February 15, 2023

The Emory Wheel

Emory to develop Indigenous studies program

Turkish, Syrian students organize earthquake's aftermath

By Eva RoytBuRg and MEghan guptE News Editor and Contributing Writer

After a devastating Feb. 6 earthquake killed more than 41,000 people in Turkey and Syria as of Feb. 15, Elif Gencer (24C) said she and her fellow Turkish international students knew they couldn’t “just sit and cry,” skip classes and “lose” their mental health.

Instead, Gencer said that she and her Turkish friends decided to fundraise, grieve and support each other throughout the earthquake’s aftermath.

Students grieve for home

Several Turkish and Syrian students said they felt helpless hearing horrible news from home while being thousands of miles away.

connected and you know your family,” Jouja said. “She was roommates with my mom's best friends.”

Emory University’s Office of Spiritual and Religious Life is holding a vigil on Feb. 15 at noon in Cannon Chapel for students, faculty and community members to grieve the earthquakes. Gencer along with other Turkish students will be speaking during the gathering.

Policy sanctions impact aid

Syria has also been sanctioned by the United States since 1979, which hinders the nation from receiving U.S. aid, Ameer Rifai (21Ox, 23C) said. As such, he worries that Syria might not get as much aid as Turkey due to foreign policy marred by tension and closed borders.

By MatthEw ChupaCk and Madi oliviER Executive Editor and News Editor

The Mellon Foundation awarded Emory University, which sits on land that the Muscogee Nation were forced to relinquish to the U.S. government in 1821, a $2.4 million grant. The College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) (Okla.) will receive over $1 million from the grant to further foster a partnership between the two institutions.

With the grant, Emory and CMN will cultivate “collaborative and independent programs,” promoting Native American and Indigenous studies as well as preserving the Mvskoke language, the University announced Feb. 14.

Associate Professor of Anthropology Debra Vidali, who is a core faculty member for the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative, said that the path to Indigenous studies at Emory has been “a journey of recognition, repair and learning how to be in good relations in the wake of the horrific and often erased histories of dispossession and genocide in this region of

the Southeast.”

“This is an incredible moment for Emory,” Vidali wrote in an email to the Wheel. “To partner with, and welcome home, and move aside, so that the Muscogee Nation, Muscogee knowledge and Muscogee people may flourish here on their ancestral lands. This partnership opens up the possibility to unsettle or shift what it means to learn, listen and teach. It opens up the possibility for recognition of Muscogee sovereignty and Emory’s relation as a guest on Muscogee land.”

Emory will work with CMN to develop an Indigenous studies minor, according to CMN President Monte Randall.

“It's going to take a lot of research on both of our parts,” Randall said. “Just building those programs, determining what the need is across tribal nations, across the Muscogee Creek Nation, in terms of what courses and what classes are going to be best suited for the support of tribal sovereignty, in support of Indigenous language programs, arts, culture [and] leadership management.”

Cahoon Family Professor of American History Malinda Maynor Lowery previously told the Wheel in

a Sept. 26, 2022 interview that she was working with CMN to create a Indigenous studies major and minor. She added in a Feb. 14 email to the Wheel that recognizing Emory’s history with the Muscogee Nation requires a united effort, not just the work of Indigenous people.

“This partnership opens up the possibility to unsettle or shift what it means to learn, listen, and teach.”

Debra Vidali, Associate Professor of Anthropology

“While Indigenous studies matters to people all over the globe, it is a core tenet of the field’s approach to knowledge that we begin any academic study by engaging with those Indigenous people who belong to and carry responsibilities for the land where we reside, and that we account

See UNIVERSITY, Page 2

There was no cell service in the region when the earthquake hit, so Ilayda Baykan (26C) spent the day trying to contact people who could check on buildings where her friends and family reside. Though Baykan’s family remained safe, her close friends lost family members, which Baykan said “really hurts the heart.”

“These people that are so close to me were suffering unimaginably and I was experiencing this firsthand with phone calls I made to them and everything,” Baykan said. “It’s just extremely tragic.”

Others echoed Baykan’s sentiment, stating that the hardest part was watching the earthquake from afar. Hamit Tatari (26C), who is from Turkey, said it was “saddening” to be so far away from home during the crisis.

“I’ve seen people saying their homes and the streets they used to live in smell like blood,” Tatari said.

Ibrahim Jouja (22Ox, 25C) is both Turkish and Syrian, but most of his family is from Homs, Syria. He said his second cousin and her four children were missing for nearly a week. On Feb. 12, he learned they were dead.

“That was really devastating because, in Syria, even though she was only my second cousin, it's very

“For Syria, the civil war is definitely playing a role in the speed that aid is getting to the people in the northwest,” Rifai said.

However, the United States issued a 180-day exemption for sanctions on Feb. 9, meaning Syrians can temporarily receive aid for the earthquakes.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology Kemal Budak (22G) added that donating to the right organizations, such as the Ahbap Foundation, is important. For those who may not trust the Turkish government, the fact that the money is going directly to the Ahbap Foundation has helped encourage donations, Budak explained.

”Unfortunately, the trust [in] the Turkish government is at an all time low level,” Budak said.

A 2021 poll found that 53% of Turkish citizens do not have trust in the presidency. According to Budak, the Turkish government is “one of the main responsible parties for this earthquake.”

Turkey and Syria are in one of the most seismically active regions in the world, Budak said, comparable to Japan. However, Japan’s earthquakes cause significantly less deaths than the earthquakes which devastated Turkey and Syria — which Budak

SGA delays elections, announces candidates

By niCa lEung Atlanta Desk

The Student Government Association (SGA) Elections Board recently voted to postpone elections after an administrative delay in certifying candidate eligibility, according to SGA President Noah Marchuck (24C).

Voting will be open from noon on Feb. 24 until noon on Feb. 27, three days later than originally scheduled, SGA Elections Board Chair Annie Skelton (21Ox, 23C) wrote in an email to the Wheel. Campaigning began on Feb 14. Students can expect to receive a link to vote through their school emails.

“Before we do elections, we typi-

cally do a check of the candidates just to make sure that they have no conduct violations,” Marchuck said.

“After editing the Code of Elections, we decided that we're gonna do these conduct checks typically before campaigning, just so that people don't get disqualified in the middle of it and feel like their time has been wasted.”

SGA election delays are not an uncommon occurrence, Skelton wrote, noting that last year’s election was postponed a month after the initial timeline was selected.

The 2023 delay is a precautionary move, she added.

“While campaigning could have begun without candidacy being certified, the Board thought it would be more disruptive for a candidate

to possibly be pulled out of the election mid-campaigning rather than to delay the start of campaigning by three days,” Skelton wrote.

SGA Ranking Member and Presidential Candidate Khegan Meyers (24B) affirmed his trust in the Board’s decision, stating that they have worked hard to ensure that every candidate is eligible to run before a student puts their time and effort into a campaign.

“I am happy they worked to change the elections code this year, including by being open to a legislator petition to remove the full-time enrollment requirement to be consistent with the Student Constitution,” Meyers wrote in an email to the Wheel. “I believe they are maintaining consis-

See ELECTIONS, Page 2

Courtesy of eMory university

Members of the Muscogee Nation sit on the Quad during the October 2022 teach-ins.

—

University aims to prevent Indigenous language extinction

Continued from Page 1

for how the University came to occupy this land,” Lowery wrote.

This is the only collaboration between a tribal college and a private research university aimed at advancing Native American and Indigenous studies in the United States.

Randall, Lowery and interim Dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences Carla Freeman are leading the collaborative initiative. However, Lowery credited the advocacy of Native students, staff and faculty for the progress made toward Indigenous studies at Emory.

“physical and literal” language path on both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses, as well as welcoming new faculty and advancing programs in language, literature, history and the arts.

Randall added that the grant is a “big milestone” for CMN, which will use the grant to aid in their transition from a two-year to a fouryear institution as well as revitalize the Mvskoke language and grow the number of Mvskoke speakers.

“I look forward to many more times when this beautiful language is spoken and sung on Emory’s campus and beyond,” Assistant Professor of Art History Megan O’Neil, who is a Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative program leader, wrote in an email to the Wheel.

The initiative occurs as numerous Indigenous languages across the world are going extinct. This decline is not new, according to the Language Conservancy, an organization Indigenous educators and language activists formed in 2005 to address a decline in U.S.

Indigenous language speakers. The group reported that Indigenous languages have been dying out for the past 400 years, with over 200 going extinct. Additionally, one Indigenous language dies every two weeks, the United Nations estimates.

“They brought about a visible relationship between Emory and the Muscogee Nation, and they continue to advocate for greater representation of Indigenous people in the Emory community,” Lowery wrote. “Thanks to the wisdom of students, and to the foresight of leaders of the College of the Muscogee Nation and Emory University, we are at this transformational point in our journey together.”

The grant will help Emory develop its “Indigeneity Hub,” featuring a

“Our specific goal with this funding is to create a master-apprentice Muskogee language learning environment on the campus of the College of the Muscogee Nation here in Okmulgee, Okla.,” Randall said. “This will be a big step for Indigenous language revitalization projects, a big step for tribal colleges, a big step for tribal nations to have this type of learning environment.”

Among its peer institutions, Emory will be one of the first schools with an Indigenous studies program. The University of Pennsylvania and

Northwestern University (Ill.) have a Native American and Indigenous studies minor, the University of Southern California has a Native American studies minor and the University of Chicago has a comparative race and ethnic studies major where students can specialize in Native American studies. However, schools including Carnegie Mellon University (Penn.), New York University, Duke University (N.C.), Vanderbilt University (Tenn.) and Rice University (Texas) do not offer a Native American or Indigenous studies programs.

Associate Teaching Professor of English Mandy Suhr-Sytsma, who is a core faculty member for Emory’s Native American and

Wheel Debates

an email to the Wheel. “I greatly look [forward] to the ways this grant, and Dr. Lowery and Dr. Randall’s leadership in facilitating it, will open additional [opportunities] for mutual learning and reparative relationships across our campuses and communities.”

Randall noted that CMN worked on Emory’s land acknowledgment, which the University officially approved in September 2021. This came five months after the Task Force on Untold Histories and Disenfranchised Populations recommended that Emory develop “physical reminders and remembrance rituals on campus such as a Muscogee (Creek) Language Path.”

CMN has also been involved in Emory’s Language Path initiative, which aims to uplift Muscogee language, culture and presence on campus. The Language Path working group was established in 2021 and includes faculty, students, staff, alumni, administration and community leaders.

Indigenous Studies Initiative, noted that the work supported by the grant will build off the efforts of former Association Professor of English Craig Womack. She wrote that Womack was “one of the most influential voices in Indigenous literary studies,” stating that he brought Muscogee leaders and educators to his classes, dedicated time to his community in Oklahoma over breaks and challenged Emory to better support Black and Indigenous students before retiring in 2021.

"The relationship between Emory and The College of the Muscogee Nation has already fostered meaningful learning opportunities for students, faculty and staff at both institutions,” Suhr-Sytsma wrote in

Vidali expressed appreciation for numerous Emory community members who contributed to this partnership, along with the current Emory students, staff and faculty in the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative.

“I am profoundly grateful for the leadership, heart, and stamina of so many colleagues, teachers, students, and staff in this journey,” Vidali wrote in an email to the Wheel. “Without being seen or necessarily named, there have probably been one or two thousand people who worked to get us to this moment over the past eight years.”

— Contact Matthew Chupack at matthew.chupack@emory.edu and Madi Olivier at madi.olivier@emory.edu

Elections Board confirms candidate eligibility

Continued from Page 1

tency with student demands, including those written by the Wheel last year.”

College Council Third Year Legislature and SGA Presidential Candidate MaKenzie Jones (22Ox, 24C) agreed s, adding that, despite how early the election timeline is compared to previous years, the Board is “holding themselves accountable” to ensure that everything is “up to the standards” outlined in the Code of Elections. Last year’s election was held from March 22 to March 25.

“The Elections Board is working as hard as they can during this time and I wish them well during this stressful season,“ Jones wrote in an email to the Wheel.

Below are the candidates for this year’s election cycle:

SGA president: MaKenzie Jones (22Ox, 24C), Rizky Lubis (24C) and Khegan Meyers (24B)

SGA vice president: Abigail Dubinski (25B), Andrew Yang (23Ox) and Jayden Davis (25B, 26C) College Council president: Neha Murthy (24C) and Daniel Nadel (25C) College Council vice president: Muhammed Sami (25C) College Council second year legislator: Rob Golin (26C), Rachel Alpert-Wisnia (26C), Raina

Nagpal (26C)’, Taimin Lao (26C), Sophie Kalman (26C) and Matthew Veersasammy (26C) College council third year legislator: Ada Demling (25C), Michelle Tucker (25C), Veronica Vargas (25C) and Corinne Phillips (25C) College council 4th year legislator: Cyprian Dumas (24C), Arden Chan (22Ox, 24C), Orion Jones (25C) and Ben Arnoldsen Crawford (24C)

BBA president: Michael Chan (22Ox, 24B) and Natalia Szalay (24B)

BBA vice president: Liam O’Sullivan (24B), Lily Short (24B) and Rhea Mishra (22Ox, 24B)

BBA SGA vice president: Aidan Baris (25B), Ibrahim Jouja (22Ox, 25B) and Sneha Galani (24B)

BBA senior representatives: Amanda Meyer (24B)

BBA junior representatives: Ankita Archarya (22Ox, 25C), Liesl Scherrer (25B), Jason Abreu (25B) and Jacob No (25B)

SGA presidential candidate Rizky Lubis (24C) did not respond for comment by press time.

Executive Editor Matthew Chupack (24C) had no role in writing or editing this article due to conflicts of interest with candidates.

— Contact Nica Leung at danica.leung@emory.edu

Courtney weithorn/ContributinG PhotoGra Pher Emory’s land acknowledgement plaque hangs in the Emory College Office of Admission.

“This will be a big step for Indigenous language revitalization projects, a big step for tribal colleges, a big step for tribal nations to have this type of learning environment.”

— Monte Randall, College of the Muscogee Nation President

Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.

& Science Center Room E208

Hear Student Government Association, College Council and BBA Council representatives discuss their vision for the future of Emory

Emory celebrates Douglass Day

By BRaMMhi BalaRajan Editor-in-Chief

A group of Emory administrators, faculty and community members gathered in the Woodruff Library on Feb. 14 to join the Colored Conventions Project, a scholarly and community research initiative dedicated to digitizing the history of 19th century Black organizing. Joining 7,000 participants in 110 locations globally, attendees transcribed and honored the works of Mary Ann Shadd Cary in celebration of Frederick Douglass Day.

Douglass was formerly enslaved and later became a renowned abolitionist leader. After escaping a plantation in Maryland and achieving freedom, Douglass, who had no accurate knowledge of his birthday, began celebrating his birthday on Valentine’s Day.

Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Carol Henderson emphasized the importance of Douglass picking Feb. 14 for his birthday.

“To have someone name themselves and name their birthdate, we want to honor that, in this particular climate where the country is having old conversations at a new moment about whether we should even celebrate and recognize Black History Month,” Henderson said. “I find it very gratifying and very affirming that Emory University creates space for us to do this.”

The Center for Black Digital Research at Pennsylvania State University hosts the Douglass Day event every year to transcribe, create and make Black history resources more accessible, with universities like Emory participating annually. The organization highlighted the work of African American activists Mary Church Terrell and Anna Julia Cooper in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Curator of African American Collections Clinton Fluker described Cary’s legacy as the first Black, female editor in North America.

“[Cary’s] work, particularly in the 1890s on documenting the South, is paramount to our understanding about how we advocated for our own rights throughout the period,” Fluker said.

The project also includes materials by Delilah Beasley, a journalist and historian who chronicled Black progress in California, and Almena Lomax, a Black journalist who founded the Los Angeles Tribune, Fluker noted.

The hosts then opened a livestream for universities and participants around the world to join., including Emory. During the event, researchers and professors discussed Cary’s legacy.

Born in 1823, Cary moved to Pennsylvania, which was a free state, when she was 10 years old. Her parents helped others escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. Cary later became a teacher and opened a school for students of all races in Canada. She also founded Canada’s first antislavery newspaper, The Provincial Freeman.

After her husband died, Cary

Students grieve Turkish-Syrian tragedy

joined efforts to recruit Black soldiers to the Union Army during the Civil War and eventually became the first Black woman to attend law school in the United States, where she attended Howard University (D.C.). While teaching full time and raising two children, Cary studied part time and became the second Black woman to earn a law degree. Cary was also the first Black woman to vote in a national election in the United States.

“Through all of that, she kept writing, publishing and advocating for racial and gender equality throughout her life,” Assistant Professor of English at Queen’s University in Canada Kristin Moriah said in the livestream.

“She was a force to be reckoned with, and our work here today is a testament to that fact.”

Participants then had the chance to explore and transcribe Cary’s works and decorate buttons in honor of Douglass Day. With the transcripts, participants had the option to either transcribe handwritten documents to make them more accessible or identify important figures in documents.

The documents come from a variety of collections and libraries, including the Archives of Ontario and the Moorland Spingarn Research Center at Howard, with some becoming digitized in the past few years.

Program Coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Jordan Ross, who helped plan the Douglass Day event, said he appreciated the chance to meet new people and honor Douglass’ contributions.

“Especially in this time period where history means so much to us, and means so much to this space, I’m just proud that we can celebrate Douglass, we can celebrate Mary Ann Shadd Cary and others through a digital space,” Ross said.

Former senior business manager of Emory Eye Center Mallard Benton, who has attended previous Douglass Day events, said he appreciated the opportunity to “transcribe something about someone that [he] knew something about, but not a lot.”

“I feel that I’m contributing to keeping her alive and sharing her with other people,” Benton said.

— Contact Brammhi Balarajan at brammhi.balarajan@emory.edu

The Emory Wheel

Volume 104, Issue 3

© 2023 The Emory Wheel Alumni Memorial University Center, Room 401 630 Means Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322

Business (404) 727-6178

Editor-in-Chief Brammhi Balarajan bbalara@emory.edu

Founded in 1919, The Emory Wheel is the financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University in Atlanta. The Wheel is a member publication of Media Council, Emory’s organization of student publications. The Wheel reserves the rights to all content as it appears in these pages, and permission to reproduce material must be granted by the editor-in-chief.

The statements and opinions expressed in the Wheel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Wheel Editorial Board or of Emory University, its faculty, staff or administration.

The Wheel is also available online at www.emorywheel.com.

said was because of greater governmental preparation and support.

“Unfortunately, I don't see it in the public or, I don't see any government effort to make sure people are not going to allow for the construction of a flimsy building,” Budak said.

Students, faculty fundraise

Various groups, such as the Muslim Student Association, are planning fundraisers to support those affected by the earthquakes.

During a Feb. 13 bake sale, a group of Turkish students raised about $6,000, Baykan said. While many donors have sent food, water and clothes to Turkey, medical supplies are currently the big-

gest necessity, Baykan added.

A group of Turkish students are also holding a bake sale on McDonough Plaza from 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 16, according to Baykan and Gencer.

Budak, who is from Western Turkey, and his son, who is a high school freshman, also started a fundraiser to support Turkey. The fundraiser garnered about $2,000 within the first 24 hours. A few days later, his fundraiser surpassed $3,000.

As of Feb. 15, Budak and his son raised $3,180, which is equivalent to 59,936.77 Turkish liras.

“It should help at least a couple of families or maybe a small community in the short term,” Budak said.”

