By William Masselli ~ Editor-in-Chief
On Feb. 24, the University of Lynchburg’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Chapter held Black Out Thursday to celebrate Black History Month (BHM), and it asked fellow University of Lynchburg students to show their support by wearing black on Thursday.
NAACP Faculty Advisor William J. Weikart said, “I would like to see it an annual thing for BHM because racism seems like the kind of thing that can resurface through the generations, sometimes in worse form, giving lie to the notion of linear/teleological progress (ie that things always get better in the future).”
NAACP Chapter President at the University of Lynchburg Tremaud Ware said, “What I hoped to achieve during Black Out Thursday is a perception of people gathering and walking around dressed in all black. This would bring out who does really support not just BHM, but also black citizens on campus in general.”
Ware talked about why more students should participate in this tradition next year. He said, “Students should participate more in this next year to advocate unity, wearing all black and supporting everyone who is the ethnicity of African American.”
Ware was not satisfied with the number of students that wore black on Thursday, stating, “I was not happy to be honest about the outcome. You know on Saint Patrick’s Day everyone will wear green, and we wear red on Fridays. With just one day out of February to wear black, I believe we can get everyone involved.”
Ware believes that his organization and his fellow students should be optimistic about his organization’s upcoming events, stating, “Events coming up are definitely getting to know more about the NAACP with a prize winner who gets first. We may also be planning something huge in the spring as well, with an event possibly being off campus.”
If you are interested in learning more about University of Lynchburg’s Chapter of the NAACP, please contact Ware at waret226@lynchburg.edu or Weikart at weikart_wj@lynchburg.edu.
