February 9th, 2011

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WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 9| 2011

February 9, 2011

NUBIAN MESSAGE

ISSUE 14

SENTINEL OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT NC STATE SINCE 1992

WWW.NCSU.EDU/NUBIAN

Adinkras

Symbols of West Africa

ADINKRAHENE “Chief of the Adinkra Symbols” symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership Katherine Thompson (in center), a junior in biomedical engineering, limbo dances at Dance for Darfur hosted by CSLEPS. All proceeds of the night were donated to the Darfur Stoves Project. With their partners, the Darfur Stoves Project has produced over 15,000 stoves. Photo by Melvin Moore

FOFO “Yellow Flowered Plant” symbol of jealousy and envy

NKYINKYIM “Twisting” symbol of initiative, dynamism and versatility

Dance for Darfur Partying for a Cause Jasmine Chadmon | Copy Editor

sil fuels. As a consequence of this the premature death rate is high. The women are at risk of being violently On a cold, rainy, Friday evening several students danced attacked or sexually assaulted while they embark on for Darfur in the basement of Talley Student Center. a possible seven-hour trip to gather wood. Also the

CSLEPS hosted Dance for Darfur, an awareconstant burning has increased deforestation and greenness benefit to raise money for a contribution to the house gas emissions.

Darfur Stoves Project. The Darfur An informative slide show was Stoves Project is an initiative of

“We thought more people presented to help give students a the Technology Innovation for deeper understanding of the cause would buy tickets but we were Sustainable Societies (TISS). they were supporting. really surprised in the amount Spirits were high the entire eveTISS is a nonprofit organization that gave donations,” whose focus is to increase access ning courtesy of plates full of pizza of technologies that have the poand a room bursting with music tential to improve the quality of provided by WKNC. life in places affected by poverty and conflict.

Orsega stated that CSLEPS sold 50 out of 200 tickets

CSLEPS’ head of the Global Awareness Comprior to the event. mittee, Elizabeth Orsega, a junior in Spanish Education “We thought more people would buy tickets but said the event would raise awareness about the women we were really surprised in the amount that gave donaof Sudan. The Sudanese women have the hard task of tions,” Orsega stated while setting up prior to the event. cooking, just as their ancestors have. The women light a According to Orsega the largest donation was around fire using wood over three stones. This inefficient way of $15. cooking has caused the Sudanese people a lot of suffer The Global Awareness Committee’s objective is ing. to promote consciousness and be a leader in change.

When cooking inside their homes dangerous amounts of smoke are emitted from the burning fos-

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February 9, 2011

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Focus on Film Eve’s Bayou

Darius Dawson | Film There are many films, old and new, pertaining to black society that warrant great attention. Kasi Lemmons’ film, Eve’s Bayou (1997), is one of those films. In addition to amazing stylistic achievements. the social commentary of the piece speaks volumes to the black community. The film is set in rural Louisiana ostensibly around the 1930’s or 40’s. The cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Lynn Whitfield, a young Megan Good and a young Jurnee Smollett.

Smollett plays Eve, the protagonist of the story, Meagan Good plays Cisely, her sister. Samuel L. Jackson plays Louis Batiste the father of the two girls and the town’s famed doctor, and Lynn Whitfield plays Roz Batiste his wife.

Problems arise when Eve sees her father having sex with a woman other than her mother. Before this point Louis was portrayed as the perfect father to the family, granted him being so busy with his work. Louis’ infidelity peaks Eve’s curiosity and from this incident she goes on to discover that he desires more than a father-daughter relationship with Cisely. Cisely gives Eve the impression that Louis is forcing her into sex. Angered Eve visits a woman known to practice witchcraft and she has a spell put upon her father, which ultimately causes his death. Before Louis’ death, however, Eve discovers that he was not having any sexual relations with Cisely. Cisely knew of their father’s infidelity before Eve and blamed their mother for his cheating. Taking actions into her own hands Cisely attempted to take their mother’s place as their father’s object of sexual affection. Louis rejects her and Cisely is angered, in turn she goes on to prompt Eve to take the actions which provide the plot of the film.

The film plays out as if it were a Greek tragedy imploring tragic, situational and dramatic irony. The viewer is misled into feelings of mistrust, disgust and even hatred towards Samuel L. Jackson’s character because of his supposed sexual relationship with his daughter. I believe the director/writer Kasi Lemmons had a distinct reason for using psychological guidance in this manner andcreating hatred between the viewer and the father. In film fathers in African American families often times are demonized, criticized and most typically portrayed as irresponsible or absent.

