By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All:
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| DOC Hamilton with (l-r) Anthony Montiero, Dwight Murph,Joe Williams, Me |
Today, October 15, 2021 is the Birthday of Dr.Charles V. Hamilton, political genius, former general counsel to SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to those who are historically challenged); Doc Hamilton Co-Authored BLACK POWER, along with Stokely Carmichael/ KwameTure. The book was entirely researched and written on Lincoln's campus, using interns, and experts who would come to the campus to document research and concepts.
He was the
iconic head of Lincoln University's Political Science Department Black
in the Day - His dynamism was legendary, and in our eyes our own
personal SuperMan - he was always impeccably dressed; could teach Black
history and politics in a classroom filled with students waiting to get
the latest update on the issues in the racist south, during a post
Kennedy/Malcolm X Assassination America one minute; and at the same time
be jumping on a jet, flying into Mississippi (goddamn) to rescue civil
rights activists and SNCC members from certain death after having been
arrested for standing up for the rights of Black people, and have that
ever present distinguished pipe with him. Doc Hamilton put the "C" in
Cool!! And remember, Black then, we had no cellphones, no computers, no
internet, it was just basic one one one and clandestine communication.
It was a privilege to be in his class. Of
course, as a Co-Ed, I was totally, but respectfully, smitten by this
Fine Black Man, who made smoking a pipe look like a work of art. He
could debate you on anything without getting rattled or upset; but took
great pride in the fact
that his students used their critical thinking
to solve the problems of the world from a BLACK perspective. He was the
catalyst that brought African and African American students together
to begin to take on the challenges of liberating Africa.
When I was a student at Lincoln University in the 60s, along with my fellow activist brothers - Sam Anderson, Anthony Montiero, Paul Moore, Carl Owolowo Johnson, Dwight Murph, and others Lincoln U was Black Power Central - with such Black Luminaries as Stokely Carmichael, H. Rapp Brown, Ralph Featherstone, Alfred Moleah, and others coming to meet with him and strategize on a regular basis, the next plan of action for the revolution.
It was Doc Hamilton who brought Stokely Carmichael to Lincoln University's Mary Dodd Brown Chapel - named in honor of the assassinated president Lincoln's widow - to first enunciate BLACK POWER in November, 1966 - before 600+ enthralled Black students. We heard for the first time BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL - AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO BE BLACK! Stokely laid it all out for us - loving our hair, our skin tone, our colors, or rhythm, our culture, our heritage, our MOTHERLAND - It was Doc Hamilton who made that happen - and sit back and watch proudly as we resonated to the feeling of being legitimized through self love and self acceptance.
It was Doc Hamilton who stood with the students
and guarded the grounds of Lincoln University when the racist KKK
threatened to come on campus and burn it down. He was armed to the
teeth, as were several of our other brothers, and prepared to make them
regret any incursion on our sacred grounds. Apparently they got the
message - while they burned a cross a few miles down the road - none of
them crossed Lincoln's boundaries.
As students we loved Doc Hamilton and his brilliant and lovely wife, Dona - we couldn't get enough
of him. He stood between those who were still currying favor from
caucasoids, and those of us who embraced our Blackness worked to help
others to do the same. Doc Hamilton was and is the TRUTH!
There were times when we were around him and it literally felt like we were on Holy ground. Our African Brothers learned so much from him, took that knowledge back home, and began to work to bring about changes in their own counties. Doc Hamilton has that effect on us - he did then, and still does now.
In 87 we gave him a reception in New York, during his tenure at Columbia University - just to make sure that he know that this was more than respect - this was love.
Today he is 92 years old. He was honored this
past spring at Lincoln University's Commencement - and was just as much
on fire as we was Black in the Day. I doubt that there is any one of my
classmates who did not have a Doc Hamilton Story or Doc Hamilton
Memory. And No doubt the love we had for him then is just as strong
today.
So....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DR. CHARLES VERNON HAMILTON
I/WE SALUTE YOU AND LOVE YOU - NOW AND ALWAYS
AT 92 YOU ARE STILL A FINE BLACK MAN
STAY BLESSED &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
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| Gloria DULAN-Wilson - LU'67 |
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