Editor-In-Chief Janeen Talbott Art Director/Web Director Keith Woods Managing Editor Marcus Scott Photo Editor Taylar Barrington Copy Editor/Fact-Checker Lauren McDade Faculty Adviser Laura J. Downey Art Team: Ashleigh Beverly Britt Lyle LaShonda Snelling Wilken Tisdale Photography Team: Keenan Doanes LaJazz Jackson LaGretta Johnson Jasmine Mitchell Contributors: Paulethia Bryant Bianca Flowers Bianca Salvant Desiree Stennett Online Contributors: Kenta Joseph Antonio Rosado Brandon Vaughn Special Thanks: Dean James Hawkins Ulysses Franklin Wennifer Paul Robert Richardson Printer: Gandy Printers 02 SPRING 2011 JOURNEYMAGONLINE.COM
(Puppeteer): Laura J. Downey
(Marionettes from L to R): Wilken Tisdale, Brittany Barriner, Marcus Scott, Janeen Talbott, Keith Woods, Taylar Barrington
Contents • Famu Matters • 04 Fashion Police • Life & Style • 08 Kreemo Clothing 10 Working Divas 12 Sole Mates 14 Fashion Revolution
Copyright 2011 by Florida A&M University. All rights reserved. This issue of Journey magazine was produced by the student organization Journey with essential support from the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. Journey is funded through student activity and service fees, as allocated by the Student Senate of Florida A&M University. For more information on Journey or the Magazine Program, contact the Division of Journalism, 510 Orr Drive Room 3078, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307 or call (850) 599-3502. Cover Photo By: LaGretta Johnson Cover Design and Photo Edit By: Keith Woods Models L to R: LaSasha Wallace, William Underwood III, Nyah Abdala COLLECTOR’S EDITION • 03
I
fashion police
Whether trekking to the Set or to the cafe, you should always turn heads with your personal style. If not, be prepared to pay the price – painfully.
models: Marcus Scott, Janeen Talbott, Rachel Terry and Keith Woods
Photographer: Keenan Doanes // Fashion Coordinator: Brittany Barriner // Stylist: Roderick Smith // Design By: Keith Woods
(L to R): Marcus Scott, Keith Woods and Janeen Talbott
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To Be Continued... see what happens next @ journeymagonline.com
FAMU MATTERS • 07
Three college boys started one of the hottest new fashion phenoms straight out of Atlanta. Journey got the scoop from the trio on how they plan to take the fashion industry by storm — one celeb at a time. Written By: Paulethia Bryant and Marcus Scott // Design By: Keith Woods
MIDNIGHT
had come and gone. The website should have been operational by then and people were supposed to be filling up their virtual shopping carts and checking out with their credit card numbers. However, as of 1:13 a.m., Kreemo.com still had not made its debut. After all of the promoting on Twitter and Facebook, Brian, LeVan and Desmond were nervous that their patrons were getting restless. In the next room the party was in full swing, the disc jockey had the girls tooted up and the fellas raising red cups in the air in celebration. Then it happened. Finally. “It went up at 2 a.m. and everything was sold out in like 15 minutes,” says Brian Wright, 1/3 of the Kreemo creators. Rewind the clock back three years to the halls of Baldwin Senior High. Brian Wright was selling T-shirts out of his locker and never imagined working with a top record label to create designs for a breakthrough hip-hop artist. The concept for a clothing line came from a trip Brian made to New York City. He visited an A Bathing Ape store and while browsing noticed that the clothes were a combination of intricate details, simple patterns and fabrics that made the urban-wear feel high-end. “I was tired of purchasing BBC [Billionare Boys Club] and A Bathing Ape [BAPE] in high school,” says Brian, “I knew I could make something better.” Convinced that the current fashion labels were not offering a wide rage of options, Brian set out to create something that would resonate the same feeling as the boutiques he visited in New York. Once he returned home he enlisted the help of LeVan Wright and Hugh Brown. Together they developed Kreemo.
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LeVan created the clothing art by hand to give their designs an authentic feel. He is responsible for the ghost logo, which features two cooky swirls for the eyes. It was not until Brian moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College that the brand took flight. At Morehouse, Brian became friends with 20-year-old marketing student Desmond Attmore. Utilizing Desmond’s business-savvy techniques, he was added to the Kreemo family as the marketing director where he was able to expand the brand throughout Atlanta. “Going to Morehouse has helped us out so much, we have a strategy, if we know a music artist is coming we will draw up a design, get some buttons and banners made and present them to the artist hoping to build a relationship, most artists usually support us,” Brian says. “I love Atlanta because the city supports anything black.” Kreemo’s clothing designs range from graphic tees with their signature ghost logo and the Kreemo college dropout bear to $5 lighters and the $2 logo-bearing ghost pins. To promote Kreemo, the guys decided to throw parties. In order to get in you had to have one of their ghost logo buttons. After the first couple parties the buttons were some of the highest sought-after pieces. These parties have become legendary throughout the Atlanta University Center. At the event Hi On Campus — another no button/no entry function — students offered to pay $100 just to get in without the required admission. It was then that Kreemo had arrived. People were finally taking notice and wanted to be a part of the movement. Like sharks when blood is in the water, the growing fan-base swarmed to get a piece of everything they had to offer.
