December '16: LHC / GQ by The BLACK ACE Magazine

topic

table of contents 03

editors’ note

culture

editor-in-chief

Abeke Teyibo teyiboabeke@gwmail.gwu.edu

assistant editor Abenna Nuamah sabenaa@gwmail.gwu.edu

IMMIGRANTS IN OUR OWN LAND REAL CONVERSATION

copy editor

LATINAS OF EXCELLENCE

Leslie Ogu leslie0523@gwmail.gwu.edu

BEING AFRO – LATINA

keynote

photography

Devan Cole devancole6@gwmail.gwu.edu Lauryn Hill lhill4@gwmail.gwu.edu Sydney Lawson sydneynlawson@gwmail.gwu.edu

MARIA TERESA KUMAR INTERVIEW

art EL ARTE DE VIVIR THE ART OF EXPRESSION

opinion

promotional team Abenaa Nuamah sabenaa@gwu.edu

WHAT DO MEN REALLY WANT WHAT A MAN, WHAT A MIGHTY GOOD MAN

business manager

HOW TO GET A MAN?

Maxwell Young maxwellyoung@gwmail.gwu.edu

fashion STYLES OF MEN ON CAMPUS

creative director

campus

Angel Veliz sdotfly@gmail.com | www.sdotfly.com

THAT’S GAY

_______________________

REAL MEN, HOW MANY OF US?

faculty advisor Professor Robin Marcus

_______________________

social media

The Ace Magazine is funded in part by a generous grant from Generation Progress, a national organization that works with and for young people to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges.

We’re looking for new staff!

Email us personally or at thenewace@ gmail.com if you’re interested in writing, reporting, photography, design, publication, or simply in helping out the premier publication of the multicultural community at GW!

editors’ notes

The ACE Magazine’s purpose is to bring light to the accomplishments and events of those in the multicultural community. This semester, we focused on the events, accomplishments, and the struggles that pertain to the life of Black men and those from the Latino community. In this issue, we learn about the hindrances that society has brought upon them, and their constant battle for the recognition and justice that they equally deserve. Their history and accomplishments are appreciated. Striving for a better future is an important movement that is taking place at The George Washington University. The ACE is an ally in displaying the evident truth of history in the making. We hope that you enjoy this issue as it relates to the present and future of these communities. Enjoy. -The ACE

The Ace Magazine Mission:

The Ace Magazine connects the multicultural community to the university at-large with contributions from student writers and faculty members. Since 2008, The Ace has sparked discussion between campus groups furthering our belief that “we all have similar issues no matter our color.”

culture

IMMIGRANTS IN OUR OWN LAND By JIMMY SANTIAGO BACA

We are born with dreams in our hearts, looking for better days ahead. At the gates we are given new papers, our old clothes are taken and we are given overalls like mechanics wear. We are given shots and doctors ask questions. Then we gather in another room where counselors orient us to the new land we will now live in. We take tests. Some of us were craftsmen in the old world, good with our hands and proud of our work. Others were good with their heads. They used common sense like scholars use glasses and books to reach the world. But most of us didn’t finish high school. The old men who have lived here stare at us, from deep disturbed eyes, sulking, retreated. We pass them as they stand around idle, leaning on shovels and rakes or against walls. Our expectations are high: in the old world, they talked about rehabilitation, about being able to finish school, and learning an extra good trade. But right away we are sent to work as dishwashers, to work in fields for three cents an hour. The administration says this is temporary So we go about our business, blacks with blacks, poor whites with poor whites, chicanos and indians by themselves. The administration says this is right, no mixing of cultures, let them stay apart, like in the old neighborhoods we came from. We came here to get away from false promises, from dictators in our neighborhoods, who wore blue suits and broke our doors down when they wanted, arrested us when they felt like, swinging clubs and shooting guns as they pleased. But it’s no different here. It’s all concentrated. 4

culture

The doctors don’t care, our bodies decay, our minds deteriorate, we learn nothing of value. Our lives don’t get better, we go down quick. My cell is crisscrossed with laundry lines, my T-shirts, boxer shorts, socks and pants are drying. Just like it used to be in my neighborhood: from all the tenements laundry hung window to window. Across the way Joey is sticking his hands through the bars to hand Felipé a cigarette, men are hollering back and forth cell to cell, saying their sinks don’t work, or somebody downstairs hollers angrily about a toilet overflowing, or that the heaters don’t work. I ask Coyote next door to shoot me over a little more soap to finish my laundry. I look down and see new immigrants coming in, mattresses rolled up and on their shoulders, new haircuts and brogan boots, looking around, each with a dream in their heart, thinking they’ll get a chance to change their lives. But in the end, some will just sit around talking about how good the old world was. Some of the younger ones will become gangsters. Some will die and others will go on living without a soul, a future, or a reason to live. Some will make it out of here with hate in their eyes, but so very few make it out of here as human as they came in, they leave wondering what good they are now as they look at their hands so long away from their tools, as they look at themselves, so long gone from their families, so long gone from life itself, so many things have changed.

culture

REAL CONVERSATIONS: IMMIGRATION NATION By Lauryn Hill

n Monday October 10th, The Latino Heritage Celebration Committee had an event that consisted of conversations resulting around immigration, race, gender, socioeconomic status, generational gaps, and cultural practices. Immigration is one of the biggest talked about topics in American politics. Despite the controversy surrounding Latino immigration today, the conversation is necessary in order to dispel stereotypes and judgments that help create a social stigma towards immigrants in America.

