Nubian Message Nov. 30, 2023, "Game Changer"

NUBIANMESSAGE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM | THURSDAY, November 30, 2023

game changer

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 2

Letter from the editor Happy finals season everyone!

Are you guys ready for some of the roughest weeks out of the entire school year? I know I certainly am not. You know what's worse than having a bunch of tests? Non-stop papers and assignments that should have been started a week ago.

But onto more important things. It's the last issue of the semester. Y’all should already know how our issues go by now, so I want to take the brief time I have with this letter to thank the Nubian Message staff for making this an amazing semester for Nubian. And thank you to our readers! Your constant support is what makes this paper possible!

THISISSUE 4

NC STATE ESPORTS

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GALLERY

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NUBIAN SUGGESTIONS

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GRAMMY AWARD CEREMONY

I wish you all a good rest of the Fall semester and an amazing Winter break! See you all in the Spring.

NC State embraces esports Go Pack

What the team has been enjoying Grammy's treatment of Black artists

cover photo BY Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion celebrates scoring a touchdown during the game against UNC-Chapel Hill in Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Concepion scored two touchdowns.

The Wolfpack beat the Tarheels 39-20.

Au Revoir, Milan Hall

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

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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.

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 3

news

Bangladesh Garment Workers Strike Shaere Delgiudice Staff Writer

In recent weeks, garment workers in Bangladesh have been on strike, protesting for better pay.

While Bangladesh's economy has been stable in recent years, inflation continues to increase, with food inflation particularly reaching a 12-year-high in August. The rising inflation coupled with the low minimum wage makes it hard for garment workers, majority of whom are women, to afford food for themselves and their families. In Mirpur, protester Shahida Akhter said, pointing to the high costs of raising a family, "(if you) reduce the price of (essential) goods, our wages won't need to be hiked."

The situation is so dire, that one worker, speaking to Human Rights Watch, said she may even have to send her 12-year-old son to work, against child labor laws in the country, so their family can stay afloat.

As it stands, Bangladesh only reviews their minimum wage every five years.

The current set wage fails to consider the soaring inflation costs or the effects that the pandemic has had on workers and the economy. The wage has required many to work overtime to make ends meet; even this, oftentimes, not going far enough. The minimum wage is currently set at 8,300 takas which is equivalent to $75 monthly.

Worker Sohel Islam, 26, said even after working all the overtime hours he was alloted, his salary only totaled $100 for the month.

Despite being one of the top garment-producing countries in the world, Bangladesh has “one of the lowest minimum wages for garment workers.” With over 3,500 factories and approximately 4 million workers, the garment industry plays a major role in the growing Bangladesh economy.

Following the outbreak of protests, major brands such as Patagonia, Levi Strauss & Co., Under Armour, Adidas and more, wrote to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In this letter, the brands said negotiations over the minimum wage should aim to raise it to a level that is "sufficient to cover worker's basic needs and some discretionary income." They echoed the point of workers, stating the new minimum wage should "take into account inflationary pressures.” Also,

image from creative commons

Garment workers and their unions rally together in Bangladesh the brands emphasized their continuing recommendation for the minimum wage to be reviewed annually as opposed to the current five-year review.

At the same time that these brands have made calls for a higher minimum wage, the President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers, Faruque Hassan, has "blamed Western brands" for the difficulties in raising wages. Hassan said that they cannot raise wages unless these brands pay more to the factories they use. Thulsi Narayanasamy, director of international advocacy at the Worker Rights Consortium, placed much of the blame on brands as well, saying, “Brands behave like innocent bystanders watching a car wreck unfold in Bangladesh, when in fact, they are the ones driving the car.”

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has asked the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which represents many top brands, to pay higher prices on garments per unit to cover the wage increase.

On November 24, Bloomberg News shared a letter seen by them, which stated H&M had agreed to increase the amount it pays suppliers to absorb the wage increase.

Taslima Akhter, President of the

Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity movement, said that while brands hold responsibility, the main groups at fault for workers' low wages are the factory owners themselves and the Bangladeshi government.

The strikes and protests have gained attention from the Bangladeshi government, however, at the time of writing the worker's request for a new minimum of 23,000 takas, or $208 monthly, has not been met. The most recent offer came from a governmentappointed panel that agreed to raise the minimum by "56.25 percent to 12,500 taka, or $113 " monthly. The worker's unions pushed back on this new minimum wage, however, as it did “not match the soaring cost of food, rent, healthcare and school fees for their children.” Bangladesh’s State Minister for Labour and Employment, Monnujan Sufian, has said the government “was considering” workers' calls for ration cards, yet there has been no further development on this front. Prime Minister Hasina has, for now, rejected calls for anything higher than the panel’s initial raise offer, set to go into effect Dec. 1, leading protests to continue.