A L L A R T W O R K C O U R T E SY O F K R E E M O . C O M
“We want to brand a lifestyle, people will buy a lifestyle quicker than they will buy a T-shirt,” Desmond says. Steadily climbing in popularity Kreemo was still only known to those in the metro Atlanta area until rapper, Wiz Khalifa, was given some pieces from the line including tees and a sweatshirt. During his Wake n’ Bake Tour, Wiz took the stage rocking an original pullover. He donned the same sweatshirt later on in an interview. As it turned out, Wiz was a fan of a fan. “The next thing I know I’m getting a phone call from Atlantic Records telling us how Wiz really liked our stuff and how they wanted us to design some stuff for his album,” Brian says. Wiz Khalifa’s album, “Rolling Papers,” released on March 29, featured a special Kreemo design that graced T-shirts, buttons, stickers, and posters – all sold as a pre-album bundle exclusively on his website, wizkhalifa.com. This, for Kreemo, is only the beginning. The company is not just about clothes. Kreemo is an innovation in its youth. The company also works in artist management and video production where they film, direct and produce videos and documentaries which can be found on their blog, kreemo.com. To date, they have collaborated with names like Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Chip the Ripper, Travis Porter, Rick Ross, and Retro Sushi. Kreemo is asking college campuses to be a part of the trendsetting lifestyle. Schools such as Howard University, Hampton University, and even Florida A&M University have reps spreading the word about Kreemo. Brian says, “In five years I see us overseas, two stores in the U.S., marketing and branding artists, having reps at every school. In 10 years, I see us as one of the best clothing lines working with millions of companies and clients, I see us as high-fashion streetwear.”
. LIFE & STYLE • 09
From hard hats to helmets, Journey has gathered mounds of makeup to accent a beauty’s best features no-matter how many hats he (or she) wears.
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LIPS
Model: Delmarshae Walker // Dare to Wear lip gloss by M.A.C ($18)
CHEEKS Model: Passion Wheeler // Ambering Rose Blush by M.A.C ($19.50)
EYES
Model: Chardonné Paynter // So Lucky Green eye shadow by M.A.C ($14.50) Grape Pigment eye shadow by M.A.C ($19.50) Graph Technakohl eye liner by M.A.C ($14.50) Zoom Lash mascara by M.A.C ($14) HiP Showy eye shado w by L’Oréal ($7.99)
FULL FACE
[Opposite Page] Model: Aahj Russ // Super Lustrous Black Cherry lipstick by Revlon ($7.99) Graph Black Technakohl eye liner by M.A.C ($14.50) Liquid eye liner by M.A.C ($17.50) Raizin powder blush by M.A.C ($19.50) Products can be found online at revlon.com, lorealparisusa.com, maccosmetics.com Photographer: LaGretta Johnson Design By: Keith Woods
LIFE & STYLE • 11
Just for kicks, let’s play matchmaker. We’ve got shoes for every man. Choose wisely. From boots to boat shoes there’s a perfect pair or every boy. So start your first summer fling – they’re waiting for you to pick ‘em up. Design By: Keith Woods // Photo By: LaJazz Jackson // Model: Keilan Scott
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Shoes (L to R):
Black Conquest Hi II by Polo Ralph Lauren Brown Adami by Aldo Teal Supra Blazer High by Nike Black Quidley by Aldo Brown Boat Shoes by Highland Creek Brown Flip-Flops by Dollar General Red Tie-Dye Skytop by Supra
LIFE & STYLE • 13
P H O T O G R A P H E R : TAY L A R B A R R I N G T O N | S T Y L I S T S : R O D E R I C K S M I T H A N D B R I T TA N Y B A R R I N E R H A I R S T Y L I S T: B R I T T A N Y B A R R I N E R | M A K E U P A R T I S T: A N J E L I C A R E M B E R T P H O T O A S S I S T A N T: L A G R E T T A J O H N S O N | D E S I G N B Y: K E I T H W O O D S A N D T AY L A R B A R R I N G T O N
Sixties fashion has a fighting chance in present-day couture. Join the mod squad while you can because their hip looks are coming back with a vengeance.