Take the film Baby Boy( John Singleton, 2001) for example. Even though the film has messages that are explicitly progressive, the absence of Tyrese Gibson as a father in the home over shadows many of the positive things occurring in the film.

Lemmons, in Eve’s Bayou, makes the viewer feel emotions that they have already become accustomed to having toward the black father figure. At the end of the film, when it turns out that Louis is not indeed a pedophile some audiences can forgive him. Though he struggled with fidelity he always took care of his children and was more of a presence at home than Tyrese was in Baby Boy.

Eve’s Bayou achieves so much stylistic acclaim primarily from the cinematography of the film and also it’s use of melodrama. Cinematography is the

making of lighting and camera movement choices in still photography and in motion photography. Lemmons brought on cinematographer Amy Vincent from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) to make the film have the look of the mid 1900’s. This style was achieved very successfully. In watching this era-based piece a viewer could easily be swept away in the warm romantic textures and emotions of the scenes and this creates a feeling of total cinema when watching this era based piece.

Melodrama as a prevelant film style died along with Film Noir so when an African American female director uses this style in the year 1997, an amazing thing happens, a host of awards and nominations from film review committees across the country. Jurnee Smollett won several awards for her acting and many other cast members did as well. This is due in large part to modern audiences not being so familiar with melodrama. All through the film there is a heightened sense of tension as the characters react to the twist and turns of the plot. Overall Eve’s Bayou is a must see because of its social commentary and stylistic devices.

inspirational quote of the week “THE PAST IS A GHOST, THE FUTURE A DREAM. ALL WE EVER HAVE IS NOW” -BILL COSBY

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Should the army Forcefully remove Mubarak?

Sampson Bloh | Opinions Writer

This is one of the most popular questions in the media and in the general Public since the beginning of the mass anti-Mubarak demonstration in Egypt. To this particular question my answer is no.

First, there are politics being played here. Secondly, military actions like that could be dangerous for the country and it goes against the professionalism of the Egyptian military. The army should not dispose of the president and the army should not take over power, as many seem to be suggesting, because actions like these can lead to militarism. It is true that Hosni Mubarak has been in power since 1981 and that the people are not satisfied with the current stage of the Egyptian economy.

If the Egyptian army removes the president it could suffer long term problems. One consequence could be a creation of a tradition of constant military action against the leadership of the country. Based on what I have noticed in African issues, military action like the kind many are promoting in Egypt is bad for the country, the rest of Africa, and any other part of the world. When a military rises up and disposes of its leader, there is a possibility that this could be an action that’s repeated, especially in the developing world. It could destabilize the army by creating an opportunity for officers who seek political power to constantly dispose of the government as a way to obtain higher positions. This can lead to civil unrest, especially one of the most common in Africa, coup d’état, which I believe is a leading cause of instability.

My model of a professional military is one like the United States, a military that is controlled by the government and the people. So far, the Egyptian army has not clearly taken any side since the situation began. The military might have released a statement in support of the people but has not moved against the government or the President. The army, to my knowledge has completely isolated itself from this dispute, but is only playing a role as security, mentioning a civil calm with respect for the government and the people at the same time. I respect the

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army for its current action of unclear nonalignment with either the Mubarak or the people. Instead it continues to promote stability for a positive transition. We should not disregard the fact that Mubarak has been in power since 1981 and many who are opposing him could be doing it for their own personal political benefit. There’s a chance that the military could get rid of Mubarak and the next president could be exactly like him or worse. I urge that all of Africa’s army copy the current action of the Egyptian army for I believe that this can benefit all of Africa.

As many urge the military to remove the president, they claim that the police are taking sides against the people. The Police are not taking side against the people, the police are doing what police do, crack down on violent protesters to maintain public peace. It is very interesting that the police are being given a bad name. The truth is that there cannot be a mass demonstration or riot of this magnitude and expect the police to just stand by and not take action. Police are public civil servants and it is their responsibility to promote calm.

It is reasonable to say that politics might also be playing a role in this unrest in Egypt. It is possible that a reason why the military has not been tough on the president is because this could play into the hand of opposition. This is something that we should all take into consideration.

Many leaders in the international community, including President Obama and the British prime minister have offered advice and urged the Egyptian government to solve the problem quickly. Some political leaders have been very careful not to be too harsh on Mubarak or to interfere with the Egyptian unrest. On the other hand, there are many who just come out and talk for the sake of it. In the United States, many congressmen and women are using this event in Egypt as their political weapon portraying one another as pro or anti-democracy. In paraphrasing one congress woman on MSNBC said, the people are fighting for democracy and America should support these people.

This Week In Black History Feburary 7th 1926- Carter G. Woodson creates Negro History Week.

