Nubian Message, Feb. 9, 2023— Lost In Love

NUBIANMESSAGE

THIS ISSUE Letter from the editor

Hey, hey, hey,

Happy early Valentine’s Day from Nubian Message to you!

If you want to hear all about love, check out our media summaries and playlist where we focus exclusively on amor. One writer tackles the issue of Black love in film, another reminds us that stalking is not romantic.

If you’re sick of love this romance season, we have a variety of non-romantic topics. If you’re in the mood for arts and culture, we have articles on Beyoncé’s concert, fashion and a Latinx artist. Learn more about long-Covid and your possible gullibility in our other articles.

Be sure to check out ourValentine’s Day themed gallery. The team worked really hard on it.

Stay warm and stay motivated.

4 MUSIC PRODUCTION

Femme Beat-Making Night

5 COUTURE WEEK

What Influenced Paris’ Couture Collections

10 BEYONCE DUBAI CONCERT

Beyonce and Not so Obtainable Privacy

11 OOPS LOOK AGAIN

There’s More Than What Meets the Eye

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

314 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 office 919-515-1468

advertising 919-515-2411

online thenubianmessage.com

Editor-in-Chief

Jaz Bryant

nubian-editor@ncsu.edu

managing Editor

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe

nubian-managineditor@ncsu.edu

Copy Editors

Jeanine Ikekhua

Jo Miller

Milan Hall

Layout designers

Abigal Harris

Milan Hall

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.

-Jaz

Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.

-Leonardo da Vinci

cover photo BY ethan rimolt / Staff Photographer On Saturday. Feb. 4, Nubian Message staff had their Valentine's Day photoshoot.

“Long COVID” & The Workforce Stalking vs Romance

The Covid-19 pandemic has had many residual effects on society and the world as a whole. The phenomenon referred to as “long Covid” is one of these effects, and has been present in the media for the past few months.

Nadia hargett Staff Writer

nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, has done research suggesting that about 500,000 people in the United States are currently out of work because of “long Covid”, “The New York Times” reported.

“Long Covid” (also known as “post-Covid”) is a medical condition that some people who are infected with Covid-19. It can last for up to a year; symptoms often include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, hair loss, joint pain and a fast-beating heart. There are sometimes other, more specific symptoms as well, including parosmia, blood clotting and pulmonary issues. Researchers have been studying long Covid to provide more effective treatments to those suffering from it. But there still isn't a strong enough treatment to completely rid people of their symptoms. This has led people to have to deal with them until they subside on their own.

This has subsequently had a major impact on the American workforce. According to a new analysis of workers’ compensation claims in New York, a large number of employees are prevented from returning to work due to “long Covid”–some end up needing medical care for a good period after returning to their jobs.

The study found that during the first two years of the pandemic, about 71 percent of people classified as experiencing long Covid either required continuous medical treatment or were unable to work for at least six months. The New York State Insurance Fund wrote in a report that “Long Covid has harmed the workforce” and that the findings of the study “highlight long Covid as an underappreciated yet important reason for the many unfilled jobs and declining labor participation rate in the economy, and they presage a possible reduction in productivity as employers feel the strains of an increasingly sick workforce.”

Approximately 18 percent of the “long Covid” patients in the study still hadn’t returned to work over a year after their initial Covid-19 infection; more than 75 percent of them were under the age of 60. Outside of the study, there are numerous other Covid patients who could be out of work because of “long Covid”. Katie Bach, a

It’s also important to emphasize that the report doesn’t necessarily account for the people who went back to work without seeking medical attention. Co-author of the report, Gaurav Vasisht, told the “Times” that, “It's not capturing people who may have gone back to work and didn't seek medical attention and may still be suffering, so you know, they're just toughing it out.”

The New York report also discovered some more positive findings. According to the report, since the first wave of the pandemic in early 2020, “long Covid” cases have decreased as a percentage of workers’ compensation and COVID-related claims. This decrease coincided with the development of the COVID-19 vaccines, which are suspected to reduce the risk of long COVID infection.

However, it’s important to note that new claims are filed with heightened amounts of claims after infection surges. Also, with the report not accounting for all people who went back to work without receiving medical care for their long COVID symptoms, the report suggests that many of these people that are not reflected in the report are likely essential workers. A whopping 83 percent of COVID claims came from essential workers, but only 29 percent of their claims met the criteria for long COVID.

The report says that this could be because “essential workers might not have been able to stay home from work beyond the required quarantine period.” It adds that “essential workers may have long Covid rates higher than the data suggests, creating a blind spot for policymakers.” This is most likely because many essential workers cannot afford not to work, so they go despite being sick.

Overall, the study findings and other data suggest that “long Covid” is a condition that needs to be addressed and brought to light. Although COVID may seem like it’s finally coming to an end, COVID is still ahead of us.

