Nubian Message, Feb. 22, 2024, "Just in Time"

THIS ISSUE Letter from the editor

Dear Gentle Readers,

Shout out to you if you know the reference in my greeting. We’re approaching midterm season!

Who's ready? I know I’m not!! We’re also approaching the end of Black History Month. Can I be honest for a second… this Black History Month did not hit the same and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. But I know something that will make it better: THE NEWEST ISSUE OF NUBIAN MESSAGE!

I’m so excited because this issue we have an article contributed by the Black Health Lab! Please go support and give it a read. In our feature section, our writers are talking about NC State’s Women’s Basketball, the Arab Student Organization’s letter to the Chancellor, Charlotte’s lost slave history and more!

Don’t feel like reading? We’re also bringing you some of our media suggestions to indulge in. We also have a nice treat for your eyes in our gallery!

As always, see you next issue!

Bye Bye,

Milan <3

4 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

NC State’s Women’s Basketball team's 50th anniversary

6 GALLERY BHM Throwback Thursday

9 NUBIAN SUGGESTIONS

Fire films and shows

11 AFRICAN CULTURAL APPRECIATION

The rise and recognition of African pride

Edmond

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

Milan Hall nubian-editor@ncsu.edu

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Communication Lead

Photo editor Staff Writers

Kaela Belingon

Layout designers

Leah Tierney

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Shaere Delgiudice

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Copy Editors

Rebecca Hernández

Sydney Bowman

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Alianna Kendall-Brooks

Jo Miller

Austin Modlin

Nadia Hargett

Micah Oliphant

Eleanor Saunders

Alianna Kendall-Brooks

Ross Emelle

Senait Richmond

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.

cover photo BY I'Yari Wade /Staff Photographer

Doe, a second-year studying Mechanical engineering, Tiya Komono a second-year studying Business finance, Soleil Thompson a second-year studying Sport management, Tse'Lani Carter a secondyear studying Psychology and Iyanna Robinson a second-year studying Fashion and textile brand managemement, pose in front of the Memorial Belltower on Saturday Feb. 17, 2024. Pictures were recreated of African American Students from university library archives.

Charlotte’s Lost Slave History

Alianna Kendall-Brooks Staff Writer

In the heart of historic Charlotte, an enslaved man named Bonaparte operated a barber shop at the Charlotte Hotel. Hired by his owner in the mid-1800s, Bonaparte worked as a barber and even had an advertisement in the newspaper to coincide with it. "With Scissors sharp and Razor keen, I’ll dress your hair and shave you clean.”

After the Civil War, Bonaparte became free and moved to Alabama where he started a family. The story of Bonaparte the Barber, once lost and unnoticed, was studied by Charlotte native and NC State student, Alexia Alexander, who uncovered and mapped out Charlotte’s slave history.

In her senior year of high school, Alexander created a digital map to highlight and commemorate the “places where enslaved men and women lived, worked, were sold, worshiped and lived their lives before the Civil War.” The map titled, “Charlotte’s Lost Slavery History,” earned her a Girl Scout Gold Award with the local Hornets’ Nest Council.

Alexander's digital map is a powerful tool that provides a visual opportunity to recognize the lives and contributions of enslaved individuals in Charlotte's history. By pinpointing specific locations tied to slavery, such as homes, businesses and churches, the map brings light to stories that have long been obscured or forgotten.

Nubian Message: What inspired you to create a map of Charlotte’s lost slave history?

Alexia Alexander: At Myers Park High School, I took an African American Studies class and I noticed that there wasn’t any local history. We learned about Frederick Douglass, Marian Anderson and Rosa Parks, but there were no local names. I thought it would be cool to include local history and names from where we live…the enslaved people that made Charlotte what it is today. I feel like they're important as well and that’s what really motivated me.

Oftentimes, Black history is brushed over with a few prominent names. Schools and teachers typically don't take the time to teach beyond a set curriculum, resulting in

a lack of local history. Alexander’s ambition and compassion led her to begin a journey towards educating people who may be unaware of Charlotte’s local Black history. The connection between Alexander and the history of Charlotte motivated the creation of this significant educational visual.

NM: What was the process for creating the map?

