NUBIANMESSAGE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM | wednesday, MARCH 29, 2017
FOR THE CULTURE
wednesday, MARCH 29, 2017 | 2
Letter from the editor
THISISSUE 3 27TH ANNUAL POW-WOW Native Pride through Pow-wow
4 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL I hope this finds you all in good health. In the spirit of spring I encourage you to push through the end of the semester. I understand that this time of year is exciting but it is also exhausting. For some of you graduation is swiftly approaching. For others it seems as though college is never ending. Regardless of where you are, here’s your reminder that this stress is temporary. However, that is not meant to minimize the effects that college can have on your mental health. That being said, make an effort to check up on the people in your life. Utilize resources like the Counseling Center and take as many study breaks as you need to. Protect yourself and your friends in the craziness that is the end of spring semester. I also want to encourage you to check out a number of cultural events happening across campus in the coming weeks. The Native American Student Association’s Pow-wow, the International Festival and Pan-Afrikan week are awesome opportunities to learn more about different cultures. These events are all student led and represent the many diverse communities we have on campus. This is an amazing way to learn and grow in your own cultural competency. The end of the semester can be a rollercoaster, but you can do it. Study hard and try to have some fun along the way and you’ll make it through just fine.
The first International Festival at NC State
4 PAN-AFRIKAN WEEK PREVIEW Highlights of the Pan-Af calendar
5 GUIDE TO PAN-AFRIKAN WEEK How to survive Pan-Af
6 BLACKADEMICS:
Twitter legend, Dr. Blair L.M. Kelley
7 KENTON’S CORNER Dear White People ignites white fragility -
Hey family,
Nothing but love, Stephanie The Sentinel of the African -American Community at N.C. State Since 1992. Stephanie Tate
Editor-in-Chief
Ashley Darrisaw
LAYOUT DESIGNER
Anahzsa Jones
Managing editor
Allona Wilkerson
LAYOUT DESIGNER
Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of the Nubian Message:
Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan, Dr. John Henrik Clark, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, The Black Panther Party, Mumia A. Jamal, Geronimo Pratt, Tony Williamson, Dr. Lawrence Clark, Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon, Dr. Wandra P. Hill, Mr. Kyran Anderson, Dr. Lathan Turner, Dr. M. Iyailu Moses, Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are still on the journey to true consciousness.
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news
Students Experience Oppression First-hand DION FIGUERA CORRESPONDENT The 5th annual “Tunnel of Oppression” aimed to give students a first-hand experience of oppression and the ways in which current events and state powers reinforce oppression and the ways in which students exhibit those attitudes and behaviors. The event, held in Talley’s State Ballroom, was comprised of skits performed by volunteers that portray current social justice issues, such as the North Dakota Access Pipeline and HB2. The skits were prefaced and followed with two individual activities that aimed to challenge students on their own beliefs and where they are located in relation to oppression. Renee Wells, the director of the GLBT center, noted that, “Everyone has some form of privilege and some form of marginalisation, and it’s kind of helping people reflect on ways that they don’t always think about how they have more access and opportunity than other people do.” The topic of intervening oppression was one of the main objectives that the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED) Campus Community Centers looked to educate students on. Wells noted that through the experience they were hoping to help students in “skill building and strategies where they can interrupt what they see.”
Jessica Hernandez/Staff Photographer First year graduate student Taylor Sprague (left) studying higher education administration acts out a scene about House Bill 2 during the Tunnel of Oppression in the State Ballroom on Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2017.
The experience also gave students who wanted to make a difference an opportunity to volunteer and assist with
the program. Meredith Biechele, a junior studying mechanical engineering, saw the event as a way to use her enjoyment of acting to do some good in the community. “It was easy for me to act for the Tunnel of Oppression because I was telling real stories that are shared with students on this campus,” Biechele said. The event also helped some of the actors realize that they are not only showing oppression from the victim’s point of view. Biechele said that she thought “one of the most interesting experiences I had was when someone told me that some participants may identify with the oppressor. That made me realize that not everyone sees oppression as a black and white issue and for me, I had the challenge of playing my character in such a way that would encourage people to empathize with the victim.” Niccolo Roditti, a senior in psychology and one of the student volunteers, noted, “[The] Tunnel of Oppression allows for everyone to be self-aware of even small micro aggressions that could happen or does happen to people on a daily basis. It just reinforces my stance that there is still much to be done.”