While the protests have effectively

brought attention to the issue of wages in Bangladesh, they have also, unfortunately, led to violence. Bangladesh police say protesters have damaged at least 70 garment factories, leading to the arrests of over 100 protesters, with some union leaders among those arrested. There have been at least six reported deaths and at least 30 reported injuries from protests as police use stun grenades, tear gas and pellet guns to crack down on protesters. One worker, Anjura Khatun, died after police opened fire on "over 400" protesters. That same day Jalal Uddin, a factory supervisor who was not involved in protests, was killed walking home from work after suffering at least 60 pellet wounds to his abdominal region.

In response to the violence, Prime Minister Hasina said, “If they take to the streets to protest at someone's instigation, they will lose their job, lose their work and will have to return to their village.”

The garment worker protests come at an interesting time for Hasina and the nation, as Bangladesh is set to hold elections on January 7. Hasina has been "accused of authoritarianism, human rights violations, a crackdown on free speech and suppression of dissent.” Happening at the same time as the garment workers protests, anti-government protests against Hasina have been taking place across the country as well.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a leader of the Bangladesh National Party, which opposes Hasina, held a rally calling for the prime minister's resignation last month, has said she is "destroying" the garment industry.

As the situation continues to unfold, the eyes of the international community will remain on Bangladesh. With what the U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, has called a "political crisis surrounding the election", a particular focus will be placed on Hasina. Seeking her fourth consecutive term in the upcoming election amid the workers' protests, the opinions of those in one of the nation's largest industries may start to carry more weight. Many factories have begun to reopen in recent days, still without a wage increase to the level workers want. Further developments are likely in the months to come, with the new minimum wage remaining set to go into effect right before the election.

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features

NC State Takes on Esports Since the 1970s, esports have existed as a means of proving a gamer’s ability to perform better than others within an in-game setting. However, over the past few decades, esports has skyrocketed into the mainstream and grown into a billion-dollar industry.

Esports is a form of organized competitive online gaming between individual players and teams. Streamed from online platforms such as Twitch to cable networks such as ESPN, competitive gaming has risen to generate millions of viewers per match.

Students like Philip Chvosta were drawn into the realm of esports by viewing these broadcasts. Chvosta, a second year Aerospace engineering student, became interested in esports after catching the debut match of the Overwatch League. In a video interview, Chvosta says it “got me really interested in esports, not necessarily as a career but just as, you know, this hobby I like and am interested in the highest level of possible play in a lot of the video games I play.”

Across the United States, esports teams have increased over the last few decades.

As of 2023, over 600 American colleges and universities have developed active esports teams that compete against each other on a national scale. NC State’s Esports Club has been a part of this expansion. So far, the club has drawn in hundreds of members since its creation, Chvosta being one of them.

Originally formed in 2018 as a merger between several pre-existing organizations on campus, the NC State Esports Club has drawn in students who desire to engage in the growing realm of esports. Now, five years after its creation, the club has more than 200 members and over 2,000 people within its Discord server. Anyone can join the club, participate in “pick-up” games or stay for a sense of community. Those who seek to play competitively must try-out for a spot on one of the many club teams. The club has eight total competitive teams, each focused on a variety of different games including Fortnite, Overwatch, League of Legends and Valorant.

The prowess of NC State’s sports teams extends beyond traditional sports, and into the realm of esports as well. A notable achievement comes from NC State’s Rainbow Six Siege team, holding the first

Carmella Holloway Staff Writer

Image from creative commons

Woman holding video game controller title of first in the nation as of 2022. This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy considering being stacked against fierce competition nationwide.

Chvosta, now a member of one of the Esports Club’s competitive Overwatch teams, landed his spot on the team recently.

He reflected on his journey into the realm of esports with Nubian Message, telling us, “The Overwatch team was having tryouts when I joined and I decided to put my name in the hat. I actually just barely made it in and ever since then I've been playing on the team.”

Chvosta says “The process of doing anything competitive, the moment you dive in you're either going to fall in love with it or you’re going to hate it and never want to touch it again…the hardest part is pretty much always going to be taking that first step, playing that first game, going to that first tryout. And then when you make that decision if you really like it or if you hate it and never want to touch it again, it'll be easier to make that choice.”

The Esports Club’s events are broadcasted live on streaming platforms and have stacked up hundreds of views on YouTube.

The growth of the Esports Club has garnered the attention of the university, prompting an expansion of its support for the esports program.

In the next year, a collective gaming space known as the NC State Gaming and Esports Lab is scheduled to open on the fourth floor of Hunt Library. The lab will

be home to over 35 gaming computers and four console stations open to NC State students, faculty and staff. The lab will enable users to research and learn more about esports, while also, “refining design ideas and building momentum” for the NC State Esports Arena, according to NC State Engineering Communications. Chvosta said, “It’s going to be important for the communities to show up in these spaces… seeing how that physical aspect can be integrated into the community is the most important part.” He said that the in-person aspect of collective gaming will be a notable upgrade compared to the online-centric gaming alternative.

