EDITOR’S
Follow me on Twitter @tylisajohnson for updates on the magazine!
Addicted. That’s the only explanation for why I would be penning another Editor’s Letter, why I’m still enduring the late nights, and why I’m giving up peace for Journey. I suppose now I can be honest. No editor, at least those I’ve talked to, ever truly wants to leave Journey. My second chance came unexpectedly, but if I’m being honest, I’m grateful. In my last letter, I said leaving was more bitter than sweet because I didn’t want to be done. In the words of Solange: I was weary. Weariness made my decision to leave, but Journey is making me push through. Being thrust into being editor versus planning and waiting for months was an uphill internal battle. I was constantly questioning myself and questioning my love for the process that comes with making a magazine. The hardest struggle was ignoring my senioritis. With a new era, came new highs and new wins. My new staff was a win. Having an office again was a win. Graduating is a win. The biggest win is that Journey’s lessons never stop. The magazine has taught me knowing when to let go (see: Time to Cut Them Off) and how important tolerance is (see: #NoBan). I am still very much so in love with Journey, and even though I’m in a much different place than my last Love & Relationship’s issue, my sentiment is the same: the key to Journey is passion. A year later, that’s still what I have for Journey. Journey has always been, and will always be, worth it.
Love, Tylisa C. Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
[Photography by: Chenille Edwards] [Styling by: Touched by TAG] 2
[Makeup by: Jaris Harrison]
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COVER MODELS:
Bl a u nd ck M ? er us th lim eT ru Stud Copyright 2017 by Florida A&M University. All rights reserved. This mp en issue of Journey magazine was produced by the student Ad ts organization Journey with essential support from the School of mi on nis lif Journalism & Graphic Communication. Journey is funded through tra e the student activity and services fees, as allocated by the Student tio Senate of Florida A&M University. For more information on Journey n or the Magazine Program, contact the Division of Journalism at ch
850-599-3379, 510 Orr Drive, Room 3078, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307.
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Brian Anderson Angelique Beckford
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Editor-in-Chief: TyLisa C. Johnson
Managing Editor: Angelique Fullwood
Copy Desk Chief: Celeste Stephens
Asst. Copy Desk Chief: Karlyn Sykes
Art Director: Dajah Dorn 4
Art Director: Monet Corbett
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Faculty Adviser: Francine Huff Printer: Gandy Printers
Fashion Director: LaRhonda Celestin
Online Editor: Nathan Vinson
Asst. Fashion Director: Dominic Hill
Comm. Director: Alexias Bradford
Contributors: Nallah Brown Ricardo Brown Br Daniece Brady Gina Cherelus Angelique Fullwood Treasure Glover Celeste Stephens Nathan Vinson Models: Bryan Anderson Angelique Beckford Jr. Chris Beckford Anthony Cross Jr. Paris Davis Shekinah Davis Jaclyn Harold Jac Freeman Hinson Hannah Marshall Sean Sanders Devin Williams Photo Team: Jhanielle Brown Chenille Edwards Brandon Oatts Art Team: Brion Eason Ebony Gibbs Braxton White Kiah Lewis Special Thanks: Than
Vocelles: The Bridal Shoppe
Dean Ann W. Kimbrough
Multimedia Editor: Romani Poole
Photo Editor: Nallah Brown
Here at Journey, we know it can be a struggle letting go of your old flame. We came up with this checklist so you can find out if it’s time for you to cut your bae off! Find your results below:
They have consistently bad hygiene They only talk about themself They don’t support your goals They make you feel like you ask for too much They’re emotionally manipulative/abusive The sex is trash They don’t take you in public He/She doesn’t “believe” in titles They don’t remember special dates or occasions They can’t manage their money or keep a job They’re a habitual liar Your family or friends don’t like them They’ve got a big ego
They have a lack of ambition They make you question your worth They don’t respect their parents They’re too confrontational They take 3-5 business days to respond to texts You can’t see a future with them They cheat They’re too invested in their image They don’t respect your religious/spiritual beliefs They get petty over social media They get jealous easily They physically abuse you
Results
0-5: You’re in the clear; most likely you can get over these issues with your bae 6-11: You absolutely need to have a conversation with them, this may not be grounds for a cut-off, but it’s definitely time to sit and think 12+: It’s time to cut them off! **If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, or emotional trauma please contact the Florida A&M
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Too Close For Comfort
Written By: Nyasha Baly Designed By: Monet Corbett
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tanding at the lectern, that Ralph Lauren cuffed polo never fit so well tucked into a pair of khakis. It feels like butterflies are wallowing through my stomach and I know feelings are developing. They’re always on time, very organized, smart and certified. They’re classy with apparel and mean with oration. Dating a professor is such a tempting temptation.
