legacy of advocacy andactivism, the town hallmeeting and festivaldemonstration, at whichstudents carried signs thatread: “We love hip-hop!Does hip-hop love us?”provided a public forumin which Spelmanites re-opened the nationaldebate about the gross

misrepresentations of African American womenthat populate the hip-hop universe and contam-inate the cultural landscape of Black America.

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he glare of the national spotlight is,once again, focused on Spelman Col-lege. Routinely cited for academic

excellence and outstanding leadership, Spelmanstudents most recently garnered national atten-tion for speaking up, and speaking out, aboutthe overwhelmingly negative portrayals of Blackwomen throughout the rap music industry.Their most public denouncements of the misog-ynistic motifs that bombard the airwaves tookplace at an April 21st campus-wide town hallmeeting to address the industry’s widespreadassault on race and gender, and at the informa-tional picket conducted at Atlanta’s Music Mid-town festival in May. In keeping with Spelman’s

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Spelman Students DenounceRap Music Imagery

Vice President ForStudent Affairs andDean of Students Dr. Zenobia L Hikes.

uring the Founders Day Convocationon April 7, 2004, Miss MargueriteSimon, C’35, a retired member of the

physical education faculty, received specialrecognition from President Beverly DanielTatum. When Dr. Tatum announced, “Upon therecommendation of the Spelman College Boardof Trustees, the gymnasium in Read Hall is to benamed the “Marguerite F. Simon Gymnasium,”the audience responded with a standing ovation.Miss Simon, with her love and willingness tosacrifice for Spelman, embodies the theme forFounders Day 2004, “Spelman: The ThreadThat Binds – Spirit, Scholarship, Service.” As analumna, instructor, donor, volunteer and Spel-man historian, she has been dedicated to theaims and ideals of Spelman College. An instruc-tor of health and physical education at Spelmanfrom 1943 to 1980, Miss Simon, with her col-leagues, created the Department of PhysicalEducation and Health and laid the foundationfor Spelman’s current historic movement towardfull membership in the National Collegiate Ath-letic Association.C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 1 0 .

Founders Day 2004

Spelman: TheThread That Binds“Marguerite F. Simon Gymnasium”Honors Alumna

Marguerite Simon, C’35

The Sisters Chapel WISDOM Center Officially Opens Class of Sisters Chapel Scholars ChosenOn January 29, 2004, the Spelman community celebrated the official launching of the Sisters ChapelCenter for WISDOM (Women in Spiritual Discernment of Ministry) with the reopening of Bessie StrongHall. The Center will provide a holistic educational experience that nourishes the spiritual and ethicaldevelopment of a new generation of Spelman women who are prepared to be faithfully committed,morally grounded and civically conscious leaders, serving the church, the community and the world.The four-day celebration began with the “Sisters Speak” convocation in the Cosby Center Auditorium

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During the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the WISDOM Center, President BeverlyDaniel Tatum (second from right) joins Dean of the Chapel Reverend Lisa D. Rhodes (third from right).The Center is housed in the newly remodeled Bessie Strong Hall.

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2 I N S I D E S P E L M A N S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 0 2 22 I N S I D E S P E L M A N