Joshua Nunez, a recent GW Graduate, agreed with Otero by calling the stereotypes a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” which is a prophecy that comes true based off of the positive or negative thoughts occurring within that individual’s mind. He counters this statement, however, when saying, “For those of us who are immigrants, it’s very powerful to have those resources around us and use each other and our family.” Steve Hamburgo, a GW graduate, added to the conversation, “These stereotypes are a bit demoralizing. For instance, to be considered a successful Dominican, you either have to be a baseball player or a trap artist, and I am neither. People are going to think it’s their only way out.”

13.3 percent of people living within the United States are immigrants. Between the years 2013 and 2014, the amount of immigrants increased by 2.5 percent, which translates to one million. 46 percent of people living within the United States are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 35 percent of these people are immigrants.

One of the last questions that Sanchez asked was how immigrants find the bounds between maintaining their culture and fitting into their new lifestyle. Many people agreed on the notion that younger children are pressured to neglect their culture when it comes to being an undocumented immigrant. These reasons include: protecting their family, avoiding harsh judgments, and assimilating to American culture. One student witnessed a particular struggle in fulfilling these reasons with one of her friends.

Claudia Sanchez, a GW Sophomore and member of the LHC committee, moderated the event, Immigration Nation, and asked questions that allowed the general body to open up about stereotypes that have been imposed on them because of their ethnicity or nationality. Sanchez first asked the group to give examples of immigrants that are stereotyped in the media, in politics, or at social gatherings. Many people responded with frustration as the group touched on topics ranging from the 2016 election, to deeper underlying situations involving immigration.

[She] tried to neglect her culture because she tried to fit into the American lifestyles as much as she could so that no one would notice she was undocumented. They would just think her parents were immigrants and she was born here… At some point she would just stop speaking Spanish to her parents.

Sofia Sharry, a GW This topic really Sophomore, said that a common stereotype that hits home. I’m an she hears about Latino undocumented immigrants is how, “they are bringing drugs, they are student so I have bringing crime, and they are lived this first hand. rapists.” Sharry continued, “But I mean I think that it’s wrong. And the fact that the Republican nominee is actively saying stuff like this about Mexicans, and when he says Mexicans we know it just doesn’t mean ‘Mexican’.” She explains that, “ When people use the term Mexican to describe one’s nationality, they are using the word to describe a Latino or Hispanic who one might assume is Mexican.” Nevertheless, Sharry believes that Latinos benefit the economy, and a large portion of Latino’s will be voting this year. But, other issues are occurring in the community were people are starting to not believe that change can happen.

Where do Immigrants feel safe to be themselves then? This is an issue that still needs addressing. The overall mood of the event was open ended, intimate, and most importantly, comfortable. It provided a safe space for people from different backgrounds to talk with one another, and also taught those who were not from their communities.

Otero, among many others, said that it becomes, “Hard for people to escape the mindset and to pursue something better when stereotypes are imposed on the community.”

culture

LATINAS OF EXCELLENCE: MOLDING THE FUTURE By Jade Hurley

n October 3rd, in the Marvin Center, the Latinas of Excellence: Unidas por la Justicia panel offered new insight and inspiration to young Latinx men and women in attendance. The panel, which included four successful Latina professionals in social justice work, provided a real-life glimpse of the journey that these women took to become successful, and how being Latina affected this journey. All four of these women came from immigrant Latinx families, and dealt with the different hardships that it brings. Maritza Perez, a legal clerk at the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, reflected that she “was an angry child” while growing up due to the hostile and conservative Nevada town which treated her Mexican family with disdain. In addition to having experienced racism, these women, and many other immigrant Latinx families, grew up fairly poor and therefore received the first-generation expectation of becoming a doctor, engineer, or high-earning lawyer in the future to support themselves and their families. In fact, both Zazy Lopez, Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Janethe Peña, Founder and Executive Director of DC Doors Inc, went to law school with a central goal of eventually earning a large salary. However diverse their initial goals in pursuing higher education may have been, all four of women are now doing They advised to these social justice work. As Peña never hide your expressed, “it just found me”. Cubas, supervising heritage in the Claudia attorney for CAIR Coalition’s face of criticism, Virginia Adult Detainee works with attorneys but instead use it Program, representing immigrant to give back to the detainees to educate them on rights, and fights for them community you their to be able to stay in the United come from. States. She said she’s “doing the work [she] wishes someone had done for [her] family”: a theme common in the work of these women. Through their social justice work, they are working with immigrant families like their own, and giving back to the Latinx and immigrant community. Lopez expressed that the “most difficult part of [her previous job at the Department of Justice as a trial attorney concentrating in law enforcement misconduct] was people who reminded [her] of [her] own family, and [her] own parents”. While social justice work can be difficult, especially when seeing their own parents in the eyes of those who are misrepresented and mistreated for being immigrants, these women are truly making a greater impact on immigrants’ lives. The experience of being first generation Latina women shaped not only their careers, but also their experiences in the workplace.

