Black History Month ends: Black women artists honored in exhibit

Black History Month ends: Black women artists honored in exhibit

exhibit, kappa alpha psi, black history month, black history week

Article reviews am exhibit during Black History Month that focused on a number of WCU african-american women on campus and their achievements. The event was sponsored by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Rosalyn Jackson

Quad Angles

West Chester University

March 6, 1979

Jacquelynne Conyers-Jordan

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https://digital.klnpa.org/digital/collection/wcnp01/id/16667

Black women artists honored in exhibit Black History Month ends by ROSALYN JACKSON Correspondent The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. sponsored an exhibit in honor of "Black Women In Light of Their Achievements." The exhibit honors Black History Month. Eight outstanding women from West Chester's campus were chosen. These women include: Barbara Black, Venezula R. Proctor, Ruby Johnson Jones, A. Jasmin Thigpen, Cynthia S. Nash, Beverly S. Renfrow, Lucille R. Morgan, and Theresa M. Dent. Black is an assistant professor and coordinating counselor at West Chester, also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Proctor is a junior majoring in Criminal Justice who presently holds the position of Basilus (pres.) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta lota Chapter. Jones was the first Black faculty member to join the staff at West Chester, in addition to being the co-sponsor of the Student Christian Association and a representative for the Human Relations Council. She did much to ease the racial tension that prevailed throughout the sixties. Thigpen, a junior majoring in Social Welfare, is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and has been active in the Black Student Union for two years. Nash is a senior majoring in Social Welfare and she holds the position of first Vice-President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Epsilon Psi Chapter. Renfrow, a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education, was a member of the Varsity Cheerleaders and also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Morgan is a junior majoring in Social Welfare. She holds the position of president of the NAACP and is also a member of the Black Writers Club. Dent is a senior majoring in Elementary Education. She holds the title of Homecoming Queen for the year 1978- 79, and is active in the Black Student Union as Treasurer. A statement from Black relating to the exhibit said: "My related concern toward Black women is a result of my experiences and those with whom I have had the privilege of sharing the assets as well as the liabilities. I have had the experience of dealing with those who are considered famous as well as those who go unnoticed."She continued, "So often we pay tribute to only the famous but it is those women who often go unnoticed that raise our children as a minority. To them I would like to pay tribute for often they are only known as mothers or as those ladies. Black women, or minority parents. If our minority society is to go forward, it seems as though respect, honor, and tribute should go toward the fruit of their laborers as they have contributed much more than fine gold to our minority society." The display honored such noted singers as Billie Holiday and Marian Anderson. It recognized Wilma Roudolf and Alice Coachman for their outstanding track and field abilities. It brought to light some political figures such as Ethel Allen, city councilwoman at large, and Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, California's first Black Congress woman, elected in 1972. Nikki Giovanni, a noted poet, Shirly Chisolm, Corretta King and many more were noted in the display. The exhibit remained in the library throughout February. The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi put together a very interesting and inspiring exhibit, making a worthwhile contribution to Black History Month.