( L t o R ) : F r a n k i e L a w r e n c e a n d To n e I s h a “ To o k i e � P i t t
( L t o R ) : K e l v i n W i l l i a m s a n d R a c h e l Te r r y
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LIFE & STYLE • 17
( P i c t u r e d A b o v e ) : F r a n k i e L a w r e n c e a n d To n e I s h a “ To o k i e ” P i t t
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(Pictured Above): Jaron Goodman and Jasmine Ellis
// Wardrobe provided by models
LIFE & STYLE • 19
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Sloth, greed, lust, envy, wrath, pride and gluttony are child’s play compared to some of these well-kept secrets. The featured attractions are sure to have you shooing the city’s skeletons back into their closet. Written By: Marcus Scot // Design/Illustration By: Keith Woods // Photo By: Keenan Doane // Model: Esi Yamoah *Disclaimer: The model used has no relation to the story.
1. A “Cheeky” Lounge Legs, breasts and thighs are all served at Cheeks Lounge, although they’re not all served on a platter. At this undercover girlie bar, some orders are served on stilettos and others are placed on a four-inch pump platter. By day, the well-to-do restaurant assumes the persona of just another chicken-joint peddling deep-fried bird to the masses. However, on Wednesday nights after the grease cools and the open sign turns off, the real funbegins. The dining room turns into an all-access stage where ladies skulk across the floor to the rhythm of the beat collecting ones, fives, and double-digit currency in the process. The loyal crowd of businessmen, locals and students who gather there are the only ones who know of this gem’s location making it one of Tallahassee’s top nice-naughty places to visit. 2. Sons & Daughters There is an alleged secret society on the campus of Florida A&M University called Sons & Daughters. This group is rumored to be comprised of high-ranking student body representatives who all have a family lineage of people who once held powerful positions on campus. The goal of the organization is to keep power in the hands of the elite to further their agenda. Ever wonder how certain people get re-elected amidst controversy? Think of it as the black version of the Skulls.
3. Lost Lake Down the street from Tallahassee Regional Airport, it is rumored that there is a park unlike any other in town. Although there are squirrels and picnic tables, if you listen close enough you can hear the sounds of naked flesh making contact. Not a place for the shy, couples and other exhibitionists visit this lost lake to spice up their sex lives. Patrons can watch others engulfed in carnal desire while adventurous types can join in. A quick stroll around the lake will seem more like a trip to a nudist camp and nothing like a walk around Lake Ella. 4. Affirmative Action Bake Sale Across the street at the university that will remain nameless, there is an annual bake sale that attracts a lot of attention. However, there is a catch to how much of an item you get for your money. Earlier this year, Black patrons were give an entire cookie, Europeans were given one-fourth of a cookie and those of Hispanic decent were given three-fourths of a cookie. This is the Affirmative Action Bake Sale. It is used to highlight the apparent unfairness of affirmative action and how minorities are unfairly given advantages over “more qualified” white applicants. The sponsors of this sale feel that they are being discriminated against because of their skin. #KanyeShrug.
5. High-Class Hoe Stroll Finally, March has come and gone bringing with it the coveted spring heat to thaw out the frigid streets of Tallahassee. As the temperature rises, so do the bookings of local working girls. Yes, there are prostitutes in Tallahassee. However, they are unlike the drug-addicted streetwalkers that are seen on TV. These girls and guys have high-profile clientele. 6.Birthday Suit In the secluded woods of Tallahassee, there is a group of people who believe that clothing is a hindrance and the world is to be experienced without it. Tallahassee Naturally is a local nudist organization that hosts several clothing-optional events throughout the year such as the Greek Athletes, monthly full moon skinny-dipping, and naked gardening day. They even offer scholarship and leadership programs and are a part of a larger nudist organization called the Travel Club of the American Association for Nude Recreation. 7. Not Your Little Sister’s 4-H Club In 2001, several associates interested in exploring the boundaries of their sensuality decided to form a consortium. Based on the movie “Eyes Wide Shut,” The 4 Horsemen Club is an underground social society in Tallahassee that throws “themed” parties. Composed of affluent members of Tallahassee’s upper echelon of professionals, these parties are more elaborate than “Juice Jam” but have the same overall goal, minus the WorldStar Hip-Hop video. FEATURES • 13
The man responsible for making hits that have been sampled time and time again, sat down with JOURNEY to discuss the battle about getting rights to his music and undying love for his craft. Written By: Desiree Stennett // Design By: Britt Lyle // image courtesy of: freakingnews.com
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With their gold boots flying above their