Features1 Spelman Students Denounce Rap

Music Imagery1 The Sisters Chapel WISDOM Center

Officially Opens1 Founders Day 20043 Spelman Holds Groundbreaking

Conferences5 2004 Spelman Commencement Honors

Renowned Neurosurgeon, Activist andCommunity Servant

12 A Legacy of Service

Departments2 A Dialogue with Dr. T. 4 New Briefs6 Spelman Salutes10 Page Turners

C o n t e n t s

A D I A L O G U E W I T H D R . T

Fifty Years after Brown: Why Spelman Remains Relevant

I was born in 1954 just four months after the Brown v.Board of Education Supreme Court decision outlawed the“separate but equal” doctrine of school segregation. As aneducator with many years of experience teaching aboutracism, I have long recognized the unfinished business ofBrown. Now, as the ninth president of Spelman College, Ihave a new lens through which to understand the meaningof Brown v. Board of Education. Though it was not instant, the 1954 decision opened newdoors of educational opportunity for Black students that initially challenged and ultimatelystrengthened Spelman College. Like many historically Black colleges, Spelman faced newcompetition for its students from those predominantly White institutions that had previouslyexcluded them. However, increased competition spurred important improvements at Spelman.The dynamic leadership of each of four presidents – Drs. Albert E. Manley, Donald M. Stewart,Johnnetta Betsch Cole, and Audrey Forbes Manley – strengthened the College’s competitiveedge. During those years, faculty development was enhanced, new resources for scholarshipswere created, and facilities were expanded - creating an environment that now attracts morethan 4000 talented young women competing for 525 spaces in our first-year class.

Why do they come? Fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, why are historicallyBlack colleges like Spelman not only still relevant but the preferred choice for many talentedBlack students? As a psychologist whose scholarly focus has been racial identity development,I recognize that college choice is a reflection of identity – a statement about how you seeyourself, who you are now and who you hope to become. Students are drawn to environmentswhere they see themselves reflected in the environment in powerful ways and in places wherethey see themselves as central to the educational enterprise. Several years ago I interviewed ayoung African American man who was attending a very prestigious New England college. Hespoke at length about the benefits of that educational experience, but noted that there hadbeen something missing for him. He said, “I know this place was not built for me.” And, cer-tainly he was right. Black men (and women) had been excluded from his campus in its earlydays. That school had not been built for him. As part of the same research project, I alsointerviewed Black students who had chosen to go to a historically Black university. Oneyoung woman commented on her experience, saying, “You know, it really makes me happywhen I walk across the campus to know ‘This place was built for me.’” There are not manyplaces in America a Black woman can say that. But, Spelman College is one of them and thatis a powerful magnet. The importance of affirmation of identity in college choice cannot beunderestimated.

Whether at an HBCU or a majority institution, we must ask ourselves, “How do we createand sustain educational environments that affirm identity, build community, and cultivateleadership in a way that supports the learning of all students?” Many of us have a vision ofwhere we would like to be, a vision of schools where all students have the opportunity and theencouragement to achieve at a high standard. It is a vision of communities characterized byequitable and just group relations rather than the present deeply ingrained power hierarchiesthat systematically advantage some and systematically disadvantage others. It is a vision ofeducation that should not only foster intellectual development by providing students the toolsof critical thinking, speaking, writing, and quantitative reasoning but should also provide allstudents the skills and experiences necessary for effective participation in a diverse, globalsociety. With your ongoing support and commitment, a Spelman education can and shouldrepresent all of these qualities – not just remaining competitive but setting the 21st centurystandard for excellence in undergraduate education. ●

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

E D I T O R

Jo Moore Stewart

C O P Y E D I T O RJanet M. Barstow

G R A P H I C D E S I G NGaron Hart

E D I T O R I A L C O M M I T T E ETomika DePriestLorraine RobertsonAngela Allen

C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R SDenise McFall

P H O T O G R A P H E R S

J.D. ScottBud SmithJo Moore StewartJulie Yarbrough

Inside Spelman is published four times per academic year for areadership that includesalumnae, trustees,parents, students, faculty,staff and friends of theCollege. The newsletter isdedicated to informingour readers about news,upcoming events andissues in the life of theCollege.

350 Spelman Lane S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30314www.spelman.edu

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Spelman Holds Groundbreaking ConferencesIt’s Our Turn

n May 12–13, 2004, Spelman made history when the Center forLeadership & Civic Engagement (Spelman LEADS) convened“Women of Color – Legacy of Leadership in the 21st Century: It’s

Our Turn,” a national Leadership Symposium & Conference on Spelman’scampus. The first conference focused on the unique issues of women ofcolor ever to be convened at a major college or university, the event broughttogether a cadre of nationally renowned scholars and leadership experts andpractitioners.