Rifai, whose family is from

Damascus, Syria, which was less impacted by the earthquake, also plans to fundraise for Turkey and Syria by running in the Publix Atlanta Marathon on Feb. 26.

“It's been very beautiful seeing the Emory community come together,” Rifai said. “The most important thing for me is just people knowing that their money is going where they want it to go.”

News Editor Madi Olivier (25C) and Assistant News Editor Ashley Zhu (25C) contributed reporting.

— Contact Eva Roytburg at eva.roytburg@emory.edu and Meghan Gupte at meghan.gupte@emory.edu

PAID RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY:

Males aged 12 -34 in the Atlanta area needed for online study

The Emory Mental Health & Development Program is seeking male participants for an online research study about how your thoughts about other people and your perception of things can be assessed through computerized tasks.

Males, aged 12 -34, in the Atlanta metropolitan area may be eligible for participation.

Participants are asked to complete baseline study sessions, then 12-month and 24-month follow-ups. All appointments are online. Compensation is $30 per hour.

For more information, please visit our website or contact us.

Phone number: 404-727-7547

Email: mentalhealth.research@emory.edu

Website: https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/mhdp/ or scan the QR code:

STU00211351: CAPR

Principal investigator: Elaine Walker

Courtesy of wikiMedia CoMMons/national a rChives of Canada

Mary Ann Shadd Cary was North America's first Black female newspaper editor.

Courtesy of wikiMedia CoMMons/ voiCe of a MeriCa

The Turkey-Syria earthquake devastates the region as the death toll surpasses 41,000 people. Continued from Page 1

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TheEmoryWheelwelcomeslettersandop-edsubmissionsfromtheEmorycommunity.Lettersshouldbelimitedto300words andop-edsshouldbeatleast500.Thoseselectedmaybeshortenedtofitallottedspaceoreditedforgrammar,punctuation andlibelouscontent.SubmissionsreflecttheopinionsofindividualwritersandnotoftheWheel’sEditorialBoardorEmory University.Sendemailstoemorywheelexec@gmail.comorpostalmailtoTheEmoryWheel,DrawerW,EmoryUniversity,Atlanta,GA,30322.

SophiaPeyser(25C)isfromBrooklyn,NewYork.

SophiaPeyser

Fallinginlovewithyouththroughmysister’seyes

OnFeb.1,mysistertextedme, unsolicited,thatballswereher favoritepartofaboy’sbody—what awaytocelebratethegenesisofa newmonth.

Mysisteriseight.

Stupefied,Itextedbackintrepidation,askingfromwherethisrevelationhadrisen.“Well,that’swhereit hurtsthemost,”shereplied.

ThesymphonyoffeelingsIexperienceduponreadingthattextiswhat Iimaginemostparentsfeelwhen theyseetheirbabyriseindependentlyandembarkontheirfirst, wobblysteps.Herboldprofessionof misandryelicitsbothprideandrelief: prideinrealizingthatIhaveraised herasafeministandreliefin knowingthatifsheweretobeina situationthatrequiredself-defense, shewouldknowtoaimwhereithurts themost—ouch.

Mysisterisafulldecadeyounger thanme.SheiseverythingIamand everythingIwanttobe.Likea parent,Ichangedherdiapers, strokedherhairasherlabored breathssignifiedsleepandexplained mathproblemstoherinpreparation fortests.Likeasister,Ihavepassed downmyfavoriteclothes,lether borrowperfumesandlipglossesand givenheradviceoncrushes,mean girlsandargumentswithourparents.Likeabestfriend,Ihavetexted herwhenIhaveneededwordsof affirmation,criedinherembrace moretimesthanIcancountand gossipedforhoursonend.

Myroleinherlifeisquiteclearly multifaceted.Theprovenanceofour

relationshipwasbuiltonasetof expectations,withmeconfidentin handlingthetaskofbeingagoodrole model.WhatInevercouldhave envisaged,however,wastreatingher asmyownrolemodel,her eightyearsofwisdom continuouslytrumping myown18.

Iamtheeldestofthree, buthavealwaysconsideredmyselfastheeldest ofsixbecauseIgrewupin suchcloseproximityto mycousins.Ifeelso fortunatetohavegrown upalongsidethem,but nothingcomparestohavingbeenoldenoughto recountmysister’sentire lifespan,fromthe momentmymomtoldme shewaspregnant.She, andbyextension,ouragegap,has beenoneofthemostunanticipated andformativecontributorstomy identity.

ThispastDecember,mysisterand Isatintheshallowoftheocean, lappingwaterandaimlesslypalavering.Wepredictedthetrajectoriesof eachofourcousins’lives,discussing theirpersonalitytraitsinrelationto whotheywouldmarry,thenumber ofkidstheywouldhaveandthe careerstheywouldchoose.Itwas thrilling—evenmoresowasrecognizingthatmysister’scapabilityfor expressingthisadultsenseofintellectwasheightenedbyherchildishness.Shehasacarefreeandidealistic spiritthatIcanonlydescribeas magic.Watchingitunfoldasshe growsisaprivilegeIfeelselectively privyto,consideringthatouragegap

willpermitmetorelishinher youngnessfortherestofourintertwinedlives.Mysister,equipped withhereightyearsoftrialsand tribulations,possessesthetypeof

Whenadivorceshookmyextended family,shewasstunnedwhenI explainedtheterm;toher,amarriageisaninfinitepromiseandlove conquersall.

Thereisapowerin childhoodthatwaitstobe discoveredevenwhenyou havephysicallyoutgrown it.

boy’sbodybecausethat’swhereit hurtsmost.

EllieFivas

Pullupanysocialmediaapp, navigatetothesearchbarandtypein thephrase“#selflove,”oranyiterationofit,really.Yoursearchwill, almostcertainly,yieldthousandsof postsfromwomen,towomen; anecdotes,adviceandself-caretips willfloodyourscreen.Allthis contentwillbegearedtowardavery particularaudience:womenwho desiretotakeonaself-lovemindset.

Self-loveisaconstructedstatein whichoneappreciatestheirown mind,bodyandspirit,oftentimes throughself-carepracticessuchas relaxingactivities,regularexercise andpositivethinking.Toloveyourselfisanoble;however,thisself-love mindsethasbeenpopularizedamong girlsandwomenthroughviralsocial mediatrendsandendorsedbysocial mediainfluencerswhoglamorizeand capitalizeonself-loveastheirown brand.Theseinfluencersaren’ttobe villainized—theirfightandsupport forself-loveisadmirableandhas helpedmanypeoplelovethemselves. However,thispopularizationhas causedtheself-lovemovementtobe targetedatparticulargroupssuchas womenandgirls.Peoplewhodesire awake-up-at-7a.m.,run-ten-miles andthendecorate-your-bullet-journallifestylearemuchmorelikelyto fitintoself-loveculturebecauseits aestheticsalreadymatchtheirown.

Idon’tmeantoaccuseanyoneof exclusion—thatisclearlythe

antithesisoftheself-lovemovement. Rather,Ithinkit’simportantto recognizethattheaestheticandvibe ofself-lovepushedbysocialmedia doesnotappealtoeveryoneandeven hashazardouseffectsonsociety itself.

Onegroupthattheself-love movementleavesoutismen—in particular,youngmenharboring bothvaryinglevelsoftoxicmasculinityandanabsenceofacomfortable spacetoacceptself-love.Thusbegan theriseofsocialmediapersonality AndrewTate,whosebrandisbuiltto beaguidebookoftheworldforyoung men;fromwomentofitnessto mentalhealth,Tateproclaimsthathe hastheanswerkeytolifeforhis audience.YoungmenflockedtoTate fortheanswerstobeingtheirbest selves.Self-improvementisnotafar cryfromthesentimentsexpressedby

sagacitythatonlyaccompaniesinnocent,naiveyouth.Becausesheislike me,shewillresentthatIseeher youthforemostwhenIlookather. Butbecauseshehasme,hopefully shewillrealizethathereternalyouth ismyfavoritepartabouther.

Shecouldhavenoideathather textaboutballsbeingherfavorite partofaboy’sbodydeliverssexual undertonesinmostcontexts.Sheis pureinherintentions,unfettered andunfiltered.Shecouldnotfathom choosingacareeronthebasisof anythingbesidespassion;shewants tobeasoldierintheU.S.military,a painter,adancerandananimal protectorallatonce.Shethinks homeworkisawasteoftimewhenI couldbehangingoutwithher insteadandbelievesthatdogsarethe universe’sgreatestgifttomankind.

Iwasalwayssorushed tocollectexperiencesand reachmilestonesasa child,itchingtobleach myselfofmyyoungness. ThisisnottosaythatI don’tmissmychildhood; infact,IfeelthatIcheated myselfoutofit.Ilovedthe senseofresponsibilityand leadershipIfeltwas intrinsictomypersonality beingtheeldestofaclan ofsix.Iamcontemplativetoafault andanaturalplanner;mysisteris spontaneousandunburdenedbythe longterm.Weshareunbridledconfidence,defensiveness,arebellious streakandstrongfeministprinciples. Unknowingly,Ihaveraisedthebest versionofmyself.She,inreturn,has taughtmetheimportanceofbold youth.

Icravetofreezetimeandpreserve hernaiveviewofgoodnessand cootiesandalifebuiltpurelyon desire.Heroutlookisgroundingand fresh.SheremindsmethatwhetherI amacollegefreshmanorawrinkled andwornoldwoman,youthis definedbyintentionalperspective.

Youthpreachessimplicity:love conquersall,embarrassmentisa construct,passionreignsprincipal andballsaresimplythebestpartofa

Likeaparent,Imournthefactthat witheverypassingday,partsofher innocencewillbereplacedbythe formativeexperiencesofadolescence.Likeasister,Irelishin knowingthatshewillalwaysholda senseofnaivetybeingtenyears youngerthanme,meaningthatIwill alwaysbeabletolookuptoher inherentyouthfulness.Likeabest friend,IfeelinfinitelyluckythatIget tocallhermine.

Iwonderwhywearesoquickto escapeourchildhoodwhenitisallwe yearnafterithaseclipsed.Thetypical synonymsforyouthincludeyoungness,adolescenceandearlyyears.My sisterhasshownmethatthisterm appliesinfinitely,asanintrinsictrait orlearnedattribute.Iamluckyto haveaconstantreminderintheform ofacuriousandbold,humorousand incisivelittlehuman.

Childhoodisomnipresent;itis smellinggrassafterafreshcoatingof rain,tryinganewfruitonamiscellaneousgrocerytripandreadinganew author.Tobeyoungisencapsulated inthetenacityofdeliberatelychasing novelexperiencesandluxuriatingin them.Tobeyoungistopossesshope, makedeclarationsunapologetically andbelieveinaninherentgoodness. Iamatapointinmyexistencewhere Iconstantlycontemplatethepermanenceofmydecisions,milesand hoursawayfrommysister.Andso,I embodyherlikeanyadmirerwould embodytheirrolemodel.Youthisa choice.Livewisely,foreveryoung.

SaanviNayar(26C)isfromMarlboro,NewJersey.

followersofself-love culture.

However,thetractionthatTategained, partiallyduetoexclusionaryself-loveculture,hasonlyadded fueltohismisogynistic,dangerousand, frankly,abusivefire. Alongwithallegedly physicallyandemotionallyabusinghis ex-girlfriend,Tate hasrepeatedlyreinforceddisgustingly misogynisticviewpointsthatfeature womenasdeservingofsubjugation andidealizingthe“alphamale” persona.Tate’sviewpointshave amassedamassivefollowing,evenas hehasbeendetainedbytheRomanianpoliceonsuspicionofseveral crimes,includingorganizedcrime andhumantrafficking.

Tate’ssuccessamongyoungmen, alongwithotherinfluencerspopularizedbytoxicmasculinity,isnot whollyduetoself-loveexclusion. Nevertheless,ithasbeenproventhat atoxicmasculinitymindsetcan contributetomennotbeingableto bevulnerableandperpetuatesmentalhealthissues,suchasdepression, increasedaggressionandviolence, lowself-esteemandloneliness.

NotonlydoesTateandhis self-improvementphilosophycontinuetoharmwomenandperpetuate toxicmasculinityandsexism,but

alsoitsubstituteshisfollowers’need forahealthyrelationshipwiththeir ownidentity,bodyandemotions withthoseharmfulprinciples.“If you’rethekindofpersonwhofeels likeyouneedtherapy,youneed someonetotalkto,doyouknow whatyouare?You’reuseless,”said TateinoneofhisTikToks.Whilstthe self-loveaestheticpushessomeaway, sentimentslikeTate’spulltheminto thisunhealthysubstitution.Instead ofstrivingforTate-stylehypermasculinityandawfulbehavior,men, alongwithotherexcludedgroups, deservetoconnectwithandlove theirownidentities,emotionsand physicality.

Lovingyourselfisapopular messagethatwillcontinuetobe spreadthroughoutoursociety,both asaresultofthesocialmediahype andalsoduetootherfactorssuchas increasinglyimportantmental health.Myhopeisthatwecanpush pastthiserawhereself-love—and thefocusonmental,physicaland emotionalhealththatcomewithit— issoughtafterasabrand.While manypeopletodayhealthilyapply self-lovetotheirday-to-daylivesand routines,manystillfeeloustedbythe stigmas,stereotypesandcharacteristicsthatsurroundlovingyourself. Anyonecanlovethemselves:it’snot alifestyle,indulgenceoranythingin between.

Self-loveispersonal,andifyou chosetoshareitonline,that’swithin yourright;however,Iurgeusallto takeastepbackandassesswhywe

feeltheneedtoshowothershow wonderfulandhealthyourlivesare. There’snothinginherentlywrong withsocialmediainfluencersor promotingself-loveonline,however, socialmediapresenceandbranding shouldnotbetheextenttowhich yourself-lovestretches.Loveyourself,nottheversionofyourselfthat goesonline.Ideeplyadmireinfluencerswhosegoalistopushforward thelovetheyalreadyhaveHowever, the,admittedlyblurry,lineshould notbecrossedintoterritorywhere gettingbehindacameraisforthe purposeofpromotingaself-love lifestylewhenyoulacktheinternal self-lovetomatchtheexternal.It’sall aboutintentionsandcorrectingyour ownwillhelpyoufeellovedand happywithyourselfbeforeyoucarry itoutonline.Mostofall,peoplewho feelexcludedbytheself-lovemovementshouldseekwaystomake self-lovetheirown.Perhapsitwon’t gobythenameofself-love,but nevertheless,prioritizingtheappreciationandrespectwehavefor ourselvesisessentialtolivehappy lives.

ThisValentine’sDay,loveyour friends,loveyourfamilies,loveyour hobbiesandloveyoursignificant others.However,aboveall,rememberthatyouneedtoloveyourself first,andrememberthatyoudeserve tofeelcomfortableandwelcome doingso.

EllieFivas(26C)isfromCleveland, Tennessee.

SaanviNayar

Cliqueyself-loveculturewasn’tintentional,butweneedtofixit

IsabelCuellar

Inourworld,wherefoodmeans nothingandeverything,andwhere youcaneatbasicallyanything, effortlessly,foodcanlacktenor.But theprocess—bothhowwemakeour foodandhowweeatit,too— matters.Theingredient-buying,the recipe-findingandthehourswrestledfreefromthespindlyhandsof ourschedulesmakethedifference. Tobeonyourfeet,sweatingovera potofboilingricewithpeasand carrotsandajiandpollodesmenuzadoandtryingtorecreateher arrozconpollo,yourfavoritechildhooddish,alltofeelthewarmthof yourabuela’shandonyourshoulder inthefirstbite,becausesheis nowhereelsenow.Nowherebut here.

Ifellinlovethesummerbeforemy senioryearofhighschool.Ikept bakingthingsforafriendoutof boredom.Ibroughtoatmealcoconut cookiesonedayinJune.Aweek later,cinnamonrolls.Thenmatcha browniesinJuly,justforkicks.I wouldusuallystartbaking aroundfourintheafternoon.

Thebakedgoodswouldbeout oftheovenbysevenandI’dbe overatherhouse15minutes later.I’dspendhoursparked inherdriveway.Shewould leanintomycarwindowand the“Oh,it’sthiscoolrecipeI foundonPinterest”cookies wouldgrowcoldaswetalked abouteverytopicunderthe moon.I’dleave20minutes aftermyparentscalledwith thetragicnewsthatdinner wasalmostreadyandthey werewaitingforme.She wouldslumpforward,long hairbrushingmyshoulderandthen fullyslideoutuntilshewasstanding again.She’dlookaroundherdrivewayandIwouldcalloutonemore questionforhertoanswersoIwould havesomefactabouthertoturnover onthedrivehome.We’dendup distractedagain,untiloneofus rememberedIhadtogohome.I wouldhandoverthewhiteboxfullof bakedgoodsandshewouldpeerin andsmile.I’dbackoutofher drivewaywithoutrollingupmy windowandshewouldwaitbythe frontdoortowavegoodbyeonceI wasturningontoherstreet.Halfway throughdinner,myphonewould lightupandtherewashername— usuallyapicture,too.“Halfofthem arealreadygone.You’reruiningme.”

“Ithoughtyoudidn’tlike coconut,”Isaid.

“Yeahwellyou’rejustthatgoodI guess,”sheresponded.

Nothingcameofit,really.Imean, allIdidwasbakeforher.Nothing cameofit—exceptIstoppedbaking oatmealcoconutcookies.They’re justhersnow.

Everycupofflourandevery tablespoonofcoconutflakesfeels hollow.Asacrilegetothetender, wistfuleveningswespentineach other’scompany.JustasIcanfeel mygrandmotherinthearrozcon polloImake,onlylonginghaunts thesecookies.Andwhatwouldbethe pointofmakingthemagain,when theywereatthepinnacleofsuccess thefirsttimeImadethem?Ihave lovedcoconutmywholelife.Ican’t fallinlovewithitalloveragain.

Whenitcomestosharingfood, loveisaritualthattakespractice.As

kids,mybrotherandIwerenot competitiveEasteregghunters, becausewehadanagreement.Once allthecandyhadbeencollected,we wouldlayitoutonthediningtable, spliteverytypeofcandyevenlyand thenbarter.Mybrotherdespised jellybeans;Iwasnotafanof Maltesers.Aswegrewolder,that needforequallysplitfoodpersisted. Neitherofuswaswillingtobe generous,soweeithersharedthings fifty-fiftyornotatall.Ittookyears forustofinallyrelent—yearsof easilysharingfoodwithfriends, cousins,classmatesandyearsoflife too.AndIknowittookanactof kindness.Oneofus,thoughIdon’t rememberwho,toldtheothertotake asmuchastheyliked.Iloveyou.I amtiredoffighting,itsaid.Theother sibling—whicheveroneofusitwas —laiddowntheirmetaphoricsword, andwe’vesinceknownpeace.

Thatritualoflovehasledtothe twobestmealsI’veeverhad.Thefirst wassixmonthsago,anditwasbarely ameal:Ibroughtcupcakesformy therapist—adecisionIwasunsure aboutuntilthemomentIgavethem

beachchairsandsharedapizzaher motherhadgottenforus.Itwas warmandmademoredeliciousby howtiredwewereafterourdayof playing.Theskymatchedthetomato saucearoundourlips.Thedustingof flouronourfingerswasatwintothe sandwehadplayedwithjustminutesbefore.Asweleanedintoeach other,brownwethairgettingall tangledup,wedreamtupournext adventure,reenergizedbythewarm mealwe’dsharedandcolorsthat grazedthroughthesky.Idon’t remember,now,exactlywhatwe played.Idon’trememberwhether wepretendedtobeenemiesorallies aswesprintedintothesea.ButI rememberthecrunchofthecrust andthewarmthwhereourlegs touched,wherewesupportedthe pizzabetweenus.Weateourfill.We ateitall.