in the day, my mom dated her professor when she attended Hampton University,” Lunsford said. “I met the guy, and until this day, him and her still talk and they’re friends. At this point in college, we are grown.”
anonymity – said they have had inappropriate relations with a professor. Out of the 14 percent, 45 percent said those relationships were prompted by the professor or faculty member.
Attraction between students and professors are not unrealistic with how often these parties in-teract. Most students spend a majority of their time communicating with faculty through During Alexis Shoemaker’s sophomore year, lectures, major based extracurricular activities or innocent office visits soon turned into an awkward meet-ups during office hours. situation. Shoemaker, now a junior psychology student at Florida A&M University, was failing a There may even be instances where you feel like science class, so she began visiting the teacher’s risking it all to try things out with your profes-sor, office hours frequently for help. but take into consideration the numerous factors involved. In this very delicate situation things can One day, in a long sundress, Shoemaker attempted easily go sideways. Suspension, the teacher being to borrow a book from her professor to pre-pare fired, expulsion or even legal ac-tion depending on for the final exam. the situation.
One would imagine that most adults and professionals approach the idea of students and teach-er relationships with a zero tolerance policy. However, faculty member Debra Jackson, a busi-ness management analyst for FAMU, has a different mindset than most staff at FAMU regarding the issue of students dating professors.
“Oh, you think I’m going to pass you just because you come in here with pretty dresses and you smell good,” Shoemaker recalled the professor saying. “I’ve dealt with your kind before, I’m not going to pass you just because you’re pretty. I’m not going to do it.” Shoemaker said this en-counter was the most uncomfortable, “as if there was an underlying commentary behind his re-mark.” Shoemaker’s experience illustrates how easily a line can be crossed in the platonic and profes-sional teacher-student relationship. Though she was not seeking special treatment from her pro-fessor, when adults interact in this close setting, it is easy for certain signals to get lost in transla-tion. At the university level, it’s likely that students will have professors close to their age. The idea that students can date their professors is becoming increasingly normalized on college campus-es. Freshmen Veterinary Technology student Ajiona Lunsford, explained her mother's personal ex-perience in which her relationship with her professor extended beyond the classroom. “Back 8
“I think a student can date a professor, but they can’t be involved within the same program with one another. That student shouldn’t have leverage for a grade in the class,” said Jackson.
