Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeremy Northum Students play the roles of prosecuting and defense attorneys during the mock trail, "The case of Blackman of America" Wednesday in Rudder Tower. [Click to enlarge]

The Memorial Student Center Complex Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee set up a mock trial of the People vs. the Blackman, titled "The case of Blackman of America," Wednesday in Rudder Tower.

The members of the WBAC acted as prosecuting and defense attorneys as they called multiple witnesses to the stand to interrogate them on the where the fault of the Blackman's image in the community lies.

During the mock trial, the Blackman was tried for breaking his contract to his community. The contract referred to was representative of the Blackman's commitment to his community and promise to not act in a selfish manner.

"The purpose of the trial is to facilitate a conversation where both sides can be expressed in an open environment," said chairwoman of the WBAC Josephine Sorgwe.

"I want people to be able to form an educated opinion on these issues and be able to understand their own beliefs, so I hope that our audience will go home and do some research of their own," said the junior political science major.

Witnesses ranged from professionals with doctorates in sociology to high school teachers they were questioned by both the prosecuting and defense attorneys with questions like, "Why are black woman outperforming their male counterparts?"

When the Blackman, represented by Brian Bolden, a junior construction science major, was called to the stand he explained the lapse in black leadership at times through family life, educational influences and the entertainment industry.

Acting defense attorney Leah Stockstill, a freshman political science major who is involved in the Encouraging Respect, Acceptance and Support through Education organization, said this event was more than an act.

"The first part of making a change is acknowledging it's out there. I hope people will see this as socially constructive and take it to an institutional level next," Stockstill said.

WBAC and ERASE partnered to put this event together.

"I came here tonight to support an organization who has supported me in the past," said Chiedozie Okafor, a senior biology major. "I can say the information that was presented tonight was presented in a manner that was more interactive and easier for people to understand."

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