Meet The Family
FAHARI-LIBERTAD Fa-ha-ri: (noun) Dignity, respect, a good reputation. Derived from the language of KiSwahili.
Li-ber-tad: (noun) Spanish for FREEDOM!
Makeba Hall-Wilson, Council of Orgs. Rep
Emily Imbert, Council of Orgs. Rep
The Fahari-Libertad is committed to printing the political, social, and economic views and concerns regarding people of color here at SUNY New Paltz. It is published in the spirit of cultural unity as well as bringing about the spiritual unification of all people. The main goal of the Fahari-Libertad is to enrich and educate all with knowledge and enlightenment. We accept anyone who is truly committed to these goal to work with us.
Mission
To seek knowledge, truth and unity with pride
Contact Us The Fahari-Libertad SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building, Rm. 323 New Paltz, NY 12561
Jay Herrera, Staff Writer
Tanique Williams, Public Relations
Email: faharilibertad@gmail.com Facebook: Fahari Libertad Magazine Blog: faharilibertad.blogspot.com
The Family Editor-In-Chief Shatera Gurganious Vice President Brittany Askew Layout Editor Euclyn Williams Malissa Williams Cover Design Judea Costes Lamar Mack Staff Writers Jada Young Roger Whitson Mosi-Chachawi Makeba Hall-Wilson Tanique Williams DaShawn Wilson Guest Writers/ Frankleen Contributors Dey Armbrister Purple Lex Octavia Anderson Gabrielle Segal Lori Moran Kimberly Rivas-Adames Jaquaya Grant Jasmine Celeste Cepeda Justin Gilizine Alumni Contributors Regina Rivers Carmen Mojica
Copies of the Fahari-Libertad can be found in the SUB, the The Fahari-Libertad is currently seeking staff MLK Center, the Black Studies Dept., The Lecture Center, and the Fahari Office (SUB 323), along with various writers, copy editors and photo editors. A residence halls.
major/minor in Journalism/English is NOT a requirement. Please inquire via email at faharilibertad@gmail.com.
Josette Ramnani, Staff Writer 48 Fahari
DaShawn Wilson, Public Relations
Nicole Rivera, Layout Editor
Special thanks to the Dept. of Black Studies and all of our brothers and sister who submitted articles, cartoons and poetry for showing the needed to publish this magazine.
The Next Issue, “Sell
Yourself� will revolve
around the idea that we place our worth on the possessions that we have. We will tackle the issues of individuality (or the lack of it), consumerism, materialism, style/fashion, stereotypes and how all these themes tie together in relation to who we really are. The deadline is April 2nd. Libertad 1
FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S DESK
Meet The Family
FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Hello Beautiful People,
We all have our vices – things we consider to be wrong or poisonous for us. Maybe you didn’t really need to eat that third slice of pie, or look at your neighbor and wish you had what they had. Perhaps you shouldn’t have cursed out your friend, or slept all day instead of going to class. But are these really sins that we are indulging in, or are we just being human? Do we just have moments of weakness and give in to what our emotions are begging of us? Or is this really all about control?
Shatera Gurganious, Editor-In-Chief
Brittany Askew, Vice-President
We all have our moments where we must make a choice to indulge or abstain from our poisons. Why is it that these supposed “poisons” feel so damn good though? Life wouldn’t be what it is without these indulgences. So should we just abandon them altogether? Or maybe it’s really all just about finding the balance.
Peace & Blessings, Shatera Gurganious President & Editor in Chief, Fahari-Libertad Euclyn Williams, Layout Editor
Kamoy Joseph, Secretary 2 Fahari
Judea Costes, Cover Design
Jada Young, Historian
Lamar Mack, Cover Design Libertad 47
FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT’S DESK Hey Guys, I’m Brittany and I recently became Vice President of the FahariLibertad Magazine. This is my Junior year and I have been part of Fahari for about a year now. I love being a part of Fahari especially since we are one big happy family. One of my favorite things about Fahari is that the magazine serves as a way to express yourself in a non-judgmental way. You are basically allowed to write about anything, no matter what the topic of the issue is.
Our theme for this issue is the Seven Deadly Sins. Honestly, we all have sinned. Eve was the first person to sin when she ate the poisonous apple from the Garden of Eden. She was the one that created this whole idea of sin. That’s why for this issue we included Eve as part of the seven deadly sins.
Sin is especially relevant on a college campus. The “freshman 15” would be considered as the sin of gluttony. Once students come to college they tend to over-indulge in all of the food that is available to them. Lust also plays a major role on a college campus. Most people in college have the desire to have massive amounts of sex with anyone and everyone. It is very rare to see relationships that last on a college campus.
This issue gives everyone a chance to talk about the sins they have committed or talk about the sins they have seen. Anyone can write about the topics in this issue and it is a very important issue that needs to be addressed. I look forward to working with Fahari the rest of the time I have here at New Paltz. See you next issue.
Brittany S. Askew Vice President, Fahari- Libertad
Makeba Hall-Wilson 46 Fahari
Libertad 3
Pick Your Poison
True Reality By Justin Gilizene
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 7 8 10 11 13 14 16 17 18 21 22
The 7 Deadly Sins Lust: The New Pursuit of Happiness Persistence & Achievement Thou Shalt NOT Be Slothful [in your educational pursuits] … The Devil Never Sleeps Sapiosexual Me It's Official: Gay Is the New Black Are Black Folks REALLY a Minority? Spongebob and the Seven Deadly Sins I Am Not Dead R.E.A.L New Beginnings
Celebrities make believe entities, role models & Idols, They all fucking recycle, the impression that corrupts our comprehension, The devils in disguise, not to my surprise, Will do whatever it takes to make you live through his eyes, Give you everything your heart & mind desire, Filling your soul with sin, causing your spirit to retire, Who's to hire? You then interview Jesus, shows up with just a white robe, You couldn't believe it, then the devil walks in with all the fly clothes, Gucci & the Louie, ya mind goes who's he? :), You’re HIRED, Jesus you’re FIRED, sorry for the stipulation I'm just under the manipulation!
Poetry 26 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 33 33 36 37 37 38 40 40 41 43 44 45 45 4 Fahari
Fallen Too Deep, Too Soon Release Me… Primary Vision Lust Untitled Sonnet to Artist Slighted Constant Cravings Decadence Decisions Autumn My Precious Tribulation Soneto Dos Looking Through The Fence Post My Vices Prose Poem Lust Good vs. Evil ANGER How Is It? True Reality Reality Part 2
Reality Part 2 By Justin Gilizene We eating and still hungry, wonder why the world's starving, No food in kids tummy, they ask God why me? I honestly done nuttin, Somewhere you’re unaware the devils there smirking, Grinning with his lil minions, winning of the strength We forget to ask God for our forgiveness, We’re mice in the mazes; the devil is the one who's experimenting, Always persistent finding new ways to control our mind & our very existence.
Libertad 45
How Is It? By Nicole Janine
How is it you can sit in that chair and stare at the dancing figure in the screen and come to bed cuddling up on me? How can you ever say you want to bury your head in her fake 33Double D‟s and then titty fuck the shit out of these 36 C‟s? How the hell is it you have the nerve to stare at the round ass that pass by you everyday and grab all up on my pancakes?
You say you love me and wouldn’t change a thing, But every time I catch you looking at her my heart sinks My mind starts to think, and my feelings change. Not about me of course because you see I love the cicos that come over when I sit And my flat ass, I love how it doesn‟t say hello when I walk by but gives a little wave. Best of all I love that fact that you are admiring the fake shit And coming home to this real chick! Your admiration for beauty never bothers me as long as you know that the women you adore will never be me. The woman you have in your arms is a curvaceous woman who picks you up when you‟re down Feeds you Monday through Friday three meals a day or at least tries to The woman you kiss when you come home is all real and with a brain
Pick Your
POISON
Never pumps her head with that fake artificial shit the media puts out there to put her down and make her feel worth less This woman you say you love and wouldn‟t change for the world is starting to feel like you should get your eyes off the Barbie on the screen and turn around and look at the real woman who can give you everything you need. Admire her flaws and her misgivings as she does yours because trust me you ain‟t no David Beckman baby! So have your fun fantasizing about the perfect image girl, just know that it never be a reality.
44 Fahari
Libertad 5
ANGER
By Brittany Askew
So what are the seven deadly sins? The seven sins include Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. The sin of lust is “the excessive thought of sexual desires.” The sin of gluttony “is the desire to over-indulge more than what you need.” People typically think of food when they hear gluttony but people can over-indulge in anything. The sin of greed is “the desire for material wealth or material objects.” The sin of sloth is “the desire to avoid doing anything that requires energy or work to do.” This sin is typically viewed as laziness and being “good for nothing”. The sin of wrath is “having uncontrollable feelings of hatred and anger.” The sin of envy is “the desire for other things that people have.” This may even include the person’s traits, status or abilities. The sin of pride is “the excessive belief in one’s own abilities.” And then there is Eve. Eve comes into play because she is the one that started this whole notion of sin. If she didn’t eat the rotten apple from the tree in the Garden of Eden sin would not exist.
The sensation of an internal force that runs deep within, like the mantle beneath the earth. Just like the lava from a volcano, it abruptly seeps out. No one is omitted from having this emotion, but some are wise to diffuse it, and not allow it to transform into its own being. Ever heard of the “blackout” during a time of fury? Well these people have allowed their anger to have an entity that takes over at every moment Reason surrenders. It’s like two different people occupying the same body, with full awareness of either’s existence. Anger can open up many channels of destruction and think of it as a job well done. Anger always wins in dual existence, so the way to win is to not let it have a home in your life. By Octavia D.Anderson Psychology Major University at Albany
Source: http://deadlysins.com 6 Fahari
Libertad 43
Whenever I hear a love song, your face pops into my head. Your cool smile, deep dark eyes, button nose, Small ears, round-headed face pops into my head. I see your soul and all your beautiful features. Every time I watch Sex and the City, And I see the episode where Big tells Carie he loves her, You slam into me; and memories of you start to flood in. Memories of your simple kisses and passion you had when we argued. The jokes and innocent laughs we shared; The special way you held me and the sick ways use to hurt me. And no matter what, whenever I walk past a basketball court, Every first day of spring, my heart literally stops, My breathing becomes slightly heavier and my eyes are no longer dry. You take over me and I feel it all over again. The feeling of first falling in love with you And the brutal little crack of my heart first breaking. The tension between us when we did not speak to each other; And the sparks that flew between us when you lightly brushed past me. The butterflies in my stomach when you use to touch And the knife you left when you stabbed me in my back. My love for you and the lack of it from you; The pain, the love, the hunger, the fulfillments, the relationship, me, you, us! Everything comes crashing down on me all at once. You took over my whole life, my mind, body and spirit Worst of all you took over my heart. Crept in and over stayed your welcome and left me with, frankly a fucking mess. Sometimes I crave for you and sometimes my stomach just turns just from the thought of you. You simply took over me and kept in your traps, until I finally broke free. No longer will I be part of this sinful love. Filled with nothing but hopeless promises 42 Fahari
Lust: The New Pursuit of Happiness By Dey Armbrister
It’s You By Nicole Janine
“Nowadays, it’s easier to find sex than it Because lust has taken over our is to find love.” psyche, so many genuine hearts are broken because people tend to blur the -Unknown lines between lust and love. Lack of communication is a big contributor to the mixed signals given on a daily Being an avid Twitter user, I come basis. Very rarely do we sit down with across many followers who tweet a someone and tell that person from the multitude of thoughts, opinions, and get-go, “listen, at this point in my shared thoughts from others. One day, I life I strictly want a sexual came across a tweet that spoke volumes. relationship” or “I’m looking for a Although I cannot remember it verbatim, potential life partner.” Open your the person who tweeted it said something mouths before you open your legs or your along the lines of “nowadays, it’s heart! easier to find sex than it is to find Now personally, I advocate for love.” sex; it’s beautiful and I enjoy having When I read this, it really it as much as the next person (if not a clicked. It’s definitely easier to sleep little more than the next person to be with someone than it is to get into a honest), so I’m not here to tell anyone relationship these days. Somewhere along to be celibate or dry in the pants. I the line, our priorities began to lean also advocate “doing you,” meaning if more towards the hunt for the biggest you’re single and you’re at a point in genitalia, the most provocative specimen you’re life where you’re not ready to of a man or woman, and that someone to commit, then who’s stopping you from fulfill a temporary need. Let’s be fulfilling your sexual needs? Do you, honest: sex just about outweighs love in boo! On the other hand, I’ve also the realm of happiness. The “no strings experienced what it is to love and be attached” life is more appealing to loved. What I will say is when it comes those who view independence as their to love and finding that special main priority, as well as enjoying the someone, let’s not make sex the only fruits of pure, unadulterated sex. Seems thing that we look for in a significant like a win-win situation for everyone, other. Instead, sex should be that yes? bonus a person wins with the person that can be considered a trustworthy, However, it’s not that simple. In intellectual, humorous, and loyal essence, because we’re selfishly looking partner. for the next opportunity to “get off,” we hurt those who are actually looking To sum everything up, just be for that special someone to kick it with aware of the happiness that you’re not only sexually, but also emotionally. trying to seek, as well as the happiness Many men and women strictly look for that others are trying to seek. Many sexual escapades, and the ones in search hearts can be saved if lust is not at for romance get caught in the crossfire the forefront of our decision-making, and burned; expecting a relationship and we have a clear understanding of with someone whose intention is to hit what’s going down. it and quit it.
Libertad 7
& Achievement By Tanique Williams
Persistence
life fulfilling goal is one day being able to
--This is a piece I wrote for an assignment back in the summer of 2009. I just thought I’d share it. Being that it was written so long ago, I had to tweak it a bit. I hope it encourages and lifts the spirits of those who read it. Life is unpredictable, but that does not mean we shouldn’t prepare for the future. It simply means that we should plan well. We should be ready for everything the world has in store for us, but most importantly, we should understand there are certain things in life we have no control over. Understanding this concept does not mean that we should just accept things the way they are either; it is just simply a fact of life that we should all be well aware of. Those who plan for the future have realized that life has no real meaning until you have discovered your reason for living. Every plan that you make to invest in your future contributes to the accomplishment of a goal, and every goal in life has to have an ultimate goal, which defines the reasons for each goal you set. Like for example, someone who has come from a generation that has known nothing but poverty, may have dreams of one day becoming rich and being able to support their family. The goal here is to one day become rich, but the ultimate 8 Fahari
ensure a better future for your family. Life is a quest that gives us the opportunity to stand for something and add meaning to the reasons why we live. I once heard this saying from a friend that, “life is not about finding yourself but about creating yourself.” When a person is in the process of creating themselves, they are not concerned with who they are portrayed to be by society, but are determined to create the person they wish to become. These people invest in themselves by finding ways to step over every let down, set back, or discouragement thrown their way in order to find their own happiness. One harsh reality about life is that not everyone is given a fair
The Girls, The Weed By: Purp LEX I don’t know why I do the things I do, I just be like, “fuck it” and I deal with the consequences. And after it’s all said and done, I'm always like, “u kno That's life”... take a shot to that The Funny shit about it/ I don't even smoke/ but shorty bad make a nigga wana take a tote/ smoke smoke/ inhale life/ exhale the things that matter the most/ that is if you care enough/ life to short/ hit the bitch raw/ now she taking me to court / escalation/ all I wanted was penetration/ but 9months down I knew what I would be facing/ that's just life to the fullest man/ reality hit me/ like going thru puberty man/ shit/ ain’t life a female dog/it’s like I keep hearin somebody say sick em/ shit is bugged out/ they pull the rug out/ rite from under my earth/ I keep slippin/ like Earl Simmons/ and since birth mom dukes/ been trippin/ I never abided by the laws laid down/ All I ever did was break em/ she cryin while I'm face down/ metal pointed to my head/ 1-time yellin Stay down stay down/ and at times I jus wana end my shit/ sounds a bit blunt/ never smoked it to the end always ended up clippin it/ mind trippin shit/ stumblin over my thoughts/ just to ease the pain/ tell a fast girl/ to wrap her lips around my main vein/ and tell her leave me be/ she don't understand/ and I won't let her/ I get mad/ she likes that tone better/ that shit never made sense to me/ I guess she sees the good in me/ I never found that place anyway/ so I meditate/ hoping that I could find it someday/ this can't be life/ there has to be a better way/ but that shit never occurred to me/ I like the simple shit/ you know meet a bitch/ get the liqs/ take her home and get my fix/ it’s just the way it is/ and the way I live life on a everyday basis.
chance at it, but even those people have a chance of surviving it. It all depends on your determination to survive. Surviving life is not about escaping death, but about making it through every obstacle that life has promised you, and making it through with a different but stronger perspective on how you view your life. I thank God, as well as my mother, for the mentality I have. I consider myself to be a humble person because I understand life for what it is and have always tried my best to
Girl: What's wrong? Me: I don’t know Girl: Are you feeling okay? Me: What did you give me, I'm fucked up Girl: But ain’t that what you say.....That's life
Good vs. Evil By Justin Gilizene
The devil is good at what he does, but Jesus is better the devil promises death but Jesus promises you to live forever the devil gives riches in frame but Jesus gives the whole world to glorify in his name the devil give you all the money, the devil give you all the honeys, but at the end of all that, you still saying he don't love me, but Jesus gives you many reasons, to repent from all the devils diseases, gives you love & everything you ever needed Libertad 41
handle every situation in my life with
persistent. Persistence takes courage as well as
consciousness, never doubting the possibility
faith. A person who is persistent has no doubt in
that things could go wrong at any moment.
their mind that they will succeed and are willing
Some people think of humbleness as a
to hear a thousand “NO’s” until they finally hear
character trait, but I view it as a way of living
that one “YES.” You must be open to failure in
because there are things in life that keep or
order to find success; besides, how many wrong
make us humble. Like for example, a man who
answers does it take to find the right one? There
has lived as a slave for the majority of his life
is no specific answer to this question, but
may find freedom more precious than a person
people who are persistent are willing to do what
who has known freedom their entire life. A man
it takes to find one. They strive for greatness
is humbled by the life he lives. Just as freedom
despite their disadvantages. These people have
The deepest thought of inner love. The
can be considered a state of mind, so can
a specific version in mind and are determined to
sky will no longer be the limit as we lay
persistence.
see that dream become a reality.
