Nubian Message, April. 6, 2023- Almost There

THIS ISSUE Letter from the editor

Hey lovelies, I lied y’all, I’m back!

Y’all started the year off with me and little did we know y’all were gonna end it with me! Sometimes life will play in your face and you can’t do sh*t about it.

Y’all are probably wondering why I’m back, but I’m not telling y’all my business lol. You know what business you can mind—this issue.

We have a lot of content here for y’all. We talk about the drama surrounding Law Roach retiring. We give y’all the tea on NC State’s new Department of Performing Arts and Technology. Y’all gotta read the paper to find out the rest.

This issue has been very bittersweet for me as this is my last issue ever for Nubian Message. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this newspaper, but I’m ready to graduate! I know many of y’all are too!

Be on the lookout for our new Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editors, Milan Hall and Jeanine Ikekhua, first issue. It will be our Pan-AF issue coming out on April 20th.

Have to say bye-bye, oh Bye-bye, oh,

To the love of my life (Nubian)

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The Sentinel of the African-American Community at N.C. State Since 1992.

314 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 office 919-515-1468

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Communications Lead Staff Writers

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of Nubian Message:

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe nubian-editor@ncsu.edu

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu

Interim Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Social Media

Alianna Kendell-Brooks

Milan Hall

Copy Editors

Milan Hall

Jeanine Ikekhua

Jo Miller

Layout designers

Isaac Davis

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe

Abigal Harris

Milan Hall

Austin Modlin

Nadia Hargett

Jeanine Ikekhua

Micah Oliphant

Eleanor Saunders

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.

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe

cover Photo BY Kaela Belingon/ Staff Photographer Mahlea Celeste Hunt of the Lumbee tribe dances during the Women's Red Dress Special at the 32nd Annual NC State Powwow in the Carmichael Gymnasium on Saturday, April 1, 2023. The event was hosted by Native American Student Association.

BAck photo by oscar Codes-Bodien/Staff Photographer Cow 33K stares at the camera during Agriculture Awareness Week at the Atrium Brickyard on Tuesday March 21, 2023. 33K was accompanied by 17K out on the brickyard.

Stylist law roach announces retirement

Leslie David Baker and the 2008 WGA Strikes

Micah Oliphant Staff Writer

Law Roach is one of the most revolutionary stylists in the industry to date. Styling big names such as Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Celine Dion, etc. Law Roach has made his mark on this industry, so much so that he has trademarked himself as an “Image Architect,” in an interview with Logo. So, it surprised the world when he announced via an Instagram post that he would be retiring. The post stated “My cup is empty…. Thank you to everyone who’ve supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, im so grateful for you all. If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately it’s not! The politics, the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win…. I’m out.”

The sudden announcement came shortly after an incident at the 2023 Louis Vuitton Fashion Week show. Law Roach and Zendaya were caught in traffic on their way to the show, making them late. After arriving Zendaya quickly found her seat, however Law’s seat was nowhere to be found.

In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Law cleared rumors and clarified what actually happened. In summary, Law explained that he and Zendaya were frantically rushed to their seats by the LV staff. Law who usually sits next to Zendaya at shows, was not shown where he would be sitting by any of the staff.

In the video, Zendaya is pointing behind an empty seat. Social media speculated and assumed that she was motioning Law to sit behind her in the seat, claiming that she wasn’t doing enough to support Law. However, Law reassured in the interview that this was not the case and that Zendaya was simply motioning that the seat was assigned to her assistant, Darnell. Law was finally directed to a seat, still sitting front row, however he was not next to Zendaya. Law made sure that Zendaya was not to blame for this incident. So, who exactly is to blame?

People on social media speculated that Law had conflict with Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, or LVMH, the company that owns Louis Vuitton. He stated it was not true. LVMH is a high-quality goods company that owns over 75 distinguished designer houses, including Louis Vuitton, Dior and

many more. These rumors surfaced after an altercation between Dior, a house under LVMH and Law.

Law had to “stand up for himself” against the designer house after working on a look for actress Anya Taylor-Joy. “I had collaborated with Dior on a couple of dresses for Anya and so when the looks came out, there was no credit to the Stylist.”

When custom looks are done for a celebrity, or anyone for that matter, a team is in collaboration for the curation of the look. That team consists of the model’s stylist. When the look was released to the public, Law's credit towards the creation was nonexistent. “Don’t erase me,” Law said to New York Magazine. “Don’t erase my contribution to this look, to this dress. Don't erase, all the phone calls, the emails, the text messages, and going back and forth, and me working to make sure that my client was happy.”

People speculated that when Law advocated for himself against Dior, LVMH perceived it as disrespectful. In retaliation, people on social media hypothesized that LVMH conspired the Louis Vuitton show incident, essentially getting back at Law. However, Law discredited this by stating that there is “no beef” with LVMH.

