NUBIANMESSAGE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM | wednesday, February 28, 2018
We came to represent
wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 2
Letter from the editor
THISISSUE 3 UJAMAA FRIDAY Reclaiming Our Coins
4 BHM WRAP UP Hello lovely people, Black History Month has officially come to a close. We had some great events this year, not to mention the theme, Reclaiming Our Time. We at the Nubian Message have been working on reclaiming our excellence (not that we ever lost it), and it showed this past weekend at the North Carolina College Media Association conference where we won several awards, including Best of Show for our 25th Anniversary issue. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see it somehow, you can check it out online at digital.thenubianmessage.com, or better yet, stop by the office in Witherspoon 314 and pick one up yourself; we’d love to see you there.
Photos of BHM events
5 REPRESENTATION Diversity in NC State Faculty
6 BLACKADEMICS Bradford Hill
7 BLACK ECONOMY Community empowerment
We also won awards for an amazing opinion piece by Stephanie Tate on the legacy left by President Obama and for photos and design. Shout out to the photo staff and to Allona Wilkerson, our former layout editor. All this is to say that I am extremely proud of the people I get to work with and the paper we continue to produce. I’d also like to say congratulations to the other media outlets at state. Agromeck, Technician and Windhover all won awards at the conference. Clearly, Student Media is doing something right, which you should be happy about because your student fees are part of the reason we exist. Keep in mind, we’re a resource for you. Not just for news, but for opportunities to be involved. We are always looking for writers, designers and photographers, so if you have an interest, come see us (and our fancy new plaque). That’s all I have for now! Have a terrific next two weeks, enjoy spring break and stay safe. Wakanda Forever, Anahzsa
The Sentinel of the African -American Community at N.C. State Since 1992. Anahzsa Jones
Editor-in-Chief
Keilah Davis
Managing editor
Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of the Nubian Message:
Cover designed by Allona Wilkerson
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.
news
wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 3
AACC celebrates black entrepreneurs Reclaiming Our Coins: Ujamaa Friday
Shawn Fredericks Staff Writer a know-it-all, be a sponge, don’t give up,” Carroll said. “[There] may be some bumps in the road but it does not mean give up.” For other vendors, they make the practice of cooperative economics part of their family business. Micka’il Brandon, a teenager and jewelry designer for Uzuri Designs, is following a family tradition. “My grandfather was an entrepreneur,” Brandon said. “My family really supports what I do. Having their support really helps me do what I do.” The event was held for several hours. People dropped in and out, buying various items until the event ended. Ujamaa Fridays are held every fourth Friday of each month in the AACC.
Vendors featured this month Sindy Huang/Staff Photographer
Yohnia Murray, a fourth year double majoring in psychology and French, looks at earrings from Mavazimazuri during Ujamaa Friday on Feb. 23, 2018 in Witherspoon Sudent Center. Mavazimazura’s owner, Mapenzi Carroll, named the business after the Swahili word for “beautiful garment”.
T
he African American Cultural Center hosted the monthly event Ujamaa Fridays. This month’s theme, in conjunction with the theme for Black History Month, Reclaiming our time, was Reclaiming Our Coins. The event was held in Witherspoon Student Center in the African American Cultural Center on February 23. Ujamaa Fridays seeks to offer students, faculty, staff and the local community the opportunity to purchase literature, NPHC paraphernalia, posters, art, clothing, jewelry, hair care and wellness products that reflect Pan African culture and history or entrepreneurship. Ujamaa, which means cooperative economics, is the fourth principle of Kwanzaa. Cooperative economics is the building and maintaining of black businesses by African Americans investing in and profiting from those businesses. Erin Elliott, a graduate intern at the AACC, said, “I oversee this initiative, so for me it solidifies the commitment we have at the Cultural Center to share the social wealth. This event is necessary for spotlighting black business. It gives black students the opportunity to learn and buy from local business and to a chance to see themselves reflected in entrepreneurship.” Reflecting on the unique opportunity Ujamaa Fridays
offers, Alonzo Fullenwilder, student coordinator of the AACC, said, “Ujamaa provides students, faculty, and staff, the opportunity to directly support black business. We have people who are selling African garb who can tell you the history of those items and the culture, the mission, and their brand’s focus.” Vendors for Ujamaa Fridays brought items unique to Pan-African culture, such as hair care products for African American women. AYA ambassador Achaia Dent was overjoyed by the fact that she could buy these products. “It’s lit,” Dent said. “I feel considered. Someone thought about me in the process. Someone thought about what I might need.” Students are not the only beneficiaries of Ujamaa. The vendors also benefit—monetarily and personally. Mapenzi Carroll, vendor for Mavazi Mazur, a fashion boutique, said, “One, it’s about people coming together and celebrating our culture through selling merchandise for our people. It means a lot. Our ancestors built this country. When we are invited to black events, it’s an honor.” Additionally, Carroll gave students of color some advice about business and entrepreneurship. “Learn all you can from black entrepreneurs. Don’t be
The 7th Pearl Jewelry & Hair Accessories www.facebook.com/7thpearl
Love’s Therapeutics Hair & Skin Care lovestherapeutics.com
Uzuri Designs Jewelry & Scarves
www.facebook.com/uzuridesigns2017
Kente Sunwear Clothing, Accessories & Decor www.kentesunwear.com
Black Cotton Decor & Accessories blackcotton.us
Gaveen Clothing & Hats No website.
wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 4
features
Bhm wrap up
As Black History Month comes to a close, we want to relive some of the great events of the past week. The African American Cultural Center hosted Ujamaa Friday and the Politics of Black Hair exhibit. These events celebrated black culture through self expression and entrepreneurship. Ujamaa Friday is held the 4th Friday of every month and the Politics of Black Hair exhibit will be in the AACC art gallery until March 21.
Elijah Moracco-Schelp/Staff Photographer Pictures of black womens’ hairstyles are displayed in the Politics of Black Hair Exhibit in Witherspoon. The African American Cultural Center set up the exhibit to explore societal norms of keeping black hair. The exhibit will be available for NC State students on the third floor of Witherspoon until mid March.
Sindy Huang/Staff Pho-
tographer Bracelets are displayed on the table with wares from Uzuri Design during Ujamaa Friday. Ujamaa comes from the Swahili word for brotherhood or extended family, and hosts products produced by black owned businesses.
Sindy Huang/Staff Photographer Johnia Murray, a fourth year double majoring in psychology and French, talks to Crystal Brophy, the owner of of the 7th Pearl, about her handmade jewelery during Ujamaa Friday on Feb. 23, 2018 in Witherspoon Sudent Center. Among the wares displayed were necklaces, earrings, and brooches.
features
wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 5
Representation and Diversity In NC State Faculty erin elliot Correspondent With a reenergized push for representation surrounding the success of Black Panther, one can start to imagine what adequate representation would look like in the spaces we occupy on a daily basis. According to data reported to the National Center for Educational Statistics in 2016, NC State’s population was 33,755 in total. African-American students, undergraduate and graduate combined, only made up 6% of that. Similarly, in the same reporting year, NC State had 1,380 full time professors who were either tenured or tenure-track. Shockingly, 3% of all tenured men and about 5.5% of all tenured women identified as African American. For tenure-track faculty, the numbers were slightly higher, yet still alarming. African-American men represented a little under 4.5% of all tenuretrack men while African-American women
on the same track represented a total of 6.6%. So are these numbers a big deal? Dr. Craig Brookins, an associate professor of psychology and Africana studies at NC State for the past 28 years said, “When people don’t see things that represent who they are, it effects how people understand what is possible. When faculty see themselves reflected in places of power and influence, it provides examples that matter.” We as students of the pack should not only “think and do,” but we should also see our potential. As a student on campus, feeling like you belong is a powerful indicator of how likely you are to stay at a university or even graduate within six years. Dr. Elan Hope, an assistant professor of psychology said, “The underrepresentation of black faculty at NC State is an extraordinarily important issue and a mirror
Source: Fall 2016 data from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)
of broader trends in higher education. This issue stems from the pipeline issue that is present in high school graduate rates, undergraduate enrollment and graduation, and graduate enrollment and persistence.” Unfortunately, it seems as though most of the departments on campus are missing the mark at diversifying their faculty. “I have only seen two black faculty in my entire department,” said Gwen Hopper, a second-year student studying chemistry. “It is important to see people who look like me in places that I want to go because it gives me encouragement that I can achieve.” What happens to students’ beliefs about becoming successful in a profession when they aren’t able to see themselves in that field? Fifth-year student Camerian Williams said, “I started out here [at NC State], in a STEM field and I only saw one faculty of color. Now I am in CHASS… For me the representation is important. It is cool to have a black professor because I have never really had a black teacher even before I came to college. It shows that I can do this too.” Dr. DeLeon Gray, assistant professor of educational psychology, said, “We can always increase our numbers. I am always going to advocate for faculty of color coming to NC State. I will never be satisfied with the number of students or faculty of color because diversity to me is the hallmark of a healthy organization.” Dr. Gray’s sentiment reinforces the idea that, yes, we need to increase our numbers but it is also imperative that we find and recruit allies who will join us in this uphill battle. It is time that we stop filling seats and positions for the sake of the diversity. We need to change the system. I asked Dr. Hope if we are doing anything as a university to retain the faculty that do come to NC State. “There are some resources to support black faculty, but there may be room for improvement to increase representation on campus,” Dr. Hope said. “For instance, I hold a weekly writing group with black women faculty on the tenure-track so we have time dedicated to our scholarship. These types of spaces can be university supported, which will help attract and retain faculty of color.” Faculty representation matters. A university with a commitment to social justice should reflect that in their staff
and faculty. As people of color, we are not a homogenous group; we are quite the opposite. It is true that our stories may allow us to relate, and we may have experienced similar phenomenon. However, our identities deserve the respect of being more than just the only “one” in our departments and classrooms.
