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Ex-Black Panther leader: History empowers people for the future
By Edith Brady-Lunny
eblunny@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL — Black Americans have come a long way in their struggle for equality but challenges remain, according to the leader of Illinois State University’s black student awareness group.

Black Students through Awareness Resurrecting a Revolution hosted the first Black Awareness Conference Saturday at the university. About 30 students were on hand for the opening of the conference, titled “Paint a New Perspective.”

Race issues are a concern for many students at ISU, said Johari Huggins, president of the student group. Raising awareness about the issues that separate people was the main goal of the day-long event, she said.

“Of all the -isms, the most concerning to me is class-ism. Our society revolves around money. When people don’t have it, they become underprivileged,” said Huggins, and poverty sets people apart and limits their opportunities.

Telling of black history

Among speakers at the conference was former Black Panther Party member Ericka Huggins, who is not related to the student group leader.

“My message to the students is about history and how history empowers us for the future,” said the Panthers’ longest-serving female leader.

Many people are reluctant to talk about the bleak chapters of black history, said Ericka Huggins.

“People don’t want to talk about the history of slavery because of fear, guilt and shame. I think they do a disservice to people of all kinds by not being accurate about the history of the United States,” Huggins told The Pantagraph.

Praise for Obama’s speech

The recent speech by presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama was an encouraging move toward a national dialogue on race, said the former Black Panther.

“I thought it was so wonderful and compassionate of him,” said Huggins.

Where the dialogue goes next is not, however, up to the candidate.

“It depends upon all of us to determine where it goes,” she said.

Progress by blacks

In opening remarks for the conference, ISU President Al Bowman told students that blacks have made remarkable progress over the past century. In 1920, about 10,000 black citizens completed college in the U.S., said Bowman. Currently, more than 3.7 million blacks hold a minimum of a four-year college degree, he said.

ISU freshman O’Cephus Starks signed up for the conference to learn more about the issues facing other blacks.

“If you don’t know much, you can’t really say much,” said Starks.

The conference included a photo exhibit of the history of the Black Panthers, a group Johari Huggins noted was responsible for feeding children and other community programs. Participants also played an interactive board game designed to teach them the complexities of living in a multicultural society.

Take a look
The Illinois State University student organization BlackS.T.A.R.R presented the 2008 Black Awareness Conference in ISU's Bone Student Center Saturday. Jarrell Jackson, an ISU senior from Chicago helps with setting up the Black Panther Photo Exhibit. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY
A Newsweek photograph from 1970 showing Black Panther leaders was on display as part of the Black Panther Photo Exhibit. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY
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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Burns wrote on Mar 23, 2008 11:40 AM:

" Say what you will about the Black Panthers, at least they try to teach self-determination and self-reliance and don't complain about how everyone else is responsible for the current status of black people. "

Bluedog wrote on Mar 23, 2008 10:14 AM:

" How about some real interaction between the races at the " barber and beauty shops " ? Maybe can start in those settings and move to the " most segregated hour " in America. Houses of Worship . A place where we are " supposed " to be taught humility , compassion, kindness, understanding, civility towards one another. At least that's what they would have us believe ! "

mankind,or kind of a man wrote on Mar 23, 2008 2:08 AM:

" The Evolution will not be televised.The Evolution will not be sitting at your front porch waiting for you to pick it up like the morning paper, the evolution doesn't cause racism, hate crimes, or cancer.The Evolution will not come in a text message,e-mail, or through a grapvine.The Evolution is infinity,although the process has been slowed( by those who will remain nameless)due to a lack of detailed knowledge that was stolen from the Egyptians "each one, teach one"{hint,hint} the Eovlution has seeped through the cracks of purgatory and reached the people.That's because the Eovlution is the light. No matter how much you put your head under the covers every monday morning the light always seem to shine through.The Eovlution is knowledge of self-determination, food for thought to the growing mind. The Eovlution will not be a rerun people. The Eovlution will be live. "Are you mankind, or kind of a man? "
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