For the past two years, according to The Outlet, Zendaya has been the face of Valentino. Valentino often recognized the significance of Law’s position as Zendaya’s stylist, expressing their gratitude by having them sit next to each other in every show they attended. Law states in the interview that he has had the most incredible time working with Valentino. They have always recognized his contribution towards the looks he’s had a hand curating for Zendaya. It seems the same couldn’t be said about LVMH.

The incident that happened may have contributed to Law’s retirement, but it was not the sole reason. At the end of the day, Law Roach has been in the industry for over a decade, and that alone has its fair share of trials and tribulations. “As Black people in this country, it is embedded in us to suffer,” he states “and I have been suffering for years. I woke up and made that post because I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Me releasing that and letting the world know that I was done was the first time I felt like I took a deep breath. I don’t want to suffer no more.”

Isaac Davis Correspondent

On March 6, 2023, I saw Leslie David Baker during a TUFFTalks Q&A hosted by the University Activities Board. Today, many know him as crossword-connoisseur Stanley Dudson from “The Office” (2005-2013). But, Baker should also be recognized for his work during one of the deadliest times for the LGBTQ+ community.

Baker told us his life story before his acting career, vividly retelling how he became the man he is today. Soon after he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology, Baker attended medical school where he quickly realized that was not where he wanted to be. Instead, he pursued an M.S. in Human Services Administration. Baker paid for grad school as a substitute teacher and picked up corporate jobs to supplement.

After grad school and during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, L.D. Baker worked for the Chicago Health Department. During his time, he witnessed problems in his department and reported them to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. "Stuff was said and done and all that. Long story short, they ended up wanting to fire me." Well within his rights as a worker, he filed a federal lawsuit. Baker continued, "They gave me some shut-up, go-away money so the [Chicago Health] department wouldn't be shut down."

Leslie David Baker's acting career began when he decided to move to Los Angeles, "I didn't move to L.A. until I was 40 years old. So anybody who is sitting here talking about, 'I don't know if I have time to do it,' you've got plenty of time. You'll be fine."

He appeared in several shows in the 1990s and early 2000s, notably “Maggie” (1998-1999) and “Malcolm in the Middle” (2000-2006). His breakthrough role was as Stanely Hudson from “The Office.” Later in the Q&A, he told us how he channeled all his corporate experiences to sculpt the ill-tempered sales representative Stanley we know today.

The last part of the Q&A was for audience questions. I got to ask Baker about his most chaotic day on the set of “The Office.” He took us back to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike of 2007-08. "We went to set one day, and we got there

usually went to the catering truck right, and it was right before the writers' strike, and we didn't know what was going to happen. So, we got our food and went to our trailers, and we sat around for about an hour and a half waiting to find out if they were going to announce the writers' strike. And when they did, oh gosh, I feel like I was eating the last meal of my life."

The WGA has a long history of striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Before the 07-08 strike, there was a 153-day walkout in 1988 over residual income from reruns and an expansion of creative liberty. This strike lasted 100 days and cost the L.A. economy over 2.5 billion dollars. What made this strike especially impactful was that it started right as the infamous 2008 recession began.

While the strike brokered a deal between the WGA and the AMPTP, union members debated its effectiveness in addressing the structural problems regarding writer’s pay in Hollywood. The 07-08 strike occurred before the advent of streaming services. When Hulu launched a month after the strike ended, it was a big blow to the victories seen during the strike. Moreover, the WGA is rumored to strike again later this year if they cannot come to a new agreement with the AMPTP.

The 2008 contract between WGA and AMPTP will expire on May 1, 2023. While negotiations started on March 20, 2023 the two unions have yet to compromise. The new contract will renegotiate residual income from film and television reruns for streamed media, minimum wages and protect writers of shorter-run T.V. series. Nobody knows how the story will develop. But, with a recession on the horizon, conditions are right for a repeat of the 07-08 strike.

As Hollywood stockpiles film and TV scripts in preparation for a potential 2023 WGA strike, look out for how this strike may affect your favorite actors and streaming services. The 07-08 strike halted nearly all media production, including “The Office.” Despite this, we have nearly 5 million entertainment workers to thank for all the media we enjoy. Remember that writers are the backbone of the entertainment industry, and they deserve livable wages too.

What Really is Pan-Africanism

The trans-Atlantic slave trade scattered a continent’s people, history and culture throughout the Western world. As African descendants fought to restore what European colonialism and slavery took from them, a global movement of unity, decolonization and Black power was born Pan-Africanism. In honor of NC State’s 52nd annual PanAfrikan Week, join us as we explore the unique history of Pan-Africanism across the world.

