Uhuru na umoja monday, September 25, 2019 an ethnic supplement to the collegian
The Black Student voice of California State University, Fresno, since 1969
Photo Credit: D’Aungillique Jackson
Fresno State’s NAACP Gets Assembly Bill 963 Passed By T.J. Taylor
On August 27th, 2019, the pioneering National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 17Ai Unit embarked on a historical journey to the California State Capitol Building to advocate and lobby for the passing of Assembly Bill 963. This nonpartisan bill is also referred to as the Student Civic and Empowerment Act. Their efforts did not go unnoticed as AB-963 was passed by the Committee with 67 ayes, or yesses out of 79 votes. At this moment, Assembly Bill 963 is on the governor’s desk. This means with the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom, this bill will become law. If the governor vetoes the bill, the veto can be overridden with two-thirds of the house vote. If Assembly Bill 963 becomes law, this would establish the Student Civic and Empowerment Program which would require all public college campuses to “consult with the Secretary of State to distribute campus-wide emails to all students with specified voting and election related dates and information, and to include these dates on all print and online academic calendars, post on campus social media to remind students of voter-related dates and information, and develop a Civic and Voter Empowerment Action Plan specific to their campus.” This bill will take effect in community colleges, California State Universities, and UCs (University of California schools).
NAACP 17Ai general member, Clarence Obichere voiced his appreciation of the bill stating that, “some college students are discouraged to vote due to lack of information.” This bill will truly empower students and can positively affect the outcome of future elections. Since the Fresno State chapter of NAACP sponsored the bill, Vice President D’Aungillique Jackson represented the unit during the press conference. A noteworthy excerpt of her speech states, “It is only a matter of time before my generation floods the job market, political arenas, and other sectors of society that require a civically engaged citizen with a tendency to vote. And in knowing that, it behooves the lawmakers of our beautiful state to set standards that ensure our generation, and those that follow, are enthusiastic and prepared to complete their civic duty”. If you are interested in joining the NAACP and building political power, contact their email, naacp@mail.fresnostate.edu and follow them on Instagram @fresnostatenaacp.
wednesday, September 25, 2019
Uhuru Na Umoja
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What is Africana Studies By Kemaea Goins The program in Africana Studies at Fresno State University is part of the Social Science Department. It is a multi-continental and interdisciplinary program devoted to scholarship on the history, political and cultural movements, literature, institutions, economies, and identities of Africans and the African Diaspora across the globe. Africa’s own overlapping modernities and the transnational migrations of its people—whether forced or voluntary—have complicated the meanings of “black” and “African” identities and experiences, prompting us to rethink the geographical boundaries and conceptual paradigms surrounding the production of knowledge about Africa and its diasporic communities in the 21st century. The department causes students to critically think and analyze theoretical frameworks centered around scholars of the field. The Dean of Africana Studies currently is Mr. Thomas-Whit Ellis and is a professor of Theater Arts. There are many amazing professors who instruct classes daily on Blacks in the Community, Intro to Africana Studies, African-American Women, The Black Diaspora, Hip-Hop, and much more. Classes are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Many people who pursue a degree in Africana Studies are using it as a second major or a minor to further enhance their degrees so they have a well-rounded understanding of people in general. Nonetheless, one can obtain a major in Africana Studies alone and with this degree students enter the field of education, non-profit organizations, obtain higher education, work in communication, government and politics, career in social work, etc… The possibilities are endless with this field of study because it can divulge into different disciplines. Africana Studies was not always something that was obtainable to students due to racial disparities and discrimination. However, after years of advocacy in favor of the field, we now are blessed to have a Major and Minor offered at Fresno State. If a student simply wants to have a fun and interesting elective, they are more than welcome to sign up for an Africana Studies course! It’ll even cover some lower and upper GE requirements towards graduation, so that’s always a bonus. Do not hesitate to sign up next semester, you will not be disappointed.