Jackson explained boundaries needed to be set Florida A&M University Security Guard Sharon in place if a teacher decides to carryout an Moore saw the outcome of a student-teacher inti-mate relationship with a student. Before making the move, both parties should be re-lationship that took place here at FAMU. cognizant of what they’re signing up for. “Twelve years ago, my niece who went to FAMU was dating a professor,” Moore said. “The school What may happen outside of the classroom found out about it and she ended up getting kicked between that student and professor out of college. She couldn't go to an-other relationship, can always turn back around and university and he lost his license. It’s hard for her hit where it hurts. If the relationship did not to actually get a good job now, so she's working at work out as planned, retaliation is a feasible a McDonald’s trying to make ends meet for her end. Attendance holds and ruthless rate my and her daughter.” professor comments are the least of your worries, but expulsion and removal from their For justified reasons, there are many students who job are very tangible, serious conse-quences. are scared to grow close to their professors in fear The damage could be devastating. that boundaries may be crossed. It is traditionally considered taboo to pursue these types of We are all warriors ready for combat when it relationships with professors. comes down to what we want, especially when it comes to finding love. Every decision we CollegeStats.org polled 2,000 current and former make comes with consequences, but it seems students, and the results were telling. Over 52 like pursuing a relationship with a professor is percent of people polled said they’d fantasized becoming a risk more college students are about a professor before, but 48 percent said they willing to take. would not engage in an affair with one. Of these people, 14 percent “boldly” – and under
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A Closer Look At Four Standout Grammy Nominated R&B Artists
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Words by: Nathan Vinson lthough the year of 2016 was riddled with heightened racial tensions, devastating celebrity deaths, and unprecedented presidential antics, the music industry easily became the beacon of light needed to make it through.
Last year, we saw pop mainstays like Drake and Rihanna put out their biggest and arguably best albums to date, witnessed the new wave of R&B through the musical lens Anderson .Paak and Ro James, and even encountered the re-emergence of beloved artists J. Cole and Solange. As we digest this year’s Grammy winners, let’s take a deeper look at four R&B artists that are sure to find more success in the coming years.
BJ The Chicago Kid
Solange KNowles
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Label: Motown Records Latest Project: In My Mind Nominated For: Best R&B Performance (Turnin’ Me Up), Best Traditional R&B Performance (Woman’s World), Best R&B Album (In My Mind) Why You Should Check Him Out: BJ The Chicago Kid’s distinct, smoky vocals and knack for instrumentation proved effective on his latest album, In My Mind, which peaked at #7 on the US R&B Album charts. If you like traditional R&B with a modern twist, then BJ the Chicago Kid would be the perfect addition to your playlists.
Hometown: Houston, Texas Label: Columbia Records Latest Project: A Seat At The Table Nominated For: Best R&B Performance (Cranes in the Sky) Why You Should Check Her Out: Although Solange’s first album “Solo Star” was released in 2002, she finally received mainstream attraction with her No. 1 debuting album “A Seat At The Table” this year. Aptly detailing the black experience in a series of songs and interludes, it’s no surprise that her latest album topped many of the year’s “Best Of…” lists. If you haven’t already listened to this poignant piece of art, or any of her other work, what are you waiting for? Get on that!
Anderson Paak Hometown: Ventura, California Label: Aftermath, by way of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Latest Project: Malibu Nominated for: Best New Artist, Best Urban Contemporary Album (Malibu) Why You Should Check Him Out: Anderson .Paak rose to new heights in 2016 thanks to his well-received album Malibu, and knockout features on songs by Mac Miller and A Tribe Called Quest. His humorous and whimsical lyrics have caught the attention of many, but it’s his genius musicality that makes him special. You can catch Anderson .Paak as the opening act on Bruno Mars’ tour this fall, but until then you can check out his eclectic collection of music, you won’t regret it!
