By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Wow! It's finally almost here! May 14, 2022 marks the 55th Anniversary of my graduating from Lincoln University!!!
55
Years! And thank GOD there are still those among us who are here to
celebrate it!! We've maintained contact and friendships throughout that
entire time - when most marriages don't even last that long - we've
remained friends and still RABBLING ALONG! We've honored each other,
commiserated with each other; celebrated each other - and, above all,
maintained love, loyalty, protection and support for the Alma Mater that
brought us together, and without which we might never have attained
what ever greatness we have managed to acheive: LINCOLN UNIVERSITY.
We've
lost a few LIONS along the way. But their spirits, energies, and fond
memories remain with us. And some of us have kind of retired and
resigned ourselves to sedentary living. But most of us are still alive,
kicking, awake, aware, and definitely involved. The Pandemic didn't
touch us too badly. Though the meanstream media tried to make us feel
that we had one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel - we
continued to call, email, text and Zoom each other anyway.
I
have to give much high praise and Kudos to my
Soror/Classmate/Sister/Friend Carol Black for always maintaining the
conduit to communication, and the channel through which this Reunion of the Mighty Emeritus Class of 1967 is
coming together again for our 55th year! She's the glue, the
inspiration, and the motivation for us all - and has been ever thus for
the entire span of the 55 years after receiving our degrees. There is
none to equal her, and none to surpass her love for us. She has to know
that we love her back. Also much thanks to the ever present and
supportive Robert "Rob" Johnson, whose unquestioned devotion to Lincoln
has yet to be equaled or surpassed. And the sage and calm insight of
Baxter Smith, who were/are the three anchors that keep us involved in a
Family Circle that is now even more secure and positive.
I
came into Lincoln midstream in 1965, as a rising Junior - having
transferred in from Hampton Institute (now University) - actually after
having been kicked out of Hampton for being too militant. LOL. It was
the at the height of the Civil Rights Era. My classmates at Hampton and
I had planned to join John Lewis in Selma, AL to cross the Edmund
Pettus Bridge, but Jerome Holland, then president of Hampton threatened
to expel all students who participated. So we locked him and his staff
in the Administration building for 3 days, until we got student rights,
and "amnesty" for our actions. He waited until the end of the school
year to kick me and 19 other classmates out anyway! But GOD blessed me
actually because He knew I needed to be at Lincoln where I would thrive,
grow, and become part of a lifelong family of scholars, activists,
geniuses and Friends.
Every so often I stop and say "Thank you, GOD for sending me to Lincoln University!" And He answers back: "YOU'RE WELCOME!"
Unlike
Hampton, Lincoln was so innovative, iconoclastic, and student
oriented, they took all the conventionalities and dumped them upside
down! Black in the day at Lincoln, our grades went from 1 through 5,
where 1 was Excellent or "E" (equivalent to an A). When we got E's -
which stood for EXCELLENCE instead of an "A," you somehow felt better
that you were "Number One!" Also where a 5 or a nickel, also indicated
that someone was not attractive, or too bright - the guys would throw
nickels at a young co-ed, or someone who fit that description. It was
fun Black then, but probably wouldn't go over too well in our current
age of over sensitivity. But we had a lot of fun with it and wouldn't
change it for the world.
Lincoln
was known for RABBLE - a code was developed long before we got there,
that could apply to nicknames, events, or attitudes. Nearly everyone on
campus had a Rabble name they answered to (whether they liked it or not)
- so much so, we had a difficult time identifying the person by his or
her true individual name. If someone asked us about a particular
classmate, we'd most likely not know who they were talking about, unless
their Rabble name was mentioned as well! There are Rabble Names I
could mention now that would start my classmates relating stories and
legends about Black in the Day at LU. Rabble was so deep at Lincoln
that one of our earlier classmates actually wrote a definitive book on
LINCOLN RABBLE!
Below is a quick test only for My Class of 67 LU classmates only! Who are/were the following?
