Nubian Message Aug. 31, 2023, "A Light On Us"

NUBIANMESSAGE

THIS ISSUE Letter from the editor

Hey y’all, It’s been a while since you last heard from me but it’s Milan. How was everybody’s first two weeks on campus? From what I’ve heard, a lot of y’all already want to go home again… slightly concerning. But I know for a fact that something good is coming to you – Nubian Message’s first issue of the year!

This week we’re keeping you up to date on current events as we cover the Duke graduate students unionizing, Maui wildfires and the Euphrates River drying up. We also have a gallery filled to the brim with pictures from the annual Back 2 School Jam! Don’t worry if you missed it because our articles will make you feel like you were there.

Want a new topic to talk about with friends? Well, we have The Shade Room’s nonsense on full display and we are keeping you informed about what’s going on with Lizzo.

Everyone, I hope you enjoy this issue and the ‘23- ‘24 school year!

Xoxo Gossip Girl- I mean Milan <3

4 MAUI WILDFIRES

The Maui wildfires continue to devastate the island

6 GALLERY

BSB's Back 2 School Jam

8 UNREALISTIC RELATIONSHIPS

The romanticization of white relationships

10 THE SHADE ROOM

Discussing the problems with The Shade Room

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

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Editor-in-Chief

Milan Hall nubian-editor@ncsu.edu

Photo editor

Kaela Belingon

Staff Writers

Austin Modlin

Nadia Hargett

Micah Oliphant

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

Abigail Harris Jeanine Ikekhau nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu

Managing Editor Communication Lead

Shaere Delgiudice

Layout designer Copy Editor

Rebecca Hernandez

Eleanor Saunders

Shaere Delgiudice

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.

cover photo BY Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor

Members of the audience cheer and hold up their phones during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Aug. 23, 2023. The event, hosted by the Black Students Board, was held to promote primarily Black organizations through tabling and performances.

Duke Graduate Students Join National Labor Movement

On Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, graduate students at Duke University voted to unionize. They did so for better pay, better protection for international students and better healthcare.

The university had previously argued students “weren’t considered employees” in an attempt to block a prior unionization vote in 2017, which ultimately ended up failing.

Despite this, the graduate students still have precedent on their side from a 2016 National Labor Relations Board ruling, stating “graduate students at Columbia University are employees with the right to collective bargaining.”

With the backing of this ruling, the latest election gave students a decisive victory, with a 1,000 to 131 pro-unionization vote, or 88 percent in favor.

Recently, graduate student workers in other areas of the country have successfully voted to unionize as well, including Stanford University, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and University of Chicago.

Data shows that “in the past 10 years, there has been more than a 50-percent growth in the unionization of graduate assistants and research assistants.” Additionally, graduate student workers at the University of Alaska “took a step to form the state’s first student worker union” this month.

With the wave of students working for colleges and universities, the possibility of forming unions is not just limited to graduate students either. Even Resident Advisors at the University of Pennsylvania are holding a vote to unionize later this fall.

According to the Duke Grad Union website, students are asking for a minimum stipend of $40,000 per year which gets adjusted to keep up with changes in the cost of living as well as inflation.

Inadequate pay is the underlying cause of several of the issues faced by graduate students. Many of them work long hours as research assistants at their universities, not allowing much time for a second job on top of their studies, with some graduate students in North Carolina receiving

minimum stipends ranging from “$7,000 to $18,000.”

It is particularly hard for international students, who make up approximately 40 percent of Duke’s Ph.D. students, to receive adequate pay. This is because international students “are prohibited from taking on other work while in the U.S. on a student visa.” As the cost of living increases in general, it can be difficult for student workers to make ends meet.

Policy Watch, a nonprofit that focuses on state and local issues in North Carolina, reached out to graduate students in the state and found that many who rely on food pantries, put off much-needed healthcare or move farther away from their universities after significant and unexpected rent increases do so due to low stipends.

Duke student workers are also requesting for better healthcare, including improved dental, a third party to handle grievances, free tax advice for all graduate students, office space for every graduate student, a

stipend that covers summers and a stipend to assist graduate students in moving.

Students across the country are echoing the reasons voiced by Duke’s students. Progress has been made at various other universities due to student workers organizing on the fronts. One win for graduate student workers came when the University of Pennsylvania announced that they will raise the minimum Ph.D. stipend to $38,000.