All four women expressed being the only Latina woman in their offices, even in the lines of social justice work that pertain to Latinx individuals. Even though this process is alienating, these women have used it to their advantage. Perez affirmed this by declaring that there “should be more of us at the table”. Lopez found it important to make it known in her office that she was a Latina. Cubas and Peña also expressed that the ability to speak and relate to people in the Latinx community that they serve, and to be a familiar face that the community trust, are the most important responsibilities they hold. While diversity in power positions is lacking, and more representation of Latinx individuals in such spaces is certainly needed, these women are embracing their roles and inspiring young Latinx people through their stories. They advised to never hide your heritage in the face of criticism, but instead use it to give back to the community you come from. A piece of advice that truly resonated through the room was to truly love yourself: love who you are, where you come from, and how you got to where you are now. Perez explained that while she knew she deserved all the success that came to her, she would have to keep reaffirming herself in elite spaces after experiencing people saying that she only received such success, such as college acceptances or job opportunities, “because she was Mexican”. While this can unfortunately be an area of insecurity and fear in professional Latinx individuals, due to prejudice and hostility, these women encouraged their audience to truly embrace their culture, their own mind, and become comfortable with their abilities. Peña encouraged to “love who you are and find yourself.” These women are truly making a difference in the DC area, and they are inspiring to all individuals.

culture

BEING AFRO – LATINA By Taylor Williams

he Afro-Latina identity is one of duality. To be AfroLatina is to acknowledge the combination of two distinct communities and how they encompass and shape your identity. Subsequently, the Afro-Latina experience is not singular; therefore you cannot encompass the whole community within one individual. Afro-Latinas face the same discrimination attributed to African Americans, as well as many complex issues within their own Latinx community. Subsequently, Afro-Latinas face the same colorism often experienced by members of other minority groups. This colorism partly stems from preconceived media driven notions of what a Latina is “suppose” to look like. In reality a Latina can look like anything. Her skin tone does not define her identity. Because she does not fit into your stereotype, does not diminish her identity or her place in the Latinx community. Of course, I will never understand what it means to be Afro-Latina, and although I can sympathize with their struggles, I will never experience them myself. Instead, I asked my friend and roommate, Omarina Cabrera. Omarina is a Dominican American Afro-Latina from the Bronx. I talked to her about her experience being an AfroLatina and how it shaped her identity.

sometimes being in the middle of the two, and I feel as though I identify with both of the struggles that each community faces. As an Afro-Latina, I think sometimes there’s a layer where you don’t know who you identify with. Even in college where you’re trying to figure out who you are in a time where it is so crucial to know your identity, you’re stuck between whether you identify more as a Latina or, especially because of the color of my skin, if you identify as more of an African American. So there is always this middle ground or a double consciousness with that when it comes to being an “Afro-Latina”. TW: I think a big problem our society has is that in our heads, we have preconceived notions of what a Latina looks like, but Latina is not a race so you can have any racial identity and still be Latina. Do you see an accurate portrayal of Afro-Latinas in mainstream media? Although there aren’t many, there have been a few Afro-Latinas in mainstream TV shows and movies such as Zoe Saldana, Gina Torres and Dascha Polanco, but they aren’t always portraying Afro-Latinas. Zoe Saldana, a lot of the time is either being portrayed as African American or Latina, she is never in between. This also is shown with Dascha Polanco on the show Orange is the New Black.

TW: What does being Afro-Latina mean to you? Cabrera: “Being Afro-Latina means that there’s a duality within my identity, so I don’t only identify as being just a Latina or being just from African descent. I find myself

Cabrera: “I think there is a duality, and sometimes Afro-

culture culture. I identified with a lot of the struggles that my African American friends identified with as well, and there was a solidarity I felt especially because of the color of my skin. I never really noticed my skin color growing up, although I was the darkest one in my family. Although there were times where I felt excluded, I never felt as though I was different. When I got to high school, that’s when I really realized how much colorism plays into racism. That’s when I started identifying more with my African descent with the more exposure I got.” TW: Do you feel as though you began identifying more with your African descent because you were around more black people, or do you think that identity was pushed onto you in high school?