NASA Hosts 27th Annual Pow-wow KEILAH DAVIS STAFF WRITER NC State’s 27th Annual Pow-wow, which is sponsored by Native American Student Affairs within Multicultural Student Affairs and the Native American Student Association (NASA), will be held on April 1st at noon in Carmichael Gymnasium. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and the event will end at 7 p.m. This Pow-wow is one of many held annually throughout North Carolina. Belton Moore, a freshman studying economics, serves on the Pow-wow planning committee as volunteer coordinator. “The Native community at NC State has a lot of pride in this event because it is a way for us to celebrate our culture at a university where Native people are vastly underrepresented, as well as educate others about our people,” Moore said. “The Pow-wow also helps to strengthen the bond between NC State and Native people across the state.” According to Amberlina Alston, a sophomore studying psychology and member of NASA, Pow-wows are social gatherings of Native Americans who perform century-old dances that have evolved to include
contemporary elements. “They are also an opportunity to unite together and teach the traditional ways to a younger generation,” Alston said. “The origins of modern Pow-wows date back 50-70 years. They started from small gatherings held on college campuses to large urban areas. Now today’s Pow-wows are contemporary inter-tribal versions of 19th-century Pow-wows.” The Pow-wow will feature dance with categories including Traditional, Jingle Dress, Fancy Shawl, and Men’s Fancy Dance. There will also be a drum contest. Alex Blake, a freshman studying animal science, served on the planning committee and was in charge of registering drummers and dancers for the Pow-wow. “Pow-wows are a way for Native Americans to express their ancestral roots,” Blake said. “Dancing and singing are two important ways to show this.” According to Moore, “Dancers will be dressed in various different styles of regalia, depending on the the style of dance they practice. A master of ceremonies will announce what is going on at the Pow-
wow throughout the event and will explain it to people who may not be familiar with what goes on at a Pow-wow.” There will also be vendors selling food, Native American jewelry, accessories and clothing. Both Moore and Alston encouraged non-Native students to attend and were hopeful about the impact of the Pow-wow on NC State’s community. “I hope that students come away with a greater understanding of the diversity and beauty in Native American culture and people,” Moore said. “The Pow-wow is a great opportunity for students to learn about their Native peers’ culture and heritage. I hope that attending the Pow-wow will dispel some of the stereotypes that exist about Native people and our culture.” “For non-Natives with limited exposure to American Indian culture, an event like a Pow-wow will not only serve to dispel stereotypes, but provide a chance to experience an American Indian gathering firsthand and to gain an understanding of Native cultures and traditions,” Alston said.
She continued, “I hope students take away that Native American culture isn’t dead, that all the people of Amerindian descent haven’t vanished. It is very much alive.” The official website features a guide to etiquette for all who attend. Attendees are encouraged to remain respectful during the Pow-wow by not crossing the invisible barrier of the arena where dancers and drummers perform. It is also polite to dance when asked to join. Pictures are also allowed with the permission of dancers except during dedication songs, which will be announced by the master of ceremonies. While some seating will be provided, attendees are encouraged to bring their own. Admission is free for current NC State students with a student ID and $4 for adults. For more information, visit https://sites. google.com/a/ncsu.edu/ncsupowwow/ home.