Another win followed after a tumultuous fight, which included a strike, at Temple University, in which the university ultimately agreed to a ratified contract. Included in their contract is an agreement to pay for part of the healthcare insurance subsidies of graduate students’ dependents. The university also increased the minimum stipend to $24,000 per year, which will go to $27,000 when the contract reaches its fourth year.

Additionally, following a grad student strike in the University of California system, “graduate teaching assistants will

soon each receive a minimum of $34,000 for part-time work, and postdocs will each receive a minimum of $70,000 for full-time work.”

The election victory celebrated by Duke student workers is especially impactful considering that, historically, it is more difficult to form unions in the South. North Carolina, where Duke is located, has the “second lowest unionization rate in the country”, following only South Carolina. The Duke win makes it the “first graduate union at a private university in the South” and makes the Service Employees International Union, which will be representing Duke, “one of the largest unions in North Carolina.”

According to North Carolina state law, while students at private universities, such as Duke, can petition the National Labor Relations Board to unionize, students at public universities in the state cannot. This is because private employees' rights to unionize are regulated by the National Labor Relations Board, but for public employees their collective bargaining rights are decided by state governments.

North Carolina is a “right to work” state, meaning that “no individual can be forced as a condition of employment to join or pay dues or fees to a labor union.” Under North Carolina law, it is “illegal for city, county and state workers to collectively bargain.” These laws make it more difficult for unions to form in the state because while public employees can “organize and join employee associations,” they cannot negotiate contracts with their employers.

Despite the difficulties in organizing, particularly in the South, workers all over the country are attempting to do so more and more.

Going forward, the Duke Graduate Student Union hopes to soon begin collective bargaining negotiations with university leaders in order to get their first contract.

Image from creative commons Allen Building at Duke Univeristy

shaere delgiudice Staff Writer

Wildfires Continue Across Maui

On Aug. 9, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke issued a state of emergency in Maui and Hawaii that still continues today. The Hawaiian island of Maui, specifically the city of Lahaina has been on fire since early August of this year. 115 people have died from the fires and over 850 people have yet to be found.

Copy Editor

Lahaina once served as the capital of Maui before the unification of Hawaii. A once historically rich island, Maui has suffered a great loss of centuries old artifacts including The Baldwin Home Museum, the oldest house in Maui, the Waiola Church and countless other historical sites. On top of this, many artifacts have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the fire such as an original native Hawaiian kingdom flag. Many day to day objects made by Native Hawaiian people have also been lost to the fires. Objects like featherwork, furniture, photographs and kapa, a type of fabric used to make rugs, skirts and blankets. There has not been a singular cause for the fires, but some experts theorize that the low humidity and strong winds brought in by Hurricane Dora are some factors that contributed to the fire’s power. The 45 mile per hour winds downed power lines and is reported to have started some local fires. Almost 16 percent of the island had previously experienced extreme drought before the fires started. The first reported fire in Maui County was a brush fire in the Olinda Road area of Kula on Aug. 7, 2023 where the forest burned through almost 700 acres of land and destroyed 19 houses.

Non-native invasive plants have also been cited as fuel for the wildfires. The Hawaii Invasive Species Council has named 79 non-native plant species that were brought to the islands by non-natives. Grasses such as guinea grass, molasses grass and buffel grass are just some of the few species of plants brought to Hawaii by colonizers as food for livestock. These grasses now cover nearly 25%of the land mass in Hawaii. These plants grow fast in rains and are drought resistant making them the ideal fuel for these fires.

The fires have displaced over 2,200 people destroying over 4,500 homes. With such short notice to leave, many Maui natives have nowhere to go. Governor Josh Green stated that 1,000 hotel rooms are being used to house residents who lost their homes and first responders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Maui water officials have also issued a warning for the residents of Lahaina and Kula not to drink the running tap water even after boiling, due to chemical exposure. Toxic particles and fumes are still so high that Lahaina residents are being urged to wait longer to return. Diana

Felton, the state toxicologist, told Hawaii Public Radio the cleanup will take weeks or months before it is safe.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association (HFFA) reports that there are “a maximum of 65 county firefighters working at any given time with responsibility for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.” The HFFA consists of the Honolulu Fire Department, the Kauai Fire Department, the Maui County Department of Fire Control, the Hawaii County Fire Department and the State of Hawaii Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Division. The department only has 13 fire engines and tow ladder trucks along with 1,900 active firefighters.