Long before it became a named political and cultural movement, the roots of Pan-Africanism existed within the African continent. In the pre-colonial era, Africa’s rich cultural heritage centered around the ancient African philosophy “Ubuntu,” meaning 'humanity to others,’ encapsulating the phrase ‘I am what I am because of who we all are.’ Similar to Pan-Africanism, the philosophy of Ubuntu encourages equality, humanity and collectivism over individualism between the people of Africa.

However, Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism do not imply that Africa and its cultures are a monolith. From the peaks of the Ethiopian highlands, across the vast Sahara Desert and down the Nile River; Africa’s geographical construction lays the foundation for the diverse languages, traditions and cultures found across the continent. Africa is currently made up of over 50 countries, each with its own rich cultural heritage and is the second-largest continent in the world spanning 20 percent of Earth's land area.

The African Diaspora, defined as the collection of global communities of Africans and people of African descent, began with the forced “cultural dislocation” and migration of African people. The diaspora populations include African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latinos, Afro-Arabs, Black Canadians, Africans and so many more.

According to Dr. John Henrik Clarke, a Pan-Africanist scholar and pioneer of Africana studies, “Pan-Africanism, often thought of as a movement conceived and developed by Africans living outside Africa, was, in fact, a worldwide movement, affecting Africans in every part of the world.”

From the Ashanti Wars in modern-day Ghana to the success of the Haitian Revolution, the prolonged struggle for independence among diaspora populations paved the way for the emergence of Pan-Africanism. In 1900, Henry Sylvester-Williams, a West Indian Barrister, organized the first Pan-African conference to gather political and civil activists of African descent from across the world. Among the attendees was African American scholar and activist W.E.B. DuBois, who proposed the formation of a Pan-African Congress. First held in Paris in 1919, five Pan-African congresses were held throughout the 20th century as Pan-Africanism entered the global lexicon.

Attendees included African leaders, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya. Nkrumah is among the key figures of Pan-Africanism alongside W.E.B. Du Bois, Patrice Lumumba, Haile Selassie and many others. Nkrumah became the first Prime Minister of Ghana in 1952 and the first president in 1960 after leading the fight for Ghanaian independence in the 1950s.

At its core, Pan-Africanism is a global resistance to European colonization and slavery in Africa and across the diaspora. At every corner of the world, African people are unified in their fight to reclaim their culture, history and national identity.

In America, Pan-Africanism manifested as a political movement during the Civil Rights Movement, specifically among Black Nationalists such as Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and Frantz Fanon. These leaders were Pan-Africanist advocates and believed the African diaspora, specifically African Americans, needed to politically and culturally return to Africa.

Socially, Pan-Africanism represents the unification of the collective, yet diverse,

ancestry and identities of the African Diaspora. At NC State, “Pan-Afrikan” week is annually held to foster unity between Black students. The celebration began 52 years ago as a festival lasting from March 21 - April 2, 1971. Sponsored by the Black Students Board (BSB), Pan-Afrikan week is described as a “weeklong celebration of Pan-Africanism, a worldwide intellectual movement aiming to strengthen the bonds of solidarity between all people of African descent.”

In 2023, Pan-Afrikan week will feature an array of exciting events hosted by BSB, the Caribbean Student Association and the African Student Union. The Nubian Message had an opportunity to interview the leadership of Black Student Board to understand how Pan-Afrikan week came to fruition.

Nubian Message: What has the planning process for Pan-Af week been like?

Mya Williams (event coordinator) she/her/hers

“The planning process has been fun. The anticipation of seeing your event come to light has been exciting. Although it’s been a lot of work, I know it will all be worth it. I think what many people don’t know is that the planning for Pan-Af has been going on in the background of our regular programming.”

NM: How has the history of Pan-Af week inspired this year's events?

Kamya Harvin (event coordinator) she/her/hers

“The goal of Pan-Afrikan week has always been to celebrate the uniqueness and diversity within the Black diaspora. Keeping these values, this year's theme “Black Undefined” aims to host events that are inclusive and represent all within our community.”

NM: What are some of the must-see events happening at Pan-Af week?

Hailee Cox (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR) SHE/HER/HERS

“I’d say that all of the events we have planned are must-see events! But some of our major events that you shouldn’t miss include Roll Bounce Roller Skating, Thee Drag Ball, Soul Social and Sneaker Ball! Roll Bounce Roller Skating is a roller skating event based on the movie Roll Bounce. We suggest that attendees wear their best 70s fit and there will be concessions provided as well! Thee Drag Ball is one I’m particularly excited about because I’ve never seen drag queens perform before! There will also be time for a Q&A and food will be provided. Soul Social is all about feeding the soul in a variety of ways. We have a yoga instructor, a DJ, two food trucks, a plant bar, a scrub bar and vision board and embroidery activities! Last but not least is Sneaker Ball. Sneaker Ball is a formal event in which we suggest guests dress formally in addition to wearing their favorite pair of sneakers! Dinner will be provided and there will be a red carpet for guests to walk through!”

