Black Solidarity Day ‘23 Vanguard - The Blackprint

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THE BLACK STUDENT UNION PRESENTS

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Artist: Amani Hodge

A Letter From the Editor The way we define and redefine ourselves as Black people through our culture has always been a topic of discussion.

More often than not, aspects of Black culture are appropriated or viewed as negative.

In “The Blackprint”, Vanguard aims to bring light to the framework of society that is Black culture, constantly setting the standard and evolving. While simultaneously appreciating what makes our community so influential.

As we highlight these issues and explore the opulence of our Unity in Heritage, we ask our readers to bask in the beauty of Black culture.

-Paris DeFreitas 55th Publications Coordinator Black Solidarity Day 2023

Black Culture is Universal

by Olaitan Olayokun In the heart of the city, where dreams collide, Black culture emerges with swagger & pride From music to fashion and the art on the street It’s the pulse of the people, the rhythm, the beat.

Black culture is pop culture, undeniably so, Its influence in every corner, it continues to grow From the runway to the silver screen, Black excellence shines Like a brilliant dream.

Fashion, style, and grace that transcend, A legacy that will never end.

Palms On POC

by Ayobami

Nuanced And soaked, and coated By this vital layer Of breathe, of life A delusion Painted white That keeps the organs from showing From the inside what we make is noted And marked and stamped and stamped And shipped To the next page your exploring Splattered everywhere Are the insides exploited

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Flowers

by Jade Harriston vibrant rays of creativity shining through the windows of my mind allow me the ability to mold and create, making the unimaginable, manageable my style, my taste, my rap, my r&b you collect as trophies, gradually composing the costume you wear while trying to imitate me and do what i do but you will never be able to meet the stakes I’ve already met because while you were busy playing catch up i would’ve already been onto something new awaiting the day you’d come and take that from me too as i’m left wondering if i’ll ever be given my flowers

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Monkey see, Monkey do

by Busaro Silence our voices Speak in our tones Joke bout outfits You wearing OUR clothes Taking our music Call it your own Copy our dance moves While singing our songs Monkey see monkey do Is monkey really the word you wanna choose?

Monkey see monkey do They call us nigga now we call us nigga too We paved our path A path so righteous We mend our crafts Unique too our likeness You turned our Dougie to a shimmy All the slang you like to mimic Her ebony skin, like the canvas of the starlit sky, A work of art, a masterpiece, catching everyone’s eye.

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Coils

by Aiyana George A mother’s hands aiding my scalp Restoring, healing, and tending for Within each strands it tells a story Society’s voice, represses it, stresses it, Pulling, and straightening until it breaks Breaks and molds into what is exceptional Exceptional to touch, to view, to pet as an animal Patience as thin as my hair They wear you, strip you of your struggles and take your fame Look at my hair you see my mothers touch Each strand, each coil proudly it’s own My hair is my expression as it rises and falls with nature Knowledge and creativity twisting to form locks of appreciation and kindness Coils demanding to be nothing less than free

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Trendsetters

by Ceian Thomas Society has developed a way To provide an outlet to entertain But society can be very judgemental And make liking certain things such a pain Many times society will reject popular culture Thinking it will turn a child into a fool It's only until we, black people, start hyping it up That all of a sudden it's seen as cool They hear the music we listen to and deem it gross and crude Thinking that we like it for the sex, drugs and carrying a strap And yet … it is these very same people, when behind closed doors Who will crank up their speakers and bop their heads to such “vulgar crap” They think of us as loud and without class And that a majority of society stands in favor Yet they put on blackface to act out our lives Because they know it makes up for their lack of flavor They mock the way we praise and worship Under the guise that there is a right way to do it They’ll sing their whitewashed version of OUR hymns But it's a hard fact that they refuse to admit Most of what we do and like is kept exclusively to ourselves And the fact that they are not included causes them to fret But when they join in the hype, they don’t give props to the originators We kick things off and that’s the “thanks” that we get?

They want to be us so bad Thinking that its as easy as learning your letters But the fact is … that is far from the truth Because there is no denying that we are the trendsetters

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Without Me….?

by Jasmine Braziel Laying on my back Draped in a blue gown Blinded by a bright overhead light My body bewitched to stiffness By the chill of the metal I lay on Laying on my back You poke and probe to remove everything I’m made of Your scalpels dig into my scalp Uprooting the maps of my ancestors The designs of my stylist Your knives harvest my black tongue To copy the cadence and rhythm of my brothers The eloquent soul moving passion of our leaders Your pliers tear my nails from their beds To tuck them comfortably in your own As seamlessly as doctors stitch up wounds You’ve stripped me of everything I owned You've left me unclothed, bare To create a carbon copy, a clone to say the least Like your fathers, fathers, father you’re a thief An apple that’s landed right at the trunk of the tree As I look around I see everything you’ve stolen from me I can look around and see thousands of me They all look like the people who’ve condemned me Ostracized and tried to shame me But I wonder Do you feel shame too?

To know none of this is really you How does it feel?

To be a reproduction of my image Existing solely because I do As my scars heal From your scalpels and knives Im desperate to ask you Without me, what are you?

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Black and Bold

by Brandon Cabraie Black Culture.

What a riveting sight to see In all of its profound glory It wraps around the throats of all people like a leash Being Black in America My culture doesn’t shine as bright But as soon as it is appropriated by the whites It is seen as a delight So it really makes me wonder Why are we seen as the minority?

When the majority of the media in society Stems from our history From the rhythms of jazz to the hip-hop beat Black culture's impact is indisputably neat.

It's in the dance, the style, the words we speak, A testament to the strength of the culture we seek.

In fashion, we see it, from street to the runway, Black culture's trends, they lead the way.

From afros to braids, a celebration of hair, A symbol of pride that's always there.

The beauty of our culture Should be shared by all people to be enjoyed But once the roots of our traditions are twisted The essence of its meaning is destroyed So take pride in our culture It is truly divine It is able to touch the souls of others And has the ability to transcend time

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The Whisper

by Amani Hodge As much as we will be nothing like our counterparts They look for a reflection that cannot be reflected I look in a mirror for my reflection yet it is just all the oppression Shards of glass just waiting to be recollected But in the meantime of those who don’t share my melanated skin find shelter in things that they crave Yet their refuge is the things that they hate Yet I am minimized Yet I am put aside Not I but We Not her but She Not him but He Not I but We Born to create as we surely do……

Yet it is taken to be vacant and awakened by the wrong root Dribble Dribble shoot don't break ‘em In and out don’t shake ‘em Up and over that cold shoulder And then…. The whistle blows And I am back in my mothers arms From Braids to Beads Fro’s to Wash and Go’s Twists to Cornrows A presence so fulfilling that even a whisper would seem too bitter For the stories that have been left untold The memories that are just too stone cold…….

The whisper In the distance of those who craved yet hate the refuge they came to blame. ​

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Vultures

by Dream!

Here these white people go again Think they slick Katelyn, why are you wearing those door knockers?

Bartholomew, I really don’t give a damn what “pass” your friend gave you And your “Gen Z Slang” is nothing but soulless AAVE That’s African-American Vernacular English By the way.

Vultures…culture vultures Soaring through the sky But they didn’t even start calling the sky blue until we did Another “discovery,” I guess Becky, I really don’t give a f**k how many Black dicks you sucked I better not hear another “nigga” from your white lips Chad, I can bet you good money your hair is not gonna lock Please I beg Stop trying.

Everything they do We did.

Everything we created They stole And added their names to the project But we still innovate.

We still push forward.

We continue to define and redefine the culture.

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The Enduring of Black Culture

by Akwesi Osei-Tutu Pop culture has many roots Full of supporting and competing vibes In due time, it’ll be dead of old news Without a drop of Black Culture Inspired many and adapted by some Ever present in modern artistic medium Yet respected by little to none Fend off the hungry vultures Through struggles and violence From those who expressed themselves in art Through the indifference and the silent The pioneers bore out their hearts Long ignored by prior media And taken advantage of till today Remember where it came from And protect it from the rain

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Stolen

by Tameshia Walker Let me speak my intuition.

Where is the recognition from our stolen traditions?

I didn't know us black people were taking auditions.

That's my hair and its limited edition.

How did my culture turn into an exhibition?

Whats the point of this mission and why the fuck didnt anyone ask permission?

Who put y'all in that position?

To me, To community My blackness is not an opposition.

by Paris Mylania You police my fro Your fake tan could never equal a melanin glow.

Anything you steal, We did it first, We did it better.

Black people have birthed all creations and trends, yet still bare the brunt of society’s pressure.

Our hair isn’t just hair, our music isn’t just music You take our culture and misuse it.

Take the parts you like then abuse it.

Ignoring the struggle.

Overlooking the hustle.

450 years of oppression for y’all to have an obsession.

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We clearly not the same

by Amar’e Isaiah when i show up w a new hairstyle i’m unpresentable but when cole do it it’s really brave and commendable when demetri wear jays it’s basic and out the way but luke do the same thing he swaggy and made the wave when jasmine wear her afro it’s not bold just distracting but when claire wear damn near underwear it’s satisfactory when Kiana defend herself she angry and got an attitude but when anna yell at teacher she got right to get her feelings through what’s wrong w the black kids what’s wrong w the black kids that’s what they all asking that’s what they all asking yet karen, dylan and peter don’t attract the same reaction they copy what we do and act like its new sit and play the foo but we not boo boo idk about you but i’m tired of being used it’s time to take back ours black kids rule

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I am not angry

by Aiyana George Because I choose not to speak my face tells a million words Eyes flooded with shyness must mean my mouth is filled with knives Take my stillness as a threat, My kindness unmet as you make your reservation from afar Take my confidence as arrogance My accomplishments as irrelevance You stole my voice before you knew how to speak Place a label on my character for everybody to repeat You don’t know the passion that bleeds from body The compassion that connects me to others Our black women are not difficult or angry We want to be heard, chereished and deserved

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The Vanguard is the official creative team and multimedia publication of the Black Student Union, which provides a safe space for Black students on campus to express their voices and creativity, while educating the University community at large on the diverse perspectives of the diaspora.

ALL mediums of Black artistry are welcome.

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