Latinas feel as though they have to pick one side or the other. Sometimes you are stuck between literal space where you aren’t fully Latina, and you aren’t fully black. You’re somewhere in the middle and you are trying to manage both cultures as part of who you are, which is really difficult sometimes. I think mainstream media doesn’t accurately portray all the inner turmoil’s that Afro-Latinas have. Having these two different cultures, I think Latinas and people from African descent throughout history have been at the bottom of the totem poll. We have to deal with both sides that are two different struggles. Being an immigrant, and also having this history of the transatlantic slave trade and how those two mix, it’s hard to navigate sometimes and hard to see where you truly come from. I think sometimes women are forced to choose either identifying as African, or identifying as Latina, and sometimes they think being one excludes the other when in reality, I don’t think it should.” TW: Growing up did you feel the need to chose to identify with one side exclusively? Cabrera: “Growing up in my household I identified as Latina because that’s the culture I grew up with, and my mom was the first female figure that I looked up to so I always identified as a Latina. But once I got to high school, I identified more with my African descent because I was exposed to more

Cabrera: “When I first went to high school people thought I was black. Nobody thought I was Latina. The first thing people thought when they looked at me was that I was African American, so in a sense, that image was pushed onto me. I think it was also my mom pushing that away from me that made me want to lean into it more. It made me feel as though she made it bad to be black, because my dad is black, [and] in terms of colorism, it’s very different for a woman and a man. Being an Afro-Latina man, there is an illusion of exoticness and beauty and with women there are so many Eurocentric ideals of beauty that, most times, does not coincide with being Latina or being African. Sometimes that makes us feel self-conscious of who we are. I think if I would’ve grown up with my dad, it would have been different because I would have been able to identify with his side of the family more and identify with my African descent more, but the struggles I went through in high school definitely pushed me more towards that identity because I identified with the same struggles as my friends from African descent.” TW: What misconceptions do you think there are about Afro-Latinas? Cabrera: “I don’t think there is enough information about Afro-Latinos. I think sometimes even just as an intersectional group of people, people forget that there is a duality in that. Like I said, you are either forced to identify with one side or the other. I don’t think there’s enough information on not only the struggle, but also the pain that comes with being Afro-Latina. My family is Hispanic and they push a lot of blackness away, from their culture, from their history, and from themselves. They push you to marry light, they’ll push you to try to be more Eurocentric, and so it really denies that “afro” part of you. I think I see that pattern in a lot of Latinx cultures; it’s not only in the Dominican Republic. I think it makes it harder for us to embrace it, and I think there should be more information out there about what being Afro-Latina means, and that duality and the intersection of the two. It’s ok to push back your family’s colorism and ingrained notions of what it means to be black or Latina and just be you.”

keynote

MARIA TERESA KUMAR INTERVIEWREMINDING OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS AND ALLIES THAT WE ARE AMERICAN, TOO By Maxwell Young

n September 14th, I had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Teresa Kumar, political activist and president and CEO of Voto Latino, before her kickoff speech to George Washington’s Latino Heritage Celebration. As we were talking about the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month, she said something that resonated with me. She said, “The fight of the Latino community is really the fight of who we are as an American identity.” The United States is made up of many diverse groups of people who at one point or another immigrated to this land, except for the Native Americans. At different points in our nation’s history, select people have been marginalized because of their ethnic backgrounds. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, non-Anglo Europeans were subject to discrimination on the basis of their immigrant status. During World War II, Asian Americans were forced into internment camps. From slavery to the post Civil Rights Movement, African Americans have been oppressed and suppressed. And here in 2016, Latino Americans are being profiled as undocumented immigrants threatened with deportation.

No matter the marginalized group of people, there have been allies who joined to highlight and speak out about the injustices of the oppressed—we could point to the Black Lives Matter movement, or the MySpace movement that occurred in 2006 where Latino Americans organized over the social platform in order to march protesting immigrant rights. With Hispanic Heritage Month and GW’s Latino Heritage Celebration, there is opportunity to learn that America’s strength is our differences. And to be aware of our differences is to recognize that they have contributed to where we are as a nation today. We must protect our cultures and defend our rights as free human beings despite the attempts to pit our differences against one another. MY: I want to talk to you about what the Latino Heritage Celebration means to you. I just want to talk about what you’re doing in the community and on a national level as well. MTK: Okay!

keynote MY: What are some of the biggest obstacles for Latinos living in the United States today? MTK: I think several. One is that one-in-three Americans think that when they see a Latino, that that person is undocumented. When in fact, 60% of Latinos are American born, and 90% of those Latinos under the age of 18 are U.S. born. So, it’s the stereotype of the other, and as a result, you have difficulty of getting issues that matter to Americans and to Latinos, and so instead we are silent. The other [obstacle] is participation at the voting booth. What I mean by that is if we don’t have participation at the voting booth, we can’t have the policies that reflect us as well as the needs of the community. MY: I know that you head Voto Latino and you’ve been very instrumental in registering Latinos to vote—over a quarter million since its inception. How have your efforts evolved since 2004? MKT: Each election since 2004 we’ve been able to sort of perfect a different component of our work. In 2004, it was very celebrity driven. We had Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, and Rosario Dawson. From there in 2006, during the midterm election, we launched the very first app to do voter registration via text messaging, before any other organization had. We found that by a simple text message and the power of text messaging back in 2006, Latinos participated even more. That was before smartphones, before iPhones, before all of this new technology. We also used MySpace to help mobilize folks; MySpace is no longer around right? We then started using a lot more social media to tell our stories. And more recently, we started launching campus chapters. And so for the very first time we have all these different pieces we are able to put together, and my hope is that this is a landslide election for the Latino community … for America actually. MY: Yea I agree. Just thinking about the importance of this election, for me I think about 2008 and 2012. As an African American, I think about that historic moment for Barack Obama, but I see this election as a little more important as far as the work that has been completed over the past eight years and how quickly it could all be erased with someone being elected named Donald Trump. Trump has been very vocal with his sentiments around immigration reform, and if you could have ten minutes with him how, would you respond to his thoughts? What would you ask him? MTK: That’s a great question, “What would I ask Donald Trump?” Um, ‘What are you thinking?’ Because in this election, he speaks in racial code that I have never seen a leader of our country put one American against another. And what I mean by that is a racial divide, gender divide, sexual orientation divide, rich against poor…we’ve always done, whatever our politics, we’ve always done this ‘We are Americans and our fight is against the other, and the other