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news
NC State’s First International Festival VLADIMIR URENA CORRESPONDENT NC State’s first ever International Festival will take place on Friday, March 31 from 12-4 p.m. on Stafford Commons. The event, sponsored by Student Government, Multicultural Student Affairs, the Office of International Affairs and Student Involvement, will be the school’s first attempt at housing a celebration of cultures all around the world at a university scale. Briana Garcia, a junior studying social work and one of the co-directors of the International Festival, is hoping that the event brings such success that it becomes a tradition on campus. “It is with great hopes that this can be an annual event. It’s something that I think is important for the campus community, especially for those of marginalized identities,” Garcia said. Suha Ahmed, a sophomore studying biological sciences and the other co-director, said that the event should help diffuse racial tensions on campus and become a platform for students’ cultural expression. Students, faculty and staff were given the opportunity to sign up to volunteer and perform at the festival up through last week, and each group will focus on a different country or region in order to fully represent their
heritage from around the world. “We personally reached out to individuals, organizations, and groups affiliated with members that were underrepresented and asked them to participate. We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to represent their country, region, or culture.” Ahmed said. Both Garcia and Ahmed assured that they were eager to view all groups present themselves. “A few, but definitely not all, of the performances/representations that I am personally excited to see include the chinese yo-yo performance, Sube Ritmo, and the Serbia table,” Garcia said. Gabriel Carrion, a senior in technology, engineering and design education and a co-director of Sube Ritmo, is especially excited to be able to represent his Latinx culture on stage. “I think it’s really important to share Latin dance because it’s an important part of Latinx culture. We’ll be performing a bachata and a salsa dance at 3:30,” Carrion said. While this is NC State’s first attempt at hosting its own International Festival, the directors of the event have viewed UNCC’s and UNCG’s International Festivals as inspirations and guides for our own. However, Garcia
pointed out one key difference between the events. “I think that the NC State International Festival will be similar to these in the general idea of the event- bringing people together from different cultures in an educational, fun way. However, I think that ours will be a little different in that it’s exclusively made up of NC State students, faculty, and staff. It’s truly a Wolfpack event,” Garcia said. The mission of the International Festival is to promote and advance cultural awareness throughout the school as well as to create a more inclusive campus. The convenient location of the event, in the heart of main campus, and the convenient timing of it gives students a higher opportunity to be able to attend and participate. “We hope that we are able to attract both the marginalized and the majority white students,” said Garcia. The event should be one that serves as a learning experience for all students, faculty and staff. It will provide enough of different heritages and cultures for everyone to be able to leave the event with new appreciation for other people. “This event is for those students to represent their country, region, or culture for themselves rather than having it inadequately described in a textbook,” Ahmed said.
PAN-AFrikan EVENTS preview DION FIGUERA CORRESPONDENT
3/31
BSB concert: Travis Porter Lincoln Theater 7PM Prominent hip-hop group Travis Porter will be bringing NCSU into Pan-Afrikan week with a UAB Black Students Board concert at Lincoln Theater in downtown Raleigh. Although Travis Porter as a group has lacked overall critical acclaim, their party-trap style influenced songs like “Ayy Ladies” and “Bring it Back” get close to 800,000 listens on Spotify per month, and over 30 million views on Youtube.
4/3
BSB Speaker: Deray McKesson Talley Ballroom 6PM McKesson is an American civil rights activist, most prominent for his role in the Black Lives Matter movement, campaign in the 2016 Baltimore mayoral election and his activism on social media. The topic of the talk has not been confirmed, however in recent talks, McKesson has used his platform at universities to speak about current social justice issues and how to live and continue moving toward racial equality under a Donald Trump run administration.
4/7
Wild n’ Out Comedy Show Talley Ballroom 8:30-10:30PM MTV’s sketch comedy show “Wild ‘n Out” created by comedian/rapper Nick Cannon will be hosting a show in Talley’s State Ballroom. The shows cast is regularly made up of internet personalities and comedians like DC Young Fly, DeRay Davis, and Michael Blacks, and although we do not know the specifics, BSB has confirmed that show regulars will be there. “Wild ‘n Out” is one of the regular programs airing on MTV having aired for a total of 100 episodes over 8 seasons. The show has also previously featured prominent entertainment icons like rapper T.I., L.A. Clipper’s star Chris Paul, and the rap group Migos.