Though Hawaii has been in a state of emergency for weeks now, tourism throughout the state, especially Maui is still continuing. Maui Snorkeling Lani Kai, a snorkeling company, continued to run tours off the coast of Maui despite numerous reports of dead bodies being in the water.

Natives have been urging tourists not to come to Hawaii or Maui as they recover from the devastation of the fires.

Tourism has added to many of the state’s other issues – severe housing crisis, water shortages, environmental degradation and the dilution of Native Hawaiian culture.

Famous Hawaiian natives, Jason Mamoa and Auli’i Carvalho have also urged tourists to stay away from the island as well as raising awareness about the wildfires and providing notable organizations to donate to in order to help locals.

Over the past 60 years, more than 100 acres of Kihei’s wetlands, a coastal area of Maui, went from a tiny rural town to one of Hawaii’s busiest tourist destinations.

Kihei is one of many examples of Native Hawaiins being pushed out by the government in the name of tourism. State and local governments in Hawaii are currently considering prohibiting the sales of damaged and/or destroyed properties in order to prevent non-Hawaiins from taking more housing away from Natives.

Hawaii is an extremely unique kingdom that has vast flora and fauna that is being destroyed by these wildfires. Over 1,000 acres in Maui have been burned down damaging countless irreplaceable artifacts, history and culture on top of displacing the natives of the island. Many organizations are working to help those displaced and affected from the wildfires including food and clothing drives as well as donations among other things.

Organizations to donate to:

The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association and the California Fire Foundation Maui Wildfire Relief Fund: https://cpf.salsalabs.org/ MauiWildfireRelief2023/index.html

Maui Strong Fund: https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation. org/maui-strong

Ho‘ōla Maui Fund: https://www.ksbe.edu/hoola-maui

Donate to the KS I Mua Maui Fund: https://www.ksbe.edu/hoola-maui

Kāko‘o Maui fund https://www.ksbe.edu/hoola-maui

rebecca hernandez

Image from creative commons Maui Wildfires

“

The Hawaiian island of Maui, specifically the city of Lahaina has been on fire since early August of this year. 115 people have died from the fires and over 850 people have yet to be found. ”

The Euphrates River Is Running Dry

eleanor saunders Staff Writer

The Euphrates River is a major water source in Western Asia. This 1,740 mile long river flows through Syria, Turkey and Iraq and serves a population of about 60 million people. Unfortunately, this major water source is drying up due to climate change, causing a disastrous effect on the people who rely on it.

Some believe the river drying up is a prophecy being fulfilled from the Bible, specifically, Revelations, Chapter 16, verse 12 states, “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” This verse references the coming of God's rapture. However, there is also an scientific explanation for this phenomenon.

The average annual flow of the river has decreased to half its original amount. Based on satellite images, the Euphrates River basin has lost 34 cubic miles of freshwater from 2003 to 2013, according to IFL Science.

Additionally the Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia states people rely on the Euphrates River for fresh drinking water, irrigation, hydroelectric power and agricultural purposes. The river drying up has threatened the lives of everyday, working people.

since 2011. Contaminated water and lack of irrigation has also caused farmers to lose their crops.

Syrian and Turkish government policies have not aided in the struggle for water. According to GreenMatters, these government agencies use the need for water as leverage by withholding it from neighboring nations.

According to Al Jazeera, an independent news channel in Qatar, the villages in al-Ankour, Iraq are suffering from the decreased access to freshwater. Their only source of water was Habbaniyah Lake. This lake was 55 square miles long and could hold 4.2 billion cubic yards of water. The land where the lake once stood is now cracked and dry.

to improve Iraq’s access to water from neighboring countries.” Many countries in the Middle East do not have a stable government aiding them in their struggle for water. With no strong centralized government, millions of people are not getting the kind of care and support that they need during this environmental crisis.

Health Effects

With the lack of available freshwater, people turned to drinking waters that have later been found to be contaminated. Since people are drinking contaminated water, disease in the Middle East has increased over the past several years. “Diarrhea, chicken pox, measles, typhoid fever, and cholera are currently spreading across Iraq because of the water crisis,” according to the British Medical Journal (BMJ).The BMJ also estimates that three out of every five children do not have access to “safely managed water services.”

Nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations (ngo)

Nonprofit organizations have taken it upon themselves to help the people that rely on the freshwater from the Euphrates River. The Peace Forum NGO was started in 2016 by a couple of young activists. Their mission is “to provide water to affected families and advocate for better solutions from local authorities.”

Syria and Turkey

In Northeastern Syria, temperatures have risen by 1.8 degrees fahrenheit compared to 100 years ago and “the average rainfall has decreased by 18 millimeters per month per century,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Decreased rainfall has also affected Syrian agriculture. Syrian villages have seen a major decrease in crop production, according to the CSIS. Syria’s wheat production has dropped by 75 percent

The Syrian-Turkish dam along the border is controlled by Turkey. In 1987, Turkey and Syria made an agreement that Syria should get 132,086 gallons of water per second. However, in 2021, Syria accused Turkey of “depriving Syrians of their share of water from the Euphrates.” In reality, Syria was receiving about 52,834 gallons of water per second. This caused the Alouk Water Station in Northeast Syria to stop generating electricity.

Iraq

The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources estimates that the river will run dry by 2040 “due to declining water levels and droughts driven by climate change.”

The people in the villages of al-Ankour, Iraq are relying on bottled water to survive. This is causing families to go into debt from buying water. Instead of fishing in the lake to make a living, workers are having to migrate to the closest cities to find manual labor.

The Civil War in Iraq has severly damaged existing infrastructure and made it even more difficult to build upon it. When ISIS occupied parts of the region, many families were displaced. When these families were able to return, water resources were scarce causing these families to be displaced again, according to Al Jazeera.

Husamk Sobhi, a Baghdad-based environmental activist, believes that Iraq needs a “strong negotiation strategy

According to the CSIS, other NGOs have come to the aid of the citizens who have minimal access to water. These NGOs help to “monitor the actions of governments and can be key players in pressing governments to act according to human rights principles.”

In Syria, 15 NGOs have helped by providing retrofitted water stations, 35 have lightly supported water stations, five have helped to provide stations for power supply, 10 have helped provide water trucking filling points, 21 have helped with healthcare facilities and six have helped with providing schools, according to the CSIS.

Image from creative commons The Euphrates River

“

The river drying up has threatened the lives of everyday, working people. ”

up to it up to it

Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor Code Red, a Stomp N' Shake cheer team, perform at the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor Nayah Grace McKenzie, a second-year studying Computer Engineering, performs with other members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Alexis Oliver, a fourth-year studying Animal Science and Zoology and Vice President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., preforms at the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Lily McCabe/Staff Photographer Danny Gatling, a second-year studying mechanical engineering, performs with other members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre in Talley Student Union on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Chris Virella, a fourth-year studying Industrial Systems Engineering and vice-president of the Kappa Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., leads his brothers in a stroll during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tiara Baker, a fourth-year studying Political Science, Trinity Bailey, a fourth-year studying Business Management, Zoee Bishop-Bridges, a second-year studying Communications and Arana Blake, a fourth-year studying Forensic Science, perform during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor

Memebers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., including Shaw University student Robert Sheppard III, Alvin Mutongi, a fourth-year studying Civil Engineering, Shaw University student Amarion M'baye and Maurice Furet, a fourth-year studying Biochemistry, perform during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor

Members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., stroll during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

right:

Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor The Fusion Dance Crew performs during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

Lily McCabe/Staff Photographer Kody Williamson, a third-year studying Biology, performs with other members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. during the Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

left:

Back 2 School Jam Recap

On Wednesday, Aug. 23, North Carolina State University's Black Students Board (BSB) welcomed students back to campus with their much anticipated Back 2 School Jam. The annual occasion marked a joyous return to campus life and activities while highlighting the Black community's beauty and culture on NCSU's campus.

carmella holloway Correspondent

Before the event, over ten organizations spread across the venue tabling allowing organizations to advertise to a larger audience. The spectrum of organizations was diverse and only showcased a small number of groups created to curate a community of support and camaraderie for Black and Brown students on campus.