doesn’t live here.’ For good or bad, I think he’s doing an incredible disservice because we are living a moment that’s incredibly unique and special in our nation’s history. We should be celebrating the fact that we are the most diverse group of people in the world, the most highly educated, those who have the access to most, and we are in the best position to continue creating a path forward not just for us but for the rest of the world. And instead, he is trying to create warts where there aren’t. Are we imperfect? Absolutely, but he is doing a disservice by not sharing and highlighting our strength. MY: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? MTK: So Voto Latino is all about starting new things. Last year, we started Hispanic Heritage Month of Action. What we were finding was that during Hispanic heritage Month, everyone was going to parties, but no one was celebrating the most fundamental thing that makes us unique - as Latinos is that we are American. Hispanic Heritage Month of Action organized this moment as an opportunity to give voice to that power. To focus groups and to focus companies to do the right thing. This was in response to the fact that it’s incredibly hard to register young Latinos. The cool thing is that last year we had 130 organizations and we registered 10,000 people in one day. This year we have over 500 organizations and we are hoping to register big. MY: For non-Hispanics who want to celebrate this month and want to acknowledge it, how do you think they should be participating? MKT: More than anything, we need allies. The fight of the Latino community is really the fight of who we are as an American identity. Recognizing that our strengths are not only our numbers but also our differences, which has contributed to where we are today. There’s no other nation in this world that has risen out of immigrants, with the exception of Native Americans, none of us have originated here. Like I said, we are imperfect, but we are striving towards that perfect document that was created over 300 years ago. And so we need allies to give voice to that. Sometimes the best people to talk about Latino politics is not us because then people say, ‘Oh you’re self-interested.’ But it’s important for folks to say, ‘That’s just racist.’

art

EL ARTE DE VIVIR- THE ART OF LIVING By Genevieve Montinar

rt celebrates those who’ve been marginalized by society. It legitimizes their plight to an audience, and then gives them a platform to voice their views and opinions about issues that have been swept under the rug.

Although El Arte de Vivir took place during the Latino Heritage Celebration, it was not Latinx exclusive, which you could see from the artwork. There were pieces that focused on Latinx issues, intersectionality, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

So, it seemed like a no brainer when the Latino Heritage Celebration, LHC, committee decided to host an art show focused on identity and unity under their theme Vivir Unidos, or Living Together.

“I saw students of all backgrounds viewing art made by Latinx students from different states and non-Latinx artists as well,” Lawson said. “What stuck out to me the most was the support that I witnessed for local artists.” Visitors enjoyed a performance from Xola, an Afro-Caribbean dance group, while munching on tostones and snacking on arroz con leche during the art show. The audience was comprised of students from various backgrounds and ethnicities, all proving that this was a multicultural affair.

Artists from all over the DMV, ranging from high school to current college students, had pieces in the show and a broad array of artwork was put on display. “I think people really enjoyed the event. It was the first one we’ve ever done for LHC that I’m aware of,” Sydney Lawson, the cochair of the event, said. “I hope it represented unity, diversity, and inclusion, especially since unity is the theme of LHC this year.”

“A lot of the experiences the Latino community faces are not only unique to the Latino community,” Lopez said. “We recognize that every community has challenges with the system. At the end of the day we have to show unity and solidarity with everyone else.”

The event attempted to form an alliance between the multicultural community as a whole.

Diana Colin, an artist from Virginia whose work was featured at the event, felt that it was important for her to participate in the showcase. She saw El Arte de Vivir as an opportunity to celebrate our differences while embracing the notion of solidarity.

“We wanted to create events that would cater to everyone else’s interest, and create the opportunity to reach out to students who share an interest in art,” Jackie Lopez, a member of the LHC committee said.

