rights movement. For Dr. Roberts, the experience was also very personal.“I thought people as afraid as I was would certainly die of a heart attack or something,” Dr. Roberts said. “I learned that fear is not a barrier.”

Now 69, Dr. Roberts left Little Rock after one year at the school. He earned a Ph.D. in psychology and has written two books.A student asked Dr. Roberts about his decision to join

the Little Rock Nine.“It was my choice,” he said. “All of us were volunteers.”Dr. Roberts said his parents gave him their complete support either way. He added that non-violence was the only way to win with odds of 2,000 to nine.“We were committed to non-vio-lence,” he said. “When one of the nine was expelled for fighting, the white students said ‘one down, eight to go.’“We were bloodied but victorious,” Dr. Roberts said.Dr. Roberts’ said his commitment to the Civil Rights movement began at age 13. His conversion happened in a segregated Krystal hamburger restau-rant.Dr. Roberts eventually returned to Little Rock as a consultant with the

school system. He regrets never sitting down with his tormentors.Dr. Roberts visit was sponsored during ceremonies to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by the of-fices for Multicultural and Minority Affairs and Student Involvement and Leadership.

Table Of Contents:Terrence Roberts at UNCP...Page 1

Candlelight Vigil...Page 2

Taste of India...Page 3Photos/Spotlight...Page 4

By: Scott Bigelow, University Newswire

UnisonPage 2

Candlelight Vigil Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Acandlelight vigil, inspirational words from civil rights advocate Rev. Mazie Butler Ferguson,

music and readings from Dr. King by members of the UNCP family marked the seventh annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remembrance program on Jan. 13. The candlelight vigil in honor of Dr. King first gathered everyone around in a circle on the University Center Annex lawn at 7 p.m. whre they said what their dreams were.

During the program, Rev. Ferguson told the audi-ence that people can connect themselves to one another through their shared vulner-ability. She said that Mahatma Gandhi inspired Dr. King and also Bishop Desmond Tutu. She reminded the audience that Ghandi said, “If you want to change other people’s behavior, you must change your own.”

Rev. Ferguson is the great niece of legendary civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. “She inspired me and continues to inspire me today,” she said of Bethune. “I’m inspired by her boldness and how she broke ground every step of the way.

Music was interwoven throughout the event. Rev. Ferguson approached the podium singing “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free” and sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with the audience.

Hollie Oxendine of Southeastern Family Vio-lence Center sang “Wind Beneath My Wings” as her husband, Lee, played the piano for her.

Additional words of inspiration came from members of the UNCP family. Freshman Bran-

don Payton did a rendition of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech. Additional words of inspiration came from members of the UNCP family. Also during the event,

the first Dr. Collie Coleman award was presented to student Troy Cotten. The award was pre-sented by Robert Canida,director of the Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs and Kappa Al-pha Psi member;

“I loved the event,” said freshman Drexton Russell. “I liked the event, it brought up some good points,” said Ameri-

Corps Vista and NC-ACTS Program Assistant for the Of-fice for Community and Civic Engagement Derald Dryman.

Also during the event, the first Dr. Collie Coleman award was presented to student Troy Cotten. The Dr. Collie Cole-man Award of $500 provides financial assistance to a member in good standing of UNCP’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) who demonstrates high academic achievement and financial need. The student must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. The award memorialized Dr. Coleman, the first African American Associate Vice Chancellor for Outreach at UNCP who passed away in 2008, as a true educator, mentor, community activist, leader, and visionary. Despite the fact that it snowed three days before the event, Robert Canida said that approxi-mately 80 people attended the event.

Kyle Coleman, Mrs. Anne Coleman, Rev. Dr. Mazie Ferguson (MLK Guest Speaker), Troy Cotten (1st

Dr. Collie Coleman Scholarship Award Recipient), and Robert L. Canida, II.

By: Ashley Williams

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O.M.M.A Brings India To UNCP

By: Chantel Moore

Professors John and Margie Labadie took a five week trip to India in December 2010, travel-

ing to different universities teaching various subjects from Digital Art to History of Creative Computing. They told stories about their trip, and shared photos with the audience. Around 25-30 people were in attendance.