The tone of the conference was set by the opening session, “The State ofWomen of Color,” featuring Dr. Kumea Shorter-Gooden, co-author of Shift-ing: The Double Lives of Black Women in America. Her address was fol-lowed by a dynamic discussion among an esteemed panel of scholars –“Gender Schisms and Other ‘Isms’”: The Deadly Intersections for Women ofColor. Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, C’66, director of the Women’s Research &Resource Center, the Anna J. Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies, and theco-author of Gender Talk, moderated the panel. Additional panel discus-sions included “Intergroup Dialogue: The Next Frontier of Leadership” ledby Dr. Patricia Romney, clinical/organizational psychologist and presidentof Romney Associates, Inc.; “Mentoring and Sponsorship for Women ofColor,” moderated by Dr. Jane Smith, C’68, CEO, Business and ProfessionalWomen/USA; and “The Call to Lead: Strategies for Collaborative LeadershipModels and Initiatives,” a leadership summit roundtable discussion led byPresident Beverly Daniel Tatum and featuring Dr. Ella Bell, co-author ofOur Separate Ways: Black Women and White Women and the Strugglefor Professional Identity.

On Thursday, the conference shifted to the Georgia World Congress Cen-ter. Dr. Julianne Malveaux, economist, nationally syndicated columnist and

noted speaker, gave the morning keynote address “Having Our Voices Heard:Women of Color in the Twenty-First Century.” The Honorable Shirley ClarkeFranklin, mayor of the city of Atlanta, was the luncheon speaker at theWomen of Color Legacy of Leadership Awards Luncheon where she receivedone of the LEADS awards. In addition to numerous workshops and semi-nars, a daylong career & networking expo session featured representatives ofFortune 1000 Corporations showcasing their capabilities, products, servicesand employment opportunities. Spelman LEADS is led by founding Co-Executive Directors Kimberly Browne Davis, C’81, excutive on specialassignment from JPMorganChase, and Pamela G. Carlton, president and co-founder of Springboard, a highly innovative New York-based consulting firm.Morgan Stanley was the premier sponsor for the conference. ●

Learning From Our Lives, For Our Lives

n June 10–12, 2004, the Women’s Research & Resource Center atSpelman College in collaboration with SisterLove, Inc., a veteranadvocacy organization for African American women living with

HIV/AIDS in Atlanta, will combine forces for a groundbreaking invitationalconference entitled “Learning From Our Lives, For Our Lives – Women,Girls & HIV/AIDS in Africa and the African Diaspora.” In addition, the fol-lowing organizations will participate: Associaçao Cultural de MulheresNegras (ACMUN) in Port Alegre, Brazil; CRIOLA of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;and the Society of Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA International/SWAASenegal).

Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, C’66, director of the Women’s Center, noted,“Historically Black colleges and universities must involve themselves in oneof the most urgent health issues facing communities of African descent hereand around the globe. We should be teaching and speaking aboutHIV/AIDS, doing groundbreaking research on the pandemic and raisingawareness on our campuses about prevention and intervention strategies.We owe it to our students, our families and our communities to do every-thing we can to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS so that we can live healthy, pro-

ductive lives.”The conference themes include: (1)

curriculum development and servicelearning initiatives among institutions ofhigher education, especially historicallyBlack colleges/universities, as a precursorto training and preparing students for workin HIV/AIDS and other aspects of women’shealth and development; (2) stigma anddiscrimination at multiple levels and con-structive engagement of community norms

and societal structures thatprohibit individual disclo-sure and access to care;(3) global and regionalorganizing efforts amongwomen, men and youthinvolved in HIV/AIDS toimprove responses andinterventions at the com-munity level; (4) environ-ments that place girls andwomen at risk forHIV/AIDS. ●

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Director of the Women’s Research & ResourceCenter Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, C’66.

LEADS Founding Co-Executive Directors Kimberly Browne Davis, C’81 andPamela G. Carlton.

Above left: LEADS Keynote Speaker Dr. Julianne Malveaux. Above right:LEADS Luncheon Speaker & Award Recipient Atlanta Mayor Shirley ClarkeFranklin.