Ro James Hometown: Queens, New York Label: RCA Records Latest Project: Eldorado Nominated For: Best R&B Performance (Permission), Why You Should Check Him Out: Sexually charged and confident, Ro James broke onto the music scene with his seductive cut “Permission,” which peaked at #3 on the US R&B Singles chart. His highly underrated “Eldorado” is boldly vulnerable and overall just a strong debut from a true artist. With his headlining XIX Tour running from February through mid-March, Ro James is on the fast track toward bigger success in the coming months. Designed By: Braxton White
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ying the knot with the love of your life at the age of 22 years old is completely possible. I know it sounds completely ridiculous to say it’s a good idea to get married young in a time when everywhere you look you find someone being unfaithful to someone else. Most people believe that it’s best to just wait to get married when you're a little older and wiser, but if you give me the chance, I can share some of the surprising benefits of getting married while you're young. According to the Pew Research Center, Americans are getting married later. The average age of people for their first marriage in the United States is 27 for women and 29 for men. That may sound reasonable, but think of all that mileage that you put on yourself by that age. Often people try to force their significant other to live up to the expectations that exes have failed to live up to. As time passes the more relationships people get into, the harder it will be to not judge their significant others past failures. People that get married younger enter their marriage with less pressure of trying to make it work. So many heartbreaks and disappointments that could possibly affect your future could be avoided if you marry young. The easiest thing to say that would sell the idea of getting married is that people getting married
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in their younger years get to have more sex. Research at Indiana University shows that men and women that are married have more sex than their single counterparts. The reason being is people that are single have to spend more time repeatedly courting different people to have a chance at good sex, while a married man or woman just has to go home to their spouse to have more than likely great sex. Getting married at a younger age will also allow a person to have sex for many more years than people that get married in their later years. Just think about it, this is an opportunity to grow and make a life with someone. The longer you wait to get married the harder it will be to merge your lives together because you've already built lives for yourselves. Youthful marriages have the opportunity to help and support each other through their ups and downs on the journey to becoming who they want to be. When to get married has been a daunting question for people from all walks of life and ages, the answer has been different, however it’s hard to argue that the benefits of marrying while young are eye opening. Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to each situation; life circumstances are going to affect which path someone takes. The best thing you can do to make marriage worthwhile is to find someone that makes you happy. You never know that person might be at Set Friday and ready to seal the deal.
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ou’re walking down the aisle slowly with your eyes closed tight, palms sweating while you clutch your bouquet nervously. As the man of your dreams slowly pulls the veil over your head, your heart starts beating faster and when you open your eyes to see the many faces staring at you, everything stops. “Do you promise to be a loving wife, to cherish and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, to be faithful only to him as long as you both shall live?” Silence filled the room as you struggle to form the words, “I do.” With tears swelling your eyes, you whisper, “I can’t do this.” Just like most women who get married at a young age, doubts fill your mind before you walk down the aisle. “If you take 10 divorced women and ask them whether they believed on their wedding day that they were marrying the right guy for the right reasons, seven of them would say yes and three will confess they had serious doubts long before walking down the aisle. That’s the shocking truth for 30% of divorced women,” said Jennifer Gauvain, author of How Not To Marry The Wrong Guy. People should not get married young because I do not believe that they know themselves enough. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 59 percent of marriages to women who were younger than 18 at the time of marriage, end in divorce within 15 years. We’re living in a time where people admire the cute pictures and long paragraphs written about their significant other on social media without knowing the trials and tribulations behind the screen. Because of social media and the fabrication of what love seems
to be, young adults crave for what they see rather than focusing on themselves and figuring out if they would even want to be in a relationship, let alone a life-long commitment such as marriage. “Situationships” and being in the “talking stage” for an extended period of time, before actually having a title, have become the new norm. Being at a historically black university with a gender distribution of 37 percent male students and 63 percent female students, this situation tends to happen a lot. If people are getting relationship benefits without the title of being boyfriend and girlfriend, how can they fully appreciate and handle the title of husband and wife? As a young adult at Florida A&M University, I know for sure I am still figuring out who I am as a person. How can I possibly make a commitment such as marriage and I can’t even commit to waking up for my 9 a.m. class? Is it impossible to find love at an early age? No. But in order for that to work you have to be willing to grow with that person through all of their flaws and mistakes, and that cannot happen when we constantly glorify being petty, being prideful and having “side hoes.” Young couples before you say I do and jump the broom, ask yourself these questions first: Do I really know this person inside and out? Are we financially stable? Am I settling? Can I really take this person to be my lawful husband or wife for the rest of my life? If you are young, and you truly love the person like you say you do, then the real question you should ask yourself is, what’s the rush?
