Inside this Issue • MLK Day of Service: Celebrating a Day “On”
• A Message From a Student Association President Hopeful
• A Black History Year?
• Minority Advice by Mr. O’wisman Kno-itall, The Hip Hop Columnist
• The School of Hard Knocks — Southside DC • Tips to a Healthy 2006
Volume 1, issue 3 February, 2006
• “Shades of Blackness” The Black History Celebration Calendar
MLK Day of Service: Celebrating a Day “On” During his lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. longed to see the day when people from various walks of life could come together and tackle major community issues. He encouraged so many people to join one another in acknowledging dignity and respect for all human beings. Above all, Dr. King realized that everyone would ultimately be united through service, which would help alleviate many tribulations that affect people of every race and background. King once said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” Each year hundreds of thousands of people become living testimonies of Dr. King’s quote by marking the King Holiday through volunteer service. The 20th Anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday has continued to be recognized as a “day on” and not a “day off”. Instead of relaxing at home, shop-
ping, or working, many remembered and memorialized Dr. King by participating in service projects in their communities.
helped sanitize and paint the building for the 1,300 men, women and children that live there.
The GW community celebrated the Holiday by participating in the annual MLK Day of Service Project. More than twohundred students from various organizations and groups served at the Center for Creative NonViolence and DC Central Kitchen.
Sophomore Shannon Holmes said, “I would have liked to see more AfricanAmerican students participating in the MLK Day of Service, but I was happy to see students that represented the greater GW community devoting their day to service, which is what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for.”
The day began with registration and students received t-shirts with a quote from Dr. King that stated, “Our Lives Begin to End the Day We Become Silent about Things That Matter.” This quote was buried in the minds of the students as they rode the metro to the shelter. Upon arrival, volunteers were dispatched to different locations in the building where they prepared meals for the homeless and
A Black History Year? “For this is your home, my friend, do not be driven from it; great men have done great things here, and will again, and we can make America what America must become.” ~ James Baldwin Throughout the month of February there will be countless black history celebrations nationwide. The traditionally acceptable black names will be dusted off and prominently displayed on college campuses, public schools and various other politically correct venues. Even here at GW a strong sense of African American pride and social awareness will surface and for a short while we all will “realize” the dream. What’s wrong with this picture? What’s wrong is that as February will inevitably fade away, so will the ardor and determination to establish the importance and future of African Americans in this country. What’s wrong is the bitter after taste February will leave when we find ourselves in March, just as we were in January, forgetful of our past and blind to present social injustices. Imagine the progress we would have made had we clung to our compassions last February and worked diligently up until this one? Imagine the pro(Continued on page 2)
GW’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. awards ceremony was held on Jan. 26th. This year’s award recipients were chosen for their exceptional commitment to leadership and service. The recipients were Abby Charles, Stephen Harris, Lina Musayev and Trinh Tran. Erica Washington
THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS — Southside, DC DC is no different than any other urban environment with regards to problems that persist in educational equality. DC is changing. The demographics of historically registered communities are changing, as some argue, overnight. To claim that DC is a melting pot is stopped dead in its tracks when you cross the Anacostia River. For those who recite songs of justice in public, I implore you to truly question your personal value systems. Life is about priorities. I cannot think of a more important priority to be role models and mentors for the children of the District of Columbia. The School of Hard Knocks does not admit the faint of heart. If you personally claim to be about making a difference, there are young people waiting and eager to meet and learn from you.