“People were so friendly when we traveled.,” Margie said.

Margie and John said that people helped them get their materials off of the train, without them even asking.

“You learn a lot about culture just by being in it.,” John said.

“You just have to connect with people and see how they do what they do.,” Margie said. These are monuments under construction in Luc-

know, India. Professors John and Margie Labadie shared this along with many other images with the audi-ence about their trip.

This is a doorway in New Delhi, India (left).

A woman is cooking a meal for the Labadie’s in Ban-shi Village near Kanpur, India.

People stand by a fruit and nut stand in New Delhi, India (left). This is where most people came to pur-

chase frut and nuts, instead of a grocery store.

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Think Outside The Box: The Danyce Hill Story

Discrimination--everyone has been through it in some way or form.

You couldn’t do something simply be-cause you weren’t appealing in someone else’s eyes. Unfortunately, it is commonly experienced, but who knew that one of UNCP’s own students had a story to tell? Racial discrimination was and still is a popular form of discrimination. Danyce Jacqueline Hill, a Public Rela-tions Major at UNCP shared her story

of growing up with racial discrimination surrounding her. Hill was a 1972 graduate of West Columbus High School in Cerro Gordo, NC. West Columbus High School was the first desegregated high schools in that area. Hill went to school there for three years. Enter-ing a desegregated school for the first time, she went to the school with great expectations. She went with change and she kept a posi-tive attitude. She said that even though the school was desegregated, classrooms were still desegregated. Hill said that she along with a lot of her black classmates would boycott their high school. The first time was a silent protest where students just sat outside of the classroom in the hallways. With intense racial discrimination in her school, certain teachers did not want to teach black students. She said that her grades would suffer at times because she would automati-cally receive poor grades because of her race. With all of this going on, she still had a safety net to keep her moti-vated. “My mom was a praying mom.,” she said. She often attended an after school program at her church. “Not only did blacks fight for that change, but we had white people fight for that change too.,” she said. She had one white friend, John Bullock, who she got along with very well. She said that people looked at them funny whenever they went out in public. One tragic event that she described during her high school years was when she had to hide in a ditch from clans-men. Frantic thoughts ran through her head while hiding. “If I ever

got out of that ditch, I would never get in another one. I fear nothing but God.,” she said that she thought at the moment. “ I would never hide from anybody else.”Hill is now a senior at UNCP and has one daughter, Jamila Rouse, who is currently a nurse, and three grandchildren. She finds the opportunity for her to go to college a blessing. She has watched her nieces and nephews go to college and graduate and she said that it was a blessing to do so.Although racism still exists, she stated “It means nothing because we are all equal. We were born from the same father. We are who we are,,,America is equal opportunity so why do you try to limit it?” A positive, strong attitude along with faith is what got her to where she is today. Never giving in to any of the racism that was brought her way allowed her to become a stronger person. By: Chantel Moore

Mr. Robert L. Canida, II,DirectorWeb Information Coordinator (WIC)Email: canida@uncp.eduPhone: 910.522.5790

Mrs. Lisa Gonzalez Bullard,Administrative AssociateEmail: lisa.bullard@uncp.eduPhone: 910.521.6508

Contact Us!

Mission Statement:The Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs of UNC Pembroke provides programs and services that support the academic mission of the University by en-hancing the educational, personal, cultural and social development of UNCPs diverse student populations. As an agent of change, the Office of Multicultural and Minority Affairs seeks to value cultural diversity in order to promote an empowered society.

Office of Multicultural and Minority AffairsPO Box 1510Pembroke, NC 28372

Phone: 910.521.6508Fax: 910.521.6742Relay: 910.521.6508Email: oma@uncp.edu

Diversity Staff:Destinee LewisUlysses PrestonTiarra Oquendo, InternAustin Duke, InternRobert Canida II, Chair

Newsletter Editor:Chantel L. Moore