Written By: Nathan Vinson
Design By: Monet Corbett
Each year, Journey scours Florida A&M University’s campus for the most super and certainly single students on The Hill. Whether you’re into anime, consider yourself a resident fashionista, just like to turn up or fall somewhere in between, we believe that there is someone for everyone. This year, we selected six students to go out on not just one, but two dates free of charge, courtesy of Journey Magazine. Did we make any lasting matches this year? Well, see for yourself!
TARIK & SHARON
Tarik and Sharon were on our radar early into the selection process. Since Sharon is a shy, but vibrant individual with a good head (and pretty face) on her shoulders, we thought there could be a possible connection with Tarik, an intellectual and ambitious SBI sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia. The two quickly discovered they attended the same conference last summer on their initial meet-up, and from there the conversation easily flowed. “I was interested that he's initiated a few businesses and that he's dabbled in videography,” said Sharon. For their second date, we had them grab some frozen yogurt and enjoy a romantic evening walk in the park.
Final Verdict: Although Tarik was interested in going on another date with Sharon, she felt it was best
to just keep things on the friendship front for now. Thankfully, Tarik appreciated our matchmaking experience. “I think anyone who wants to get out of their shell and meet someone new should apply [to Super Singles],” said Tarik. We wish Tarik and Sharon the best in their future romantic endeavors!
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The Journey Staff thought Ernest and Jasmine would be compatible from the beginning of the selection process. The two singles have the same religious views, an identical taste in music, and even deal with dilemmas and decisions similarly. “I’m very level-headed and think about everything logically,” said Jasmine. Everything went well during their first meet up, but scheduling conflicts prevented the potential match from ever meeting up again. Instead of enjoying an adventurous zip-lining date with Ernest, Jasmine opted to take a friend instead. This was doubly disappointing, as Ernest mentioned that something him and Jasmine have in common is their need for a spontaneous and adventurous lifestyle.
Final Verdict: Ernest and Jasmine are interested in giving that second date
another try. We suggest that zip-lining date, or maybe something quieter like attending a poetry jam at the local café. Good luck to these two!
ELIJAH & PAYGE
Elijah and Payge’s story is interesting, to say the least. The Journey Staff wasn’t going to select either of them at first, but thanks to a last-minute switch, the two literally fell in place perfectly. They’re both from the South Florida area, they share mutual friends, and on their applications, they both asked for someone that was goofy and passionate. Payge is heavily involved on campus, as she’s a senator and a member of SISTUHS and SNAA. She’s described by her friends as spontaneous and outgoing, which couldn’t be more true, and paired with Elijah’s easygoing nature and involvement in BBLB, we just knew their personalities would be the right balance. “My first impression was that I thought he was reserved but he opened up really quickly and he has a great personality,” said Payge. That natural connection was consistent through their second date, where they enjoyed a quiet, intimate meal at Mr. Robotos filled with candid conversation. “Payge’s best quality is her honesty, I really like that about her,” said Elijah.
Final Verdict: Elijah and Payge said they would be interested in seeing each other again! Seeing that they
like trying and experiencing new things, we suggest they do something like taking a salsa class or attending and performing in a restaurant karaoke night. We hope love finds its way to Elijah and Payge soon!
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FAMU, sometimes known as Fashion & Modeling University has always taken style seriously. Whether it’s convocation or the cafe, you can bet FAMUs students are always fashion forward. Journey magazine visited Set Friday to document some of the latest trends. For more photos, visit Jmagonline.com.
