It seems that our original suggestion that Texas Southern University’s alumni should follow Prairie View A &M University’s example and actively work to run a counter productive president off - struck a nerve. There of course, were some negative response to our articles, but the positive feedback was not only overpowering, but convinced us that we might have underestimated the Black community’s sense of history and how much they value tradition.

Just as Willie Lynch suggested, there will always be brainwashed African-Americans who will identify more with their oppressors than their brothers and sisters in bondage. They are the Black people that usually say, “We,” or “Us,” when talking about America, or even their places of employment. We speak of the people whose e-mail asks: “Why are you trashing TSU? Don’t you know that’s just what the White people want you to do?” In their “it’s mine” programmed minds, they fail to grasp the concept of no pain no gain, when it comes to removing cancer to save a life. And, if truth is the scalpel, AAN&I (Black Americans’ editorial voice) is obligation to perform the operation.

On the other hand, those who truly love TSU, no matter how much, or how long it’s been suffering, are willing to do anything that they can to help it get better. Without a doubt, Kay Hall (a former student and TSU employee) didn’t share her scathing letter-- in our June 19-25, 2002 edition-- because she had an ax to grind. It was her love for her alma mater that moved her to help us, help her school. Apparently, many other former and current TSU students were embolden by Hall’s letter, because we have been flooded with information from employees and students, who desperately want to see TSU be the best it can be, including Chris LeBlanc, TSU alumni’s national treasurer.

But, before we use any more of the large volume of data (including facts and figures that have been mailed to us since we opened the can of worms about Dr. Priscilla Slade’s administration), We Must Understand that TSU isn’t just another Historical Black College or University (HBCU), or a venerable Houston institution. It is, indeed, a historical treasure. A historical treasure that’s well worth our community fighting for, whether you attended it or not. And make no mistake about it, TSU’s alumni and friends who take on the evil in high places that could care less about its great history and tradition of excellence have a helluva fight on their hands.

Other than very disturbing letters from two members of TSU Police Department, the most interesting letter we got was downright poignant. The fact that it was handwritten added to the impact of the letter that reasoned naively: “I don’t see why it’s so difficult to straighten out things at TSU. Why can’t we have people who attended TSU and are proud of their alma mater’s heritage on the board of trustees? Why can’t we have a former TSU student as president? Why can’t the TSU alumni, and people who really love the school be included in the process of selecting administrators and trustees? Why do we allow outsiders, who care little, or nothing about our school’s history and tradition continue to come in and hurt it?”

Unfortunately, all of the above are good questions. If there is someone out there glad that somebody asked, they surely aren’t among the movers and shakers who have the answers. The letter writer was absolutely convinced that neither UT, A&M, or any of the other great “White” institutions in these United States of America would dare allow outsiders to come in and destroy the tradition of their great institutions. Naturally, we have no way to prove the letter writer’s assertion across the board. Nevertheless, we can say that in Texas, it’s a matter of politics. Members of the board of trustees at state supported institutions are appointed at the discretion of the Governor.

We’ve been told in the past, that appointments to university boards are prestigious rewards for supporting the political party in power. And for that reason, when the Republicans are in power, TSU’s board of trustees is definitely going to be predominately Republican. Why doesn’t the Texas Legislature change that special agenda law? Your guess is as good as ours, but you can always ask your state reps. Meanwhile, this is a one person - one vote Democracy, so let’s not be so quick to think that our naïve letter writer isn’t political astute. There are many problems that plague our society that appear to have simple solutions.

For instance, why don’t Black voters make it a top priority to defeat mean- spirited, possibly evil judges who deal with out children caught up in the criminal justice system so harshly? An even bigger mystery is why nothing has changed after Rep. Harold Dutton, Jr. passed a law that made it possible for ex-felons to vote. Ex-felons, for some reason, have yet to organize effectively enough to make racist judges lose one night’s sleep worrying about their vote. As simple as it sounds, it’s obvious that there is something very complicated that prevents African-Americans from taking control of our own destiny. If education or voting is the key, then why aren’t all of our educated people voting?