NEWS BRIEFS

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■ iona rozealbrown: a3 …blackon both sides, theoriginal exhibition atthe Spelman CollegeMuseum of Fine Art(January 22 – May14, 2004), attractedmore than 3,000 visi-tors. The theme a3,better known as the afro-asiatic allegory, exam-ined the current fascination with hip hop cul-ture among some Japanese youth and the trendof ganguro, the popular practice among highschool girls of darkening their skin and emulat-ing the entertainers whom they admire. Fromthe 45 works in the show, the art piece by ionarozeal brown entitled a3 blackface #65, 2003,acrylic on paper 85 x 59, has entered the Collegecollection.

■ The Center for Leadership & Civic Engage-ment Leaders on Leadership Speakers Forumpresented “Politics, Power & Foreign Policy: AView From Parliament” on April 14, 2004 in theAlbro-Falconer-Manley Science Center Audito-rium. The Forum featured Oona King, a Mem-ber of Parliament in London, England.

■ Effective July 1, 2004, the Atlanta UniversityCenter Inc., a 40-year-old nonprofit, is beingrestructured as the Atlanta University CenterConsortium. The new entity will continue oper-ating as a career-planning and placement serv-ice and dual-degree engineering program. TheAtlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W.Woodruff Library was incorporated as an inde-pendent entity effective January 1, 2004. TheLibrary Board of Trustees includes presidents ofthe participating institutions – Clark AtlantaUniversity, the Interdenominational TheologicalCenter, Morehouse College and Spelman College.

■ The Digital Moving Image Salon waslaunched on March 18, 2004, by the SpelmanCollege Women’s Resource and Research Center.The first presentation was “Reel Women,” ashowcase of award-winning films by Black

women filmmakers featuring the HBO docu-mentary on actress Beah Richards, “Beah: ABlack Woman Speaks,” by LisaGay Hamiltonand “Civil Brand” by Neema Barnette. The

evening of film screening and conversation waspresented in association with Professor AyokaChenzira, director of the Salon; Dr. BerniceJohnson Reagon, C’70, Cosby Endowed Professorin the Fine Arts and music composer for“Beah”; and the Center for Leadership and CivicEngagement.

■ After 35 years ofservice to SpelmanCollege, AssociateDirector of Institu-tional EffectivenessBarbara AnthonyBrown, C’67, willretire on June 29, 2004. Ms. Brown began hercareer path at Spelman as a secretary in theBusiness Office. After completing graduate workat Atlanta University, she held the position ofCounselor for Freshmen Students. In 1977, sheassumed the position of Director of Career Plan-ning and Placement. In this position, Ms Brownguided the career paths of Spelman women byintroducing them to non-traditional careers inthe areas of investment banking, consulting,and research, sales and marketing. She estab-lished SASE – the Spelman Alumna StudentExternship Program. She was instrumental increating and forming relationships with most ofthe corporate organizations that eventuallybecame the basis for the Spelman CorporatePartnership Program. Prior to her currentposition, Ms. Brown was the Coordinator of Stu-dent Activities, Associate Dean of Students, andInterim Vice President for Student Affairs. Inretirement, she plans to hold the title of “MasterGardener”.

■ In December 2003, Spelman College receiveda $1.5 million grant to establish and conduct a21st Century Community Learning Center atBrown Middle School in the West End commu-nity. “Project Nobility” has three major compo-nents – an after-school program, a summerprogram, and a family literacy and educationprogram. The project will involve 100 BrownMiddle School sixth graders and their families,and Spelman College faculty, staff and students.Spelman received one of 19 grants approved bythe State of Georgia Board of Education. Over aperiod of five years, Dean of Continuing Educa-tion Dr. Pauline E. Drake will administrate theproject.

During the 2004 Annual Scholarship Luncheon,Rev. Dr. Josephine Jackson-Smith, C’46, (aboveright) had an opportunity to chat with IvyWilliams, C’2004, a drama and dance major andthe recipient of The Erina Christian SmithMemorial Scholarship. Established in 1988, thedance scholarship is awarded annually by theThee Smith family in memory of Rev. Dr. Jack-son-Smith’s granddaughter.

