wednesday, February 14, 2018 | 6
features
blackademics: Here are 9 NC State heroes we’ve highlighted in our Blackademics series. Paired with them are nine of the too few black superheroes in comics and, more recently, movies and TV shows. We used different criteria to match them up, but each of our heroes have something in common with their super counterparts. We’ve never seen these heroes or these people in the same place at the same time. Coincidence? We think not. Dr. Stephen Ferguson:
As a professor of philosophy, Dr. Ferguson highlights black philosophers and their contributions throughout history. He also uses philosophy and politics to aid in solving social issues.
Matched with: Icon.
Icon is an alien taking the form of black man. He crash-landed on Earth during the time of slavery and took the name Augustus Freeman. Because of his alien physiology, Icon lived through slavery up toward modern times. Having the powers of Superman, Icon serves the city of Dakota as a lawyer by day and a crime fighter by night
Dr. Jamila Simpson:
Dr. Simpson’s background as a science major and position as assistant dean for diversity and student services at the College of Sciences allow her to provide resources and representation for minority students majoring in the sciences. She was the 1st black person at NC State to graduate with a degree in meteorology. Matched with: Storm.
As the descendant of African priestess, Storm is a mutant with the power to control the atmosphere and manipulate the winds and the weather.
Dr. Fredessa Hamilton:
Dr. Hamilton is a lecturer in communication who earned her PhD from NC State at age 59. Her thesis and current work focuses on low-literate adults in NC. She broke barriers at Duke, which was desegregated only 10 years before she started as an undergraduate, like how Misty broke into the NYPD. Matched with: Misty Knight.
Also known as Kelly Knight, Misty was a NYPD officer serving justice until her arm got amputated after a bomb attack. Her bionic arm gives her a superhuman grip, and with add-ons from Stark Industries, she can equip different tools and use various abilities.
Preston Keith:
As the assistant director in the GLBT Center, Keith raises awareness for GLBT issues through his management of advocacy programs and student organizations. He is also known on campus for his electric personality. Matched with: Static Shock.
Static is the marquis character from Milestone Comics. His power to manipulate electromagnetic fields allows him to magnetize and demagnetize anything, bend electrons, and generate protective shields, among other things.