Our identities deserve the respect of being more than just the only “one” in our departments and classrooms.
wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 6
features
Blackademics: bradford hill
Anahzsa Jones editor-in-chief
Supporting Men of Color
Photo contributed by Bradford Hill.
B
radford Hill is the academic success coordinator for TRIO Student Support Services, and TRIO Student Support Services STEM. His role is pretty self-explanatory; he coordinates programs that aid in the academic success of TRIO students. “My primary role is programming for our students,” Hill said. “So coming up with programs that our students will have incentive to come to. Targeting areas of student interest and areas that will benefit our students, not just while they’re here in college, but post-graduation.” As part of this initiative, Hill coordinates graduate school tours and school visits when community colleges and other universities want to come to our campus. He also advises the TRIO student ambassadors. He said that taking the job is “one of the best decisions I’ve made. It’s a blessing to be here, especially as a young man of color in my specific role. The visibility that this job allows me is very important.” The Raleigh native earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from NC A&T University, a historically black university. From there, he went on to UNC Pembroke to earn a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. One interesting thing Hill notes about UNC Pembroke is that it is a historically American Indian liberal arts university. “It was like a huge culture shock coming from an HBCU where you’re the majority,”
Hill said, “to go to a Native-American environment where I had to relearn everything and really kind of adjust and adapt to the cultural norms and the cultural values of that place. And now I’m here at a PWI (Predominantly White Institution), so I’ve been all over the place. But it’s been good for my personal growth. I didn’t plan it that way, but it’s been really cool.” During his master’s program, Hill got the chance to be a teaching assistant. He was given the freedom to explore his own teaching style, which he felt was integral to his decision to pursue a career in higher education. “I felt I could be myself in higher ed.,” Hill said. “I didn’t feel like I had to restrict my personality, which is really important.” Not only did he teach, but Hill got the opportunity to counsel college students as well, which fueled his pursuits here at NC State. “Coming here to TRIO working with a population that I specifically counseled in internships, that was a big draw for me,” Hill said. Hill graduated from UNC Pembroke in May of 2016, and promptly started at NC State in October of the same year. In addition to his role with TRIO, Hill also facilitates the support group Men of Color, where he offers counseling in a group setting, as well as a safe space for black men. “It’s a group that kind of just allows us to just be,” Hill said. “For our students who are here as young men of color, there’s so much that we have to deal with socially just being young men of color, but you come here to a place like NC State that’s huge and you’re outnumbered. “There’s a lot of weight that’s on their shoulders to kind of present an image that’s not stereotypical,” he continued. “There’s all these small layers of being black and these very minute details of being a black man that you’re constantly battling with, or you’re constantly trying to dispose this myth, or this stereotype.” The group’s intention is to allow men of color a way to discuss issues specific to their identity as men of color and “to be authentic, to be vulnerable, and talk about issues that are specific to our culture and our ethnic group,” according to Hill. For all his support and involvement, Hill is not the founder of the group. A former NC State counseling intern, Melvin Gaddy
III, began the group during the 2016-2017 academic year. His departure in May of 2017 left a gap that Hill was asked to fill. “I’m picking up where he left off,” Hill said. “Melvin did a lot of great work before I got here.” Despite support from OIED and those in the Counseling Center, Hill has faced opposition in the form of questioning the group’s purpose. He isn’t surprised, however. “Any time there’s something specifically for men of color, specifically for black people, there’s always backlash,” he said. “There’s always somebody from the opposite side saying ‘Well why do yall have this?’ or ‘Why do yall need this specifically?’ without taking into context the environment that we’re doing it in and our social climate. Now
more than ever, it’s important for men of color in our community to have a place to speak.” Hill is especially thankful to Moses Greene, director of the African American Cultural Center (AACC), Nashia Whittenburg, director of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), Leah Young, assistant director of MSA and Dr. Monica Osburn, director and licensed professional counselor at the Counseling Center. The Men of Color group meets every Monday at 5:15 PM, either in the Counseling Center or the AACC. For more information and for the location of the meeting for the week, students can contact Hill at bahill2@ncsu.edu.
opinion
wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 6
Every City Needs A T’Challa W
follow.
