Black Solidarity Day 2016

Black Solidarity Day

Black Economic Development

Black Solidarity Day (BSD) was first observed in November of 1969 and is held the first Monday of November. Traditionally, BSD has two aims; one, to unify the black community politically as we gather to discuss who we should vote for in the coming elections and two, to refrain from spending money outside of our community in hopes of developing economic solidarity within our community. This year we choose to focus on the latter. We recognize the importance of financial independence and we must begin reflecting on strategies to pool our resources in order to uplift our community.

We must dually become conscious of our personal finances; making sure that we're investing our money in businesses that benefit our people, and our financial power as

a group; ensuring that the diaspora is unified in our mission of economic development. Being united on this front is one of the many ways we will gain leverage against racial inequality and continue on down the road of self-empowerment. Our writers have been given the task of antagonizing the notions of empowerment in terms of social, economic and/or cultural perceptions.

Executive Board 2015-2016 Victoria Lewis…………………………………………………………….President Tiffany Traille…………………………………………………………… Vice President Marcus Allen……………………………………………………………….. Treasurer Amanda Harris…………………………………………. Educational Coordinator Khadijah Collins……………………………………………………………….. Historian Legan Bayambo………………………………………… Political Correspondent Mone’t Schultz……………………………………… Publications Coordinator Onyx Ramirez……………………………………………………….. Public Relations Christopher Rookwood………………………………………………... Secretary

Kayla Anderson…………………………………... Social Cultural Coordinator Charlecia Chung …………………….Student Association Representative

Black Americans

by Adina Matos

Someone once told me that Black Americans are Lazy...Dumb...A Nuisance I asked why, the response?

Black is submission. Black is weak. Black is inferior.

This is a poem to that incredibly ignorant human being.

Walking down the streets of modern New York City I can see the history that people want to forget But as much as they try they never can.

My African sisters and brothers working in fields Sweating under sun rays that hit them like bullets While their skin burned from the abuse one cannot bear to imagine All to make them successful while their names, their bodies, and their legacy.

Fade into the past that people want to forget

My African brothers and sister YOU built this nation With the hands of courage and resilience This modern New York City streets that I am walking on.

Did you forget that?

Walking down the streets of Modern New York City I see white people appropriating dread locks Rocking that African tribal sweatshirt from H&M Shaming Bob Marley as he is stretched across their torso

Oh how much America loves to embrace Black culture but not Black people.

Can’t you see brothers and sisters, they want to be YOU. But remember they never can be.

YOU know how to be original

They do not YOU know how to be strong when you are told to be weak They do not YOU have all the reason to want to hide away and never come back They do not YOU have achieved what they want to achieve Embrace it, know it, you are lit, you are everything.

Then there was you, you ignorant man you.

Spewing out your words with no caution Shaming those that you should be praising The lioness inside of me roared at you with anger My words were like fire but they did not seem to burn you

Then I saw it, the Jordan’s on his feet peeped up at me My mind smiled as my mouth said, “You know whose sneakers those are right?”

Then I heard it, “Diamonds are forever” filling my ears as his phone rang My body gleamed, “You know whose sings that song right?”

Oh how your body stiffened with confusion and your face filled with regret.

“If Black people are so useless, why do you support them?”

His mouth that was so lively before went dead Now do you see?

Even at our weakest we are incredible Everything we touch turns into gold they wish they could have They are making us successful, we are the praised My brothers and sisters even if you have a long way to go oh please see how far you have

come.

Every moment is an achievement because we are the definition of it.

Black is power.

Black is triumph.

Black is strength.

And

Don’t

You

Forget It

Black Excellence By: Anthony Pereira When I first came to college, I tried to fit in the status quo and pass my classes So I could get out the hood and move up another tax bracket Obtain the American Dream and show the world that I’m useful Its then that I questioned if the black excellence I strived for was solely for white approval Padded insults rain down heavy in this social climate Bullshit rationales to justify violence He was a hoodlum, the only option was to shoot Oh Ant you’re a good kid, that won’t happen to you As long as I had something to contribute, everything’ll be fine And don’t be temperamental just stay quiet and fall in line Is this really the purpose of Black achievement, as a means of appeasement Churn out marvel after marvel just to keep breathing NO Black excellence is for us not them It is meant to enrich our souls from within Black excellence is within those who struggle and thrive It’s not defense mechanism to survive So lift every voice and sing over the star spangled Show up to their interviews with a fresh line up and your hair entangled Black Queens remain angered until you get the peace you deserve Remain undetoured as they try to censor your curls and your curves Out of darkness comes light, which is why what we produce is vibrant Black excellence has always lied in our defiance

Excellence

By Amanda Harris There's a certain strength in twined with passion that every black woman has.

You can tell by the drive that is engulfed in her eyes almost as clear as a crystal ball seeing the futures and success of every black woman that was willing to put in the work.

It's a simple feeling of wanting to be excellent, understanding that the battle that our ancestors fought for us was solely for this time when the greatest lawyers, Cheryl D Barnes, the greatest authors, Teri Woods, the greatest doctors, Jocelyn Elders could finally rise to where they always belonged, on top.

Excellence is what we look at as the unseen shield to protect us from the haters, it's the last step that we sometimes may have to crawl to get up, it's the armor that defends us against those who try to oppress us , make us forget our self worth.

It's simply the biggest incentive that enables us to find the strength from with in, be sun, the brightest star through everything that we do, to everyone that we encounter.

It's God's path to eminence.

It's not always a easy road but every tear that shed every hurdle that you are able to jump over makes the finish line that more victorious.

It is what allows black women to never forget that they are queens, beautiful, powerful resilient women with skin kissed by the sun.

We are black excellence.

Black Owned Businesses in Binghamton Muffers Kitchen 62 Glenwood Avenue, Binghamton, NY Island Fever Cuisine 4 W State Street, Binghamton, NY Jrama's Soul Food Grille & BBQ Pit 1237 Front Street, Binghamton, NY Grand Masters Barber Shop 192 Main Street, Binghamton, NY WJOB Radio Station 93.3 67 Court Street, Binghamton, NY On Point Productions 122 State Street , Binghamton , NY Paradise Hair World 197 Clinton Street, Binghamton, NY Shuna's Hair Studio 175 Clinton Street, Binghamton, NY Talk of Da Town cellphone store 157 Clinton Street, Binghamton, NY Stephens Vintage Shop 141 and one half Washington Street, Binghamton, NY

Our Upcoming Events