We’ve all done something crazy in the name of getting a crush’s attention, but how crazy is too crazy? “How I Met Your Mother” explains this phenomenon perfectly with the Dobbler-Dahmer theory. It states that major romantic gestures are only considered “sweet” when both parties are interested in one another. For instance, Lloyd Dobbler holding up a boombox at the end of “Say Anything.” But when only one party is interested, this grand gesture can come off creepy or “Dahmer-like.” Big romantic gestures make all the difference when the attention is wanted. Valentine’s Day is often associated with love and romance, but for some, it can also bring fear and anxiety due to stalking.

Aside from the grandeur romantic gestures, society seems to believe stalking is that eerie feeling that someone’s always watching you. We tend to believe that a stalker is a creepy ex who just can’t let go, but stalking can take on a multitude of different forms. Stalking can include things such as surveilling, threatening, communicating with/about someone, obstructing a person’s property and harassment —whether over the phone, online or through mail among other things. These behaviors must occur on more than two occasions in order establish a pattern of behavior. All these behaviors are defined as a pattern of repeated unwanted attention.

We may think that stalking is only defined as being followed, when in reality it is a complete breach of privacy in the victim’s life. The lack of awareness of stalking has left victims feeling hopeless that they will ever feel safe again. Being stalked can leave a person feeling anxious, intimidated and paranoid among other things. It can severely impact a person’s mental health and overall well-being.

Some people think that stalking only happens to big celebrities such as the Kardashian-Jenner family, Selena Gomez, Rihanna and even recently to Keanu Reeves. Yet stalking can happen to anyone, in fact, 1 out of 6 women and 1 out of 19 men have experienced being stalked in

their lifetime in the United States. Many also report being stalked by an ex-partner, and the majority of stalking cases are in fact done by someone that the victim knows.

In order to protect themselves, many victims of stalking take various measures including getting a restraining order, changing their daily routines, installing security systems in their home and much more. They can also contact local law enforcement and seek support from victim advocacy organizations. Although people who have been stalked may take these measures, it's difficult for cases of stalking to be taken seriously. Oftentimes police cannot take action unless a physical act of violence has occurred, or a law has been broken.

On top of this, stalking is not seen as a serious or dangerous offense in the eyes of the law. For example, in the state of North Carolina, stalking is considered a class A1 misdemeanor, which is only punishable by up to 150 days in county jail, that is if it's your first offense. If a stalker stays persistent then they can be punished for up to 25 months in prison.

Valentine’s Day should be a time for love, romance and happiness, not fear and anxiety. If you or someone you know is currently dealing with a stalker, do not hesitate to seek help and take steps to protect your safety.

Additional resources include:

NC State’s 24/7 Sexual Assault

Helpline

919-515-4444

ncsuadvocate@ncsu.edu

National Center for Victims of Crimes (NCVC)

+1 202 467 8700

https://victimsofcrime.org

National Domestic Violence

Hotline

1-800-799-7233

NC State Police

919-515-3000

https://police.ehps.ncsu.edu/

Rebecca HernÁndez Correspondent

A Femme-Safe Place

Cecilia Vicuñas Purpose for Art

alianna kendall-brooks Correspondent

A smooth and funky baseline echoed off the green walls of NC State’s Digital Media Lab last Thursday as students listened to “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey. University Library Specialist and 2020 NC State alum Tim Mensa shared how the iconic female duo has inspired him as a fellow bassist at Femme Beat-Making Night. Maurika Smutherman, a Graduate Extension Assistant and second-year Ph.D. student at State, also shared early-2000’s hits produced by her inspiration none other than Ms. Missy Elliott. The inclusive event hosted by Mensa and Smutherman centered on women and non-binary changemakers in the music industry whilst introducing students to the process of beat-making.

Enticed by the dazzling purple poster that read “Femme Beat-Making Night” on Jan. 26, students began streaming into the Digital Media Lab ready to learn. After a quick listening session of various femme artists, students began talking about the intricacies of music-making and the true meaning behind music production.

Maurika Smutherman: At what point does music making become producing? For example, can Tik Tok mashups be considered producing?”

After a small pause for thought, we shared our opinions on the controversies surrounding the art of sampling. At what point can you chop a sample enough for it to be an original production and do animal crossing mashups on Tik Tok constitute authentic music production? We arrived at the consensus that most music-making is production but there is a fine line between the two. Regardless, music-making and production are complicated art forms. However, “Femme Beat-Making Night” made it clear that resources exist for those interested.

MS: I feel like it's something anyone can do but not a lot of people venture into it. I'm trying to put myself in the space so I can produce more and also get other people to do it. So many people are interested in it, but don't know they can come in here and get help step-by-step.

Many of the attendees were unaware of the library’s resources or intimidated by a lack of experience, which is what inspired Smutherman and Mensa to host a “Femme Beat-Making Night.” During the event, students learned about the library’s free and accessible software

for music production – the most popular programs being Ableton Live and GarageBand. At the far side of the Digital Media Lab, there are four music booths fully equipped for creating music, recording podcasts and editing digital media.