“I always try to support unity among the Latinx community, especially since I am an example of the Latinx community,” Colin said. “El Arte de Vivir’s main purpose was to empower unity amongst the Latinx community, which I find commendable.” Colin painted multiple paintings, but the one that stood out was a portrait of two trees on a rainbow-backed canvas. “This painting represented that although we have different backgrounds, we come together and become one,” Colins said. El Arte de Vivir served as a reminder to all that in order to solve difficult problems, everyone must work together and stand in solidarity to enact any sort of change in our communities.

art

THE ART OF EXPRESSION By Abeke Teyibo

constantly pressured by what lies ahead in the future. But with art forms, you have the ability to decide how you want to differentiate yourself from the world of conformity that society tries to inflict on us. On September 24th, 2016, at The George Washington University, The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. hosted an Open Mic event in Betts Theatre called Café Con Leche. This event not only allowed people to come and express themselves as individuals, but also gave people from various backgrounds the opportunity to come and meet new people, share different cultures, and network. When looking at the crowd, I noticed that there were a lot of organization leaders present.

hy do you choose to sing, make poetry, dance, and write stories when it has nothing to do with your major? This is a question that people in college consistently hear. We are conditioned as students to believe that if an activity is not beneficial for our careers, or necessary to graduate, then we should not participate in it. Instead, we should focus our attention on graduating. But expression of various forms of art does benefit us as students. It keeps us calm and level headed. Being a college student, you are

Their presence broke the thought process that you should only attend events that are in regards to your major. You know why? Creativity can lead to relaxation and innovation, but ultimately, it can lead to a healthier lifestyle in college. Briana Whitfield, a GW Senior, states, “Coming to this event was a relaxing and fun time. Even though I did not perform, I learned about other people, and I found out that there were people that thought and felt exactly like me. I finally felt like ‘Wow, I am not alone’.” The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. not only helped students like Briana Whitfield, but also contributed to new friendships, mixed culture, and new forms of expression. It was an event that was definitely worth seeing.

opinion

WHAT DO MEN REALLY WANT? By Alpha Balde

e all know the story. Guy meets girl. Guy and girl click. Bada-bing, Bada-boom. Guy never calls again. Girl is left feeling scorned. This happens all too often and leads to a lot of hurt feelings and broken egos. It is this same story that led to the popular phrase, “niggas ain’t [expletive].” So what’s the deal? Are all men scheming? Are most men scheming? What is the ratio of schemers to genuine lovers? The reality is, the problem results from good ol’ fashioned miscommunication.

unjustly because both parties weren’t honest with their intentions. As human beings, figuring out what we really want takes time and experience. It’s not the 1920s anymore, one relationship is not the end-all-be-all. If a man isn’t attracted to you for the reasons you value most, it’s not the end of the world. With each experience, you’ll learn what it is you’re actually drawn to in a man or a woman.

When a guy and a girl make a connection, it can often mean two different things between the two of them. Either one could be thinking that they found the person who they could potentially marry, while the other is thinking much more short-term. So when it comes to situations like this, what is the solution? How can we as machines of love avoid heartbreak and confusion? What is it that men really want? As a typical college male, I am totally qualified to write about this, and the answer is simple. There is no answer. A lot of articles and people As a typical college will give you a top 20 list of this and that, but the male, I am totally truth is, there is only one qualified to write way to figure out what a man wants ladies. You have about this, and the to communicate! Truth answer is simple. is, there are a lot of donothing-dudes out there. But there are also a lot of perfectly fine guys who get branded

opinion

WHAT A MAN, WHAT A MIGHTY GOOD MAN By Leslie Ogu

o you think you know what makes a man? You believe you can think like them and know what goes on in their heads? Well, similar to how difficult it can be to understand the complexity of a woman, there is more to a man than meets the eye. There are a significant amount of supposed facts about men, and more often times than not, they are usually wrong. I feel that the view of men being “dogs” and “good-for-nothing” tends to take precedence over the truth about them. That’s not to say that there aren’t some that promote these stereotypes, which makes it hard for women to think otherwise, but a few off colors in a painting shouldn’t take away from its beauty. Don’t let those guys ruin your perception of men. Then what is the truth about men? All men are not the same. I understand that you may come from a long list of bad experiences with men and that it may be hard to break this mindset, but no matter how hard it is to believe it, every man is different. Guys do the same thing sometimes, but we’re not roasting the fellas right now. If you can’t accept this, you’ll never fully understand and accept men. Men have feelings, too. Just like every other human being, men were born with feelings and they are prominent throughout their lives (and I don’t just mean the Drakes). They may not show it, or may have trouble expressing it because society tries to push the notion that is a sign of weakness. That doesn’t mean they don’t have any. Everyone is different and you never know a person’s story or reason for acting a certain way. If we want you, you will know. I really can’t break it down anymore than that. Guys tend to be pretty direct about their intentions and desires. So if it’s a case where a guy isn’t showing you the attention you want, or isn’t reciprocating the same feelings you are evoking, chances are he isn’t as interested as you want him to be.

