The Shape of the River According to Clark
by Dr Mamailu Moses
The Shape of the River According to Clark, not Twain Lawrence Clark was my brother, mentor and friend. At times, he was my “boss” and my colleague, and sometimes my leader and guide; an ever-ready guru who could tell and would tell “OURstory” at the moment’s notice. I met him when I entered graduate school at NC State in 1981. He was at that time one-half of a dynamic duo of Black Brothers upholding and maintaining racial pride and dignity on that campus. He was one-half of a passionate team that paved the way for so many at NC State (and beyond), through creative genius, dedicated and passionate persuading and pressure, and sheer will. I was well grown when I met Lawrence Clark, so one might ask what he could teach me. I quickly learned that he had much wisdom to give, and I had much to learn. For me, the most significant bit of wisdom was his paraphrasing Mark Twain as he admonished that “You’ve got to know the shape of the river.” Knowing “the river,” according to Lawrence Clark meant that one needed to take the time to thoroughly investigate every situation, to delve deep into the murk and mire of shoreline sludge, to sound out each crook and turn that pushes land out into sea where there should be no land, all the rough edges along the banks that surround an office, a project, or relationships. He taught me to be aware of where the high tide of criticism or the swift eddies of ill will might flow; to recognize one’s own depth in the river and that sharp rocks may lie underneath ready to rip the soul to shreds. Knowing does not make “the river” less treacherous, but because of this awareness, one should be more able to avoid the danger spots or safely and swiftly turn from harm’s way, steering towards a desired successful outcome. I watched this play out time and again as this learned elder, my mentor and friend, engaged in this necessary scrutiny, whether of a domestic administrative issue or an international instance of diplomacy. I reveled in the uncanny way he used the big picture knowledge he gained of “the river” to solve a problem or master a challenge. This concept has served me favorably as well, for it is true that knowledge is power. Knowing the shape of the river helps you to negotiate your dissertation defense committee; knowing the shape of the river helps you to know which colleagues are allies and which are foes; knowing the shape of the river affords you the time to “fight and run away; live to fight another day.” “You’ve got to know the shape of the river.” Thanks, Lawrence, for making that clear.
My Tribute to Gus
by Dr Mamailu Moses
“You have to meet this man.” That was my introduction to Dr. Augustus M. Witherspoon in 1981 during my first meeting with my doctoral program advisor, Dr. John Arnold, then chair of the NCSU Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “Well, just who was this guy?” I thought as I remembered the warnings of colleagues, “Don’t go down to North Carolina and get into trouble.” That warning was because I had been a teacher/parent/community activist, and likely to get myself “into trouble” over some cause or the other. So, a few days later, I trudged over to Holladay Hall, and there I met Gus Witherspoon. Little did I know at the time that I was meeting a man who would become a friend and confidant for life. At that first meeting, we talked about the things I had been involved in in New York City: mothering, teaching, protests, strikes, picket lines and such. We talked about my leadership in various organizations, and he asked about my path to a doctoral program at NC State. After a short while, the conversation turned to the Black presence at State and his desire that I should attend the next Afro-American Graduate Students Association meeting. That name was to be our first friendly conflict. Always ready to support the cause of my people, I made sure to show up at the first meeting of the semester. Remembering my NYC colleagues’ warnings, I kept quiet for all of about 15 minutes. The next thing I knew, I was on a committee and three years later I became president of the Association for the Concerns of African American Graduate Students (ACAAGS). We had sparred about the term Afro-American long enough for me to win that battle. Gus kept careful watch over me throughout my graduate school career and gave advice when I asked for it. We had many long discussions and shared personal stories of pain and success. He was my friend and buddy. I frequently went by his office in the Botany Department and left cryptogram notes not unlike the abbreviated text language and symbols used today. He always responded with something silly of his own. Nearing the end of my graduate school career, he invited me to become an advisor of the undergraduate African American Heritage Society. Little did I know that this would lead to some of the most inspiring and meaningful moments of my life. Planning anything with Gus Witherspoon was always a drawn-out process. EVERYTHING, I mean EVERYTHING started with a rationale. And we wrote many together: for ACAAGS, for the Heritage Society, and later for every program of the African American Cultural Center, his special baby. There was equally mindful deliberation for every part of whatever the program, event or activity. He was a master at that. We spent many long hours together, planning, arguing, making up, eating, just talking or quietly sitting together as his time to leave us drew nearer. I remember getting home one morning around 3 a.m. after having kept Cookie up listening to us go on and on. But I knew it had to be done. The cause was the right one, and he wanted to give me the strength and the tools to carry on in his absence. For every single moment I feel blessed and forever grateful for Augustus M. Witherspoon, my mentor, my brother, my friend.