AA: To create the map I got help from a librarian. Her name is Bridget Sanders from UNC Charlotte…I got all my information from newspapers and this website that you go through at the library. They have a census and if you type in a name it gives you all the information about that one person, like maybe dating back to the 1800s or 1700s. So that was pretty cool. In terms of the map being made, I just used Google Maps, and made my own map and implanted those sites.

NM: Who was the most impactful person you learned about?

AA: The most interesting one was Bonaparte the barber for me. He was an enslaved man and he cut hair. He had his own barber shop and I just felt like it was important to me because even though he

was an enslaved man, he still did his own thing. That really inspired me.

Another poignant example highlighted by the map is the Grace AME Zion Church, built in 1902 on South Brevard Street in Charlotte. A former enslaved woman named Dorcas Burton donated a striking stained glass window to the church. Burton was determined to enjoy its beauty while still alive after a life of bondage and oppression.

The map also reveals how the labor of enslaved people was deeply woven into the economic success of Charlotte. From the gold mines running beneath Charlotte's streets, where hundreds toiled in brutal conditions, to the railroad construction projects dependent on enslaved workers, the map traces how this injustice created wealth and infrastructure that still exists today.

NM: As a college student, how do you plan to continue your efforts and what kind of impact do you hope the map will have?

AA: So, I’m an Animal science major. When I did this project, I honestly didn't think it would be as big as it was. It kind of surprised me and it also made me happy to know the project is long lasting…it'll

be there forever. I can still be in college, and people can go take the tour to learn new things. As far as how far I want it to go, maybe it could get into classrooms… instead of just learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, they can get students to learn more about their hometown. Maybe Myers Park could include my map. I never thought about that but maybe they can include my map in their lessons so kids can learn about lost slavery history.

Although Alexander is now a secondyear Animal science major, she hopes her work can find its way into educational curricula so more students learn the neglected history of their hometowns. Making this local connection could inspire deeper engagement with the struggles and achievements of African Americans throughout history. The "Charlotte's Lost Slavery History" map is a model for how communities everywhere can unearth and share their own vital stories of enslaved peoples.

NM: This month is Black History Month, but Black history is never-ending. How do you think you’ve contributed to Black history by creating this map?

AA: I think I've contributed a lot by providing this information that a lot of people didn't know. My own family didn't even know and I was able to uncover lost slave history. I feel like I've made a big impact, especially in times we live in now. Kids don't learn much about Black history and I feel this is a good way to spread the word…so more local Black history can be known.

By giving names and locations to those who lived as enslaved people, Alexander's project helps to restore identity and recognition. Her map makes an indelible statement, ultimately pushing the message that their lives mattered and their stories should be remembered and passed down. The map is a reminder that Black history is indeed never-ending, and hidden in plain sight if we choose to take a look and dig a little deeper.

Image by Alexia Alexander Map of Charlotte's Lost Slave History

NC state women's basketball 50th anniversary

Hamrick

The 2023-2024 season marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the NC State Women’s Basketball program. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look back at the women’s basketball program over the past 50 years.

In the early years of the university, sports on campus reflected the cultural norms of the time – women had few, if any, opportunities to play organized sports.This all changed in 1973 when Kathy Bounds, Deb Webb and Genie Jordan organized an intramural basketball club for women. The year after, an official women’s basketball team was created at NC State.

As women’s basketball gained more popularity, they began to televise a few of the games, but only the ones that would attract a certain amount of viewers. The first televised women’s basketball game in North Carolina was NC State versus UNC Chapel Hill in 1976, which we did in fact win, might I add. Many other universities began introducing women’s basketball programs around this time, ultimately leading to women’s basketball finally receiving recognition as a league sport by the ACC in 1978.

In the first year that women’s basketball was active in the ACC, NC State took the title of regular-season champions. That same year, the women’s team made it all the way to the finals of the ACC Tournament, but unfortunately lost to the University of Maryland. The next year, the exact same thing happened, and we placed second again. But in 1980, our women’s team beat out Maryland and took home the ACC women’s basketball tournament title. Since the creation of the Women’s ACC Tournament, NC State has continuously shown their presence. Out of all 46 tournaments, NC State has placed second in 16 of them and won seven.