Prose Poem
When I feel curious I feel like exploring
Roger Whitson
my body, with your body…every inch,
Throw a one-two punch and finish with a left jab or left hook. Shorten your punches and bring them back in a straight line. Stay on your toes and move away from blows. Last thirty seconds of a round. Go all out and punch, punch, punch, let your opponent eat your lunch and you become the Marvin Hart of art.
every touch will be warm. I wanna feel the touch of your soul healing my broken heart. I want your words to be the medicine to the suffering I have overcome. My far away dreams will become reality if I let you inside of me.
on the clouds, satisfied by each other’s
Where I am from, people tend to look at reality
moans. I scream, as I overly feel the
as some inescapable and unforgiving way of living, and believe that they have no opinions
intensity of your fingers inside of my
but the negative ones they are presented with.
thighs. Sugar has to always be this
Life may be unforgiving but we cannot base the
sweet. This loving must be against the
fate of our futures on that and dwell on the
law, because nothing on earth this
Lust
By Lori Moran
negative things. Life is full of discouragement, and some of the time it will be you doubting
amazing is free. free. free. Is what I feel
yourself. There will be people who are going to
when I’m blessed with your presence. I
tell you that you aren’t good enough or don’t
don't even care that I am not your only
have what it takes to succeed but it’s up to you to know your worth. You know what you
lover. As long as for that moment in time
deserve because you know yourself better than
your all mine, and our souls intertwine. I'm addicted to your sweat, your sense
Courtesy of sodahead.com
pray that they never end. Speechless. 40 Fahari
persistent, why shouldn’t I be? With persistence I shall find a direct road map to achievement.
has become a drug. And I'm allergic to any rehab. Can we share orgasms as we
anyone else. The way I see is that if evil is
On the road to success there are many bumps and turns as your life progresses, but I believe that success is undeniable to those who are Libertad 9
Thou Shalt NOT Be Slothful
[in your educational pursuits] …
To paraphrase Malcolm X, education is the passport to the future. Without education, you will not be getting anywhere in the world. I don’t necessarily mean, academic, degree-laden education, but we all need to have some type of educational background to be able to do what we want in the world. The sad thing is, educational opportunity is not guaranteed to everyone on the planet. We have at least 1 billion people on the planet who live in harshly
my flavor and you're official" --IThat's don’t more know what your religious views are, but I do believe in evil"facebook and negative energies. As we can see, this world liveshow in tends to beugly filled with hatred and Insignificant evils of all kind. And if you ask me, there’s a grand Why hateweand you’re problems, yeah, I know deception thatcan society succeeded culture. People are fooled into believing that When you just has blindly followwith, me through popular But my feelings aren't that simple their souls have no value, and as a result, live empty lives chasing wealth and material possessions. They And how can my hims resist My envy turned to anger think that these things will make their lives full, when it’s the nurturing of the soul that brings true When I carry sofor carefree anger to contempt, boiling lives to wrath happiness. This myself is evident example, by the wars that take place and the innocent that are taken as the T condition of the misguided youth This intensity is building in meto lack a Done result,up thetocurrent , as well as mankind’s tendency compassion. Not to say thatfor lifeany is allman bad, or that people are alleven bad, because is still verypaths beautiful and The perfect arm candy I don't want tolife cross their precious, and there are still some very wonderful souls here. Drop dead gorgeous lady in the day, freak at
Taste...well...catch me if you can
But... There's someone else... Now I have to deal with this b#%ch named
Now, allow me to preach. If you are reading this, you are most likely a
envy
student, or in some way connected to SUNY New Paltz. Therefore you have a
See, me and her have always had problems
connection to an institution of education. Don’t
But now she is just f$%king with me
waste that connection. Take
Bad girl gone worse
And sadly I'm not giving a f@#k
impoverished conditions and therefore have no access to anything to uplift them educationally.
Disrespect and shameful
This piece was written back in 2009 for an assignment.The I just hope to spread some encouragement by night expletives are adding up sharing this. I tweaked it just a bit.
Wait, no, I am Because I want to hurt you Like you unknowingly hurt me Too many vengeful options, what to do?
Or is it even worth it....
your writing seriously. Don’t wait until the last minute to get work done. Be
So you're just going to flaunt him?
Back to square one
diligent, be consistent, be
Think I'll just be okay?
T-Shirt, panties and my wine
studious. You owe it to more than
A confrontation is going to happen
Teyana in the background
just yourselves, you owe it to
Just give me the time and day
Just trying to clear my mind
"Mean Girls" was my life
Haven't moved in a few days
and "friend" is not an option
Imprints left in the bed
Get on my level and then we'll talk
The sloth in me has taken over
You got nothing on me--C'mon son
As the story runs in my head
So what does he see in you
The cycle continues
That I'm suddenly lacking
The story is never finished
F%^k you and him
Yet my vices keep me moving
He wasn't even packing
My sins...gotta live with them
your families, you owe it to your people, your family. That is all.
By Jada Young
Courtesy of sodahead.com
...She is a little prettier than me though... What's yours? So now it's months later
10 Fahari
Libertad 39
My Vices by Anonymous Relations, that which causes me confusion
Too many needs need to be met
What else could it be
and this is my favorite carnal sin
The bane of my existence
touch me, tease me, please me
Yet...it continually excites me
spank, feed, do all these things to me
These are my vices, my secrets, my sins
Our bodies were meant for this connection
But I don't want to be saved
We slide together so perfectly
Why ask for forgiveness
Dark, strong and long
When this is the path I've paved
Every inch of our bodies should be explored
So I shall revel in my joy
Screams, sweat and cries, the night never
In my pleasures and my misery
ends
This never ending cycle
But therein lies the problem...
Continually adding to my story I'm addicted to him...hims It's raining men....
A glutton for that climactic release
No longer just a line in a song
So many ways to get my fix
But with age comes attraction
And every option is available to feast
And that attraction is never wrong
How much do I indulge?
Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo
Well that depends on my appetite
Which do I pick?
When do I stop? Never, why should I?
Do I have to pick at all?
Too much to suck...to taste...to bite…
And what will others think of me As these many men satisfy my needs? Choosing is overrated And monogamy isn't for the young This greed is what excites me But my corruption has just begun...
I lust for him.... Or should I say hims 38 Fahari
Now... How do I keep you? Self-love and pride aren't the terms
--I don’t know what your religious views are, but I do believe in evil and negative energies. As we can see, this world we live in tends to be filled with hatred and evils of all kind. And if you ask me, there’s a grand deception that society has succeeded with, through popular culture. People are fooled into believing that their souls have no value, and as a result, live empty lives chasing wealth and material possessions. They think that these things will make their lives full, when it’s the nurturing of the soul that brings true happiness. This is evident for example, by the wars that take place and the innocent lives that are taken as a result, the current condition of the misguided youth , as well as mankind’s tendency to lack compassion. Not to say that life is all bad, or that people are all bad, because life is still very beautiful and precious, and there are still some very wonderful souls here. This piece was written back in 2009 for an assignment. I just hope to spread some encouragement by sharing this. I tweaked it just a bit.
The Devil Never Sleeps Tanique Williams
I have heard this many times. Whenever I would feel down, discouraged, or have found myself in negative situations, my mother would tell me to try my best to maintain because, “the devil never sleeps,” or as my grandmother would say whenever my sister and I would fight each other, “the devil is a lie.” This means that no matter what, there will always be distractions around you, including those you consider to be friends. There will be people who look at you and judge you because you stand for things they do not understand. Because of this, they will try to stand in your way of achievement. These people have not yet found who they are and as a result will try everything in their power to ensure that you don’t either. It is important that you don’t give into these dream dividers because you will only be giving them the power they need to be your main focus. You will be allowing yourself to be distracted.
Vanity, you can say For I am the object that any man will yearn Average was never in the equation Magnificent, extraordinary
One thing I have learned in life is that people are distractions even when they don’t mean to be ( I know it may sound a little harsh, but I don’t mean to). There were times in my life when I felt the need to be there for people
Continued on Page 12 Libertad 11
Continued from Page 11 I cared about during times when I should have taken care of myself first. I knew my help was needed and being the loving and caring person I am, I made sure I was there to support my loved ones in their time of need. I didn’t realize at first how much this was affecting me until the times came where I found myself in situations that no one but myself could help me with. From that moment on I realized that in life the only person you can truly depend on is yourself. We also have that little devil inside, that is our worst critic. I know this person firsthand because I see her more than I should. Deep down inside I know I have a very powerful mind, but in society, those aren’t the people who get recognized. (Well some do, there are obviously people with strong minds that
have impacted the world). It’s the shallow minded people who love clothes, money, cars and popularity that get recognized and for that reason I tend to lose sight of being grateful for who I am. Most people spend their entire life trying to be accepted by society and as a result lose themselves. Not to say that we all don’t want to be loved or accepted, or that material things aren’t enjoyable, but perishable items should not come before your being, or you will perish right along with them. Out of all of the things in this world, our souls are what truly belong to us (and God) because it’s who we are. To sum things up, we should expect that things won’t always be perfect, and that we’ll have days where we may feel discouraged, because “the devil never sleeps” and is always at work. But this should motivate us to stay strong.
Soneto Dos I washed dishes but refused work as a waiter. I picked apples, mixed mortar, & poured concrete. I was jilted by success to marry defeat. I've had more ups & downs than an elevator. I have worked all day on an empty stomach. I have spent restless nights dreaming of a meal and could taste the food as the dream seemed real. I have worked with a sledge hammer, shovel & pick. But now I'm stricken with sciatica which hurts my right buttock, leg & foot like a sonofabitch. Still I must go to my job doing my best to ignore the painful throb of the sciatica for I must pay my bills and keep my oxycodone pills refilled. By Roger Whitson
Looking Through The Fence Post By Euclyn Williams A colossal change, Interpretation yet strange. The urge to see what's on the other side. So I sit back and I think. I draft up my causes and my emblems. Apparent that the other side has suffering as well. The lesser of two evils is one that I can't stay in too long. I must face my fear. If not now, then when I least expect it. And by then it will tear me apart. It's a sign of a victory when you can visualize your own demise. You own captivity no longer necessary to keep you hostage
Courtesy of brandonthomas.com It's all in your mind and that's apparent in itself. Emancipation. Rebel. But no. Those are just words, not even to change one down soul. 12 Fahari
Libertad 37
My Precious Tribulation By Reggy Rivers, Alumna Contributor I felt like I needed the closure. So I began writing this message about the good things you brought to my life. Your laughs. Jokes. Fruity body sprays. Cheesy bread. Yet the more I try to focus on the good in you, the more negativity I would feed from you. You put so much effort into learning about people that I evolved into a primordial lethargic within your pile of drama. You even claimed the right to verbally assault me at one point. Why bother to call me and ask me what happened if you don’t want to hear the answer? Asking you to calm down is not me trying to control your life. How is it that you can curse me horrid with your mouth yet I have to watch mine? The pieces of the puzzle begin to form after analyzing your behavior. Now I’m no Oprah, Dr. Phil or Dr. Joyce Brothers, but your adolescent post-natal struggles are enough to make us stumble on the road to adulthood. I remember when you bought me some cute things. I thanked you and was determined to oblige a favor (and I did). Something you didn’t ask me to do, but that’s just what good people do. That’s just what best friends do. Best friends are good friends and good friends are close friends; they’re not there for convenience. I refuse to let you use me, so that makes me a bad friend? You constantly interrupt me in mid-sentence and then proclaim, “you don’t know how to listen?!” You are my precious tribulation. Words can’t express the gratitude I have for you. From you I have learned that I can no longer trust you the way I used to. Maybe I’m the ignorant one thinking I could, because I felt so vulnerable to be around someone so loveable (supposedly). And I thought I could keep this intimacy with you. Yet you keep on with your detrimental navigating and facetious agitating. Time and time again, you have proven to be my most precious tribulation, my meekest aggravation.
S
apiosexual Me By Jada Young
(n.) A behavior of becoming attracted to or aroused by intelligence and its use. I am a self-proclaimed sapiosexual. I find intelligence in its many forms to be sexually attractive. With that said, I’m not much of a fan of the built, Adonisbodied stud. Yes, I do find that sort of man/body type to be sexually appealing, but what I find most desirable is the mind. Someone who can have a deep and intellectual conversation is someone who I drool (literally and figuratively) over. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find a man with these qualities? Well, it is. In some ways at least. The kind of man I find attractive is the well-read, opinionated, deeply critical man. The man who has a bank of knowledge and uses it to effect people in a meaningful way. This man would not simply be a vessel of knowledge for the sake of being intelligent. My intelligent man is also a man who takes a stand for what he believes in. He will use his knowledge and intelligence effectively. Ah. That’s the man of my dreams. That’s the man I will marry.
(My quintessential man, intelligent, powerful, socially and politically active)
How could you don yourself a blessing in disguise when you’ve cursed me more times than my own menstrual cycle & messed up my numbers far worse more than FICO? You are my Precious Tribulation. And I am so glad… that you’re out of my life! 36 Fahari
Libertad 13
It's Official: Gay Is the New Black By: Monique Ruffin, Huffington Post Referred by Mosi Chachawi
My heart is unable and unwilling to be vacant for anyone, So vulgar amenities don’t sit well with me
The civil rights issue of our time is gay marriage, and the key players in our country's most significant civil rights movement are on the wrong side of it. The black church has taken on a new role: oppressor. As a black person born in the late '60s, I missed the actual Civil Rights Movement, but the remnants of oppression and stories of segregation were always fresh on my grandmother's mind. It was her lessons in black history, literature, and Christianity that inspired me to be proud of my heritage. She did her best to teach me the value of diversity, and so I learned to love all people regardless of their race, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. Although my grandmother taught me to love, she was not immune to her community's mores. And so she also -- unconsciously -taught me to deny the humanity of another human. My uncle (one of her five sons) is gay. For his entire childhood and young adult life he was teased and beaten by his brothers for being gay. Our family never spoke aloud about my uncle's homosexuality, and for decades we called his life partner, who was a kind and loving man, his "friend." It was against the rules to openly accept, acknowledge, or appreciate my uncle for all that he really was. This was being a good Christian in my family's eyes, but for me it was telling a lie and an act of oppression. Today, I am still shocked by the response of some of my black Christian friends to the plight of gay people in our nation. "I just don't agree that gay people can compare their struggles to ours," they bemoan. This is followed by the list of injustices blacks have experienced: the middle passage, slavery, 14 Fahari
lynching, rapes, and deaths. "Gay people haven't suffered nearly as much as blacks," they say. "Being black is not a choice," they add. "As if being gay is," I respond. I don't support the comparison. For me, the sufferings of a person or a group of people at the hands of other humans are frightening and heartbreaking. Instinctually, I feel that if any group can be oppressed, then I can be oppressed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made this very point when he said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." This is why I'm always flabbergasted when I see some black Christians fighting against the civil rights of gays. We know firsthand the impact and dehumanization of discrimination. Like many black people, I was raised in the church. I was in church every Wednesday evening and all day Sunday. There was Bible study, Sunday school, and services. I have some great memories of growing up in church. However, when I became a young adult, I began to recognize a conflict in the church's "truth" and reality. Preachers and church members spoke of the sinful nature of homosexuality, but sometimes, the very people leading prayers, preaching, and participating in the choir were obviously gay. Living in Los Angeles, I've sat in some of the biggest megachurches and have been baffled to learn that some of these church leaders -who preach that homosexuality is a sin -- are closeted gay people. After watching a close friend's life come undone because of a scandal around her closeted gay husband, I left Christianity for good. Such hypocrisy in a place promoting spiritual growth was more than I could handle.