4/8
NPHC Step Show Talley Ballroom 7PM At the culmination of Pan-Afrikan week is the National Pan-Hellenic Council step show. The step show will feature various black Greek organizations vying to gain the right to say that they “run the yard.”
features
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017 | 5
tips for surviving pan af week STEPHANIE TATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN: Pan Afrikan week is full of events. From Friday to Saturday, there is something to do everyday. Make sure that you have planned out what events you’d like to attend in advance or you’ll end up missing out. Get your money right: A few of the events and almost all of the parties cost money. Buy your tickets to events that cost money early so that you can get the best deals possible. You don’t want to be stuck paying $20 at the door when you could have paid $5 online. Go to class: I understand that some of the lunch time events are enticing. I also understand that after some weeknight parties, you might want to sleep in. Resist the temptation. We are approaching the end of the semester and you probably don’t have any absences left so go to class. Act accordingly: One of the most fun parts of the week is the opportunity to go to parties with your peers and even some alumni. With that being said, be mindful of how you act when you’re out. Pan-Af is an annual week, but your reputation follows you throughout the rest of your NC State career. Step out of your intellectual comfort zone: There are so many educational events during Pan-Af. Take some time to engage in a discussion about something new.
THESE PHOTOS ARE FROM PAST PAN-AFRIKAN WEEK EVENTS
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features
Blackademics: Dr. Blair L.M. Kelley
The professor behind our favorite twitter profile ANAHZSA JONES MANAGING Editor Dr. Blair L.M. Kelley is arguably one of the most wellknown African American figures at NC State, with over 26 thousand followers on Twitter and dozens of articles published in online and print publication. On campus, Kelley’s role seems just as widespread as her online presence. She’s an associate professor of history and assistant dean for interdisciplinary studies and international programs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Her role as dean puts her in charge of many things, including interdisciplinary majors, college funding for study abroad programs, and developing new programs to aid study abroad.
With a grant won from the NC State Foundation, Kelley began the Travel Scholars program. Eight recipients are awarded grants of up to $2,500 and sessions are hosted on campus where underrepresented students can share their experiences to encourage others to apply. Since the project’s conception, Kelley says the program has been a success. “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of underrepresented students and first generation students who have won not only Travel Scholars funding, but also university study abroad funding. They’re coming
“For me if we don’t understand
our history in it’s complexity, in its messiness, we fail ourselves.”
“Real historians and academic
historians, we tell stories about our past. We try to elucidate meaning from them. That’s what I do, I try to tell a good story.”
One of these programs is Travel Scholars, a program created to assist underrepresented students who want to study abroad. Kelley, who represents CHASS in an international operations council, began the program after the study abroad office presented to the council saying they wanted more underrepresented students to go abroad . “I know the particular challenges that underrepresented and first generation students face in understanding what they should do when they get to college,” Kelley said. “I remember I did not go abroad during undergrad because I was afraid it wouldn’t work, I was afraid it would slow me down in my progress toward graduation. I was afraid it would be too expensive.”
“Society sort of paints onto our
past what it desires for us to know now.” She took those fears and the experiences of her students and decided to do some research. There were the obvious things, like increasing cultural competency, but Kelley found unexpected benefits to study abroad. “When I looked at the literature around study abroad, I saw that it was incredibly impactful for students. It makes a difference in the success that they have when they return to campus, how driven they are within their majors and extracurricular activities. It increases their retention. It raises GPAs. It basically gives students better outcomes, because they see why,” she said.