Some organizations, such as the Black Artist Coalition, centered around promoting and encouraging the creativity and artistic passion of Black students on campus. Other groups, such as the Multicultural Young Educators Network (MYEN), are established to provide a community for students of color within their respective career paths. Altogether, the organizations tabling that night provided opportunities for attending students to embrace their passions and further engage in their interests. Meanwhile, anticipation grew along with the line outside of Stewarts Theatre. Though initially just a queue, the line evolved into a chain of laughter, greetings and lighthearted conversation. As the time for doors to open grew closer, each attendee became more eager to watch and even participate in the night's entertainment.

Once doors opened, attendees quickly migrated to their seats as conversations continued throughout the theater, encouraging excitement. As the crowd settled, the event began with an introduction from the host, the Director of BSB, Arianna Jenkins, warmly welcoming everyone to enjoy and look forward to future events.

Following the introduction, the atmosphere shifted as DJ Trellz hyped the crowd, catering to all the attending age groups. Playing classics and line dances, audience members rushed to the stage to dance to their favorite songs. As familiar songs filled the air, the atmosphere

completely softened; those still passive or at their seats were drawn to dance and sing with those around them.

After several songs with the crowd primed, the spotlight shifted to the night's highly anticipated performers, and the crowd was not disappointed. The performing organizations showed off their skills practicing through their smooth choreography and impressive stunts. Code Red, a cheer team accessorized with red pom poms and uniforms performed. The team filled the room with an infectious sense of high-spirited energy by showcasing the Stomp N' Shake cheer style. Their fun cheers and seamlessly coordinated choreography actively commanded the audience's full attention. The air held enthusiasm as the team performed.

Throughout the night, we witnessed amazing performances from some of the Divine Nine Greek letter organizations on campus. The performers included: the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Mu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Kappa Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the Xi Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the Mu Xi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Kappa Omega Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Each performance was phenomenal and electrifying.

Fusion, a multicultural dance crew known for their smooth and precise hiphop-based choreography, drove the crowd wild, garnering cheers from the audience

with their dynamic style and excitable moves. Each step executed was a testament to the time dedicated to their performance.

Following the captivating opening performances, the energy within Stewarts Theatre remained high as the DJ transitioned into playing more crowd-winning classics. The familiar songs resonated within the crowd, lifting spirits even higher.

Engaging the audience, the DJ played more line dance songs and games. One game that stood out required audience members to raise the flashlights on their phones whenever they recognized a song. This simple activity transformed the audience into a choir, singing along with the songs in a nearly spiritual manner. As favorite songs played, the sea of lights lit up the dark room into a visual testimony of the community formed within the theater. When asked about how she felt about the event, Destiny Ward, a second-year student, tells Nubian Message, "I think the event was well put together with having the performances interact with the crowd…"

As the event continued throughout the night, the spirit of togetherness and unity only continued to evolve and deepen. Old relationships strengthened, and new relationships blossomed.

As the night ended, the warmth of community and excitement for the school year lingered. Back 2 School Jam was more than just an event; it was a vibrant and colorful celebration of diversity and community on NCSU’s campus. The event allowed the Black community on campus to assemble and witness unity and pride from within.

Furthermore, it was a great night that enhanced the sense of fellowship for students of color on campus. Joshua Ijaola, a second-year Computer Science student, said, "I loved the event; I could feel a ton of positive energy within the crowd and the passion that went into every group's routine," he continues, saying, "I’m quite excited for next year's performance! Can't wait for what they come up with next time."

After a night of laughter, dancing and singing, people are already looking forward to next year's Back 2 School Jam.

photo by Lily McCabe/ Staff Photographer Alandya Warren, a fourth-year studying Communication, singing along to a song during the BSB Back 2 School Jam in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

White Ain’t Always Right

One of the things that has been confusing me lately is the amount of Black people, particularly older Black people, that are constantly debating dating differences between Black people and their white and non-Black counterparts. It’s honestly been plaguing my social media to an extremely annoying degree.

One of the main things that I have heard on social media has been the same tired discussion of “talking stages” and “situationships” being prevalent in the Black community and how this has led to less Black people ending up in long term healthy relationships. This is also constantly paired with the statement that our non-black peers are typically in happier in their relationships.