We can’t talk about these early wins for the program, or even the program at all, without mentioning Kay Yow. A pillar of women’s basketball at NC State, and for the US as well, Yow was the first ever full-time women’s college coach in North Carolina. She was hired to coach women’s volleyball, softball and basketball. She coached at NC State for 34 years, and coached for the Olympic Team from 1974-1988.

In 2006, Yow started the tradition of

dedicating one of the home games to raise awareness for women’s cancers. This soon became an annual tradition and was aptly named “Play4Kay.” Unfortunately, a few years later, Yow passed away after battling cancer herself. NC State still continues the tradition of “Play4Kay,” and now, more than ever, NC State fans show up at the games to support the ongoing battle against women’s cancers.

Over the past 50 years, the NC State Women’s Basketball program has racked up over 1,000 wins, 42 winning seasons, 28 NCAA Tournament Appearances, seven ACC Tournament Titles and six ACC regular season crowns. NC State Women’s Basketball has made their mark on both the NCAA and ACC scenes. The program has also produced two ACC Players of the Year, five All-Americans, 91 All-ACC Selections, 37 1,000+ Point Scorers, 18 WNBA Draft Picks and three Hall of Famers. Even in its anniversary season, the women's basketball team has continuted to set records, foster talent, and reach new heights.

But numbers aren’t the only thing that matters. There is so much more to basketball than just the statistics. Aside from building a reputation for greatness in college athletics, the women’s basketball program has built a reputation as a close

knit and supportive community. Any spectator can see the team’s chemistry radiating off of them. They have an ongoing series of videos that they play during timeouts that showcase how close the team is. From the Chubby Bunny Challenge to the Telephone game, these videos show the girls playing tons of different games with each other to bond. This has been a tradition for years now, allowing the players to get to know each other better, as well as letting the fans get to know them better too.

In recent years, the team continues to prove why Reynolds Coliseum is sold out every single game, even if it is just a "small gym." Elissa Cunane, one of the best women’s basketball players to ever play for NC State, was selected as a part of multiple All-American teams, and received an incredibly long list of awards. She became the first ever NC State women’s basketball player to have a spot on an Associated Press All-American Team. During Cunane’s time at NC State from 2018 to 2022, the women’s basketball team won the ACC tournament three years in a row, and also took home the regular-season ACC title in 2022, along with appearing in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.

Coach Wes Moore couldn’t ask for a better 50th season. Currently ranked sixth in the NCAA and third in the ACC, the girls are taking names. From top scorer Aziaha James, to the star freshman Zoe Brooks, our team is packed with amazingly talented players.

At the time of writing this, the women’s team has put up 1839 points, 1057 rebounds and 344 assists over the course of this season. This averages out to about 77 points, 44 rebounds and 14 assists per game. Not to mention their 21-3 record in the NCAA and 9-3 record for the ACC, only losing at Virginia Tech (currently ranked number one in the ACC), at Miami (currently ranked number nine in the ACC), and at home against Virginia Tech. There are two remaining home games left in the season for the women’s team: Feb. 29 against Syracuse (currently ranked number two in the ACC) and March 3 against Wake Forest (currently ranked number 15 in the ACC). Although the regular tickets may be sold out, if you are a student, you can line up outside Reynolds Coliseum before the game to get in for free!

The women’s team has shown that they are a force to be reckoned with. Every game has an electric environment that you won’t be able to get anywhere else. While you're at the game, you can take a look around at all the awards and titles the women’s team has received over the years, all on display in Reynolds Coliseum. There are multiple sections highlighting different players and coaches. So come on out and support the women’s team before they head out for the ACC Tournament in Greensboro on March 6-10!

“ The women’s team has shown that they are a force to be reckoned with. Every game has an electric environment that you won’t be able to get anywhere else. ”

Emma

Correspondent

Image From creative commons Basketball on empty basketball court

what is the black health lab?

For many Black students attending a predominantly White institution (PWI) like NC State it can be challenging to encounter places on campus where their identities and experiences can be validated. Because of this, on-campus centers such as the African American Cultural Center (AACC), Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and minority-centered student organizations have formed to serve as safe spaces for Black students.

Along with these on-campus resources that provide direct service to Black students, collective groups of researchers are also aiming to center the voices of Black students, uplift their experiences and ensure their representation through the creation and sharing of knowledge relevant to their lives.