With everything at our fingertips, the event operated similarly to the youtube series Rhythm Roulette by Mass Appeal. The series follows well-known producers, such as WondaGurl, as they pick through vinyl crates and randomly select a few to sample and produce a beat with. However, instead of digging through vinyls, Mensa and Smutherman kept it digital by curating a femme playlist for students to shuffle through. From neo-soul to alternative pop and everything in between, the playlist represented the diverse expressions of femininity in music and accompanied us as we ventured into the booths.

The array of slots, buttons and whistles was intimidating at first, but with help students began experimenting with Ableton Live and GarageBand to create their beats. While my beat definitely won’t be making it to Billboard, Femme Beat-Making Night was an invaluable experience. A door at the back of D.H. Hill’s Learning Commons that once felt closed and intimidating was always open, and it felt more welcoming than ever.

Nubian Message: What inspired you to have a Femme Beat Night?

Tim Mensa: We thought of it in a meeting and we were like yea – why haven’t we done that before?”

NM: Have there been events like this in the Digital Media Lab.

TM, MS: No. We are trendsetters

And trendsetters they are. In many conversations about influential music production, women and non-binary artists are often left out despite their undeniable impact on the industry. How often do we hear about WondaGurl, Missy Elliott or other Black femme producers? According to a report by USC Annenberg in 2021, across 900 popular songs from the past decade, only 2.6% of producers credited were female. Furthermore, according to the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, only eight out of 1,093 total producing credits went to women of color between 2012 and 2019. The numbers are staggeringly low, but events like “Femme Beat-Making Night” create a femme-safe place for aspiring producers at NC State.

By the 1970s, Vicuña sought asylum in England after the elected president lost his position to a military coup. While in England, Vicuña helped in the formation of Artists for Democracy. An organization designed to create art inspired by the lived experiences under dictatorships.

What is the purpose of art?

Humans find themselves consumed in this perpetual infinity of abstraction. Some assume the purpose of art is to orchestrate some grandiose societal change, others suggest art serves a utilitarian purpose, thus waiting room art is born. Among the vast amounts of ideologies, Cecilia Vicuña gives the world a unique perspective. As an individual who dabbles in film, poetry, painting and sculpting Vicuña presents as a modern artist in every sense of the word.

Raised in Chile, she uses her native heritage as a source of inspiration for her work. In a video interview titled “Decolonizing Myself”, Vicuña recounts a pivotal anecdote in which she realizes an intrinsic tendency towards otherness. After leaving a childhood community of creative minds, Vicuña’s family placed her in a more traditional classroom. Her family placed her in an entirely English-speaking school where she was bullied for struggling with English. She found strength in understanding the outsider's perspective. As a result, Vicuña fell in love with poetry and connected with the natural environment on a deeper level.

By the age of nine, she began to write, framing this gesture as her very first act of decolonization. By fifteen, Vicuña had her own studio where she created many of her earliest works. At the time, abstract paintings were her focus. Using a pallet of bright colors and intricate lines to formulate shapes lay the foundation of skills for her later works. She continued her passions while developing a style that echoed a similar political message to her contemporaries.

The following year she traveled to Bogotá, Colombia. In total, she would spend five years in Colombia honing in on her talents as a poet. Beginning in the art sphere of set design La Corporación Colombiana de Teatro hired Vicuña to create elaborate scenes for shows produced in the theatre. She then developed workshops in the Guambiano Indigenous community— a native population located in Cauca, Colombia. The purpose of those workshops was to collect local art produced by a unique community.

Two years later she directed her first documentary in the streets of Bogotá titled “What is poetry to You?”. That same year, she went to New York City and became a member of a political activist organization devoted to producing feminist art called the Heresies Collective. The following year the Museum of Modern Art asked Vicuná to join in on an exhibition named “Latin American Video."

After this exhibition, Vicuña’s career became a tour of the globe attempting to answer the original, timeless question: what is the purpose of art? Traveling to every corner of the world, she used a wide variety of media forms. Once she became based in New York, she was enveloped in a new world of inspiration. Vicuña used Christian iconography as inspiration for one of her most famous series. Her installation “Santos al Reverso” blends historically famous political icons into a modern portrait of saints collection. This series was exhibited in the Guggenheim Museum in the summer of 2022.

Currently, as a professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York, she focuses on instructing writing seminars at the graduate level. With a lifetime of diverse experiences, she devoutly works to convey that intrinsic wisdom to a whole new generation of creative minds. Constantly in a quest to answer the question: what is the purpose of art?