It becomes Black History Month in 1976.

Feburary 8th 1986- Oprah winfrey becomes the first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show.

Feburary 9th 1995- Bernard Harris takes first moon walk by African American astronaut.

Feburary 10th 1946- Jackie Robinson is born in Georgia. He was the African American to play in the Major Leagues.

Feburary 11th 1976- Clifford Alexander Jr. is confirmed as the first African American Secretaru of the Army.

Images Courtsey | http://www.google.com/imghp

For more facts visit www. blackfacts.com

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February 9, 2011

Question of The Week

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Which Box do you Check?

Alvi Diggs Freshman Chemistry

“I consider myself Liberian American because I was born in Liberia.”

Travis Gatling Freshman Civil Engineering

“I consider myself black and not African American because in Latin, African comes from the word Africana and it means defeated and I am not a defeated American, so I am black.”

Marshall Anthony Jr. Freshman Business Administration

“I consider myself black or African American because both terms hold a significance to my understanding of who I am and where I come from.”

kidist ayalew Freshman First Year College

“I consider myself African American although I am ethiopian because I feel apart of the AA community and that is how society views me when they see me.”

Eliza Brooks | What do you consider yourself ? The answer to this question can be quite simple for some. A reply could be one word or a combination of a few but typically do not involve much thought or lengthy explanations. For others, however, the answer may not be so simple. The history for people of certain ethnic groups or races is very different from others and may involve a murky or less concise conclusion than others. This is especially true for many people of African decent. The initial introduction of the African people was unlike others. In the early years of the 1600’s the first Africans were taken from their homes and were transported to various countries to be slaves. Along with the involuntary relocation to America came a loss of Africa. This loss of Africa includes a loss of culture, language, tradition, and identification as a people. Now, a few hundred years later, the question of who you, us, or we really are is still left largely unanswered. What is a person of African decent called if their family has lived in America for as long as their history can be traced? Are they

African American or simply American just as whites or caucasians are deemed to be? Should their African history be taken into account? Is a term like colored, negro, or black a more fitting term? What is a person who came from Latin America but is of African decent called when they become a citizen of the United States? What about someone who was born in Africa? Are they the real African Americans in this case? Can someone who has white skin simply be called white even if they are from Africa? Questions like these may seem trivial but in reality these are very valid questions and can lead to a multitude of explanations from different viewpoint. How we define ourselves as far as race or ethnicity is directly related to how we see ourselves. Our personal understanding of what we are leads to an understand of who we are. Thusly, the question stands, what do you consider yourself ? Are you African American, Black, Colored, Negro, simply American, or something else and why that title over another?

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Must-See Places During Black History Month CJ Guion | February marks the month long celebration of Black History. Numerous book reports about famous African Americans are turned in without second thought and museums host special programs about the history of African Americans. However, there is much more African American history than meets the eye. North Carolina is the home to a couple of historical sites which are significant to the history of African Americans.

Here are a couple of destinations which one might consider visiting during the month.

International Civil Rights Center and Museum – F.W Woolworth’s Diner - Greensboro, NC “The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is an archival center, collecting museum and teaching facility devoted to the international struggle for civil and human rights. The Museum celebrates the nonviolent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins that served as a catalyst in the civil rights movement.” (Museum Website) The F.W Woolworth which 50 years ago stood as a constant reminder of segregated life in the South was transformed into a monument which showcases the courage and strength of “The Greensboro Four” who sparked the beginning of a unified front which would bring social reform to the United States. This movement now allows every man and woman no matter their race, sexuality, gender and/or age the opportunity to be able to eat freely at any food establishment without restriction.

For more information visit sitinmovement.org

The African American Cultural Complex – 119 Sunnybrook Rd., Raleigh, NC The museum which is open year round features an array of artifacts, documents, and displays of various contributions made to America by African Americans. Guests will be guided along a picturesque nature trail as they are enriched with little known facts about African Americans in the backyard of Dr. Elliot B Palmer and Mrs. Juanita Palmer. The museum has been located in Raleigh since 1984. For example did you know that an African American architect by the name of Julian Abele lead the design of Duke University’s campus and was not able to see his work due to that fact that African Americans were not allowed on the campus during the time of segregation? You can learn more about this and so much more at a historical site in our own backyard.

For more information visit aaccmuseum.org/index.html

Harvey B. Gantt Center – Charlotte, NC The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American arts and culture, formerly known as (the Afro-American Cultural Center) celebrates the contributions of Africans and African Americans to American culture for the past 35 years. The mission of the museum is to preserve and promote African American art, culture, and history for the enjoyment of all. The 46,500 square foot building is located in an area that was occupied by the historic Brooklyn neighborhood which was once the thriving center of the Black community until it was destroyed in the 1960s.