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$weet life DIVING INTO THE WORLD OF SUGAR BABIES designed by: Dajah Dorn
written by: Celeste Stephens
In 2016, Seeking Arrangement’s website reported a list of the top 20 universities and colleges with the fastest growing number of sugar babies based on the number of sign-ups. School
#1 – New York University #2 – Arizona State University #3 – University of Texas Austin #4 – Temple University #5 – Kent State University #6 – Texas State University #7 – Georgia State University #8 – Florida International University #9 – Penn State University #10 – Virginia Commonwealth University #11 – University of Central Florida #12 – University of Houston #13 – University of South Florida #14 – University of Arizona #15 – University of Alabama #16 – University of Minnesota #17 – University of California, Berkeley #18 – University of Colorado, Boulder #19 – Columbia University #20 – University of Georgia
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# of sign ups
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Written By: Treasure Glover
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lthough the United States is said to be, “founded in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare,” the current state of our country fails to mirror these words. Currently, citizens use almost half of their income to pay for housing, student loan debt is collectively $1.3 billion in the country, and cities like Flint, Michigan do not have access to clean water. In the next four years, the conditions of housing and urban development, education, and environmental protection will change for better or for worse with Trump’s picks for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Education and Head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The plans and past efforts of the new U.S administration may cause citizens to question whose best interests
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Design By: Ebony Gibbs
the government will have at heart during this new presidential term. Dr. Ben Carson earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology at Yale University. He later made the switch to medicine, receiving his doctorate at the University of Michigan with a specialty degree in neurosurgery. As a candidate for secretary of HUD, Carson wishes to cut 10 percent of all programs within this department. During Carson’s Senate hearing, U.S Sen. Bob Mendez, a democrat from New Jersey, referred to this part of his plan as a, “meat axe, not a surgeon’s knife.” Rachel Johnson works in Tallahassee, Florida, as an independent organizer and advocate for people living in low income housing. She also is the co-founder of Helping Others Make Everything Right (HOMER). When asked about the significance of the HUD department, Johnson noted that it was important for citizens for a variety of demographics.
“The Department of HUD is a staple entity of the low income housing communities and population (i.e. seniors, disabled, children & families, homeowners). It allows balance to a flawed society,” Johnson said. The HUD department also offers a variety of benefits to U.S. citizens, particularly for those in low income families. “HUD offers more than rental assistance to the poverty level individuals and families; it offers self-sufficiency opportunities in grant funding to residents of public housing, training for private owners under housing assistance payment contracts and housing authority personnel of the HUD rules and regulations, processes and procedures to administering HUD’s rental assistance,” said Johnson. Carson’s plan to cut 10 percent of the budget for HUD would remove $4.7 million of the budget that ensures that 4.8 million U.S families get the housing, training, and resources they need. On the education front, Americans are in for a new uphill battle when it comes to maintaining the status quo of the educating our nations youth. Besty DeVos, the U.S cabinet nominee for Secretary of Education, has an extensive background in primary education. DeVos is the former chair of American Federation for Children, she is known most for her work to privatize public education in Michigan. Many of the Michigan charter schools where students consistently scored below the state average are open because of DeVos. Though she spent much time working for private schools, DeVos has no experience in higher education. Lynn Jones, an elementary education teacher for students with disabilities, understands both positive and negative implications charter schooling can have. “I am very familiar with charter schools, I worked in one,” Jones said. “I support charter schools to support kids who are being disenfranchised by the public school system and need to have support in a different setting.” She continued, “There are some aspects of charter schools that I totally disagree with. As an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher at a charter school, I felt totally overworked. I had grades 4 through 8. I left because they would not hire another ESE teacher. I believe that the funds in most charter schools go to the elite, and that is the CEO’s. And I think that most of the money should go to the children instead.” It is important that someone in the position of Secretary of Education understands the value of not only private
schools, but also the value of public schools and works to advocate equally for both types. DeVos’s previous work to dismantle private school and lack of experience in higher education is a concerning matter ask U.S. Cabinet members are being selected in the months ahead. President Trump’s pick for the secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt is known for his opposition to the U.S. Clean Water Act. Pruitt has done work to prohibit states that work against carbon pollution from gaining necessary resources from the EPA. His continued resistance to entertaining many of the EPA’s proposals in the past may have been a foreshadowing of his advising as Secretary of EPA that is to come. Dr. Bruce Strouble is the director of the nonprofit organization Citizens for Sustainable Future, which is part of The Moving Forward Network. Strouble sees the importance in ensuring that communities engage in practices that help reduce pollution. From the viewpoint of an environmental advocate, Strouble does not have confidence in Scott Pruitt’s ability to provide clean environmental practices to the citizens of America.