Leila ganim Correspondent

image form creative commons

Cecilia Vicuña with her art

Paris Haute Couture Weeks inspirations

Paris Haute Couture

Week, which recently wrapped up, is a biannual event where fashion houses present their high-end, handmade designs. With each brand having its own unique history and stylistic signatures, the inspiration behind the shows came from a wide range of sources.

Dior’s creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, took her inspiration from well-known African American and French dancer, singer, actress, activist and even spy, Josephine Baker. Born in the U.S. Baker rose to fame in 1920s France and became one of Europes’ highest-paid entertainers. Baker’s work as a performer gave her access to important people and places.

When World War II started she worked with the French Resistance to deliver secret messages, thus earning some of the highest French military honors. She was adored by many. However, in the U.S. she still faced a great deal of racism and refused to play for segregated crowds. Baker was also the only woman to officially speak at the March On Washington and earned recognition from the N.A.A.C.P. for her efforts against racism.

To set the stage, Dior’s lined its runway with portraits of "Black and mixed-race women, like Joséphine Baker, who evolved into powerful figureheads by breaking

racial barriers and going against the grain," says Chiuri.

Dior’s collection had a color palette of mainly grays, whites, blacks and golds, and featured plenty of silk, satin, fringe and velvets. The designs modernized aspects of the ‘20s flapper dresses —which Baker and other performers wore during the time— borrowing only one or two components of flapper fashion for each design instead of combining all elements.

Elie Saab also showcased a collection with interesting inspiration. Titled "A Golden Dawn," their collection was inspired by "impressions from the natural scenes and rituals of the revered Kingdom of Thailand," according to their website; further described as "royal in its scope and regal in its progression," the collection projects elegance through its intricate gold sequin-work and careful beading.

Traditional Thai formalwear often features gold due to the influence of Indian fashion on Thailand under the Dvaravati Kingdom, according to Thailand Insider. Other prominent aspects of Elie Saab's designs, such as the one shoulder draping, may be inspired by traditional garments such as the Chong Kben and the Sabai. The Chong Kben has shorter draping and is worn by both men and women, whereas the Sabai is worn only by women and drapes to the floor. Elie Saab's designs have

both long and short draping garments, and likely took inspiration from both. Other features of the collection include sharply tailored, angular suiting, full skirts and long, flowing trains.

For Schiaparelli, Creative Director Daniel Roseberry says in the show notes that their inspiration came from Dante Alighieri’s poem “Inferno,” after which the collection is named. Many of the pieces had structured and swooping necklines, sometimes covering the model’s faces, as well as dramatic silhouettes and, as is expected from Schiaparelli, plenty of gold.

The designs that caught the most attention, and stirred up the most controversy were Roseberry’s representations of the three beasts described in Alighieri’s poem. The models Shalom Harlow, Irina Shayk and Naomi Campbell wore dresses that included the faux heads of a leopard, a lion and a “she-wolf,” representing “lust, pride, and avarice” says Roseberry.

In the notes, Roseberry says the collection is his “homage to doubt.” He later states of heaven, hell and purgatory that “one cannot exist without the others.” Further saying that “there is no ecstasy of creation without the torture of doubt,” a feeling that many of his fellow designers likely share.

Like Schiaparelli’s show, Viktor & Rolf’s drew a great deal of online attention. Titled “Late Stage Capitalism Waltz,” the collection quickly went viral for its designs. Fanciful gowns were placed at varying angles over the base of the dresses creating the illusion of not being fully on the models. It was described in the show notes as “an absurd take on a stereotypical couture ballgown for the 21st century." Along with the dresses seemingly independent of the models' bodies, are the perfectly fitting, sparkly tulle gowns one would expect to see.

Turning the idea of ballgowns on its head in a literal sense, one design was positioned upside down, with the skirt obstructing the model’s face completely. This collection’s use of avant-garde angles juxtaposes elegance with impracticality and gives audience members an uncanny feeling. While these designers’ inspirations may not have been obvious at first glance once explained, the reasoning behind their design choices makes sense and helps give meaning to pieces that can otherwise be written off as just a dress. In a way, it gives a small insightful glimpse into the creative undertaking of Haute Couture, allowing us to think about the processes leading up to the finished products we all see.

Shaere Delgiudice

Correspondent

image from creative commons Old Viktor & Ralph design

image from creative commons Josephine Baker posing

image from creative commons Dante's Alighieri's "Inferno"

image form creative commons Model walking in an Elie Saab runway show

A little Lovesick

Sometimes we look for love, but there’s no one there to give it. We fall fast and madly in love hoping the one we’re falling for will catch us. As we stand alone, hoping they’re there.

Ethan Rimolt/ Staff Photographer

Concept by: Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe

Featuring Nubian Staff: Isaac Davis, Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe, Rebecca Hernández, Shaere Delgiudice, Eleanor Saunders and Milan Hall

listening to love

playlist

by Nubian Message Staff

Songs about love to listen to this Valentines Day.

