Celebration of Black History

ERIN MCRAE Staff Writer

The UNI Black Student Union (BSU) will launch a Black culture celebration to kick off the new semester. The BSU has a history of holding events that draw in large crowds of students to discuss important cultural issues in the Black community. After celebrating its 50-year anniversary earlier this fall, the organization is preparing for another semester of providing quality events for UNI students.

“The Black Student Unions’ goals for this semester is to ensure that every student on this campus feels welcomed by the BSU,” BSU Co-President Lexi Gause, a junior studying social work said. “We host several events throughout the year on campus for students to attend and have bi-weekly meetings with our members. This semester we have a lot of exciting events to honor Black History Month, followed by several events after the month of February including study tables, guest speakers, and game nights.”

For BSU Secretary Anna Stevens, the student organization has been a positive outlet. “I got involved last year when I transferred to UNI. I worked in the CME, like I do now, and heard about the group from my friends,” Stevens said. “I’ve learned a lot, had lots of fun and made several friends through it.”

On Feb. 1, the BSU will host a Kick-Off Celebration to launch Black History Month at Maucker Union from 6-9 pm. The event will include a live DJ, laser tag, mini-golf, and plenty of food.

On Feb 9, there will be a poetry slam in the CME classroom from 6-8 pm. Students can share original works with fellow students or just come and listen. “It’s a beautiful evening of poets sharing their truth within their written pieces. Some are about their struggles, some about their positives,” Stevens said. “It’s a balance of both and last year was a good way to learn about what some people may go through in life. There will be judges and prizes given out as well.”

The BSU will also offer candy grams on Valentine’s day, giving students the opportunity to send a small teddy bear, Hershey’s Kisses, and a personalized note to a special someone.

On Feb. 22, the BSU will have an immersive experience available in Lang Hall called the “Tunnel of Oppression”, where classrooms on the ground floor of Lang will display different photos and artifacts that showcase oppression in the Black community. “We aim to inform attendees of the ways Black Americans have been oppressed here. It can be pretty heavy, but ed to anti-Black ideologies that say that Blackness is inherently ugly and that having outwardly Black features that have been degraded to being undesirable challenges those that established the norm.

Black Excellence,” Gause said. “We hope for a fulfilling month of gratitude, appreciation, and recognition of the Black culture and community.” Students interested in getting involved with the Black Student Union can reach out to bsu@uni. edu, stop by the Center for Multicultural Education for more information, or attend any upcoming event being held.

In YouTuber Clarrisa C’s video “It Sucks Being the Token Black Girl,” she covers the discrimination of actresses Kat Graham from “The Vampire Diaries,” Monique Colemen from the “High School Musical” film series, and Trina McGee from “Boy Meets World.” written off the show abruptly.

Clarrissa C surmises that the negligence of Black beauty is as detrimental as the absence of Black characters in media.

Graham is of African American and Jewish lineage and has very curly hair that is rarely seen on screen. She played Bonnie, main character Elena’s best friend and magical reset button. Bonnie is a powerful Bennet witch who’s love interest dies every other day. Graham’s character was every other character’s assistance button.

Angela’s signature hairstyle was done by the actress herself. Microbraids, which are very small braids, take a painstakingly long time to do 12 hours or more. McGee spent the night before her first episode doing the micro braids herself.

Coleman portrayed Taylor McKessie, Gabriella Montez’s smartest best friend. Taylor’s signature hairstyle was a short bob covered by a headband. This was suggested by Coleman because the stylists were not familiar with Black hair. It’s very worrisome that there were no stylists who were available. Despite being a very important supporting character to Troy and Gabriella, she was excluded from promotional tours for the final movie, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” Coleman stated that “Disney broke her heart.” it’s important information to learn,” Stevens said.

On Feb. 25 there will be a skate party in the WRC from 6-9 pm, where students can dress as a favorite hero or villain and compete to win prizes.

The Soul Food dinner will be held on Feb. 26 from 9 am -3 pm at 1651 Sycamore St. in Waterloo and will provide a meal filled with familiar favorites.

On Feb 28, the BSU will be hosting a showing of the movie “Just Mercy” in KAB 111 at 7:30 pm. This popular film is a legal drama that follows the story of lawyer Bryan Stevenson’s quest to bring justice to wrongly accused Black Americans.

To finish the month, there will be a Toast for Change on March 3 in the Gallagher Bluedorn from 6-8 pm.

Attendees are encouraged to “dress to impress”.

Gause is hopeful that these events will prove meaningful for the community at UNI. “Within these events we want to acknowledge Black history by creating a safe space where individuals of all backgrounds and cultures are able to join the Black community in celebrating the evolution of

Black Women

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They look drastically different online with super dark skin and bigger lips compared to real life. This is because Blackness in America is also a commodity that can be profited from leading to gross misuse of the culture that excludes those who made it from they gain. There is a large difference between appropriation, which is plagiarization and no credit, and appreciation, which is reciprocal. Ironically enough, it leaves Black people out because “a lot of people want to be Black, but nobody wants the struggle.”

Texturism

Texturism is discrimination based on hair type. It’s very prevalent in school and workplaces that will disproportionately ban certain black hairstyles. The slang “good hair” means smooth and loose hair. Good hair, up until the late 2010s, did not include kinky, tightly coiled afros, locs or twists. Black women who had “nappy” afro hair texture were deemed as “undesirable,” and “unprofessional.” This is attribut-

Due to the very biased writing against Graham’s character, Bonnie rarely received the same kind of happy endings as her friends. This bias also applied to her hair too. Graham requested that she film with her natural hair but was shot down, so poorly made wigs were used. The wigs were so tight that they actually caused damage to her real hair.

McGee played Angela, Shawn’s girlfriend, in “Boy Meets World.” She’s spoken out against the mistreatment by both the cast and production. She was told to “turn down her Blackness,” referred to as Aunt Jemima

According to author Maya Goodfellow, “a Black woman who unapologetically challenges will always be judged unfairly. Too many feel like it’s not up to her to be the voice of dissent.”

Trevor Noah, a South African comedian and former talk show host and author of “Born a Crime,” shouted out Black women as a whole for raising him as he closed his show. During an emotional reflection, he said, “If you truly want to learn about America, talk to Black women. They can’t afford to f— around and find out like everyone else.”

The issue with misogynoir isn’t that Black women are learning to cope with it, but that it exists to begin with.