This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
AN INTERVIEW WITHJohn Payton


JOHN PAYTON WAS A 22-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHEN POMONA TODAY, THE COLLEGE PAPER, INTERVIEWED HIM IN JULY 1969. THE INTERVIEW IS REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION FROM POMONA COLLEGE.


34


JOHN PAYTON, WHO WILL GRADUATE ONE SEMESTER BEHIND HIS CLASS DUE TO ILLNESS, IS ONE OF OUR BRIGHTEST STUDENTS. A National Institute of Health scholar as a freshman, he has changed his major from pre-med to zoology to history to math (“all of which I thought I could be good at”) to English (“which I like”). He is spend- ing the summer teaching teachers as part of an institute on student involvement at Pitzer College.


Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL THE BLACK STUDIES CENTER IN CLAREMONT COMPARES WITH PROGRAMS THAT EITHER EXIST, OR ARE BEING SET UP, IN OTHER AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?


A: T at’s somewhat diffi cult to answer, since our Center doesn’t exist as yet, and for the most part, neither do any of the others. Realizing this I would say that our center has the most fl exibility and a minimally acceptable budget, which gives it the best chance to be the best.


DIVERSITY & THE BAR® JULY/AUGUST 2012


Q: THE ORGANIZATION OF BLACK STUDENTS INTO GROUPS LIKE OUR BLACK STUDENTS UNION HAS TROUBLED MANY WHITE PEOPLE. IT SEEMS LIKE A RETURN TO SEGREGA- TION, A TURNING AWAY FROM SUCH LITTLE PROGRESS AS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARDS INTEGRATION…


A: Let me make some distinctions. Segregation, as it has been and still is, is enforced by power and guided by rac- ism. It’s a product of racism and black people have no choice as to its existence. It has been harmful because it’s insult- ing, degrading, and oppressive. What is occurring among black students today, in the form of BSU’s and other organi- zations is not segregation, but aggrega- tion. We choose to be together and that is a very diff erent thing.


Q: HOW “TOGETHER” ARE YOU? WHAT TRUTH IS THERE TO THE RUMOR THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL BLACK STUDENTS ASSOCIATION?


A: First of all, there is no national organization of black students or Black Students Unions. But the


implication of the question is that if there were such an organization it would constitute something hor- rible. T e fact of the matter is that the oppressive situations which black students in particular, and black people in general, fi nd themselves in this country are remarkably similar. And this is a well-known fact. T is is a racist society no matter where you are in it. T us the similarity between black student demands and proposals around this country is due mainly to similar circumstances. And speak- ing specifi cally about our situation, we wrote to other black students and faculty, we asked them what they were doing. To so grotesquely distort the issue by asking what is wrong with black students is rather indicative of the tenor of this country. T e ques- tion to be asked is what is wrong with this country, and the answer has been around for a long time. As long as this country has. Putting us down as a conspiracy is the easy way out. It turns us into the “enemy” in a “war” to be fought by “law and order.” It evades the issues, the ideas, and the facts. It is based on fear and racism, not reason.


MCCA.COM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52