An example of this collective is the Black Health Lab, located under the Department of Psychology. As the name suggests, we are a psychology research group united in our passion for informing efforts to achieve health equity, wellness and thriving for Black people (inclusive of individuals across the African diaspora, such as African American, Caribbean Black, Afro-Latine, African and multiracial individuals) across the United States.

Originally founded in 2014 at UNC-Chapel Hill by Dr. Vanessa Volpe, the Black Health Lab moved to NC State in 2019. Over the years, the lab has conducted a wide range of research on the health, well-being and lived experiences of Black folks, especially for Black young adults ranging in age from 18 to 35.

NC State undergraduate and graduate students have been a part of this research, resulting in several published academic reports that ensure the knowledge about Black students’ experiences of unfair treatment, their stress and coping as well as their thoughts about technology are not ignored in the field of psychology.

With our increasingly digital world reaping a variety of benefits and drawbacks, the Black Health Lab understands the importance in learning about how Black users are affected by online spaces including social media platforms and online forums. In one study our lab conducted, we found that higher exposure to online racial discrimination was

associated with worse sleep quality among Black young adults.

Our lab has also utilized strengths-based approaches in our research to examine how online spaces can reap positive outcomes for Black young adults. Another study our lab has looked at is how positive online racial experiences may be linked to engagement in activism. Our results found a positive association between positive online racial experiences and Black community activism for Black adults between the ages of 18 and 45.

Findings from another of our recent studies revealed that many Black adults go on X, formerly known as Twitter, to engage in positive manners such as forging relationships and advocating for Black communities. Much of our research has examined various health inequities and adverse outcomes faced by Black individuals, but we also believe in the importance of studying phenomena that promote the strength and resistance of Black Americans.

One mission of the Black Health Lab's research is to center the voices and experiences of Black Americans in the world of academia, a field where Black folks are substantially underrepresented both among research topics and the researchers themselves. Another key objective in our lab is to disseminate our findings and have

our work be applied in real-life settings.

Using a culturally competent approach rooted in aspects of social, developmental and health psychology, our lab studies show how race-related experiences, both positive and negative, may result in outcomes related to psychological functioning, health behaviors, cardiovascular risk and the intersections of mental and physical health.

We also make sure to be mindful of our exact audience when sharing our research. In the past year, the lab has collaborated with on-campus organizations such as the Black Artist Coalition (BAC) and the AACC to discuss the struggles faced by Black students as well as share tips for managing stress and burnout as Black students attending a PWI.

When communicating with individuals who may not be the most familiar with psychological theories and research studies, we make sure to explain our findings so that members of the general public, such as NC State students, can understand the work we do.

With our role as a research lab that conducts work exclusively on Black populations, we aim to make sure that our research is acceptable and communicated to members of the Black communities on campus. For instance, the lab reached out to the AACC student ambassadors for a

run-through and for authentic feedback on what they liked and what they thought could be altered. Moving forward, our lab hopes to continue to grow and foster our relationship with organizations on campus that center and elevate Black voices.

Although the Black Health Lab is not accepting any research assistants into our lab for the time being, there are still ways for students to get involved. We currently have two research projects that NC State students can participate in: “From Tweets to Heartbeats and Black Students' Experiences Online,” sharing experiences with social media and health. The study consists of an online survey followed by a 20-25 minute in-person meeting on campus.

“Black Students' Experiences Online” is a separate study about experiences with social media in the form of a daily diary. The study consists of an online survey followed by answering small surveys on a phone app for two weeks afterward. Those who participate in the studies can be provided with up to $20 in Amazon gift cards or academic course credit.

Despite the jarring news of the closure of Poe Hall, the Black Health Lab continues its activities. Our research space is located in Cox Hall and we find ways to work outside of the lab through on-campus organizations and events. Our graduate lab members recently participated in NC State's “Take Care of Your Heart” on Feb. 6, jointly hosted by Campus Health and Prevention Services. Focusing on heart health and the risks of cardiovascular disease, we had a booth discussing health inequities faced by Black Americans and provided resources for Black Americans, engaging activities and heart-healthy snacks for those who came.