NM: What does Pan-Afrikan Week mean to you?

Jada McKinney (MARKETING COORDINATOR) SHE/HER/HERS

“Pan-Afrikan Week to me means a way for people from the African Diaspora to express themselves and be authentically them. It’s a way for a community of people who are so different and have so many varying ideologies, backgrounds, beliefs, goals and experiences to come together and create a community here at NC State. That’s why our theme for this year is Black Undefined. Since there is no set criteria for Blackness. We are who we are and we should be proud of that.”

Alianna Kendall- Brooks Correspondent Senait Richmond Correspondent

An extensive look at Pan-Africanism, featuring the preparation and importance of NC State’s Pan-Afrikan week with interviews from Black Students Board members

NC State Creates Department of Performing Arts and Technology

On March 6, NC State University announced its new Department of Performing Arts and Technology. This department includes NC State's Arts Entrepreneurship, Music and Dance Programs and its Music Technology Bachelor of Science degree.

shaere Delgiudice Correspondent

For NC State, housing these programs all in one department makes sense. As Vice Chancellor and Dean Doneka Scott says, combining performing arts and technology is common in "similar-sized institutions," one example of this being the University of Michigan. She goes on to say this move will allow for "greater cohesion and an even broader range of interdisciplinary courses in the arts."

Scott asked these programs to combine into one department last year. After lots of research and planning, department leadership and faculty finalized the merger this past February. The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost officially approved the change on February 17.

While this move brings faculty from each program together, one of its more significant faculty impacts is on dance. This new formation unites NC State dance faculty, who had previously been under the Dance Program and the Department of Health and Exercise Studies, giving students "greater diversity and breadth of academic offerings and personnel," says Scott.

In addition to bringing faculty together, this merger also expands the Dance minor into two offerings, Dance Studies and Dance Choreography. Teaching Professor of Dance and Associate Head of the newly formed department, Beth Wright Fath, highlights the importance of the merger for dance, saying it "provides a home for curricular and co-curricular dance opportunities."

Music minor already offers two paths for students to get involved, with both a general and a performance track. While the Arts Entrepreneurship minor does not have multiple paths as the others do, it does have a capstone experience course, which provides students with the opportunity to do an entrepreneurial project for a

nonprofit or local arts business.

The department's first major will be a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, which will start in the upcoming fall 2023 semester. The degree aims to "foster and support music-based entrepreneurial initiatives at the intersection of technological innovation and creative expression."

With this new degree, the music program will join forces with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Together, they will allow students to "integrate a broad range of musical styles, performance practices and creative projects with the design, development and implementation of advanced music technologies."

While the addition of a Music Technology major may seem out of the blue to some, many are unaware that the popular music of today would not be possible without technology. As composer Jonathan D. Kramer states, "technology is involved in the reinforcement of concert halls, the recording and broadcast of music, and the design and construction of musical instruments.” The advancement

of music production, music listening experiences and music creation are all possible thanks to advances in technology, from audio editing software to vinyl records and anything in between. As time has progressed, these two fields have become further intertwined. Having "strengths in engineering, technology and entrepreneurship, NC State is wellpositioned to lead the nation in producing highly skilled music technology graduates."

Daniel Monek, professor of Music and head of the new department, said it will “build on the natural synergies” between the music and dance disciplines, as well as the “talents of our faculty who are all leaders in their respective fields.” This merger allows leaders of these programs to “create new departmental structures and creative curricular offerings that will open pathways for greater engagement with students and increased collaboration with one another.”

Students looking to get involved with these programs can find the department on social media @ncstateartstech or view the department’s website.

WEEK

Black Undefined: Embracing Individual values while contributing to and enhancing the community and culture

HAPPY 2023 PAN-AFRIKAN

see our culture

Hallie Walker/ Staff Photographer Durham Mayor Elaine O'Neal holds up a Bull City hand sign during the presidential visit at Wolfspeed in Durham on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Kaela Belingon/ Staff Photographer Sharon McNeill Burnette of the Lumbee tribe dances during the Women's Red Dress Special at the 32nd Annual NC State Powwow in the Carmichael Gymnasium on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Kaela Belingon/ Staff Photographer Dancers in the Women's Red Dress Special wait to be judged during the 32nd Annual NC State Powwow in the Carmichael Gymnasium on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Kaela Belingon/ Staff Photographer

Denna Huang talks to visitors at her table during the Asian Artist Showcase in the Talley Ballroom on Friday, March 31, 2023. Artists at the event sold their art, such as painting and photography, to visitors and students.

going global

playlist by Nubian Message Staff

Our favorite global songs from Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Colombia, Japan, India, Mali, Puerto Rico, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Palestine, South Africa, Nigeria and Germany.