Another major esports investment will be the NC State Esports Arena, expected to open in Mann Hall in 2026.

It is anticipated to be one of the largest collegiate esports arenas in America. The arena will be funded by $12 million of a $16 million grant from the North Carolina General Assembly. This investment will make the arena one of the most expensive esports facilities in the nation. The arena is envisioned to be a functional facility for both faculty and students, open to be used for competition and rented out among other uses. It is aimed to provide hands-on learning opportunities in computer science and game design for students, even those outside of esports and gaming communities. There will also be an additional fund to help levy tournament production costs such as audio.

The remaining $4 million from the $16 million dollar grant will be aimed to build a ‘mobile arena’ which will travel around the state to make competitive gaming mobile on a short term basis.

Chvosta, echoing the sentiments of the esports community, says, “Everyone is incredibly excited for the sports arena.”

As the arena’s opening approaches, there is a tangible sense of anticipation among students, faculty and esports enthusiasts alike.

Both revolutionary arenas, the stationary arena and the mobile arena will be aimed at cultivating esports-related development recreationally and academically for students and faculty of North Carolina State University.

NC State’s ambitions extend beyond campus boundaries as it has been looking to partner with gaming and computer companies in the region. Arnav Jhala, an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and advisor for the Esports Club, says that the area will enable interaction between local industry partners and will encourage professional development opportunities and job creation within the esports and gaming industry.

One of the primary academic aims for the esports arena will be developing curriculums for existing gaming-related courses within the College of Design, College of Engineering and College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Jhala says that the arena will also aid in creating opportunities for social sciences research based on the community dynamics and questions regarding diversity and inclusion within gaming communities. Jhala says that there will be additional opportunities for research in certain user interactions with computer systems.

NC State’s embracement of esports reflects a larger trend in academia.

Academic institutions are increasingly recognizing gaming as a legitimate field of study, research and industrial collaboration. NC State’s recognition of esports extends past acknowledgment and into active engagement. Institutions are becoming more proactive in the landscape of competitive gaming. The future of collegiate esports looks promising as universities are actively positioning themselves at the forefront of the rapidly evolving craft.

features

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The Revival of the Epsilon Nu Chapter On Monday, Nov. 13, at 7:05 p.m. the revival Line 6 of the Epsilon Nu Chapter of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated “La Tormenta Inevitable” introduced themselves to North Carolina State University. The Nubian Message met with Valeria Gonzalez Perez, the Line’s deuce (#2 of the line), to discuss the revival and future of the Epsilon Nu Chapter on campus.

Vika Dzhobadze Staff Writer

Nubian Message: The Epsilon Nu Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. LTA has recently been reactivated on campus! What does it mean to you and your line sisters to cross as the revival line 6, and what roles did you guys play in making this happen?

Valeria Gonzalez Perez: Reestablishing LTA on NC State's campus was a longtime passion project of my line sisters Rebecca and Xiomara long before it became the amazing reality we all have today. It began with a hopeful email to Nationals from us three and a few of our friends at the time explaining the work and community we hoped to build on campus and how LTA would come to play into that. It took some time before our request and interest built traction within the organization and the university.

Much of it was spent brainstorming, preparing and speaking to members and other interests alike. As the image of a re-established Chapter became a reality, we felt climbing nerves, pressure, excitement, pride and joy in our decision to pursue this passion project so fiercely. Being a revival line is a special challenge in of itself, you have to meet additional institutional requirements and not to mention run a Chapter right from the get-go. In many ways, our journey helped us break down a lot of those fears like the fear of trust, vulnerability, failure and many others in favor of continuing to build a legacy on this campus that would continue to last and continue to create positive impacts at NC State.

NM: You mentioned that you sent emails to nationals with your hopes in the community you’d build on campus as a

part of the chapter. I was wondering what those hopes were and how they’ve been manifesting in the chapter so far?

VGP: My experience as a Latine student born and raised in Puerto Rico made my transition into NC State's many different campus communities a little challenging.

I felt that no matter what events or people I surrounded myself with I was always struggling to find my niche. I eventually began to build a community through MSA and eventually through LTA as well. Our organization, and especially this Chapter, has it as a goal to use our platform, resources and creativity for the well-being of the people we serve. A lot of our hopes for community building on campus are strongly tied to this idea, to educate, to advocate, to organize, to lift up and to promote joy within the Latine community without limiting ourselves to just the cultures we grew up in. We wish to see the ties between different student populations deepen and to get as many students as possible involved and interwoven again in a "post-pandemic" academic setting. As Interests my Line Sisters and I hosted events geared towards creating conversations within the Latine community about stereotypes, media representation, race and mental health.