If you want to understand a man,

and I mean an actual We don’t just want your body. Despite that being man, internalize my the opposite of what we words and venture learn in the environment we live in, where some guys into the world with an prioritize body counts over unbiased view. actual love for a woman, men want all of a woman. Differentiating the men who want you for you, and the guys who have short-term intentions will be something you learn to do along the way, and with time, you’ll get better at picking the right ones. We will only invest time in something we think is worth it. To a man, something is most precious when you have to put in the work for it. This means we will work hard for a woman who presents a challenge. If a guy can get a girl pretty easily, chances that guy

won’t look for more than physical relations; though, that may not always be the case, such as in situations of mutual attraction. We need someone who will push us to improve ourselves. However, that doesn’t mean make it impossible. There’s a difference between having standards or being reserved, and doing the most. But that’s a discussion for another time. We can’t read your minds. I hear women say a lot that they wish that a man will just know what they want and understand them without having to spell things out to them. Understanding women can be harder than earning a PhD (but actually). So every bit of help is greatly appreciated. There is a point when a man should just know most things without you having to say it, but that takes time and communication first. Those who fear commitment fear it because of outcomes they can’t determine or predict. We don’t know how things will work out. That’s just life. Why do you think we like sports so much? In a world where ratios are more likely than not to be in favor of men, when men see that they have so much available to them, they are less likely to just settle for one woman. So usually it takes a big push to commit and be happy. That doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. It’s a mindset we, as men, have to break — all that glitters is not gold. These misconceptions are pretty major and if they are understood and internalized, you will gain a better understanding of men. Not only that, you can realize a lot sooner if you are wasting your time with a guy or not, which may be one of the reasons why women begin to see men in a more negative light (#WasteHerTime2016?). It’s best not to have misconceptions about men or else it will dictate how you treat and view them. If you want to understand a man, and I mean an actual man, internalize my words and venture into the world with an unbiased view. We’ve always been told don’t believe everything we hear and not to judge a book by its cover. As cliché as these sayings may be, they hold a great deal of truth. If you want men to understand you, you have to meet them halfway, and do the same for them. And hey, it’s cuffing season. I couldn’t think of a better time to start.

opinion

HOW TO GET A MAN? By Michael Ferrier

very man is different. Each one has specific tastes, ways of doing things, and different feelings. Because of that, there is no well-defined and clear-cut answer to the question: How do I talk to a man? The common misconception is that men are simple, and are looking for one thing, and one thing only. That simply isn’t true. We will be looking at three different types of men: Nike and Cologne, Black Excellence, and Levi’s with an Oxford. The question at hand is a deep and complex one; one that I feel requires a certain level of humor. With that being said, let’s break it down.

NIKE AND COLOGNE:

Respect Respect Respect. This is a man who is constantly misunderstood and judged before even given the chance to talk to you. He really is interested in getting to know you, but is automatically judged because he is assumed to be a player. Not every man is a player ladies, he actually is interested. Have an intellectual and sincere conversation. Black excellence will deeply appreciate someone who is willing to listen and speak about the things that matter to him.

LEVI’S AND AN OXFORD:

Not all men respond to the same things. At the end of the day, the best way to talk to anyone, man or woman, is to talk to them with respect and be genuine. While my analysis of the types of men was slightly exaggerated, there is some truth to the advice. Show respect and a little kindness to these men just as you would require of them. Listen to them as much as they are willing to listen to you. Try to enjoy yourself and just have a good time, because getting to know a man should be a fun experience. Again, there is no formula, just go out, be yourself, and prosper.

Black Excellence is a strong, motivated, and ambitious man. You often see him suited, booted, and ready to network. He is the kind of man that stands tall and takes pride in his heritage. His love for 90’s movies and TV knows no bounds, even though he grew up in the 2000’s. You can find him in study hall at the MSSC, in a BSU E-board meeting, or in rehearsal for the reproduction of Spike Lee’s School Daze. So how do you talk to him?

Levi’s and Oxford is your garden-variety brother. He was raised to hold the door, eat fries with a knife and fork, and always do the right thing. As the name suggests, he will usually be spotted in jeans and a button down oxford shirt. You can find him walking young ladies to the vex after a late night to ensure their safety, and then heading to bed promptly after. Levi’s and Oxford’s is the typical nice guy. So what do you say to him? Show interest if you’re interested. Levi’s are not dummies, but he rarely knows when to make a move. Ask him questions. He will listen to you all day without complaint. Make him talk and he will appreciate that you listen to him. Care. This is a guy who values people who are genuine; so be genuine and open up. It will go a long way.

So who is Nike and cologne? Nike and cologne is often misunderstood. At the surface level, he is the brother you find in the mall scoping for the latest in street wear trends. You may or may not see him in class, but will quite possibly see him at Bliss on the weekend armed with shoe cleaner. If you look past the surface, Nike and cologne is a man who values a clean appearance and is willing to put in the work required to maintain it. So how do you talk to him? Talk about his interests. This may include shoes, his mixtape, his family etc. Get him away from his squad. Nike and Cologne usually rolls with friends; he seems untouchable. In reality, Nike and Cologne is still just a human and will value the opportunity to open up one on one.

BLACK EXCELLENCE:

fasion

STYLES OF MEN ON CAMPUS By Maxwell Young

Educational cool

Straight from the classroom

BRANDON LLOYD

PAUL

The classic wear

Understated flare

DEVAN MATTHEW COLE

CHRIS GELLEIN Senior

Sophomore

Junior

JARED JACKSON Sophomore

From the concrete

CYPRIAN CHRISTIAN Senior

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about the brands you wear, rather the quality of clothing you wear

campus

THAT’S GAY: QUEER DATING FOR MEN OF COLOR By Rebecca Amadi

have more friends on the LGBTQ spectrum than I ever thought I would. It’s comforting to know as a queer woman that this can be a safe space for us. However, finding love in college is hard for anyone, especially when you are a minority. I asked a few LGBTQ men of color on campus about love and dating, and how it really goes down in the queer DMs.

