Racial unity focus of seminar

By Jennifer Umaña
Daily Forty-Niner

Skin color is not a factor for the 21st annual Black Consciousness Conference to be held this Friday through Sunday at Cal State Long Beach.

"It's open to all students ; red, yellow, black or brown," said Akira Jackson, the first vice president of the Black Student Union, the student group hosting the conference.

This year's conference offers opportunities for students to become involved in improving racial and ethnic relations. All scheduled events focus around the conference's theme: "Unity makes a strong community."

"Basically, we just looked at the overall view of the black community," Jackson said of how the theme was chosen. "It's a new millennium. To have a strong community you have to have unity."

The conference opens Friday at noon in the University Student Union multi-purpose rooms. Throughout the day participants will have the chance to see a film, a martial arts demonstration and a talent showcase.

Derrick Chase, founder of the Universal People Improvement Association, will lead conference attendees in ice-breaking activities at 4 p.m Friday. The association's philosophy is to encourage self-reliance, self-confidence and self-determination with support from others.

The highlight of the Friday's events will be a speech from Pastor Donald Bell, Jackson said. Bell will deliver the evening's keynote address at 6:30, focusing on relationships between black males and females.

"[Bell] is known for bringing out hundreds of people," Jackson said. "I've heard he's a dynamic speaker."

The conference begins Saturday at 8 a.m. with a mini-conference for children. Saturday's events include three keynote speeches and three workshops.

Chuck D of rap group Public Enemy will be the keynote speaker at Saturday night's Jamaican-theme banquet. Chuck D is currently developing three projects: a multimedia Web site a charity organization, "Rapper Educating All Curricula through Hip Hop;" and Public Enemy's next album.

The conference continues Sunday morning at 9. The final day of the conference concludes at 7 p.m. with a keynote speech from Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor in the CSULB Black Studies department.

The conference will feature an African-theme marketplace all three days. All events are free, except for Saturday evening's banquet, which is $10 for CSULB student and alumni and $12 for general admission.

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