All of the different events and activities we have planned for this academic year work upon honoring and expanding these commitments and ideas and creating bonds across student groups. By paying attention to our Instagram @lta_epsilonnu, you'll be able to see what our first event as a Chapter will be all about!

NM: What does it mean to you to be a part of the line as well as a part of the Epsilon Nu Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc.?

VGP: LTA places significant importance on the education of Latine women and femmes and the inclusion and advocacy of all marginalized groups. For me, it was empirical that the Organization and the Chapter truly lived by the values of Unity, Love and Respect, and that they showed up for the different groups on campus with integrity and resolution. I was met with overwhelming kindness,

support and empathy by every sister of our Chapter long before I ever became a member. Epsilon Nu granted me the ability to continue to explore what family and siblinghood mean to me. Through my relationship with each of my line sisters, I've felt a newfound kindness towards myself and have learned to expand on the meaning of showing up to one another.

Our journey as interests, orientees and members showed me that they were the best people I could have ever done this with, and I feel so thankful for having them with me. My Tail (the #6 of our line) constantly said that she felt that every LTA she met embodied who she wants to be when she 'grows up'. My Tre (our #3) joined our group last, but she knew well that she had completed our Line exactly in the way we needed it. My lovely Ace (our #1) found her voice and confidence by our sides. My Quad and Five ( our #4 and #5) gained true confidence in their selves and their abilities and learned to allow people to see them as they are. The value of organizations like LTA and the spaces they create is unquestionable. Being part of a line like my own and a Chapter such as Epsilon Nu grants me insurmountable pride.

"Through my

relationship with each of my line sisters, I've felt a newfound kindness towards myself and have learned to expand on the meaning of showing up to one another."

NM: How has sisterhood played a role in reviving the Epsilon Nu Chapter and how do you feel you've developed it with your line sisters?

VGP: Everyone has different definitions of sisterhood or siblinghood based on their lived experience. I had the absolute honor of growing up with a younger sister close in age to me, so sisterhood as

a practice was something that I valued enormously already. To be a sister is to be loving, accepting, honest, kind, real, flawed, true, genuine and present for someone else and to feel all of that reciprocated simultaneously. Every single day of this process we were all granted the opportunity to practice it, and that we did.

Everyone gains different things from their Greek Process, and everyone gains exactly what they need and put into their Greek Process. Through the different challenges and goals we met, we felt secure in the safe space we had created for each other because we and the Sisters of the Region chose to pour into us so abundantly. I've been able to create what I can genuinely say will be life-long bonds with these women, and I feel very lucky to be a part of a Chapter that consistently shows up for me time and time again.

NM: Now that the chapter is revived on campus, what are your guys' next steps in the NC State community?

VGP: We have many hopes and goals as a Chapter for this school year, starting with continuing the educational and advocacy work that all of us are so passionate about.

Raising awareness and finding ways to get involved in matters pertaining to colonialism, racial equity, women's rights, immigration law and economic disparity is incredibly important to us, and we have a lot planned to support the Triangle and even the International community.

Through hosting events and collaborating with other Organizations, we want to make our presence as educated Latines known on this campus so as to create visibility and safe spaces for others within and outside our demographic. We wish to continue to celebrate Latine culture in its entirety, with a special emphasis on the many different intersections that make up the umbrella of Latine identity. We hope to involve ourselves with existing Greek Organizations to continue to build bonds, solidarity and unity between each other and to show up for all of NC State's community members as they've shown up for us. There are great things on the horizon for Epsilon Nu! We ask that NC State continues to watch us, as we will not disappoint!

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Arts & Culture

Hallie Walker/Staff Photographer David Thompson, NC State forward from 1972-75, holds up a "wolfie" during a timeout in the game against Charleston Southern in PNC Arena on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Thompson is a three time ACC Player of the Year and was the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Championship game in 1974. NC State beat Charleston Southern 87-53.

GO PACK

Emily Peedin /Staff Photographer NC State players swarm an opponent in the game against UNC-Chapel Hill at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. NC State won the game 39-20.

Below:

Jeremy Byrne/Staff Photographer Graduate setter Kristen McDaniel (center) and her parents smile during her senior night presentation after the match against Clemson University at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. McDaniel was one of the seniors honored after the match. The Wolfpack beat the Tigers 3-0.

Hallie Walker/Staff Photographer Junior guard Jayden Taylor shoots a layup during the game against Charleston Southern in PNC Arena on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Taylor scored eight points, made four assists and two steals. NC State beat Charleston Southern 87-53.

Left:

Emily Peedin/Staff Photographer Freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (right) cheers alongside redshirt junior running back Delbert Mimms, III (left) in the game against UNC-Chapel Hill at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. NC State won the game 39-20.