Contigo Quiero Estar Selena y los Dinos

Obsesion Aventura, Judy Santos

Deixa a Tristeza Neno Exporta Som

Beru Ba Monuro Yinka Ayefele

Impurities Le Sserafim

jhoom ali zafar

ghareeb alay Elyanna and Balti

Illusion sumpa

Murkit Gem El Michels Affair, Piya Malik

ba straata dj maphorisa, visca

Caminando Isadora

Automatic Hikaru Utada

Baby Oku Jaydee ft. Salama

Mdogo Mdogo Diamond Platnumz

Uptown Top Ranking Althea and Donna

NUBIAN SUGGESTIONS

awaken my love (2016)

Nadia Hargett / Staff Writer

“Awaken, My Love!” is the third studio album by Childish Gambino, formally known as Donald Glover, released on Dec. 2, 2016. Its sound can be described as cosmic psychedelic soul with inspiration drawn from R&B and funk as well. Each track was intricately produced and crafted, from the distinct futuristic guitar on “Redbone” to “Me and Your Mama's” alluring, calming twinkling sounds that slowly progress into an electrifying boisterous main section. This album is an album that will stick with you long after you’ve played through the entire thing, and you’ll almost certainly go in for another listen.

sister outsider (1984)

Isaac Davis / Correspondent

"Sister Outsider" is a collection of essays and speeches from revolutionary feminist Audre Lorde. From her retelling of her trip to Soviet era Russia, to a powerful call to action in “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action,” Lorde explores a myriad of topics through a feminist lens. "Sister Outsider" is an extremely quick, accessible and engaging read. If you’re looking to expand your world view and explore the intersectionalities of a queer Black woman, "Sister Outsider" should be at the top of your reading list.

serenity (2022)

Leila Ganim / Correspondent

The poetry book “Serenity,” written by F.S. Yousaf, contemplates the everlasting issue of anxiety in relation to confidence. The poet reveals personal reflections based on his experience relating themes of love and the struggle for acceptance. Short, sweet and to the point, the structure of the poetry reflects concise yet intense language of the human experience. Serenity is a perfect title to the book which evokes a sense of peace following the final page. A quick yet powerful read to brew chamomile tea to and settle down to read for a quiet evening in.

creed iii (2023)

Alianna Kendall-Brooks / Correspondent

In the third movie of the Creed franchise, Adonis Creed is a father, husband and living legend in the boxing world. When childhood friend Damian Anderson returns after serving time in prison, he urges Adonis to give him a chance at boxing. As trauma resurfaces, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the ring battling not only each other but their shared past. As the first film to be shot with IMAX cameras, "Creed III" has stunning visuals that were inspired by classic anime fight sequences, according to director and lead actor Michael B. Jordan. As a fan of the franchise, "Creed III" is a must-see.

Original Book Cover

Original Album Cover

Original Book Cover

Original Movie Poster

HERE in the city of oaks

The Dreamville Festival was hosted at Dorothea Dix Park on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Multiple artists including Usher, EarthGang, City Girls and Ari Lennox performed on the first night of the festival.

TOP: The Dreamville Festival logo lights up the stage LEFT MIDDLE: EarthGang members Johnny Venus and WOWGR8 perform together BOTTOM Left: Festival attendees shout before the next set starts Bottom Right: Rapper Glorilla waits for the audience to finish the lyric.

Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer

Food Sovereignty is Economic Freedom spring in new

hampshire

Claude McKay was a Jamaican American writer and poet who was essential to the Harlem Renaissance. Their poetry focused on the social and political aspects of being a black man in the United States while addressing how their perspective and experiences were skewed as an immigrant. “Spring In New Hampshire” was released in 1920 as a part of his poetry book, “Spring in New Hampshire and Other Poems.”

In a country of abundance, letting your citizens go hungry is nothing short of a human rights abuse. There are 6,500 food deserts - geographic areas with little to no access to affordable and nutritious foods, in the United States. Black and Indigenous communities are most likely to live in food deserts; meanwhile the “American System” prospers. It is a gross misuse of power that our nation’s leaders let 34 million American citizens experience food insecurity. Nearly 40% of all food is wasted in the U.S. Consumers account for 43% of all food waste in America, amounting to 130 billion meals worth of food. With this much food waste, malnutrition is a violent act of disenfranchisement. Fighting hunger with food sovereignty is a tool that paves the way for a healthier, greener future.

Americans do not have that same access. This lack of equity creates food apartheid.