Thereareadozenrecipebooksin myparents’house,buttheonlyoneI careforisaveryoldMickeyMouse notebookthat’sfatwithallthe papersthathavebeenhaphazardly shovedbetweenitspages.Brownie batterstains,mymother’sround handwriting,familysecrets, ahardenedlumpoficing sugarandmychildhood coveritspages.WhenIleaf throughit,Idon’tknow wheretostoporwhereto look.Ihavestartedmyown recipenotebookandam tryingtodecidewhatIwant totranscribefirst.

JuliannaChen

Mymotherisdeeplykind,butnot verynice.Once,Icriedtoherbecause Ifeltugly,andshetoldmethatI wasn’tasupermodelanyway—thatI mustmakepeacewithbeingaverage. Oncountlessotheroccasions,I’ve calledherfromcollegewanting wordsofsympathy,an“Oh,honey, that’shorrible.”Usually,Ireceivea “Well,whatareyougoingtodoabout it?”I’vealwayswantedtoaskherwhy shecouldn’tactlikeanicewhite mom,thekindwhocoddlesher childrenintobelievingthateverythingtheydoisincredible—butI’m suremymotherwouldonlysay, “WhywouldIlietoyouifIloveyou?”

futurehusbandwillresentyouwhen youdothis!”Iwanttoscreamback: “WhyiseverythingIdoadisappointment?”But,Irealizenow,thatit’s neverbeenaboutthehypothetical husband—mymotherisawoman whocaresaboutsparingmefrom heartbreak,shieldingmefrompains thatshehopesI’llneverknow.When shecriticizesme,it’shardtonotfeel likeglassinherhandsbeingdropped overandoveragain.I’mtryingto thinkofhernow,though,asa sculptorofsorts;she’scollecting what’sshattered,holdingitcloseand tryingtomolditintothebodyofa daughterwhocanbeevenstronger thanher.

toher.Shesawthem,onewith elegantswirlsoficing,onedrowning insprinkles,onedyedblueandone withcookiecrumbsontop,andher facelitup.Sherushedovertothe officekitchenandpulledouttwo colorful,mismatchedceramicplates anda“Howdoesthatmakeyou feel?”mug.Iwasdirectedtoan entirewalloftea.Ichosearaspberry pomegranateteabag.Backinher office,shesetdowneverythingshe’d brought.

“Willyousplitonewithme?”she asked,grinning.

“I’dloveto.”Sothisiswhatitfeels like,Ithought,toheal.Shepicked theblueone.

Shewasverycarefulaboutcutting twoperfectlyequalpieces,explaining thatshehadalwaysneededtosplit herfoodequallywhenshesharedit withsomeone.Asweatetogether— assheravedabouthowdeliciousit was,aswelickedicingoffourfingers andsquishedthecrumbsunderour thumbs,asweunabashedlyleteach otherseehowmuchwe'denjoyedit —Irememberedthesecond-best mealI’veeverhad.

Iwas10.Mybrotherwashavinga birthdaypartyandIwasnotinvited. Instead,Ispentthedayatthebeach withmybestfriendPaulineandher mother.

PaulineandIwereanunshakeablecreativeforcewhenweplayedin ourrooms,butwiththeseaandthe sandavailable,webecamesomethingelse.Maybegoddessesor queens.Notmermaids,thatIknow forsure.

Attheendoftheday,asthesun set,mybestfriendandIsatonour

EveryColombianrecipeI knowofhastobeadjusted whenpreparedintheU.S. Bogotásits8,660feetabove sealevel;theworldisalot drierthere.Mydadinsists thattheremustbesomethingdifferent,tooaboutthe water,thebutter,theflourorthesalt, becausenothingtastesthesame.

I’mworriedthatnomatterwhatI transcribe,Iwon’tdaretotrypreparingthoserecipes.Theywillbe meticulouslywrittenout,butwithout mymother’sguidinghandormy grandmother’ssternremarks,Iwill fail.Ilearnedtolovemyfamily recipesbecauseofthepeoplewho madethemforme,withme.Arroz conpollodidnotbecomemyfavorite dishthefirsttimeItriedit.Itbecame myfavoritedishthesecondtime— whenIwalkedintomyabuela’s kitchenandfoundthatshehadmade itagainbecausesheremembered thatIhadenjoyedit.Andthecopyof thatrecipeinmyparent’shouse serves12,butIamjustone.These arefoodsdensewithhistoryand hope.Thesearerecipesolderthan me,olderthanmyparentsand sometimesolderthanmygrandparents.IfImaketheserecipesby myself,formyself,thereisno guaranteethattheywillbeimbued withthecare,patienceandlovethat myfamilyofferedme.Butthen maybeIcanimbuesomethingnew, somethingtender,something wistful.

IendupstartingwitharecipeI knowIcanmakewellonmyown.A recipetoserveastheopeningprayer —ablessingforeverymealtofollow andeverymemoryI’lltrytorecreate. Arecipethatisalllove.Therecipe thatmadethegirlIlovedfallinlove withsomethingtoo:coconutoatmeal cookies.

IsabelCuellar(25C)isfromMiami, FloridaandBogotá,Columbia.

I’mnotthefirstpersontowrite thesewords.Lastmonth,Iwept whilewatchingEvelynin“EverythingEverywhereAllatOnce”tell herdaughter,Joy,thatshewas gettingfat,becauseIknewthatwhat shereallymeanttosaywasthatshe wassorry.Onscreen,Icouldseean apologygettingcaughtinherthroat onlytoemergeasaninsult;inmy theaterseat,Ienvisionedunspoken apologiesflickingacrossmyoffscreenmother’sfaceinthesameway. Andlastyear,Ilaughedreading “CryinginHMart,”inwhich MichelleZaunerdescribesher motherastheantithesistoanice whitemom:“ShewasnotwhatI’d refertoasa‘Mommy-Mom’… someonewhotakesaninterestin everythingherchildhastosaywhen thereisnowayshegivesashit.”

ThereisamomentbeforeEvelyn andJoy’stearfulreconciliationin whichJoytellshermotherthatbeing togetheronlyhurtsthemboth.I noddedmyheadinagreementthen, rememberingbittertearsandthe resentmentIheldtowardmymother forinstillinghurtinmewithouteven realizingit.AndyetIwanttobelieve thattheexistenceoftheseother mothersthatcamebeforemineis proofmymotherwasalwaysright, thatherhurtheldpurpose.Like EvelynorMrs.Zauner,mymother saystomethethingsotherswon’t, becauseshewantstoprotectme.So oftenshetellsmethatIneedtobe tough,andinthosemomentsI imagineherharshwordsbecoming darts,hurledatmesomyskingrows thickenoughforthesharptofeel dull.

Ihavetoremindmyselfofthis whenshechastisesmeforleaving dishesinthesinkorthrowingclothes onthefloor;thesearebothbehaviors,shecautions,thatwillleadtothe dissolutionofmyfuturerelationships.Whenshetellsme,“Your

MymotherknowsthatI’msingle thisValentine’sDay.Shedoesn’t know,however,thatIkeptthenews ofthisrecentbreakuphiddenfrom herforawhile.Inthewakeofevery moviebreakupthereisalwaysa “Mommy-Mom”strokingherdaughter’shairandtellingherhowamazingsheis–Icouldn’tbringmyselfto pickupthephoneandtellher, becauseIcouldn’tbearforherto knowthatIhad,infact,leftdishesin thesinkandthrownclothesonthe floor.Ididn’twanttohearthatI’d doneitallwrong.

Butthere’safutureIcanimagine whereItellhereverything.I’lltellher howsorryIfeelthatIhadto consumesomanybooksandmovies aboutmothersthataren’tminein ordertounderstandher.I’lltellher thatIcanseethefinelinesonher skin,thosedeepetchingsleftbyall herfrustrationsovernotknowing howtotalktome.I’dliketopressmy fingersintoherforeheadandsmooth itslowly,thewayshealwaysdid whilechastisingmeforfurrowingmy ownbrows:Bùyàozhòuméi!Worrying,shewarned,wouldgiveme wrinkles—now,Iwanttotellherthe same,thatIdon’twanthertogive herselfscarsfromhopingshe’s sayingtherightthingstome.

Mostofall,I’llwanttositin silenceandlethertellmethatI’mnot asupermodel,thatIdiditwrongand thatIneedtopickuptheclothes.For solong,we’vecircledeachotherin frustration,eachpersonnotknowing whattotelltheother.Butinthis future—closerthanitseems,just barelyoutofreach–wedon’thurt eachotheranymore.Allthat’sleftfor metodoislisten.Becauseshewas nevermean,really;shewasonly tryingtoloveme.

JuliannaChen(23C)isfrom McMurray,Maryland.

HAYLEY POWERS /VISUAL EDITOR

Alovelettertothelittlethingsthatmattermost

Romancemoviesgetitallwrong —grandgesturesoflovearenothing comparedtotheconsistentandsmall thingspeopledoeveryday.For example,whenyourfriendsgooutof theirwaytoseeyouwhenthey’re busy,offeryoutheirlastpieceofgum orevenwaveatyouonthewayto class.Theselittleactsarewhatshow youthatyou’reconstantlybeing appreciated.Manyofthethings peopledoaren’tconsciousdecisions, soseeinghowpeoplereacttoyouand acttowardyoushowsthatevenona subconsciouslevel,theyarealways thinkingaboutyouandtheyaren’t doingitjustforshow.Don’toverlook theimportanceofsmallactsoflove inyourrelationships.

Therearemanysmallwaysin whichpeopleshowlove;however,if theydifferfromtheloveyou’reused to,theycanbehardtorecognize.Life ishardandcollegecanbeespecially isolating,butyou’reneverasaloneas youimagineyouare.Thereareso manylittlewaysthatpeopleshow youthatthey’rethereforyou,and thatthey’rewillingtohelpyououtif youask.

Lovehasmanydefinitions;tome, it’srespect,appreciationforothers, kindnessandgoingtheextramilefor oneanother.Lovedoesn’thavetobe epicorfairytale-likeorevenromantic forittocount.

Forexample,Ifeelknownand appreciatedwhenevermyfriends sendmemessagestoreferenceinside jokesortellmeaboutsomethingthey knewwouldcapturemyinterest.I

knowtheycareaboutmewhenthey lockeyeswithmetowordlessly communicatetheirsolidaritywith howI’mfeeling,orwhenthey complimentmyoutfitandmakeup. Evenwhentheiractionsseem superficial,theenergyandintention thattheseactionstakeisnotloston me.

Mediaportrayalsofloveoften emphasizeromanticloveandbig eventstoshowit,suchasexpensive proposals,surpriseparties,perfect datesandevenweddings.However, famousJapanesefilmdirectorand StudioGhiblico-founderHayao Miyazakihasadifferentperspective andgoalinmindwhenportraying love.

Miyazakihasproducedmovies like“Howl’sMovingCastle”and “WhisperoftheHeart,”inwhichhe strivestodepictlifeandloveinmore soft,gentleandsomewhatunconventionalwaysasopposedtoother media.Todothis,Miyazakifocuses oncharactersinspiringoneanother tobethemselves,seethingsinanew light,takebreaks,andmostofall, showingeachotherthattheyare neveralone.Charactersarehonest withoneanother,anddoeverything fromtellingoneanothertheir dreamsandsharingtheirfavorite bookstogoingonadventures togetherandstandingupforeach other.

Miyazakihasdirectedandproducedanumberofinternationally popularmoviesthatdepicteverythingfrommagicaladventuresto “sliceoflife”stories;hismoviesand perspectiveoninterpersonalrelationshipshashadabigeffectonhow

Iviewloveandmyrelationshipswith others.

DuetoMiyazaki’smovies,Ifeel encouragedtobemoreoutgoing, honestandtransparentinmyrelationships,butalsotobetruerto myself.Miyazaki’scharactersaren’t afraidtobethemselves,saywhat theyfeelorspeakwhat’sontheir mind,andbecauseofthistheyare abletoformgenuineconnections withoneanother.

“Iwanttoportrayaslightly differentrelationship,onewherethe two[people]mutuallyinspireeach othertolive—ifI’mableto,then perhapsI’llbeclosertoportrayinga trueexpressionoflove,”says Miyazaki.

Miyazaki’sexplanationofloveasa waythatpeopleinspireeachotherto liveisexactlywhatImeanby“the littlethingsmattermost”;grandiose actionsandgesturesaren’twhatget youthroughhardtimesorkeepyour relationshipsstrongonordinary days.Small,everydayservicesthat peopledoforoneanotherarewhat reallystrengthentheirrelationships andinspirepeopletoliveandbeour bestselves.Evenjustbeingtruerto themselvesandhonestwithone anotherintheirdailyinteractionsis asmallshiftthatdeepenstheir connectionswithoneanother.

I’vebeenpayingcloserattentionto thepeoplearoundmeandhave noticedmanydifferentwaysthat theyshowthissortoflove.Love couldbemakingsureyoudon’t forgetyourlunchorreadingthe booksyouoffhandedlymentioned wereyourfavorites.It’swakingup earlytospendtimetogetherandit’s

encouragingyoutogoafteryour passions,especiallywhenitisn’t easy,andhavingfaiththatyou’ll succeedevenwhenyou’reskeptical.Loveiswhenyourfriends don’tjudgeyouforyourquirks, butit’salsowhentheymakefun ofyoubecausetheyknowyouso well.It’swhenyourfriendsends youasongrecommendationor funnyvideothattheythinkyou’d like.It’ssmallgesturestoshow youthatthey’rethinkingabout you.It’sstandingbyeachother’s sideandstandingupforeachother.

Loveisrememberingsmall details,likethatclassyou’reonthe waitlistfororthatclubyou’re thinkingaboutjoining.It’ssavinga storytotellyouandexcitedly recountingthedetails.Loveistelling youeverythingaboutahorribleTV seriesandforcingyoutowatchit withthemjusttoseeyoulaugh.

Sure,theycouldbuyyouachocolatefountainforValentine’sDay,but thatrequiresalotlesseffort. Expressinganinterestineventhe smalldetailsofyoureverydaylifeand constantlyshowingupforyouis whatrevealsreal—andnotjust performative—love.

Thesearejustafewwaysinwhich peopleshowthattheycareforeach other.Nomatterhowsmallor random,everyactionpeopletake showsthattheycareaboutyou;it’s impossibletomissifyouknowwhere tolook.

Idon’tneedabouquetofrosesor anexpensivecake;Ifeelmostloved whenmyfriendsandfamily acknowledgeandshowinterestinthe thingsI’minterestedinandwhen

theyspendtimewithme,evenif we’rejuststudying.Ifeellovedwhen myfriendsrushtomeetmeexactly ontimebecausetheyknowI’mbusy, orwhenthey’rehonestthatthey’llbe late.Thinkaboutthepeoplethatare closetoyouandthatyouinteract withoften,andseeifyoucanpickup onallthewaysinwhichtheyshow youtheyloveyou.Inturn,whenyou spendtimewiththem,thinkabout whatyoudotoshowthemthatyou careaboutthem.Everyactionhas somemeaningbehinditnomatter howsmall;you’llbesurprisedby whatyounoticewhenyoupay attention.

Ultimately,loveishowthepeople aroundyouencourageyoutobethe bestversionofyourself,andhow theyremindyouthatyou’renever alone.It’salsowhatinspiredmeto writethisarticle.Ineverwould’ve gottentheideaifitwasn’tformy friendsandfamilyandeverything theydotoinspiremeandmakemy lifebetter.

Ziksinileihoi…(Evenifyouleave)

becauseIlikedhim;beforeIknewit, itbecameoursong.

“Ziksinileihoi,ngojitcingmei goi…”

IwaslisteningtoJackyCheung’s “StillThinkYou’retheBest”afterI brokeupwithmyboyfriendtwo yearsago.Thatusedtobeour favoritesong,thoughwenevercared tofigureoutthemeaningofthelyrics becausetheywerewritteninCantonese.Thedaywebrokeup,Iwasso upsetthatIcouldn’tdoanythingelse, soIsearchedupthemeaningofthe lyrics:“evenifyouleave,I’llstill thinkyou’rethebest.”Associating myex-boyfriendwithsuchcheesy lyricsmademefeeldisgusted,consideringIlovedhimsomuchthatI wouldlistentosuchclichésongswith him.Backthen,Isimplycouldnot facethefactthatIlovedmyexboyfriendinspiteoftheawfulthings hedid.

Hauntedbythebeautyofpast memoriesandtheantipathytoward them,Icouldn’thelpbutputthat songonrepeat.Itbroughtmethe sightofasunnyspringwhereeverythingfeltlighterandmorespontaneous.WhenIfirstgottoknowmy boyfriend,Itoldhimthatmyfavorite singerwasJackyCheung.

“Oh!Iknowhim,”hesaidexcitedly.“Myfavoritesongofhisis‘Still ThinkYou’retheBest.’”

Ididn’tthinkthatwasagoodsong atfirstbutdecidedtolistentoit

Oursongwalkedusthroughan entiresummer.Wewouldlistento thissongtogetherwiththesamepair ofearphoneswhenwewerenavigatingourwaythroughtheoverwhelmingcrowdinCityCenter,laughingat howpeoplewalkingintheopposite directionwouldlookbackandstare confusedlyatourjoyfulfaces.We promisedtolistentothissongwhen wewaitedforeachotheronevery date.I’dalwayswatchhimwalkout ofthesubwayandsteadilywalk towardme,embracingmetightly,the songgentlyplayinginmyheadasa thematicbackdrop.Wesnuckupto theabandonedcupboardonthe highestlevelofourhighschool buildingjusttobreaktherulesand useoursmartphonestolistentothe song.

Ineverbotheredtofigureoutits meaning,notevenonce.Iwasjust touchedbythemagicalfeelingthe syllables“ziksineileihoi”gaveme; theywerelight,beautifullyenergizing,justlikehowIfeltaboutour relationshipbackthen.

IneverreflectedonhowmuchI likedhimwhenwewereinarelationship.Iwasalwaysbusygoingplaces withhim,unlockingnewadventures andexertingmymostpassionate anticipations,filledwithenergy.He wassointerestedintheproseIwrote thatheinsistedonaccompanyingme toanEnglishcompetitionIdarednot signupfor.Hewouldgrabmyhand

andwalkaroundtheleast-used staircasesoncampustoavoidteachersfromspottingus.Hegavemethe firsthugafterwinningthevolleyball match.Wewouldclimbupeight

peopleaskedmewhatmyexboyfrienddid,Iwouldtalkatlength aboutthetracesshowinghedidn’t lovemeasmuch:timeswhenhe ignoredmymessages,moments whenhewasn’t payingattentionto mywords,possible suspicionsthathe wasseeingother people.

Then,therewas alongsilence: beinglockeddown athomeforthree months,entering college,notbeing abletogoback becauseof COVID-19and thussayinggoodbyetoallmy friendsbackhome.

Collegeisanew

swarmin,andIfinallycaved.Inmy absent-mindedmoments,Ireviewed thememoryscrapscarefullyand triedtograbatthesamestrandsof energyIfeltsoofteninourrelationship.Ifeltsostrangeyetsogratified, knowingthatIusedtohavethatkind ofinfinitelovethroughoutthe relationship.

storiestothemostbeautifulspoton campustowatchthesunset.There werealwayssplendidsunsetsonour campus,soresplendentthatIimaginedthosesunsetswereconfined onlywithinourcampusandour relationship.IpondernowwhyIhad somuchfaithandimagination,how wehadsomuchsunlight,andhow welovedsoeasilyandfearlessly.