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 7

Arts & Culture

Stuck Silent and still I lay in my bed Though it feels like I still move A neverending marathon of thoughts in my head

See you soon playlist by Nubian Message Staff

The never-ending list of work fills me with dread And my mood refuses to improve Better Silent and still I lay in my bed I have to keep working on getting ahead But my suffocating doubts, I cannot remove A neverending marathon of thoughts in my head It’s much easier to focus on distractions instead And though my guilt does not approve Silent and still I lay in my bed The apathy threatens to spread It tries to seep into every nook, cranny, and groove

Songs about saying goodbye and moving on

far side of the moon got 'Til It's gone i wish you love best thihg i never had

tinashe janet JAckson laufey beyoncÉ

memories

conan gray

goodbye

jagged edge

never can say goodbye farewell

A neverending marathon of thoughts in my head saved Worries upon worries sink in my stomach like lead see you next year They leave me completely helpless to bye bye move Silent and still I lay in my bed A neverending marathon of thoughts in cranes in the sky my head can't catch me now

-Breeyonna Williams

tomi agape

royl

the jackson 5 rihanna khalid violet aurora mariah carey Solange Olivia Rodrigo chlÖe x halle

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 8

Arts & Culture

NUBIAN SUGGESTIONS Hunger GAmes: The Ballad of songbirds and Snakes (2023) Alianna Kendall-Brooks / Staff Writer Eight years after the epic conclusion of “The Hunger Games” trilogy, the series is back with a gripping prequel, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Set 64 years before the first novel, the latest installment tells the story of a young Cornelius Snow as he grapples with upholding his father’s legacy and keeping his family from the brink of poverty. At his prestigious school, Snow and his snobbish classmates are recruited in a cutthroat competition for a financial reward, earned by mentoring tributes for The Hunger Games. Snow and assigned tribute Lucy Gray's, the captivating "songbird," budding romantic relationship begins to intertwine with their harsh reality. As the 10th annual Hunger Games commences, it becomes increasingly evident that Snow is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to secure not only his own survival but also that of Lucy Gray. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” revisits the purpose and evolution of the brutal games. Through Snow’s own moral turmoil, the movie reveals that life itself is a competition in which Original Movie Poster people will do whatever it takes to be the victor.

Gen V (2023) Vika/ Staff Writer “Gen V” is a spin-off of Amazon Prime’s, “The Boys.” Taking place at the fictional Godolkin University, the show depicts seven students attending “superhero courses” so they can join “The Seven.” But, if you know anything about “The Boys,” being a superhero and the main superheroes in the show tend to be satirical depictions of alt-right extremists who abuse their power. In “Gen V,” the seven main characters realize the abuse of power occurring in their society.

They attempt to take up the mantle of becoming heroes by taking down a secret testing site that is mutating and experimenting on stronger super-humans.

However, the show makes sure to include romantic and comedic moments to really set the college scene. “Gen V” does an excellent job of demonstrating the differences between generations of superheroes fighting to take charge and combat systems of oppression, while mixing in a bit of college drama.

Original Show Poster

"New blue sun" by Andre 3000 Austin Modlin/ Staff Writer The enigmatic character of André 3000, one of the founding members of renowned hip-hop group Outkast makes his solo debut with “New Blue Sun.” This album is not a return to form for André 3000, but an experimental journey of a musician finding his creative voice again. The album is largely focused on an ambient sound with the usage of digital synths and vibrant flute instrumentation. There are some tracks that have instruments clearly out of key which is an auditory testament to André 3000 simply recording and creating whatever comes to mind. As the album progresses, the tracks become a little more refined yet still ambient in tone. At the tail end of the album there are tracks with darker tones and undefinable areas. This album gives off an otherworldly feel with its instrumentation and usage of synths. This is just the beginning of the experimental evolution of André 3000.

Original Album Cover

"Voodoo" by D'Angelo Micah Oliphant / Staff Writer “Voodoo” is the third studio album by renowned R&B and Soul singer, D’Angelo. “Voodoo” is a beautiful, captivating and without a doubt, soulful album that perfectly exudes D’Angelos vocal capabilities, storytelling and musical creativity. “Voodoo” finds a way to contradict society's perception of D’Angelo, changing his narrative of a sexual figure to a sincere and compassionate loverboy. “Voodoo” not only explored D’Angelo’s sexuality and romantic vulnerability, but ties back into his heritage, love for African-American culture and overall yearning for musical innovation within R&B. The tracks explore vast subjects, like Spirituality, in songs such as “Devil’s Pie” and “The Root.” Love is expressed on tracks like “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” where D’Angelo touches on personal intimacy, connection and romantic affection. In “Africa,” the closing track to the album, D’Angelo touches on fatherhood and his love for his son. It’s a beautiful track that is extremely vulnerable and touches on the differences in emotional vulnerability in African countries and America.