Welcome Black Welcomes You By Darelle Harvey
Wednesday, September 4th of 2019 marked the day of Welcome Black event! This event is our annual celebration of incoming Black/African students onto our Fresno State campus. Along with Dog Days and the Harambee Retreat, Welcome Black is one of the three events that get new Black students acclimated to teachers, clubs, organizations, and scholarships available to being their success on our campus. Frank Lamas (Student Affairs VP) mentions the Money Management Center and the Career Involvement Center as resources to look for. Dessalines Yamoussou (ONYX President and Black Students Union President) shared what ONYX is as a Black male collective, but he also shared that the previous semester of Black students only numbered about 688. ONYX was there to target the males specifically. As for the BSU, he saw them as family, Ayriese Smith, the previous president, had reached out to him with no prompting and nothing to gain from doing so. Yamoussou saw this as the
example BSU sets for others, which is what he wanted to return to the Black student body as the president of BSU. Vanessa Brown and Ju’Juan Johnson, our Black Student Coordinators were our MC’s that introduced so many of our supporting staff. Even well-known, well respected faces made an appearance, like Dr. DeAnna Reese and Dr. T. Hasan Johnson were in attendance. In addition to the resources and personalities, Welcome Black is also a night of togetherness and fun, though it may have been slow to get the attendees into the festivities. The room was filled with organizations from wall to wall, ASI, BSU, ONYX, Department of Social Work, Division of Research and Graduate Studies, CCGC, etc. There was a strong turnout of students, but the lack of enthusiasm was a lingering concern. MC’s pleading with attendees to wake up was perhaps a running joke for a portion of the event. Though the overall
feeling was cool, and perhaps lethargic from the night’s beginning, the energy picked up after a bingo event that encouraged people to talk to one another. It also helped that there were raffle prizes like tickets to the Homecoming game and even floor tickets to see T-Pain in concert. Eventually, at least on my way out, I could feel the event begin to have the aura of a family reunion, maybe a little tense at first, but everyone eventually relaxed into a more comfortable condition. Welcome Black always comes with a little bit of uncertainty, but it always ends with a sense of togetherness. Dessalines said this about BSU, but I think it applies to Welcome Black and every Black organization as a whole, “...it’s about building families and homes on this campus...” It is my hope that we can use this and every resource, organization and staff member present to build a strong Black community on our campus.
Staff Editorial Staff Advisor Angel Langridge Editor Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter
T.J. Taylor Darelle Harvey Kemaea Goins Dessailines Yamoussou
If you have any questions, comments, ideas, poems or stories you want to submit, email them to tjtaylor98@mail.fresnostate.edu.
wednesday, September 25, 2019
Uhuru Na Umoja
Photograph of members of Zeta and Sigma at the Annual Picnic
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Photo Credit: Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta
Blue & White Week! By Kemaea Goins Two historically black Greek lettered organizations, Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma, had their annual Blue & White Week on September 2-7, 2019. This year’s theme was “NerdZ” and the point of the week was to welcome all students on campus and have a great start to the new school year. In welcoming all students, especially focusing on Black students, the organizations had a goal of, “ensuring that each participant during the week had a familiar face that they knew would be there for them during the remainder of the semester” (Noah Ray, Treasurer of Zeta Phi Beta). The first event of the week was a Meet & Greet in the Free Speech Area on campus. The purpose of this event was to give students a good idea of who was in each respective organization and allow them to know about the rest of the week. A game was also played to get students moving and active. The next event was a collaborative effort with a huge event on campus that was already established prior to the semester, “Welcome Black”. Both Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma tabled at the event giving everyone information on the organizations history and performed on stage near the end of the event. The last and grandest event was the Blue & White Annual Picnic where people came from out of town just to fellowship, enjoy amazing soul food, listen to music, and dance. Students from school attended the event as well as older members from each respective organization, who were also alumni of Fresno State. The week was extremely successful and each event had full support and participation from many black and brown students on campus. Students who attended the event stated that they felt welcomed and appreciated.
BSU Lake Trip By Dessailines Yamoussou The Black Students United (Commonly known as the “BSU”) of Fresno State was invited to attend a lake trip with BSU Merced. President Dessalines Yamoussou felt it was a gesture of solidarity and connection. Star Brumley, President of UC Merced’s BSU expressed her elation at the prospect of joint collaboration. The trip was planned for September 7 at Yosemite Lake. The Lake sits just past UC Merced. The campus is beautiful and the scenery around is very welcoming. It’s the newest University in California. The builds are bright and vibrant, and the students are eager to learn. Farmland and trees stretch as far as the eye can see. The lake was calm and serene. The temperature was a perfect eighty-five degrees with a strong wind coming from the lake. The day began games. The first of which was a game where you stood on a line with a spoon in your mouth and an egg on the spoon. The object was to race to the volleyball sandbox without dropping your egg. If you dropped it, you had to start over and if you broke it you were disqualified. It did not take long for President Dessalines to drop and shatter his egg ending his aspirations of victory. In a stunning display of raw physical ability, Tamia Fuller, a freshman at Fresno State won the event. Her prize, a $10 gift card to Starbucks. Other games were a three-legged race, Mafia, and Hot potato. The lake trip was a huge success and ended with a group picture. Over seventy students showed up for the lake trip. It was warm and heartfelt. The students at UC Merced are very welcoming.
wednesday, September 25, 2019
Uhuru Na Umoja
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Student of the Month
Photo Credit: Fresno State
Featured Athlete of the Month
Photo Credit: Fresno State
By T.J. Taylor
By T.J. Taylor
This issue’s featured student of the month is Vanessa Brown, the current Senator of Arts & Humanities. Entering her fourth year, Ms. Brown is expected to graduate in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. From an educated household, both of Vanessa Brown’s parents graduated college, including her father, who is an alumnus of Fresno State. After undergrad, Vanessa Brown ambitiously plans to pursue a Master’s degree in multilingual communication or Spanish. After education, Ms. Brown has intentions of becoming an educator and advocate. Vanessa Brown has a strong determination to make practical change rather than making immaterial comments. She is inspired by a quote from Shirley Chisholm, whom was the first African-American woman elected to Congress that states, “you don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.’’ She embodies the meaning of this sentiment with her involvement with Associated Students Incorporated (ASI). She was elected as the Senator of Arts & Humanities where she acts as a representative in committees that serve to improve the college experience for students. One of her current cases include advocating for the student staff of The Collegian and ensuring it does not get defunded. Ms. Brown considers herself as an “includer” and likes to embody this term in her work. She uses her voice to speak for students who are often silenced. It is her personal vendetta to make sure no one gets taken advantage of. She speaks up on the issues that agitate students of color with an emphasis on African-Americans students. This is the advocacy she plans to continue pushing after college. As a college student, it is important to treat other students as family. Vanessa Brown claims, “If you are on the path to success, make sure to take someone with you.”
Emanuel “Manny” Shumaker is this month’s featured Athlete of the Month. In track & field, Manny is a tenacious competitor in the long jump and triple jump. Shumaker was born in the humble town of Lawton, Oklahoma, before moving to Bakersfield, California where he was raised. Manny began his track career at the age of eight years old after being urged to try it out by a teacher. In 2012, he competed in the Junior Olympics held in Baltimore, Maryland at Morgan State University. Entering high school, his career began to take off once he became a standout. By his sophomore year, he made the varsity squad. Competing in college is a “whole different animal” according to Emanuel. “It’s a job but its fun. I want to put everything on the track.” Upon graduation, he wants to maximize his potential on and off the track. Manny plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Master’s in psychology. Due to a season ending injury his sophomore year, he is eligible to compete another year while working on his graduate degree. After retirement from competition, Shumaker wants to coach as well. He is currently undecided if he’ll stay in Fresno or move to a different state. When not excelling in class or on the track, Manny keeps his competitive fire going by playing Phase 10. He also has aspirations outside of athletics to try photography and start his own podcast show. His favorite meal to cook is smoked salmon. Shumaker is known around campus for his calm, collected demeanor and compelling personality. This man is bound for greatness.
Repatriation
Yes Yes Y’All Poetry
By Darelle Harvey
What is it called when Europe gives artifacts back to the culture it was stolen from? Re...re...returRestor-
Re...re...I know I know this... Reinsta-
Restitut-
REPATRIATION! Yeah, that’s it. Repatriation
Why do we need permission to go in the water Mami Wata and Drogas already gave it to us You wait until they tell us it’s okay
Meanwhile, we get our story told to us twice Once with their tongues Once with our own
They say their tongue is better And so many of use agree
Because we haven’t realized it yet We’re still waiting
For the repatriation of our souls
Peace
By Kemaea Goins
Popular
By Kemaea Goins
Peace and tranquility
Everyone wants to be popular
Our voices are the songs of our generation
All it means is that everyone knows your business
Of our everlasting
You have to behave a particular way
Moves with the strength of our backs
You have to dress cute, be great, and forget about you
Speaking out to what we believe in
I want all my life to myself
Peace and compassion
I want to have bad hair days without fear
Moves with the waves of our hips
Tell me why that is
Seeping from the hopes and dreams
All it means is that people have expectations
Peace and transparency
You are in the bird’s eye view
Our truths are the fragrance of our generation
I do not want to be popular
Of our everlasting
I want to enjoy the small things without judgement
Moves with the love in our hearts
I want to have lazy days and not care
Our affections are in smiles as we gaze at our children
Silencing any frustrations Of our everlasting
Peace and tranquillity