MyboyfriendandIbrokeupfora veryordinaryreason:helikedsomeoneelse.Thebreakuphelpedmesee alotofthingsIdidn’tlikeabouthim. Iwassoangryinitially,indisbelief thatIputupwithhisflaws.When

placewhereeveryoneisbusywith theirownschedules.Livingfaraway frommyparents,Ihavefewerpeople whoremindmetoexpressmy feelingsconstantly.Asdaysslipby,I havebecomelessexcitedabout opportunities,sincerityandmost importantly,love.

Theotherday,Spotifyrecommended“StillThinkYou’retheBest” tome.Istillpressedtheplaybutton unconsciously.Scrapsofmypast relationshipslippedintomymind, andalthoughItriedhardtorefuse themfromdivertingmefrommy coursework,theycontinuedto

Istillthinkoftherelationship sometimes,butasmonthsgoby,I shockinglyfindthatIstruggleto remembermyex-boyfriend’sface clearly.What’sleftoftherelationship isonlythememoryofbeingcompletelysincereandpassionateabout someoneIloved.Mypresentawarenessofthecandidness,strengthand fearlessnessIusedtohaveconstantly supportsme.ItremindsmethatI havenotalwaysbeensoaloofand awkwardatopeningup,thatIhave theenergytoconnectwithothers deepinsideandthatsuchhope shouldnevercompletelyfadeaway.

“Ziksinileihoi,ngojitcingmei goi…”Icannowfinallyrememberthe lyrics“evenifyouleave,Istillthink you’rethebest”withoutfeeling disgusted.Timewashesawaylayers ofourmemoryjustlikearivererodes itsbanks,changingtheriver’scourse butleavingbehindthelittlestones thatcanaccumulateintonewpactsof land.“Evenifyouleave,”IguessIam stillgratefulandempoweredforthe feelingsIhadandwillhaveforlove.

AmieeZhao(24Ox)isfromShanghai,China.

AmieeZhao

JessieSatovsky(26C)isfromSan Francisco,California.

JessieSatovsky

NinehoursandIrishlagerswithafriend

SophiaLing

Iseethearmygreenbackpack withanAmericanflagpatchstitched onitfirst.Iwanttoaskifshe’d enlistedinthearmyandabouther experience.I’munpackingsomeof myclothesandtoiletriesformy two-daystayinaZurichhosteland myeyescan’tstoplookingoveratthe flaginthecorner.Precisely,thinking shewasinthemilitary—pairedwith myowninterestinserving—gaveme thecouragetostartourfirst conversation.

She’sfromPortland,Oregon,but shemovedtoTurkeyafterleavingan abusivemarriageandnowteaches Englishtokidsonline.She’sthefirst personinherfamilytogotocollege, whereshestudiedmusic,becamea musicteacherandsometimessings andplayspianoinabandoned churches.

I’mfromthemiddleofnowhere— Carmel,Indiana,specifically,where thesoybeanstalksandcornfields growtallerandwiderthanthe averageHoosier.IliveinAtlantanow forcollege,andIstudytwothings, oneformoneyandtheotherforfun. Iswim,practiceMuayThaiandwork atmycollegenewspaper.

“Howareyou?”sheasks.

Aloadedquestion,giveneverythingthathadtranspiredinthelast threemonths.Onscreen,I’mlivinga dream—solobackpackingacross fivecountriesand19citiesbytrain. Inreality,Ibaskinpitypartiesand constantlyquestionwhatself-reflectionreallymeans.Beforemeeting her,Ispentdayswanderingthe streetsofViennarelivinglastconversations,metaphoricalviolenceand textingmypasttoseeifIwouldgeta response—likepanningforgold,

exceptI’msiftingawaythegoldand leavingthesandinstead.Inmany ways,Ithinkthegoalwastofigure outwhatitwouldbelikeiftimehad passedalittleslowerorifIwouldget my“JeremyBearimy”momentand trythingsalloveragain.Ilistento playlistscalled“bikinginsalzkammergutheartbroken”andstartalist of“notestoher,”becausestaring behindmeiseasierthanlooking forward.Hostellivingisacatalystfor opennessandsincerity;afterall, chancesarethatIwon’tseethese peopleagain.Icouldjustbethat crazycatladywithateenage-angstfilledstory.

“Doyouwantmyhonestanswer?” Iask,andthenpause.“Actually,can Iaskyouforsomeadvice?Aneutral opinion.”

“Ofcourse.”

Bythetimethelightoutsideour roominZurichhaddimmedandour otherroommatesforthenight wanderedintotheroom,she’dheard abouttheheartbreak,thealcoholand everythinginbetween

“DoyouthinkIdidtheright thing?Ican’twrapmyheadaround it,letalonejustifyit.”

Shethinksforamoment,andtells metofocusonmyselfandtobe confidentthatIknowwhat’srightfor me.Butforwhatit’sworth,shesays, Ithinkyoumadetherightchoice. SheopensupaboutherlifeafterI’ve beenhonestwithmine.Within minutesofhearinghertalk,I’m convincedI’vemetthemosthonest personintheworld.

Shetellsmeaboutbeingborninto areligioushouseholdandnotbeing abletotalktohersiblings.Shetells mehowherbrother’sphonewas takenawayandshehasnowayof contactingthem.

I,ontheotherhand,overcompensateformysocioeconomicstatusby repeatedlymentioningittojustify myself.Attimes,itfeelsshamefulto beawell-offcollegestudenttryingto “findherself.”ApartofmethinksI wouldmaketheperfectsnobby rom-comcharacter.

Ourconversationstartsintimate, butexpandsintothewoesoftheU.S. educationsystemandherlifein Turkeybeforeturningphilosophical whenwetalkaboutliving,human connectionandmusic.Iwonderif ournewroommatesthoughtwe alreadykneweachotherbeforehand. Reachingovertherailingofourbunk bed,sheshowsme“TigerStriped Sky”byRooPanes,andinreturnI playherthe“4ChordSong”byAxis ofAwesome.

Ifhumanconnectionwascalculatedbasedonnumbersofhoursof conversation,there’saballparkof ninehoursbetweenus.IfIquantify it,ourrelationshipisshelvedunder “personIknow.”Thankgodhumans arethefurthestfromrationality.I’m gratefulforamomentaryescapeto loveandconnectfearlesslyand limitlessly.IleftParisatthebeginningofthesummerconvincing myselfIwouldsitdownwith strangersandheartheirstories.

“Howlongareyouhere?Would youwanttogetadrinkorsomething?”Iask.Hostelturnaround parallelslightdancinginlong-exposurephotography—movementis illusory.Imadeaconnectionand hopedIwasluckyenoughtocapture itright.

“Sorry,”shesays.“I’monmyway toLucernetomorrowmorning.I thinkI’llprobablybegonebythe timeyouwakeup.”

“Noway,”Isay.“I’mleavingintwo

daysandmeetingmybestfriend there.”Wemadeplansfordrinksin Lucerne,asmalltownincentral Switzerlandanda40-minutetrain rideawayfromZurich.

InLucerne,wemeetatanIrish pubshehadfoundearlier.It’s crowded,butsheleadsmetoward thebarandweordertwolagers.The bartenderseesthroughourtourist veneerandoffersusanemptytable closesttothedoorandletsusorder mozzarellastickstoshare.We continueourconversationfrom Zurich,shoutingovertheloudcheers andglassesclinkingagainstthe woodentables.I’mtipsyenoughto losemyself-consciousnessandshout aboutvulnerablestoriesmostpeople haveneverheardinacityIbarely knowtoafriendI’veonlyjustmet.

ItellherIplanonattending therapy—hopefully.Butonlyifit workswithmyschedule,Iclarify.

“We’realltoobusytorealizeour soulsarebroken,”shesays.

“CanIwritethatdown?”Ishout.

Shegrins.“Ofcourse,Iwouldbe honored.”Latershesayssomething alongthelinesof“Igetthat.”She’s barelymucholderthanme,but listenswithapracticedmusician's ear.She’spatientevenwhenI’m definitelysayingmorethanIshould.

“Whatdoyouthinkitmeansto live?”oneofusasks.

I’mcontentkeepingheranswerto myselfbecauseIintendonasking againinfiveyears.ButIwillshare this:“Justbecausepeopledon'tshow upandloveusthewaythatweneed themto,doesn'tmeanthey’renot worthy.”Istumbleupstairstothe bathroomandsomeonestopstohold thedoorforme.Shegrabsmyarm andasksifI’mOK.“Thanksfor asking,”Isay,“ButI’mfine.It’sjust

Asianglow.”

Shestilllooksconcerned,sothis timeIsmileandrepeatmyself.“I’m reallyOKnow.”

Attheendofournight,shewalks withmetothebus.Underthe lamplightandthealcoholcontentof thebeercatchinguptomycheeks, I’mlivinginthemiddleofthis rom-commovie.Butno,thisdoesn’t turnintoa21stcenturytravelmeetcute.Quitetheopposite,actually— gettingadrinkwithherwaslike sittingdownwithsomeonewhois OKwiththeirownduality.Someone whocanlookatthemselvesinthe mirrorandnolongerbescaredoff.

Shewritespoetryandsingsand playspianoinabandonedchurches. Sheliveswithacomfortwithherself andanappreciationoftheworldthat seeseachindividuallifenotas differentpiecesofawhole,butrather aswholesthatmakeupbigger wholes.Shetakeschangewith practicedgrace.

Ilearntopracticeclichesnotjust aswordshangingoutofmymouth butasactionsthatwilleventually becomehabits.Iwanttolovelife,not becauseitwillend–likeallthe adagessay–butbecauseIlove existingnow.

It’sbynoaccidenthernameis nevermentioned.Intheend,weare allnormalpeople;Ijustgotluckyand shebecamenotsonormaltome. Lovingyourselfdoesn’tcomeby happenstance;notthroughhiking theSwissAlpsorbiking50kmin Salzburg,Austria.SometimesIthink Iwanttoliveherlife,butothertimes Irememberthatmeetingherwasa remindertolivemyown.

SophiaLing(24C)isfromCarmel, Indiana.

“Butforthenationalwelfare,it isurgenttorealizethatminoritiesdo think,andthinkaboutsomething otherthantheraceproblem.That theyareveryhumanandinternally, accordingtonaturalendowment,are justlikeeverybodyelse.”Writtenby ZoraNealeHurstoninherarticle “WhattheWhitePublishersWon’t Print,”thisevolutionarystatement mayseemhardtochallenge.

However,romancenovelspublishedinmodernpressarestill litteredinstereotypes—perpetuatingthenotionthatminorityhappinessisnecessarilyentrenchedwithin theirculturalidentity.

DuringtheNewNegroRenaissanceofthe1920s,manyBlack authorssuchasHurstonandCounteeCullensoughttopermeatethe largely-whitefieldofliteratureby gettingtheirworkintothehandsof majorAnglo-Saxonpublisherslike HarperCollinsandRandomHouse. Somewerecriticizedbymembersof theirownracelikeW.E.B.DuBois, whobelievedthatthiswasasell-out oftheirideas,andtheyshouldn’t needtoappealtowhiteindividualsto besuccessful.Yet,theseauthorswere strivingforasenseofdeeperequality —anotionthattheydidnotneedto bewritingaboutracetobemastersof

theirfield.Theystroveforaposition wheretheycouldbeBlackand successful,bothseparatelyand tangentially.

Minorityauthorsoftenfindit difficulttocreateworkswithcharactersoftheiridentitythatholdtrueto theirpersonalintegrityandexperience.TheRomeoandJulieteffectin psychologydescribesreactance,or thetendencytofindsomethingmore desirablewhenoutsideforces threatentorestrictone’saccesstoit.

RomeoandJulietwererestrictedby theboundsofparentalrestraints, justlikewhiteaudiencesflocktoward minorityromancebooksthattearat theboundsoftheirinternalbiases.

Let’sdiveintosomebestselling novels:“CrazyRichAsians”byKevin Kwan,focusingonanAsiancouple that’ssmartandhasfeelings,fascinating.Then,“TheSongofAchilles” byMadelineMiller,showingthat Achillescanbeasymbolofstrength andcanidentifyasgay—whoknew.

However,romancestoriesinvolvingstraight,whitecharactersrevolve aroundaspectsbeyondidentity,as thereader’sfamiliaritywiththese relationshipsallowsroomfortraits andplotlinesthatminorityentities canoftennotfitinbasedonprescribedstereotypes.Forexample,the “FiftyShades”franchisedoesn’tneed tostoptoconsidertheimplications ofawhite,heterosexualromance—

theycanfocusondescribingexactly howAnastasiaSteeletriestoscream withaballgaginhermouth.In “GonewiththeWind,”anovelstaged inatimeperiodandsettinghistoricallybasedaroundchangingrace relations,theonlysignificantminoritycharactersaremadeintoaviolent attackerandanenslaved person,withthewhite maincharacterstriving toreturntothe“goodole times.”Whiteauthors writingwhitestories takeforgrantedthe sheathoffamiliaritythat theirworkcomesintrinsicallywith,hencewhy theymakeupthemajorityofthepublicationsin theromancesectorof literature.

Ofalltheromance novelspublishedin2016 bythe20largest imprintsintheromance genre,amere7.8%were writtenbynon-white authors,evenlessaboutnonwhite characters.Further,forauthorswho dotakeariskandwriteaboutBlack romance,theyareencouragedto keepthathiddenwithinthepages, outofthepubliceye.TheGuardian reportedthatindustrywisdomtold BlackauthorsthatputtingBlack couplesontheircoverscouldhurt

sales,andthattheyshouldreplace themwithimagesof“jewelry,orlawn chairsorflowers.”

Publishingcompaniesoftenclaim thatreadersgravitatetowardbooks thattheycanpersonallyrelateto— thatifthewhitemajorityofAmerica weretoseeanimageofahappyBlack

shetabledatTheStrandinNewYork City,shebecameincreasinglyfrustratedwiththisnotion.Shetold NationalPublicRadio,“Youcan relatetoshapeshifters,youcanrelate tovampires,youcanrelatetowerewolves,butyoucan’trelatetoastory writtenbyandaboutBlack Americans?”

I’veneverheardsomeoneturn downaHarryPotterbookby proclaimingtheywereamuggle. I’veneverheardsomeonesaythey couldn’treadTwilightbecause theylovetobaskinthesun.To me,therationalebehindthewide acceptanceofthisrhetoricis becauseit’seasiertoutilizethan actuallyconfrontingyourinternal biases.

coupleonahardcover,theywould notthinkthatthebookisforthem. However,BeverlyJenkins,anAmericanauthorofhistoricalandcontemporaryromancenovelswithaparticularfocuson19thcenturyAfricanAmericanlife,doesnotacceptthis excuseasvalid.Afterwatchingwhite readersevadeeyecontactwithheras

Whilesharingstoriesabout minoritydiscriminationisimportant,highlightingminorityjoyis aswell.Thoughyoumaynotbe abletoconceptualizethatthose wholookdifferentfromyouhave thesameemotionsasyou,you canstomachitasabiologicalfact. Minorityromancesshouldnothave tohidebehindvaguecoversorlean intofamiliarstereotypestogain tractionandacceptance.They shouldbeabletobeblatantlyabout love,andsimplythat.

MaddyPrucha(26C)isfromLong Island,NewYork.

MaddyPrucha

Capitalismstarvesusoflove,wedon'thavetostandby

AlexandraKauffman

EverysinglepersononEarth haslovedandbeenloved.Evenifwe can’tputitintowords,weknowwhat lovefeelslike,whetheritbelovefora parent,friendorsignificantother. Despitethisuniversalexperience,it’s difficult,ifnotimpossible,todefine exactlywhatloveis.

Loveisatraitthathasbeen selectedforthroughevolution,asit allowsmotherstoinvesttheirtime intocaringforoffspring.Therefore, loveisnotaccidentalorasideeffect ofbeinghuman;rather,itisan advantageousqualitythathashelped ussurviveforthousandsofyears.

Loveisnotjustanabstractfeelingor setofchemicalreactionsinourbrain, butaphysicalrealityofthehuman body,oftenfeltthroughoutthechest andhead.Lovemustbeexpressed andexternalized—humanscrave givingandreceivingaffection.Thus, loveisnotjustwanted,butneeded, asourbrainsandbodiesneedlove, whetheritbeplatonic,familialor romantic,forthewell-beingofourselvesandourcommunity.Despite love’sinherentimportancetohuman lifeandwellbeing,capitalismhas deeplyinterferedwithmodern humans’abilitytocultivateloving, fulfillingrelationshipswithfriends, familyandsignificantothers.

Whileloveisnebulous,intrinsic andnecessary,capitalismisthe opposite:converselydefined,externalandunnecessary.Characterized bythestate’slackofinterferencein theeconomy,capitalismisafree marketeconomysystemthat

assumeshumansaremotivatedby theirowninterestsandoperateinthe worldasself-serving individuals.Capitalism asitmanifestsinAmericansocietyhasspawned auniquesetofcircumstancesfortheworking andlowerclass,inwhich self-reliantindividuals areexpectedtoworkfor profit-motivatedcompaniesinordertosurvive, whilebecomingincreasinglyalienatedfromothersandunabletofocus ontheirrelationships.

Capitalismpushesus tofocusonindividual achievementandcareer advancementratherthan personalconnection.Weareforced tobusyourselveswithworktokeep upwithexpensesandbills,leaving littletimetobondwithourloved ones.Toputitplainly,whileweare stillcapableoffeelinglove,thework culturethatcapitalismhascreated interfereswithourabilitytofulfill thatlove.

Thefirstwaycapitalismisolatesus isthroughagruelingworkschedule. InDec.2022,Americanprivate employeesreportedworkingan averageof34.3hourswith3.2 overtimehours.29%ofAmericans work45-59hoursand12%workover 60hoursperweek.Ontopofthis demandingworkschedule,theU.S. givesAmericansoneofthelowest numberofpaidtimeoff(PTO)inthe world,withanaverageof10daysof PTO.

Thenumberofdaysperyearand

hoursperdayAmericansspend workingisstaggering,andtheeffects

lesscorrespondstoincreasedmarital satisfaction.

Workingmorethan39hours aweekcanadverselyaffect mentalhealth.Newsstations, journalistsandothershavewrittenextensivelyabouthowAmericansareoverworked,underpaid,stressedandunhappy.This indescribablefeelingofdiscontentseemstobewidelyobserved andunanimouslyfeltamongthe workingclass.

Moreover,manyAmericanswho quittheirjobsbetweenspring2021 andnowreportgreaterhappiness, preciselybecausetheyhavemore timetospendwiththeirlovedones. Evenmonthslater,thosesame peopleareultimatelymoresatisfied withtheirlivesnolongerdominated bywork.OtherworkingAmericans aredemandingbetterwages,better benefitsandshorterhours.

aredamning.Withsomanyintimacy-starvedandisolatedindividuals,Americansocietyasawhole suffersfromthewidely-feltand widely-observedwork-oriented mindset.

Betweentheagesof18and80, Americansspendmostoftheirtime alone.Becauseofthis,asmanyas3 outof5Americansreportfeeling lonely;12%ofAmericansclaimthey havenoclosefriends,withmany claimingitismoredifficulttomake friendsduetoa“busy”schedule.