I’m sorry I want to be as careless and free just as you wish to be Trust me
I’ve convinced myself now It’s an asset, an advantage, a goodness only a few good men have. A high caliber endurance. It’s a talent. A gift, that doesn’t come easy. And now I’d rather wait, than ever feel as worthless as that day
But I can’t lie and say it doesn’t mean anything to me I can’t. I wish I could. I wish I were more promiscuous I do Just so I could please you Just so I won’t be a bother In this age, where “no” means an uptight bitch I’m not at all.
It’s not an easy request Waiting and all But I'll pretend to have everything in control, until it happens again The after is always uncertain, There are no guarantees that the “you and me” thing won’t expire naturally, But I’ll have warranted my actions in someone worthwhile The before will be a meaningful, deservingly.
I wish I could be easy sometimes
By Jasmine Celeste Cepeda WHAT AM I SAYING! These are the thoughts that I’ve come to contemplate! No. No. No, I’m not sorry. It’s not too much to ask all these things, Libertad 35
Before it All.
Already, I know. It won’t be that
Before all the vulgar amenities, Hold me tight Before the feelings of a useless paramour hit me, Say how much it is, It is that you need me Exactly. Faithfully. Before the deep breaths, that we can't help but take, secure themselves in each other’s arms, Say you love me
Because he didn’t do any of these things before all the vulgar amenities He didn’t hold me tight He didn’t say he needed me He didn’t say he loved me He didn’t ask me if I was ready I WASN’T! Things did change He didn’t feel the same way, after just a few days Y sus ojos no estaban acostumbrados a todas las líneas de mi cuerpo
Say you love me Before everything detonates in the right way Ask me if I’m ready Before things change Promise me they won’t Before you have me Tell me you’ll still feel the same way Y Antes que la pintura haces nuestro amor más suave Quiero que tus ojos se acostumbren a todas las líneas de mi cuerpo And I’m not going to lie, I only call these things vulgar because I’m convincing myself it won’t be what I want it to be, Special. 34 Fahari
So tell me, Even if I’m asking you these things Will it still just be vulgar amenities? Because I’ve been there and done that And what I want is the opposite I want it to be more than just services to each other I want all these things to happen before IT happens I need to know it won’t be as empty as youthful experiences should be
Not all Christians oppose gay marriage because they are struggling with their own sexual orientation. There are also those black Christians who oppose gay marriage because the Bible declares, in their interpretation of it, that homosexuality is a sin. This is their sincere belief and value system. However, the Bible was also key in the justification of enslaving blacks centuries ago. Blacks were believed to be descendants of Canaan's son Ham and, accordingly, were cursed to serve as slaves. We perceive this as outrageous. Is it not equally outrageous to think that God deems another group of people to be less than? Rather than opposing the right of people who love one another to be married, I will suggest that there are those black people who might look into their closets and begin cleaning them out. Our churches might begin making their priority the rising numbers of gay black men who are contracting HIV each year. They might teach church members selfawareness and inner growth as a means of revealing the spirit of Christ within them. When I was a practicing Christian, learning how to embody the loving spirit of Jesus -- who dared not judge but lived a life of love and compassion -- would have served me well. I believed then, and still hold dear, Jesus the Christ's command to love. Above all things, love.
hands of others know too closely what the absence of love creates. They know the isolation, fear, devastation, and self-hatred the lack of love breeds. We don't need gay people to be lynched in order to know that the denial of their rights is damaging to the progress of all peoples. If one person has suffered at the hand of another, we need not measure that suffering to prove its value. In our attempt to distance ourselves from the plight of gay people, we also distance ourselves from our own struggle and take the position of oppressor. Gay is the new black. And some Christian blacks must be willing to look into their hearts and find the seeds of fear that would have them deny the humanity of another in the name of God (just the way it was done to them not that long ago). Let's ask ourselves: do we fear gays or fear being gay? Why must gay leaders in our churches and communities serve clandestinely? Consider what the power of love and acceptance might offer if we are willing to stand courageously with gays as we stood for ourselves decades ago. Our freedom will not truly be granted until we can pass it forward. Gay is the new black, sadly, because many blacks haven't been willing to embrace their own practices, secrets, fear, and shame about homosexuality. Many blacks have not been able to reconcile their real-life experience with their faith, and until they do this, they are oppressed people who are also practicing the oppression of others.
The problem is me The problem is my heart
Love is the driving component. Those who have suffered grave atrocities at the
My personality Libertad 15
Are Black Folks REALLY a Minority?
Decisions
by Jayne Dirt, ClutchMagOnline.com Referred by Jada Young
By Euclyn Williams
I always detested the word minority because of its not so hidden connotation of being minute, as in insignificant. The word is more often than not assigned to classify all individuals who are not of the Anglo persuasion. But is the term misleading? I think so.
It's a cage that I know
Census data is collected every decade and people are urged to classify themselves under any number of arbitrary racial categories, but if we look more closely at the numbers, particularly of those who are of mixed heritage and Latino or Hispanic who come from an African background, the number of African descendant people in this country would be well above the 12.5% recorded in the latest 2010 census data. But what‟s more, the terminology of being categorized as a minority is misleading on a global scale.
It's a cage that I'm used to Its way easier to live under these harsh conditions than to learn how to be free on my own.
I'm breaking out, yet freaking out
The truth is White/Anglo/European people make up less than 5% of the world‟s population, making them the real „minorities‟ on the planet. While there are nearly 1 billion people alone currently living in Africa, there are untold millions of Blacks living throughout the world and within the African Diaspora. Take Brazil for instance, which is the home to more Black people outside of the country of Nigeria. That means there are more Blacks living in this South American country than countries in Africa, thanks to the transatlantic slave trade.
Because I’ve been so used to grinning and bearing it
In fact Brazil is home to an estimated population of nearly 95 million Blacks and mixed race persons of African ancestry. Are you keeping count here? So far I have only counted 1 continent and 1 country and the figures of Black folks who are assumed to be minorities, is at 1.1 billion.
Ironic, huh?
Haiti boast just over 9 million Black people on the tiny island, Cuba nearly 1.5 million, Jamaica is home to 2 million plus African descendants, and Venezuela has an estimated population of 3 million African identified people. So let‟s break this down so that we have a more accurate picture of the total number of Black people in this world, lest we continue to be misled about our so called minority status. According to global census reports there are just over 22 million African descendants living in the Caribbean. More than 110 million residing in South America, close to 45 million who make North America their home, and just over 7 million in Europe. So according to these simple calculations the worldwide population of Black people on the planet, including inhabitants on the continent of Africa and throughout the Diaspora and Europe is (drum roll please)…over 1.4 billion African and African descendant people on this planet. Good Lord that‟s a lot of Black folk! It‟s important that we understand semantics, and how certain terminology is used to dupe us into believing foolishness. And as Jay-Z says, “Men lie, women lie, but numbers don‟t lie.”
16 Fahari
It's 2 in the morning and I can't seem to focus on anything else. I want to escape. Just don't treat me any different when I do.
I want the freedom but I still want the pain.
Autumn By Shatera Gurganious Clouds of condensation form in front of my face with every breath I take I watch with amusement Little droplets of moisture dance around then disappear into the air I wonder if I can get them back just like time lost gone forever I will never get it back
Libertad 33
Decadence Carmen Mojica, Alumna Contributor I was born with an expensive taste in decadence Where so many repress themselves, locking chastity belts with holy scriptures commanding them to be chaste, proper and pure I want to express myself A lush for wine, grape blood dribbles down my chin as I fling goblets into oblivion Wide tooth, deep hearty drunk giggles, I want to be touched in all my dirty places Sin with me Take a drag of my joint on rooftops and tell me the worst things you've ever done and don't feel sorry for Confessing just to brag instead of false apologies for being human Take me Press your body up against mine as we dance in a dark corner I throw my head back so you can find that spot on my neck that drives me wild I'm the type to wear chaps with no underwear and a .8mm barrel having an intimate conversation with your vocal cords No apologies For late nights we drove up and down Manhattan blocks recklessly drunk and wild, laughing, screaming at the top of our lungs, this is what dying looks like before the last heart beat This is what chastity looks like with a pole and a tip cup This is what eating for 3 when it's only one of you...gluttony is delicious Anger boils the things I'm usually too nice to say into scolding hot insults Envy incites motivation to get right...or get robbed Lust has me soaking wet with anticipation Greed tempts me to have it all with no remorse or moderation Let my sloth make me melt into my bed for days on end May my pride in being alive assassinate me; decadence is rich in all things that feel too good to be right 32 Fahari
Spongebob and the Seven Deadly Sins From an unknown member on Tunezone.com Referred by Brittany S. Askew I have been a fan of SpongeBob SquarePants for years and think that the depth of the characters is one of the things that really makes this show work. Ever since I heard Mr. Lawrence say (in an audio commentary on the Season 1 DVD's) that Stephen Hillenburg based the 7 main characters on the 7 Deadly Sins, I couldn't help but be very fascinated. I think I've figured out which character is each one. 1. Sloth: Patrick Sloth is the sin of laziness, or unwillingness to act. Obviously this is Patrick. He lays under a rock all the time and doesn't really do anything. In fact in the episode "Big Pink Loser" he got an award for doing nothing the longest. 2. Wrath: Squidward Wrath involves feelings of hatred and anger. Squidward hates his life, usually hates SpongeBob, and is pretty much angry most of the time. 3. Greed: Mr. Krabs Obviously Mr. Krabs is greedy and desires money. How could Greed not be Krabs? He actually sang about the power of greed in "Selling Out." 4. Envy: Plankton Plankton is envious of Mr. Krabs because The Krusty Krab is a success while The Chum Bucket is a failure. His envy drives him to try to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. Courtesy of sodahead.com 5. Gluttony: Gary I actually think this one is pretty funny. Did you ever notice the running gag in Spongebob where they say "don't forget to feed Gary" or Sponge says "I gotta go feed Gary". Gary even ran away that time when SpongeBob forgot to feed him. Gluttony usually refers to the overindulgence of food so I'm guessing this one fits him pretty well. 6. Pride: Sandy Sandy takes a lot of pride in who she is and where she comes from. She takes pride in the fact that she is from Texas and likes to let everyone know it. She also takes pride in the fact that she is a mammal and a land creature, like in the episode "Pressure" where she tried to prove land critters were better than sea critters. 7. Lust: SpongeBob Ok, I know what you’re thinking. It does seem a little weird and curious at first but I have given it a lot of thought. Lust, in one definition, is "excessive love of others". I think this one works best for Spongebob. He shows his love of others with his over-eagerness to do good and help people. If anything is true about SpongeBob it’s that he loves everyone around him, even if they don't exactly love him back. So this is what I came up with. I don't know what anybody else thinks. Oh, by the way, try not to analyze cartoons too much, especially SpongeBob. I actually think the people on the show try to be inconsistent on purpose. Just to be funny. Libertad 17
I Am Not Dead
Sonnet to Artist Slighted By Critic
By Gabrielle Segal, Second Year History Major
By Roger Whitson
I am not dead, and yet everyday I breathe deadly thoughts. I exist, but am I living? Today I am a sexual being, I lurk the grounds searching for a mate, to conquer with my gaze – to take over and corrupt. My sex is no use? I should control my desires, and feel unlike the human I actually am? Why do you tell me to control myself? I do not see you controlling yourself. Your actions are more harmful then my thoughts and desires. You cannot bear what you are so you force yourself on me. Then I have nothing to do but breed what you have made of me. I must grow within your confined space; within the limitations of your powers. I must deal with your disappointment of your own lame mistakes, which you call accomplishments. Today I desired a feast, but you told me not to. You told me to stay starved; you called me a glutton. But who is the glutton? I do not seek the fuel you draw from foreign, arid lands, ridden with civil war, festering like boiling blisters under the oppression of you. You and those you love. Your meals are bigger then my eyes can feed off. And then you cover me with oil and salt, with sugar and honey, and you tell me not to lick what’s dripping onto my lips. Do you know I will? And I will be forever in your debt, for I broke your sacred rule. Today I took what was not mine. But he did not deserve it; he did not work for it. I worked for it. You call me greedy? Why? That man did nothing for you but cover up your ugly scars with false gold and plastic diamonds. I want what I cannot have, and you show me so clearly all that I do not have. Thank you for imposing my pleasant mind with your manufactured shit. Your junk, the oil, the salt. And put the blame on me, my brothers and my sisters. Today, I could not control myself. My face bubbled with red hate and irrevocable fury as I glared at what I did not have, and I blamed you. I accuse you and you quiver in fear of my power. All the immense pain you have caused me is thrown away when you convince other’s that I am wrong; that they are wrong. You Bitch. Sloth. An animal? Oh I forgot, I do call myself an animal, not by that name. I am not dying of lethargy when I sleep; I am worn thin from what you demand of me. Today I dreamt, and it was so magnificent. The place was the best I had ever seen, with effervescent skies that lit the faces of my diseased desires. Thank you for telling me I should never go there, that I should tirelessly work for you, give you the leisure of sex and food and greed with none of the destructive blame. And I envied. I am oh so sorry for the envy. You are right; I should never want what I cannot have, even though you tell me to see what I will never have. You have set my dreams in a circular motion, perpetuated by all the sins I commit. The sins that you tell me are wrong, and my mind says to just do. I have successfully been repressed.
18 Fahari
Forget about what she says, Forget her name and address, You don't need aggravation Of seeking validation. Throw away your calendar, Dip your brush in lavender And paint on cotton canvas What you recall of Kansas. And everything you've felt, Experienced or beheld. On the balance sheet of work, You're a conscientious clerk. She could never define you. You're damn good at what you do.
Constant Cravings Have you ever wanted someone so bad that it hurts to even think about them? Just the thought of them makes your heart sing. When you come in contact with that person, your whole body malfunctions. You start to stumble over your words, your heart is pounding, and your palms get all sweaty. Every time you look at them you get all flustered and you don’t know how to act. All you can think about is how badly you want them and how great it would be to touch them, kiss them, lick them, and well you know the rest. It’s an intense urge that you cannot control. It’s a constant craving. By DaShawn Wilson
Libertad 31
We Need A Malcolm X Day
At times I don't know what I'm Addicted to more... Knowledge or fashion
By TOURÉ, ideas.time.com | Referred by Josette Ramnani
or could it be the knowledge of fashion...
He was the ultimate public-intellectual-as-freedom fighter, and he deserves to have a federal holiday
My thoughts are constantly crashing
Every Martin Luther King day I swell with pride as we celebrate an extraordinary black American and remember King’s magnanimous ideals. But I also hear a voice in my mind saying, “I wonder if there’ll ever be a holiday celebrating another black American?” Is there just one black American who merits a holiday? The bulk rate one-month-fits-all celebration called Black History Month is great, but there’s something special about having a day and surely there’s one other black person from the long stretch of American history who merits it, who’s made such an extraordinary and lasting contribution that they deserve the American version of canonization. There are several black Americans who it could be argued should have a day — Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and others — but I think we should seriously consider a national holiday celebrating the life of a man who indelibly changed America: Malcolm X.
But fashion .... It can be bought, sold and then replaced... knowledge is something that can't be erased.. Yet they both can be stolen... Or one can simply Loan it...
