NUBIAN MESSAGE
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY n RALEIGH, NC n THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM n 9 | 24 | 14
The Disappearance of the Black Coach RECORD LOW RATE BLACK COACHES TO HEAD COLLEGE BASKETBALL, P.6 STATE OF EDUCATION TODAY, P. 3 ‘B’ STUDENT, P. 10
Sidney Lowe former Head Coach of the N.C. State Baskeball Team | Illustration by Travis Gatling
2 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com
What’s Inside
NEWS 4 | COLOR ON CAMPUS 5 | NFL HORROR STORY
6
Disappearance of the Black
Coach *COVER STORY
3
Brown v. Board of Education,
FEATURES 10 | “DEAR WHITE PEOPLE” THE MOVIE
60 Years Later
VIEWS 6 | DISSAPEARANCE OF THE BLACK COACH 8 | DADDY DEBATE 9 | PHOTO SPOTLIGHT: CYPHER EDITORIAL STAFF
11 ‘B’
Student
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | CHRIS HART-WILLIAMS editor@nubian.ncsu.edu
@CHartWilliams MANAGING EDITOR | NIA DOAKS
@nia_kayee
Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of the Nubian Message. Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan: Dr. John Henrik Clark: Dr. Leonard Jeffries: The Black Panther Party: Mumia A. Jamal: Geronimo Pratt: Tony Williamson: Dr. Lawrence Clark: Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon: Dr. Wandra P. Hill: Mr. Kyran Anderson: Dr. Lathan Turner: Dr. M. Iyailu Moses: Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are STILL on the journey to true consciousness.
NEWS
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com •
The State of Black Education Today
AACC Hosts Panel Discussion ‘60 years after Brown’ CHRIS HART-WILLIAMS | Editor-in-Chief
A
group dedicated to education in various ways highlighted the importance of supporting education with time, love, and votes.
On Tuesday, the African American Cultural Center, AACC, hosted a discussion that asked its panelist to examine the state of education since the integration of American public schools following the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board. “The journey from miseducation to education is a long one,” AACC Assistant Director Darryl Lester, said. In 60 years much has changed, but challenges within education remain -- just new ones.
AYA Ambassadors | CRISTINA WRIGHT
The greatest challenge today is a missing sense of cultural self and history in schools, said Director of Graduate Mentoring and Success Dr. Demetrius Richmond. “We have a problem with knowing where we come from,” said Richmond. Richmond said community, values, and integrity are principles today’s education systems lack. “You can always make a difference -- especially in education”, said Alexandria Pitts, a senior in elementary education and a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. It was because a teacher made a difference in her life that she is where she is today, and a first generation college graduate, Jessica Holmes an attorney for the N.C. Association of Educators said. “The biggest challenge is the home environment” Holmes said. The fact that one in four children food insecure nation-wide is a problem post Brown v. Board, said Holmes. She also said budgets cuts impacting public education are a current problem. “It is powerful thing to use your right to vote,” said Holmes. Each panelists had various sources of motivation for them throughout their careers as students. They each discussed the importance of having a strong support system and a network of people to help them throughout their journeys. “I had a community that made sure that I went to school. They made sure that I was accountable, and told me that I was ‘going to get an education’,” said Mrs. Andrea Jackson. The group also has many suggestions for
MODERATOR JORDYNE BLAISE, ESQ. | CRISTINA WRIGHT
how members of the campus community and beyond could take action in the area of public education. “You can always do something. Change can happen with a simple conversation,” said Marshall Anthony, Jr. Many of the other panelists stressed the importance of volunteering and making a change in the community. “You are the difference. It starts with one,” said Jackson. “Volunteer to read to child. Count with them. Children want to know that you believe in them.” The panel provided insight on what the community has done well and what they must continue to do better in order to continue to develop our scholars.
3
4 • SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com NEWS
Students Discuss Being of Color at a PWI
N
ALFRED ANDERSON | Staff Writer
.C. State students gathered at Daniels Hall to discuss the disadvantages faced by students of color at predominantly white institutions ,PWIs.
The Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Beta Chapter of Sigma Omicron Epsilon, Inc. and the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi collaborated with the N.C. State University Counseling Center to lead a discussion about what it means to be a student of color at a PWI, This past Tuesday. Amongst a diverse audience of N.C. State students, Dr. PJ Adams of the N.C. State Counseling Center provided his services as the guest. Born of Korean and White American descent, Dr. Adams shared his experiences growing up with a Korean mother and a white father. He shared a photo of the first graduating class of NC State, which only consisted of white males. Dr. Adams told anonymous testimonies from students about their experiences with their peers and professors at PWIs, stimulating a discussion about specific experiences of N.C. State students and citing instances of self-segregation around campus. Adams briefly touched on the idea of White Privilege, including topics like ‘overt racism’ and ‘classroom privilege’, which elicited strong responses from many that were in attendance. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, Dr. Adams said he was not able to delve as deeply into some topics as he wanted to.
N.C. State Students outside of D. H. Hill | NUBIAN MESSAGE ARCHIVES
Adams suggests that N.C. State implement more programs in the future that center on this specific point of interest. “I think that the program was very informative and very relevant as we discussed challenges minorities experience everyday on NC State’s campus,” said Ivana Mbullah, a junior in textile technology. Marcus Zeigler, also a junior in textile technology enjoyed the program. “I feel like it was a very eye-opening and interesting program, [and] as a student of color I do feel as though I have to work harder to adapt to attending a PWI.”
We make the world safer through nuclear materials management.
Come join our team.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Savannah River Nuclear Solutions manages and operates the Savannah River Site, a 310-square-mile facility owned by the U.S. Department of Energy near Aiken, S.C. We’re also home to the Savannah River National Laboratory. Our diverse workforce operates nuclear and research facilities, and manages infrastructure and support systems akin to those of a small city. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions offers careers in disciplines such as engineering, science, business, information technology and other technical fields. We also offer internships in the same disciplines for qualified students who want to enhance their education with hands-on experience.
www.savannahrivernuclearsolutions.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com •
5
Rice signing autographs in 2009 | Wikimedia Commons
T
he NFL has a problem, for the entire month of September their issue with domestic violence has been on public display. Earlier this month the disturbing elevator footage of former Baltimore Ravens running-back Ray Rice decking his now wife Janay Rice sent shockwaves through the nation, especially when coupled with the fact that the running-back had been punished by a suspension from a mere two games. Football fans, the media and the general public were left aghast at the level of violence depicted in the video by this otherwise great athlete, and furthermore what appeared to be a great guy as well. While it would easy for football fans to simply say ‘oh, this is just an isolated case of this one guy,’ or even better ’well that team is known for being dirty’ these kinds of horrible travesties cannot be taken lightly particularly when followed up by numerous cases of spousal and child abuse by fellow players. In related news, high profile players from around the league have been pulled for various instances of violent behavior towards either women or children. Carolina Panthers defensive-end, Greg hardy was able to play both in Week 1 and in Week 2 after which he was finally put on paid leave after he was found guilty on domestic violence charges that occurred earlier this summer. Also put on paid leave was Minnesota Vikings star running-back Adrian Peterson who was formally indicted last week for child abuse after he took a switch to his child resulting in numerous large bruises and lacerations. To round things out, we have Arizona Cardinals running-back Jonathan Dwyer who allegedly head-butted his wife,
AALIYA SINGLETON | Staff Writer breaking her nose, after she reportedly refused to have sex with him. In case you couldn’t tell there is a problem here, and despite what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says about doubling down on domestic violence and enforcing new penalties, if there are not real steps to fix the problem it will simply continue as it has in the league for decades now. In fact, according to some sources the NFL has been engaging in a cover up of sorts in regards to the Ray Rice scandal in particular, in order to keep the superstar on the field and making them money. Domestic violence has become such an issue over the past few years that the NFL has even gone as far as to incorporate the aspect into a kind of rookie orientation skit for rookies coming into the league. However, the issue is that by the time they arrive in the league, some of these young men have already engaged in such violence and in some cases have continued to do so with no repercussions due in part to their position as a high profile athlete. Take for instance Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston who among other things has been formally investigated by police for sexual assault and recently suspended for a game for yelling offensive and vulgar comments about women off the field. However, even in our own backyard we at State can’t be too dismissive of the behavior of our football players as our very own highly talented running-back Shadrach Thornton was charged in June 2013 with a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female. There is a systemic problem in not only football but in a society dominated by the need to achieve domination. If you
look into many of the more recent cases, the players themselves usually lash out after an instance in which they feel as if they are losing control of a situation as if their pride and manhood were being tested by the likes of either a significant other or by that of a child. As talented—and well paid—these athletes are they need to understand that with great power and influence, also comes great responsibilities that must be demonstrated. As a fan, whether it is fair or not, I expect a player to perform admirably not only on the field but also off of it –whether that’s giving back to the community or just being a good man or dad in general. It might be a lot to handle but these are the expectations that have been set and which today’s athletes are expected to reach. Those who do become stars and legends in their respective cities and in the league, for the ones that don’t they become infamous for all the wrong reasons. These are the people that will be loved and adored by millions of young people all over the nation, by continuing to show lenience towards domestic violence, the NFL makes it appear okay when it is never okay by any means. Damaged pride or not it is never okay to engage in violence on a woman, child or anyone for that matter. As we examine the steps the league takes going forward, keep in mind what New York Giants Hall of Famer Michael Strahan said recently on the matter, “ I think one thing we’ve all learned this week is that we don’t know these people. We may root for them as fans and as media and we think we know them, but you don’t know what goes on in anybody’s house and what they’ve got behind closed doors, no matter what their public image is.”
