DANIELLE MALOTT/Arizona Daily Wildcat A speaker at a workshop, the second in an ongoing series, talks at the Student Union Memorial Center last night. The series emphasizes the significance of historical race relations when looking at today's government actions.

Lecture stresses race relations' importance in U.S. foreign policy

Kwabena Stephan X believes that history has a way of repeating itself.

"Hasn't a whole lot changed?" Stephan X, a local activist, educator and poet asked. "We need to arm ourselves and be aware of what is coming."

Stephan X is putting on a workshop series in collaboration with the University Activity Board, in an attempt to raise the level of awareness among students about the connections between race relations and U.S. foreign policy.

A video documentary entitled, "All Power to the People," shown to 25 attendees at the workshop last night, chronicled the rise of the Black Panther movement in America.

The Black Panther Party was formed in October1966, as a way for African-Americans to determine their own destiny. The video mentioned attempts by the U.S. government to suppress the movement, as well as its ties to the deaths of prominent civil rights leaders like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.

"Seems just like things are today," said Wes Jauch, a Tucsonan who attended the workshop. "Except this time it is directed at a different race."

Stephan X described how he believes government actions such as the Patriot Act, the war in Iraq and the formation of media conglomerates are taking away the rights of citizens.

General Electric, which owns NBC and is a defense contractor, is using the media to sell the war to the American public, he said, adding that he believes this country was founded on terrorism.

"It happened through the genocide of one race (American Indians) and the enslavement of another (blacks)," he said. "The U.S. is the biggest bully on the block."

Students at the workshop also had an opportunity to discuss socio-political issues regarding the war. Some expressed fears over pro-war press coverage, while others talked about the military's efforts to recruit poor minorities, among other issues.

"Basically it's another case of white people trying to control colored people," said Rachel Pakulis, an elementary education junior, in reference to the war. "Except this time it is a different set of colored people."

Other students expressed a need for people of all colors to come together to create change.

"Everyone is being affected by racism," said Laurence Kimbrough, an independent studies junior. "Our survival depends on making changes."

Stephan X said the key to fighting racism is for people to expand their minds.

"People need to turn off the TV and pick up a book," Stephan X said.

Last night's workshop was the second in the series, which will take place over the next few weeks. For more information about the series, call 621-0760 or e-mail uabeod@u.arizona.edu.