Nubian Message, Jan. 12, 2023 — Meanwhile ...

Hello lovely people, I hope you had a relaxing break from school; I know I did. I caught up on shows, books and family. That being said, it is time to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately.

This issue we catch y’all up on what you missed. We tackle the Tory Lanez trial. Be sure to check out our news segment where we cover everything from Andrew Tate to SZA’s new album. If you’re looking for something to watch, read or listen to, our media summary page is the place to be.

As usual, we have our playlist. Check out the songs that the Nubian Message staff had on repeat this winter break. This week's poem comes from a North Carolina native.

Happy FWOC!

Jaz Bryant

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

- Aristotle

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of 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.

Verdict out: Tory Lanez Found Guilty

Milan Hall Staff Writer

On Dec. 23, musician Daystar Peterson, better known as Tory Lanez, was found guilty the charges relating to the 2020 shooting that involved rapper Megan Thee Stallion, aka Megan Pete. Pete testified that Lanez shot her in the foot following an argument between the two.

Lanez pled not guilty to the three felony counts he was charged with. They were carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, assault with a semiautomatic handgun and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Pete testified on the night of the shooting that an argument broke out in the vehicle because Lanez wanted Pete to tell Kelsey Harris, Pete’s former friend and assistant, about their intimate relationship.

Pete claimed Lanez had yelled “dance b*tch,” before firing five rounds at her feet. She also testified that he offered her and Harris $1 million in hush money. He allegedly wanted them not to speak about the shooting because he was on probation

for a weapons offense.

Pete stated, “I didn’t want to see anybody die, I didn’t want to die.” Pete testified that she did not tell police that she was shot because of the tension between Black people and law enforcement during the time of the shooting

Pete claimed her career was another major factor for why she did not initially say Lanez shot her, “I didn’t want to talk to the officers because I didn’t want to be a snitch, snitching is frowned upon in the hip-hop community.”

This caused some to speculate if Pete was actually shot. However, a surgeon testified to removing bullet fragments from both of her feet. He also provided X-rays showing some of the fragments that still remain in her foot.

A recorded phone call between Lanez and Harris, which was used as evidence in the trial, was released publicly shortly after the trial. The phone call takes place about five hours after the shooting. Lanez does not claim he shot Pete in this recording.

However, he does express regret for his drunk actions, “I know she [Megan Thee Stallion] probably never, ever gonna talk to me ever again, but I just want you to know, bruh, I was just so f*cking drunk. I ain’t even know what the f*ck was going on, bruh, like dead*ss. I’d never do some sh*t like that… I was just so f*cking drunk, n*gga, I just didn’t understand what the f*ck was going on, bruh. Regardless, that’s not going to make anything right and that’s not going to make my actions right.”

Lanez chose not to testify for his own defense.

Lanez’s defense team’s claims that the initial argument was between Harris and Pete regarding Lanez. They seemed to imply that Harris shot Pete out of jealousy. According to George Mgdesyan, a lawyer for Lanez, “the case was about jealousy and a sexual relationship.”

The jurors reached the verdict after about seven hours of deliberation, spread across two days. Lanez showed no reaction to the verdict being read. However, Lanez’s father,

Sonstar Peterson, began yelling at the judge and prosecution. Lanez potentially faces up to 22 years in prison and deportation back to Canada.

The trial and its outcome sparked major controversy online. Many people have spoken up about the treatment and criticism Pete has faced since she first claimed that Lanez shot her. Others continue to support Lanez and speculate other possibilities.

Pete spoke about how the shooting has negatively impacted her while on the stand, "I don't wanna be on this Earth. I wish he woulda’ shot and killed me if I knew I would go through this torture.” She added that by speaking up about what happened made her “lose my confidence, lose my friends, lose myself. Damn, maybe I should be dead.”