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He seems to not be concerned with climate change, he doesn’t seem to be knowledgeable about the ways that pollution impacts communities, and that’s indicative of the whole Trump Administration
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“He seems to not be concerned with climate change, he doesn’t seem to be knowledgeable about the ways that pollution impacts communities, and that’s indicative of the whole Trump Administration,” said Strouble. It loves me, it loves me not. Now more than ever, living in the age of Trump, this sentiment resonates among a number of Americans who are unsure of what the future holds. While plucking petals off a flower may not give us all the answers we’re looking for, taking a second look at Trump’s nominees will definitely provide some supportive insight.
N tJust A March,
But A Movement Written By: Nallah Brown Design By: Monet Corbett
It’s not just a march, it’s a movement. The birth of The Women’s March on Washington began after Teresa Shook, a retired attorney in Hawaii, wanted to share her outrage with others just one night after President Donald Trump was elected. Shook immediately felt compelled to voice her concerns toward women’s rights and human rights potentially being threatened. Realizing that she could reach a much larger audience through social media, she went online to express her frustrations via Facebook. Shook then took action and made a Facebook event page calling for a march on Washington, hoping people would join her. Her Facebook plea “I think we should march,” initially had up to 40 responses, which quickly turned into 10,000 and eventually exploded into 100,000 responses. On January 21, over 5 million people worldwide and over 1 million in Washington, 28
D.C. participated in The Women’s March. People came to protest, speak and make sure that their voices were heard. According to data collected by Erica Chenoweth at the University of Denver and Jeremy Pressman at the University of Connecticut, more than 3.3 million people joined in more than 500 U.S cities, making it the biggest protest in U.S history. “I think a lot of it came from the after election effect. After the election a lot of people were just scared, scared of what’s to come. This is where the entire march evolved from,” said Planned Parenthood’s Florida-based Legislative Representative Kimberly Diaz.
“We are the authority of our bodies and our rights, so we should consent to how they are cared for”
Planned Parenthood Federation of America is one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality, affordable healthcare for women, men and young people, and the nation’s largest provider of sex education. According to the Planned Parenthood website, 83 percent of healthcare patients are ages 20 and older, and 79 percent are people with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. There are many assumptions that the Planned Parenthood clinic is where most abortion procedures are completed, when in fact only 3 percent of their health services are abortion services, according to the organization’s website. The majority Republican Congress’ attempt to defund the PPFA sparked major concern across the nation. This plan even inspired a 15,000-person turnout for the Women’s March in Tallahassee. Aaveri Davis, a Florida-based activist was one of two Black speakers at the Women’s March in Tallahassee. Her keen words encouraged the crowd of individuals to own their voice and become the authority of their rights. “Today we have been able to do something amazing, and unify with women from across the nation who have gathered to demand visibility. We are the authority of our bodies and our rights, so we should consent to how they are cared for,” Davis said. “Protests are not the be-all end-all of how we are going to move forward and get things changed, but they are definitely a tool and they have always been a tool,” Davis said. “I think they are important culturally for Black people because it’s always been a way to get our marginalized voice heard. It’s really important in general when you’re speaking to an administration and a system that has the power to
silence you, you have to find a way not to be silenced.” Protestors from all walks of life emphasized the importance of intersectionality by embracing wide-ranging goals such as racial justice, religious diversity, reproductive freedom, and LGBTQ rights. On Womensmarch.com, the mission statement explains the primary goal of its protest: “We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.” Tamika D. Mallory, Carmen Perez, and Linda Sarsour, national co-chairs of The Women’s March, are veteran civil and human rights activists. They planned to march on Washington with or without Trump being elected into office. “A lot of people should be concerned about Donald Trump, but there are other people in other elements that should be addressed,” Mallory said during an interview on “The Breakfast Club” radio show. “It’s beyond Trump, in the fabric of this country there is racism and sexism. We need to look beyond Trump, obviously address him let him know that we are watching him, but also know that we have to deal with systematic racism and all that comes with it,” added Perez. This is not just a moment; this is a movement. The sister solidarity march that took place in Tallahassee, Fla. is shaping up to turn the mobilization that brought the largest march on Washington ever, into a sustained women and community centered organization. This movement has turned fear into faith for many people across the nation. Although women’s rights are at the heart of the movement, it has become a platform for many radical causes. Making it clear that the same people who fight for, and believe in women’s rights, can fight for human rights.