The Higher Achievement Program is a nationally recognized after-school pro-
gram for academically motivated 5th to 8th grad-
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BLACK ACE
(Continued from page 1) BLACK HISTORY YEAR
gress we still can make if we turn this Black History Month into a Black History Year, a Black History Decade—if we allow ourselves to stop marginalizing our history and force this country to acknowledge it as a part of the American experience. Let’s use this Black History Month to create a bright future. Let’s put ourselves in a position such that next year we will be studying the history we made this year. We need something more to celebrate. SharryAnn Gonzales (Continued from page 1) THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS —Southside, DC
ers. The Higher Achievement Program offers rigorous instruction on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3 to 8 pm. The Higher Achievement Program has received praise from George W. Bush, President of the United States, and been acknowledged by the Washington Post. The Ward 7 Higher Achievement Center is in need of mentors, and especially African-American/black mentors. Located at 4601 Texas Ave., SE Washington DC (Benning RD Metro- Blue
TIPS TO A HEALTHY 2006 The most common New Year’s resolution for most was to lose weight and exercise more. With the freshman fifteen, limited time and adapting to the GWU menu of fast-food, this goal might appear overwhelming. Being healthy is a lifestyle that includes both good eating habits and exercise. Although eating well has great benefits it has been well documented that exercise has key benefits which eating well cannot provide. One of the most important benefits is a healthier heart. Exercising at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time helps the heart maintain stability under stress, reduces high blood pressure, and reduces the chance of getting heart disease in the future. If 30 minutes of continuous exercise seems too long at first, begin with 20 minutes of exercise at least 4 times a week. While producing the same benefits, you will eventually be able to do 30-minute workouts in a very short time. The only thing to keep in mind is to maintain a high pulse the entire time. Along with these findings, a research study done by Duke University also found that although eating healthier produces some weight loss, exercising will also increase the rate of weight loss. A study done by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies also found that brain cell proliferation results from exercise and exposure to stimulating, or varied environments. It was previously thought that brain cell proliferation was very limited in adult mammals, so this is an incredible finding to consider when you need motivation during the slumps in your exercise routine. And yet one of the most common myths about exercise is that it is a substitute to eating healthy. It is not a substitute. However, the two in combination enhance each other. It is a good idea to at least glance at the revised food pyramid for detailed information at www.mypyramid.gov. Recently the food pyramid has been improved significantly to incorporate individual variations. On that website, you can see a personal recommended diet of the nutrients you need. Generally speaking, the National Institute of Health recommends that lean cuts of meat are much better than processed meats. They advise increasing the amount of fruits, whole grains, and low fat diary products in your diet. And finally they suggest avoiding foods high in saturated fats, eat less pastries, and keeping in mind that it’s always better to bake your own pies and cakes as apposed to buying them from stores. Hanan Wasse
Line), Plummer Elementary is where tomorrow’s leaders are truly cultivated. Led by center Director Yvette Tucker, the scholars of the Ward 7 Higher Achievement Center are instilled with a fervent sense of identity, self-worth, respect, and community. Ninety-five (95%) percent of graduates from HAP attend four year institutions of higher learning. It is imperative that you, the leaders of GW, set the example for the scholars to follow, when in the years to come, they are in your shoes. "To get involved with the Ward 7 Higher
Achievement Center and the new student organization, GW Mentors, email gwmentors@yahoo.com. John Muller
A Message From A Student Association President Hopeful Martin Luther King once said “that the most radical act that AfricanAmericans could engage in is to assert the full measure of their citizenship.” In the sprit of our heritage, I have decided to continue asserting my full citizenship within our University’s community. Accordingly, with the great faith of the GW colonials, I plan on running for President of the Student Association, and I have chosen Sen. Kirk Haldeman (SOB-U) to be running mate. I look forward to, once again, meeting with you and listening to the issues and concerns that are at the forefront of our community. Friends, this is the most important election of our time at GW. The stakes are high. Under our current leadership, the Student Association has lost the simplest values of fairness, opportunity, and community. Also, we are Colonials who have lost control of our most basic form of student government, our Student Association. When our Student Association proposes unfair bylaws—it hurts the GW community. When our Student Association creates additional unfair bylaws that put our student organizations in the middle of petty politics and secret back door negotiations—it hurts the GW community. However, we are just as guilty, when we, as Colonials, don’t care that our Student leaders are making it difficult for Colonials to actively participate in our community and when we can only talk about what wrong our Student Association has committed and not include in the discussion of what good some individuals work to provide—then we really hurt the GW community. Let’s take back our Student Association. Kirk and I will stand up for our small organizations—like we did last week on behalf of student groups. Remember, this isn’t only my cause, this is our cause—together we can make a better GW community. Lamar Thorpe
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
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Minority Advice by Mr. O’wisman Kno-itall, The Hip-Hop Columnist Hip-Hop for President?!? “I had to take off the blazer, loosen’ up the tie, step inside to booth, Superman’s alive…” -Jay-Z Question: Ok, you ask, why Jay-Z? Why not Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? After all it is around that time, you know King’s birthday and all and we all know that the Black Student Union is prepping up the biggest, most well orchestrated Black History Celebration for the months of February and March, so why not go the conventional route and quote King or any other influential black figure from our past? Answer: Why not? Because the last time I checked the year was 2006. And while we need to show respect to our past, we can also agree that the community needs to begin to understand the nature of our present. And the fact of the matter is that the present is very much Hip Hop. Dollars talk and by now the community should have taken notice of Hip Hop’s presence in mainstream America. A man like the Brooklyn born Shawn Carter is the perfect candidate for our generation’s civil rights/progressive “Man” award. I mean we all know about the musical and pop culture accomplishments, but even socially speaking who has influenced or embodied the way our generation felt, acted or behaved more so than Hip Hop’s parade of ghetto characters? But Moving on…Whether its Jay-z or Colin Powell, black culture needs to re-examine its social definitions for words such as ‘success’ and ‘role-
model’. We need the civil right’s generation, a.k.a. the baby boomers, to embrace this movement of ours and invest in it. It seems that corporate America has cashed in and taken enough from the art form but we as a global community have yet to give back to it. But let’s talk progression…Isn’t it time for a Hip Hop political party that demands and receives respect? Isn’t time to have our Hip Hop brethren voicing their opinion on the floors of Congress? Isn’t it time for the women of our generation to stand up and redefine the phrase ‘phenomenal woman’? Isn’t it time for us to educate our artists so that they can provide better and more entertaining subject matter? Yes, Yes Yes!!! Does that mean that I condone everyone rapping or hustling to make it to the top? Or am I saying the entire community needs to go into the field of entertainment? No, No No! If you look more closely I’m saying that we as a community need to strengthen ourselves. We need to foster more Jay-Z like successes. We need to catch on to the right trends while recognizing that second place just isn’t good enough anymore. And finally, the community needs to adopt the “I will not lose attitude” adage provided by Mr. Carter. And while everyone may not be able to burgeon into a $500 million dollar man, like Mr. Carter, maybe we can develop some more Dr. King’s {and insert here} civil rights leaders as a by-product of sustained success. Closing Thoughts…No disrespect to the civil rights movement, but America doesn’t exactly change because of protests anymore. We have long reached a time where Hip Hop music is becoming more of a reflection of black culture even more than soul food and religion. We need to capture this diamond in the rough, shine it up, then refocus it and set the precedent for a more better, more hotter, and more accurate vision of what it means to be black in this country of America. Mr. O’wisman Kno-itall
Black Ace
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
A Newsletter By Us. Created to own our voices.
CORETTA SCOTT KING “A Woman of Dignity, Strength and Accomplishment..” April 27, 1927 — January 30th, 2006 Photo taken from http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/photocredit/ac hievers/kin1-006
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MLK SERVICES Saturday, January 21st – MLK Day of Service ~ Contact the Office of Community Service at ocs@gwu.edu or the MSSC at msscares@gwu.edu. 5PM – MLK Candlelight Vigil – Kogan Plaza ~ Contact Student Activities Center at sac@gwu.edu
February 12th 3PM – “Platanos and Collard Greens” Marvin Center Grand Ballroom Advance Tickets $3 At the Door $5 Contact Lambda Upsilon Lambda at lambda@gwu.edu.
January 26th 7PM – MLK Awards Ceremony Marvin Center Grand Ballroom ~ For more information, please contact the MSSC at msscares@gwu.edu
February 15th 6:30PM – Panel Discussion: “Real Questions, Real Answers: Cultural Diversity in Today’s Workforce” Marvin Center 413 ~ Contact the GW Career Center at gwcarctr@gwu.edu.
February 13th 6:30PM – Special Lecture: “MLK vs. Malcolm X” 1957 E Street
9PM – Wacky Wednesday Cultural Café Featuring Quiet Rage and Bernard Collins Jr. ~ MVC Pub
SPIRITUAL SERVICES January 29th 10:30AM– Christian Worship Service Mt. Airy Baptist Church
February 16th 8PM-11PM – Word Up! Bible Study’s “Gospel Café” Marvin Center Hippodrome ~ Contact Word Up! at wordup@gwu.edu.
February 3rd noon – Muslim Worship Service Majid Muhammad
February 21st 7PM – Annual Soul Bowl Marvin Center Hippodrome
February 4th 6PM – Jewish Worship Service GW Hillel
February 22nd 7PM – Discussion: “Jazz and the DC Renaissance” HR-57 Center for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues – 1610 14th St., NW. ~ Contact the GW Williams House at gww@gwu.edu.
NAACP Events February 6th-10th – NAACP Founders Week ~ Contact the GW NAACP at naacp@gwu.edu. February 24th 7PM – “IPod Shuffle” NAACP Annual Soul Revue Marvin Center Grand Ballroom ~ Contact the GW NAACP at naacp@gwu.edu. BHC Events January 31st 7PM – “It’s Blackademic!” Game Show Marvin Center Betts Theatre February 3rd 7PM – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Annual StepShow Lisner Auditorium ~ Contact Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at aphia@gwu.edu.
February 26th, 10AM-1PM – Jazz Brunch Marvin Center Grand Ballroom February 27th 7PM – REAL Conversations “Out of the Closet” Marvin Center 414 ~ Contact REAL Conversations at real@gwu.edu February 28th 7:30PM – Keynote Speaker – Lana “MC Lyte” Moorer MPA Building – Jack Morton Auditorium March 3rd 7PM – Taste of Africa Marvin Center Grand Ballroom ~ Contact the OAS at oas@gwu.edu. March 4th midnight – Semi-Formal Boat Cruise Odyssey Cruise Boat