For more information here visit: Ganttcenter.org

North Carolina Museum of History – Downtown Raleigh, NC During the month of February the North Carolina Museum of History features many lectures and programs detailing African American History. Every Saturday throughout the month of February the museum will be hosting an African American History tour from 1:30 – 2:30 PM as well as hands on history of African Americans from 1-3 on Saturdays as well. Also the Museum of History will be holding several lectures relevant to Black History such as “The Ambidexter Philosopher: Thomas Jefferson in Black Though” and “History a la carte: 1898 Wilmington Riot.”

For More Information visit: ncmuseumofhistory.org/wgo/programs. html Images Courtsey | http://www.google.com/imghp

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February 9, 2011

Colored People’s Time It’s more than a matter of numbers

CJ Guion | “People who are late might as well be guilty of stealing time. Time is something that cannot be wasted” -Donald McCollough. Many stereotypes are present in the African American community. Some cases are true and others, not so much. One of the most prevalent stereotypes is that African Americans are always late, so much in fact the phrase Color People Time (C.P. Time) was coined. Books such as C.P. Time: Why Some People are Always Late, by J.L. King feed into the stereotype. Even though we may joke in private and amongst our peers, it is far from a laughing matter.

In college we receive a higher education, and with this education we learn the skills

and techniques that will allow us to navigate successfully through our future endeavors. You won’t find classes called Being Late 101 or Slacking Off 202. Outside of college there are life changing consequences for being perpetually late. If you continuously arrive to work late, without a valid excuse, you will be fired- and with good reason.

Remember as a child when you were taught the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. People who are late send the message that their time is more important than yours and if you continually allow them to behave in this manner they will begin to be late on purpose. Punctuality has the potential to have a domino effect. If the host takes a proactive approach to starting on time the guests

would soon follow suit. Keep in mind, it’s better to be a trend setter than to follow them.

The art of punctuality is not lost to everyone and is a trait that can easily be obtained. If hosting an event be sure to set up 30 minutes to an hour before the event commences. First impressions have the potential to make or break your organization. Keep in mind that time is valuable and could be spent partaking in activities that are enjoyable. After all, a college student’s day is already full of sitting and waiting.

It’s time to get organized and down to business.

If a person doesn’t have enough respect for your organization than you should not give he or she the courtesy of waiting for his or her arrival.

The Ironic Dilemma of Egypt Radical camp associated with uprising

Mubarak leave office immediately.

At this point, President Obama is doing a juggling act, because there are concerns that the Muslim Brotherhood is highly organized and they will play a role As the drama unfolds in Egypt, it becomes increasingly clear that the United in the new democratic government. This group is a threat to the stability of Israel States government will have to make a decision on what side they support. The and rejects much of the United States’ agenda in the region. script is very similar around the world, where certain regimes have been in power President Mubarak has agreed not to run for office in September, but the hunfor thirty years. There is an unfolding of a grassroots uprising, and democracy and dreds of thousands protestors have indicated that’s not good enough. There have human rights is at the core of the fundamental problem. been clashes between the pro-Mubarak supporters and the protesters, and it apIn Egypt, there is a call for a Democratic movement and President Obama pears that violence will accelerate. Some experts believe that the pro-Mubarak finds himself in the middle of the conflict. In one breath, the United States is supporters are gangs that are being paid to create more violence and bloodshed. saying we want an immediate change in Egypt with free and fair elections. “Now Nevertheless, their army will be forced to bring order back to the country evenmeans now,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said of Egypt’s transition, tually, and the Egyptian army will be given a wide scope to detain people. The repeating that continued aid to Egypt would be influenced by the government’s United States finds itself in a precarious situation, because the world is watching responses to the crisis. and waiting.

On the other hand, Egypt has been an ally to the United States and a close The United States has always been a leader for legitimate democracies around friend to Israel. President Mubarak’s regime has been good for Israel, because the world. Even though these are the values we project, for thirty years Egypt it preserved peace on the southern border. Since it was an autocratic regime, it was not a genuine democratic country. President Obama knows that the decidid not have to be responsive to public opinion, and it could take a soft line on sions that our country makes in Egypt will determine what happens to our counIsrael’s occupation of the West Bank. try in the rest of the region.

As long as Egypt took a soft line on what happened to the Palestinians, the As the drama plays out, eventually there will be fair and impartial elections.

Israeli government can maintain its current policies. But if the Egypt govern- The Muslim Brotherhood will play a vital role in the transition of power. Political ment became a responsive democracy, it would have to address public opinion Islam is a reality of doing business and politics in this region of the world and and human rights.