Original Album Cover Overall, “Voodoo” is an alluring album and beautifully composed project.

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 9

opinion

Black artists and the Grammys The 66th Annual Grammy Awards are approaching and guess who is missing from nominations once again?

Black artists. While this no longer comes as a shock to many, it’s extremely disheartening MICAH when “music’s biggest OLIPHANT night” fails to properly recognize the hard work Staff Writer and talent of Black artists. As explained by Complex, maybe it’s on us for thinking an industry run by anti-Black narrow minded people would offer Black folk a seat at the table, anyway.

The Musicians Hall of Fame describes the Grammy Awards show as “the most prestigious music award show featured each year. The Grammy awards are presented by The Recording Academy and recognize musicians of every age and every genre.” The Grammys is a night of recognition and a time for artists to receive the flowers they respectfully deserve. Most of them at least. The Musicians Hall of Fame continues “Following the Hollywood Walk of Fame project, which began in the 1950s, a renewed interest in music and the recording industry led to the creation of The GRAMMY Awards as a way to honor the music industry’s most talented composers, songwriters and musicians.”

The Grammys are more than just music, with red-carpet fashion being a huge part of its culture and many after-parties being hosted by celebrities and brands who attended the award show.

While the presence of Black artists at the Grammys have never been the main topic of discourse in the past, the immense amounts of snubs that Black artists have experienced when nominated alongside their white counterparts is alarming.

Clear examples of this is Beyoncé, who was snubbed of multiple projects when nominated for Album of the Year. In 2015, Beyoncé’s self-titled album lost to “Morning Phase” by Beck, and in 2017 her iconic, groundbreaking album “Lemonade” lost to Adele’s album “25.”

There are many more Black artists that have been notoriously snubbed for awards, including Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” which lost to Taylor Swift's

ImAGE from creative commons

Grammy award trophy

“1989” in 2016 and “DAMN” loss to Bruno Mars’ “24k Magic.” CNN states, “Black performers represented about 38% of all artists on Billboard’s signature chart from 2012 to 2020, yet they received only 26.7% of top Grammy nominations during the same period. Only 24% of this year’s top Grammy nominees were Black, according to the study.”

Who do we point our finger at for the blatant neglect of recognition of Black artists? We could start with The Recording Academy and their flawed voting system that has yet to change since the 90s. The way the Grammy voting system works is artists, record companies and Recording Academy members submit projects and recordings they think are deserving of an award. A screening of each entry is done to ensure its eligibility. After screening, the nomination process occurs. “To help ensure the quality of the voting, members are directed to vote only in their areas of expertise.” The Recording Academy states.

“They may vote in up to ten categories across up to three genre Fields plus the six categories of the General Field.” The process concludes with the final round of voting. “After nominations have been

determined and announced, Recording Academy voting members vote in up to ten categories across up to three Fields in the genre Fields plus the four categories of the General Field to determine the winners.

To ensure the quality of voting, members are directed to vote only in those Fields in which they are peers of the nominees.”

Within recent years, The Recording Academy’s way of voting has been found to be heavily flawed. The Recording Academy claims to not be swayed by project popularity and chart positions, choosing to prioritize artistry over stats throughout the voting process, according to Vox. However, The Recording Academy contradict that statement throughout the nomination process, ignoring many talented projects and recordings by Black artists that have been selected for nomination. All in all, the process is flawed and neglects to recognize non-critically acclaimed and upcoming artists. It focuses on charts and how big of a name you have before examining the work of the artist. It’s a popularity contest, whether the Recording Academy chooses to phrase it that way or not.

The Grammys are notorious for only putting Black musicians in a specific

box. Black artists are often nominated in categories like R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul, Rap, Reggae and a few others. Business Insider shares what Tyler, the Creator thinks about the separation and labeling of Black music. “After winning best rap album at the Grammys in January [2020], Tyler, the Creator blasted the award show for relegating Black artists to specific genres and categories. ‘On the one side, I am very grateful that what I made can be acknowledged in a world like this,’ he told reporters. ‘But it sucks that whenever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that's genre-bending or anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category.” The industry has used the word urban as an umbrella term for lots of Black artist work.

The Grammys had a category named “urban contemporary” and have since changed it to “progressive R&B.” While changing the name was a respectful move, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the industry continues to reward Black artists only within a designated box, limiting their chances of receiving awards for categories that better align with their “genre-bending” work. It makes it hard for Black artists to properly receive the flowers they deserve when the committee doesn’t give Black artists a chance to branch out of genres that have been heavily connected to our culture. Doing this misrepresents and undervalues Black artists, and continues to disproportionately reward white artists more than Black artists.

The long lists of artists that have been and continue to be snubbed by the Grammys has divided industry moguls.

Many artists now refrain from attending the award show or even submitting their projects for voting and eventually nominations. The Slate states, “Many black artists have boycotted the Grammys, like Drake, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Teyana Taylor and so many more. They each have different traits but boycotted for one reason: black representation. Some artists went as far as not performing when asked.”

Outside of the Grammys, lots of industry ceremonies, like the VMAs and the Golden Globes, continue to devalue Black artistry.

The industry as a whole has a lot of work to do structurally to create a more inclusive and better-represented award ceremony.

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 10

opinion

Celebrating The Journey of Black Grief Grief has become something of an old friend of mine. I am well versed in the matters of grief and the toll it takes on someone.

It is something that many Black people are accustomed to. Grief Austin is an inevitable part of Modlin the human experience.

Staff Writer However, I believe that there is an extra part of grief that Black people have experienced and continue to experience for ages due to systematic oppression. We as a people have been dealing wiht the constant grieving of the things that we were robbed of.

Recently, I have seen more people only deal in matters of joy. They refuse to deal with anything that makes them feel negative emotions. Currently, there is a trend within the Black Diaspora where many people are putting emphasis on the joyous moments they experience. This is something that can be seen in a variety of current media and in the daily experiences of Black youth.

I used to wonder if this current shift in our culture was a case of “too much of a good thing is bad.” I used to question if we are neglecting the collective challenges that we as a people face in order to protect our peace. I used to question if we are just protecting our own individual peace to ignore the issues that we collectively face as a community.

I thought that the way people embrace Black joy but ignore everything else Black people go through is borederline hedonistic. What would happen if we were to completely ignore everything that is currently happening within our community right now? S— would simply hit the fan. How could we possibly continue to push for equality and equity if everyone just ignores everything for the sake of enjoyment?

I believe there is potential for us to experience a more balanced and individualistic kind of joy in the future.

While celebrating ourselves and taking part in joyous moments is needed, we

Image from creative commons

Woman sadly looking over balcony can’t just solely focus on that. To be frank, nothing would get done. We can still find joy while remembering all the struggles and hurdles we face as Black people. While grief is not the most pleasant experience, it is necessary to understand how far we have come and how much further we have to go.

Without grief, we become oblivious to what is going on in the world around us and how it affects us.

Now I’m not saying that people can’t have fun or enjoy themselves. I’m not trying to police joy, we already have to deal with that enough in the world. I’m saying that we just can't forget all the stuff that comes with being Black. If we do, it would prove to be fatal. There is such a thing as being unaware of your surroundings. This current phenomenon is that but on a global level.

With the amount of social unrest going on in the world today, it’s shocking that one can even attemp to ignore everything.

The sad truth is, a part of being Black is to grieve everyday, even if you are

not consciously aware of it. There is so much that we have gone through as a community. So much has been taken and stripped away from us, whether it be a loved one, an opportunity, our identity or even our innocence. Grief allows us to never forget what we fight for. It is a collective experience within the Black community. However, that does not mean that it shouldn’t have a place in the current culture of our community today. It should not be completely forgotten or ignored.

When have you ever heard of something or someone suppressing something that led to a positive result? If we just refuse to grieve, it would be disrespectful to the people who came before us. Who will grieve for them if not us?

I thought our reluctance to experience grief would eventually lead to the decay of much of the progress that we have fought so hard to make. I understand that some people are tired of fighting. But does not mean that we can give up. We need to band together. If we let up, then years of hard

work will go down the drain. There must be someone who is willing to do the work for the community. I'm aware that, this can be seen as a flawed frame of thinking.

I understand that we have had hundreds of years of just grieving, it’s time for us to celebrate ourselves and all that we have accomplished. Grief and celebration can coexist.

There definitely should be some sort of balance between the two though. We must not grieve to the point of becoming apathetic to the world. Ignoring our struggles is a path to apathy. Apathy is a common tool of oppression. On the otherhand, we cannot only want to deal with joyous moments, as that can lead to apathy from a different end of the spectrum. These things are not mutually exclusive and shouldn’t be treated as such.

While to be Black is to constantly grieve over how the world treats us, we don't have to actively grieve forever.

To be Black is not just to grieve and suffer. To be Black is to celebrate and find pride in how far we have come. These things don’t have to be opposing sides of the spectrum. They should walk hand in hand. This will allow us to truly come together as a community and keep making great strides in racial equity and equality.

“These things don’t have

to be opposing sides of the spectrum. They should walk hand in hand. This will allow us to truly come together as a community and keep making great strides in racial equity and equality. ”

THURSDAY, november 30, 2023 | 11

opinion

Critique on Capitalism Capitalism is built on inequality, social corruption and human greed. Capitalism can be defined as “an economic or political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private Eleanor owners for profit.” This Saunders system runs our politics Staff Writer and economy. Many aspects of our society are also influenced by capitalism.