Although he was found guilty, Lanez’s exact sentence will not be known until Jan. 27.

winter break activities

left: Photo Contributed bt Micah Oliphant Micah Oliphant, Staff Correspondent, photographed their friend while in the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

right: Photo Contributed bt Micah Oliphant The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

left: Photo Contributed bt Micah Oliphant The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

right: Photo Contributed bt Abigail Harris

Abigail Harris, Layout Designer, visited the North Carolina Chinese Lattern Festival at Koka Booth Ampitheatre.

fwoc

on summer

Esteville begins to burn; The auburn fields of harvest rise; The torrid flames again return, And thunders roll along the skies.

Perspiring Cancer lifts his head, And roars terrific from on high; Whose voice the timid creatures dread; From which they strive with awe to fly.

The night-hawk ventures from his cell, And starts his note in evening air; He feels the heat his bosom swell, Which drives away the gloom of fear.

Thou noisy insect, start thy drum; Rise lamp-like bugs to light the train; And bid sweet Philomela come, And sound in front the nightly strain.

The bee begins her ceaseless hum, And doth with sweet exertions rise; And with delight she stores her comb, And well her rising stock supplies.

Let sportive children well beware, While sprightly frisking o’er the green; And carefully avoid the snare, Which lurks beneath the smiling scene.

The mistress bird assumes her nest, And broods in silence on the tree, Her note to cease, her wings at rest, She patient waits her young to see.

-George Moses Horton

by Nubian Message Staff

George Moses Horton, a North Carolina Native, was the first Black American to publish poety in the South.

HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED

Jeanine Ikekhua Staff Writer

SZA’s SOS History Making Album

On Dec. 9, Grammy Award-winning artist SZA released SOS, her sophomore album. The New York Times describes the album “a roundelay of infidelities and reunions, betrayals and connections, self-doubt and self-affirmation.” SOS debuted at No.1 on the 200 Billboard albums chart earning 318,000 equivalent album units. This is the second biggest one-week sales total among all R&B albums. Currently, SOS has been on the Billboard charts for three consecutive weeks, making SZA the first Black female artist to have a No.1 album on the Billboard 200 in its first three weeks. SZA is also the second female artist in history to simultaneously chart 20 songs. SOS earned the biggest streaming week for an album in U.S. history with 404.85 million streams. SZA took to Instagram to thank her fans for their support and to announce the SOS tour.

Damar Hamlin

On Jan. 2, Buffalo Bills football player, Damar Hamlin, suffered cardiac arrest during a Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals. 90 minutes into the opening quarter, Hamlin was tackled by Bengal’s wide receiver, Tee Higgins. Hamlin collapsed in the middle of the field. CPR was administered to Hamlin after he collapsed. Sixteen minutes later, Hamlin received oxygen and was immediately escorted to the hospital. Following the game, Hamlin received an outpour of support on social media. On Jan. 4, he was still in the intensive care unit with signs of improvement. Hamlin spent two nights at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he still remains. Hamlin is now awake and communicating with his doctors. Hamlin announced in a social media post that he has a long road of recovery ahead of him and is grateful for all the love and support he has received.

Christine Harris

On Sept. 22, 2020, Christine Harris,a 57-year-old North Carolinian woman, was killed when police officer Jonathan Farmbo crashed into her car at 90 mph in a 50 mph zone. On Dec. 22, 2022, Harris’ family announced they were filing a lawsuit against the city of Fayetteville and its police force. This lawsuit is in response to the death of Christine Harris; Harris' relatives and attorney, Ben Crump, claim the police purposefully undermined the justice system to protect Officer Farmbo from prosecution. Harris was driving into her church when Farmbo crashed into her car, killing her instantly. Officer Farmbo was not responding to any emergencies when he crashed into the car. The Harris family hopes this lawsuit will give Christine Harris justice. Bill Harris, Christine Harris’s widower, told reporters the lawsuit would not heal the pain he has been dealing with since his wife's death.

Duke Energy Blackouts

On Dec. 24th, Duke Energy announced it would implement rotating power outages to protect their energy grid which left over 500,000 Carolina residents without power during the Christmas weekend. Duke Energy’s power outages were only supposed to last between 15-20 minutes, but during the coldest time of the year, residents were left without power for hours. The National Weather Service issued wind chill warnings for the western part of the Carolinas. Duke Energy stated that they strategically chose to not inform residents about power outages; therefore, residents were unable to prepare. Duke Energy’s company officials said the need to cut power arose quickly early on Dec. 24 and the process of informing residents would have taken several hours. The North Carolina Utility Commissioners are calling on Duke Energy to improve their communications with residents.

Andrew Tate Arrest

On Dec. 29th, Andrew Tate and his brother were arrested by Romanian officials on rape and human trafficking chrages. Andrew Tate is a controversial media personality who gained traction from his misogynistic and shady entrepreneurial videos. After Tate’s videos went viral, middle and high school teachers noticed an increase in sexual harassment and sexist hate speech amongst their male students. In response, Tate’s social media accounts were suspended for a couple of months. Recently, Tate is back in the headlines because he is being accused of recruiting victims for an online porn scam. Press releases state the Tate brothers coerced women into thinking they were interested in genuine relationships, then forced them to live in Romanian houses where they were watched and threatened to act in porn videos that would be sold online. The Tate brothers will appear in court during the forthcoming weeks to appeal a judge’s decision to their arrest warrants.

Biden Border Block

On Jan. 5th, Biden’s administration announced new immigration policies. These policies limit the amount of asylum claims accepted at the Southern U.S border by expanding the use of Title 42. Title 42 was enacted during Donald Trump’s presidency. This immigration policy was created to limit the amount of asylum seekers that entered the USA during the pandemic. President Biden is using Title 42 to push back thousands of Cubans, Haitians and Nicarguans back over the Southern U.S border. Additionally, the Biden administration is increasing ways immigrants and migrants can apply for asylum without going to the Northern border. President Biden stated he knows these policies “aren’t going to fix our entire immigration, but they can help us a good deal in managing what is a difficult challenge.”

NUBIANS SUGGESTIONS UPCOMING EVENTS

Abbot Elementary (2021)

Jeanine / Copy Editor

Created by Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” is an American sitcom series that follows the lives of six educators at one of the worst public schools in Philadelphia. The stars of the show are teachers: Janine, Gregory, Jacob, Melissa, Barbara, Principal Ava Coleman, who only does her job when she feels like it and Mr. Johnson, the janitor. “Abbott Elementary,” tells the story of public school teachers who do everything in their power to help their students succeed academically, despite a lack of resources and funding. Regardless of the daily trials these educators face, their passion for teaching motivates them to keep on being teachers.

Glass onion: A Knives out story (2022)

Hall / Staff Writer

The comedy mystery film “Glass Onion” is the second installment of the Knives Out franchise. Famous detective, Benoit Blanc, joins a group of wealthy individuals with questionable morals on a private island in Greece after being invited by billionaire Miles Bron for a murder mystery party. The group is an eclectic and controversial bunch, scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer Birdie Jay, her assistant Peg, streamer Duke Cody, his girlfriend Whiskey and the outcasted co-founder of Bron’s company, Andi Brand. The groups’ deep history with one another makes the murder mystery theme more threatening and realistic.

Laughing so Hard it Hurts by MAvi (2022)

Austin Modlin/ Staff Writer

“Laughing so Hard, it Hurts” by MAVI is the rapper's second album from the past few months. Much of what encapsulates this album is its lo-fi production staples. It draws characteristics from monte booker, Wulfe Morpheous and Ovrkast. among many others. The album primarily focuses on the foils of coming into money as an up and coming hip-hop artist. The lyrics show MAVI's journey discovering money and fame do not solve his inner demons. MAVI’s flow and delivery are definitely reminiscent of Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE, but he makes it uniquely his own.

Southside (2019)

Jaz Bryant / Editor-In-Chief

**Trigger warning: Sexual Assault**

The sitcom “South Side” was created by Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle. It follows the day to day life of Simon James and Kareme Odom, two recent community college graduates from the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. They work at a rent-to-own furniture store and must repossess furniture for a living until they can make it big. Included in this ensemble cast are characters Officer Turner and Officer Goodnight, cops who protect, serve and fraud the community. This sliceof-life portrays the working class, politicians and everyone in between through outrageous comedic storytelling. From child support evasion to cursing pastors, this show is not what you expect.

Milan