WRITE ON! [Continued from Page 41] Dear Editor ‘As both a Black woman and a 1i- brarian, fam delighted with Au- gust's "Bring It Down Front". T think the library is a vital part of education and knowledge, and We as Black people can certainly Utilize its services for the 1ib- eration of our minds. ‘Sharon Howard Dayton, Ohio Dear Editor: s "Bring it Down Front," by B. J. Mason (Sept. '74), was definitely something to think about. Each Black actress should really ex- ‘azine the roles she is asked to portray, and stop thinking pri- marily of money. Black pride is ‘avery beautiful thing. Beverly Basden Bronx, N.Y. Dear Editor: B. J. Mason's "Bring It Down Front” was one of the most ing articles I have read, The: so-called Black goddesses ha ? [Continued on Page112] ne novenner* faire REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS AFRICAN ‘TContinued from Page ts) “We de value human life, but we are algo, concerned with the child’s chances for survival Ifthere was a famine or wat, ‘we used our ways of birth control. How- ever, if the mother was too far advanced in pregnancy, she carried the child to birth and destroyed it immediately, rather than to allow the famine or war to do so, So now, we must maintain such standards. While Vm in school, if 1 should become pregnant, I need simply 0 to the doctor and pay him 35 cedis (635) s0 he can take it out.” “What about sex education? Does the Ghanaian mother teach her daughter about sex?” “Ah, yes. Many mothers take their daughters into the bush, and show them how to obtain the most enjoyment from their clitoris. My mother showed: me exactly what to do, and how 1 was supposed to feel. We believe sex should be pleasurable to the woman as well as the man, and unlike the Muslims of Ghana, and other parts. of Africa, the animists and Christians do not circum- cise their women.” gic ‘Acting fairly. uncool, 1 blurted out, “What is circumcision?” The gitl looked at me and matter-of-factly replied: “They cut off the clitoris 36 the woman never knowg hat an orgasm isike, and rec Cece) re eery iS EST C a IBRAWOMAN! Reni Gis waver wp age Tl, Sen cating Ii eupponed to here hier sirgnty, but the men, a ssl, ome up wth a way to ge through” "AEs ‘Ajous was right about talking toa ‘arinty of people. The edication that I began recetving was remarkable. Deny: ine the library one day, stopped sister mused Florence and asked her wy she hose aellege education over the adl- ional ie Z vi ee endence’ Ghanaian wore have been too dependent on men: That {eine from our tradition of polygamous saaviage "While polygamy. ellminated prosittion and homosexaalifuntl Tre Europeans changed that=it had many shortcomings! Some wives, were {rented better than others, and this led us tp believe we were nothing but baby Bakers and pleasure peces to the men tn the villages, many women ae stl gino polygamous marriage. They may be ne but ten or 100 wives ofa chief. 1 dont want that Asan educated woman, iain cating such ties with tradition. rant o have one husband whois married fo me I believe In that aspect of Ghvistian faith” Se Gn the following aernoon, L mt the _Faypical, woman Ajoun had prophe- siol ayeane Ga woman named Chi fins pasted se was British. What tndued.oas a debate about identity Sf peer wigs because 1 dont ike inky Bai,” she aN conte ‘on Page 86] 83