Baby, This Love I Have Minnie Riperton

love is everywhere pharoah sanders

love like this faith evans

ife wa gbona tiwa savage ft. leo wonder

tene larry gaaga ft. flavour

i love you p-square

love on top beyoncÉ

lavender q

me and your mama childish gambino

weak for your love thee sacred soul

at your best (you are love) aaliyah

love and happiness al green

my sweety my sugar bunny mack

What's Love Gotta

Do with It?

As we get into the groove of February, the standard influx of Black History jokes (especially since it's the shortest month of the year) has followed. But another upcoming holiday that most people have begun to dread is Valentine’s Day. A day that’s met with mixed reactions, it centers around the concept of love. With that comes a flood of couple's posts and romantic comedy movies. But in the spirit of Black History month, let's discuss Black love.

One of the things that I always saw in popular media growing up when it comes to Black love are the common Tyler Perry movie tropes (which are their separate problematic entity). As the years come and go, various debates and popular media constantly explore the concept of Black love. This is an obvious step in a more progressive and modern direction. However, there is still a multitude of problems that plague popular media and the public view of what Black love can be.

I can’t help but look back at the many romantic comedies that I would watch with friends and see that white couples would always have a happy ending, with little to no issue except for the airport run that is seen in just about every romantic comedy ever. While, with Black romantic comedies or just Black films in general, there was always some sort of trauma involved, particularly on the woman’s end. There is also the concept of Black queer representation in films that I feel is rarely seen and can be terribly represented sometimes.

There have been some improvements in how black love is shown in modern popular culture. With shows like “Insecure” by Issa Rae giving an accurate portrayal of what modern romance can look like for Black women. However, what about Black queer love? Why is there such a small number of Black queer love stories? Even in shows that have queer love, there aren’t many that I’ve seen with two Black partners. Most of the time it’s always been one Black partner with a non-Black, typically white, partner.

While Black people being a part of queer representation is great and I always love to see it, there is very little queer representation as it pertains to Black love. I remember watching the movie “Moonlight” for the first time. It brought tears to my eyes to see the main character’s evolution and journey to self-acceptance as well as the confusing feelings that many Black queer men are faced with growing up. Better yet, the relationship between the main character and his friend-turnedlove interest was handled in a way that was mature and tender in its own right.

However, there is still so much to be done. In 2021 as a whole, there were only two Black LGBTQ+ characters in films. This is just characters alone. The fact that there were no queer Black-centered stories that year as a whole, not one, says a lot about the state of representation for queer Black love.

It’s hard to see Black queer love as something that can be attainable or normal when you hardly see it in the media that we consume today. Growing up, it was hard for me to feel comfortable in my own queerness and envision myself in a queer relationship that was not soft or gentle, because I never saw that with the media that I consumed.

With this being said, what can be done about this? For starters, more support for Black queer storytellers, whether that be screenwriters, directors, or authors, is a great step in the right direction. There haven't been too many Black queer creatives that have gotten the necessary voice in popular media to thrive and tell queer Black love stories. And if you aren’t queer or Black, either do your research, ask Black queer people about their experiences or do not write Black queer characters in your work. Cause I am tired of seeing stereotypes of Black queer people in the media.

I want Black queer people to see that our love can be tender, it can be soft, it can be anything you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be some outlier or a show that gets canceled after two seasons (I’m talking to you “Noah’s Arc”). It can be as normal and as beautiful as what love is and what it should be portrayed in Black love stories.

Austin Modlin Staff Writer

HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED

Jeanine Ikekhua Staff Writer

Representative Ilhan Omar’s Removal

On Feb. 2, the United States’ Republican-led House of Representatives, in a 218 to 211 vote, passed a resolution to remove Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The House Foreign Affairs Committee considers legislation that impacts the diplomatic community, which includes the United Nations and Peace Corps. The resolution cited Rep. Omar’s anti-semitic 2019 tweets where she suggested the U.S. relationship with Israel as “all about the Benjamins” as a reason for her removal. Congresswoman Omar has since apologized for her past tweets. Democrats believe the decision to remove Rep. Omar is another act of political revenge because Republicans vowed to remove Omar from her committee if they won the House majority. In response to the resolution, Congresswoman Omar said, “My leadership and voice will not be diminished if I am not on this committee for one term. My voice will get louder and stronger.”

Netflix Anti-Password Sharing Policy

On Jan. 31, Netflix’s Help Center page outlined its new anti-password sharing policy. The Help Center detailed how Netflix passwords should be shared. In early January, Netflix confirmed that it would be cracking down on password sharing by March. Their new policy stated that account users who are not watching from the account’s primary location will receive a code that will allow them to use the account for up to seven days. Netflix has tested out similar policies in Latin America. In response to the backlash Netflix received about the new policy, a Netflix spokesperson said the anti-password sharing policy only applies to certain Latin American countries. As of February 1st, Netflix removed the new rules from their website, but it is still unclear when the new policies will be implemented.

