For The Last Poets, show goes on

and Amy Lipman The Last Poets, a radical poetry group active in the 1960s, sang and recited poems to a group of more than 200 people in the Christian Association auditorium last night. But the performance, sponsored by the African American Arts Alliance, almost never happened due to funding difficulties. The African American Arts Alliance asked Connassiance for funding three weeks ago, according to Earthseasia Slowe, the group's director. At the time, Connassiance President Jesus Guerrero assured her that the organization "had more money than it has ever had," Slowe said. "He sounded confident that the situation would work through," the College junior added. But Connassiance voted against the funding because "there was a concern about the number of people that would show up," said Society of Black Engineers Leader Joe Fergueson -- one of many campus minority leaders who advocated bringing The Last Poets to the University. In response to Connassiance's decision, several students faxed a signed petition to Guerrero, President Judith Rodin, Provost Stanley Chodorow and Director of Activities and Facilities Fran Walker yesterday in order to show that there was broad based support for the event. "It was a show of support regarding the event and that there were several organizations on campus that thought the event was worthwhile," Fergueson said. Guerrero said he was unable to comment about the situation until he talks with the Connassiance board. Last night, The Last Poets did perform despite the initial funding problems. Only one of the three men who performed last night was an original group member. There was never a moment of silence among audience members. The Last Poets' act consisted of reciting and singing poems, while the beat of the congo drums played in the background. The poems dealt with social ramifications of both being black in the 1960s and today's society. The poem called, "Niggers are Scared of Revolution," was the most famous and most shocking of the group's poems, many audience members said. One audience member questioned the use of the word "nigger" in this poem. Abiodun Oyewole, the leader of the group, explained its use: "We do not endorse the word 'nigger,' we just emphasize how 'niggers' are scared to change to black people." "When we stop using the term 'nigger,' we will then become a more unified and accepted group," Oyewole said during a question and answer session. Although the group mainly recited poems, it has also been credited with being the spiritual basis for rap. "We gave the spoken word a marketplace," said Oyewole. "We are not rappers, although rap has been said to be created out of what we did." Oyewole's son, College sophomore Oba Davis said his father impressed him during the performance. "I never witnessed my dad on this level of performance," he said. "I feel very proud."