heads and their purple-shirted arms swinging, the brothers of the Bloody-Up Upsilon Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi salute the “Atomic Dog” like no one else can. Theirs is the only bark on campus that can rival that of the original atomic dog himself, George Clinton, the musical mastermind behind that song and many others like it in his 50-year career. If the name is not enough, all you have to do is see his picture. Clinton’s pink, green, blue and orange dreadlocks with outlandish style to match has made his face one of the most recognizable in the music industry for half a century. For decades, Clinton has been influencing pop culture. He’s had old school pimps asking girls if they “got fries to go with that shake,” all the way down to our campus Que Dawgs “chasin’ the cat” with “nothin’ but the dog” in them. “It’s George Clinton,” says Mark Hinson, a columnist and longtime cultural connoisseur at the Tallahassee Democrat. Hinson mimicked the wide-eyed excitement that characterizes the reactions of even the most stoic Tallahassee residents after having an opportunity to see the musician walking the streets they call home. The sheer length of his career is a testament to his success. Not many artists can claim his kind of longevity in the fickle, ever-changing music industry. Where so many artists hit their peak and disappeared, Clinton thrived and remained a household name because we just “gotta have that funk”. According to Ric Stein, another music great who has worked with Clinton and other artists such as Sly Stone, Clinton’s ongoing success can be credited to his innovation and his trust in his own artistic vision, even when following the trend might have gotten him rich faster. “He’s brilliant,” says Stein, who has been friends with Clinton for more than 30 years. “What is in his head, some musicians would never play.” When the psychedelic era came, though, Clinton and his band let loose, adding not just a splash, but a ton of color to their routine. “I think that’s where George was, anyway,” Stein says. “It gave him the option to just be himself. George, I believe, was where Jimi Hendrix was before Jimi Hendrix ever was.” The P-Funk star and self proclaimed “country boy” has had a home just outside of Tallahassee in Monticello since 1997, but in the last 15 years, he has been on the road at least 300 days each year, touring and bringing the funk to the fans all over the world. “That’s my life,” Clinton says. “That’s not work; it’s easy when you love what you do.” Clinton is not only responsible for his own success but that of many others as well. Other artists like Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre and Salt-N-Pepa have been inspired by Clinton.They, like many, have used his creativity to spark their own by sampling his hits. Of course, Clinton is still making new music of his own and reaping the benefits of the decades of work he put in. If success is measured by the money, the cars and the clothes, as rapper Drake says, he has made it. Big time. However, with more money comes more problems. Clinton is involved in court battles as he attempts to regain the rights to his own music and get paid for what he has created. He recently lost a case to Bridgeport Music for the rights to the music he created from 1976 to 1983. Clinton believes that these legal issues arose because of underhanded and oftentimes illegal practices of record label companies, but he is determined to shed light and get what is owed him and his band members. “I’m having a good time chasing their asses,” he says. Losing ownership of the rights to his music means that Clinton is not able to collect the profit that those songs still generate.
The Tallahassee Democrat estimated the amount of money that music is worth to be near $100 million at the time of the lawsuit, but Clinton says that number has gone up to about $150 million owed to him alone. “If you add in all the other writers, it would be a lot more,” he says. Clinton’s legal battles don’t end with this case, either. He is now involved in court cases with the Black Eyed Peas for sampling his music in their 2003 hit “Shut Up.” “I hope he can get some of that money,” Stein says. “He just wants what he’s due.” According to Stein, this is business as usual in the music industry and Clinton is working to break that cycle. “A lot of our people get paid, and they don’t try to help the younger people, and that’s one of the things he and I both are trying to get into,” Stein says. Clinton recently donated $10,000 and a percentage of his royalties to help create programs to educate young and old entertainers about the importance of understanding the legal aspects of music ownership and copyrighting. Some younger artists are learning from the mistakes Clinton and others like him have made. TJ Norris, a third-year jazz studies student at Florida A&M University, has had the chance to crank out the funk with Clinton twice. The Jacksonville native thinks the business side of an artist’s musical career deserves just as much attention as the actual entertaining. “I wouldn’t dare hire a manager to handle my finances if I didn’t know how to do it myself,” Norris says. “He could do whatever he wanted and just tell me anything.” Despite all the legal troubles, as Stein puts it, “George is still George.” While attending a George Clinton concert is a thrilling experience where the audience can expect to see anything from “Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk” refusing to dance or Clinton exiting the famous mother ship that he will soon donate to the Smithsonian in D.C., working with him was equally exhilarating for Norris. “The whole performance was just something else,” he says. “We rehearsed 17 songs and played four. It was a lot of work, but it was a learning experience.” On or off the stage, Clinton is a star no matter where he is or who he is around. People will either love him or hate him, but that doesn’t seem to matter to the timeless musician. After 50 years of making music, Clinton’s “Law of Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication” that gives the people whatthey want when they want blows whatever Mary Poppins was talking about out of the water and has governed his career for years. “George is brilliant,” Stein says. “For somebody to still be there after 50 years, they have to be doing something right.”