My tribute
by Dr. Dennis Rogers
WOW = Wonders of the World. Has it been 30 Years? No way. Yes Way!!! We were all so vibrant and full of life. To have shared that time, space and place with each of you, with everyone we encountered on the trip was magnificent. I know I lived in my mind during the physical movement, and thank the Creator for Drs. Lareya and Pettis who exposed us to Wole Sonyinka and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in African American Literature Class. Also, the teachings of Drs. Na'im Akbar, Yosef ben-Jochannan, Ivan Van Sertima, and Charles S. Finch, III provided us with intelligent Global Positioning Systems (iGPS) to circumnavigate the oppression of miseducation regarding Christopher Columbus discovering America (he was lost) and Amerigo Vespucci (for whom America is named) exploiting economically the land and its people. We rose above such thoughts with the teachings and the presence of Drs. and Mrs. Clark and Witherspoon. Like the Pharaohs and Queen Mothers they were, they provided a balanced experience for us to bear witness to. Does everyone remember the passport stamps to Amsterdam, the Nigerian Airport, and arrival to Lome, Togo and the Village du Benin where the top student spoke 27 languages? Bruce Bridges reminded us it was the earth not the airport tarmac that was Mother Africa/Kmt. To say the experience we shared was a life-altering moment would be an understatement. We certainly shared a unique set of circumstances, organized, funded, and accomplished by many hands and many minds. Thank all of the unsung heroes and sheroes that made it possible. Asante Sana. The English language and even the Bantu Kiswahili we learned (and the little we remember) have limited words to express the sentiments and thoughts that bubble up upon recollection of us on the continent. Does anyone remember the intergenerational symphony of voices that sang "Welcome Home?" The chorus of spirit brought tears. Not as many as Elmina Castle and the door of No Return. Tears, Prayers, Prayers, Tears. Let me wash my face in order to continue writing here. Does anyone remember the black out and seeing Jimmy Cliff (The Harder They Come, The Harder They Fall) at the Novotel in the lobby? Well for me the experience of a lifetime with all of you 25 student leaders, 25 administrators, faculty, staff and parents provided a blueprint for what would become future endeavors to recreate that special moment in time and space for me as an individual and us as a collective unit. I've repeated the experience and have taken college students to multiple cities in Egypt, Spain, Italy, Rome, France and Morocco. Moreover, the lessons learned (i.e Who Am I? Am I Who I say I am? and Am I all that I can be?) have been foundational to subsequent experiences including but not limited to serving on the National Youth Organizing committee of the Million Man March, and serving on the Board of Trustees of my alma mater, Howard University to name a few. From small seeds mighty oaks grow. Who would have thought that since 1989, President Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. would have been elected twice and Hampton, VA would serve as ground zero for the 400 Year Commemoration of Africans Arriving in North America? Moreover, that many and groups like the NAACP would do a reverse trip and go back to the door of return. Drs. Clarke and Witherspoon were certainly upholding a tradition that we all inherited by virtue of our shared experiences. It has been wonderful to hear and see some of our fellow travelers building careers and businesses, being the vice president and president of universities, on YouTube doing Ted Talks, in museums enjoying the beautiful art of Ernie Barnes, in DC whistleblowing, in Virginia being professorial and providing the CBCF with leadership and on WSHAFM upholding the community of Raleigh, NC. It will be an honor and a pleasure to see you all again and think upon the beauty, elegance, grace and wealth of knowledge you have seeded upon the earth and in the minds of others. In the spirit of our venerable ancestors, "Continue the work; that’s how you properly pay tribute...continue the work." Kwaheri until Friday, November 8, 2019 Bro. Dennis B. Rogers, PhD
He got me into Graduate School
by Mr. Kwame Gyamfi
Dr. Witherspoon asked me about my future plans after I graduated from undergrad at NCSU. I told him that I didn't have any real plans other than finding a job and paying off my student loans. He encouraged me to seek graduate school and I told him that I did not believe that I could be accepted with my undergraduate GPA. He stated that he would talk to the Dean of the International Studies program about taking graduate courses at the McKimmon Center under the Continuing Education Program. I accepted Dr. Witherspoon's challenge and took the graduate courses and was later accepted into a Masters program in Technology and International Development (MTID). This afforded me the opportunity to apply and get accepted into the United Nations Internship and Fellows program in New York, NY. I worked in the United Nations Center on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) -EMPRETEC HQ Office. There I met policy makers such as Paul Wessendorp, Chief of the UNCTAD Investment Division and the late Secretary-General Kofi Annan. This experience soon took me back to Ghana where I worked for the former Ghana Ambassador to the United States, Alan John Kyerematen; when he headed the United Nations EMPRETEC office in Accra, Ghana in the mid 1990s . The United Nations Internship Program was one of the most competitive international internship programs for graduate students due to the level of competition from other graduate students all over the world. I will forever cherish and credit the completion of my Masters Degree and United Nations experience to Dr. Witherspoon. If it wasn't for Dr. Witherspoon's persistence and encouragement, than I never would have had the CONFIDENCE to fill out the NCSU Graduate School application, complete my Masters Degree and be apart of the United Nations Internship and Fellows Alumni program. I will be forever thankful for Dr. Witherspoon's wisdom and guidance at seeing something in me that I didn't see in myself.