While the Black Health Lab is not a club or a center that offers drop-in services for students, our group uses research projects to contribute to the shared goal of amplifying the experiences of Black communities. We hope that Black NC State students will begin and continue to share their expertise, experiences and thoughts with us in the future.

Black Health Lab Contributer

Image contributed by Black Health Lab Black Health Lab Staff

To make progress towards our future, we must appreciate our past. Nubian takes it back to the 90s in this issue.

ThrowBack Thursday

Photos and Concept by: I'Yari Wade Featuring: Ava Butler, Tse’lani Carter, Tiya Komono, Joys Lutwangu, Gabby Morris, Senait Richmond, Iyanna Robinson, Soleil Thompson

Images sourced from Agromeck and NC State Univeristy Archives

Black empowerment

playlist by Nubian Message Staff

Empowering songs by Black artisits to get you through the week.

Alright

Kendrick Lamar

BLack Woman Danielle Brooks

Flawless BeyoncÉ

Stand Up Cynthia Erivo

WOman lil simz, cleo sol

binz solange

Jehovah Noe Gambela

Good girl gone bad Rihanna

What's Poppin' stefflon don, bnx

angel halle

a change is gonna come sam cooke

some day we'll all be free donny hathaway

None of your business salt-n-peppa

bloom aqyila

beauty supply noname

room 203

We’ve now spent more time apart than together. I think back on the time I spent with you.

The good memories are tainted with disdain, however, it’s hard not to miss the things we used to do.

I felt that as soon as I left, it was through. No more good times and no more late nights. Even though I was upset, in reality I knew. Our relationship only existed beneath those fluorescent lights.

No more classes. No more dorms. No more “us.” Well then… I guess I’ll see you around campus.

-Emma Hamrick

NUBIAN SUGGESTIONS

blood & water (2020)

Eleanor Saunders / Staff Writer

Originating in Cape Town, South Africa, "Blood and Water" follows the story of 16-year-old Puleng Khumalo, played by Ama Qamata. Three days after her birth, Khumalo’s older sister, Phumelele, was kidnapped from the hospital never to be seen again. Khumalo and her younger brother, Siya Khumalo feel as if their mother loves Phumelele more than them. This leads Puleng to leave Phumelele’s 17th birthday party, which their mother throws every year in honor of her. Puleng goes to a birthday party with her best friend, Zama. The birthday party is for Fikile (Fiks) Bhele, played by Khosi Ngema. Puleng starts to think that Fikile is her long-lost sister. While all this is going on, Puleng’s father, Julius Khumalo, is being accused and put on trial for selling his daughter 17 years ago. The stress of her father’s case and suspicions about Fikile causes Khumalo to get into a fight at school. After this, Khumalo decides to switch schools. The school she chooses is none other than Parkhurst High, which Fikile attends. At Parkhurst, Puleng delves into an investigation of her own: to prove that Fikile is her long-lost sister. As Puleng secretly conducts an investigation with the help of Wade, the headmaster’s son, she encounters the drama and privilege of private school life. As Puleng gets closer to the truth, her relationship with Fikile and her family begins to deteriorate. This Netflix television series is a teen crime drama, and truly is full of drama. Follow Puleng as she unravels years of unthinkable secrets, risking her life and those around her.

THe colour purple (2023)

Eleanor Saunders / Staff Writer

Based on Alice Walker’s famous novel, the film "The Color Purple" is a riveting emotional musical and drama that follows the life of Celie, played by Fantasia. This musical illustrates the hardships that Celie had to go through over decades of trauma. Married off to a man who doesn't love her and separated from her beloved sister, Celie is led to believe that no one loves her. She is seen as a maid to her husband, cooking, cleaning and caring for children that are not her own. Celie’s children were taken away from her and sold to the highest bidder by her father. After years of physical and emotional abuse from her loveless husband, Celie meets Shug Avery, a promiscuous singer and entertainer. The Golden Globe Award Winner Taraji P. Henson plays Avery in the film. All the men want Avery, and all the women despise her for it. Although everyone idolizes Avery, she has her own problems too. While living with Celie, Avery reveals that her father is the town’s pastor and he disapproves of her lifestyle. Through Avery, Celie enters into a world beyond her little town. Avery introduces Celie to fashion, makeup and clubs. Avery helps Celie love herself like she never has before and after years of feeling hatred towards her husband and her life, Celie finally leaves her husband and opens up her own sewing business. "The Color Purple" will take you on the emotional rollercoaster you didn’t know you needed.