6 • SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com VIEWS
VIEWS The Disappearance of the Black Coach CASLEE SIMS | Staff Writer
O
nly 8.7 percent of all Division-I college basketball head coaches are African-American, according to the 2013 Racial and Gender Report Card: College Sport.
In 1966, John McLendon became the first African-American to coach at
a Predominantly White Institution, PWI. In 1970, North Carolina native Will Robinson became the first African-American head coach in Division I Men’s Basketball. The sport has received much scrutiny after hitting all-time lows in hav-
55.7%
ing a person of color as a head coach in Division II and III, as well.
Men’s Black DI Players
8.7%
Men’s Black DI Head Coaches Source: The 2012 College Sport Racial and Gender Report Card issued by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida
VIEWS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com •
7
Women’s DI Basketball Black Coaches v. Players
7.7%
48.4%
Lowe at a N. C. State Post-Season Pep Rally in 1983 | N. C. State Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries
Questions to ask are: Were these teams racially bias towards hiring a person not
record in ACC play. If you dig deeper into the process the Wolfpack took to hire
ented coaches. The other is the rising stigma that surrounds coaches who are trying to climb into the college game out of
of color? Were potential African-American coaches simply
its 18th head coach in 2006, it sought after contemporaries
Amateur Athletic Union basketball or the high school ranks,
not as qualified? Would it have affected recruiting and other
such as current University of Texas head coach Rick Barnes
as noted by a recent NY Times article.
things relevant to the success of the team if an African-Amer-
and University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari, both of
ican were hired? All of these are relevant questions when
whom rejected the offer.
asking why the ratio is such a minute figure. African-American players are the majority of players re-
What if Lowe hadn’t had deep ties to the university? He had been one of the only black alums with extended coaching ex-
Surely, there is a lot of Division I men’s basketball teams and there are a significant number of black coaches at the helm. But that number is steadily declining. The statistics presented earlier that stated that 23 percent
cruited by these coaches, why can’t African-American coaches
perience. It just is not common for African-American coaches
of Division I coaches represent a number near an all-time
be recruited or brought in for interviews in a similar manner?
to secure jobs at Power Five conference schools.
high (25 percent is the highest). While it is a significant step
There are not any clear answers and this issue has many layers. The NFL adopted the Rooney Rule that requires head coach
Maybe it’s the interview process that plagues African-American coaches although they may be qualified for the job.
forward in closing the racial gap in collegiate coaching, there are still major concerns.
According to a recent ESPN article, most African-Ameri-
When 25 head coaching jobs became available after the 2014
seeking teams and other authoritative positions to interview
can applicants hold back during the interview process; they
College Basketball season, 13 were black and were the subject
minorities for those said positions. The absence of a similar
don’t want to say the wrong things; they don’t want to seem
of a firing or resignation. According to those same statistics
rule in college sports as a whole raises another question. Are
“militant”, as African-Americans are stereotypically labeled in
we could be looking at a loss of 15 black coaches in college
teams even interviewing minorities?
nature.
basketball.
The N.C. State Men’s Basketball team since its inception in
No athletic director or anyone else on the pseudo-panel for
There used to be a Black Coaches Association until the head
1911, has had one lone person of color as head coach. Sidney
hiring will come out and admit that “labels” are what affect
of it, Floyd Keith left recently. The Black Coaches Association
Lowe, a former player on the 1983 NCAA Championship
the hiring or lack thereof of black coaches. They will not
served as the sentinel for the black coach and now that it
team.
admit that race is a factor in this, though it seems that way.
doesn’t really exist anymore, black coaches are looking for a
I’m pretty sure there are very capable and qualified Afri-
voice to further advocate another reason to hire them, espe-
can-American coaches out there that can succeed in the most
cially at top programs.