Theworkweekaffectsfamiliesand intimatepartners.MostAmericans mayspendlessthan40minutesof timewiththeirfamiliesMonday throughFriday,with67%blaming longworkhours.Moreover,some studiessuggestanincreasedtime spentworkingmarksadecreasein maritalsatisfaction,whileworking

Editor’sNote:

Humansneedcompanionship.Wearesocialcreatures whothrivewhensurroundedby lovedones,yetacapitalisteconomyplacesworkatthecenterof Americanlife.Capitalismurges ustostriveforprofit,titlesand moneywhileourheartsyearn forcommunityandintimacy.Capitalismhindersnotourcapacityfor love,butourabilitytoexpressit.

Althoughcapitalismfundamentallydetermineshowourlivesare organized,weshouldn’tcollectively giveuponthepursuitoflove.While theabolitionofcapitalismisnota viablesolution,smallstepsarebeing takentogiveAmericanworkersthe libertytoliveafulfillinglifeoutside theirjobs.

Asix-hourworkdayorafour-day workweekcouldbeastepintheright direction.IntheUK,testsofthefourdayworkweekyieldedpromising results,includinghigherproductivity and84%ofworkerssayingtheywere “extremelylikely”tochooseafourdayoverafive-dayworkweek.Fora selectfewcompaniesintheUS,the four-dayworkweekhasalready becomeareality.

Thatstillleavesmillionsofindividualsstuckwitha40-hourworkweek.Ifpossible,anindividualcould startorjoinauniontofightfortheir rights,butit’sanuphillbattleagainst corporateadversaries.Furthermore, workingforacompanythatoffers flexibleworkhoursisalsoanoption, albeit,alimitedoneformanypeople.

Intheend,themostimportant thingtodoisstayconnectedwith yourlovedonesinsmallways. Thoughwemaynothaveenough time,weshouldmakethemostofthe timewedohave.Anythingfroma brieffive-minutecallwithaloved oneafterwork,sendingatexttoyour friendstocheckin,orspendingtime withyourpartnerforafewhourson theweekend.

Thisisnotanimpossiblesituation.Americansarefightingagainst thepervasiveworkculture,pavinga pathformorefruitful,fulfilling futures.Becauselove—platonic, familial,romantic—cannotthrive underthiscapitaliststate.Alifein whichloveisnotjustanafterthought,butisacenterpieceinour livesisinsight.

AlexandraKauffman(26C)isfrom Phoenix,Arizona.

Loveisavesselforlearning-howtomourn,toteach,tocreateandtoconnect.Love,whetherprofessedtoapersonorstitchedthroughapassion,unitesusthroughthesimplefactthatitisinnate.We lovebeforeweknowwhatloveis,andyetwespendourlivessearchinghowtofindanddefineit.Idiosyncraticyetuniversalinnature,weinviteyoutoreadourperspectivesthatattempttoquantifyand elucidateloveinallofitsmanyforms.InspiredbytheNewYorkTime’s“ModernLove”column,these musingsarethroughtheeyesofasmallfragmentofthiscampus.Incuratingthis,wehumblyaskyou tocontemplatetheloveinyourlives,throughyourbestfriendsandmostferventdesires,fromhome andatEmory.Thisis“Love,fromDruidHills.”

Thankyoutothefollowingpeoplewhocontributed:

JuliannaChen IsabelCuellar EllieFivas

AlexandraKauffman

SophiaPeyser MaddyPrucha

SophiaLing NicoMestre SaanviNayar

JessieSatovsky AmieeZhao

A���E������������

W��������,F�������15,2023 |Arts&EntertainmentEditors:EythenAnthony(eeantho@emory.edu)andOliTurner(oli.turner@emory.edu)

AssistantEditors:MitaliSingh(mitali.singh@emory.edu)andBenBrodsky(ben.brodsky@emory.edu)

MIRANDAʼSBOOKSHELF

CelebrateBlackHistory Monththroughreading

BY MIRANDA WILSON CrosswordDesk

HappyBlackHistoryMonth!

BooksthatshareBlackstories expressBlackjoy,creativityand innovation,whilealsocreating importantrepresentationandfacilitatingcriticaldialogue.Thesetitles, rangingfromthe1980stopresent dayandspanninglocationsfrom NigeriatotheUnitedStates,explore themesofrace,resilienceandcommunity.Happyreading!

Oscarsfailstorecognizetalented Blackfilmmakers,performers

StaffWriter

Withover500Hollywoodfilms releasedonaverageannually,afew filmenthusiastsarealwaysgoingto feelunsatisfiedwhentheOscars nominationsarereleased.However, thisyear’slist,releasedonJan.24, presentedshortcomingsthatare impossibletoignore,highlightingthe show’shistoryofexcludingBlack actorsandfilmmakers.

Fanswatchedwithdismayas crowd-favoriteslikeactressesViola Davis(“TheWomanKing”)and DanielleDeadwyler(“Till”),directors GinaPrince-Bythewood(“The WomanKing”),ChinonyeChukwu (“Till”)andJordanPeele(“Nope”) wereleftoutoftherunninginthelist. Thesefilmswerenotonlysnubbedin theactinganddirectorialcategories, buttheceremonyaltogether. Despitebeingconsideredshoe-ins fortheawardsbycritics,none receivedasingleOscarnomination. Thisisbynomeansaconsequenceof thefilms’overallsuccess;“The WomanKing”and“Nope”each earnedupwardsof$94millioninthe boxofficeand“Till”receivedover 97%approvalratingsfromcritics andaudiencemembersalike.

Thesespurns,whiledisappointing onthesurfacelevel,alludetothe Academy’slonghistoryoffailingto recognizetheworkofpeopleofcolor (POC).Inthe95-yearhistoryofthe AcademyAwards,thisisthe83rd timetheorganizationhasfailedto nominateaBlackactressforlead performances,andthe74thforBlack actors.OnlyoneBlackactresshas everwontheaward:HalleBerryin 2002forherrolein“Monster’sBall.” NoBlackfilmmakerhaseverwon bestdirector,andnoBlackwoman haseverbeennominatedforthe award.

Theinclusionthatdoesappear withintheceremony’stopawardsis heavilylimited.“EverythingEverywhereAllatOnce”standsasthe primarysourceofrepresentation withinthelimiteddiversityofthe ceremony’stopawards,dominating theoveralllistwithastaggering11 nominations.Oneofitsdirectors,

Artthatremindsusloveisreal

Loveisintheair—andintheart. Ourwritershavecometogetherto compilealloftheirfavoritepiecesof mediathat,inonewayoranother, remindusthatlovereallyisout there.Regardlessifyourheartis takenornotthisValentine’sDay, thesegreatworksaresuretomakeit skipabeat.

art,colonialhistoriesandpresent ramifications,Blackjoyandsomuch more.WhatIfindsobeautifulabout his“VignetteSuite”istheembraceof idealizedlovebetweentwopeople, depictingthisBlackcoupleasthough theywerefloatingthroughaRococo paintingfromthe18thcentury.

‘ACaseofYou’(1971)byJoni

Mitchell

WhenJoniMitchellremovedher discographyfromSpotifylastyear,it brokemyheart.WhileIadmire Mitchell’sprinciples,shetookwith herthegreatestlovesongofalltime whensheleft.

DanielKwan,wastheonlynon-white nomineeinhiscategory.Similarly, thefilm’sleadactress,MichelleYeoh, wasthesolePOCinthebestactress andactorcategories.

Outraged,fanswerequickto resurfacethe#OscarsSoWhitehashtag,aTwittertopicthatamassed popularityduringthe2015and2016 AcademyAwards.

“SoneitherTheWomanKingnor TillreceivedasingleOscarnomination?ButBansheeofInisherinisup for*nine?*,”oneTwitterusersaid. “Westilldoing#OscarsSoWhite huh?”Thehashtagwascreatedby diversityandinclusionadvocate AprilReignafterthe2015nominationlisthadallwhiteactingcandidates.Themovementhassince sparkeddemandforgreaterinclusivitywithintheawardsshowfor filmmakersandperformersofcolor.

Thankfully,morerepresentation canbefoundinthenomineesforthe bestsupportingroles,including AngelaBassettfor“BlackPanther,” KeHuyQuanandStephanieHsufor “EverythingEverywhereAllAt Once,”HongChaufor“TheWhale” andBrianTyreeHenryfor“Causeway.”Evenso,theexclusionofPOC fromtheOscars’leadingcategories cannotbeignored.

ThosesnubbedbytheAcademy havespokenout.Inaguestcolumn fortheHollywoodReporter,“The WomanKing”directorGinaPrinceBythewoodexpressedherdisappointmentinboththeAcademy,but alsoathowtheAcademy’sdecision hasbeenreportedasa“snub.”

“It’snotasnub,”Prince-Blythewoodwroteinthepiece.“It’sa reflectionofwheretheAcademy standsandtheconsistentchasm betweenBlackexcellenceandrecognition.”Prince-Bythewoodargued thatthisisnotaboutafailureto campaignoramasssupport,butan issuewithinthesystem.Herstatementendedwithacallforchange, andareminderthatthedismissalof POCismorethanjustanissuewithin thefilmworld—itisasystemic Americanproblem.

ViolaDavisrepostedthisresponse onherInstagram,standinginsoli-

‘HowtheSunDoesShine’by AnthonyRayHinton

daritywiththedirectorand“all artistsofcolorwhocontinuetowork, create,thrivedespite[their] environment.”

Thesewordsfellonalarge audiencefollowingtheactress' achievementofEGOT—orEmmy, Grammy,Oscar,andTony—status. DavisreceivedtheGrammyforbest audiobook,narrationandstorytellingrecordingonFeb.5forher memoir,“FindingMe.”ThisdesignationmakesherthethirdBlack womaninhistorytoaccomplishsuch afeatalongsidelegendsJennifer HudsonandWhoopiGoldberg. DespitetheOscars’failuretogiveher credit,Davis’othersuccessesstand asaninspirationtoallPOCinthe industry,andrepresentanactof resistanceagainstasystemdeterminedtokeeptheirvoicessilenced. ChinonyeChukwu,thedirectorof “Till,”sharedsimilarviewsonher ownInstagram,condemningHollywoodforitsobsessionwith“upholdingwhiteness”and“perpetuatingan unabashedmisogynytowardsBlack women.”Inthismessage,she remindedherfollowersthatthelack ofrecognitionbytheAcademyisin nomeansindicativeofthesuccessof herselforanyotherswhoworkedon thefilm,andthatthisisbynomeans asetbackforher.

“Iwillalwayshavethepowerto cultivatemyownjoy,anditisthisjoy thatwillcontinuetobeoneofmy greatestformsofresistance,” ChukwuwroteonherInstagram. Bychoosingtofocustheirsuccess, strengthandsolidarity,these actressesandfilmmakershaveconqueredtheAcademy’sattemptto devaluetheirworkandthosewho workalongsidethem.

Regardlessofwhothewinnerswill beonMarch12,POCartistscontinue tocelebrateindividualsuccessin theirownway,workingtoupliftwhat peopleclaimanomineelisthas suppressed.Theirwordsarean inspirationandimportantreminder that,thoughinclusioninthefilm industryhascomefar,itstillhasa long,longwaytogo.

-ContactErinDevineat erin.devine@emory.edu.

Inthispowerfulmemoir,Hinton tellshisstoryasaBlackmanwho spent30yearsondeathrowfora murderhedidnotcommit.In2015, hewonhisrelease,butthisheartwrenchingbooktellshisjourneyas hegrappleswithissuesoftruth, justiceandtheprisonsystem.Raw andresilient,Hinton’sstorypointsto someofthemostpressingproblems surroundingtheAmericancriminal justicesystem.

‘Beloved’byToniMorrison “Beloved”isapoignantnovel aboutthedifficultcoexistenceof slaveryandmotherhood.Thebook followsSethe,afreewomanwhois stillvirulentlyaffectedbymemories ofherlifeasaslave. Morrison’scharactersaredeep andmovingandthestoryisimmersive.Thoughhauntinganddifficultto read,“Beloved”portraysboththe griefandbeautyoffreedomfrom slaveryaftergenerationsofabuse. Morrisonexploresthecomplicatedthemesoflove,violenceand familythroughlensesofgenderand race,highlightingtheinescapable relevanceofthehistoryofracial violence.

Acoming-of-agestory,EmeziincorporatesNigeriandeitiesandspiritual experiencesthatmakethestoryfeel transcendental.

Readerswillcometolovethe maincharacter,Ada,asshediscoversheridentityandundergoesa processofhealing.Dark,poeticand profound,Emezi’snovelwillleave readersofallbackgroundswith questionsaboutfateand consciousness.

‘TheVanishingHalf’byBrit

Bennett

“TheVanishingHalf”tellsthe storyoftwinsStellaandDesiree Vignes.

Thetwinsgrowupwithan inseparablebond,butenduponvery differentpathsasyoungadults. StellaandDesireegrewupinasmall townof“light-skinned”Blackindividuals,isolatedintheirowncommunityinthe1960s.

Asateenager,Stellaleavesthe smalltownwheretheygrewupto “pass”asawhitewoman.Shemarriesawhiteman,haschildrenand hideshertrueidentityfromher coworkersandneighbors.Desiree remainsintheirhometownand raisesherownchildasasingle mother.

ThedichotomyoftheVignes twins'livesfunctionsasabittersweet taleaboutfamily,identityandrace, familybondsultimatelybringingthe twinsbacktogether.Thecharacters arelovableandthestoryisallconsuming.

‘Rabbit’byPatriciaWilliams

‘MySweetLord’(1970)by GeorgeHarrison GeorgeHarrison’s“MySweet Lord”conjuresupaneclecticmixof spiritualimageryandwarmfuzzinessoneverylisten.Thesongis luscious,expansiveandundoubtedly charming.Interestingly,itsscarcity andrepetitionofwordshaveleditto beheavilydissectedsinceitsoriginal releaseinlate1970,withmany comingtoconflictinganddiverging viewsaboutthesong’struemeaning. Tome,it’ssimple:it’sanodetothat warmfuzzyfeelingyougetwhen you’resurroundedbytheonesyou love.

—AriSegal,MusicDesk

‘LaLaLand’(2016)

IfirstwatchedDamienChazelle’s TechnicolormasterpiecewhenIwas 13,andIonlycontinuetogrowmore enamoredbyit.Followingajazz musician(RyanGosling)andan aspiringactress(EmmaStone),the filmfunctionsasanescapefromthe mundanetrafficofeverydaylife,beit realormetaphorical.Itsmusical numbersandallusionsevokeold Hollywood—anostalgiclookona bygoneeraofart,joyandromance. Thepartingofthetwoprotagonists attheendofthefilmhasbeen perceivedascontroversialtosome, buttome,itonlystrengthensthe message:loveisbothpassionateand fleeting;powerfulandbittersweet. Loveisreal,keptalivebythosewho havethecouragetodreamaboutit.

—SafaWahidi,ContributingWriter

‘FinalFantasyX’(2001)

Marshallexplainsitbesthimself: “youcan’tunderestimatethevalueof afigureinapicturethatseems self-satisfied.”Thesatisfactionand beautyofloveissoevidentacrossthe fourvignettepaintingsinthisseries.

ZimraChickering,SeniorStaff Writer

‘CardiganSweater’(2013)by JasmineKennedy

“CardiganSweater”istheperfect sapphiclovesongtocurlupwiththis winter.Thesongtellsthestoryofan admirer,whoyearnstoapproachthe womaninthecardigansweaterwho livesaboveherapartment.Throughoutthesong,theadmirerfromafar gleansinformationfromhersoon-tobelover’slife;hertasteinmusic,her favoritecolorandwhatkindofsocks shemightwear.

Eventually,theadmirerbecomes braveenoughtocommunicate,and fromheretheirrelationshipbeginsto bloom.Thissongperfectlycaptures thenervousnessaccompanyinga newcrush,thevulnerabilityof shiftingfromstrangertoloverand thesublimityofmeaningful companionship.

—ShayleeArtus,Contributing Writer

ThefirsttimeIheard“ACaseof You,”Iwas16,wonderingwhyClairo wassingingabout“wine”and “Mitchell”and“cases”onhersingle “Bags.”WhenIclickedplayonher inspiration,theunderstanding seepedin.Mitchell’svoiceisfreeflowing,yetstrong.JamesTaylor’s poignantacousticguitaraccompanimentsoundslikelove,likemourning andmissing.“Oh,you'reinmyblood likeholywine/Youtastesobitter andsosweet/Oh,Icoulddrinka caseofyou,darling/AndIwould stillbeonmyfeet,”Mitchellsings.

Irecognizedloveforthefirsttime inthatrefrain.I’dneverfeltsotender inmylife.

OliTurner,Arts&Entertainment Editor

‘Pusheen’sValentine’(2019)by JesstheDragoon Cats.Theworldlovescats.And,in thisshortfilmbyJessTheDragoon, catsarerevealedtoloveeachother, too.“Pusheen’sValentine”portraysa softersidetotheinternetsensation thathascapturedtheheartsand shelvesofcatenthusiastsandpop culturestoresworldwide.

24thPoetLaureateAdaLimónexplores humanconnectionatEmoryreading

BY SHAYLEE ARTUS

ContributingWriter

Whenstudentsareintroducedto poetry,theyusuallyencounteritin itsolder,morerigidformsandthen carrytheassumptionthatallpoetry isthesameintotheiradultlives. Theyfeelalienatedfrompoetry,due totheuncomfortablestructures imposedonlanguage.Modern poetry,althoughoftenneglectedin academicsettings,hasthepotential toredefineexpectationsandreconnectwiththemodernreader’s imagination.

‘Freshwater’byAkwaeke

Emezi Emezi’sdebutnovel,“Freshwater,”isanautobiographicalfiction toldfromtheperspectivesofthe maincharacter’sdifferentidentities.

ThismemoiriswrittenbyPatricia Williams,aBlackcomedianwho grewupinAtlantaattheheightof thecrackepidemic. Herneighborhoodandfamily struggledwithextremepoverty,and Williamsopensupabouther upbringingwithanalcoholicmother, fivesiblingsandtwokidsofherown byage15.Williams,determinedto createabetterlifeforherchildren, narratesthedifficultyoffindinga wayoutwhilealsofindinghumor andjoyinherexperiences.

- ContactMirandaWilsonat miranda.wilson@emory.edu.

“FinalFantasyX”isagamethat prioritizesitsblockbusternarrative overallelse.Theromancebetween maincharactersTidus(James ArnoldTaylor)andYuna(Hedy Burress)simplyfallsintoplaceasa result.Theirstoryisonewhich rejectsfearofsinandsacrilegein favorofthelivestheywanttolead. Yunastruggleswiththefearof self-sacrificeinordertomaintain temporaryreligiousorderandTidus strugglestomeeteye-to-eyewithhis fatheryearsafterhisdisappearance. ThegameportraystheworldofSpira withanintersectionallens,unafraid tocalloutsystemsofoppression.The voiceactingiscampyandiconic,and thetropical-fantasyaestheticis unabashedly2000s,butthatonly makes“FFX”evenmorecharmingas itages.