Food apartheid refers to the socioeconomic conditions that lead to food insecurity. This is where the government should step in to protect its people, but time and time again, their priorities are misplaced.

Isaac davis Correspondent

Frankly, our nation’s government is poor at supporting the food insecure. The United States rarely prioritizes food security. The Federal Reserve (Fed) doled out 300 billion dollars in bank bailouts in early March alone, according to the US budget. The U.S. military recieves 1.7 trillion dollars in taxpayer money every year. Yet in 2021, the country only spent 182 billion on food security programsabout 10% of our defense budget.

Food sovereignty is the right of communities to determine the quality and quantity of their food by controlling production and distribution. Many initiatives include food banks, community gardens and “farm-to-table” programs. But, it is not enough to just implement food sovereign programs. Sovereignty must be a movement powered by Indigenous practices. Native Americans have a long history of food sovereignty, adapting their programs to align with indigenous foods. This alliance with the land guarantees sustainable food sovereign programs. Still to this day, Native households use food sovereignty to address hunger, restore stripped traditions and empower their economy. Applying this mindset to our daily life equips us with tangible ways to engage our neighborhoods.

Working toward food sovereignty means ending our reliance on a market-driven food supply. Remember when grocery store shelves were picked clean at the start of the lockdown? I once waited an hour while store employees prepared my curbside pickup order. I was privileged to live in a grocery-dense town with a stable internet connection. However, 34 million

Another way to understand food apartheid is to look at grocery store density, the ratio of grocery stores to residents in a city. The national average grocery store density is one per 8,500 people. Communities of color in the U.S. are less likely to have this high of a density. In some parts of the country, like New Orleans, Louisiana, the ratio is one per 14,000. Low-income individuals in food deserts are not responsible for inadequate access to nutrient-dense food.

University students are one of many groups that face food insecurity. Nearly 40% of students in the U.S. struggle with access to healthy, affordable food. Stigmatizing food insecurity discourages those in need from taking advantage of the resources on NC State’s campus. Feed The Pack pantry opens its doors to faculty and students struggling with food security. The pantry contains a vast selection of free food and meal prep kits. To access this resource, the pantry requires a valid campus ID card. Currently located in the Quad Commons, the pantry will move to North Hall on April 11, 2023. Hours of operation and contact information can be found on the Feed the Pack website.

Please care for yourself and your community and hold elected officials accountable for not doing more to protect the food insecure.

Too green the springing April grass, Too blue the silver-speckled sky, For me to linger here, alas, While happy winds go laughing by, Wasting the golden hours indoors, Washing windows and scrubbing floors.

Too wonderful the April night, Too faintly sweet the first May flowers, The stars too gloriously bright, For me to spend the evening hours,

When fields are fresh and streams are leaping, Wearied, exhausted, dully sleeping.

-Claude McKay

Anti-Trans Bills Are Moving This Country Backwards

surgical procedures that “change primary or secondary sexual characteristics.”

nadia hargett Staff Writer

The United States of America, the proclaimed “land of the free,” a place that supposedly values life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is now in the spotlight once again for actions that work directly against these ideals. The United States is no stranger to hypocrisy. The Constitution wasn’t written with marginalized groups truly in mind, so discrimination is, unfortunately, to be expected. However, the lengths that the United States is currently taking are beyond disgusting.

Republican lawmakers have been working undoubtedly to pass oppressive, discriminatory bills that target the trans community. The bills have been specifically aimed at gender-affirming care, drag shows, transgender students and bathroom usage. It’s only April, and there have been more anti-trans bills introduced now than in the entirety of 2022. There have been so many across the country — some more egregious and dehumanizing than others — that it’s difficult to go over all of them and unpack them to truly understand how detrimental they are, so I’ll focus on a region of this country we’re familiar with: the South.

Anti-trans bills are harshest in the South, likely due to the fact that most Southern states are more Conservative-leaning states. Florida is a major perpetrator of pushing out and passing these anti-trans bills. On March 22, a Florida House of Representatives committee advanced an anti-trans bill so general and so extreme that it could affect access to treatment for breast cancer. It bans gender-affirming care for minors, such as hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery, and would force them to medically de-transition. The wording of this bill potentially threatens access to breast cancer treatment as well. The bill defines gender-affirming care and interventions as “procedures or therapies that alter internal or external physical traits,” and includes

A Democratic representative, Christine Hunschofsky, noted this overly broad language could potentially apply to mastectomies, a common surgery that removes one or both breasts to treat breast cancer. This could also affect treatment for prostate cancer seeing as it can be treated with prostatectomies, essentially the equivalent of a mastectomy but with the prostate instead. This is just one anti-trans bill amongst many others Florida has passed.