Sampled SONGS FROM the real Funkmasters: 1. "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton , sampled by: Bow Wow • “Bow Wow (That’s My Name)” Tupac • “Holler If Ya Hear Me” Snoop Dogg • “Who Am I (What’s My Name)” 2. "One Nation Under the Groove" by Funkadelic , sampled by: Queen Latifah • “Come Into My House” Kirk Franklin • “Stomp (Remix)” The Eastsidaz • “Now We Lay ‘Em Down” 3. "Get off Your Ass and Jam" by Funkadelic , sampled by: Lil’ Jon and The East Side Boys • “A Lil’ Low Now” A Tribe Called Quest • “The Pressure”
N.W.A. • “100 and Runnin’”
For more from the funk guru visit funkprobosci.com FEATURES • 11
Hailing from the original big ‘Sip, this new-school rapper is making wide ripples in the industry – rivaling the results pretty boys dream of getting when they pull off their wave-caps. H e m a d e a p i t s t o p i n Ta l l y o n h i s way to stardom to tell us all about it. Written By: Bianca Flowers and Janeen Talbott // Design By: Keith Woods // Images Courtesy of: officialpsds.com
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Usually
when rambunctious college students are packed gut-to-butt, fights break out, riots start and people get hurt in the process, but this night at Club Episodes was a little different. Everyone was waiting in sweet anticipation for the man of the hour to grace the stage and nothing – not even a bout of short-lived ignorance was going to get in the way of their listening experience. Who could possibly have the power to pacify an udience of that magnitude before even uttering a word or stepping foot on the stage? None other than Big K.R.I.T. (King Remembered in Time) and he’s making the foundation for what is soon to be his throne in the music industry. The up-and-coming emcee with a nostalgic, down-south flow drizzled over southern-fried beats was here, right in the heart of Tallahassee, telling his story through the art of rhyme. He was supposed to be featured first at Potbelly’s but was a no-show due to a flight delay. He decided to make it up to his fans and later performed at Episodes to serve the locals with the encore they craved. During his first capitol-city performance, he casually stepped onto the extended stage, standing one inch above the floor with the crowd only an arm’s-length away. But before he began he had a request. “Come closer, I want to be able to see and experience y’all as y’all experience me,” says K.R.I.T. The spectators complied and took a few steps closer without hesitation. Satisfied with the their obedience, his performance began. The track, “Moon & Stars,” seeped out of ill-placed speakers, but the Meridian, Miss., native still put on a show with relentless enthusiasm. Heads bobbed in time to the music. The audience – full of die-hard fans – recited each lyric with him: “Be grateful that this game was bestowed upon onto you. Those backstabbers and traitors advice don’t listen to ‘cause they front, but they don’t do what I do ‘cause they will never be...” His words hint that his voyage to success was not easy. In fact, he began producing his own music with a shot of ambition chased with the “MTV Music Generator” for PlayStation game consoles. Known to the government as Justin Scott, K.R.I.T. first discovered his talent at the ripe age of 12 when, like Tupac Shakur, he started turning his poems into raps. Since then, he has been self-sufficient, producing his own music and creating his own sound. The southerner enhanced his craft from his first mixtape, “See Me on Top,” to the more recent “Return of 4Eva.” He’s collaborated with the likes of Wiz Khalifa, which initiated his growing buzz, David Banner, Curren$y, Devin the Dude, Chamillionaire and Raheem DeVaughn. “I can’t change the world, but I can damn sure try,” says K.R.I.T., when describing his symphonic talents. “In 2005, I was younger. It was a lot of metaphoric punch lines in my music, you know. I hadn’t experienced as much
as I have now. So now, my music is more subject, matter, content. More to the point, you can get it if you experience it. If you’re older, you’ll understand what I’m going through; if you’re younger you’ll grow up and understand what I’m going through. That’s what the growth is; it’s like in my production as well, the music is more dynamic, more acoustic.” In the summer of 2010, he met Dame Dash and signed a record deal with Def Jam records. Despite becoming a newly-signed artist to a major label, however, “I feel like it’s important that I should never get comfortable and never feel like I’m good enough,” K.R.I.T., says. “I should always strive for more and more.” Concert-goers at Episodes experienced firsthand why K.R.I.T. has such a large grassroots following. From the first line to the final song, the crowd was hypnotized. His smooth southern drawl combined with personal colloquialisms make the 25-year-old stand out from his peers. “I write about what I go through every day, letting the people know I’m human and that they are not alone,” says K.R.I.T. “[I’m] making music I know people can relate to because I’m going through the same thing.”
“Be grateful that this game was bestowed upon onto you. Those backstabbers and traitors advice don’t l i s t e n t o . . . ” - B I G K . R . I . T. When performing in smaller unconventional venues, unforeseen issues are bound to happen. During his performance at Episodes, his audio went out a few times. Instead of letting that deter him, he kept rapping. The outage left the disc jockey without turntables and K.R.I.T., without a microphone. This did not stop the show; his lyrically intoxicating flow became a soulful a cappella. By the end of the performance, K.R.I.T. elevated his audience’s minds to new heights. As an artist, he is forever changing and staying true to his particular art form. “An artist is someone that no matter how long it takes, someone is going to love his painting, his artwork,” he says. “It may be an acquired taste, but somebody [is] going to love it. It’s not really factory; it’s mostly something you have never seen before, and they stick to their brush strokes and what they do. That’s what an artist is.” “Return of 4Eva,” the emcee’s newest album, was released last month. The album features 21 tracks, each representing his personal growth and exploration to date. Currently, K.R.I.T. is on his “Return of 4Eva” tour until his last show this month in East Rutherford, N.J. In the meantime, download his new album for free at returnof4eva.com and follow him on Twitter @BIGKRIT. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • 09
MASS TRANSIT Journey explores the intricate network of human trafficking in Tallahassee and beyond.