Don’t put too much into dating apps. I prefer to wait for love to find me and if you

Francisco D , a junior, identifies as a Hispanic gay man. When I asked about the dating scene, he simply replied: “The guys are shallow”.

do use (dating apps), He went on to talk about how many of them only make sure (you) get to seem to be interested know the person first. in looks and hook ups. Fortunately, Francisco says he’s one of the lucky ones. He has been able to find people that want to be in committed relationships, which is important to him when looking for a

partner. Francisco says the traits he looks for the most in guys are intelligence and genuinely interested in his life goals. Francisco doesn’t take race into account when looking for a boyfriend. He does note that white men seem to love (fetishize) Latinos, making him desirable to many white gay men. Francisco knows the hardship of not having the representation needed to feel confident in his race when it comes to dating. In the media, he says you only see white gay men who fit a very specific standard. People even have “no colors” or “white men preferred” on their dating profiles. To advise GW students, Francisco stated, “Don’t put too much into dating apps. I prefer to wait for love to find me and if you do use (dating apps), make sure (you) get to know the person first. Don’t be scared to come out because GW makes fear of rejection not valid”. GW isn’t perfect by a long shot, but it does have a very open community that welcomes any and all LGBTQ students. Good luck and in this cold weather, I hope you all find your matches!

campus

REAL MEN, HOW MANY OF US? By Leslie Ogu

hat exactly do you think makes you a man? Are your actions and lifestyle reflective of those ideals? As men, we are all guilty of falling prey to stereotypes at some point in our lives, where we believed our actions were representative of what it meant to be a man. Whether that was reinforced by the hype and encouragement from our boys, or the society that we live in, it didn’t always mean we were right. Take the words I share with a grain of salt. To my fellas, don’t take this as me calling you out because I, as a man, have things I have to improve as well. Rather, take this as a way to help you better yourself in areas you may be lacking in, or with which you may have the wrong idea. It will make a difference in the long run. What then doesn’t make a man? So you wanna be diesel? Physical build definitely doesn’t make you a man. Doesn’t matter how much you can bench with your fingers, how many muscles you have on top of your biceps, or how many blood vessels it looks like you’re about to pop. Having a muscular body doesn’t contribute to being a man. Despite some women taking a liking to this, it is probably nothing more than physical attraction. Me? Too aggressive? If you think having a lot of power and being aggressive is what makes you a man, you’re wrong again. In a time where women are being oppressed in numerous ways from trauma they may have received from events like a bad father or uncle, being mistreated by past exes, or God forbid, something worse, you need to be careful about how you come off to them. There is a difference between having drive and ambition, and being overly aggressive and power hungry. A man can maintain power and handle it maturely. Got bodies? Increasing your body count may be cool with your boys, but the second you brag about something like this to a woman, your chances and credibility have disappeared. This might actually be one of the things women tell me they have the biggest problem with when it comes to men. They want to feel special, appreciated, and do not want to be another story you tell to your friends. It doesn’t matter how many bodies you have the title of a man

is something earned through the right actions and mindset, not by going through a woman. Emotions constitute softness. There’s nothing wrong with having feelings. We were all born with them. But somehow, it has become frowned upon for a man to display his; leading to the belief that showing emotion makes you soft. Are you telling me if, God forbid, my mom passed away and I cried, that I’m not a man? To all my fellas that agree with this notion, are you saying you wouldn’t cry? I believe that it is a case of insecurity when a man is uncomfortable with expressing his emotions and feels he must always retain an image of being “hard”. It takes a secure man to know there is nothing emasculating about having and/or expressing their feelings, and not fall prey to these false stereotypes people hold. Bands will make her dance? Money doesn’t buy happiness; one of the most cliché statements, but also one of the realest. In addition to that, having a large amount of money and/or net worth, does not translate to the making of a man. Sure it means you’re financially stable, but how does that make you a man? You could be a billionaire and still be an immature boy (shout out to Donald Trump - jk...). Having money just means riches - that’s it. It doesn’t contribute to your character or improve your personality. One last thing I want to mention is that you should always remember that you are setting an example for the younger ones behind us. Even though you may not be aware of it or they may not tell you, there are countless young men and women looking up to you as a leader. For those of you with younger brothers, you should already know they are looking at you for direction on how to act and conduct themselves. So always keep in mind the impression you are leaving on the youth of what is right and wrong. Like I said before, this isn’t meant to point fingers or make it seem like I’m better for saying this, as if I am without flaws. It is meant to point us, as men, in the right direction. We are supposed to be support systems for those around us and we need to ensure we are preparing the upcoming generation to take that role. If you need additional advice, reach out to people to possibly mentor you, or speak with people you look up to so that you can get better direction. I’m tired of hearing about how bad men are – aren’t you?

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