An Open Letter to an Old Friend
Markel O. Mazelin, a former stylist for Journey Magazine, passed away this past year. He will be remembered for his support, creativity and love. In this letter, Journey’s former Editor-in-Chief Gina Cherelus wax poetic about how it felt to not only “Meet The Mark” but to have him as a good friend. Words By: Gina Cherelus, Editor-in-Chief ‘13-‘14
Dear Markel,
I don’t know how to feel about you being gone. For a while it didn’t feel real. I tried to avoid it but the internet makes that impossible these days. That’s okay though, it was something we all needed to accept. I won’t question timing, it’ll just make me more frustrated at your sudden departure. But I can’t fathom a world where I won’t be able to hear you wax poetically about music, conspire about the ways of the world, your great advice on my life (romance and all), your encouragement when it came to following my goals and seeing you put your creative ideas to action. I never expected to lose a close friend so abruptly. It hurts. Since meeting you in my late adolescence, I immediately noticed how you read the world so well. You’d even make me question whether or not I really knew how to speak the language sometimes. I’ll look forward to your visits in my dreams, Markie. And if you can’t make it, I understand, you were loved by many and there’s a lot of visits to be made. I am perfectly content with conjuring your memory in a daydream. I’ve already spent the past few days replaying the sound of your voice mimicking that horrible Haitian accent you’d do when I told you some news, “Oh! Oh! Gee-Nah!” Or when you’d bellow out that contagious laugh after hearing something funny. The one where your head would fly back, your smile would get wide and your eyes would disappear. That brought me so much joy. Still does. Like many, I’ll miss our long talks. I’ll miss talking about music and documentaries and films. I’ll miss hearing you talk about your love for fashion and culture. I’ll miss putting one in the air together. To be honest, moving away and new careers have made it hard for those things to continue even when you were alive but we tried. I know now that it still counts for something. Thank you for loving me.I spoke to your mama a day after we got the news you were gone. I see where you got some of your most-loved characteristics from. You use to talk about how much she meant to you so often. Little did I know, you talked to her about me too. She asked me about New York. We talked about your greatness. In her darkest hour, she contributed to my healing. I will be forever thankful for that. “Legacy is planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” Lin-Manuel Miranda said this. And it reflects the kind of person you aspired to be. You loved learning so much that you sought more than what a class could offer. Not only did you love the world and the people in it but you wanted to change it and make it better. You actively worked on staining the hearts of many with positivity, love and peace. You hustled hard and, even in death, I don’t see that stopping. Your life, even at its end, brought old tribes back together (“The Summit” and its special guest, haha), has reminded us to tell someone we love them and pushed us to work even harder to achieve our dreams. We will carry that hustling spirit on your behalf. I think I can speak for some of us when I say that part of our future successes will be a testament to your life. This year has been tough, Markie. And I know, you’d want us to power through and keep rising. You had that positivity that was unmatched and I will try very hard to embody it. Maybe now that you’ve entered a new, eternal existence you can convince the powers-that-be to put 2016 in rice. Yes, my corniness is still unmatched ;). Please watch over us angel. I’ll always love you. END.
Art By: Alexis Calhoun 30