Tyre Nichols Police Release Footage

On Jan. 27, body cam footage of Tyre Nichols’ brutal arrest was released by the Memphis Police Department. Tyre Nichols was a 29-year-old Black man who died in January after being excessively beaten by Memphis police officers. The footage was released in four parts and included both body camera and streep lamp-mounted camera video showing the attack. The footage shows five Memphis police officers pulling Tyre over at a traffic stop and yelling at him to “Get on the fucking ground.” Nicholas responded by saying he was on the ground and just trying to go home. The five police officers beat, threatened, kicked, tased, pepper sprayed and struck Nicholas with a baton while he cried out for his mother. It took 26 minutes before the ambulance arrived. There are still over 20 hours of additional footage in the Tyre Nicholas case that will be released in the coming weeks.

Half Moon Bay Farm Shooting

On Jan. 23, a string of deadly shootings at Half Moon Bay mushroom farms in California killed seven people. This incident is the second deadliest mass shooting in the state in less than 48 hours. On Jan 21, 11 people at a dance hall in Southern California's Monterey Park. The shooter, Chunli Zhao, was a former Half Moon Bay employee. Zhao, 66, shot and killed four coworkers and wounded a fifth at California Terra Garden. He then drove to a nearby farm where he used to work and killed three more people. Zhao said he carried out the shooting after his supervisor demanded he pays $100 to repair a damaged forklift. Zhao insisted that he did not break the forklift and should not have to pay. In an interview, Zhao said the farm ignored his complaints about him being bullied. Zhao is now in custody and officials have opened an investigation into workplace practices at the shooting sites.

Brazil and Argentina Common Currency

On Jan. 22, the presidents of Brazil and Argentina, Alberto Fernández and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced their plans to make a common currency between their two countries. This new currency would be the world’s second-largest currency. The initial focus for this new currency is to boost each country's regional trade and reduce its dependence on the United States. There are also plans to include other Latin American countries in the discussions about this new combined Investors are doubtful if the common currency will gain traction due to Brazil's high-interest rates and Argentina's crippling inflation.

Mysterious White Ballon

On Feb. 1, people saw a white balloon with what appeared to be a solar array hanging from it drifting above Monata. The balloon is the size of three school buses and was seen 60,000 feet in the air. Around the same time the balloon appeared in the air, the Pentagon said it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon over the state. Pentagon Spokesman Brig, Gen. Patrick Ryder said the US has been tracking the balloon and it is “traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on ground.” The United States senior defense official has confirmed that the balloon belongs to China. China claims the balloon accidentally entered American airspace, but the senior defense official says the U.S. is willing to do whatever to protect its people.

NUBIAN SUGGESTIONS

You People (2023)

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe / Managing Editor

Original Film Poster

"You People'' is a Netflix Original romantic comedy focused on an interfaith, intercultural and interracial couple, Amira and Ezra. The Director, Kenya Barris, co-wrote the film with Jonah Hill. The film depicts how they navigate their modern relationship: from start to marriage. Struggling with their families' cultural and religious differences, societal expectations and generational gaps, Amira and Ezra are forced to ask themselves if their love will survive. Using cringe comedy and incisive humor, "You People" keeps viewers enthralled while pushing them to think critically as to why they're laughing.

Un Verano Sin Ti by bad bunny (2022)

Leila Ganim /Correspondent

Original Album Cover

Un Verano Sin Ti takes its listeners on a journey through the process of meeting, loving and losing someone. Beginning with the song titled “Moscow Mule” and ending with the song titled “Calllatia” the poet gives the audience a romantic narrative. The listener travels to a world of drinking and dancing to escape the state of yearning for the love once known by the poet. Bad Bunny blends traditional sounds of Puerto Rican salsa with modern tunes of the club scene to invent a new dawn in Latinx music. 2022 was indeed the year of Bad Bunny.

The Brothers (2001)

Alianna Kendall-Brooks / Correspondent

Original Film Poster

By Jo Miller

Original Album Cover

“The Brothers”, starring Shemar Moore, Morris Chestnut, D.L. Hughley and Bill Bellamy, follows the lives of four friends as they question love, marriage and commitment. Chaos ensues when Terry, played by Moore, announces that he is trading his bachelor lifestyle for marriage. His lifelong friends – Jackson, Brian and Derrick – oppose the impending nuptials in favor of avoiding commitment and playing the field. As the wedding approaches, the foundation of the foursome’s friendship is tested as they deal with the terrifying realities of life and love. “The Brothers” explores the comedic yet painful battle between the sexes as a bond based on an aversion to commitment is changed forever.