—MichaelBlankfein,Contributing Writer

‘VignetteSuite’(2005-2008)by KerryJamesMarshall

KerryJamesMarshallisdecidedlyoneofmyfavoritecontemporaryartists;in2017,hewaseven placedontheTime100mostinfluentialpeopleintheworldlist.His vibrantacrylicpaintingstouchonthe BlackAmericanexperience,narrativesofAfricainWesternspheresof

‘PianoConcertofortheLeft

Hand’(1930)byMauriceRavel

“PianoConcertofortheLeft

Hand”beginsbeforeyouarepreparedtohearit.Thefirstnotesare thebassstrings,givingtheillusion thattheorchestraisstilltuningup. Something’smissing.Likethestrings inRavel’sconcerto,Iwasborn unexpectedly,thengivenafew minutestoripenbeforemytwinstole theshow.

Suddenly,thepianoburstsout withadramatic,modernmelody:my twin,Danny,hasalwaysbeenthe moreinnovativeone.Desperateto haveindependentidentities,Danny andIforgeddifferencesearlyon—I wastheright,artsiersideofthe brain,whileheoccupiedtheleft, analyticalside.

Eventuallythestringsjoinback in,persistingwiththeiroriginal melodyoverthesoundofthepiano’s theme.It’sclunky,chaoticbutalso stunning.Theeccentricityofthe piano,combinedwiththedeeper, darkertonesofthestrings,makethe twoaninseparablepair.

—EvaRoytburg,NewsEditor

Strollingthroughthecity, Pusheengivesandreceiveslovein themostunexpectedways,onein whichcitydwellersgiftPusheen chocolatecandiesforValentine’s Day.Makenomistakethatcats cannoteatthesesweetdelicaciesin reallife,butthesentimentmakes thisshortabitsweeterbefore Pusheenfacesherscariestchallenge: apackofwilddogs.In“‘damselin distress”’fashion,anunnamedstreet catsavesPusheenfromdeath.This animatedshortrevealsthatlargerthan-lifecharactersneedlove,too. —MilanParker,Contributing Writer

‘AboutTime’(2013)byRichard Curtis Timetravel.Whowouldexpecta rom-com'splottobeabouttime travel?TimLake(DomhnallGleeson),thetimetraveler,canlivelifeon hisowntermsandmanipulate interactionswithpeopleashewants. Hedoesuseittohisadvantageand winhisgirl'sheart,butheisplagued withobstacles,suchashisfather’s deathandsister’saccident.Instead ofgoingbackintimeandfixing things,hechooseslovetosustain him.Themovieremindsitsviewers toenjoyeverymomentoftheirlives becauseweonlyhavesomuchtime. Thefilmisaperfecttributetothe spiritofValentine'sDay,asitencouragesallofustotakecomfortinthe peoplewelove,whethertheyareour significantother,friendsorfamily. YashonandanKakrania, ContributingWriter

‘IGotLove’(2021)byMother Mother Despitethetitle,“IGotLove” soundsnothinglikealovesong.The firstfewlyricshitlikeagutpunch:“I don‘tgotagodIcancallmyown/ AndIdon‘tgotabodythatfeellike home.”Theraspyvocalsandheavy

Modernpoets,suchas24thU.S. PoetLaureateAdaLimón,are workinghardtochallengethe possibilitiesoftheform.Limóngave areadinginEmoryUniversity’s GlennAuditoriumonFeb.11,as partoftheRoseLibrary’sannual RaymondDanowskiPoetryLibrary ReadingSeries.ThereadingcontainedbothLimón’searlierwork andpoemsfromhernewestbook, “TheHurtingKind.”

Limónshared15poemsather reading,whichcoveredanambitiousvarietyoftopicsincludingthe implicationsofpoliticalhistory, humanity’sconnectionwithnature, genderexpectationsandmore.In tacklingthesecomplexsubjects, Limónoftenbeginswiththemicrocosmofeverydayeventstoexplore deepersubjectmatter.Forinstance, intheopeningpoem,“TheLeash,” Limónoffersstrikingquestions suchas,“Howcanyounotfear humanity?”Tostart,thepoemis encumberedwithdoomsdayimages ofpoisonedlandsandwarfare,yet thenarratorfindshopeinthe naivetewithwhichherdogchases cars.Adogtuggingagainstaleash inanattempttopursuewhatcould hurtherbecauseallshewantstodo istoshareherloveispreciselythe kindofsimplisticnarrativethatis easytooverlookinthefaceof tragedy.

Additionally,Limóndoesnot hesitatetoaddressthetreacherous undercurrentsofAmericanpolitics. “ANewNationalAnthem”first illustrateshowthenarrator,like manyAmericans,onlyexperiences thesingingofthenationalanthem inahalf-mindedway.Shecoinsit, “justacalltothefield.”Limón strikesthroughthereader’sambivalencebyremindingreadersthat thereisanomittedthirdstanzaof thenationalanthem,whichexposes thecountry'sconnectionwith slavery.

Limóngoesfurtherinsaying, “Perhaps,thetruthis,everysongof thiscountryhasanunsungthird stanza,somethingbrutalsnaking underneathus.”Limóndoesnot encourageaudiencestobepermissivebutratherpushesthemto questionthepoliticalconsequences

ofignoringhistory. Limón’sabilitytoincorporateboth intricateimageryandinterspersing universalsentimentsallowsaudiences tofullyembodytheseexperiences whilestillconnectingthepoemsto theirownlives.In“Givemethis,” Limóndescribesagroundhogwith sonicwhimsicalitywhenshewrites,“a liquiditymovingallmuscleandbristle.”Yet,shealsogivesthegroundhog aconnectiontoeverylivingpersonin theline,“sheisdoingwhatshecanto survive.”Everypersonisdoingwhat theycantosurvive,makingthisa statementthatcanresonateuniversally.Eachpersoncanappreciate otherpeoplesimplyfortheirexistence,justasthenarratorofthepoem appreciatesthegroundhog’slife. Asthereadingprogressed,Ada Limóndescribedmoreanecdotesof howherpoemscametobe.She admittedtoheraudiencethatfearwas theoneemotionshestruggledto write,particularlyinconstructingher book“TheHurtingKind.”ForLimón, quarantinewasatimetobreak througholdmyths.Forinstance, “JointCustody”isareflectivepoem exploringhowfamiliescanstillexperiencewholeness,evenwiththe complicationsofdivorce.In“Cyrus andtheSnakes,”Limóndismantles howexpectationssurroundingmasculinitycaninhibit“deepfeelers” fromexpressingthemselves.In“Salvage,”shedelvesintothefeelingsthat sheassociateswiththeclimatecrisis, specificallytacklingimageryinvolving wildfires.Hersubjectsrangefrom deeplypersonaltohighlytopical, givingprospectivereadersmany opportunitiestoconnectwithher work.

Beforeclosingherreadingwith “TheEndofPoetry,”Limóntalkedto thecrowdabouttheimportanceof findingconnectionthroughart,sayingthat“Wecanwriteourselvesback intotheworld.”Thiswascertainlya fittingstatement,asthepoemstarts bylistingoffdetailsthenarrator observesinherenvironment,butthe narrator’stonesoonbecomesmore urgentassheconfessestoallthe thingsthatevokefeelingsofdesperationandlonelinessforher.Making senseoftheworldthroughrationality isnotenough;apersonmustliveand feel.Limónacknowledgesthisfactin herfinalline:“Iamaskingyouto touchme.”

Asapoet,Limónencouragesher audiencetolove,feelandexperience asdeeplyaspossible,andthisoften requiresvulnerability—theabilityto admittotheneedforconnection. Readerscancertainlyfindthisby delvingintootherpeople’sexperiencesandbyattendingpoetryreadings,suchasLimón’s,whichallows forthisconnection.

-ContactShayleeArtusat shaylee.artus@emory.edu.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS /BERT ANDREWS ToniMorrison’s1987novel “Beloved”isanimportant partoftheAmericanliterary canon.

COURTESYOF HOMO AND LUMO

COURTESYOFSONYPICTURESPUBLICITY

JESSIE SAVOTSKY /STAFF LLUSTRATOR

SOPHGUERIERI/STAFFPHOTOGRAPHER AdaLimónreadspoetryfromhercollectionsatGlennAuditorium.

ActressViolaDavisanddirectorGinaPrince-BythewooddidnotreceiveOscarnominationsfor theircontributionsto“TheWomanKing”(2022).

COURTESYOFAKWAEKE.COM AkwaekeEmezi’sworkof autobiographicalfiction exploresthemesoffateand consciousnessthroughthe lensofNigerianidentity.

ContinuedfromPage11

Arts&Entertainmentstaff’sfavoriteromanticart Artsaplenty:aguidetoupcoming concerts,recitalsandmore

drumscreateasoundthatisangry, messy,chaoticandalmostbrutal. Andyet,themoreIlisten,themore loveIhear.Afterall,youdon’thave tochoosebetweenloveandanger. Sometimesloveisanger.Sometimes loveissaying,“Theworldmaybe awfulsometimes,butI’mgonnalove thegoddamnthinganyways.”Or,in thewordsofMotherMother,“Irock mypainlikeababychild/AndI knowthatwe’llbealright/‘CauseI gotlove.”

—MilaKocic,ContributingWriter

‘EverythingEverywhereAllAt Once’(2022)

“Didyougetarrested?,”mymom askedoverthephoneafterIleftthe theatersobbing.Icalledtotellher howmuchIappreciateherafter watchingthismasterclassfilm,but failedtocommunicatethereason why.“EverythingEverywhereAllAt Once”isthewholepackage.Ina journeywithdimension-traveling, hotdogfingers,andaraccoon hibachichef,thecoreof“Everything

EverywhereAllAtOnce”isthe relationshipbetweenamotherwho feelsunfulfilledandadaughterwho feelsunloved.Thefilmdealswith existentialnihilismincreativeways, allowingviewerstocometothe realizationthatifnothingtruly matters,inthatvein,everything does.

MattRodriguez,Contributing Writer

‘MyBelleEvangeline’from‘The PrincessandtheFrog’(2009) Ohtobeafireflyinlovewitha star,serenadingherastwofrogs slowdanceroundalilypad.Ifirst saw“ThePrincessandtheFrog”in 2010,andIhaveneverforgottenthe tendernessofRay’s(JimCummings) songforEvangeline.Hisuntouchablebeliefthatanotherfireflyis waitingforhimamongthestars raisesthebarfordevotionhigher thantheentiregalaxyitself.Andthe Cajunphraseswovenintothesong’s lyrics?Thetendernessofthetrumpetinterlude?“MyBelleEvangeline” describesaselfless,adoringlove,a loveincompleteaweofitsobject,the flawlessloveofafaithfulfirefly. Becauseofhissong,sincechildhood Ihavebelievedthatnomatterhow hopelessromanticpiningmayseem, love“alwaysfindsaway.”

BrigidMay,ContributingWriter ‘DifferentThisTime’(2018)by CorneliaMurr

Formuchofmylittletimeon Earth,I’veidealizedthepassionate coursethatlove—romanticlove, thatis—takeswhenlifeisstillnew andshiny.Sure,suchasensation bargesintoyourheadspacewith enoughforcetoknockyouoffyour feet.PerhapsIfindnow,asCornelia Murrconveyssowellinhermusic,it canbemorefrighteningthanpleasurabletosubmittowhirlwind longing.

Whatthissonginstillsinmeis thenotionthatenduringloveismore rewarding—arare,transcendent lovewhichdemandsimmensededicationbeyondjustfeelings.How wonderfulwoulditbetohavea constantwarmthbyyourside,no matterwhat?Tohavesomeonewho willdevotethemselvesinearnestto yourcarepreciselybecauseit’syou?

Idon’tthinkthere’samorebeautiful thing.

EliotVaughey,Contributing Writer

‘OrangeandWhite’(2022)by ConnerSmith

Liketheancientfeudofthe MontaguesandCapulets,the124year-oldfootballrivalrybetweenthe UniversityofGeorgia(UGA)andthe UniversityofTennessee,Knoxville (UTK)ispowerfulenoughtoprevent peoplefromdivergentlineagesfrom fallinginlove.Yet,ConnerSmith,a UTKfan,countersthisin“Orange andWhite.”Smithdetailsfallingin lovewithaGeorgiagirlwho’svisiting UTK,parallelingRomeoentrenching onCapuletproperty.WhileJuliet revealsherloveforRomeoina soliloquy,it’sfittingthataUGAfan demonstratesherloveforSmithby singing“RockyTop,”UTK’sunofficialfightsong.Smith’sabilityto convinceagirlwho’sbeenredand blackherwholelifetobe“fallin’for aboyinorangeinwhite”is—dareI sayit—acountrymusic“Romeoand Juliet”lovestory.

—MatthewChupack,Executive Editor

‘BonitaApplebum’(1990)byA TribeCalledQuest

Theseminalhip-hoplovesong, “BonitaApplebum”hasinfluenced generationsofhip-hopheadstofind couragetoasktheirloveintereststo “putthemon.”AsinglefromTribe’s debutalbum,“People'sInstinctive TravelsandthePathsofRhythm” (1990),thesongshowcasesTribe’s abilitytofusejazzinstrumentation withrapping.“BonitaApplebum”is anunderstated,delightfulreflection onQ-Tip,Tribe’sleadvocalist’s, charisma.Q-Tipzigsandzags throughhislibraryofvocabularyand syllabicmanipulation,pursuinghis loverwiththecalculatedrhythmofa jazzkeyboard.Q-Tipisoneofhiphop’sall-timegreatsampleproducers,askillIvalueaspivotaltoaDJ’s ability.On“Bonita,”Q-Tipmashes togetherthreediversesourcesto createacollageofmusicalcohesion. Anundeniablyessentialhip-hoplove song;yougottaputiton.

BenBrodsky,AssistantArts& EntertainmentEditor

‘Boxballet’(2021)

Thetaleoftwoloversfrom differentworldshasbeentoldto exhaustion,anditishardtoimagine itinfusedwithnewvitality.Likea coachhypingupaboxerbeforea finalbrawl,however,animator AntonDyakovfoundawaytorevive itwithnewstrength.Hisanimated shortfilm“Boxballet,”whichwas nominatedforanAcademyAwardin 2022,tellsthestoryofunlikelylove betweenOlyatheballerinaand Evgenytheboxerinbreathtaking hand-drawnvisualdetail.Thefilmis areminderthatevenwhentheworld seemscruel,dullandlifeless,love hasawayofmakingitallOK.

—SamShafiro,LiveArtDesk ‘YouAreInLove’(2014)by TaylorSwift

LoveissomethingTaylorSwift "hasspent[her]wholelifetryingto put…intowords."Foreachand everystageofarelationship,shehas asongforyou.Forme,"YouAreIn Love"isSwift'sodetolove,notbased onherpersonalexperiences,buton therelationshipsofthosearound her.TheinstrumentalpairsbeautifullywithSwift'slyricalmastery, providingasoft,dreamybackdropto thesceneunfoldingbeforeyou. Throughoutthesong,Swiftcharacterizesloveassomethingthat's

nearlytangible,takingprecedence overallotheremotions.Lovelingers throughoutallthelittlemomentsof therelationship,suchasthesilences betweensmalltalk,midnightdrives andtheearlySundaymornings.

—TaliaYu,ContributingWriter

‘Heartstopper’(2022)

Ineverunderstoodtheideaofa “comfortshow”untilIhadthe pleasureofwatching“Heartstopper” forthefirsttime.Adaptedfromthe graphicnovelsofcomicartistAlice Oseman,theshowisabeamoflight amidtoday’stumultuousstoriesof moderndaylove,centeredaround thebuddingrelationshipoftwoboys insecondaryschoolalongsidetheir struggleswithsexualityandcoming ofage.Itthoughtfullydepictsplatonicandromanticformsoflovein alloftheircomplexities,urgingthe viewertoholdonto—andholdout for—thosewhowilltreatthemas theydeservetobetreated.

“Heartstopper”tellsustosearch notjustforlove,butalsosafety,joy andcomfortwithinallofour relationships—andespeciallywithin ourselves.

—ErinDevine,ContributingWriter

‘Ditto’(2022)byNewJeans

Thesweetlyrics,underlyingbeats andsoothingvoicesofthefive membersofNewJeanscome togethertoasktheirnewfoundlove to“sayitback”astheycarefully confesstheirfeelingstohim.They singabouttheirbeatingheart,“ra-tata-ta”-ing,tellinghimthatthey“got nothingtolose.”Allthewhile,they alsoexpresstheirshyness,hoping thathe’dunderstandthattheyhad beenwaiting“Allthistime.”NewJeansdeliversthesweetest,sincerest andmostcarefulloveconfession, remindingusofthetinglingfeeling whenwefirstbegintolovesomeone. Theschooluniformandfilmcamera aestheticoftheirmusicvideosaddto thisnostalgia,takingfansbacktothe timeoftheiryoungestlovesand makingthisreleaseatotalpackageof love. —EllenChoi,ContributingWriter

‘TheYoungGirlsofRochefort’ (1967)

Oneofthemorebittersweet aspectsI’vehadtolearnaboutloveis itsunexpectedness.Assomeonewho grewuppreparingforalmosteverything,theserendipitousnatureof romancehasfueledfrustration,as wellassudden,joyousmemories. And,Idon’tthinkanypieceofmedia encapsulatestheunpredictabilityof lovelikeJacquesDemy’smusical “TheYoungGirlsofRochefort.” Everycharacterissearchingfortheir onesoulmateinthisseasidecity, fromthetwinsistersDelphine (CatherineDeneuve)andSolange (FrançoiseDorléac)tocomposer Andy(GeneKelly)tosailor-turnedartistMaxence(JacquesPerrin).

You’reontheedgeofyourseatas youseeonecharacter’strueloveexit astheyenter,waitingforallthestars toalign.And,justwhenyouthinkall hopeislost,lovefindsawayto reunitethesedestinedpartners. Alongwithbeingalight-hearted, colorfulcomedywithlivelymusical anddanceperformances,“The YoungGirlsofRochefort”isa reminderthatyou’llneverknow whenyou’llcomeacrosslove,so don’tbeafraidtolive.

–EythenAnthony,Arts&EntertainmentEditor

BY ALEXANDRA KAUFFMAN CampusDesk

AlbertineCinematheque: FrenchFilmFestival

Date:Feb.13-Feb.22,7p.m.

Location:GoodrichC.WhiteHall, Room103

Cost:Free DelveintotheworldofFrench cinemawithsixscreeningsovertwo weeks,featuringfilmsacrosstime periodandgenre.

Filmsrangefromdance documentary“GallantIndies” (2020),tocoming-of-agedrama “The400Blows”(1959),tosports drama“Gagarine”(2020).

AfricanPoetry,Classicand ContemporaryPart1

Date:Feb.16,6:30-8:15p.m.,Feb. 23,6:30-8:15p.m.

Location:FoxCenterforHumanistic

Inquiry

Cost:Free

LedbyAssociateProfessorof EnglishNathanSuhr-Sytsma,this seminarwilldiscussaselectionof influentialandmemorablepoems fromNigerianandUgandanauthors from1960tomodernday.Attendees willdiscussworksfromauthorssuch asOkotp’Bitek,NiyiOsundareand morewhileexploringquestionsof localliterarytraditions,political injusticeandcreativity.

“AutumnBeat”FilmScreening +DirectorQ&A

Date:Feb.16,7:00-8:30p.m.

Location:GoodrichC.WhiteHall 208

Cost:Free

EmoryDepartmentofFrenchand ItalianandInstituteofAfrican Studiesinvitesviewerstoimmerse themselvesin“AutumnBeat,”a coming-of-agestoryfollowingtwo brothersattemptingtobreakintothe musicalworldofrap.DirectorDikele Distefanowillansweraudience questionsduringaQ&Asessionafter thescreening.

