Please take a look the misleading article at http://respectthecocks.blogspot.com/2007/09/gamecock-gazette-usc-band-gets-beatdown.html

The article is in regards to the battle of the bands between SCSU and USC last weekend. I am sure you know from sports news stations, USC won the game by a huge score despite SCSU scoring first and ending the half behind only 17-3. While I am very proud of the way the game was played and SCSU's Marching 101 Band, I remain concerned with a perspective that still permeates in state in 2007. Read for yourself and share with me.

With respect to the battle of the bands, the S.C. State Marching 101 Band received a warm reception and performed well. The actual written documentation of their performance (the article) and the so-called response of the USC band director is suspect to many. While entertaining to some, and actually appreciated by several if not many, many find it to be an utterly ridiculous, unsophisticated and uneducated public accounting of the course of events reflecting negatively on African-Americans, the Marching band, alumni, etc.

By the way, there were a whole bunch of folks who look liked the majority of alumni from S.C State that were wearing gamecock colors and paraphernalia. I mention that because there is history that was made on that day last Saturday, yet there is still work to be done regarding cultivating relationships within both communities.

I am extremely concerned by the comparison to "Little Richard's appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show." And let's not forget how it frightened the Century level 50-yard-line seat holder.

When some of my older relatives were growing up and little, their parents would never allow them to dance in front of people outside their race. Their parents did not want them to be perceived as buffoons. Certain things were to remain private. With that said, I do not find anything wrong with our band performing in the tradition of bands from HBCUs; but I am extremely uncomfortable with folks in SC thinking that we again can only be minstrel show performers and nothing else. At least that is how I perceived the article. Again, I am perplexed by the necessity of writing such an article that definitely lacked substance and purpose.

What remains a mystery and interesting indeed is my understanding that this article was written PRIOR to the game. It was on a blogger Web site that spews racism.

Now you know the rest of the story! It was also purposefully misleading. One would have thought that it was written by an African-American. Context does make a difference. Maybe I'm wrong!

Please check out the beautiful sounds of the Marching 101 Band at http://www.myspace.com/marching101band

-- Cristopher E. Jenkins Jr.

Orangeburg (SCSU 2005)

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