Ma Renwick
Sissies
The Boomer
Vis a Vis
LA
Mackie
Shabby Foster
Kissie
Pickles
Bwana
Cool Breeze
Schloopie
Oodie McGruder
OD
Doc Roberts
Spider
Fighting Material
Old Lady
Feel Free to add others below
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When
I entered Lincoln U, it was a small, private Black University - with
600 male students who were living in one gigantic man cave - no
sidewalks, no street lamps, no amenities - just raw, masculine genius,
hiding on the Baltimore Pike, just 3 miles north of the
Pennsylvania/Maryland State line, and a stone's throw from Rising Sun,
MD - head of the KKK.
In
1965, because of financial difficulties, Lincoln decided to open
their doors to female students on campus - there were several who were
commuting, but not residents. 1965 was also the year I was expelled
from Hampton. In the fall of 1965, when there were absolutely no
colleges providing late admission - especially since my name had been
circulated to most of the Black colleges of the day - Lincoln University
not only admitted me, but covered my tuition as well - thanks to the
blessed intervention on my behalf of one its favorite sons: Jay Johnson
(popularly known as Ja A. Jahannes)! One of Lincoln's eternal icons.
Making this a very short story - I was the maid of honor to Jay's first
wife, Ann - who had been my best friend at Hampton. When he learned of
my expulsion, he interceded in my behalf at Lincoln U, to the then
registrar, Dr. Kuehner! And the rest is a wonderful history. I became a
lifelong member of the Lincoln University Family: 600 wonderful
Brothers - and now 16 Co-Ed Sisters - from
all over the United States, the Caribbean, and AFRICA - on a small, but
wonderful, close knit campus full of multicultural wonders, off the
beaten track. We originally were housed in the Alumni House, because
they hadn't fully designated dorm space on the campus. There was a lot
of effort to get the guys to show some respect and deference for us
females, who had deigned to enter into their man cave! It was hilarious
watching faculty and staff trying to get them to act as "gentlemen" -
including wearing a "tie" during Sunday breakfast and dinner. We used
to lend our suffering fellow classmates our scarves, because many of
them would fall out of bed into the cafeteria for breakfast still in
their pajamas.
But
here we were, away from prying eyes, negative mindsets, and racist
activities, we spent our time researching and learning about our Black
history; cultivated cross cultural collaborations with our Brothers from
South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, the Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia - all of
whom were freedom fighters, refugees escaping caucasoid domination also
known as colonial rule. They had come to Lincoln to educate themselves
and return home to help their brothers and sisters from oppression. In
solidarity with them, we had animated discussions, devising
imaginative means by which we could dispose of them and turn the
Continent into the motherland of the future. (We were onto Wakanda
Forever long before it became the iconic beacon that galvanized our
imaginations in 2018). Many of our classmates have indeed retuned to
Africa and taken their places in leadership, while there are those who
have remained here in the US and made their mark here as well!
I
am proud to say that many of those rough cut brothers who were my
classmates at the time, are still close personal friends today!! 55
YEARS LATER!! Remembering the great times when we would be "fighting
material" - and would sneak across the back fence to Sissies to grab a
cheesesteak, a hoagie, and something to perk us up, to go back and Ace
the test! The Philly Runs, where we would pile into any car heading down
the pike to party and come back and do it again. The horrific smell of
mushrooms growing in the mushroom farms that surrounded us. The tons
of books our instructors would load us up with, as though theirs was the
only class - Shabby Foster, Doc Hamilton were particularly guilty of
that (LOL).
But
more importantly 55 YEARS AGO I SAT IN A POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASS WHERE
THE GREAT DR. CHARLES V. HAMILTON WAS PROFESSOR AND MENTOR to a number
of would be Revolutionaries! Dr. Charles V. Hamilton - then the legal
counsel for SNCC (the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee)- and
chair of the Political Science Department, was a walking, living
breathing Icon! Without a computer, cell phone, or any of the modern
technology, he stood forth and taught about political expediency, the
Supreme Court, Congress' responsibilities, our rights and
responsibilites; and tactics for obtaining our freedom (first starting
with the mind). As legal counsel for SNCC, he would frequently have to
fly down to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, or some such racist backwash
state, to litigate in behalf of our Brothers from SNCC who were standing
up for our rights - get them out of incarceration so that they could
continue to do the good work. 56 years ago, Dr. Charles V. Hamilton and
Stokely Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture`, collaborated, researched, wrote
and published the book BLACK POWER: The Politics of Liberation in America!
on the campus of Lincoln University, PA! The first definitive analysis
of the most powerful movement for Black empowerment ever written - and
it happened on our campus! I claim bragging rights.