In my opinion, this is just another outlet for anti-Blackness to peak its ugly head out. It’s honestly quite ridiculous to adhere to the belief that all current issues in the dating scene are solely in the Black community. It’s just another way that we as a community have romanticized non-Black, (particularly white relationship dynamics), or just whiteness in general. There really is no concrete evidence to suggest that these modern issues with romantic relationships are a primarily Black or BIPOC issue.

I really want people to free themselves from the shackles of whiteness and de-center it as the pinnacle of success. Like how did people come to the conclusion that white people never have any of these issues in the dating scene?

The amount of times some of my white peers have recounted their numerous failed talking stages, brain altering situationships and just failed relationships in general is high. The issues that people on social media try to attribute to Black people are more of a sign of the times rather than the Black community.

I’m so sick and tired of people, particularly older Black people or the “I was born in the wrong generation” people, pinning the blame on Black youth. These “issues” in the Black community are

prevalent in all communities. Everyone can have problems in their romantic relationships. These dating hiccups are not isolated to one community. Whiteness has always been the standard for societal norms however, like everything else, this is not the case. White people can have messy relationship drama just as much as Black people. They are not exempt from these issues. Like people gotta be tired talking about something that’s not even real.

People go through these issues all the time. It’s so odd to me that there are people out here acting like we (Black people) are the main ones having this problem, one that I don’t think is a recent problem either. Most of your grandma’s and grand-daddy’s were out in “the streets,” they just don’t like to talk about it. Also, who’s to say that what society deems

as a successful relationship is accurate? There is no set standard as to what a “good” romantic life should look like. And this honestly just contributes to the harmful narrative that Black people aren’t “good” people. As if this is something that makes you not a “good” person.

There are a lot of things we as a community need to unlearn about when it comes to romantic relationships and what they “should” look like. Growing up I’ve always felt as if people would put Black people in a negative light. As if there was something inherent in us that caused these negative situations to happen to us. We as a whole need to destroy the concept of whiteness as the universal benchmark for what’s “right.” The sooner we strip whiteness from purity or success, the sooner we will truly be free.

We must reframe what success in a romantic relationship should look like. There must also be a general understanding that problems or toxicity in relationships does not only apply to Black people, but to everyone.We should not be held to some unrealistic standard of purity. Standards based on whiteness have always had Black people take the brunt of the criticisms of the problematic issues in the dating world. Why is it that we romanticize white relationship dynamics? As if white people in these relationships don’t do the same messy stuff that everyone else does and loves to pin on us so much. The stories that I’ve heard are ridiculous and sometimes even worse than the most toxic Brent Faiyaz song.

We as a whole must rid ourselves of the idea that a “normal” relationship is something that everyone should subscribe to. We need to stop demonizing our community for living their own lives and making their own decisions. There is no reason why situationships and toxic relationships are solely attributed to Black people. Non-Black people do the exact same things yet I see no X, formerly known as Twitter, think pieces on them, where’s their critiques? It’s absolutely insane for people to be acting as if Black people are the only ones doing these things.

We as a community need to stop comparing and critiquing ourselves based on a standard that white people don’t even adhere to. I hope that in the future that not only do we stop seeing these atrocious takes on Black romantic endeavors but that the standard of romantic success isn’t based on non-Blackness, but on one’s own vision of romantic success.

austin modlin Staff Writer

Image from creative commons A couple hugging

“ We as a community need to stop comparing and critiquing ourselves based on a standard that white people don’t even adhere to. ”

The Shade Room Problem

News outlets, blogs and gossip sites are no strangers to causing controversy. Many have an obvious position on the political spectrum (i.e. Fox News, The Sun, The New York Post, The Daily Wire), others have reported blatant misinformation and some simply aren’t very accessible to the common consumer. News outlets on social media are no different, and can be even worse perpetrators of these issues. A prime example of this is The Shade Room, an Instagram-based media company founded in 2014 by Angelica Nwandu.

The Shade Room, described by the New York Times as the “TMZ of Instagram,” posts about celebrities and trending news multiple times per day with a primary focus on the Black community. It’s garnered over 29 million followers in just nine years, an amazing feat. Many Black people regard The Shade Room as a sort of safe haven for receiving their news, especially because it’s Black-owned. However, some members of the Black community heavily criticize The Shade Room for the same reasons that I do; right-wing peddling.