OurTown(Multilingual)

Date:Feb.16-26,timevaries

Location:SchwartzCenterfor PerformingArtsTheaterLab

Cost:$15

Amulticulturalandmultilingual reimaginingoftheclassicplay, TheaterEmory’s“OurTown”tellsa localizedstoryoftwoimmigrant families’joyandstrife.Thisplay featuresbothprofessionalactorsand Emorystudentsinthecast.

EmoryChamberMusicSociety ofAtlantaperformance

Date:Feb.17,12p.m.

Location:FirstPresbyterianChurch ofAtlanta

Cost:Free

ViolistJamesDunhamandcellist NormanFisherjointheEmoryVega Quartetforanafternoonofstring musicwithselectionsfromMozart andGlazunov.

CarlosMuseumTomDorsey

Exhibit

Date:Feb.18-July16

Location:MichaelC.CarlosMuseum

Cost:$8(GA)|Free(Emory Students)

Never-before-seenworksby ThomasDorsey,aphotographer knownforthepersonal,intimate glimpseinto1970’sChicagoAfrican Americancommunitieswillbe exhibitedattheCarlosMuseumfrom Feb.18untilJuly16.

Thesephotographsnotonlycapture thecityofChicagoandthepeople withinitbutalsoDorsey’smemories andattachmentsfromthetime.

MiddleEasternandSouth AsianStudiesDepartmentFilm Screeningof“Flee”

Date:Feb.21,6-8p.m.

Location:GoodrichC.WhiteHall, room208

Cost:Free

Critically-acclaimedanimated documentary“Flee”followsAmin,a manwhowasforcedtoleave Afghanistanasachild.Thefilm documentshislifeashenavigateshis relationshipwithhissoon-to-behusband,struggleswithhisidentity andcomestotermswithhispast.

EmoryChamberMusicSociety ofAtlanta(ECMSA)Four

SeasonsPerformance

Date:Feb.24,12p.m.

Location:EmersonConcertHall

Cost:Free

TheECMSAchamberorchestra andfoursoloists—AmySchwartz Moretti,HelenKimandmembersof theVegaQuartet—willperformthis classicpiece,beautifullyrendering eachofthefourseasonsasmusic.

Dooley’sPlayers:Hearing

Voices

Date:Feb.24,25and26,6p.m.

Location:ClairmontCampus

Cost:Free

“HearingVoices”aimstoamplify thevoicesofhistorically marginalizedminoritiesthrough theaterthroughthisyear’stheme: politicsandidentity.Insteadof remainingstationary,audienceswill vieweachstudent-writtenscenein differentrooms,asstudenttour guidesleadthegroupsthroughthe locations.

EmoryUniversitySymphony Orchestra(EUSO)Concert

Date:Feb.25,8p.m.

LocationEmersonConcertHall

Cost:Free

Intheirfirstperformanceof2023, theEUSOwillperformmajorworks fromtheorchestralrepertoire,new worksofthe21stcenturyandthe worldpremiereofworkforHarp& OrchestrabyLauraSchwendinger withAtlantaSymphonyPrincipal HarpElisabethRemyJohnson.

EmoryWindEnsembleConcert

Date:Feb.26,4p.m.

Location:CherryLoganEmerson ConcertHall

Cost:Free

JointheWindEnsembleforan arrayofdiversemusicincluding differentstyles,genresandtime periods,representingthebestof windmusicfromtheRenaissanceera tomodernday.

ColloquiumSeries:Race, QueernessandMedia

Date:Feb.27,12-1:30p.m.

Location:RobertW.Woodruff

Library

Cost:Free JoinUniversityofMiami

AssociateProfessorofCinematicArts AlfredMartinforhistalk,“The GenericCloset:MediaIndustries, BlackAudienceImaginationsand BlackGayReceptionPractices.”

- ContactAlexandraKauffman atalexandra.kauffman@emory.edu.

The Emory Wheel

Emory Life

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | Emory Life Editors: Chaya Tong (chaya.tong@emory.edu), Xavier Stevens (xsteven@emory.edu) and

Asst. Editor Jordyn Libow (jordyn.libow@emory.edu)

Black Student Alliance provides cozy home for Black students

By heather Lu

Contributing Writer

Spacious common areas where residents gather, a living room filled with Black cultural art and literature and a patio facing the McDonough Field: this is Emory University’s Black Student Alliance (BSA) house. At the BSA Housing open house on Feb. 11, BSA Resident Advisor (RA) Moyo Odugbemi (24C) showed potential new residents around the property. Located on 22 Eagle Row, right next to the Woodruff PE Center, its residents have a comfortable home with other Black Emory students close to campus. The BSA house currently has seventeen residents and more rooms available for future residents.

The BSA house aims to unite the Black community and celebrate Black culture and heritage.

As an extension of the BSA, the housing option was “founded on the mission of devotion, service and uplift to the Black community,” according to the University’s Theme Housing website.

BSA house RA Moyo Odugbemi said she seeks to make the house a satisfying home for the residents. Moyo works with the other staff to put together fun programs for the residents, such as the Black Out Weekend Party with a DJ and snacks at the beginning of the fall semester.

Odugbemi said that one of the most

meaningful programs to her was the Goodie Bag Giveaway hosted by the Emory Police Department on Nov. 16, 2022.

The event was hosted in the BSA house kitchen, where BSA house residents had the opportunity to talk with three members of the police force, according to EPD Communications

Director Moreika Johnson.

“It was a very enlightening conversation,” Odugbemi said. “It was a safe place for people to express their opinion and a good experience.”

BSA housing attracts residents for many reasons, according to BSA house resident Maya Joseph (24B).Joseph said she was most drawn to the sin-

gle room option and a more intimate housing experience. The community is small enough for her to know everyone who lives there.

Resident Matthew Sharp (22Ox, 24C) said he chose to live in BSA Housing because it allows him to immerse himself in the culture, stay in a good location on campus, live in a

spacious room and have easy access to a lot of events.

“There are a lot of events that are going on over here,” Sharp said. “If you want to host an event, it is not that difficult. You can easily reserve the living room or kitchen if you want to host something.”

The living room, study room, dining area, open room and back patio are all available for reservations to host events that fit up to fifty people. The spacious house enables residents to connect and uplift each other and celebrate Black culture through events.

Joseph recalled the Start of Year Dinner as one of the most memorable events, in which residents enjoyed tasty foods and played fun games, including an intense game of musical chairs.

“One of the reasons that I would recommend BSA Housing for other students is that we have fun events here,” Joseph said. “You can get to know everyone and have a fun time with them.”

Sharp said that he has found the housing to be a supportive place.

“My friends live a floor below me; they are right there,” Sharp said. “I can talk to them easily and often hang out in the living room and the kitchen with them.”

— Contact Heather Lu at heather.lu@emory.edu.

Forché, Valverde visit Emory for week of poetry readings

By Dani Sherman Contributing Writer

Two important figures in Spanishlanguage poetry—Carolyn Forché and Fernando Valverde—read their work to the Emory and Atlanta community in the Presentation Room of Emory’s Oxford Road Building on Feb. 8.

Forché and Valverde’s highly anticipated visit coincided with Ada Limón’s reading on Feb. 11, as part of the annual Raymond Danowski Poetry Library Reading Series. These three literary figures came together on Emory’s campus for a week of readings, conversations and translations in which the artists engaged with each other and with Emory students.

Limón is the United States’ 24th Poet Laureate, author of six poetry collections and National Book Award finalist, among several other accolades.

Forché is an acclaimed translator and author of poetry collections including “Gathering the Tribes” and her most recent “In the Lateness of the World.”

Valverde is a journalist for the Spanish Newspaper El País, director of the International Festival of Poetry in Granada and writer of the collection, “The Insistence of Harm.” His last bilingual book, “America,” includes both his Spanish-language poems and Forché’s English translations of them.

The poets’ collaboration kicked off on Wednesday with readings from Forché and Valverde, introduced by Emory faculty Jericho Brown and Karen Stolley, respectively. Valverde read three poems from “America”—“The Country of Lone Wolves,” “Austin, Texas, 1966” and “The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Sees the Promised Land”—each of

which Forché read an English translation directly afterward. The presented poems focused on themes of American gun violence and historical assassinations.

Forché’s three poems—“The Colonel,” “The Boatman” and “The Lightkeeper”—likewise assumed political and documentary purposes through the poet’s approach of writing about people she had actually met and the stories that resulted from such experiences. Like Valverde, Forché preceded each poem with a short anecdote about the inspiration or creative process of the piece.

For instance, she explained how she jotted down “The Colonel” directly after the encounter so she would not forget its details, and it ended up being published as the only poem she has never revised from its original

draft. She also revealed that “The Boatman” was the real story of a taxi driver she rode with in Milwaukee who made her promise to write a poem about his experience as a refugee fleeing Syria on a raft.

On Thursday, Forché and Valverde joined Limón in the Carlos Museum’s Ackerman Hall for a community engagement panel divided in two parts.

The first involved a discussion about writing in the contemporary American landscape as well as a small workshop component in which audience members wrote their own haikus and hung them on the wall to be collected and potentially archived by the Rose Library.

As the evening went on, the poets’ conversation turned toward translation. Limón first presented her poem

“The End of Poetry,” which was then read in Spanish. Valverde recited “The Wound Before the Tomb of Walt Whitman,” which Forché read in English. Then, Forché gave both English and Spanish versions of one of the first poems she ever translated, Claribel Alegría’s “Flowers from the Volcano.”

Afterward, the panelists answered questions from the audience regarding their perspectives on translation and the translation process. The panel members agreed that translation is an underappreciated art and expressed their shared love of encountering their own work in translation.

Forché also acknowledged the challenges of translation by explaining how much effort contributes toward what will ultimately be an imperfect reflection of an original work. She described every word as a decision that will always be slightly wrong; the goal of translators, she explained, is to make the least wrong decisions.

Friday marked the 23rd annual 12th Night Revel in the Silverbell Pavilion of the Emory Conference Center, where Emory patrons, alumni, staff and students shared their own short poems before Limón presented six of hers.

Anikka Jordan (23C) took the opportunity to read one of her own poems during the event, and said she felt supported by the artists and patrons in attendance.

“I also spoke with some community members afterward while we were walking out of the event, and they congratulated me and said they enjoyed hearing me read,” Jordan said.

Additionally, Jordan said meeting Limón was an especially exciting experience.

“You can just tell from her poems and also her smile that she’s such a

warm and nurturing person,” Jordan said.

At the event’s culmination on Feb. 12, Glenn Auditorium brimmed with people until a standing crowd formed in the back. Emory alumnus Dr. Jeremy Paden began with opening remarks.

Next to take the podium was Limón herself. Clear and expressive in her vocality, Limón started with four poems from her poetry collection, “The Carrying,” before transitioning to those from her most recent collection, “The Hurting Kind.” Every one of them earned a round of enthusiastic applause.

Many attendees, such as Luis Ciriaco (25C), waited in line to get Limón’s signature after buying one of her books in the lobby. Ciriaco said he found the experience influential as both an enthusiast and writer of poetry.

“Hear[ing] what she read will really impact how I write and inspire me to pursue that similar style of writing,” Ciriaco said.

Ciriaco also expressed pride in Limón becoming the country’s first Latina Poet Laureate, especially because, like Limón, he is Mexican-American.

“It’s always great to see people who have Latinx identity to be able to achieve,” Ciriaco said.

Through their readings and direct community engagement this week, Forché, Valverde and Limón showed how poetry is more than speaking words off a page and how translation is more than carrying text from one language to another.

As Forché told her audience on Thursday, “All human experience is translation.”

— Contact Dani Sherman at dani.sherman@emory.edu.

The Raymond Danowski Poetry Library Reading Series kicked off with readings from Carolyn Forché and Fernando Valverde and finished with Ada Limón at the Glenn Auditorium.

Soph Guerieri/ContributinG photoGrapher

The Black Student Alliance house is located at 22 Eagle Row, next to the Woodruff Physical Education Center and the outdoor tennis courts. With 17 residents, the house hopes to unite Black students in a community on campus.

Negril ATL serves taste of islands in every bite

By LeiLah Burgher

Contributing Writer

Although it is important to support Black businesses every day, I decided that in the spirit of Black History month, I would highlight some hypeworthy Black-owned restaurants in the Atlanta area. If these recent warm days have you ready for spring break, I have the perfect Black-owned Caribbean restaurant for you to feel like you’re on a getaway island: Negril ATL.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of celebrating my friend’s birthday at this downtown restaurant. Located in a renovated firehouse from 1907, Negril ATL has a rustic exterior. Their first location was started over 10 years ago in New York’s Upper East Side and the Atlanta location opened in 2018. Negril ATL specializes in authentic Caribbean cuisine with an innovative Southern flare. As a JamaicanAmerican, one of my favorite things about my culture is the food and the Jamaican dishes offered on the menu definitely caught my eye.

I started off my lunch experience with a Ting, which is a popular grapefruit soda in the Caribbean. For appetizers, we started off with two dishes. The first one was Jamaica’s national dish, the Ackee & Saltfish Spring Rolls, which were a favorite among the table. Ackee is a yellow fruit that is poisonous when raw, but when cooked, it is edible, soft and delicious. The dish consisted of fried spring rolls filled with ackee and saltfish and a sweet chili sauce for dipping. The filling was savory and perfectly seasoned: all I wanted was more. I can confidently say that it was a great innovation of a traditional dish and a must-try. The second appetizer that we tried was the Oxtail Wrap with Jamaican Festival.

This plate had a lettuce wrap with shredded oxtail inside and fried sweet dough called “festival” on the side. The tenderness of the oxtail and the crunch of the festival made this dish quite delectable.

After getting off to a great start with the appetizers, I was eager to get to the main course. My favorite meal was the Brown Stew Chicken, which was accompanied by rice and fried plantain. The chicken was flavorful and so tender that it was falling off of the bone. It was a mix of sweet, savory and spicy, and I promise you that I finished the entire plate.

In terms of authenticity, it was not your typical stew chicken but it was delicious regardless. The rice was fluffy and the sweet and the crispy plantain was the perfect side. In second place was the jerk chicken and waffles. For the waffles, you had the

Crossword

By Miranda Wilson and Katherine

acroSS

1. Adjective for a knife or an outfit

6. Bottle stopper

10. Spanish word for “love”

14. Biblical daughter-in-law of Judah

15. Star Wars creature from Utapau

16. How a kindergartner might misspell “hair”

17. Spanish word for “friend”

18. America First and MoveOn are examples of these

19. “All’s well that __ well”

20. Yesterday’s holiday

23. Phrase originating from the film Deep Impact referring to an existential situation (abbr.)

24. Polycomb protein coding gene (abbr.)

25. Ladies

28. “__ Raining Men”, song by The Weather Girls

29. Part of a flower

31. Spanish word for “aunt”

32. Common gift given on 20-across

36. Sticky, stretchy toy for kids

38. Attire after a shower

39. Unaccompanied

41. Crossing paths with a black cat, e.g.

42. German name for the blackbird

44. 2008 romance starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwenyth

Paltrow

46. Pimple

47. Book of __, third of the Twelve Minor Prophets

49. Natural logarithm on a calculator

50. Adjective for bread or flour

52. Varieties include apple, pecan, pumpkin

53. Ancient

56. One who rides TV waves

60. Brand with a bear logo

62. What four ace cards would spell

63. Trilateral trade agreement including Canada 64. Worry 65. Common ending for store names Wal, K, and H

66. Picture 67. __ of the D’Urbervilles, book by Thomas Hardy

68. Prefix meaning nine 69. Bird’s claw

Down

1. “Washing Machine Heart” artist

2. South American stuffed cornmeal cakes

3. Beginner’s roll with cucumber, crab and avocado

4. Scottish word for a latch

5. Space weapons for destroying satellites (abbr).)

6. Vox __ or “Voice of the People”

7. Without sound

8. Place where one might find lettuce and caesar dressing

9. Music recording company representing Kendrick Lamar (abbr.)

10. T-Rex or a human, e.g.

11. Love in Spanish

12. Sushi

13. Cool skateboarding trick

21. Units of measurement equal to three feet

22. Place to sit in a Church

25. “__ _ Like

29.

choice between red velvet or pineapple, and we went with the red velvet. The chicken was juicy and well-sea-

the chicken. Lastly, we had the Oxtail Pasta. It was a cream-based sauce with mushrooms and shredded oxtail. I was apprehensive about this dish at first because I have never had oxtail paired with cream sauce before, but I was simultaneously intrigued.

soned; however, it was not jerk chicken by any means. I couldn’t taste the seasoning or the cooking technique that goes into making chicken “jerk” style. However, the fluffy and buttery waffles definitely made up for

The taste was great, but we were slightly underwhelmed by the amount of oxtail on the plate. The meal was 90% pasta and 10% oxtail, which was disappointing considering that the dish was on the pricier side. I would definitely recommend adding more meat to the chef because the creaminess of the sauce and umami from the mushrooms paired well with the oxtail.

In terms of the ambiance and interior, the restaurant was very lively, with a very open space with two levels and outdoor patio dining. As soon as we walked in, the DJ was mixing

Caribbean music and Afrobeats, which had everyone in the joint jumping. The natural lighting from the large windows helped to create a relaxed environment. Something I really appreciated were the interactions I had with other diners: we danced and sang together, and enjoyed each other’s company. and it was a lot of fun.

This restaurant is great for those who want to try Caribbean cuisine for the first time or even those who simply enjoy the cuisine.

Although not the most authentic, I guarantee that you will have a delicious meal. I will definitely be returning and trying the rest of the menu. Next time you and your friends are in the downtown area, make sure that Negril ATL is at the top of your list.

— Contact Leilah Burgher at leilah.burgher@emory.edu.

33. Alias

35. Private university based in New York known for its technology research

36. Slump

37. Hosts astronauts from five different countries

38. John Doe Jr., e.g.

40. “__, I can’t make it”

43. Deep-fried shrimp, e.g.

46. Honey-baked or bone-in

47. To steam the wrinkles from something again

49. What McDonald’s puts pota-

toes in

50. How a snake might address its child

51. “I’m __ my best”

53. __ board or nailfile

54. Word in front of worm or after half

55. Explorer with a purple backpack

56. Opposite of “you walked”

58. Containers for soup

60. What one might have to take with a biology class

Something I really appreciated were the interactions I had with other diners: we danced and sang together, and it was a lot of fun.

You Do”, song by Ellie Goulding

28. Scale that’s relative major is C major

A consumer of 20-across, 27-across and 3-down 30. Doctor specializing in three connected areas

31. Donkey

“Love is in the Air”

Wang

LeiL ah burGher/ContributinG Writer

The entree Jerk Chicken and Waffles (left) and the appetizer Oxtail Wrap (right) at Negril ATL with a fried sweet dough called “festival” on the side.

Panelists feel ‘alienated’ from non-athletes

Continued from Back Page

a surprise, I’m glad you’re doing that, you guys are doing big things over there. I’m glad you’re a Black male playing on that team.’”

Baitey, who grew up in Decatur, Ga. and was a guard on Emory’s basketball team, said that he felt an obligation to be an example for his hometown during his playing days.

“I felt a little bit of pressure when I came as a student-athlete to dispel some myths or stereotypes about what people in the greater Atlanta community might think about Emory, about the Druid Hills area,” Baitey said.

Even though the panelists spoke to the ease of forming strong bonds with their fellow Black teammates, they added that connecting with other Black students outside of Emory ath-

letics is not always as simple. Halaby recalled how he felt “alienated” by other Black students who frowned upon his hanging out with his white teammates, a stigma which also resonated with Baitey. Similarly, Holden said that last semester she struggled to socialize with non-athletes, a habit she hopes to work on this spring.