Give or Take by giveon (2022)

Eleanor Saunders / Staff Writer

Released on June 24, 2022, “Give or Take” by Giveon has something for every stage of love. Streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and YouTube, listeners are taken through a wave of emotions as Giveon sings about wanting love, being in love, getting out of love and staying away from love. The indecisiveness of love in this album is its strong suit. Taking his listeners on an emotional roller coaster, Giveon uses rhythm and blues along with soul music, to draw his listeners in and keep them hooked throughout the whole album.

Digital Illustration of a couple napping on grass against a big tree by a pond.

"V-Day Snoozin’"

Not So Private Concert

On Jan. 21, Beyoncé performed on stage for the first time in five years for a private concert at Dubai’s new resort, Atlantis The Royal.

The privateness of the concert is debatable. Despite the venue having a no-phones policy requiring audience members to put their phones in bags, everyone online was able to attend the concert. Videos were inside and outside of the venue. Posts from the concert also included people talking about information, such as what songs were played.

Now my theory is that Beyoncé and her team knew that the concert was going to be leaked online, the timing was too perfect to think otherwise. Beyoncé has not performed in five years so her first performance back would be highly anticipated. Her first performance being a promotional event for a resort seemed

pretty random. Additionally, the no phones policy was not nearly as strict as it could have been.

Usually, at concerts with no phone policies, the phone bags lock. An example of this would be Yondr bags which have a locking mechanism that works similarly to security tags at retail stores. This allows audience members to keep their property on them. For the Beyonce’s concert, the bags could be opened at any time. Audience members did not hide the fact that they were filming and it seems security did not care that much either. Videos taken from inside the concert show people blatantly filming.

With a lax no-phone policy and a fanbase craving content, in my eyes, this exclusive and private concert served as the teaser for the Renaissance tour.

Theories aside, if the event was meant to be only seen by the guest inside, isn’t it somewhat concerning videos of the performance were circulating online? The general public wouldn’t have even known about the concert if it wasn’t for people

posting their invitations. The leaked videos have me questioning if privacy is attainable anymore.

We are currently living in the age of information. Things can be learned and shared in a matter of seconds and if you ask me, it is terrifying. In this new age of technology, laws surrounding privacy have remained in what can be considered a gray area.

Aside from the questionable legal choices, things are easy to record and share. Phones, smartwatches, small cameras, doorbell cameras, etc., are very accessible and some of them are very easy to hide. You can never know if someone is recording you and with social media, the idea of recording and posting strangers has become widely accepted. These actions have very few consequences, if any.

Outside of possible backlash, nothing really deters people from recording everything. Laws surrounding the recording and releasing of said recordings vary from state to state and the legality of it also depends a lot on circumstance.

For example, North Carolina is a one-party consent state, meaning only one party has to consent to a recording being made and released. I understand this to some extent, especially when it comes to safety but for a lot of circumstances, I have to question the morality of this. If I was having a private conversation I don’t know how I would feel about a recording of said conversation being protected under the law.

It is not enough to ask people not to record. There needs to be actual substantial consequences and precautions in place. Until then, I don’t see privacy being obtainable or guaranteed.

“ There needs to be actual substantial consequences and precautions in place. Until then, I don’t see privacy being obtainable or guaranteed. ”

Milan Hall

Staff Writer

Beauty, Culture & Fashion

anarchist, using her influence and platform to speak about political injustice and the government’s negative effect on its people.

There's Power in More Ways Than One

Micah Oliphant

Who knew fashion could be so culturally competent? As the fashion industry progresses and designers continue to open their minds to new innovations, trends and ideas, the garments released are beautiful and creative testaments to the growing industry. I noticed this with how designers are choosing to represent their cultures and cultures that they have had the opportunity to experience.

In October 2022, Doja Cat, a world-renowned popstar and media influencer, attended the Vivienne Westwood womenswear Spring 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week. Doja Cat's stylist, Brett Alan Nelson, dressed Doja Cat in this bohemian-esque gown with eclectic patterns on the garment, accessorizing her with gold jewelry, a coral-colored headwrap, a dark makeup look and a dramatic wing to tie it all together.

So, what is Bohemian Culture?

According to BBC News, “Bohemian" was originally a term with pejorative undertones given to Roma people, commonly believed by the French to have originated in Bohemia, in central Europe.” People who claim to be Bohemian are often described to be eclectic, eccentric, carefree and irregular spirits, often in touch with spirituality. Social media colloquializes a Bohemian lifestyle and describes people who have an “earthy” aesthetic. However, true Bohemian culture has roots that date back to the 19th century and often tie into one's political and religious beliefs.

Within fashion, the Bohemian style is classified as a micro-aesthetic, with outfits including natural colors, flowy fabrics and subtle, yet dramatic accessories. Colors worn within the Bohemian aesthetic include earth tones like green, brown, white, beige and are paired with lots of gold jewelry. According to Vevano, “Bohemian styles are defined by a lack of structure, opting instead for carefree layers of pattern, texture and color. While there are some common practices with the Bohemian look, there are no hard and fast rules”.

Doja Cat wearing a Bohemian-style garment to Vivienne Westwood's show has a deeper meaning than we are led to believe. Westwood is often referred to as an

Google Arts & Culture says, “Vivienne Westwood has always used her collections and catwalk shows as a platform to campaign for positive activism. She has spent many years tirelessly speaking out about the effects of climate change and overconsumption and has mobilized international attention around ecological crusading.”

Doja Cat wearing a high-fashion garment with heavy influences to an aesthetic that is known to have liberal outlooks on life is, in turn, a respective tribute to the work of Westwood. It goes to show how much influence Westwood has had on Doja Cat, or even Doja Cat’s stylist and is an impeccable example of the impact that folk culture has on fashion.

Doja Cat is just one of many celebrities who have appreciated different cultures and wear them to fashion events. Badu is a great example of a celebrity who brings culture to fashion. Badu's sense of style has been so revolutionary to alternative black people to this day, creating some of our favorite micro-trends and aesthetics.

I would describe Badu’s style as a mix of alternative, neo-futurism and Bohemian, with influences from luxury African cultures. Badu’s ground-breaking sense of fashion was revolutionary. Not only was she one of the first to respectfully appreciate different cultures through fashion, but she also was comfortable breaking away from gender norms, wearing androgynous outfits and being as masculine as she wanted to be.

Being able to appreciate culture and not completely appropriate is difficult. However, some brands have found a way to do this without offending anyone for instance through the use of culturally significant textiles or voicing the importance of culture within their brand themselves. Style and the Gang have a wonderful list where they name five small but up-and-coming luxury brand houses that are actively preserving culture within their high-fashion title.

As an industry, it is important that culture is represented through clothing. The more we highlight people who take risks in appreciating culture, the more we can become more inclusive of individuals of different cultures and backgrounds as a whole.

On Jan. 22, Miners discovered an abundance of electrically charged stones in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These stones, dubbed the real-world equivalent of vibranium, a fictional material in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have gone viral. Both videos show workers holding rocks with a metallic luster that could illuminate a small light when connected to wires. The initial Instagram post with these videos received more than 10,000 likes.

Individuals have asked, "If the DRC has the leadership ability necessary for such a discovery?" B.A. Kinsley, a multi-published author, said, "With the discovery of Vibranium (Electrically charged stones - Lithium), the Democratic Republic of Congo has no excuse to be poor. Report says the country is one of the poorest country in the world despite large mineral deposit with global demand. Leadership syndrome!"

Many distinguished people have stated their theories on how these stones are electrically charged. Daddy Mo, a renowned scientist, said, "Apparently vibranium in the black panther movie is based off of coltan, which can be found in abundance in Congo, Africa."

I must be pretty captivating cause I got you to read this far.

Well, I have something to tell you.

I lied. Multiple times, actually.

Here's the truth. There have been no electrically charged stones discovered in the DRC. This is yet another example of social media's ability to spread false information and how gullible society can be. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about the spreading of falsehoods found that "false news stories were 70 percent more likely to be retweeted than true stories were." Even more surprising, "it wasn't bots spreading most of the falsehoods, they found. It was real people doing most of it. Usually ordinary people, too."

Falsehoods are 70% more likely to be retweeted than the truth. In an effort to help lower this number, I'm going to break down two ways "my article" above should have indicated something was wrong and how to look out for these issues in the future.

1. My Source

The only actual source I gave was a singular Instagram post. A variety of sources is essential for credibility. It's crucial to see different news sources to ensure the information you're obtaining is accurate. The link I attached was from an Instagram account called "National Black Guide." This page did not provide any source or indication of where they received this video from. I actually could not find the original source of the video. It's imperative to be skeptical when identifying the way information is spread. Always ask, "How do they know this?" and "Why should I trust this?"

2. My “Experts”

I validated a quote from B.A. Kinsley by stating he was a published author. However, I did not mention that his works are about Nigerian politics, self-improvement and poetry. My “renowned scientist,” Daddy Mo, is actually not renowned in his field. His "renowned" status is due to his large following on his personal Twitter account. I couldn't even find his real name; Daddy Mo is his Twitter handle. These details make it impossible to use these individuals as expert sources, invalidating their agreement and support of the discovery of the electrically charged stones. An expert source should check at least two of the four: authored works that have been reviewed by multiple credible sources, affiliated with a reputable organization, recognized as an expert in their area or a position of authority due to their employment. Ask yourself, “why should this person's opinion matter and carry weight?”

Social media has allowed misinformation, half-baked ideas and batty 2 A.M. thoughts to be amplified. It's of utmost importance to think critically about the information pumped out.

Staff Writer

UgonnA Ezuma-Igwe Managing Editor

Black women peacefully ponder the ideas of love. They display how love isn't linear but rather a twist and turn of emotions.

"Lovely Thinking" by Abby Harris