Lowe was hired in 2006, the same year as the 50th anniversary that black students were allowed to attend the university. The Lowe era started off wonderfully; he and the Wolfpack
prestigious programs in the country.
This past season, at the mecca of college basketball, the
defeated the third-ranked Tar Heels in 2007, the highest
But . . .
Final Four, there was one black coach, Kevin Ollie, who led
ranked team a first-year head coach had defeated.
Two issues are often brought to the table when discussing
his Connecticut Huskies squad to a National Championship.
Things only got worse, though, and after his resignation
this topic. The first is the popularity of professional search
Small wins right?
in 2011 he had compiled an 86-78 record, including a 25-55
firms, which often help big-name universities pinpoint tal-
Ollie’s feat leaves room for optimism.
8 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com VIEWS
Daddy Debate: Terry Crews
T
VERNON HOLMAN | STAFF WRITER
hose interested in gender role differences and the ‘nuclear family’ may have noticed some of the controversial philosophical and sociological arguments about the significance of a father figure in
American society. Actor Terry Crews recently suffered a mix of criticism and adulation over his comments and opinions on the role of a father figure. During a visit on ABC’s The View Crews said that it was crucial for the father to be in the home. The nation that preached the ideology of the nuclear family in the 1950’s has come to a crossroads since the social trend of single-mother households. “What is the importance of fatherhood?” Is often a question asked today. When Crews expressed his beliefs concerning the necessity of the father
Co-host Jenny Mccarthy, a single mother, felt challenged because she said she can give her son all those things -- especially confidence. Whoopi Goldberg also challenged Crews, saying “he’s discrediting mothers.” Goldberg said every individual needs some type of father figure in their life even if it’s not biological.
Joshua Williams, a sophomore in Textile Technology said he dis-
agrees with the idea that father figures are “supplementary when raising a child.” He said mothers are capable of raising a child on their own but, “there are lessons that a child needs that only a father figure can provide.” “I never grew up with a father figure and I turned out fine, so I feel they aren’t needed,” said Monisha Holley a junior, in Fashion And Textile Management. She feels
figure he sparked a heated debate that would last after the show’s taping. His
Crews may have went a little overboard but does feel “a father figure is more
views argue the fact that their are just some things a father can do better than
needed for a guy more so than a woman.”
a mother and vice versa, such as “their name, inheritance, confidence, and story.”
Whatever one’s opinion is the topic of single parenthood and the necessity of a father will continue to be a topic of debate.
Wherever you go, NUBIAN goes with you. Get the NCSU Student Media App Visit studentmedia.ncsu.edu/web/mobileapp
N.C. State Student Media is the official app for the Student Media department at North Carolina State University. The app features the Nubian Message, the Technician, WKNC 88.1 FM,Agromeck, & Windhover.
VIEWS
SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com •
Photo Spotlight: NCSU Cypher photos by Jeffery Matthews
Cyphers are a way for students and visitors to come together, lyrically express themselves, and celebrate the hip-hop culture. They take place every Monday at 11:30pm outside of the Free Expression Tunnel.
9
10 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com FEATURES
‘B’ Student
Rutger’s Ph.D. candidate teaches “Beyoncé” course TAARI COLMAN | Staff Writter
A
new course was added to the Department of Women’s and Genders Studies at Rutgers University in January of 2012.
Instructed by Kevin Allred, a doctoral student at Rutgers, “Politicizing Beyoncé” is a class dedicated to more than just the vocalists’ very successful musical career.
Allred said, “While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona.”Class discussion often opens other doors of conversation about artists such as Billie Holiday, Lady Gaga, Adele, and Amy Winehouse.
The course came about after four semesters of teaching Women’s Studies 101 at Rutgers, a class in which Allred and his students often discussed Beyoncé and her relationship with being a “girl power” role model and a sexual object for patriarchal society.
Allred believes that an important shift must occur; rather than students simply consuming media, they should take an active part in engaging in what they are hearing and the nuanced messages that they might be overlooking. Allred grew up a homosexual white male in Utah and was drawn to the works of black feminist writers at a young age because he felt that racism, homophobia, sexism, and classism were all oppressive structures under which most people live.