Actress Advocate for HIV/AIDSActress Sheryl Lee Ralph posed with members of the Spelman community following her March convo-cation regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic currently taking the Black community by storm. Ms. Ralphhas supported this cause for more than 15 years through her DIVA Foundation. Nominated for a TonyAward for her role in “Dreamgirls,” Ms. Ralph is also well known for her role as the stepmother, Dee,on UPN’s hit series, Moesha.

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uring the Spelman Commencementheld May 16, 2004, at the New BirthMissionary Baptist Church in Lithonia,

Georgia, the College honored neurosurgeon Dr.Benjamin Carson, Sr., with an honorary degree– Doctor of Science. Dr. Carson, who gave thecommencement address, is the director of pedi-atric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins MedicalInstitutions. The author of three books, GiftedHands, Think Big and, most recently, The BigPicture, Dr. Carson gained international recog-nition in 1987 as the principal surgeon in the22-hour separation(and survival) ofthe Binder con-joined twins fromGermany. Recently,he was appointedby PresidentGeorge W. Bush toserve on the Presi-dent’s Council forBioethics.

Spelmanalumna MaxineAtkins Smith, C’49,civil rights activist,received the Doctorof Humane Lettersfrom her alma

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Stand-In In January 2004, The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.,made a surprise visit to Spelman’s “Racism andthe Law” class led by Associate Professor ofPolitical Science Dr. Marilyn Davis. Rev. Jacksonlectured on voting and civil rights for a newshow on MTV’s college network, mtvU. Theshow, entitled “Stand-In,” brings celebrities tocampuses to teach classes. His visit aired theweek of February 16th. Spelman was the firstschool to participate in the program.

■ From March 28 through April 4, 2004, Spel-man’s Independent Scholars (SIS) VisitingScholar in Traditional Knowledge Dr. VirginiaDavis Floyd, C’73; Danielle Phillips,senior women’s studies major; Noni Bourne,junior English major; and Shacara Johnson,C’2003, traveled to the Republic of Benin. Thegroup participated in the study tour, “Way ofRemembering – A Journey to Benin.” The SISstudents had an opportunity to interview elderwomen in the region as an extension of theirSpelman projects. The Way of Rememberingtour features a “Door of Return” experienceestablished in Benin to fill the gap made by theevents of slavery. Sponsored by PROMETRAInternational, the tour aims to build bridgesbetween Africa and the Black Diaspora. The FordFoundation grant, Giving Voice, supports traveland research in Benin for SIS. ●

2004 Spelman Commencement Honors RenownedNeurosurgeon, Activist and Community Servant

mater. Having served as executive secretary forthe Memphis Branch of the National Associationfor the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)for 33 years, Mrs. Smith recently received theNational Civil Rights Museum’s 2003 FreedomAward along with former President William Jef-ferson Clinton.

Earle Lee, director of the Boys Choir of Tal-lahassee and associate professor of social workat Florida State University, received the NationalCommunity Service Award from the SpelmanCollege Board of Trustees. ●

Commencement 2004 Honorees (left to right) Dr. Benjamin Carson, MaxineAtkins Smith and Earle Lee pose with President Beverly Daniel Tatum prior tothe commencement ceremony.

Science Fiction WriterIn celebration of the25th anniversary of herbest-selling novel, Kin-dred, African Americanscience fiction and fan-tasy author Octavia E.Butler gave a readingand a book-signing ses-sion on campus in Feb-ruary. Ms. Butler is the only science fictionauthor ever to receive the prestigious MacArthurFoundation fellowship. The Department of Eng-lish hosted the event.

BIG STEP: Spelman Commencement 2004When Rebecca Royster, C’2004, took her earliest steps on her first birthday in front of the pillars of Sis-ters Chapel – July 4, 1982, she became the poster child for the “Let her first step be towards Spelman”poster photographed by Director of Publications Jo Moore Stewart. Now, with a double major in bio-chemistry and French, Ms. Royster’s next steps will be towards receiving both bachelor of science andbachelor of arts degrees from Spelman College on May 16, 2004, a master’s degree in public healthfrom the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University (starting this fall), and eventually med-ical school. ●

The Next Step.