The
Written By: Bianca Salvant // Design By: Wilken Tisdale and Keith Woods // Image Courtesy of: sxc.hu
amount of food on the table was scarce, their income was decreasing and the weight of caring for several children under one roof was steadily intensifying. She felt as if she was losing the ability to provide her family with a high quality of life. But what were her options? The mother of two was presented with a solution, but the thought of it made her stomach ache. Hopelessness filled her spirit as the thought of selling one of her daughter’s crept closer and closer to reality. But how, she thought, could they all survive? Wasn’t losing one child better than losing all? It was then that the child was torn from the only life she knew: the life that allowed her to prance freely while playing dress up and creating a world totally left up to her imagination. Suddenly, the child was forced to be a woman in just a few days. Doesn’t seem like reality? Well, for many girls across the globe, it is. When slavery was made illegal around the world, many people thought the end of human torture had finally arrived. Few would even think to consider that in today’s cities— especially a city as unassuming as Tallahassee—there might be individuals with people in their homes whom they consider property. However, though it’s unusual to find men and women walking around in chains and rags, there are people all over the world who are victims of slavery. Today this atrocity goes by a different name. The term “human trafficking” has swept the globe, affecting nearly 27 million people. Tallahassee is no exception. In 2008, one capitol city townhouse became a jailhouse for several Guatemalan women who came to America to find better work. They were promised jobs as maids where they would be able to escape the $30 a month salary of their home country. What they received were the shackles of slavery. One of these Guatemalans was a young girl who, according to NaplesNews.com, never wanted to come to the United States at all. Her family had different plans. A man who made arrangements with them picked her up from Guatemala. Once she arrived here, she was forced to take explicit photographs. The man kidnapped her. The U.S. resident and Guatemala native was arrested, but records show that he pleaded not guilty. 06 SPRING 2011 JOURNEYMAGONLINE.COM
Human trafficking can refer to labor as well. Many victims have suffered tremendously as they are put to work without adequate pay and forced to dwell in poor living conditions. Many victims are housed in homes filled with others who are in the same situation; therefore, the locations ar not sanitary or comfortable. One victim, who asked to be referred to as John, left the Philippines to come to Florida in hopes of being able to help his family pay off a $173,464 debt back in his country. Instead, he and about 25 others were met with unimaginable torture. “We were cramped in one house, about 25 people. People were everywhere, and the moment we arrived our passports were confiscated,” he says. “Some were obligated to take care of their kids, clean the house, wash their cars, do whatever chores they wanted us to do.” John, who no works at a hotel, says they were able to escape only when the Philippine consulate in Ft. Lauderdale rescued them. They were entered into the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, then into the Immigration and Customs Enforcement database and were given shelter. Although they moved from shelter to shelter, they were eventually given work permits to find adequate jobs. With the number of victims growing all over the world, one question must be raised: what is being done to control this epidemic? The devastating reality is that nearly 29 percent of law enforcement officials have admitted that human trafficking reports aren’t given high priority, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Organizations have been created in order to combat the problem while educating the community on the issue. One such organization is the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking. The FCAHT was created by Anna Rodriguez, who served as a victim advocate for Collier County Sheriff ’s Office and an outreach coordinator for the Immokalee Shelter for AbuseWomen in Collier County, Fla. In 2004, FCAHT was organized through a
“What is being done to control this epidemic?” Over the past few years, the number of victims has been rising worldwide, but the country with the largest number of targets is Asia with 1.4 million victims. It has been reported that many people there are trying to pay off a debt to their overseer, the person in charge and giving orders, and consequently find themselves in an unhealthy situation that they cannot get out of. Many are told that they and their families will be killed if they try to escape. While some take up this existence of their own accord in order to pay off a loan, there are others who are, unfortunately, sold into their predicament by family members. This concept may seem hard to grasp, but in Third World countries, steady income is hard to find, and the only solution some families can conceive is giving up one child in order to save the others. This isn’t a problem unique to foreign nations. Of the 27 million people in bondage worldwide, 2 million are enslaved in the so-called land of the free, our own back yard, the United States of America. In fact, there are many cases of invisible chains in Florida alone. Although the authorities have taken few steps toward creating a solution to end human trafficking, there are things you can do to assist in bettering your community, country, and the world. With your involvement in these organizations there is hope for creating a more educated society, which would help put an end to the nightmare of human trafficking. To get involved in the Tallahassee area, please visit cahr.fsu. edu to find out more information. You can also join the FCAHT fight in three major Florida locations: Orlando, Pensacola, or Ft. Myers, where you can contribute by donating items such as phone cards, pre-paid cell phones, alarm clocks, towels, etc. To find out more information about joining Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, please visit stophumantrafficking.org/join.