Untitled Jaquaya Grant
Yet why would you commit such an act so everyone can walk around reciting the same facts or dressing exact not even appreciating the complexity of both addictions... Addictions that bare intensions.. Ones that carry along with them... A gift and a curse Fredrick Douglass admits it, ignorance is bliss... knowledge is power but sometimes happiness I miss... and living in a materialistic world... Being judged by my attire may take some getting used to but shopping in these stores has become so very useful.. Which only feeds my addiction... Retail therapy worked better than those prescriptions 30 Fahari
What ideals would be celebrated on Malcolm X Day, May 19, his birthday? Many. Malcolm’s not a static intellectual figure — his mind journeyed throughout his life, he held firm to his principles but was also strong enough to re-evaluate his beliefs and change when he deemed change is right. He was far from a flipflopper who moved because it was politically expedient — and thankfully not an intellectual mule who refused to change when he uncovered new information and perspectives. Malcolm was intelligent and bold enough to be open-minded. His courage to be a truth seeker is part of what we’d celebrate — his willingness to reconsider his
principles, to be protean, to challenge himself and be willing to grow and thus embody the transformative potential of American life. We would celebrate not just his willingness to journey but also his journey itself, which concludes with militancy being defeated by humanism and with racial hatred being defeated by globalism and multiracial acceptance. Malcolm ended his life rejecting anti-whiteness and nationalism in favor of a bold multiculturalism that was and is still willing to welcome anyone into his international interfaith anti-oppression movement: to judge by creed and not by race. He grew to understand it took all types to make the human family complete and explicitly rejected racial hatred and espoused a universal law of justice. He was a man who challenged the status quo in necessary ways, who was a public intellectual activist and a proponent of voting rights who believed in using the electoral system to achieve meaningful change. And more, Malcolm was someone who saw himself as a global citizen, traveling and taking his critique of America to the rest of the world and treating America like the global citizen it is. This country is special in part because we are composed of people who relatively recently came from somewhere else and Malcolm fully embraced the diasporic nature of Americanness and thought of himself as a member of the world community. All of this would be celebrated on Malcolm X Day. Surely some will not be able to wrap their heads around supporting a Malcolm X federal holiday because they will get stuck on the image of Malcolm as violent. This misunderstands several things.
Continued on Page 20 Libertad 19
Continued from Page 19 King was, at a time, considered dangerous and was hated too and, more importantly, Malcolm merely proposed that oppressed people had a right to armed self-defense — an inherently American principle. King, who preached steadfast nonviolence, represents America as it wishes it were, while Malcolm symbolizes America as it is. Malcolm never equated self-defense with violence for its own sake and he never fomented violence. He was wiretapped and followed inside and outside the United States by the FBI, the CIA and the NYPD for years and years — if he had incited violence, even in a private conversation at home, he would surely have landed in legal trouble. Indeed, the FBI noted its difficultly in neutralizing him because he did not conspire to break laws and lived by a stringent moral code. A New York police officer surveilling him went to his bosses and told them they should be helping Malcolm — such is the righteousness of his positions to someone who truly listened. Malcolm was a man unreservedly committed to the cause of liberating black people by any means necessary and his fierce but loving advocacy helps move the country forward as much as King’s Gandhi-ist movement. We cannot separate Malcolm from his era in that he conveyed the righteous anger of the black masses during his time but linked it to an articulation and a brilliance that was inspiring as well as a geopolitical, economic, spiritual and religious strategy. Malcolm was angry because we were, but instead of sparking riots he incited deep self-pride and linked the civil rights struggle to human rights. His militant advocacy was as stunning as it was 20 Fahari
necessary, to force the issue and imbue millions with the confidence and spirit and strength needed to overcome. He knew power gives up nothing without a demand and inspired millions to not accept victim status and imbued them with the agency to force America to become as democratic as it claimed to be. Malcolm is the true father of Black Power (and its son hip-hop), which deeply inspires all identity freedom movements that follow it. I bet in many minds Malcolm’s “violent” image would make him a less viable candidate for a holiday than, say, Nelson Mandela, who could easily get his own day if only he were American. Interestingly, Malcolm and Mandela are more similar than some may realize: yes, Mandela is an inspiring racial reconciliatory and a drum major for peace in South Africa, but in his pre-prison years he believed in the necessity of armed struggle. Think of Malcolm not as an intellectual thug but as a Mandelaesque figure who advocated righteous and politicalminded self-defense when that was necessary and later grew into peaceful humanists. It is possible to think of American history in terms of pre- and postMalcolm. He’s not just the model of ideal blackness for many in the generations that follow him, but he’s also the model of masculinity for millions of men and the ultimate public intellectual as freedom fighter. That is part of why Malcolm X Day is already celebrated in Washington and Berkeley, Calif., and why streets in Harlem, Brooklyn, Dallas and Lansing, Mich., bear his name and why schools in Newark, N.J., Chicago and Madison, Wis., are named after him. It’s time he had his own day.
Lust Lust is a strong feeling It is essential to my life It is a passion that grabs me every morning and I become the willing slave to that feeling I follow my pulsions I follow my guts I listen to my flesh; it tells me good things It tells me how to get close to people It tells me how to touch them How to caress them and make them feel good And people like feeling good Lust is not a sin It is essential to life It is just an envy to get closer to people, touch them, get intimate with them And make them feel desirable I do not see what is wrong with that Nobody gets hurt For me, lust is love I just like the feeling of skin against skin We all get some pleasure from it, so I will let that pleasure flourish I will let my hands wander where they want to go I will let my lips follow the path my hands traced I will discover what the person wants and give it to him Lust is my prerogative It is just the way I feel I feel like I need to feel people’s skin against mine I feel like I need to give them a message that can only be conveyed with my body This feeling is driving me insane I need to connect with people, feel them, touch them It is just the way I feel I feel like I need to know their body I feel like I will take them to the paroxysm of pleasure I feel like I want to please them with my body It is my best instrument By Frankleen Libertad 29
Primary Vision
Yet if the world would look through different lenses,
R.E.A.L
By Lori Moran
They would see that people with disabilities Just want to level the playing field.
By Kimberly Rivas-Adames
But envy seems to be the name of the game, Blurring truth from reality.
Crippled, debilitated, handicapped and disabled. All of the thought’s words mean the same. Not capable, disadvantaged, unfit and different.
Destroying your pride. Turning it revengeful instead. Negating the truth. The world can be cruel that’s no secret.
The world creates such a skewed view of what that means.
This tainted view makes us want to hide.
Paint us the way they see fit. Like cookie cutter molds.
Preventing us from erasure.
Trying to make it seem like we all have the same needs and desires. They couldn’t be more wrong but the world’s greed blinds us from seeing the truth. Disability just seems to be a word that leaves a bad aftertaste in people’s mouths. They try to scrape it off but no matter how hard they try it doesn’t go away. Accommodation places this idea that the culture of Disability lives in gluttony. That we over indulge in the accommodations that we receive.
Hiding behind our made up turtle shells.
Someone, once said, “The world does not evolve like we need it to.” But we stand up proud fighting against the grain best we know how. We have our pride. We have our strength.
R.E.A.L is an organization that was founded this semester. The purpose of R.E.A.L is to realistically embrace women with curves. The purpose is to educate the community about the problem women face with their body images due to society’s views. It is time to acknowledge that women come in all shapes and sizes. This organization will strive to help women believe in their true potential. With this organization we will help women love their selves and be comfortable in their skin. It’s time to embrace, educate, love, and be free. Our first big project is the "Dove Campaign," which is where we will take pictures in revealing clothes that will be posted in a display box in the Student Union Building. The purpose of this is to show to the campus that curves are beautiful and R.E.A.L. We are also having a program on March 29th with African Women’s Alliance, and Avant-Garde Magazine. Another collaboration we are having is a program called "No Body is Perfect" with The Latin American Student Union on March 14th. With this organization we want to show that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. We are going to work hard to help women believe in their selves and embrace their bodies for what they are.
We have our courage. We have individuality. We have self-respect. We are Northern Stars ready to glow. To set the world on a different axis. Trying to make a difference. We are one, We are a primary vision.
28 Fahari
Libertad 21
New Beginnings By Shatera Gurganious She slowly walked out of her apartment complex and floated down the street with extra confidence. The sun peeked from behind the clouds and she felt as if it was shining specifically for her. Today was the day. Maisha was ready. While walking down the street, all of the guys stared at her. It was something that she became accustomed to at the young age of thirteen. Once puberty hit, walking down the busy streets of Brooklyn became difficult. Now, at the age of 25, as a grown woman, it was even more difficult. With her pecan colored skin, long auburn hair that fell below her shoulders and slender legs that elongated her curvy frame, it was no wonder why she received so much attention from the men on the street. She walked past the check cashing place and two guys stared so hard that she felt the sting from their eyes on her body. "Damn Ma, looking good today." "God Bless you. Mmm mm mmm." "Yo, look at all that pretty hair. You wanna have my baby?" The second one licked his lips and stepped into her personal space. She paid him no mind. "Aight, I see how it is! Stuck up bitch!" She rolled her eyes and kept it moving; this was nothing new. She shrugged it off and let out a little laugh. Nothing was going to ruin her mood today. Maisha crossed the street and walked into "Fresh Cuts," the best barbershop in the neighborhood. As she walked in, all eyes were on her. Other than one mother who was there with her son, Maisha was the only woman. An older, portly, cocoa-colored man approached her and asked what type of service she desired, “Hey Miss Thing, how can I help you?” “I just want a hair cut” “You wanna cut off all that pretty hair of yours?” “Yes.” He stared at her for a second then said, “Take a seat, Jermaine over in the second chair can take you when he’s done.” He shook his bald head and said, “Damn, I just don’t understand these women these days,” and he went back to cutting the little boy’s hair. Maisha shrugged her shoulders and drifted off for a bit… “Do you think it is a boy or a girl?” “As long as it’s healthy, I don’t care” “Come on now; just think about it a little bit. I bet it’s a boy; we can name him Justin, after me.” “Umm, no babe. I refuse to be surrounded by more than one of you,” she said with a laugh. Maisha couldn’t believe that she was carrying life inside of her. After being with Justin for five years and living together for the last two, this pregnancy may have been a surprise, but they took it as a blessing. Justin and Maisha worked together so great, they were looking forward to becoming parents. “Just think, in five more months we will have a little mini version of us. Isn’t that crazy?” 22 Fahari
Release Me... By Shatera Gurganious These tears Where did they come from? I was fine just a moment ago Startled Maybe I didn't realize I can feel too Its ok to feel Wetness When did you appear? I hadn't noticed I was alive Capable of feeling Where are my feelings? Hidden Buried Somewhere obscure Where no one can find them Not even me Courtesy of favouredgirl.blogspot.com Why am I crying? I guess that means I'm here...
The P Sonnet Roger Whitson It's harder to pee than it used to be So I try to avoid public restrooms For if my pee stops it's hard to resume While others are waiting impatiently. It's hardest to try & pee on a bus In those tiny & cramped port-o-potties Amid the filth & the threat of disease Which makes pissing on a bus ominous. But little compares to an outdoors piss In sunlight, or moonlight beneath the stars To just let it fly wherever you are Or by highway beer blind to passing cars. But O the pain of pissing with the clap, You would be wise to avoid this mishap Libertad 27
She sat in the chair and the barber draped the long, black smock over her, closing it in the back of her neck. Jermaine asked, "Are you sure you wanna do this? Women all over would die for this long hair you got." She simply nodded. Nothing else needed to be said. He slowly snipped off the first lock of hair. As it hit the floor, Maisha’s mind wandered off into another place…
Fallen Too Deep, Too Soon He sees right through me. It’s like he’s known me from another life. Into my heart with no warning or notice. I'm hostage to his kisses. I’m intrigued by his stares. If only for one night were I to be his. So intimately we touch So intensely we kiss I have no words but to say I love you Yet it’s too soon Can I call it love? Have I fallen too deep? To unveil how I feel The pinnacle of my existence. To feel so alive wrapped in his arms so sultry Captivated by his intense... Love. There goes that word again. Where do we begin to start to end?
26 Fahari
Its forbidden so we keep it under wraps. Him knowing my inner desires, and me knowing his darkest secrets. All I want there to be is love. Fallen... Yeah, understatement. Warranted though. To be so kindred with someone, But feel so hopeless as how to show it can do that to you. Therefore I stand here with my heart in my hand eager to give it to him, not just in love, but as a peace offering Offering up what should already be there Certainly a cautionary tale. Fallen too soon.
By Mosi-Chachawi
“Maisha, wake up!” “What’s wrong, baby? Why you yelling?”
Courtesy of favouredgirl.blogspot.com “Ok,” she muttered.
She turned over and felt the sogginess under her. Justin turned on the light and Maisha was lying in a pool of blood. He picked up the phone and called for an ambulance as Maisha stared down at the sheets in a daze. Completely in shock, she became unresponsive. She awoke with an IV in her arm and Justin asleep on the small couch at the foot of her bed. Groggy and confused, she called out to him. “Justin, Justin…” “Yes baby? I’m right here.” “What’s going on? What happened?” Trying his hardest not to cry, Justin whimpered, “We lost, uhh, we lost him. We lost the baby.” He went to grab her hand but she pulled away and stared out the window as the sun came up. Confusion filled Justin’s face, he didn’t understand what was going on. He stood there and stared at her for a moment, then took a deep breath and said, “I’m going for a walk. I’ll bring us back some breakfast.”
"How short? Helloooo.....Miss?" "Huh?" "How short do you want me to cut it, Miss?" "Cut it as close as you can, just make sure all of the straight hair is gone." "Ok, no problem." The barber had snipped off all of her hair and pulled out his clippers to get a closer cut. He shaved off the first patch of hair and as it hit the ground, Maisha’s mind took her elsewhere… "I don't like this detached feeling you've been giving me lately. Every time I try to hug you, you practically run away from me. What's up with that?" "I've just been having a difficult time Justin. I thought you understood." "It's been two months since we lost the baby. I know that you're hurting over it. But shit, so am I. That was my son we lost. I'm grieving too, but then again, how would you know since you can't see past your own pain?" "That's not fair! I was carrying our child Continued on Page 24 Libertad 23
Continued from Page 23 inside of me. Don't try to trivialize it!" "I'm not! But damn, look at you. You've been walking around looking a mess. You used to be so beautiful and now you walk around like a shell. No joy, no happiness. Don't let our loss ruin you. We can get past this baby," he said as he stepped towards her with outstretched arms. "I can't. Justin, I just..." “No, it’s not that you can’t. It’s that you won’t.” “Are you trying to say I’m doing this on purpose?” "You know what? I can't do this anymore.” He took a long pause then walked up to her and said, “I'm moving in with my brother. You can have the apartment." "What?" "Obviously this isn't working out. I've been trying to reach out to you and all you do is push me away. I don't need this shit." "Fine. Whatever." "'Fine. Whatever.' That's all you’re gonna say?" Justin pushed past her and went into their bedroom to pack a small bag. Maisha wanted to scream out, "Please don't go! I don't want to be alone." But her pride wouldn't let her. So she watched Justin walk out on her. She didn't even put up a fight. And why should she? She was completely defeated and tired of being tired. Her only option was to give up. She sat in the hallway with her knees up in her chest, staring into space. Justin walked past, staring at her, wishing she would say something. He muttered, "I love you. But I can't love you like this. I'll be back to get the rest of my things in a couple of days." Maisha slowly lifted her head to look at him. He had tears streaming down his face; she had never seen him look so upset. All she could say was a barely audible "ok." He walked out. She curled up into the fetal position, holding her stomach where life once grew. All she could do was cry.
you.”