Kentucky is also a perpetrator of passing similarly heinous bills. They’ve recently passed Senate Bill 150 into law, despite it being vetoed by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear. This bill prohibits conversation regarding sexual orientation or gender identity around students, requires school districts to prevent trans students from using the bathroom that accurately reflects their gender identities, allows teachers to use the wrong pronouns, bans all gender-affirming care for trans minors and requires doctors to de-transition minors if they’re using any restricted treatment options. Many pleaded with Kentucky’s mainly Republican Legislature to try to prevent this bill from advancing, but unfortunately, their pleas didn’t work. This is one of the country’s cruelest bills targeting trans people. Other southern states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and West Virginia are trying to or have already passed bills that mirror some of the same “values” as Florida and Kentucky’s bills have.

This surge of anti-trans bills being produced, passed and even put into law is absurd. The worst part is that these states have all similarly justified these actions by claiming it’s all in the name of “protecting the children.” The thinly veiled attempt to use children as a justification for infringing on human rights is disgusting; and they have no sound empirical evidence proving being trans, or the transgender community as a whole, poses harm to children at all.

In fact, preventing trans youth from acquiring gender-affirming care through

surgery and hormone therapy puts children in more danger. A 2020 peer-reviewed study conducted by Trevor Project researchers found that trans and nonbinary youth were 2 to 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, contemplate suicide and attempt suicide compared to their cisgender peers. On the brighter side, the Trevor Project also documented that a separate study found gender-affirming healthcare has been shown to decrease the risk of suicide in transgender youth by about 25 percent after approximately one year of treatment. Taking away access to these life-saving treatments will almost certainly contribute to upticks in transgender youth’s suicide rates.

These very same Republican legislatures and committee members support guns in this country, and are even calling for there to be more than there already are despite U.S. citizens being the most heavily armed citizens in the world. Gun violence has become the number one cause of death of children in this country, ahead of cancer and automobile accidents. There have been over twice as many mass shootings in 2023 than the number of days in the year, and yet calls for more guns are still being made. If protecting children was truly their focus and if it were something they sincerely cared about, gun control would be their primary goal rather than targeting and restricting the LGBTQ+ community.

Many of these GOP and Republican legislatures pushing for these awful bills to be passed have cited religious beliefs, specifically Christian-based beliefs, as reasonings for wanting them instilled. However, these individuals fail to recognize that Christianity is a religion that actually centers itself on love and acceptance. Making such stubborn efforts to ostracize and strip a group of people of their rights simply because you don’t understand them directly contradicts the messages of the religion they claim to so strongly believe in.

So far this year, 46 states around the United States have introduced over 650 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, signifying a disturbing and distressing era of the targeting of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people. This does not signify progression

in our country, but regression into a far more discriminatory, close-minded era that so many citizens have been trying to drive this country out of. In fact, a 2022 Pew Research Center survey found most Americans favor laws that protect trans people from discrimination. Unfortunately, the Republican government officials and lawmakers have precedent over the everyday citizens of this country, making it difficult for us to incite a change.

However, we must do our part to try. Educating ourselves on the LGBTQ+ community as a whole is crucial for all of us to do so we can understand the complex issues that affect this community. Amplifying their voices helps as well. They know primarily what it’s like to be within their community and have to experience discrimination because of who they are, and they will certainly provide the most accurate information possible regarding LGBTQ+ issues. Protest and stand with them, and make their issues a concern for you, regardless of whether you identify yourself as LGBTQ+ or not. We cannot stand by and allow basic human rights to be stripped away simply because the GOP doesn’t understand the existence of trans and other queer individuals. We must prioritize equal rights for all, and advocate for love, acceptance and empathy in the United States as well as around the rest of the world.

“This does not signify progression in our country, but regression into a far more discriminatory, close-minded era that so many citizens have been trying to drive this country out of.”

the impact of marc jacobs "heaven"

In a generation where individuality is encouraged, its no surprise that fashion houses have found a way to profit off of it. While they may not have been the first house, Marc Jacobs has created a line of clothing that speaks to all the quirky boys, girls and nonbinary individuals.

“Heaven” by Marc Jacobs is a line of clothing specifically aimed at Generation Z with graphic baby tees, overpriced handbags, quirky platforms and a hub for teens to fill their closet with alternative, Y2K, Fruits Mag inspired garments, apparel and accessories.

Best explained by Kate Bowie of Latest: First for Culture, “Heaven is hitting Gen Z where it hurts so good – the niche subcultures and artists they identify themselves with.” “Heaven” is the bridge between fans and the untouchable celebrities they fantasize about. As Bowie stated later in their article that “Heaven” is a social currency.

“Heaven” is more than just pretty clothes. The target audience “Heaven” tries to reach are younger generations, and they do so obnoxiously clear. With each collection “Heaven” by Marc Jacobs releases every year, the fashion house has two notable tactics for marketing to campaign: ‘The couch’ and celebrity editorials.