The Shade Room has a history of posting right-wing talking points and spreading misinformation. Recently, they’ve been under fire for allegedly misleading the public about President Biden’s Maui wildfire relief because of an Instagram post stating , “President Biden announces one-time payment of $700 payment per household to Maui residents affected by the fires,” which was the first in a series of slides. This led to the comments being filled with people criticizing the President, with some even calling for him to be voted out of office. Video creator Joshua Joseph called out the Shade Room for their post by explaining that there was more aid than the $700 that the Shade Room focused on. Although The Shade Room touched on this information in later slides, Joseph pointed out that the media outlet thrives on clickbait and banks on the fact that most of their followers will only read the headline.

This is far from the first time they’ve been in controversy for something like this. They also have a history of posting things that elicit anti-LGBTQ+ reactions and comments from followers. Back in October of 2019, The Shade Room reposted a message from Masika Kalysha, “Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood'' star, in which she says, “This is for the fools that thinks it's 'progressive' when Disney has a gay couple kissing next to Nemo...NO.” She follows this by saying she wouldn’t allow her daughter to watch “Adam and Steve lip lockin'.” The Shade Room captioned this post with “#MasikaKalysha has a message” evidently signaling for their followers to weigh in, and that’s exactly what they did. Hundreds of people in the comment section agreed with her, subsequently spewing out anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. They ultimately promoted the bigoted, ignorant idea that being gay is “unnatural” and that giving gay people representation in the media is inappropriate and spreads a certain agenda towards children.

They’ve made many posts regarding Zaya Wade, the daughter of Dwayne Wade and step-daughter of Gabrielle Union.

Zaya Wade is transgender, which Wade and Union have publicly celebrated and

supported. However, The Shade Room’s posts about Zaya Wade have accumulated hatred, harassment and criticism about her gender identity and status as a transgender girl, especially because she began her transition at the age of 12. The fact that they continuously posted about her knowing that the comment sections would become filled to the brim with hostility and bigotry, targeted toward a minor, is disgusting.

While they’re not blatantly telling their followers to comment ignorant, belligerent nonsense, they’ve consistently enabled them to do so. It seems like they purposefully design some of their posts to bring out a bigoted uproar in their comments just because they know it’ll get a lot of engagement. Having “shade” in the comments is one thing, but having hateful rhetoric is entirely different. They’ve been called out several times for this, with Nwandu recently being accused of promoting homophobia and body-shaming for financial gain. These accusations haven’t been addressed by Nwandu and her team, but not long after The Shade Room was founded, she stated that she and her team were working towards creating a more “balanced and positive atmosphere” on Instagram, yet

their version of “working towards this” just isn’t enough.

Gossip sites and news outlets facing controversy or backlash is practically inevitable, with most of them facing similar criticisms that The Shade Room has encountered. What makes The Shade Room’s issues more jarring is that it's supposed to provide a safe space for Black media consumers. However, the same day they’ll make a post praising a Black philanthropist, prodigy or doctor, they'll make a post about Magic Johnson’s son, EJ Johnson, who is a gay man, and the comments will be filled with homophobic and demeaning insults. Then, knowing the kind of response it’ll elicit, they’ll post him again.

Despite all of this, The Shade Room’s following continues to grow. They consistently garner high viewership on their page. I suppose if what they’re doing works, why stop it? Why try to make their platform more positive if it gets thousands and thousands of clicks per day as is? A lot of people, especially Black people, love The Shade Room, viewing it as an “uplifting” and “unapologetically Black” news outlet. As long as there are millions who believe this, the voices of the few hundred who call them out will fall on deaf ears. After all, the majority of people love gossip, even when it's at the expense of marginalized people.

nadia hargett Staff Writer

Image from creative commons Instagram login page dsiplayed on phone

“ What makes The Shade Room’s issues more jarring is that it's supposed to provide a safe space for Black media consumers. ”

Lizzo’s Uncanny Controversy

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT

As one of the faces of body positivity the latest news on Lizzo shocked everyone.

Lizzo is an African-American pop singer, most recognizable by her hit songs “Truth Hurts,” “About Damn Time” and many more. Lizzo is currently on her "The Special Tour,” for her latest album of the same name. Her shows received positive reviews and profits have been high, with her earning close to $40 million during the opening month of her tour, according to Pollstar.