“So, how do you like it?” Maisha grinned from ear to ear, “I love it. It’s exactly what I envisioned. Thank
He took off her cape and she handed him the money. “You know what, it’s not half bad. But a pretty girl like you can get away with it I guess.” Maisha walked out of the barber shop feeling like a new woman. All of her burdens seemed to lift off of her shoulders, and she felt at ease for the first time in a long time. It had been six months since Justin left and she was grateful for having time to be alone. She got a chance to get to know herself all over again, without the distraction of a man and the constant reminder of her loss. After crossing the street, she passed the check cashing place again, with the same two men standing in front, looking as if they never moved. "Yo ma, what the hell did you do to your hair?" "That shit is looking hideous!" They laughed among themselves and made more jokes once Maisha was out of earshot. She knew this would be the reaction from many. She didn't care. She smiled and walked to the train station to go to work. Nothing could get in her way. 24 Fahari
P
oetry Libertad 25
Continued from Page 23 inside of me. Don't try to trivialize it!" "I'm not! But damn, look at you. You've been walking around looking a mess. You used to be so beautiful and now you walk around like a shell. No joy, no happiness. Don't let our loss ruin you. We can get past this baby," he said as he stepped towards her with outstretched arms. "I can't. Justin, I just..." “No, it’s not that you can’t. It’s that you won’t.” “Are you trying to say I’m doing this on purpose?” "You know what? I can't do this anymore.” He took a long pause then walked up to her and said, “I'm moving in with my brother. You can have the apartment." "What?" "Obviously this isn't working out. I've been trying to reach out to you and all you do is push me away. I don't need this shit." "Fine. Whatever." "'Fine. Whatever.' That's all you’re gonna say?" Justin pushed past her and went into their bedroom to pack a small bag. Maisha wanted to scream out, "Please don't go! I don't want to be alone." But her pride wouldn't let her. So she watched Justin walk out on her. She didn't even put up a fight. And why should she? She was completely defeated and tired of being tired. Her only option was to give up. She sat in the hallway with her knees up in her chest, staring into space. Justin walked past, staring at her, wishing she would say something. He muttered, "I love you. But I can't love you like this. I'll be back to get the rest of my things in a couple of days." Maisha slowly lifted her head to look at him. He had tears streaming down his face; she had never seen him look so upset. All she could say was a barely audible "ok." He walked out. She curled up into the fetal position, holding her stomach where life once grew. All she could do was cry.
you.”
“So, how do you like it?” Maisha grinned from ear to ear, “I love it. It’s exactly what I envisioned. Thank
He took off her cape and she handed him the money. “You know what, it’s not half bad. But a pretty girl like you can get away with it I guess.” Maisha walked out of the barber shop feeling like a new woman. All of her burdens seemed to lift off of her shoulders, and she felt at ease for the first time in a long time. It had been six months since Justin left and she was grateful for having time to be alone. She got a chance to get to know herself all over again, without the distraction of a man and the constant reminder of her loss. After crossing the street, she passed the check cashing place again, with the same two men standing in front, looking as if they never moved. "Yo ma, what the hell did you do to your hair?" "That shit is looking hideous!" They laughed among themselves and made more jokes once Maisha was out of earshot. She knew this would be the reaction from many. She didn't care. She smiled and walked to the train station to go to work. Nothing could get in her way. 24 Fahari
P
oetry Libertad 25
She sat in the chair and the barber draped the long, black smock over her, closing it in the back of her neck. Jermaine asked, "Are you sure you wanna do this? Women all over would die for this long hair you got." She simply nodded. Nothing else needed to be said. He slowly snipped off the first lock of hair. As it hit the floor, Maisha’s mind wandered off into another place…
Fallen Too Deep, Too Soon He sees right through me. It’s like he’s known me from another life. Into my heart with no warning or notice. I'm hostage to his kisses. I’m intrigued by his stares. If only for one night were I to be his. So intimately we touch So intensely we kiss I have no words but to say I love you Yet it’s too soon Can I call it love? Have I fallen too deep? To unveil how I feel The pinnacle of my existence. To feel so alive wrapped in his arms so sultry Captivated by his intense... Love. There goes that word again. Where do we begin to start to end?
26 Fahari
Its forbidden so we keep it under wraps. Him knowing my inner desires, and me knowing his darkest secrets. All I want there to be is love. Fallen... Yeah, understatement. Warranted though. To be so kindred with someone, But feel so hopeless as how to show it can do that to you. Therefore I stand here with my heart in my hand eager to give it to him, not just in love, but as a peace offering Offering up what should already be there Certainly a cautionary tale. Fallen too soon.
By Mosi-Chachawi
“Maisha, wake up!” “What’s wrong, baby? Why you yelling?”
Courtesy of favouredgirl.blogspot.com “Ok,” she muttered.
She turned over and felt the sogginess under her. Justin turned on the light and Maisha was lying in a pool of blood. He picked up the phone and called for an ambulance as Maisha stared down at the sheets in a daze. Completely in shock, she became unresponsive. She awoke with an IV in her arm and Justin asleep on the small couch at the foot of her bed. Groggy and confused, she called out to him. “Justin, Justin…” “Yes baby? I’m right here.” “What’s going on? What happened?” Trying his hardest not to cry, Justin whimpered, “We lost, uhh, we lost him. We lost the baby.” He went to grab her hand but she pulled away and stared out the window as the sun came up. Confusion filled Justin’s face, he didn’t understand what was going on. He stood there and stared at her for a moment, then took a deep breath and said, “I’m going for a walk. I’ll bring us back some breakfast.”
"How short? Helloooo.....Miss?" "Huh?" "How short do you want me to cut it, Miss?" "Cut it as close as you can, just make sure all of the straight hair is gone." "Ok, no problem." The barber had snipped off all of her hair and pulled out his clippers to get a closer cut. He shaved off the first patch of hair and as it hit the ground, Maisha’s mind took her elsewhere… "I don't like this detached feeling you've been giving me lately. Every time I try to hug you, you practically run away from me. What's up with that?" "I've just been having a difficult time Justin. I thought you understood." "It's been two months since we lost the baby. I know that you're hurting over it. But shit, so am I. That was my son we lost. I'm grieving too, but then again, how would you know since you can't see past your own pain?" "That's not fair! I was carrying our child Continued on Page 24 Libertad 23
New Beginnings By Shatera Gurganious She slowly walked out of her apartment complex and floated down the street with extra confidence. The sun peeked from behind the clouds and she felt as if it was shining specifically for her. Today was the day. Maisha was ready. While walking down the street, all of the guys stared at her. It was something that she became accustomed to at the young age of thirteen. Once puberty hit, walking down the busy streets of Brooklyn became difficult. Now, at the age of 25, as a grown woman, it was even more difficult. With her pecan colored skin, long auburn hair that fell below her shoulders and slender legs that elongated her curvy frame, it was no wonder why she received so much attention from the men on the street. She walked past the check cashing place and two guys stared so hard that she felt the sting from their eyes on her body. "Damn Ma, looking good today." "God Bless you. Mmm mm mmm." "Yo, look at all that pretty hair. You wanna have my baby?" The second one licked his lips and stepped into her personal space. She paid him no mind. "Aight, I see how it is! Stuck up bitch!" She rolled her eyes and kept it moving; this was nothing new. She shrugged it off and let out a little laugh. Nothing was going to ruin her mood today. Maisha crossed the street and walked into "Fresh Cuts," the best barbershop in the neighborhood. As she walked in, all eyes were on her. Other than one mother who was there with her son, Maisha was the only woman. An older, portly, cocoa-colored man approached her and asked what type of service she desired, “Hey Miss Thing, how can I help you?” “I just want a hair cut” “You wanna cut off all that pretty hair of yours?” “Yes.” He stared at her for a second then said, “Take a seat, Jermaine over in the second chair can take you when he’s done.” He shook his bald head and said, “Damn, I just don’t understand these women these days,” and he went back to cutting the little boy’s hair. Maisha shrugged her shoulders and drifted off for a bit… “Do you think it is a boy or a girl?” “As long as it’s healthy, I don’t care” “Come on now; just think about it a little bit. I bet it’s a boy; we can name him Justin, after me.” “Umm, no babe. I refuse to be surrounded by more than one of you,” she said with a laugh. Maisha couldn’t believe that she was carrying life inside of her. After being with Justin for five years and living together for the last two, this pregnancy may have been a surprise, but they took it as a blessing. Justin and Maisha worked together so great, they were looking forward to becoming parents. “Just think, in five more months we will have a little mini version of us. Isn’t that crazy?” 22 Fahari
Release Me... By Shatera Gurganious These tears Where did they come from? I was fine just a moment ago Startled Maybe I didn't realize I can feel too Its ok to feel Wetness When did you appear? I hadn't noticed I was alive Capable of feeling Where are my feelings? Hidden Buried Somewhere obscure Where no one can find them Not even me Courtesy of favouredgirl.blogspot.com Why am I crying? I guess that means I'm here...
The P Sonnet Roger Whitson It's harder to pee than it used to be So I try to avoid public restrooms For if my pee stops it's hard to resume While others are waiting impatiently. It's hardest to try & pee on a bus In those tiny & cramped port-o-potties Amid the filth & the threat of disease Which makes pissing on a bus ominous. But little compares to an outdoors piss In sunlight, or moonlight beneath the stars To just let it fly wherever you are Or by highway beer blind to passing cars. But O the pain of pissing with the clap, You would be wise to avoid this mishap Libertad 27
Primary Vision
Yet if the world would look through different lenses,
R.E.A.L
By Lori Moran
They would see that people with disabilities Just want to level the playing field.
By Kimberly Rivas-Adames
But envy seems to be the name of the game, Blurring truth from reality.
Crippled, debilitated, handicapped and disabled. All of the thought’s words mean the same. Not capable, disadvantaged, unfit and different.
Destroying your pride. Turning it revengeful instead. Negating the truth. The world can be cruel that’s no secret.
The world creates such a skewed view of what that means.
This tainted view makes us want to hide.
Paint us the way they see fit. Like cookie cutter molds.
Preventing us from erasure.
Trying to make it seem like we all have the same needs and desires. They couldn’t be more wrong but the world’s greed blinds us from seeing the truth. Disability just seems to be a word that leaves a bad aftertaste in people’s mouths. They try to scrape it off but no matter how hard they try it doesn’t go away. Accommodation places this idea that the culture of Disability lives in gluttony. That we over indulge in the accommodations that we receive.
Hiding behind our made up turtle shells.
Someone, once said, “The world does not evolve like we need it to.” But we stand up proud fighting against the grain best we know how. We have our pride. We have our strength.
R.E.A.L is an organization that was founded this semester. The purpose of R.E.A.L is to realistically embrace women with curves. The purpose is to educate the community about the problem women face with their body images due to society’s views. It is time to acknowledge that women come in all shapes and sizes. This organization will strive to help women believe in their true potential. With this organization we will help women love their selves and be comfortable in their skin. It’s time to embrace, educate, love, and be free. Our first big project is the "Dove Campaign," which is where we will take pictures in revealing clothes that will be posted in a display box in the Student Union Building. The purpose of this is to show to the campus that curves are beautiful and R.E.A.L. We are also having a program on March 29th with African Women’s Alliance, and Avant-Garde Magazine. Another collaboration we are having is a program called "No Body is Perfect" with The Latin American Student Union on March 14th. With this organization we want to show that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. We are going to work hard to help women believe in their selves and embrace their bodies for what they are.
We have our courage. We have individuality. We have self-respect. We are Northern Stars ready to glow. To set the world on a different axis. Trying to make a difference. We are one, We are a primary vision.
28 Fahari
Libertad 21
Continued from Page 19 King was, at a time, considered dangerous and was hated too and, more importantly, Malcolm merely proposed that oppressed people had a right to armed self-defense — an inherently American principle. King, who preached steadfast nonviolence, represents America as it wishes it were, while Malcolm symbolizes America as it is. Malcolm never equated self-defense with violence for its own sake and he never fomented violence. He was wiretapped and followed inside and outside the United States by the FBI, the CIA and the NYPD for years and years — if he had incited violence, even in a private conversation at home, he would surely have landed in legal trouble. Indeed, the FBI noted its difficultly in neutralizing him because he did not conspire to break laws and lived by a stringent moral code. A New York police officer surveilling him went to his bosses and told them they should be helping Malcolm — such is the righteousness of his positions to someone who truly listened. Malcolm was a man unreservedly committed to the cause of liberating black people by any means necessary and his fierce but loving advocacy helps move the country forward as much as King’s Gandhi-ist movement. We cannot separate Malcolm from his era in that he conveyed the righteous anger of the black masses during his time but linked it to an articulation and a brilliance that was inspiring as well as a geopolitical, economic, spiritual and religious strategy. Malcolm was angry because we were, but instead of sparking riots he incited deep self-pride and linked the civil rights struggle to human rights. His militant advocacy was as stunning as it was 20 Fahari
necessary, to force the issue and imbue millions with the confidence and spirit and strength needed to overcome. He knew power gives up nothing without a demand and inspired millions to not accept victim status and imbued them with the agency to force America to become as democratic as it claimed to be. Malcolm is the true father of Black Power (and its son hip-hop), which deeply inspires all identity freedom movements that follow it. I bet in many minds Malcolm’s “violent” image would make him a less viable candidate for a holiday than, say, Nelson Mandela, who could easily get his own day if only he were American. Interestingly, Malcolm and Mandela are more similar than some may realize: yes, Mandela is an inspiring racial reconciliatory and a drum major for peace in South Africa, but in his pre-prison years he believed in the necessity of armed struggle. Think of Malcolm not as an intellectual thug but as a Mandelaesque figure who advocated righteous and politicalminded self-defense when that was necessary and later grew into peaceful humanists. It is possible to think of American history in terms of pre- and postMalcolm. He’s not just the model of ideal blackness for many in the generations that follow him, but he’s also the model of masculinity for millions of men and the ultimate public intellectual as freedom fighter. That is part of why Malcolm X Day is already celebrated in Washington and Berkeley, Calif., and why streets in Harlem, Brooklyn, Dallas and Lansing, Mich., bear his name and why schools in Newark, N.J., Chicago and Madison, Wis., are named after him. It’s time he had his own day.
Lust Lust is a strong feeling It is essential to my life It is a passion that grabs me every morning and I become the willing slave to that feeling I follow my pulsions I follow my guts I listen to my flesh; it tells me good things It tells me how to get close to people It tells me how to touch them How to caress them and make them feel good And people like feeling good Lust is not a sin It is essential to life It is just an envy to get closer to people, touch them, get intimate with them And make them feel desirable I do not see what is wrong with that Nobody gets hurt For me, lust is love I just like the feeling of skin against skin We all get some pleasure from it, so I will let that pleasure flourish I will let my hands wander where they want to go I will let my lips follow the path my hands traced I will discover what the person wants and give it to him Lust is my prerogative It is just the way I feel I feel like I need to feel people’s skin against mine I feel like I need to give them a message that can only be conveyed with my body This feeling is driving me insane I need to connect with people, feel them, touch them It is just the way I feel I feel like I need to know their body I feel like I will take them to the paroxysm of pleasure I feel like I want to please them with my body It is my best instrument By Frankleen Libertad 29
We Need A Malcolm X Day
At times I don't know what I'm Addicted to more... Knowledge or fashion
By TOURÉ, ideas.time.com | Referred by Josette Ramnani
or could it be the knowledge of fashion...
He was the ultimate public-intellectual-as-freedom fighter, and he deserves to have a federal holiday
My thoughts are constantly crashing
Every Martin Luther King day I swell with pride as we celebrate an extraordinary black American and remember King’s magnanimous ideals. But I also hear a voice in my mind saying, “I wonder if there’ll ever be a holiday celebrating another black American?” Is there just one black American who merits a holiday? The bulk rate one-month-fits-all celebration called Black History Month is great, but there’s something special about having a day and surely there’s one other black person from the long stretch of American history who merits it, who’s made such an extraordinary and lasting contribution that they deserve the American version of canonization. There are several black Americans who it could be argued should have a day — Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and others — but I think we should seriously consider a national holiday celebrating the life of a man who indelibly changed America: Malcolm X.
But fashion .... It can be bought, sold and then replaced... knowledge is something that can't be erased.. Yet they both can be stolen... Or one can simply Loan it...
Untitled Jaquaya Grant
Yet why would you commit such an act so everyone can walk around reciting the same facts or dressing exact not even appreciating the complexity of both addictions... Addictions that bare intensions.. Ones that carry along with them... A gift and a curse Fredrick Douglass admits it, ignorance is bliss... knowledge is power but sometimes happiness I miss... and living in a materialistic world... Being judged by my attire may take some getting used to but shopping in these stores has become so very useful.. Which only feeds my addiction... Retail therapy worked better than those prescriptions 30 Fahari
What ideals would be celebrated on Malcolm X Day, May 19, his birthday? Many. Malcolm’s not a static intellectual figure — his mind journeyed throughout his life, he held firm to his principles but was also strong enough to re-evaluate his beliefs and change when he deemed change is right. He was far from a flipflopper who moved because it was politically expedient — and thankfully not an intellectual mule who refused to change when he uncovered new information and perspectives. Malcolm was intelligent and bold enough to be open-minded. His courage to be a truth seeker is part of what we’d celebrate — his willingness to reconsider his
principles, to be protean, to challenge himself and be willing to grow and thus embody the transformative potential of American life. We would celebrate not just his willingness to journey but also his journey itself, which concludes with militancy being defeated by humanism and with racial hatred being defeated by globalism and multiracial acceptance. Malcolm ended his life rejecting anti-whiteness and nationalism in favor of a bold multiculturalism that was and is still willing to welcome anyone into his international interfaith anti-oppression movement: to judge by creed and not by race. He grew to understand it took all types to make the human family complete and explicitly rejected racial hatred and espoused a universal law of justice. He was a man who challenged the status quo in necessary ways, who was a public intellectual activist and a proponent of voting rights who believed in using the electoral system to achieve meaningful change. And more, Malcolm was someone who saw himself as a global citizen, traveling and taking his critique of America to the rest of the world and treating America like the global citizen it is. This country is special in part because we are composed of people who relatively recently came from somewhere else and Malcolm fully embraced the diasporic nature of Americanness and thought of himself as a member of the world community. All of this would be celebrated on Malcolm X Day. Surely some will not be able to wrap their heads around supporting a Malcolm X federal holiday because they will get stuck on the image of Malcolm as violent. This misunderstands several things.
Continued on Page 20 Libertad 19
I Am Not Dead
Sonnet to Artist Slighted By Critic
By Gabrielle Segal, Second Year History Major
By Roger Whitson
I am not dead, and yet everyday I breathe deadly thoughts. I exist, but am I living? Today I am a sexual being, I lurk the grounds searching for a mate, to conquer with my gaze – to take over and corrupt. My sex is no use? I should control my desires, and feel unlike the human I actually am? Why do you tell me to control myself? I do not see you controlling yourself. Your actions are more harmful then my thoughts and desires. You cannot bear what you are so you force yourself on me. Then I have nothing to do but breed what you have made of me. I must grow within your confined space; within the limitations of your powers. I must deal with your disappointment of your own lame mistakes, which you call accomplishments. Today I desired a feast, but you told me not to. You told me to stay starved; you called me a glutton. But who is the glutton? I do not seek the fuel you draw from foreign, arid lands, ridden with civil war, festering like boiling blisters under the oppression of you. You and those you love. Your meals are bigger then my eyes can feed off. And then you cover me with oil and salt, with sugar and honey, and you tell me not to lick what’s dripping onto my lips. Do you know I will? And I will be forever in your debt, for I broke your sacred rule. Today I took what was not mine. But he did not deserve it; he did not work for it. I worked for it. You call me greedy? Why? That man did nothing for you but cover up your ugly scars with false gold and plastic diamonds. I want what I cannot have, and you show me so clearly all that I do not have. Thank you for imposing my pleasant mind with your manufactured shit. Your junk, the oil, the salt. And put the blame on me, my brothers and my sisters. Today, I could not control myself. My face bubbled with red hate and irrevocable fury as I glared at what I did not have, and I blamed you. I accuse you and you quiver in fear of my power. All the immense pain you have caused me is thrown away when you convince other’s that I am wrong; that they are wrong. You Bitch. Sloth. An animal? Oh I forgot, I do call myself an animal, not by that name. I am not dying of lethargy when I sleep; I am worn thin from what you demand of me. Today I dreamt, and it was so magnificent. The place was the best I had ever seen, with effervescent skies that lit the faces of my diseased desires. Thank you for telling me I should never go there, that I should tirelessly work for you, give you the leisure of sex and food and greed with none of the destructive blame. And I envied. I am oh so sorry for the envy. You are right; I should never want what I cannot have, even though you tell me to see what I will never have. You have set my dreams in a circular motion, perpetuated by all the sins I commit. The sins that you tell me are wrong, and my mind says to just do. I have successfully been repressed.
18 Fahari
Forget about what she says, Forget her name and address, You don't need aggravation Of seeking validation. Throw away your calendar, Dip your brush in lavender And paint on cotton canvas What you recall of Kansas. And everything you've felt, Experienced or beheld. On the balance sheet of work, You're a conscientious clerk. She could never define you. You're damn good at what you do.
Constant Cravings Have you ever wanted someone so bad that it hurts to even think about them? Just the thought of them makes your heart sing. When you come in contact with that person, your whole body malfunctions. You start to stumble over your words, your heart is pounding, and your palms get all sweaty. Every time you look at them you get all flustered and you don’t know how to act. All you can think about is how badly you want them and how great it would be to touch them, kiss them, lick them, and well you know the rest. It’s an intense urge that you cannot control. It’s a constant craving. By DaShawn Wilson
Libertad 31
Decadence Carmen Mojica, Alumna Contributor I was born with an expensive taste in decadence Where so many repress themselves, locking chastity belts with holy scriptures commanding them to be chaste, proper and pure I want to express myself A lush for wine, grape blood dribbles down my chin as I fling goblets into oblivion Wide tooth, deep hearty drunk giggles, I want to be touched in all my dirty places Sin with me Take a drag of my joint on rooftops and tell me the worst things you've ever done and don't feel sorry for Confessing just to brag instead of false apologies for being human Take me Press your body up against mine as we dance in a dark corner I throw my head back so you can find that spot on my neck that drives me wild I'm the type to wear chaps with no underwear and a .8mm barrel having an intimate conversation with your vocal cords No apologies For late nights we drove up and down Manhattan blocks recklessly drunk and wild, laughing, screaming at the top of our lungs, this is what dying looks like before the last heart beat This is what chastity looks like with a pole and a tip cup This is what eating for 3 when it's only one of you...gluttony is delicious Anger boils the things I'm usually too nice to say into scolding hot insults Envy incites motivation to get right...or get robbed Lust has me soaking wet with anticipation Greed tempts me to have it all with no remorse or moderation Let my sloth make me melt into my bed for days on end May my pride in being alive assassinate me; decadence is rich in all things that feel too good to be right 32 Fahari
Spongebob and the Seven Deadly Sins From an unknown member on Tunezone.com Referred by Brittany S. Askew I have been a fan of SpongeBob SquarePants for years and think that the depth of the characters is one of the things that really makes this show work. Ever since I heard Mr. Lawrence say (in an audio commentary on the Season 1 DVD's) that Stephen Hillenburg based the 7 main characters on the 7 Deadly Sins, I couldn't help but be very fascinated. I think I've figured out which character is each one. 1. Sloth: Patrick Sloth is the sin of laziness, or unwillingness to act. Obviously this is Patrick. He lays under a rock all the time and doesn't really do anything. In fact in the episode "Big Pink Loser" he got an award for doing nothing the longest. 2. Wrath: Squidward Wrath involves feelings of hatred and anger. Squidward hates his life, usually hates SpongeBob, and is pretty much angry most of the time. 3. Greed: Mr. Krabs Obviously Mr. Krabs is greedy and desires money. How could Greed not be Krabs? He actually sang about the power of greed in "Selling Out." 4. Envy: Plankton Plankton is envious of Mr. Krabs because The Krusty Krab is a success while The Chum Bucket is a failure. His envy drives him to try to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. Courtesy of sodahead.com 5. Gluttony: Gary I actually think this one is pretty funny. Did you ever notice the running gag in Spongebob where they say "don't forget to feed Gary" or Sponge says "I gotta go feed Gary". Gary even ran away that time when SpongeBob forgot to feed him. Gluttony usually refers to the overindulgence of food so I'm guessing this one fits him pretty well. 6. Pride: Sandy Sandy takes a lot of pride in who she is and where she comes from. She takes pride in the fact that she is from Texas and likes to let everyone know it. She also takes pride in the fact that she is a mammal and a land creature, like in the episode "Pressure" where she tried to prove land critters were better than sea critters. 7. Lust: SpongeBob Ok, I know what you’re thinking. It does seem a little weird and curious at first but I have given it a lot of thought. Lust, in one definition, is "excessive love of others". I think this one works best for Spongebob. He shows his love of others with his over-eagerness to do good and help people. If anything is true about SpongeBob it’s that he loves everyone around him, even if they don't exactly love him back. So this is what I came up with. I don't know what anybody else thinks. Oh, by the way, try not to analyze cartoons too much, especially SpongeBob. I actually think the people on the show try to be inconsistent on purpose. Just to be funny. Libertad 17
Are Black Folks REALLY a Minority?
Decisions
by Jayne Dirt, ClutchMagOnline.com Referred by Jada Young
By Euclyn Williams
I always detested the word minority because of its not so hidden connotation of being minute, as in insignificant. The word is more often than not assigned to classify all individuals who are not of the Anglo persuasion. But is the term misleading? I think so.
It's a cage that I know
Census data is collected every decade and people are urged to classify themselves under any number of arbitrary racial categories, but if we look more closely at the numbers, particularly of those who are of mixed heritage and Latino or Hispanic who come from an African background, the number of African descendant people in this country would be well above the 12.5% recorded in the latest 2010 census data. But what‟s more, the terminology of being categorized as a minority is misleading on a global scale.
It's a cage that I'm used to Its way easier to live under these harsh conditions than to learn how to be free on my own.
I'm breaking out, yet freaking out
The truth is White/Anglo/European people make up less than 5% of the world‟s population, making them the real „minorities‟ on the planet. While there are nearly 1 billion people alone currently living in Africa, there are untold millions of Blacks living throughout the world and within the African Diaspora. Take Brazil for instance, which is the home to more Black people outside of the country of Nigeria. That means there are more Blacks living in this South American country than countries in Africa, thanks to the transatlantic slave trade.
Because I’ve been so used to grinning and bearing it
In fact Brazil is home to an estimated population of nearly 95 million Blacks and mixed race persons of African ancestry. Are you keeping count here? So far I have only counted 1 continent and 1 country and the figures of Black folks who are assumed to be minorities, is at 1.1 billion.
Ironic, huh?
Haiti boast just over 9 million Black people on the tiny island, Cuba nearly 1.5 million, Jamaica is home to 2 million plus African descendants, and Venezuela has an estimated population of 3 million African identified people. So let‟s break this down so that we have a more accurate picture of the total number of Black people in this world, lest we continue to be misled about our so called minority status. According to global census reports there are just over 22 million African descendants living in the Caribbean. More than 110 million residing in South America, close to 45 million who make North America their home, and just over 7 million in Europe. So according to these simple calculations the worldwide population of Black people on the planet, including inhabitants on the continent of Africa and throughout the Diaspora and Europe is (drum roll please)…over 1.4 billion African and African descendant people on this planet. Good Lord that‟s a lot of Black folk! It‟s important that we understand semantics, and how certain terminology is used to dupe us into believing foolishness. And as Jay-Z says, “Men lie, women lie, but numbers don‟t lie.”
16 Fahari
It's 2 in the morning and I can't seem to focus on anything else. I want to escape. Just don't treat me any different when I do.
I want the freedom but I still want the pain.
Autumn By Shatera Gurganious Clouds of condensation form in front of my face with every breath I take I watch with amusement Little droplets of moisture dance around then disappear into the air I wonder if I can get them back just like time lost gone forever I will never get it back
Libertad 33
Before it All.
Already, I know. It won’t be that
Before all the vulgar amenities, Hold me tight Before the feelings of a useless paramour hit me, Say how much it is, It is that you need me Exactly. Faithfully. Before the deep breaths, that we can't help but take, secure themselves in each other’s arms, Say you love me
Because he didn’t do any of these things before all the vulgar amenities He didn’t hold me tight He didn’t say he needed me He didn’t say he loved me He didn’t ask me if I was ready I WASN’T! Things did change He didn’t feel the same way, after just a few days Y sus ojos no estaban acostumbrados a todas las líneas de mi cuerpo
Say you love me Before everything detonates in the right way Ask me if I’m ready Before things change Promise me they won’t Before you have me Tell me you’ll still feel the same way Y Antes que la pintura haces nuestro amor más suave Quiero que tus ojos se acostumbren a todas las líneas de mi cuerpo And I’m not going to lie, I only call these things vulgar because I’m convincing myself it won’t be what I want it to be, Special. 34 Fahari
So tell me, Even if I’m asking you these things Will it still just be vulgar amenities? Because I’ve been there and done that And what I want is the opposite I want it to be more than just services to each other I want all these things to happen before IT happens I need to know it won’t be as empty as youthful experiences should be
Not all Christians oppose gay marriage because they are struggling with their own sexual orientation. There are also those black Christians who oppose gay marriage because the Bible declares, in their interpretation of it, that homosexuality is a sin. This is their sincere belief and value system. However, the Bible was also key in the justification of enslaving blacks centuries ago. Blacks were believed to be descendants of Canaan's son Ham and, accordingly, were cursed to serve as slaves. We perceive this as outrageous. Is it not equally outrageous to think that God deems another group of people to be less than? Rather than opposing the right of people who love one another to be married, I will suggest that there are those black people who might look into their closets and begin cleaning them out. Our churches might begin making their priority the rising numbers of gay black men who are contracting HIV each year. They might teach church members selfawareness and inner growth as a means of revealing the spirit of Christ within them. When I was a practicing Christian, learning how to embody the loving spirit of Jesus -- who dared not judge but lived a life of love and compassion -- would have served me well. I believed then, and still hold dear, Jesus the Christ's command to love. Above all things, love.
hands of others know too closely what the absence of love creates. They know the isolation, fear, devastation, and self-hatred the lack of love breeds. We don't need gay people to be lynched in order to know that the denial of their rights is damaging to the progress of all peoples. If one person has suffered at the hand of another, we need not measure that suffering to prove its value. In our attempt to distance ourselves from the plight of gay people, we also distance ourselves from our own struggle and take the position of oppressor. Gay is the new black. And some Christian blacks must be willing to look into their hearts and find the seeds of fear that would have them deny the humanity of another in the name of God (just the way it was done to them not that long ago). Let's ask ourselves: do we fear gays or fear being gay? Why must gay leaders in our churches and communities serve clandestinely? Consider what the power of love and acceptance might offer if we are willing to stand courageously with gays as we stood for ourselves decades ago. Our freedom will not truly be granted until we can pass it forward. Gay is the new black, sadly, because many blacks haven't been willing to embrace their own practices, secrets, fear, and shame about homosexuality. Many blacks have not been able to reconcile their real-life experience with their faith, and until they do this, they are oppressed people who are also practicing the oppression of others.
The problem is me The problem is my heart
Love is the driving component. Those who have suffered grave atrocities at the
My personality Libertad 15
It's Official: Gay Is the New Black By: Monique Ruffin, Huffington Post Referred by Mosi Chachawi
My heart is unable and unwilling to be vacant for anyone, So vulgar amenities don’t sit well with me
The civil rights issue of our time is gay marriage, and the key players in our country's most significant civil rights movement are on the wrong side of it. The black church has taken on a new role: oppressor. As a black person born in the late '60s, I missed the actual Civil Rights Movement, but the remnants of oppression and stories of segregation were always fresh on my grandmother's mind. It was her lessons in black history, literature, and Christianity that inspired me to be proud of my heritage. She did her best to teach me the value of diversity, and so I learned to love all people regardless of their race, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. Although my grandmother taught me to love, she was not immune to her community's mores. And so she also -- unconsciously -taught me to deny the humanity of another human. My uncle (one of her five sons) is gay. For his entire childhood and young adult life he was teased and beaten by his brothers for being gay. Our family never spoke aloud about my uncle's homosexuality, and for decades we called his life partner, who was a kind and loving man, his "friend." It was against the rules to openly accept, acknowledge, or appreciate my uncle for all that he really was. This was being a good Christian in my family's eyes, but for me it was telling a lie and an act of oppression. Today, I am still shocked by the response of some of my black Christian friends to the plight of gay people in our nation. "I just don't agree that gay people can compare their struggles to ours," they bemoan. This is followed by the list of injustices blacks have experienced: the middle passage, slavery, 14 Fahari
lynching, rapes, and deaths. "Gay people haven't suffered nearly as much as blacks," they say. "Being black is not a choice," they add. "As if being gay is," I respond. I don't support the comparison. For me, the sufferings of a person or a group of people at the hands of other humans are frightening and heartbreaking. Instinctually, I feel that if any group can be oppressed, then I can be oppressed. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made this very point when he said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." This is why I'm always flabbergasted when I see some black Christians fighting against the civil rights of gays. We know firsthand the impact and dehumanization of discrimination. Like many black people, I was raised in the church. I was in church every Wednesday evening and all day Sunday. There was Bible study, Sunday school, and services. I have some great memories of growing up in church. However, when I became a young adult, I began to recognize a conflict in the church's "truth" and reality. Preachers and church members spoke of the sinful nature of homosexuality, but sometimes, the very people leading prayers, preaching, and participating in the choir were obviously gay. Living in Los Angeles, I've sat in some of the biggest megachurches and have been baffled to learn that some of these church leaders -who preach that homosexuality is a sin -- are closeted gay people. After watching a close friend's life come undone because of a scandal around her closeted gay husband, I left Christianity for good. Such hypocrisy in a place promoting spiritual growth was more than I could handle.
I’m sorry I want to be as careless and free just as you wish to be Trust me
I’ve convinced myself now It’s an asset, an advantage, a goodness only a few good men have. A high caliber endurance. It’s a talent. A gift, that doesn’t come easy. And now I’d rather wait, than ever feel as worthless as that day
But I can’t lie and say it doesn’t mean anything to me I can’t. I wish I could. I wish I were more promiscuous I do Just so I could please you Just so I won’t be a bother In this age, where “no” means an uptight bitch I’m not at all.
It’s not an easy request Waiting and all But I'll pretend to have everything in control, until it happens again The after is always uncertain, There are no guarantees that the “you and me” thing won’t expire naturally, But I’ll have warranted my actions in someone worthwhile The before will be a meaningful, deservingly.
I wish I could be easy sometimes
By Jasmine Celeste Cepeda WHAT AM I SAYING! These are the thoughts that I’ve come to contemplate! No. No. No, I’m not sorry. It’s not too much to ask all these things, Libertad 35
My Precious Tribulation By Reggy Rivers, Alumna Contributor I felt like I needed the closure. So I began writing this message about the good things you brought to my life. Your laughs. Jokes. Fruity body sprays. Cheesy bread. Yet the more I try to focus on the good in you, the more negativity I would feed from you. You put so much effort into learning about people that I evolved into a primordial lethargic within your pile of drama. You even claimed the right to verbally assault me at one point. Why bother to call me and ask me what happened if you don’t want to hear the answer? Asking you to calm down is not me trying to control your life. How is it that you can curse me horrid with your mouth yet I have to watch mine? The pieces of the puzzle begin to form after analyzing your behavior. Now I’m no Oprah, Dr. Phil or Dr. Joyce Brothers, but your adolescent post-natal struggles are enough to make us stumble on the road to adulthood. I remember when you bought me some cute things. I thanked you and was determined to oblige a favor (and I did). Something you didn’t ask me to do, but that’s just what good people do. That’s just what best friends do. Best friends are good friends and good friends are close friends; they’re not there for convenience. I refuse to let you use me, so that makes me a bad friend? You constantly interrupt me in mid-sentence and then proclaim, “you don’t know how to listen?!” You are my precious tribulation. Words can’t express the gratitude I have for you. From you I have learned that I can no longer trust you the way I used to. Maybe I’m the ignorant one thinking I could, because I felt so vulnerable to be around someone so loveable (supposedly). And I thought I could keep this intimacy with you. Yet you keep on with your detrimental navigating and facetious agitating. Time and time again, you have proven to be my most precious tribulation, my meekest aggravation.
S
apiosexual Me By Jada Young
(n.) A behavior of becoming attracted to or aroused by intelligence and its use. I am a self-proclaimed sapiosexual. I find intelligence in its many forms to be sexually attractive. With that said, I’m not much of a fan of the built, Adonisbodied stud. Yes, I do find that sort of man/body type to be sexually appealing, but what I find most desirable is the mind. Someone who can have a deep and intellectual conversation is someone who I drool (literally and figuratively) over. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find a man with these qualities? Well, it is. In some ways at least. The kind of man I find attractive is the well-read, opinionated, deeply critical man. The man who has a bank of knowledge and uses it to effect people in a meaningful way. This man would not simply be a vessel of knowledge for the sake of being intelligent. My intelligent man is also a man who takes a stand for what he believes in. He will use his knowledge and intelligence effectively. Ah. That’s the man of my dreams. That’s the man I will marry.
(My quintessential man, intelligent, powerful, socially and politically active)
How could you don yourself a blessing in disguise when you’ve cursed me more times than my own menstrual cycle & messed up my numbers far worse more than FICO? You are my Precious Tribulation. And I am so glad… that you’re out of my life! 36 Fahari
Libertad 13
Continued from Page 11 I cared about during times when I should have taken care of myself first. I knew my help was needed and being the loving and caring person I am, I made sure I was there to support my loved ones in their time of need. I didn’t realize at first how much this was affecting me until the times came where I found myself in situations that no one but myself could help me with. From that moment on I realized that in life the only person you can truly depend on is yourself. We also have that little devil inside, that is our worst critic. I know this person firsthand because I see her more than I should. Deep down inside I know I have a very powerful mind, but in society, those aren’t the people who get recognized. (Well some do, there are obviously people with strong minds that
have impacted the world). It’s the shallow minded people who love clothes, money, cars and popularity that get recognized and for that reason I tend to lose sight of being grateful for who I am. Most people spend their entire life trying to be accepted by society and as a result lose themselves. Not to say that we all don’t want to be loved or accepted, or that material things aren’t enjoyable, but perishable items should not come before your being, or you will perish right along with them. Out of all of the things in this world, our souls are what truly belong to us (and God) because it’s who we are. To sum things up, we should expect that things won’t always be perfect, and that we’ll have days where we may feel discouraged, because “the devil never sleeps” and is always at work. But this should motivate us to stay strong.
Soneto Dos I washed dishes but refused work as a waiter. I picked apples, mixed mortar, & poured concrete. I was jilted by success to marry defeat. I've had more ups & downs than an elevator. I have worked all day on an empty stomach. I have spent restless nights dreaming of a meal and could taste the food as the dream seemed real. I have worked with a sledge hammer, shovel & pick. But now I'm stricken with sciatica which hurts my right buttock, leg & foot like a sonofabitch. Still I must go to my job doing my best to ignore the painful throb of the sciatica for I must pay my bills and keep my oxycodone pills refilled. By Roger Whitson
Looking Through The Fence Post By Euclyn Williams A colossal change, Interpretation yet strange. The urge to see what's on the other side. So I sit back and I think. I draft up my causes and my emblems. Apparent that the other side has suffering as well. The lesser of two evils is one that I can't stay in too long. I must face my fear. If not now, then when I least expect it. And by then it will tear me apart. It's a sign of a victory when you can visualize your own demise. You own captivity no longer necessary to keep you hostage
Courtesy of brandonthomas.com It's all in your mind and that's apparent in itself. Emancipation. Rebel. But no. Those are just words, not even to change one down soul. 12 Fahari
Libertad 37
My Vices by Anonymous Relations, that which causes me confusion
Too many needs need to be met
What else could it be
and this is my favorite carnal sin
The bane of my existence
touch me, tease me, please me
Yet...it continually excites me
spank, feed, do all these things to me
These are my vices, my secrets, my sins
Our bodies were meant for this connection
But I don't want to be saved
We slide together so perfectly
Why ask for forgiveness
Dark, strong and long
When this is the path I've paved
Every inch of our bodies should be explored
So I shall revel in my joy
Screams, sweat and cries, the night never
In my pleasures and my misery
ends
This never ending cycle
But therein lies the problem...
Continually adding to my story I'm addicted to him...hims It's raining men....
A glutton for that climactic release
No longer just a line in a song
So many ways to get my fix
But with age comes attraction
And every option is available to feast
And that attraction is never wrong
How much do I indulge?
Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo
Well that depends on my appetite
Which do I pick?
When do I stop? Never, why should I?
Do I have to pick at all?
Too much to suck...to taste...to bite…
And what will others think of me As these many men satisfy my needs? Choosing is overrated And monogamy isn't for the young This greed is what excites me But my corruption has just begun...
I lust for him.... Or should I say hims 38 Fahari
Now... How do I keep you? Self-love and pride aren't the terms
--I don’t know what your religious views are, but I do believe in evil and negative energies. As we can see, this world we live in tends to be filled with hatred and evils of all kind. And if you ask me, there’s a grand deception that society has succeeded with, through popular culture. People are fooled into believing that their souls have no value, and as a result, live empty lives chasing wealth and material possessions. They think that these things will make their lives full, when it’s the nurturing of the soul that brings true happiness. This is evident for example, by the wars that take place and the innocent lives that are taken as a result, the current condition of the misguided youth , as well as mankind’s tendency to lack compassion. Not to say that life is all bad, or that people are all bad, because life is still very beautiful and precious, and there are still some very wonderful souls here. This piece was written back in 2009 for an assignment. I just hope to spread some encouragement by sharing this. I tweaked it just a bit.
The Devil Never Sleeps Tanique Williams
I have heard this many times. Whenever I would feel down, discouraged, or have found myself in negative situations, my mother would tell me to try my best to maintain because, “the devil never sleeps,” or as my grandmother would say whenever my sister and I would fight each other, “the devil is a lie.” This means that no matter what, there will always be distractions around you, including those you consider to be friends. There will be people who look at you and judge you because you stand for things they do not understand. Because of this, they will try to stand in your way of achievement. These people have not yet found who they are and as a result will try everything in their power to ensure that you don’t either. It is important that you don’t give into these dream dividers because you will only be giving them the power they need to be your main focus. You will be allowing yourself to be distracted.
Vanity, you can say For I am the object that any man will yearn Average was never in the equation Magnificent, extraordinary
One thing I have learned in life is that people are distractions even when they don’t mean to be ( I know it may sound a little harsh, but I don’t mean to). There were times in my life when I felt the need to be there for people
Continued on Page 12 Libertad 11
Thou Shalt NOT Be Slothful
[in your educational pursuits] …
To paraphrase Malcolm X, education is the passport to the future. Without education, you will not be getting anywhere in the world. I don’t necessarily mean, academic, degree-laden education, but we all need to have some type of educational background to be able to do what we want in the world. The sad thing is, educational opportunity is not guaranteed to everyone on the planet. We have at least 1 billion people on the planet who live in harshly
my flavor and you're official" --IThat's don’t more know what your religious views are, but I do believe in evil"facebook and negative energies. As we can see, this world liveshow in tends to beugly filled with hatred and Insignificant evils of all kind. And if you ask me, there’s a grand Why hateweand you’re problems, yeah, I know deception thatcan society succeeded culture. People are fooled into believing that When you just has blindly followwith, me through popular But my feelings aren't that simple their souls have no value, and as a result, live empty lives chasing wealth and material possessions. They And how can my hims resist My envy turned to anger think that these things will make their lives full, when it’s the nurturing of the soul that brings true When I carry sofor carefree anger to contempt, boiling lives to wrath happiness. This myself is evident example, by the wars that take place and the innocent that are taken as the T condition of the misguided youth This intensity is building in meto lack a Done result,up thetocurrent , as well as mankind’s tendency compassion. Not to say thatfor lifeany is allman bad, or that people are alleven bad, because is still verypaths beautiful and The perfect arm candy I don't want tolife cross their precious, and there are still some very wonderful souls here. Drop dead gorgeous lady in the day, freak at
Taste...well...catch me if you can
But... There's someone else... Now I have to deal with this b#%ch named
Now, allow me to preach. If you are reading this, you are most likely a
envy
student, or in some way connected to SUNY New Paltz. Therefore you have a
See, me and her have always had problems
connection to an institution of education. Don’t
But now she is just f$%king with me
waste that connection. Take
Bad girl gone worse
And sadly I'm not giving a f@#k
impoverished conditions and therefore have no access to anything to uplift them educationally.
Disrespect and shameful
This piece was written back in 2009 for an assignment.The I just hope to spread some encouragement by night expletives are adding up sharing this. I tweaked it just a bit.
Wait, no, I am Because I want to hurt you Like you unknowingly hurt me Too many vengeful options, what to do?
Or is it even worth it....
your writing seriously. Don’t wait until the last minute to get work done. Be
So you're just going to flaunt him?
Back to square one
diligent, be consistent, be
Think I'll just be okay?
T-Shirt, panties and my wine
studious. You owe it to more than
A confrontation is going to happen
Teyana in the background
just yourselves, you owe it to
Just give me the time and day
Just trying to clear my mind
"Mean Girls" was my life
Haven't moved in a few days
and "friend" is not an option
Imprints left in the bed
Get on my level and then we'll talk
The sloth in me has taken over
You got nothing on me--C'mon son
As the story runs in my head
So what does he see in you
The cycle continues
That I'm suddenly lacking
The story is never finished
F%^k you and him
Yet my vices keep me moving
He wasn't even packing
My sins...gotta live with them
your families, you owe it to your people, your family. That is all.
By Jada Young
Courtesy of sodahead.com
...She is a little prettier than me though... What's yours? So now it's months later
10 Fahari
Libertad 39
handle every situation in my life with
persistent. Persistence takes courage as well as
consciousness, never doubting the possibility
faith. A person who is persistent has no doubt in
that things could go wrong at any moment.
their mind that they will succeed and are willing
Some people think of humbleness as a
to hear a thousand “NO’s” until they finally hear
character trait, but I view it as a way of living
that one “YES.” You must be open to failure in
because there are things in life that keep or
order to find success; besides, how many wrong
make us humble. Like for example, a man who
answers does it take to find the right one? There
has lived as a slave for the majority of his life
is no specific answer to this question, but
may find freedom more precious than a person
people who are persistent are willing to do what
who has known freedom their entire life. A man
it takes to find one. They strive for greatness
is humbled by the life he lives. Just as freedom
despite their disadvantages. These people have
The deepest thought of inner love. The
can be considered a state of mind, so can
a specific version in mind and are determined to
sky will no longer be the limit as we lay
persistence.
see that dream become a reality.
Prose Poem
When I feel curious I feel like exploring
Roger Whitson
my body, with your body…every inch,
Throw a one-two punch and finish with a left jab or left hook. Shorten your punches and bring them back in a straight line. Stay on your toes and move away from blows. Last thirty seconds of a round. Go all out and punch, punch, punch, let your opponent eat your lunch and you become the Marvin Hart of art.
every touch will be warm. I wanna feel the touch of your soul healing my broken heart. I want your words to be the medicine to the suffering I have overcome. My far away dreams will become reality if I let you inside of me.
on the clouds, satisfied by each other’s
Where I am from, people tend to look at reality
moans. I scream, as I overly feel the
as some inescapable and unforgiving way of living, and believe that they have no opinions
intensity of your fingers inside of my
but the negative ones they are presented with.
thighs. Sugar has to always be this
Life may be unforgiving but we cannot base the
sweet. This loving must be against the
fate of our futures on that and dwell on the
law, because nothing on earth this
Lust
By Lori Moran
negative things. Life is full of discouragement, and some of the time it will be you doubting
amazing is free. free. free. Is what I feel
yourself. There will be people who are going to
when I’m blessed with your presence. I
tell you that you aren’t good enough or don’t
don't even care that I am not your only
have what it takes to succeed but it’s up to you to know your worth. You know what you
lover. As long as for that moment in time
deserve because you know yourself better than
your all mine, and our souls intertwine. I'm addicted to your sweat, your sense
Courtesy of sodahead.com
pray that they never end. Speechless. 40 Fahari
persistent, why shouldn’t I be? With persistence I shall find a direct road map to achievement.
has become a drug. And I'm allergic to any rehab. Can we share orgasms as we
anyone else. The way I see is that if evil is
On the road to success there are many bumps and turns as your life progresses, but I believe that success is undeniable to those who are Libertad 9
& Achievement By Tanique Williams
Persistence
life fulfilling goal is one day being able to
--This is a piece I wrote for an assignment back in the summer of 2009. I just thought I’d share it. Being that it was written so long ago, I had to tweak it a bit. I hope it encourages and lifts the spirits of those who read it. Life is unpredictable, but that does not mean we shouldn’t prepare for the future. It simply means that we should plan well. We should be ready for everything the world has in store for us, but most importantly, we should understand there are certain things in life we have no control over. Understanding this concept does not mean that we should just accept things the way they are either; it is just simply a fact of life that we should all be well aware of. Those who plan for the future have realized that life has no real meaning until you have discovered your reason for living. Every plan that you make to invest in your future contributes to the accomplishment of a goal, and every goal in life has to have an ultimate goal, which defines the reasons for each goal you set. Like for example, someone who has come from a generation that has known nothing but poverty, may have dreams of one day becoming rich and being able to support their family. The goal here is to one day become rich, but the ultimate 8 Fahari
ensure a better future for your family. Life is a quest that gives us the opportunity to stand for something and add meaning to the reasons why we live. I once heard this saying from a friend that, “life is not about finding yourself but about creating yourself.” When a person is in the process of creating themselves, they are not concerned with who they are portrayed to be by society, but are determined to create the person they wish to become. These people invest in themselves by finding ways to step over every let down, set back, or discouragement thrown their way in order to find their own happiness. One harsh reality about life is that not everyone is given a fair
The Girls, The Weed By: Purp LEX I don’t know why I do the things I do, I just be like, “fuck it” and I deal with the consequences. And after it’s all said and done, I'm always like, “u kno That's life”... take a shot to that The Funny shit about it/ I don't even smoke/ but shorty bad make a nigga wana take a tote/ smoke smoke/ inhale life/ exhale the things that matter the most/ that is if you care enough/ life to short/ hit the bitch raw/ now she taking me to court / escalation/ all I wanted was penetration/ but 9months down I knew what I would be facing/ that's just life to the fullest man/ reality hit me/ like going thru puberty man/ shit/ ain’t life a female dog/it’s like I keep hearin somebody say sick em/ shit is bugged out/ they pull the rug out/ rite from under my earth/ I keep slippin/ like Earl Simmons/ and since birth mom dukes/ been trippin/ I never abided by the laws laid down/ All I ever did was break em/ she cryin while I'm face down/ metal pointed to my head/ 1-time yellin Stay down stay down/ and at times I jus wana end my shit/ sounds a bit blunt/ never smoked it to the end always ended up clippin it/ mind trippin shit/ stumblin over my thoughts/ just to ease the pain/ tell a fast girl/ to wrap her lips around my main vein/ and tell her leave me be/ she don't understand/ and I won't let her/ I get mad/ she likes that tone better/ that shit never made sense to me/ I guess she sees the good in me/ I never found that place anyway/ so I meditate/ hoping that I could find it someday/ this can't be life/ there has to be a better way/ but that shit never occurred to me/ I like the simple shit/ you know meet a bitch/ get the liqs/ take her home and get my fix/ it’s just the way it is/ and the way I live life on a everyday basis.
chance at it, but even those people have a chance of surviving it. It all depends on your determination to survive. Surviving life is not about escaping death, but about making it through every obstacle that life has promised you, and making it through with a different but stronger perspective on how you view your life. I thank God, as well as my mother, for the mentality I have. I consider myself to be a humble person because I understand life for what it is and have always tried my best to
Girl: What's wrong? Me: I don’t know Girl: Are you feeling okay? Me: What did you give me, I'm fucked up Girl: But ain’t that what you say.....That's life
Good vs. Evil By Justin Gilizene
The devil is good at what he does, but Jesus is better the devil promises death but Jesus promises you to live forever the devil gives riches in frame but Jesus gives the whole world to glorify in his name the devil give you all the money, the devil give you all the honeys, but at the end of all that, you still saying he don't love me, but Jesus gives you many reasons, to repent from all the devils diseases, gives you love & everything you ever needed Libertad 41
Whenever I hear a love song, your face pops into my head. Your cool smile, deep dark eyes, button nose, Small ears, round-headed face pops into my head. I see your soul and all your beautiful features. Every time I watch Sex and the City, And I see the episode where Big tells Carie he loves her, You slam into me; and memories of you start to flood in. Memories of your simple kisses and passion you had when we argued. The jokes and innocent laughs we shared; The special way you held me and the sick ways use to hurt me. And no matter what, whenever I walk past a basketball court, Every first day of spring, my heart literally stops, My breathing becomes slightly heavier and my eyes are no longer dry. You take over me and I feel it all over again. The feeling of first falling in love with you And the brutal little crack of my heart first breaking. The tension between us when we did not speak to each other; And the sparks that flew between us when you lightly brushed past me. The butterflies in my stomach when you use to touch And the knife you left when you stabbed me in my back. My love for you and the lack of it from you; The pain, the love, the hunger, the fulfillments, the relationship, me, you, us! Everything comes crashing down on me all at once. You took over my whole life, my mind, body and spirit Worst of all you took over my heart. Crept in and over stayed your welcome and left me with, frankly a fucking mess. Sometimes I crave for you and sometimes my stomach just turns just from the thought of you. You simply took over me and kept in your traps, until I finally broke free. No longer will I be part of this sinful love. Filled with nothing but hopeless promises 42 Fahari
Lust: The New Pursuit of Happiness By Dey Armbrister
It’s You By Nicole Janine
“Nowadays, it’s easier to find sex than it Because lust has taken over our is to find love.” psyche, so many genuine hearts are broken because people tend to blur the -Unknown lines between lust and love. Lack of communication is a big contributor to the mixed signals given on a daily Being an avid Twitter user, I come basis. Very rarely do we sit down with across many followers who tweet a someone and tell that person from the multitude of thoughts, opinions, and get-go, “listen, at this point in my shared thoughts from others. One day, I life I strictly want a sexual came across a tweet that spoke volumes. relationship” or “I’m looking for a Although I cannot remember it verbatim, potential life partner.” Open your the person who tweeted it said something mouths before you open your legs or your along the lines of “nowadays, it’s heart! easier to find sex than it is to find Now personally, I advocate for love.” sex; it’s beautiful and I enjoy having When I read this, it really it as much as the next person (if not a clicked. It’s definitely easier to sleep little more than the next person to be with someone than it is to get into a honest), so I’m not here to tell anyone relationship these days. Somewhere along to be celibate or dry in the pants. I the line, our priorities began to lean also advocate “doing you,” meaning if more towards the hunt for the biggest you’re single and you’re at a point in genitalia, the most provocative specimen you’re life where you’re not ready to of a man or woman, and that someone to commit, then who’s stopping you from fulfill a temporary need. Let’s be fulfilling your sexual needs? Do you, honest: sex just about outweighs love in boo! On the other hand, I’ve also the realm of happiness. The “no strings experienced what it is to love and be attached” life is more appealing to loved. What I will say is when it comes those who view independence as their to love and finding that special main priority, as well as enjoying the someone, let’s not make sex the only fruits of pure, unadulterated sex. Seems thing that we look for in a significant like a win-win situation for everyone, other. Instead, sex should be that yes? bonus a person wins with the person that can be considered a trustworthy, However, it’s not that simple. In intellectual, humorous, and loyal essence, because we’re selfishly looking partner. for the next opportunity to “get off,” we hurt those who are actually looking To sum everything up, just be for that special someone to kick it with aware of the happiness that you’re not only sexually, but also emotionally. trying to seek, as well as the happiness Many men and women strictly look for that others are trying to seek. Many sexual escapades, and the ones in search hearts can be saved if lust is not at for romance get caught in the crossfire the forefront of our decision-making, and burned; expecting a relationship and we have a clear understanding of with someone whose intention is to hit what’s going down. it and quit it.
Libertad 7
ANGER
By Brittany Askew
So what are the seven deadly sins? The seven sins include Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. The sin of lust is “the excessive thought of sexual desires.” The sin of gluttony “is the desire to over-indulge more than what you need.” People typically think of food when they hear gluttony but people can over-indulge in anything. The sin of greed is “the desire for material wealth or material objects.” The sin of sloth is “the desire to avoid doing anything that requires energy or work to do.” This sin is typically viewed as laziness and being “good for nothing”. The sin of wrath is “having uncontrollable feelings of hatred and anger.” The sin of envy is “the desire for other things that people have.” This may even include the person’s traits, status or abilities. The sin of pride is “the excessive belief in one’s own abilities.” And then there is Eve. Eve comes into play because she is the one that started this whole notion of sin. If she didn’t eat the rotten apple from the tree in the Garden of Eden sin would not exist.
The sensation of an internal force that runs deep within, like the mantle beneath the earth. Just like the lava from a volcano, it abruptly seeps out. No one is omitted from having this emotion, but some are wise to diffuse it, and not allow it to transform into its own being. Ever heard of the “blackout” during a time of fury? Well these people have allowed their anger to have an entity that takes over at every moment Reason surrenders. It’s like two different people occupying the same body, with full awareness of either’s existence. Anger can open up many channels of destruction and think of it as a job well done. Anger always wins in dual existence, so the way to win is to not let it have a home in your life. By Octavia D.Anderson Psychology Major University at Albany
Source: http://deadlysins.com 6 Fahari
Libertad 43
How Is It? By Nicole Janine
How is it you can sit in that chair and stare at the dancing figure in the screen and come to bed cuddling up on me? How can you ever say you want to bury your head in her fake 33Double D‟s and then titty fuck the shit out of these 36 C‟s? How the hell is it you have the nerve to stare at the round ass that pass by you everyday and grab all up on my pancakes?
You say you love me and wouldn’t change a thing, But every time I catch you looking at her my heart sinks My mind starts to think, and my feelings change. Not about me of course because you see I love the cicos that come over when I sit And my flat ass, I love how it doesn‟t say hello when I walk by but gives a little wave. Best of all I love that fact that you are admiring the fake shit And coming home to this real chick! Your admiration for beauty never bothers me as long as you know that the women you adore will never be me. The woman you have in your arms is a curvaceous woman who picks you up when you‟re down Feeds you Monday through Friday three meals a day or at least tries to The woman you kiss when you come home is all real and with a brain
Pick Your
POISON
Never pumps her head with that fake artificial shit the media puts out there to put her down and make her feel worth less This woman you say you love and wouldn‟t change for the world is starting to feel like you should get your eyes off the Barbie on the screen and turn around and look at the real woman who can give you everything you need. Admire her flaws and her misgivings as she does yours because trust me you ain‟t no David Beckman baby! So have your fun fantasizing about the perfect image girl, just know that it never be a reality.
44 Fahari
Libertad 5
Pick Your Poison
True Reality By Justin Gilizene
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 7 8 10 11 13 14 16 17 18 21 22
The 7 Deadly Sins Lust: The New Pursuit of Happiness Persistence & Achievement Thou Shalt NOT Be Slothful [in your educational pursuits] … The Devil Never Sleeps Sapiosexual Me It's Official: Gay Is the New Black Are Black Folks REALLY a Minority? Spongebob and the Seven Deadly Sins I Am Not Dead R.E.A.L New Beginnings
Celebrities make believe entities, role models & Idols, They all fucking recycle, the impression that corrupts our comprehension, The devils in disguise, not to my surprise, Will do whatever it takes to make you live through his eyes, Give you everything your heart & mind desire, Filling your soul with sin, causing your spirit to retire, Who's to hire? You then interview Jesus, shows up with just a white robe, You couldn't believe it, then the devil walks in with all the fly clothes, Gucci & the Louie, ya mind goes who's he? :), You’re HIRED, Jesus you’re FIRED, sorry for the stipulation I'm just under the manipulation!
Poetry 26 27 28 29 30 31 31 32 33 33 36 37 37 38 40 40 41 43 44 45 45 4 Fahari
Fallen Too Deep, Too Soon Release Me… Primary Vision Lust Untitled Sonnet to Artist Slighted Constant Cravings Decadence Decisions Autumn My Precious Tribulation Soneto Dos Looking Through The Fence Post My Vices Prose Poem Lust Good vs. Evil ANGER How Is It? True Reality Reality Part 2
Reality Part 2 By Justin Gilizene We eating and still hungry, wonder why the world's starving, No food in kids tummy, they ask God why me? I honestly done nuttin, Somewhere you’re unaware the devils there smirking, Grinning with his lil minions, winning of the strength We forget to ask God for our forgiveness, We’re mice in the mazes; the devil is the one who's experimenting, Always persistent finding new ways to control our mind & our very existence.
Libertad 45
FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT’S DESK Hey Guys, I’m Brittany and I recently became Vice President of the FahariLibertad Magazine. This is my Junior year and I have been part of Fahari for about a year now. I love being a part of Fahari especially since we are one big happy family. One of my favorite things about Fahari is that the magazine serves as a way to express yourself in a non-judgmental way. You are basically allowed to write about anything, no matter what the topic of the issue is.
Our theme for this issue is the Seven Deadly Sins. Honestly, we all have sinned. Eve was the first person to sin when she ate the poisonous apple from the Garden of Eden. She was the one that created this whole idea of sin. That’s why for this issue we included Eve as part of the seven deadly sins.
Sin is especially relevant on a college campus. The “freshman 15” would be considered as the sin of gluttony. Once students come to college they tend to over-indulge in all of the food that is available to them. Lust also plays a major role on a college campus. Most people in college have the desire to have massive amounts of sex with anyone and everyone. It is very rare to see relationships that last on a college campus.
This issue gives everyone a chance to talk about the sins they have committed or talk about the sins they have seen. Anyone can write about the topics in this issue and it is a very important issue that needs to be addressed. I look forward to working with Fahari the rest of the time I have here at New Paltz. See you next issue.
Brittany S. Askew Vice President, Fahari- Libertad
Makeba Hall-Wilson 46 Fahari
Libertad 3
FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S DESK
Meet The Family
FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Hello Beautiful People,
We all have our vices – things we consider to be wrong or poisonous for us. Maybe you didn’t really need to eat that third slice of pie, or look at your neighbor and wish you had what they had. Perhaps you shouldn’t have cursed out your friend, or slept all day instead of going to class. But are these really sins that we are indulging in, or are we just being human? Do we just have moments of weakness and give in to what our emotions are begging of us? Or is this really all about control?
Shatera Gurganious, Editor-In-Chief
Brittany Askew, Vice-President
We all have our moments where we must make a choice to indulge or abstain from our poisons. Why is it that these supposed “poisons” feel so damn good though? Life wouldn’t be what it is without these indulgences. So should we just abandon them altogether? Or maybe it’s really all just about finding the balance.
Peace & Blessings, Shatera Gurganious President & Editor in Chief, Fahari-Libertad Euclyn Williams, Layout Editor
Kamoy Joseph, Secretary 2 Fahari
Judea Costes, Cover Design
Jada Young, Historian
Lamar Mack, Cover Design Libertad 47
Meet The Family
FAHARI-LIBERTAD Fa-ha-ri: (noun) Dignity, respect, a good reputation. Derived from the language of KiSwahili.
Li-ber-tad: (noun) Spanish for FREEDOM!
Makeba Hall-Wilson, Council of Orgs. Rep
Emily Imbert, Council of Orgs. Rep
The Fahari-Libertad is committed to printing the political, social, and economic views and concerns regarding people of color here at SUNY New Paltz. It is published in the spirit of cultural unity as well as bringing about the spiritual unification of all people. The main goal of the Fahari-Libertad is to enrich and educate all with knowledge and enlightenment. We accept anyone who is truly committed to these goal to work with us.
Mission
To seek knowledge, truth and unity with pride
Contact Us The Fahari-Libertad SUNY New Paltz Student Union Building, Rm. 323 New Paltz, NY 12561
Jay Herrera, Staff Writer
Tanique Williams, Public Relations
Email: faharilibertad@gmail.com Facebook: Fahari Libertad Magazine Blog: faharilibertad.blogspot.com
The Family Editor-In-Chief Shatera Gurganious Vice President Brittany Askew Layout Editor Euclyn Williams Malissa Williams Cover Design Judea Costes Lamar Mack Staff Writers Jada Young Roger Whitson Mosi-Chachawi Makeba Hall-Wilson Tanique Williams DaShawn Wilson Guest Writers/ Frankleen Contributors Dey Armbrister Purple Lex Octavia Anderson Gabrielle Segal Lori Moran Kimberly Rivas-Adames Jaquaya Grant Jasmine Celeste Cepeda Justin Gilizine Alumni Contributors Regina Rivers Carmen Mojica
Copies of the Fahari-Libertad can be found in the SUB, the The Fahari-Libertad is currently seeking staff MLK Center, the Black Studies Dept., The Lecture Center, and the Fahari Office (SUB 323), along with various writers, copy editors and photo editors. A residence halls.
major/minor in Journalism/English is NOT a requirement. Please inquire via email at faharilibertad@gmail.com.
Josette Ramnani, Staff Writer 48 Fahari
DaShawn Wilson, Public Relations
Nicole Rivera, Layout Editor
Special thanks to the Dept. of Black Studies and all of our brothers and sister who submitted articles, cartoons and poetry for showing the needed to publish this magazine.
The Next Issue, “Sell
Yourself� will revolve
around the idea that we place our worth on the possessions that we have. We will tackle the issues of individuality (or the lack of it), consumerism, materialism, style/fashion, stereotypes and how all these themes tie together in relation to who we really are. The deadline is April 2nd. Libertad 1