I
also claim bragging rights for having attended the world's first HBCU;
where Thurgood Marshall got his start while he partied and pulled pranks
with his fellow classmates. Ironically, I met Thurgood Marshall while I
was an usher at Hampton's 1965 commencement, and had an opportunity to
(very shyly) talk with him. Little did I know that I would soon be
attending his Alma Mater. At the time I had no idea that Lincoln even
existed!! Coincidence? I think not! GOD was definitely up to something
when he caused me to have 15 minutes to talk with the greatest Supreme
Court Justice, activist, and humanitarian ever. Lincoln's influence
upon the world through this great man is undeniable!!!
I
claim bragging rights for not only having attended the world's first
HBCU, but the only HBCU to have given Africa, our Motherland, two
presidents: Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, class of 1939, and Nigerian
President Nnamdi Azikewe ( or "Zik") who graduated in 1930, and, in 1935
advised a young Kwame Nkrumah to attend Lincoln because he said he
wanted to learn how to liberate his people. And guess what - He did
just that!! On March 6, 1957 he fulfilled that dream. Nkrumah was a
constant contributor to Lincoln, sending us many beautiful African
artifacts - Ashante Gold Weights, Ashante stools, carvings, masques, and
other items. I was fortunate to have worked as the assistant to
curator, Dr. David Gunn - and had the privilege to catalogue, and put
these treasures on display in our very own African Museum. Black then,
Lincoln was the only Black college to have one!
I
claim bragging rights for having attended the same Alma Mater as
Langston Hughes - wow! Having grown up reading all his stories and
poems from childhood - how fantastic was it to not only attend his Alma
Mater, but to have met him while he served as poet in residence for six
weeks!! I was awestruck! We've since named our library in his honor.
Not only that, Hughes brought with him that most fabulously Fine Black
Man - Ron Milner - playwright/producer of "What The Wine Sellers Will
Buy," "Checkmates," and "Don't Get God Started," taught some of our
literature classes while serving as writer in residence. And you can
best believe nearly every one of us 16 co-eds were in those classes just
hoping he'd pass an eye in our direction.
To
have teachers such as Dr. Farell, and "Shabby" Foster, who were
instructors in the classroom, and mentors outside of the class; who
loved and cared enough for us that they took time to make sure we were
displaying our highest and best talents. What a wonderful experience!!
They stood by us, chastised us, complimented us - but above all,
protected us - even to the point of standing between us and the KKK that
had threatened to come onto the campus to destroy it. Our professors
stood, armed to the teeth to make sure they did not enter LU's gates,
even though they erected a burning cross miles down the road. Do you
wonder I consider this my Family??
At
Lincoln U we met Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., who told us to KEEP THE
FAITH BABY, after having been expelled from Congress for being too
powerful and Black; Stokely Carmichael, H. Rapp Brown, Ruby Dee,
Sidney Poitier, Cecil Elombe Brath, Gus Dinizulu, The Grandassa Models
(First Black Models to model African clothing and wear natural
hairstyles), Tom Mboya, Langston Hughes, Ron Milner, Muhammad Ali, -
and so many
other wonderful, powerful blessed examples of the highest and best we
can be and are as Black people- and who are indelibly imprinted in my
memory and on my heart!
It
was at Lincoln University, in 1966, that I started wearing my hair
Natural - or Afro - thanks to the needling and nagging of my
brother/friends Sam Anderson, Paul Moore, and Anthony Monteiro - who
said, it was an act of defiance and Black solidarity to show my natural
beauty instead of frying my hair. An throwing off the degenerate
alliance to a white beauty standards that had been imposed on Black
women for decades. As a result, my best friend Maxine Stewart and I
were the first to wear our hair natural Black then. Actually Maxine was
first and I was second - but only after having seen how fabulous the
Grandassa Models looked! I've been wearing my hair natural and Happy
Nappy ever since. Of course my Mom, Ruby Love, was horrified and
scandalized - in Oklahoma during that time, it would have been better to
have been caught naked as a jaybird, than to come out with nappy hair!
As a result, she decided to not have a family portrait because I
wouldn't "straighten" my hair.
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| That's me in 1967 Posing for my Senior Picture with my Natural |
Black
then, in the late 60s, Dr. Charles V. Hamilton taught what we called
"Hamiltonian Politics" - not to be confused with Alexander Hamilton, or
the play "Hamilton!" It was the post 1963 Kennedy Assassination, and
post the repuglycon's attempt to defeat President Lyndon B. Johnson.
After he "betrayed them" by passing the Civil Rights Act and the Voting
Rights Act, putting together the Pell Grant, the College Work Study
Program, Model Cities College Placement Programs - all designed to level
the playing field for Black people. Dr. Charles V. Hamilton's Rabble
Name was "Vis A Vis" (vees ah vee), because he used the phrase so
frequently, would hold forth in such an enigmatic manner, we all felt as
if we were entering a vortex of knowledge. After each class we would
walk across the campus spouting Hamiltonian philosophy amongst
ourselves. To this day there are still those of us who quote him
chapter and verse; and treasure those days when he would stand in front
of the class, pipe in hand, and drop knowledge all over the place.
Among those pearls were "Lyndon Baines Johnson accomplished more in his
first 100 days, than President Kennedy has first year." Other students
would cut classes, and jam into his classroom - after his having come
back from facing down raving racist in the south - to hear the "Hamilton
Report,"or at least that's what we called it. Telling us every detail
of what was happening "down there" in the South. He was frequently
visited by Stokely Carmichael, H. Rapp Brown, Ralph Featherstone, and
other leaders of the Black Power Movement - on a clandestine basis (or
so we thought until someone blew up a vehicle headed to Lincoln with
Ralph Featherstone in it, thinking that H. Rapp Brown was the
passenger. Those were exciting days at Lincoln. And I claim bragging
rights to the 55 years of loving memory. But the most wonderful thing of
all is that our living legend, Dr. Charles V. Hamilton is still with
us; and still full of fire at the age of 92 years; and is as handsome as
ever!! We will be saluting him during our 55th Anniversary ceremony.
I
claim Bragging Rights for Stokely Carmichael's annunciation of BLACK IS
BEAUTIFUL, and BLACK POWER, for the first time on Lincoln's campus, in
1966 - at the invitation of Dr. Hamilton. Before a standing room only
audience at Mary Dodd Brown Chapel (named in honor of Abraham Lincoln's
widow - and the site for so many historic events) we listened intently
as he debunked and rebuked all the negative lies told about and to Black
people for centuries by former slave monsters; as well as those who
continued to try to hold us down. The thrill of Stokely Carmichael
standing before us, with Doc Hamilton sitting proudly on the sideline,
as he told us that Black is Beautiful, that we were Beautiful because
we were Black we are Black! and that there was no such thing as an
"illegitimate child - we all come out the same way!" The entire
auditorium stood and applauded and cheered. He exhorted us to stop
calling ourselves, and call ourselves Black from that day forward. It
totally changed and transformed us in so many ways. We knew were in a
privileged space - and Lincoln was truly hallowed ground - we were the
continuity and prodigy of so many of our Ancestral classmates who had
distinguished themselves long before we arrived! We felt we were
carrying forth a sacred tradition of being the First.
I
had the privilege of being peer counselor to African student refugees
from non-independent African countries - such as South Africa, where
apartheid was running rampant, and Nelson Mandela had been recently
incarcerated, giving rise to the ANC, and liberation movements among
Black students. We had a Pan-African Student Union - comprised of
African, African American and Caribbean students. I can't tell you how
many times we solved the problems of Africa, got rid of colonial
monsters, and taught our brothers and sisters how to develop Africa for
Africans, while sitting in the student union building drinking hot
coffee, or beer, or wine. At least a third of the student population at
Lincoln at that time was from Africa - thanks in part to the good
offices of the late Tom Mboya, Kenya's Minister of Justice, who sent
many African students from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, and
other surrounding areas to Lincoln, and other HBCUs. So we had no lack
of African culturalism (thank God!!!) - we danced to traditional
African music (Hi Life), learned songs, instruments, etc. We had one of
the few Varsity Soccer Leagues, that defeated most of the surrounding
private caucasoid teams. I never missed a game, whether on campus or at
another college - that is Black colleges. Segregation still prevented
us going to such campuses as Farleigh Dickinson to show our support for
our guys, who, by the way placed second in the Nationals! Additionally,
we still partied, plotted & planned for Africa's liberation, and in
doing so, bonded forever. While many of our African cla have
fulfilled their promise, and returned home to make a difference; others
have sadly made their transition to the realm of African Ancestors; and
we have many who are still here in the US, making a contribution
through their talents, wisdom and knowledge.
Black
then, Lincoln operated on an open enrollment, trimester basis - so
students could drop out for whatever reason, and as long as they were in
good academic and financial standing, they could pretty much start
where they are, or start where they left off. This was pretty helpful
for those students who had been drafted or had participated in some part
of the VietNam invasion (not really a war folks, even though the media
tried to claim that it was). Many a student dropped out to avoid the
draft; and dropped back in after they were able to claim conscientious
objector status. Some came back shell shocked, but determined to
continue and complete their education - only to find that, while they
were fighting in Vietnam, Black people in America were being
victimized. Such was classmate John Huggins, who after realizing this,
dropped out and went to participate in direct action against racism,
joining and activist group in California.
Black
then, classmates like Gil Scott Heron and Randy Cain were exercising
their creative chops - and we, the all knowing smart alecks that we were
- would laugh at them and tell them to get their degrees. Randy Cain,
who was a member of the Delfonics, was tall, quiet, handsome, shy, and
had a pretty decent voice. But Gil!!?? We couldn't figure out what kind
of voice he actually had. At the time it seemed to be all over the map
- and he was all wiry, thin skin and bones - hence his Rabble Name,
"Spider" stuck with him to the day he died - So happy they didn't listen
to us, and followed their own dreams, and have become the legends we
know, love and look up to, to this day!
Black
then, because there were only 16 CO-EDs on the campus, when we had a
major event or party, guys would bring their dates in for the weekend
from other nearby colleges - they were the Cheyney Debs, Delaware Debs,
etc. Needless to say, though, we, The First Sixteen, never lacked
dance partners, suitors - and would party all night!! Also needless to
say that had my dad found out that Lincoln U was an all male school - I
would have been dragged out of there!! But the most wonderful thing is
that I got to have 600 brothers for life.
Not only that, I had sisters for life, who were likewise accomplishing great things. Especially Carol Black, who, along with Maxine Stewart and Sandra McGruder, got together to bring a Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
onto the campus; and went back and forth to Delaware State to pledge
Delta, and charter it on the campus!! This while carrying their full
complement of classes, and maintaining a high GPA! And they did it!
Zeta Omega Chapter was established! They made it happen!! While I can't
claim bragging rights - I was carrying 21 credits a semester - I was in
awe, and supportive at the dedication with which they pursued this
marvelous goal. (Thank God for Grad Chapter - I pledged Delta nearly 20
years later.)
Though
only a few will be with us in person for the occasion of our 55th
Anniversary - others will be with us virtually via Zoom! We're all
truly looking forward to seeing each other in the flesh, face to face
(with or without masks) - just to feel that energy and love only we can
bring to each other.
This
homage may have gone a little off the deep end - but then, at 77, I
have every right to memorialize some of the more wonderful times of my
life. And to honor those who have made it so special along the way. I
am also adding that our fellow classmates of 1966 - Sam Anderson - and
those who graduated in 1968 and 1969, Beale Morgan, Patrick Henry, Eddie
Davies, Tom McGill, the late Naib Iscandari, Hidipo Hamutenya, are as
much a part of the Lincoln Rabble Spirit and family for me, as my
classmate of 1967. I'm Blessed to know them all!
PS:
I forgot to mention that my youngest daughter, Adiya Wilson, is a
Lincoln Alumna, and I have a very handsome grandson, Jaden WR Harrell,
who is a rising Junior. Trying to keep it in the family.
So CONGRATULATIONS
TO MY FELLOW CLASSMATES OF 1967 - THOSE WHO HERE AND THOSE WHO ARE IN
HEAVEN!! HAPPY 55th ANNIVERSARY TO US ALL!!
HAIL! HAIL! LINCOLN!!!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
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| Gloria DULAN-Wilson -LU EMERITA CLASS 1967 |