However “Politicizing Beyoncé” delves further past that issue and into others such as her control over her aesthetic and the difference between empowering and stereotypical in exposure of her body.
Allred felt connected to the black feminist writers because their experiences hit home with the ones he had himself. According to the Rutgers Interview, Beyoncé’s second studio album, B’day, is what inspired Allred to connect his love of mu-
In an interview with Rutger’s, Allred revealed many of his thoughts and beliefs on the matter.
YOUR VOICE:
“It’s a random class, but a good way to look at things and apply them to your world. Personally, I wouldn’t take the class, but I think other people might enjoy it as a free elective.” -Audrey Hill ,Sophomore Communications
sic with his interests in politics and social regimes. Yet, Rutgers University is not the only university interested in classes that seem driven by Pop-Culture icons. At Georgetown University, the Department of Sociology has a course entitled, “Sociology of Hip Hop: Urban Theodicy Jay-Z” and the University of South Carolina has the, “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame” course. Universities seem to be moving into an era of being more comfortable with using modern, physical examples instead of relying on students’ ability to comprehend a world before they were operating members of the society being described. At N.C. State, the pop-culture course selections are generic and include titles such as “Black Popular Culture” and “Modern Chinese Popular Culture.” Allred says, “When students don’t respond to theory or dense readings, it’s often easier to see things play out in the world around them.” Beyoncé Concert Montreal 2013 | Wikimedia Commons
How do you feel about Rutgers University offering a course that examines the relationship Beyonce shares with the pop culture world and the feminist movement?
With Beyonce’s newest stuff, she’s the queen and girls rule the world, but I feel that come across only in her music. It feels as if she is relying on her music to convey a message that she is not willing to support with her physical image. Like her music says one thing, but her dress says something different. She should take a bigger role in being a feminist. -Donnielle Jones, Freshman Biomedical Engineering
Because she’s so vocally spoken of in favor of feminism and especially with third wave feminism where it is now and it being such an important issue, it’s good to have a class that looks at it through a pop culture lens. -Katie Sanders, Senior Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology and English
Beyonce has the broadest world
image. It captures students a lot more when you approach topics through a large public figure that they recognize. -Walker Blanchard , Senior Animal Science and Creative Writing
FEATURES
SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com •
11
“Dear White People”: Nationally Anticipated Movie examines racism from the setting of an American PWI
“
JESSICA STUBBS | Correspondent Dear white people, please stop touching my hair. Does this look like a petting zoo to you?” Is one of the many hilariously biting lines from this fall’s newest releases, “Dear White People.”
A Winner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival’s Special Jury Award for Break-
through Talent, Dear White People is a sly, provocative satire of race relations in the age of Obama. Directed by Justin Simien, Dear White People is set for release in mid-October
with much anticipation. The New York Times’ A.O. Scott wrote, “Seeming to draw equal measures of
inspiration from Whit Stillman and Spike Lee, but with his own tart, elegant sensibility very much in control, Mr. Simien evokes familiar campus stereotypes only to smash them and rearrange the pieces.” Surprisingly through all of its best promotional efforts, the film is missing what seems to be their target audience: African-American college students attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). After seeing a trailer for the movie, some were both in shock, because they’ve never seen the trailer, and awe, because of their anticipation for a movie that is relevant to one of many cultural issues on campus here at NC State. Khadija Lawrence, a junior, laughed through the whole trailer. Reffering to her and a friend she said, “We are definitely seeing this movie…when does it come out?” Like several students around campus, of all ethnicities/races, they are anticipating the release of a movie that examines existing racism. College students today are not the same as college students of the 50s and 60s. We have different issues to struggle with in our everyday life, but who knew that racism would still be one of them? Though the ugly monster doesn’t rear its head as boldly as it did decades ago, it is still ever present wearing different masks to stay hidden. “Dear White People” covers all aspects of being black at a PWI, like assimilation, black tradition, being an “oreo” (being physically black, but socially white), and many others. Dear White People hits theatres October 17, 2014. Visit our website to view the trailer.
12 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com
#ItsOnUS
President Obama Announces Initiative to combat Sexual Assault on College Campuses
President Barack Obama holding up the Wolfpack sign during his vist to N.C. State in January 2014 | NUBIAN MESSAGE ARCHIVES
“It’s on all of us to reject the quiet tolerance of sexual assault and to refuse to accept what’s unnaceptable.” - President Barack Obama /NubianMessage
THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY n RALEIGH, NC n 9 | 24 | 14
@NubianMessage