The first tactic includes a long couch in the middle of an all-white backdrop, filled with social media's current timeline favorites. They often advertise their campaigns online through multiple social media avenues. More can be read on GQ. This previous drop they released in collaboration with the band Deftones additionally included Cannelle Ferragu, Clip, Reign Judge, Chessa Subbiondo, Anajah Hamilton, Blizzy McGuire, Michael Imperioli and many more influential creatives. They dress these micro-celebs in clothes from the collection drop, and pose them on the longest couch known to man.

The other marketing tactic they use is A-list celebrity editorials. For Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2022 collection, they had actress Pamela Anderson laid out on a giant pink rose and pop icon Doja Cat posing with fairy wings and ethereal makeup. Both celeb’s were wearing an article of clothing

from “Heaven’s” current collection. Social media, more specifically TikTok, has been a large contribution to the success of “Heaven.” For decades, fashion has been a way for marginalized communities to express themselves and break free of the systemic oppression that individuals have faced. This is shown through the LGBTQ+ community and the extravagant, dramatic glamor that is drag. Depicted through the numerous trends and fashion moments that originated from the Black community. Fashion has been a large part of the identities and culture of many marginalized communities around the world. You can read more about this on the Borgon Project.

Nevertheless, through these marginalized communities came the creation of alternative fashion, and with alternative fashion comes a group of non-marginalized people seeking to immerse themselves in a world they never knew about, followed by the world blindly accepting it. More of the correlation between marginalization and fashion can be read on Kawaii Riot.

“Take, for example, the rise of musicians like Olivia Rodrigo and Rina Sawayama, who have cultivated a new pop-punk sound.” says Who What Wear “Or look at

how power couples, think Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, have recently popularized alternative fashion on the red carpet.”

With the surge of alternative fashion on social media, it was a matter of time before brands, like “Heaven,” were created. However as mentioned previously, “Heaven” is not the only brand, and they certainly will not be the last.

Brands including Jaded London, Minga, Dominnico and D-Squared have fallen victim to the “Heaven Effect.” Jaded London’s entire brand is practically centered around taking fashion trends seen on TikTok and creating overpriced versions of these garments, similar to “Heaven.” Their staple piece is overpriced denim, creating wide-leg jeans that profit off of the “Big Shirt/Little Pants” trend that many subcultures like Cyber Goth and Grunge are notable for.

Minga London follows the same tactic as Jaded London, creating ‘high-fast fashion.’ D-Squared, on the other hand, is an already established brand that recently started to incorporate more trends catering to younger generations in their latest shows. While their house often caters to modern women, as described by Highland Village,

they take a lot of inspiration from social media’s micro-influencers, and catch the styles of clothing they have on the runway on your timeline first.

These brands are romanticizing youthful trends as a marketing tactic, and doing so shows the lack of creativity within the Marc Jacobs brand. Back in 2018, the New York Times wrote an article on Marc Jacobs, stating how he “fell out of fashion.” “Now, there is a sense that Mr. Jacobs has lost his way. With turnover at the top and a designer who himself has suggested he no longer understands what customers want, the label is turning out clothes and accessories that lack a compelling point of view, failing to generate the excitement created by younger peers like Alexander Wang and Joseph Altuzarra.”

Marc Jacobs’ previous lack of understanding of his audience was reflected in his brand, in turn causing his descent from the top of the industry. This caused Jacobs to close down stores around the world because his market simply did not resonate with his work. While he did learn his lesson and create a line of clothing that spoke to an audience showing a clear marketing strategy, his brand now reflects a lack of creativity.

There is no doubt that a lot of clothes featured on “Heaven” have been found previously from other brands. Marc Jacobs’ glorification of youth reflects his own sense of rebellion, by getting back at all the critics, like The New York Times, who claimed that he didn’t understand what consumers want. While respectable, Jacobs' collaboration with fashion artist, Avanope, shows that he still didn’t receive the constructive criticism he was presented with.

While “Heaven” by Marc Jacobs is essentially a cash grab marketed towards the impressionable, pretentious, self-obsessive minds that is Generation Z: it's still a cute brand. “Heaven” is a clear depiction of where fashion is headed within these next few years, it shows how impactful young generations and even alternative subcultures are. It also shows that fashion is indeed taking a turn for the best. “Heaven’s” size range reaches up to a double extra-large, and with it appearing on runways, promotes size inclusivity and plus-size figures wearing a different niche of clothing within high-fashion. It’s hard to admit, but the Heaven effect is here to stay and could be the future of fashion.

micah oliphant Staff Writer

image from creative commons Fashion designer Marc Jacobs speaking at an event.

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