one Piece (2023)

Emma Hamrick / Correspondent

One Piece is one of the longest running anime of all time, with over one thousand episodes. Netflix recently decided to take this beloved story and turn it into flesh and bone. Just like the original, this remake follows Monkey D. Luffy and his gang of pirates as they take to the vast ocean in order to search for an invaluable treasure called the One Piece. They run into numerous challenges along the way such as the Marines, sea monsters and opposing pirates. Fans of the anime love how well the show adapted the original story, and new fans enjoy the fun and fast paced atmosphere. But the fantastic plot is not the only thing that has made this show popular. The diverse cast is a huge factor in the show’s popularity. In the original manga, the gang of pirates hail from all over the world, and the live action cast reflects the ethnic background of the characters. The author of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, confirmed that Monkey D. Luffy was from Brazil. Iñaki Godoy, the actor who plays Luffy, is a 20-year-old from Mexico. Then take a look at Usopp, a pirate-wannabe from Africa. Jacob Gibson is the Jamaican born actor who plays Usopp. The rest of the cast follows this same pattern. From the plot, to the characters and everything in between, "One Piece" (2023) is worth watching even if you haven’t heard of the original anime.

Scandal (2012)

Shaere Delgiudice / Staff Writer

From the mind of Shonda Rhimes, "Scandal" lives up to its title in every sense of the word. The ABC original series follows Olivia Pope, former White House consultant turned professional fixer, as she leads her crisis-management firm Olivia Pope & Associates. This show takes you on a wild ride into the murky underbelly of D.C. politics as Olivia tries and fails to fully separate herself from her former job and the complex characters within the Grant administration. Through high-stakes controversies, kidnapping, tumultuous affairs, assassination attempts and so much more, you’ll be shocked by the twists and turns this political drama takes. It explores the secrets and lives of those working at Olivia’s firm, the so-called "Gladiators in Suits," as they dig up dirt on D.C.’s biggest change-makers, while simultaneously creating their own major messes. Focusing a great deal on often controversy-wrought relationships, Scandal shows us how ethics can fall to the wayside as people do whatever it takes to gain and keep power, bringing you corruption like you’ve never seen before. While each episode typically revolves around a single "Scandal," the show also mixes in multi-episode and multi-season storylines that add plenty more pieces to try and put together. If you have a love for drama, you’ll find it hard to turn this series off as you wait to see each cliffhanger unfold.

Original Movie Poster

Original Show Poster

Original Show Cover

Original Show Cover

Technology...An Addiction?

eLEANOR SAUNDERS Staff Writer

Technology is in almost every aspect of our lives. Between the use of electric cars, smartphones, smart refrigerators and AI, technology creates more ease and convenience for human life. The question is though, are we too dependent on technology?

Technology has many pros. For example, writing papers is so much easier compared to 20 years ago. All one has to do now is open their laptop or reach for their phone, look up the information on Google and get to writing.

That is just one example of the benefits of technology. Others include, getting to destinations faster and more accurately (the use of cars and GPS systems), not disturbing people with your personal music (headphones), not having to hike eight flights of stairs (elevators) and so much more.

Technology allows quick access to information, facilitates learning, helps break the distance barrier, simplifies tasks, provides entertainment, increases productivity and efficiency, increases life expectancy and creates new jobs.

As you can see, there are numerous advantages that come with using technology. Our society has never been smarter because of technology.

However, the cons of technology might overshadow the benefits of it. Technology dependency is becoming a real problem in our society. An article published in the Clinical Pratice and Epidemiology in Mental Health journal defines digital dependencies as "a person's persistent inability to regulate digital devices on which they have become highly dependent."

Tamara Nagelberg, the Program Supervisor for Open Enrollment Classes for Industry Expansion Solutions, an extension of the College of Engineering here at NC State, thinks of technology dependency as “someone who somewhat has their life revolving around technology… and almost can’t live without it.”