Many of us are aware that the majority of our society's wealth is concentrated in the top 1%. CNBC reports that “the top 1% of Americans have about 16 times more wealth than the bottom 50%.” That is $41.52 trillion while the bottom half only has $2.62 trillion all together.

The majority of the U.S.’s biggest companies are privately owned. A private owner is an individual or organization who possesses a non-governmental company. CNBC reports that 57% of private companies are owned by the top 1%. Capitalism has allowed this to happen because of its ability to “incentivize businesses to maximum efficiency.” This, mixed with human greed, has damaging effects on the everyday citizen. These effects can be seen in our education, health, food and even in the music industry.

So, how does capitalism affect our education system? By allowing colleges to put 22-year-olds in debt. Why is it okay for broke 18-year-olds to accept loans when the bank won’t give a mortgage loan to someone who has been in the workforce for years? Student loan debt has reached over $1.2 trillion, said the Scholarship System.

When I graduate from NC State, I will be over $30,000 in debt. The crazier thing is that six months after my graduation date, this debt will start to accumulate interest. By the time I am done paying off my debt, I will have paid more than what I was loaned. How is this possible?

Because private owners, who are only focused on increasing their net worth, own the companies that are handing out these loans.

To bring the situation closer to home, an article in last week’s issue talked about the funding of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) compared to the

Image from Creative commons Stacks of money

STEM programs here at NC State.

Many would argue that the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs receive more funding because they bring more money to the campus.

But just as Staff Writer Nadia Hargett said in her article, "Where's the Budget for CHASS," “STEM has practical, 'real-world' applications that are necessary in our constantly evolving world. Humanities and social sciences, on the other hand, preserve the human experience and enable people to express their thoughts creatively and grow their connections with each other.”

Each program adds to the world in its own unique way. However, since private owners view STEM programs as more important, because they bring in more money, CHASS and the STEM departments do not get funded on an equal level.

How about Big Pharma? Big Pharma refers to pharmaceutical companies.

Growing up, and even now, we all have a recollection of a medicine commercial. The commercial would advertise a medicine that would help with one problem, but then provide a host of other symptoms that you will have to also pay to get fixed.

And who would you have to pay to fix these problems? The same pharmaceutical companies that advertised the initial drug for your first problem. This is known as disease-mongering. Disease-mongering is when companies tell healthy people that they are sick in order to make more money.

Health is one of the biggest categories that Americans spend their money on.

With a staggering $4.7 trillion, which is over $12,000 per person, 18% of the national economy is spent on healthcare,

said the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

I think healthcare should be free. In my opinion, it is another basic human right. People are going to get sick. People have a limited amount of control around their health, especially when we live in an economy where we are consuming more genetically modified products.

Companies know that the more real the food is, the healthier it is, and in turn, the healthier the general population. So why are big companies producing food that is not good for the human body? A potato decomposes completely in about two weeks. McDonalds’ fries show no sign of aging after six years, said the TODAY Show. Some may say this is because of the preservatives that are added to make the french fries last longer, but even these preservatives can turn into cancer causing agents.

These cancer causing agents continue to help Big Pharma make a profit from the intentional harm of everyday citizens.

Lower income families can only afford the cheaper foods and this includes McDonalds. Healthline said, “consuming a diet that heavily relies on fast food such as McDonald’s can significantly increase the risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes due to the high levels of saturated and trans fats, sodium, added sugars and additives found in these foods.” Once these conditions occur, who do people turn to for help? Big Pharma.

This is the kind of food that lower income families have to depend on.

America is in crisis because many of its citizens are obese. The CDC said “more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and

frequent fast-food consumption has been shown to contribute to weight gain.” Even though the United States is the unhealthiest country in the world, the fast food industry does not do much to help because it makes over $322 billion a year in the U.S. alone.

Not only has capitalism allowed big companies to get away with putting young adults in debt, making people ill and allowing companies to feed people unhealthy food, it has also allowed big companies to control the music industry.

Rapper Meek Mill said in an interview that “they actually pay us more to rap about more ignorant stuff…”

The private owners of the record companies expressed to artists, like Meek Mill, that they would get paid more if they wrote about negative topics. Too many young people have been influenced by the music industry. I am not excluded from this demographic.

The question is, why are artists encouraged to sing and rap about topics that can be detrimental to their audience?

Michael Boucher, a journalist, said, “Drugs and violence sells music…Record companies will do anything to sell music, including promoting your client, or rapper to talk about violent and inappropriate themes to sell records.” In this way, capitalism encourages negative attributes.

To combat the negative effects of capitalism, it is our job to take a stand against big companies and fight for what we believe is just. Even if you can’t do much, there are some things you can do to protect your household. Grow your own food, research safe and effective home remedies for sickness and monitor what you are watching and listening to. Take control of your life. I know I will.