University of Virginia Library

The academic year 1970-71 has
marked probably the most profound
change that this institution
has seen in its existence. Paramount
in this change has been the addition
of a record number of Black students
to the University community.
Black people are now engaged in
pursuits in all facets of University
life from athletics to high level
scholarship.

This increase in the number of
Black students at the University
was brought about by efforts of the
student body of this institution, the
government of the United States
through H.E.W. and the administration
of this school. The increase
was ostensibly welcomed by this
institution. However, recent events
have brought to light the true
nature of the attitude of this institution.

On one occasion Black male
students who are prominent at this
institution because of their prowess
in athletics were stopped and
questioned by a University official
as to whether they belonged on
University property. Black women
have been called derogatory names
by workers at this institution. Black
male students have been stopped by
Charlottesville city police in the
area near the fraternity houses and
queried for the IDs, while inebriated
white youths stumbled by.
Each of these particular cases
focuses on the implicit aspects of
the University's welcome to Black
folk.

Evident are all the classic attitudes
of white folk concerning
where Black people belong and
what they can and should aspire to
do. The true meaning of Black
males being stopped is not lost on
Black people of today. We recognize
that deep inside, the white
man expects us to lie, cheat, and
steal. And by realizing that, we
recognize as well that our existence
at this institution is viewed by
many as the antithesis of what
Virginia is all about. In short the
subtleties of our welcome is not
lost on us.

Recognizing the above we solicit
the University in helping us avoid
having to make the overtness of our
presence both felt and known. We
wish to make it clear that just
because the University of Virginia
has not been the scene of Black
action in the past, this is no guarantee
that the same will hold for the
future. There are only so many slips
of the tongue which we can or will
allow, there are only so many wry
faces that will be overlooked, only
so much indirect pressure that will
be allowed to pass unchecked.

Black people have lived with the
subtleties too long already. Virginia
now has a true community of Black
folk who are "for real" in every
sense of the expression.

We challenge Virginia to deal
with the subtleties, for the step
beyond that is grappling with the
Blackness.