However, this past month Lizzo’s dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, her production company “Big Grrrl Big Touring” and Lizzo herself have been faced with accusations of discrimination, false imprisonment, sexual assault and harassment, as well as religious and racial harassment. The lawsuit was filed by three of Lizzo’s dancers, Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, according to Pollstar.

In the lawsuit, dancers claimed they were abused and subjected to problematic activities. The claims, as reported by Lifestyle Asia, include forcing one of the dancers to touch a nude performer at a nightclub in Amsterdam, falsely accusing dancer(s) of drinking on the job and a passive-aggressive comment on a dancer's weight (causing the dancer to disclose personal information in order to maintain her position on the tour).

Other accusations include unfair treatment of Black members and negative comments about their performance throughout the tour and unfair wages during the European leg of the tour, in which the dancers claimed that they were missing 25 percent of their weekly earnings.

The aftermath of the lawsuit and accusations that followed have caused even big names, like Beyonce, to take action. While performing “Break My Soul (Queen’s Remix)” in Boston, fans noticed that when Beyonce was naming off Black women in the industry, Lizzo’s name was nowhere to be heard unlike in the studio recording. Fans speculated that this was in response

to the accusations and lawsuit filed against Lizzo. Instead, Beyonce repeated Erykah Badu’s name four times in replacement of Lizzo’s, according to CNN.

Lizzo took to social media to respond to the controversy. In an Instagram post, the artist states that the allegations against her are false and provide inaccurate reflection of who she is Lizzo also stated that the victims, as well as the media, are trying to portray her as the “villain.” Lizzo continues that while she is not the victim here, she will not allow the “good work she has done in the world to be overshadowed by this.” She concludes the post by thanking everyone who has “lifted her up” during this “difficult time.”

The accusations that have been made against Lizzo are a direct contradiction to her entire brand. The accusations have also provided a gateway of fatphobic comments, diminishing the gravity of the accusations made against her. On pages like The Shade Room, people have commented things like “fat on fat crime is crazy” and jokes that implied that Lizzo was depriving her workers of food.

When it comes to plus-sized figures in the media, the world continues to show them little to no respect to their person. On top of these remarks, jokes are also being made about the perpetrators and victims of sexual harassment, assault and other abuses. It is comments like these that stop victims, especially plus-sized victims, from coming forward with their stories, whilst allowing alleged perpetrators like

Lizzo to continue their abuse towards future victims.

Nevertheless, Lizzo’s reported actions are revolting. Contradicting your brand in such an extreme way and subjecting your dancers to abuse in an environment that you depict as safe is unbelievable. What makes matters worse is the artist’s dismissive response and playing the victim. However, the dancers have received support from individuals who have previously worked with Lizzo. According to Republic World, one of Lizzo’s former creative directors, Quinn Whitney Wilson, has come forward in support of the dancer's and shared similar experiences described by the dancers. Wilson states “I haven’t been a part of that world for around three years, for a reason. I very much applaud the dancers' courage to bring this to light and I grieve parts of my own experience.”

Another source, Sophia Nahli Allison, spoke out about her experience with Lizzo. Sophia and Lizzo were set to work together back in 2019 on a documentary about the artist, but Sophia left two weeks into the project, as she felt that the work environment was hostile and toxic. According to Lifestyle Asia, after the dancers filed their lawsuit, that same day, Sophia took to Instagram and posted the following “Lizzo creates an extremely toxic and hostile work environment and undermines the work, labor and authority of other black and brown women in the process. (Notice how the documentary ended up being directed by a cis white man.)” She proceeds to call Lizzo a narcissistic bully and claims that her image is a facade, further supporting the dancer's claims.

As a plus-sized individual myself and someone who loved Lizzo’s advocacy and presence in the media, this news was disheartening and I expected more from her. Lizzo has made her brand to be a representative of plus-sized people. Her carefree and confident image that made ignorant, chauvinistic people sick has been eradicated by harassing and abusing the same women who you were supposed to support. Lizzo, I hope for your sake that the rumors are NOT true.

micah oliphant Staff Writer

Image from creative commons Pop singer Lizzo performing on stage

“ It is comments like these that stop victims, especially plus-sized victims, from coming forward with their stories, whilst allowing alleged perpetrators like Lizzo to continue their abuse towards future victims. ”