“Sometimes I can’t hang out with my friends or go to any community building events because I had practice and now I have to study and I’m just too tired a lot of the time,” Holden said. “I’m more intentional about going to [Black-affiliated] events and hanging out with my friends. I definitely feel like it is hard to break away from sports and academics and try and find that time with other people.”

Having a strong community within the men’s basketball team

helped Halaby and Thomas process the aftermath of the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis Police Department officers on Jan. 10. McPherson said that coaches, teammates, athletic administrators and students should give their Black peers the space to voice their emotions after such events rather than suppressing uncomfortable conversations.

“We should talk about it and not be afraid to express how we feel in these sorts of situations, not to just hide how we feel,” McPherson said. “To come together as a community and express how we feel and not just hide the situation, especially in the Emory community.”

— Contact Claire Fenton at claire.fenton@emory.edu

Athletes create community, connect with Atlanta area

Continued from Back Page

Reaves said. “They take it where they want to go, and I just help them get where they’re going as efficiently as possible.”

BSAG has already held several events since the beginning of the fall 2022 semester, including a welcome banquet, a midterm de-stress game night and a blackout-themed night during the men’s and women’s basketball games against the University of Chicago on Jan. 27. Sophomore thrower Jalen Nixon said these BSAG events gave him the chance to relate to others who understand the unique experience of being a Black student-athlete at an academically rigorous PWI.

“It’s nice to have a dedicated space

where you kind of have a chance to sit down, or almost decompress, but also hang out with other people who have the same experiences you do from a racial and athletic and academic standpoint,” Nixon said. “To just meet people who are in similar shoes as you, learn what they’re struggling from.

[It’s] almost mentorship, in a type of way.”

Nnake and Point-du-Jour noted that Price and Reaves have helped create invaluable connections with the broader Emory and Atlanta communities. Recently, Deputy Executive Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Wilma Robinson (96C), an Emory women’s track and field alumna, visited the

campus to speak at a BSAG general body meeting. Assistant Professor of History Carl Suddler did the same and is actively working on connecting BSAG to people within his network.

Price noted that such outreach also benefits them financially, as alumni have already donated to BSAG in the few short months since its inception.

“We’ve used this as an opportunity to work with Advancement and Alumni Engagement to reach out to alumni who are not aware of what we’re doing and want to support philanthropically,” Price said. “So we’ve been able to solicit interest and gifts from alumni, former athletes who want to contribute to the group. And that’s been really great to engage them

and even have them come back and speak on career panels as well.”

Nnake and Point-du-Jour are also currently planning a BSAG service day in March. As far as the future of BSAG goes, Point-du-Jour hopes they can extend their influence as far as possible and continue to engage with more Black athletes, Emory alumni and professionals.

“It’s just to keep on expanding, keep building on the network that we have,” Point-du-Jour said. “We’ve been making connections grow with the greater Atlanta area. Even across the country, just people noticing our Instagram page, saying, ‘I support this.’”

Nnake said he is encouraged by

noticing the growth in the number of Black student-athletes since he first arrived at Emory, and wants BSAG to become an organization that Black student-athletes know they can rely on the moment they set foot on campus.

“I want them to see it as a group that they will already be a part of,” Nnake said. “I just want it to be just a group that people can look forward to and just know that when they come here, they’ll already be a part of something bigger than themselves and something that can help them advance in whatever way they possibly see.”

— Contact

Claire Fenton at claire.fenton@emory.edu

Athletics staff to emulate mentors, pay it forward

Continued from Back Page volleyball.

After playing basketball most of her life, one day her dad encouraged her to try out volleyball — she hadn’t turned out as tall as they expected, so he thought it might suit her more. So, she went to an overnight camp at Emory in middle school and had a “life changing moment” where she realized volleyball was her calling. Down the road, she said, she’d later realize that it was Emory’s volleyball culture that made the sport so appealing.

A pivotal part of her early years in club volleyball was being surrounded by Black coaches and teammates, which Jones said she was really lucky to have.

“My formative, early years of learning the sport, to know that all my head coaches were Black … does make a huge, huge difference in the way that I see the game and in the way that I see myself represented in the sport,” Jones said.

Jones spent two years at Pfeiffer University (N.C.) before transferring to Georgia State University (GSU). Not only was GSU about ten times bigger in size, Jones had to make the transition from the Division I to the Division II level.

Although Jones said that the volleyball team at Pfeiffer was inclusive and welcoming, it was a bit of a culture shock after spending her life around so many Black coaches and teammates. The school wasn’t very diverse, and Jones found herself as one of the only two Black girls on the team. Beyond that, Jones also struggled with other challenges common for student-athletes, including the time commitment and the difficulty in separating one’s identities as both a student and an athlete.

But after transferring to GSU, she

said she loved being able to be in a bigger academic environment, from the larger lecture halls to the endless array of people.

“I can just be me and do what I need to do in this moment, which I loved,” Jones said. “And then I love that there were so many pockets of different groups of people that I could interact with at all times.”

Jones credits GSU head volleyball coach Sally Polhamus with leading her toward a coaching career. She was thinking of taking a year off to apply to graduate school when Polhamus forwarded her an email about a coach at Columbus State University (Ohio.) looking for an assistant.

She ended up being co-assistants with a friend from Pfeiffer. She remembered him telling her, “This is what you’re meant to do.”

She was still working the assistant coach job when one day, she got a call from McDowell. McDowell needed an assistant, and she wanted Jones for the job. In that full-circle moment, Jones ended up back at the court where she first discovered her calling for volleyball.

“I only hope that I can do a fraction of what’s been done,” Jones said. “The women that have come from this program … knowing what they do now, they’re running things all over the country, they’re women to look up to. To know that Emory volleyball helped them become who they are, I’m really proud to be part of it.”

Gebereal Baitey (19C)

There’s an old story that Gebereal Baitey likes to tell recruits when they ask what it’s like to play at Emory or be coached by men’s basketball head coach Jason Zimmerman. It all connects back to “rolling the dice.”

During one game when the score

was tight, Zimmerman put one of the freshmen, Romin Williams (21C, 22B), on the court. No one was guarding Williams, but he was about 27 feet from the basket — seemingly too far to make a shot. But, Zimmerman shouted “shoot it,” and in moments, Williams clutched the shot, gave teammates a high-five and got back to the game.

“It was just an unbelievable moment because it went against everything that I learned about basketball up to that point,” Baitey said. “It was so much deeper than just the X’s and O’s of basketball.”

It’s that same mentality Baitey applied years later, when he ended up coaching Williams for his senior year. However, Baitey wasn’t always sure he’d end up in coaching, or even in basketball.

Growing up, Baitey’s dad wanted him to play football, and he played on his small New Jersey highschool team. Despite getting heavily recruited by college football coaches, Baitey ultimately went with basketball, which his parents also supported.

Baitey didn’t know much about the recruiting process and called it “dumb luck” that he found his way to Emory. He was fielding offers from Morehouse College (Ga.), Rutgers University (N.J.), the College of William & Mary (Va.) and Emory. When his family and peers heard he was accepted at Emory, they assumed he would go because of its academic prestige.

But, what really sold Emory for Baitey was visiting the school and getting a chance to talk to Zimmerman, who Baitey said “cares more about Division III basketball than anyone I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

“I really just got a better feel for how much he cared about it, how much he devoted, how much time he devoted to thinking about our team, thinking

about our players,” Baitey said. “That’s the biggest piece: the individuals that make up the team.”

After graduating from Emory in 2019, he played basketball overseas before his time was cut short by COVID-19. After spending some time teaching at his old high school, he called Zimmerman to find out more about breaking into coaching.

Baitey was struck with a difficult choice — he had initially thought he would go back overseas after COVID19 to continue playing. But, he knew eventually he’d have to build some “more permanent roots,” and that he couldn’t pass up on a coaching opportunity at Emory.

“It’s been a dream to be back where I played, to have firsthand experience of what some of my guys are going through on the court, in the classroom and everywhere in between,” Baitey said. “It’s a very self-actualizing process.”

Misha Jackson (13C)

Misha Jackson grew up around sports — every family holiday, she was always immersed in sports

“Whether it was watching a football game, or basketball or talking who’s better than what team, it’s always just been a part of my life,” Jackson said. “I’ve played basketball since I was allowed to play.”

She began her collegiate career at Florida Southern University before transferring to Emory as a sophomore. At Emory, she placed among the school’s top-10 all-time performers in 11 categories, including second in blocked shots and first in blocked shots average. She also secured the No. 10 spots on Emory’s all-time charts in total points and scoring average.

Although she faced challenges typi-

cal of a student-athlete, she said her teammates made the transition to Emory seamless. The times she spent with her teammates were some of the most memorable parts of her collegiate career, she said.

“Those are the moments that you don’t forget — I don’t remember scores or games,” Jackson said. “But, I remember something funny. I remember a snowball fight in Pittsburgh. Those are the things you remember for sure.”

After deciding to defer physical therapy school for a year, she stayed at Emory as a full-time volunteer coach She’d done some previous coaching jobs in the youth league as a college student, but this opportunity allowed her to further explore the profession.

“Sometimes when you go to top schools like Emory, coaching isn’t necessarily the number one occupation,” Jackson said. “You know, people are going to Wall Street and going to med school, and so there’s kind of that battle you fight, but this is what I love to do.”

In her second year as head coach in 2019, she took the Eagles to the first NCAA Tournament since 2013 and finished the year by clinching second place in the University Athletic Association.

In guiding the team, Jackson said it’s important to go beyond the X’s and O’s and focus on building relationships with the team.

Jackson hopes her impact will stay with her players long after graduation.

“I want to build leaders, I want to build women,” Jackson said. “I want to build champions, not just in basketball, on and off the court.”

— Contact Brammhi Balarajan at bbalara@emory.edu

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | Sports Editors: Jenna Daly (jenna.daly@emory.edu) and Claire Fenton (claire.fenton@emory.edu) Asst. Sports Editors: Clement Lee (clement.lee@emory.edu) and Madeline Shapiro (madeline.shapiro@emory.edu)

ATHLETICS

Black coaches, admin share paths to Emory

By Brammhi Balarajan Editor-in-Chief

After exploring stints playing overseas, training for the Olympic Trials and developing coaching programs across the country, four Black coaches and administrators came full circle and ended back where many of them started — Emory University.

BSAG to ‘bridge the gap,’ empower athletes

By Claire Fenton Sports Editor

When Emory University’s track and field teams competed at the 2022 University Athletic Association (UAA) Outdoor Track & Field Championship last April, Washington University in St. Louis, who hosted the event, held a dinner for all the Black student-athletes competing. At the dinner, sophomore sprinter and jumper Geoff Pointdu-Jour and his teammates learned that some UAA schools, unlike Emory, had Black student-athlete organizations. Point-du-Jour had already considered starting a similar organization at Emory, and his experience at the UAA Championship encouraged him to put his idea into motion.

Unbeknownst to Point-du-Jour, Emory men’s basketball senior forward Dubem Nnake was simultaneously working toward the same goal. Nnake’s older brother had been part of a Black student-athlete organization while playing basketball at Johns Hopkins University (Md.), and after picking his brain, Nnake began connecting with other Black Emory student-athletes.

Eventually, he and Point-duJour established contact, and they approached Director of Athletics Keiko Price in August 2022 with their proposal for an Emory Black Student Athlete Group (BSAG). Price had worked on a similar project after the death of George Floyd during her

tenure at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and wholeheartedly supported Nnake and Point-duJour’s initiative.

“When they came to me, it was a no-brainer,” Price said. “It’s something that I really believe in and I’m passionate about. And so I said, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’”

BSAG is the first of its kind at Emory, and both Nnake and Pointdu-Jour were motivated to start it in part because they felt Emory’s Black student athletes lacked a strong peer support group.

“Sometimes as the only Black student-athlete on the team, it can feel kind of isolating at times, and it leads to people that end up quitting or just transferring to different schools,” Point-du-Jour said. “By having that community, there’s a common support that they might not feel that they have on a team.”

The foundation of BSAG’s mission is FACs: foster a community, advocate for one another and celebrate Black identity. For Nnake, BSAG offers an opportunity for Black student-athletes to “bridge the gap[s]” that he has noticed since his freshman year.

“A lot of times, as a Black studentathlete at a [predominantly white institution] like this, it’s tough to find our community, find ways that we can connect with one another,” Nnake said. “I just felt a need to start the organization, and just have that sense of community between the different ath-

letic teams, because I feel like it could help us further ourselves and advocate for one another, just help us celebrate our identities together.”

Around 16% of all NCAA athletes are Black. That figure dips to 10% for athletes competing at the Division III level, and as of fall 2022, Emory reported that Black students composed just 8.5% of the undergraduate population. As the statistics suggest, the Black student-athlete community at Emory is small – out of the over 400 student-athletes at Emory, approximately 35 are in BSAG – yet Point-duJour said the nature of being a collegiate athlete prevented them from getting to know one another intimately.

“One thing about being an athlete in general, it’s kind of a ‘go to practice and go home’ sort of thing,” Point-duJour said. “We see each other as Black student-athletes but we never have the time to talk like, ‘What’s up, what’s your name?’ Prior to this, I didn’t know some of the guys on the basketball team’s majors.”

Price, who is one of 16 Black female athletic directors in Division III, recruited Tristan Reaves to guide Nnake and Point-du-Jour through the process of expanding BSAG’s reach. Reaves became the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Success Programs in the Eagle Edge program in July 2022 and has since taken on a mentorship role within BSAG.

“It’s completely student-athlete led,”

See ATHLETES, Page 15

Since then, these coaches have gone on to take the Eagles to new heights, whether by creating new groups for Black student-athletes or leading the women’s basketball team to their first NCAA tournament since 2013.

Keiko Price

When Keiko Price was eight years old, she stood at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii, hunkered up in a wetsuit and a wetsuit vest. Her dad rubbed vaseline over her body to protect her from the cold, and she dipped into the water. But, she couldn’t withstand the icy water, so she resorted to trying again another day.

Price came back when she was 10, and this time, she was fine when she hit the water. Since then, swimming has always been a duality — something that gives her peace while also showcasing her competitive edge.

As a student-athlete at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1997 to 2001, she was a 22-time All-American, won the 1999 Pac-10 championship in the 100-meter freestyle and swam in the Olympic Trials three times. Since then, Price has developed coaching and athletics programs across the country, most recently joining Emory’s leadership in Dec. 2020.

She credits her former sociology professor Walter Allen for helping her figure out her next steps. After class one day, Allen scratched a note at the bottom of one of her papers to come talk to him about graduate school.

“Nobody had ever talked to me about graduate school,” Price said. “So, after that, I decided I wanted to go to graduate school, and I knew that I wanted to help athletes.”

From there, she went to the University of California, Berkeley for a master’s degree in education.

For her master’s thesis, Price focused on the unique challenges that Black athletes experienced at the time. She remembered a commonality was the pressure to make it to the professional leagues, go to the Olympics or become the next big thing because “you’re the only one, you gotta do it for the Black folks.”

“Because my experience was so unique and I was on a team of predominantly white teammates, finding community wasn’t easy,” Price said. “So, I ended up hanging out with all the other athletes, track athletes, basketball athletes.”

After graduate school, Price went on to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as the senior associate athletic director. As the chair of the diversity and inclusion committee at UIUC, she gained experience that would later help her in establishing a Black student-athlete group at Emory, alongside basketball senior forward Dubem Nnake and men’s track and field sophomore jumper and sprinter Geoff Point-du-Jour.

“They have done a phenomenal job of taking ownership of creating community and really coming up with programs and opportunities for Black student athletes to support each other,” Price said. “So, I think that’s really special to be able to do that here.”

Since assuming her role, Price has faced a host of challenges. But for Price, one of her favorite parts of the job is being present for student athletes during their practices.

“That’s where they thrive,” Price said. “My job is behind the scenes to make sure they’re able to compete at a high level, that everything is taken care of and in place.”

Brianna Jones

Brianna Jones said she was wearing the “biggest kneepads you could ever possibly find” on an Emory court when she discovered her passion for

See ATHLETICS, Page 15

Intersectionality panel explores Black student-athlete experience at PWIs

By Claire Fenton Sports Editor

You have to be comfortable in uncomfortable positions. Even if it’s just a couple Black people, you have to make sure that, okay, I can still be in this sort of atmosphere. That’s one thing I considered when choosing a college. I still thought I would fit in and [know] what my purpose is here.”

Sophomore sprinter Andrea McPherson discussed her self-confidence as a minority athlete on Emory University’s women’s track and field team at the Emory Black Student Athlete Group (BSAG) Black student-athlete experience panel at the Harland Cinema in the Alumni Memorial University Center on Feb. 13. The panel, which featured Emory men’s basketball senior guard JJ Halaby, freshman sprinter Sydney

Holden, McPherson and freshman guard Tyson Thomas, focused on the unique challenges Emory Black student-athletes face at an academically rigorous predominantly white institution (PWI). The event was also broadcast over Zoom, and virtual attendees included representatives from Johns Hopkins University (Md.) and Washington University in St. Louis.

Like McPherson, Halaby was aware of the small number of Black studentathletes in the University Athletic Association (UAA) when he was applying to college. He chose to attend Emory in part because, at the time, they had more Black players on the men’s basketball team than any other UAA school. Thomas also noted that meeting with Black coaches, players and other prospects in his class during his visit to Emory helped cement his decision.

Holden, who was one of “one of five Black people out of 100 to 150 people” at her high school, was actively “craving” a strong Black community when finalizing her college plans. She said that being Black is a central part of her identity as a student-athlete, particularly as a long sprinter.

“For me, it’s very important, my race and my sport, especially because of the events that I do,” Holden said. “There aren’t that many people that look like me, who actually do those events. So for me, it’s just important to bring my race into my events, always bring a positive attitude.”

Coordinator of mental health services in athletics and recreation

Kalyn Wilson briefly spoke about how Black people inherit racial trauma from facing generations of microaggressions and violence. Wilson said that although 78% of

student-athletes who identify as a racial or ethnic minority reported mental health concerns, only 11% sought professional help, which she noted was a “fallacy of strength” that exacerbates their struggles.

“Chances are, if you are not someone who occupies Black skin right now, and everyday you walk around, you don’t have to worry if you’re never going to see someone who looks like you,” Wilson said. “That is something that is really important to center when you’re thinking about experiences as a Black student-athlete.”

Halaby said he experiences heightened isolation from the Black community in his classes at the Goizueta Business School. While he feels no racial prejudice from his classmates and professors, Halaby said that constantly being the sole Black person in the room can be discouraging.

“Being in the business school, it

was kind of a tough adjustment,” Halaby said. “Going into my first class – actually, all my classes, really – I was the only Black person in the class. It’s just a tough adjustment to see that there’s not people that look like you, so it’s kind of hard to find your community.”

Some of the panelists admitted succumbing to what Emory men’s basketball assistant coach Gebereal Baitey (19C), the panel moderator, referred to as “imposter syndrome.” Thomas recalled an incident last semester when a man next to him at the checkout line in Target was pleasantly “surprised” to hear that Thomas played basketball at Emory.

“They were just like, ‘Oh, wow, you play there?’” Thomas said. “I assumed it was because of the color of my skin and who I was. He also said that, ‘It’s

Natalie Sa N dlow/Staff

Members of BSAG were recognized at halftime of the Emory women’s basketball game against the University of Chicago on Jan. 27.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH