The Black Cornellian Woman November 2008 Premiere Issue
WHERE ARE OUR BLACK MEN? Declining black male enrollment: what it means for black men and the women who want them
SPOTLIGHT! Who is Darin Lamar Jones?
DID THE RIGHT MAN WIN? Our take on the 2008 Presidential Election
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he
lack
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NOVEMBER 2008
TB C W
oman
STAFF Zuri Jackson, Deborah Jack, Vanessa Coleman, Charlise Manuel, Jacsymine Nsubuga, Angelique Boyer, Alicia Adams and Rosalind Usher
In the Issue Editor’s Note .................................................p 3 Color Me Beautiful .................................................p 4 Spotlight! .................................................p 5 Are You the Only Black Woman? .................................................p 5 A Night to Remember .................................................p 6 It’s All Your Fault .................................................p 7 Where are They? .................................................p 7 BCW Magazine 2
Editor’s Note Hello Cornell Community, This being the first issue of BCW. We as a staff would like to say welcome! We’ve worked so hard to bring this first issue to you, and we hope you enjoy it! We see this magazine as a outlet for literary expression, and we welcome anyone reading through this magazine, to submit material for consideration in the next issue. Please direct all questions and submissions to me at rpu2@cornell.edu Last, but certainly not least, we would like a thank a few people. Renee Alexander, Kenneth Glover, and Dr. Assie Lumumba, without your guidance, insight, and thoughts this magazine would not be possible and we dedicate this first issue to you. -Rosalind Cornell ‘11
What’s Going on at Cornell!
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Color me… Beautiful
By Deborah Jack ‘11
Dark, light, chocolate, caramel…the list goes on. But black skin is given a range of colors and names. Because that is what we are, a wide range of colors. Yet there are still those view skin as a spectrum beauty – highest for lighter complexion and lowest for shorter complexion. And sadly, with that type of thinking, negative thoughts of the black race ensues. Watching an episode on the Tyra Banks show completely revealed the ignorance and self-hatred that some black women hold for themselves. Viewing dark black people as ugly with “big noses and thick lips”, one interviewee on the show even went so far to admit that she didn’t like dark black women and regularly told her 12 year old son to not bring home a dark black woman as a girlfriend. In 2008, with the winning of the first black president of the United States just happening yesterday, this battle of dark and light still ensues. As a young woman with a chocolate complexion, I can not help to feel apart of this. For as long as I can remember, being thought of as “dark” brings a cringe from me and an instant denial of what I am. I’m not saying that I’m ashamed of my color, but living with this prejudice for so long, the negative reaction comes instinctively. I was never termed “burnt”, but I’ve seen others given that name and negative connotations that came along with it. Burnt connoted black - BLACK skin, something that was just plain wrong and ugly. And no one wanted to be that. So with this thinking, self-esteem plunges and as that goes down, black women look for other ways out of their predicament. And that is where the skin lighteners come in. These products are chemicals that can actually bleach your skin and allow the person to become lighter. But at what cost? As one friend put it, she would never try bleach so that she can be “purple here, blue there.” Yet women choose this route and even go so far as a full skin transplant. Why do women choose to suffer so much, to go through such a painful ordeal in order to become that ideal color: light? I know. The benefits can be seen in the media today. Black women are viewed as beautiful if they have light skin and incredibly long hair. If their mixed, their given an even more positive outlook. Men readily choose the light skin color, choosing to even endure the supposed stuck up attitudes and conceitedness at times. Dark girls have been approached with such lines as “Oh you’re real cute for a dark girl.” Light is seen as more exotic, more beautiful, and the optimal choice. Yet even light skinned are given some prejudice. Watching the same episode, one light skinned girl admitted to being treated horribly by dark skinned women. One interviewee admitted that she was dating a fine black man and when he brought her home to his mother, his mother told the son that she was not accepted, she was “too light.” There is no easy resolution to this problem. It’s been going on for so long and is so ingrained in the mindset of people. But today as I write this, I’m going to help to break down that wall. WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMEN! Stand up and be proud! I know I am. Though the term “dark” can bring a cringe at times, I come to realize that is what I am, a dark skinned woman. But that’s not all. I’m smart, intelligent, compassionate, loving, fun-filled, goofy, and the list can go on. I am more than my skin. I am my character, my personality, my upbringing. I am ME with dark skin. All women should realize that. You skin color doesn’t define you, YOU define you! Beauty is defined in so many ways and contexts. We as black women must realize this and accept the fact that we are beautiful no matter what this or that person may say. So let us stand up and stand strong my sistahs! Let us support each other and stop bringing each other down because in the end, black (no matter what shade) is and will forever be, beautiful. BCW Magazine 4
All Eyes On......
Darin Lamar Jones ‘10 By: Angelique Boyer Birthday: August 5, 1988 Sign: Leo Born and Raised in: Miami, Florida Major & School: PAM Major in Human Ecology Year: Junior Favorite Thing in Cornell: “My favorite thing about Cornell is Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, and the fact that it was founded here.” What he does: BSU, ALANA, Higher Call, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc A word to the ladies: “A woman never pursues, but is always pursued”
Are You the Only Black Woman in Class? Charlise Manuel ’11 Are you the only black woman in your class? Don't worry. You are not alone. As a black woman majoring in economics, I often find myself making up the minority group in my classes. First, I wonder, why are there not more black women majoring in economics. Maybe only few black women have the desire to pursue economics as a major above all other subjects of interest. But I must say, economics is a great subject to study if you want to understand further how the country and the rest of the world work and interact together. As we have seen over the past few months, the economy plays a major role in the lives of Americans. Besides economics, I have taken a wide range of courses, and still, I am one of two (or three) black women in many of these classes. At the beginning of the semester, it is hard not to notice the number of black women, yet alone, black students in one's classes. What is the reason for this? Perhaps there are too few black women in the undergraduate class for there to be over two in each class. I am not certain what is the statistical data of the percentages of black women in each academic area of study; however, I would hope that it is dispersed throughout many majors. As undergraduates, I think that it is important to explore various subjects. You may discover new interests, broaden your knowledge, and learn more about yourself, others, and what you study. Overall, black women should not concern themselves with being the only, or one of few, black women in their classes. I know that other issues come into play with being the only black woman in a class; however, this does not mean that you do not belong in the class nor should it affect what you take out of the course. Part of our job here is to pursue our academic interests; grow personally, socially, and professionally through our college experiences; and, at the end of all our hard work, receive our undergraduate degrees - the completion of another step towards a successful and rewarding future!
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A Night to Remember Rosalind Usher ‘11
"It's been a long time coming. But tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America" Barack Obama Tuesday, November 4, 2008 was a day that I will never forget. As a child, I would usually watch the Presidential Election on television with my parents. This year, however was different, it became an election filled with firsts. As a first time voter, I was truly able to say I was a part of the process. It was also my first presidential election away from home. As a resident of Ujamaa Residential College, I knew there would some celebration, but I had no idea how large of a celebration it actually would turn to be. Even though it was not officially announced, Ujamaa, once again became the meeting place of the black community, and from 7:00 P.M. until 12:30 A.M., not a single unit lounge was occupied, students came from all over campus, to watch the election on the TV in the main lounge.
As the polls on the East Coast began to close, Baraka Kwa Wimboa, the all female gospel a cappella group, treated us to a performance.
“...change has come to America” Barack Obama
As the states began to turn blue, there continued to be a resounding cheer. By 11:00 P.M., however, Barack won California, and it was announced on all major networks, that Barack Obama would become our 44th President of the United States. The announcements lead to a series of chants and screams, not just throughout Ujamaa, but throughout North Campus. It seemed as though the rest of the Cornell Community was just as excited as we were. Residents and visitors alike began to congratulate each other, and people began to make frantic calls back home. The sight was amazing. The sense of community in Ujamaa that night was amazing. In addition, as we quieted down to listen to the concession speak, by Senator McCain, and the victory speech, by President-Elect Barack Obama, I truly felt that I was a part of history.
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It’s All YOUR Fault By Jacsymine Nsubuga ‘11
H
ow does it feel to be a problem? This year it seems as if African-Americans have become the targets for blame for virtually everything and anything. Sure, black people have grown accustomed to being societal scapegoats, but in 2008 it has reached a level of ridiculousness that cannot be justified.
Supposedly, the stock market crash was not the result of the current administrations deregulation, but rather it was a preemptive strike against Obama. Many have postulated that the economic crisis is Obama’s fault because investors lost their minds at the possibility that Obama might be elected and ruined the market. People got nervous about the idea of a black man becoming leader of the free world. They made some poor decisions but inevitably Obama’s the one to blame. Similarly, the housing crisis deeply wounded our nation’s economy. Several economic and legislative factors created the turbulent environment in which the crisis grew. However, people found a simpler and more agreeable solution: blame black people. Why not? They’ve been doing it for centuries. Fox News contributor, Neil Cavuto, stated that “loaning to minorities and risky folks is a disaster”. Basically, the entire situation could have been avoided if those crazy liberals had not tried so diligently to bring equality to the housing market. It’s all their fault. The passage of California’s Proposition 8 has incited a battle. Californians voted for the proposition which will define marriage as an institution between a man and a woman in the state. Gay rights activists have been protesting at various churches and organizations that supported the proposition. Talk show host, Bill O’Reilly, urges them to turn their protests to black voters who voted overwhelmingly, seventy percent, for the proposition. Clearly, these activists are not going to attempt to target individual voters, but rather the institutions that financed and promoted the proposition. But as usual, the simplification is that gay people should go after black people. It’s all their fault. Other states have passed propositions banning affirmative action. Voters who supported such propositions believe that minorities have had their fair share of opportunities. Look, Obama’s president now. What is there left to complain about? And of course, the prevailing sentiment is that And of course, the prevailing sentiment is that Obama’s election was an act of affirmative action. Although, the vast majority of voters freely elected him, his victory does not count because of the color of his skin. Moreover, rather than celebrating record black turnout, the general consensus among disaffected voters seems to be that black voters have handed the country over to a socialist president. Clearly, he wants to redistribute the wealth, although his tax plan is far more conservative than any recent democrat. What makes his plan any different? Obviously, McCain would have liked you to believe that Obama wants to take your (good, decent, tax paying white family) money and give it to them (lazy, ignorant black welfare queens). Therefore, according to some, all those agencies and organizations that put considerable effort into reaching out to marginalized voters made a huge mistake. This is part of the reason why black people are such a political threat. Apparently, they mobilize together and create a massive voting block. They are to blame if Obama fails. It’s all their fault. And of course the blame societal problems that have existed for decades have been placed on the shoulders of blacks as well. Teen pregnancy? Entirely, due to racy rap lyrics that force teenagers to have sex. Black people with their disgraceful family values are ruining American society. Obesity? Of course, lazy black people are raking in welfare checks to overeat while they develop diseases that contribute to the strain on healthcare. Overpopulation? Those backwards black people have no sense of family planning. As Fox News’ John Gibson urged his white viewers “make more babies” before those dreadful minorities start taking over. It’s ALL their fault. It’s entertaining to wonder what crazy scheme people will invent next to demonize black people. But at a certain point we must stop with the finger pointing and hold the real culprits accountable.
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Where ARE They? Angelique Boyer ‘11
So when you look around Cornell’s campus, what’s one of the first things that you notice? Besides the beautiful scenery and everyone’s favorite – the random hills behind every corner – is the amount of males and females that attend here. While Cornell has always had the reputation for having around a 50:50 ratio of men to women, this is not quite so in the minority community. In most cases, there is a disproportionate number of men to women at Cornell, with men – especially black males – being vastly outnumbered by women. It seems that as the years go by, less and less black males are enrolling in Cornell, making the social and romantic dynamic among the AfricanAmerican community particularly fragile and stressed. The low number of black males on Cornell’s campus leads to many issues for the community as a whole, but especially for the females that must face this unfortunate circumstance. Why is it so bad, you might ask? What does having a low enrollment of black males mean? Well, for starters, it makes the entire social dynamic of the community different. Many programs that are traditionally dominated by males will decline with their declining enrollment. Associations like The Link, MOCC, and MGLC fraternities will suffer if they have fewer males available to participate in their programs. These organizations strive to do a lot for not only Cornell’s campus, but the Ithaca community as well. However, with fewer members, they will not be able to reach their full potential from lack of internal support. Fewer men mean a weaker support network, making things more strained for the black males here at Cornell. A decline in male enrollment also means fewer choices for women on campus. Science tells us that the rarer gender always is the one with the upper hand, as they set the tone for the sexual selection dynamics on campus. The fact that there are many more women to men makes things “dicey” for the women on campus, as fewer options equates to them acting a little more frantic than usual when trying to find someone. Due to the low numbers of black males, many tend to lump men into either 2 categories: those that let it get to their head, and those that are just a little to “out there”, compared to those from back
home. Many feel that since the males here on campus have so many more choices and female attention, they let it all go to their head. Others feel that all black Cornell guys are banal, and don’t consider them a suitable match in the long run. Therefore, many girls only see a handful of guys that fit their standards, and divert all their energy on them, making the females here on campus more aggressive and impulsive than normal. Whenever a suitable guy is seen, many females swoop on them, reversing the traditional gender roles by acting more audacious and forward than normal. What exactly can be done about this? For starters, we should figure out a way to recruit more black males on campus, which is what many organizations on campus are trying to do in the Ithaca community as we speak. Also, we should remember the fact that while limited, the black men that are available on campus are some of the few educated, successful, prominent ones left in this country, and they should be valued for who they are without giving them too much or too little consideration. While there is not much that we can do to change the current demographics, we can try to put measures in place that will help increase black male enrollment on campus in the future, and try our best not to let it change the behavior of the females left on campus.
Photo Credits: Cover: Joe Raedle/ Getty Images Page 2: Cornell Arts Quad/ Cornell Stock Photo Page 3: Facebook Photos/ Alicia Adams and Rosalind Usher Page 4: Facebook Photos /Deborah Jack and Jacsymine Nsubuga Page 5: Facebook Photos/ Darin Jones Page 6: Facebook Photos/ Rosalind Usher Page 8: Facebook Photos/ Rosalind Usher
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