Tuesday, June 27, 2017

COME HARD!

COME HARD! WHEN A BASEBALL GET HIT A BY A BASEBALL BAT, THERE IS LIFT-OFF. SUCH WAS OUR ENCOUNTER WITH DR. JAMES E, CHEEK IN SPRING 1970, AFTER THE STUDENT MURDERS AT KENT STATE, OHIO, AND JACKSON STATE IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. AT HOWARD WE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, HAD LIFT-OFF, AS PRESIDENT CHEEK: SUSPENDED FINAL EXAMINATIONS; GAVE STUDENTS THE OPTION OF ACCEPTING A "P" --FOR PASS--WITH CREDIT, OR THEIR THEN-CURRENT GRADE, WITH THE TWO WEEKS OF REMAINING CLASSES DEVOTED TO BLACK LIFE IN AMERICA DISCUSSIONS, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE COURSE. THAT HAPPENED WHEN A HARD BALL STUDENT LEADERS LIKE MICHAEL HARRIS, SAMUEL WALLACE, GARY AYERS, "JOMO" AND OTHERS HIT A HARD BAT OF CHEEK. WE NEED MORE SUCH KINETIC ENCOUNTERS, ENERGY BLENDERS IN 2017, WHERE EVERYONE COMES HARD TO THE BIG SHOW.