TRUTH IN NUMBERS:
12-14:
° Average age range of the girls that enter into prostitution.
800,000:
° Number of people trafficked across international borders every year.
1 million:
° Number of children exploited by the global commercial sex trade, every year.
70%
° of female victims are trafficked into the commercial sex industry. 30% of female victims are victims of forced labor.
52%
° of victims are men, 42% are women and 6% are both men and women.
5,808
° In 2006 alone, there were only prosecutions and 3,160 convictions throughout the world. This means that for every 800 people trafficked, only one person was convicted.
SOURCES:
“home visitation” program she developed in order to keep track of the progress of her previous clients from the shelter. Today, Rodriguez’s organization has helped hundreds of women in the state of Florida escape this contemporary slavery while providing shelter, food, medical assistance, psychological treatment and whatever they may need in order to heal. “Every 30 minutes, another victim is affected somewhere in the world,” Rodriguez says. “We must be educated and vigilant to look beneath the surface and find all victims of this horrific crime.” Terry Coonan, the executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University, has also been involved in trying to educate the communities of Tallahassee. “Behind drug trafficking, it is the No. 2 illegal business in the world,” Coonan says. “There are estimates that say there is as much as $9 billion a year being transacted through human trafficking. What organized crime is realizing — unlike guns and drugs, which after you traffic and sell, they are lost into the stream of commerce — is that human beings, especially women, can be sold repeatedly. And this is exactly what we are seeing in sex trafficking schemes: it’s a product that continues to give back and is able to be commercially exploitable by the traffickers.”
1. Estes, Richard J. and Neil A. Weiner. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work: 2001. 2. U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007. 3. U.S. Department of State, The Facts About Child Sex Tourism: 2005. 4. U.S. Department of Justice, Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons: 2004. 5. International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999). 6. US State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report (2007). MIND, BODY, SOUL • 07
S E R U T N E V D A S I M OF MARY THE
FAMU students have often heard her name whispered through the halls, especially after one of their very own police officers was caught selling her goodies out of his squad car in January. She’s the chick the nation loves to hate but can’t get enough of. And while others are blowing smoke about her alleged shinanigans, some are finally taking the time to hear her out.
JANE
Written By: Janeen Talbott // Design/Illustration By: Keith Woods // Photo By: Peter Klashorst
MYTHS & LEGENDS
And so the story goes: Mary Jane is the girl who can’t call it quits. The government is the dude that doesn’t want to admit that there may be a little more to their relationship than meets the eye. And the budding talk about how marijuana may possibly be the answer to the nation’s deficit problem had to grow from somewhere. Journey got a little nosey and decided to play devil’s advocate. Take a look America’s untold love affair with Mary Jane.
ABOUT SMOKING MARIJUANA: 1. Marijuana kills your brain cells • Contrary to what some believe, it does not kill your brain cells. Studies done in 2005 even suggest that it promotes brain cell growth. 2. It gives you cancer • While the smoke may pose a detriment to the cilia, which line the lungs, it does not cause cancer. 3. It is addictive • Although smoking marijuana can become habitual, a person will not go through withdrawal if they stop smoking it.
DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN HEMP & WEED Both come from the same species of Cannabis sativa plant. 1. Hemp has a low THC* content and is grown for its seeds, oil and fibers. 2. Weed comes from the flowering buds on the top of the cannabis plant and is grown for its high THC content. *THC stands for Delta-9tetrahydrocannbinol, the chemical that causes the psychoactive properties of cannabis.
CURRENCY
WHERE THE CASH AT? Instead of being hush-hush about how much the weed-industry is making, let’s talk about it. 1. An estimated $7.7 billion is spent by the government to enforce marijuana prohibition. 2. It is estimated that it would save the government $10 billion to $14 billion if it legalized marijuana. This number doesn’t include the revenue that could be made from the jobs it would create. 3. About $9 million from taxpayers is spent enforcing marijuana laws each year. 4. It has been estimated by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws that California could generate anywhere between $3 billion to $5 billion by legalizing marijuana without taxing it. 5. Indoor farmers who produce marijuana illegally can profit anywhere between $30,000 and $250,000 annually, depending on supply and demand.