Let’s talk about these phones. Growing up, I remember some of my peers would

throw a fit if their parents or teachers took their phone away. Many people are so dependent on their device, they can’t even leave the house without their phones.

Vanessa Buck, a third year Business administration major, “If you send somebody without a phone into the world, they're not even going to know the first thing to do. They don’t know how to figure stuff out for themselves. The first thing they'll do is say ‘oh, let me Google it.’” Vanessa has some truth in what she is saying. If phones and/or google were taken away from us, how long do you think we as a society would last?

We’ve all seen or heard about movies that depict the United States without electricity and/or technology. For example, Leave The World Behind is described as a “cautionary tale about our reliance on technology” by GQ. It is a visual interpretation of how we, as a society, depend way too much on technology.

One population in the United States, in particular, is being affected by technology in an unprecedented way. Our youngest generation, Gen Alpha. Generation Alpha are “people born between 2010 and 2025…over 2.74 million Generation Alphas are born each week globally,” said DemandSage.

The older generations are witnessing how growing up with an abundance of technology at your fingertips can negatively impact a person.

Many of us have seen children glued to the iPads or tablets that their parents bought them. In some of my experiences, I have seen some children who would only be quiet and stop throwing a fit if their parents gave them a device.

Apps like TikTok haven’t made their experiences any better. SG Analytics said, “Due to TikTok, kids and teenagers have access to copious amounts of information that is conveyed through 30-second videos. This has led to their brain losing the ability to focus longer to absorb information, thereby reducing their attention span.”

According to Healthline, when children have a short attention span, it can result in a “poor performance at… school, the inability to complete daily tasks, communication difficulties in relationships” and cause the children to miss “important details or information.”

Not only does children’s dependency on technology shorten their attention span, excessive screen time can cause “irritable mood, poor focus or disorganization, low frustration tolerance and problematic behaviors such as argumentativeness or poor eye contact” said Dr. Victoria L.

Dunkley in Psychology Today.

All the behavioral issues discussed above are a result of overstimulation. Although the child wants to continue looking at the screen, “his/her nervous system is overstimulated and hyper-aroused, therefore causing the brain to function in a state of chronic stress,” said Fierce Parenting.

The short attention span and overstimulation leads one to look at the decline in literacy rates in Gen Alpha. Axios said “fewer students said they frequently read for fun, which is associated with higher achievement.” Axios also said “the average reading score for 13 year olds declined 4 points between 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years.”

I believe the rise and dependence of technology is one of the causes for lower literacy rates. Nat Malkus, the Deputy Director of Education at the American Enterprise Institute, would say the same. Education Week quoted him, saying, “It could just be that actually technology is not the answer for education, but that it’s sort of the enemy…wearing down the attention span that it takes to develop a sense of reading for pleasure.”

Not only has technology dependency resulted in smaller attention spans, and brain overstimulation, but it also has resulted in a new phenomenon: digital addiction. The United Brain Association defines digital addiction as “a harmful dependence on digital media and devices such as smartphones, video games and computers.”

The United Brain Association also said, “studies have found a strong correlation between high-frequency digital media use and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.” Imagine how this affects a child’s brain which is nowhere near fully developed.

So, how can we help Gen Alpha and future generations have a healthy relationship with technology? Nagelberg offers some advice. We should limit our children’s access to technology and encourage them to delve deeper into other creative outlets.

Image From Creative Commons Handcuffed hands typing on a keyboard

Senait Richmond Staff Writer

RISE OF AFRICAN PRIDE

Imagine Black pride. What flashes through your mind? Perhaps it’s fists raised in defiance, the rhythms of jazz and hip-hop or the echoes of Civil Rights activism.

Whatever it may be, shift your focus to African pride. What images emerge now? Does anything emerge at all?

The celebration of African pride has long taken a back seat in main stream media, especially in America. This has left many unaware of the beauty of African culture. Yet, in recent years, African culture has risen on a national and global scale, influencing major industries such as cinema, music, fashion and business.

In Africa, representing your culture is natural, however, for Africans in America, it’s more complex. Now that being African and proud has become accepted, more people feel comfortable representing their country and embracing cultural diversity.