ARNING: Spoilers for Black Panther
At the end of Black Panther, T’Challa (Black Panther) comes Shawn to Oakland and buys Fredericks a whole block of Staff Writer condemned buildings within a predominantly African-American neighborhood. T’Challa plans to use these buildings for the first Wakandan international center that will do social outreach and facilitate scientific and technological exchange. This is beautiful, and in many of the reviews and discussions I have seen about Black Panther, this scene does not get enough attention. This scene is about community wealth, economic development and black philanthropy. An African king buys a whole block of condemned buildings to bring a wealth of knowledge and technology to a poor, predominantly black neighborhood. That image of a rich black man investing in the communities of people that look like him is a powerful expression that African Americans are not exposed to enough in Hollywood and everyday life. Black Panther has inspired people to create movements such as the #BlackPantherChallenge, where black philanthropists buyout theaters for underrepresented minorities. Within our local community, leaders pooled their resources together to get southeast Raleigh kids and teeneagers tickets to see Black Panther. Black economic power is real, and it is about time for the black community to
showcase that. We should be inspired by this wave to pool our resources together to build up our communities. Black people have a history of being able to build wealth, as my hometown illustrates. I grew up in Durham, North Carolina. The ‘Bull City” is famous for being the city of medicine and home to the fine and wonderful institution of Duke University. A little know fact about Durham is that it was one of the homes for Black Wall Street. Back in the late 1800’s on Parrish Street, Black Wall Street was started by two black entrepreneurs, John Merrick and Charles Spaulding, with help from white elites such as Washington Duke. During this time, black wealth grew exponentially; however the wealth was not shared among all black people. Most of it went to a black elite class. Black Wall Street ended in the 1960s with Durham’s urban renewal. Black Wall Street demonstrates why black people need to invest and create wealth in their communities. We have an obligation to uplift each other, not just with combating racism but by also helping our brothers and sisters economically. We live in a capitalist society, where the money in your pockets determines your status and quality of life. Unfortunately, with this in mind, we commit a moral injustice when we turn our backs on our less fortunate brothers and sisters who may not have had the same opportunities we enjoy in life, or more specifically, at this university. When we obtain enough income, instead of (always) donating to this university that does not do enough to include minorities, we should distribute some monies towards HBCUs, whether we attended them or not. Not simply because they are HBCUs but
because they are graduating more poor black students than white colleges. For those who need a visual, after visiting a friend that goes to an HBCU, coming from her on-campus apartment to Wolf Village was like going from the hood to the hills. Not because her apartment was dirty (she keeps it quite clean), but because of the lack of upkeep with the grass, the lack of a computer lab within the complex, and the fact that dining halls are not open at all hours of the night like Tuffy’s. We as a black community need to invest in black institutions that are serving our people. While we should always advocate for diversity and inclusion in PWIs, we should not let white institutions be the end-all, beall of determining black success. That is why people should all aspire to be the T’Challa of their community, but instead of relying on the rich black elites, people should use the collective wealth they have to create change. In the words of Ricky Rozay: “It’s time to buy back the block. It’s time to buy back the hood.” Movements such as Buy Back The Block, which uses crowdfunding to fight gentrification by getting people to invest in the black community without having a massive amount of money. We should work to stop gentrification from displacing communities of poor people of color not with just social media posts (awareness is always key though) but also with our actual collective wealth. This is the time to remind America of black economic power. People, we need to raise our fist for economic justice. Property is great and all, but there is another way to uplift these communities. The way was paved by the Black Panthers
(no, not the Wakandan kind). What is little known about the Black Panther Party is that they created social programs such as free breakfast for children and free health clinics. Again, money in my view should not determine a quality of life, but we should pool resources to serve the community through social programs. We should not let the self-interested and greedy values of American capitalism keep us from leveraging our resources to empower our communities.
“When we put the procurement
of commodities above the wellbeing of our people, we have truly disconnected ourselves from our ancestors who jumped from ships, who raised their fist in rebellion against governments and gave their lives for a brighter future for the next generations to come.
”
When we graduate, we should work hard to create a better future not just for ourselves but our community. We have an obligation to share with each other. Wakanda changed on the silver screen. Now we have to create that change in our everyday lives. As the saying goes, the revolution will not be televised.
calling all writers, photographers and designers:
The Nubian Messsage wants You! Interest Meetings: Tuesday, February 27 at 5:30pm Wednesday, February 28 at 5:30pm Friday, March 2 at 2:00pm All meetings will be held at Witherspoon Student Center in Room 314