10 THINGS
YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HEMP Although the U.S. does not distinguish between marijuana and the nonpsychoactive cannabis used for industrial and commercial purposes, the fact still remains that hemp is pretty dope. 1. Hemp is the most robust and durable soft fiber in the world. 2.The hemp used in plastic is biodegradable. 3. Paper made from hemp does not yellow with age. 4. Columbus brought Cannabis sativa to the New World in 1492. 5. The first cloth in the world is thought to be woven from dry hemp. 6. Hemp can be used to create oils to fuel machinery and does not harm the ozone layer when burned because it releases oxygen into the atmosphere. 7. C-class Mercedes-Benz automobiles have more than 30 parts that are made with hemp. 8. Some feminine hygiene products use hemp for durability and softness. 9. The Body Shop sells an array of products that use hemp, which is good for the skin and hair, in their ingredients. 10. It is illegal to grow hemp in the U.S. without a special DEA permit.
SOURCES: news.humcounty.com, hort.purdue.edu, stonedfun.com, host.madison.com and the documentary, “The Union: The Truth Behind Getting High.” 04 SPRING 2011 JOURNEYMAGONLINE.COM
From House wife to Home-wrecker: mARY JANE'S STORY FROm PAST TO PRESENT
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DOLLARS & SENSE • 05
E H ERM T R T T LERO TO F DI
E IGN
DES
BY:
NG
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SNE NDA
TO PHO
NAN KEE BY:
L
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DOA
So we meet again; same ish, different issue. A few things have changed though. This is the last time I’ll be checking in. Much like the outdated looks of the past (FAMU pg.14), my ship has finally run its course. But before I go, there are a few things I’d like to address: 1. Journey is not a labor of love. Journey is purely labor, and if I weren’t getting tossed a couple duckets every two weeks, I’d have reason to believe that I was some sort of slave (TallaNasty pg. 6). That leads me to my second point: 2. Much like a Greek pledges their loyalty to the three letters they wear across their chest, I’ve pledged my devotion to Journey’s past, present and future. No regrets. I’ve camped out in the Journey office for many a sleepless night. Hungry, tired and stressed beyond reason, I’ve battled the funk (TallaNasty pg. 10) of morning breath by brushing my teeth in the J-school sinks before my 8 a.m. class. I have lost track of time while sitting in front of a dismal screen for hours on end trying to meet deadlines. Through it all, no one saw the breakdowns, the massacred friendships, the teetering grades or the broken promises – all for the sake of a magazine. My bummy attire (FAMU pg. 4) and dreary eyes were the only testimony to my peers that I was slowly falling apart at the seams. Although I look like a ghost of my former self (FAMU pg. 8), miraculously, I didn’t lose myself among the many things that I did lose during the process. I bucked up and took the haze, because that’s what life is. I did it so no one could tell me that I wasn’t worthy of my position. No one could say that I didn’t put in work. No one could question my love for the publication. Which brings me to my last thought: 3. Like most of the springs of FAMU past, this one was reasonably peppered with probates. It seemed like every week the campus became flooded with families that filed in to support their loved-ones as they crossed over. They were there to see them on their journey and to celebrate their accomplishments. Uncannily, although, thousands will witness my probate and dozens will want to participate in the next one that Journey has, I will not have the same celebration. This issue is my probate. I’ve unmasked myself. Been stripped naked to bare the ridicule, jeers, jabs and rumors of those looking from the outside in. I’ve put all of my sweat, blood and tears into this issue to show you what I’ve learned, how I’ve grown and become the foundation for where Journey goes next. Only difference is my family won’t be cheering me on and there won’t be a gift bag, bow or balloon in sight. That matters not. I simply relish in the fact that I finished something that I started — alone. I didn’t try to escape (TallaNasty pg. 4) because success is not only my guilty pleasure (TallaNasty pg. 12) it is my sweetest revenge. It’s the payback and payoff for all of the time I lost drowning in the pages of what you now hold in your hands. ENJOY THE SHOW — IN 3-D. “I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul…”
Janeen Talbott, Editor-In-Chief #TEAMJOURNEY“H-E-I-C”SPR2K11 “Florida A&M University is a non-hazing institution. All opinions are solely the editor’s and do not reflect the views and/or beliefs of the university”
02 SPRING 2011 JOURNEYMAGONLINE.COM
Contents • Dollars & Sense • 04 The Misadventures of Mary Jane • Mind, Body, Soul • 06 Mass Transit • Arts & Entertainment • 08 BIG K.R.I.T. • Features • 10 George Clinton 12 The 7 Deadly Sins of Tally
Copyright 2011 by Florida A&M University. All rights reserved. This issue of Journey magazine was produced by the student organization Journey with essential support from the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication. Journey is funded through student activity and service fees, as allocated by the Student Senate of Florida A&M University. For more information on Journey or the Magazine Program, contact the Division of Journalism, 510 Orr Drive Room 3078, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307 or call (850) 599-3502. Cover Photo By: Marcy G. Cover Design/Illustration By: Ashleigh Beverly
COLLECTOR’S EDITION • 03