and still teaches today. Kelley is also a wife and mother of two. She found out she was expecting in her first year working at NC State, and experienced some push back from those around her. “There is no good time for women to have kids in academia,” Kelly said. “You should do it when it’s right for you, and you just embrace the challenges that come with it.” Those challenges have only made her enjoy her job even more, because they allow her to be someone her children and students can see as an example. “I get to be a model for what we should want all women to be; to have access to whatever makes them happy and whatever they can achieve,” she said. While she loves being a mother and an administrator,
Photo courtesy of the ncsu history department
out on top of the total population. “I’m very proud, as an administrator, to be a part of those programs,” she continued. She was inspired to pursue administration during her undergrad career at the University of Virginia by her advisor, who was also a dean and an african historian. “It was sort of like the intersection of what he did. I thought, ‘wow, he can take from all those spaces and make a difference structurally for my university.’ I think having him as a model always made me want to be all those things,” she said. After graduating with a B.A. in history and African American Studies, Kelley earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in History, and graduate certificates in African and African American Studies and Women’s Studies at Duke University. Her teaching career began at NC State where she taught African American history at night,
Kelley’s first allegiance was to history. Her favorite historical approach is to look for the messy, not only because it makes for a more interesting story, but because ours is a complicated history. “For me if we don’t understand our history in it’s complexity, in its messiness, we fail ourselves,” Kelley said. One example she gave of the dangers of “cleaning up” history is the notorious simplification of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. “It’s just one example of what happens when we don’t know our history that well,” she said. “Society sort of paints onto our past what it desires for us to know now.” One of the biggest things that sets Kelley apart from her colleagues is her vast social media presence. Kelley said she was a relatively early adapter to what she calls “academic Twitter.” In the beginning, she got a lot of pushback from people saying she was wasting time. “But for me, I thought, well isn’t it important to engage the public where they are?” she said. “I enjoyed really having a voice and really providing some historical perspective of what’s happening in pop culture and politics and what’s happening today,” she continued. “Real historians and academic historians, we tell stories about our past. We try to elucidate meaning from them. That’s what I do, I try to tell a good story.”
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opinion
Kenton’s corner: Dear White People The screening of Dear White People and the conversation that followed brought on a mixed bag of emotions. But the ones that stayed longest for me were anger and disappointment. I didn’t feel dejected from the event itself but hearing what students had to say before and Kenton gibbs after was tragic. Before the event even kicked off, STAFF WRITER there were signs with quotes from the movie. For example: “Dear white people don’t touch my hair” or “dear white people, stop dancing.” Some people made comments about how divisive and upsetting the signs were. Students and parents alike called members of Division of Academic and Student Affairs as well as sent emails about how uncomfortable their kids were made. To them I simply say first off those are direct quotes from the movie, so unless you expect UAB to go back and change the script they can’t change that. Second, the signs were meant to be upsetting because discomfort is often the beginning stage of growth. Lastly, the nerve of people expressing the discomfort of their everyday experiences! If the signs made you feel bad, imagine how it must feel to live those experiences. Hearing the utter denial of words from a panel
consisting predominantly of black people and an expert was expected, but nonetheless deeply frustrating. According to what I saw and the news article done by the Technician on the event, a pair of brothers and NC State students by the name of Jeremy White were all too ready and willing to display what Jane Elliott refers to as “white people’s second best privilege.” White made sure to note his financial obligation to the program and how he was hurt by the event. He said, “Tuition money is going to dumb stuff like this.” I found that interesting for two reasons. First, Kamri Risku explained that less than a dollar per student was added onto student fees for the event. Another thing that made his complaint amusing is that 50 dollars in student fees is dedicated towards lost/stolen silverware. I doubt that he complains about that “dumb stuff ” but an event challenging privilege, societal inequities and inequality aren’t worth it? Okay. The ability to be blind to one’s own privilege is a dangerous drug. Another thing that I found interesting was them giving the Merriam-Webster definition of racism and acting as if that’s the end all be all. I will be the first to say that I love a good Webster definition, but the world of academia often has different meanings for something based off of research and data analysis. Merriam Webster is often based on popular usage.
The funny part is White made it a point to state that no one answered his question even though he only asked one question which was buried in commentary before and after. It is the nature of those who enjoy white privilege to question the authority of experts and the experiences of others. White stated that the only privilege is economic privilege. I was flabbergasted to hear the idea that there is no privilege other than economic. Since White is so fond of Webster definitions, let’s take a look at the one for privilege. Privilege is defined as a special right, advantage or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. So just out of curiosity, is the black experience filled with self-created strife or is the white experience littered with privilege? Is it a coincidence that 1 in 17 white men will be incarcerated in their lifetime as opposed to 1 in 3 black men? Is it also completely random that nearly every survey done on the stop and frisk shows it disproportionately targets black people? So here’s a quote you can take straight from me: Dear white people, if you choose to ignore insurmountable evidence and endless amounts of data that proves black people in America are oppressed, please also exercise your right to to sit down and keep your mouth shut on black affairs.