America can not discriminate against the Muslim Brotherhood.

President Obama has denounced the Egyptian government’s acts of “suppresIf President Obama and the United States believe in transparency and inclusion and violence” during the protest, and called for “an orderly transition pro- sion in Egypt, the will and human rights of the people must be protected. With cess right now.” Our president has stopped short of demanding that President hundreds of thousands protesters demonstrating against the government, there is something fundamentally wrong with the present administration.

The United States is in a difficult position, but it should side with the will of the people. The values of democracy, freedom, and transparency are oger aldwell a contributing writer what we hold dear as the cornerstone of country.

If we believe in these values, we should want the writes for and owns same in Egypt.

Roger Caldwell | Contributing Writer

R

C

,

, ONPOINT MEDIA GROUP. He resides in Orlando, Florida and can be reached at jet38@bellsouth. net for further information.

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February 9, 2011

Black History Then and Now Remembering the Past, Embracing the Future

Adinkras

Symbols of West Africa

We all know the cycle that occurs every year during Black History Month. For twenty-eight days we discuss the history of the same African Americans that we have been discussing since middle school. However, there are many African Americans that never received recognition for the strides that they made in America and are continuing to make today. African Americans have made many contributions and some might say that African Americans are the ones who built America to be what it is today. For the rest of this month the Nubian Message will be highlighting African Americans who have given contributions in the past along with an African American who is successful in that field today.

Dr. James Derham (1757-1802) Dr. James Derham is noted as the first African American to formally practice medicine in the United States.

He was born a slave in Philadelphia in 1757. During his time as a slave he was owned by three doctors. One of his owners, Dr. Robert Love, convinced Derham to practice medicine. Working as a nurse, Derham was able to buy his own freedom. After this he would go on to open his own medical practice in New Orleans. By age 26, he was making an annual salary of $3000. Derham later met the Father of American Medicine, Dr. Benjamin Rush who encouraged Derham to move to Philadelphia to work at his practice. There he became a leading specialist in throat disorders. Derham disappeared in 1802, his fate is unknown.

SANKOFA “Return and Get it”

Dr. Ian Smith (1969) Dr. Ian Smith is a famous African American Physician and Author. He has made appearances on Celebrity Fit Club and as a correspondent for NBC News. Smith is a native of Danbury, Connecticut. He received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1992 and a Master’s in Science at Columbia University in 1993. He attended Dartmouth Medical College, but graduated from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Smith started the 50 Million Pound Chanllenge in 2007. The program encourages Americans to take control over their health and increase exercise.

Smith’s program is co-sponsored by CVS Pharmacies.

BI NKA BI “No one should bite the other”

Dr. Ben Carson (1951) Dr. Ben Carson is an American neurosurgeon and the Director of Pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital. He has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 by President Bush which is the highest civilian award in the US. Carson is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He graduated high school with honors and later went on to obtain a Psychology degree at Yale University. Afterwards, he went to Medical School at the University of Michigan where he acquired an interest in Neurosurgery. At the age of 33, Carson became the youngest physician to ever head a division at John Hopkins hospital. Here, he learned how to visualize the brain in three dimensions.

He has received recognition for being able to masterfully perform ground-breaking surgeries.

Images Courtsey | http://www.google.com/imghp

DENKYEM “Crocodile” symbol of adaptability For more adinkras visit adinkra.org

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Adinkras

Symbols of West Africa

WANNA MAKE A

DIFFERENCE eic@nubian.ncsu.edu

photographers

919.515.1463

writers

ADINKRAHENE “Chief of the Adinkra Symbols” symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership

reporters

FOFO “Yellow Flowered Plant” symbol of jealousy and envy

Locations Avent Ferry Complex Brooks Hall Caldwell Hall Harrelson Hall Talley Student Center Witherspoon Student Center Wolf Village Apartments

MATE MASIE “what I hear, I keep”

A symbol of the wisdom, knowledge, and prudence. The implied meaning of the phrase “mate masie” is “I understand”. Understanding means wisdom and knowledge, but it also represents the prudence of taking into consideration what another person has said. http://www.adinkra.org/htmls/adinkra/mate.htm

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Sentinel of the African-American Community at North Carolina State University Mario R Terry | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madavia Johnson OPINIONS EDITOR

Jasmine Harris | COPY EDITOR Shekiah Jones MIND, BODY, & SOUL EDITOR

372 Witherspoon Student Center Box 7138 NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695-371 PHONE NUMBER: 919.515.1468 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: ncsu.nubian@gmail.com TWITTER: @NUBIANMESSAGE 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.

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