One significant marker of change was Burna Boy’s 2024 Grammy performance. His presence, as the first Afrobeats artist to perform on the prestigious stage, reshaped perceptions of African culture worldwide. Burna Boys’ success along with artists like Davido, Ayra Starr and Rema are paving the way for other Afrobeats artists and African musicians.

African misrepresentation in the media was one of the first deterrents of African pride for many African kids. Negative portrayals of African culture perpetuate stereotypes and limit public perceptions to a narrow, distorted view of the continent. In reality, Africa is not a monolith and beauty can be found in the distinct, yet collective culture of each country.

“[While growing up,] the lack of people’s knowledge and awareness of how beautiful Africa is kind of diminished what it meant to be African,” Ariette Buliro, a third-year majoring in Public health, said. Buliro’s family is from Congo, making her Congolese. She shared she was often the target of stereotypical jokes such as living in huts and having a pet lion.

Similarly, second year Civil engineering major, Ladi Folarin, is Nigerian and vividly recalls the challenges of maintaining African pride in environments where

representation is scarce. “When I was a kid, being African, you were an African booty scratcher, fresh off the boat, this and that, but now, I feel like Afro beats did a lot for us and it just made it popular and a big thing where if you're African, it's cool now,” Folarin said.

This newfound visibility in mainstream media has not only brought global appreciation but also grand-scale cultural sharing. “Social media has definitely pushed that pride of African culture.

TikTok and Instagram you always hear about the latest Afro beats coming out on the radio.” Buliro said, “If you grow up hearing that, oh, Africa is poor. There are no resources, your mind is going to be trained to think, everybody from Africa is poor. So I didn't blame the people, especially the kids growing up here, because they only had one story of Africa.”

Now, there are a variety of cinematic representations of Africa. Although fictional, Buliro says that Black Panther was a way of “exposing the beauty of Africa to Americans.” Fashion styles, like Dashiki and Kente, have been popularized in the West and more businesses, especially in big cities, sell African clothing.

Bethel Chanyalew, a second year majoring in Social work, said, “My mom would always say ‘remember that you're Ethiopian first’ remember that because it's very easy to just take on one identity and

then forget what's underneath.” Chanyalew emphasized the importance of embracing African culture, especially in spaces where majority groups meld Black and African identity into one monolith, overshadowing nuanced cultural distinctions.

Africans in America differ from AfricanAmericans in the timeframe of their lineage. They were either born in Africa or have direct roots to the continent through immigrant parents or close relatives. Many African-Americans were stripped of their direct ancestoral link to Africa because of the transatlantic slave trade. Both groups may present as Black in America, but they have different cultural identities that intersect and shape individual experiences. African pride encompasses a celebration of specific African heritage, distinct from the broader umbrella of Black identity.

“Since we’re in America and we’re a minority group, Black pride is fighting back against the injustices that we have to face and standing our ground…African pride is always rapping that you're African in everything you do. I like it being known that I'm African. I'm from Nigeria. I’m Black too obviously, but there’s a pride that I have to say that these are my people,” said Folarin.

As African pride is more widely accepted, African culture will continue to gain global attention and appreciation.

“It’s been really beautiful to see African culture be embraced. Growing up, there’s been stories of people being embarrassed to be African whether they did not want to bring African food to school because of the comments people made like ‘why are you eating with your hands’ but now you go on social media and see people trying all types of ethnic African food,” said Chanyalew.

“Everybody's trying to tap into the culture now. Everybody's doing the dance and eating the food so I feel like on a large scale in the world, and even personally it's been a lot bigger in people's lives than it was before,” Folarin said.

Coming to college, I found my African pride. Aside from being born in Ethiopia, I grew up in rural North Carolina where I had limited exposure to other Africans. Kids in school would make jokes about Africans drinking dirty water, having no water or walking miles for water. All these were based on a predetermined idea of Africa. Even African-American kids teased me about being African.

Now that I’m surrounded by others who share the same culture or general background, there’s such a great energy and feeling of belonging. No one does it like Africans. I’ve always liked the uniqueness of my culture, but I haven't necessarily been prideful. The music, food and dances of East African culture are very different from the West and other regions of Africa. Ethiopia is arguably the best African country, ever.

The resurgence of African pride in recent years shows the resilience and vibrancy of African heritage. Through music, film, fashion and activism, Africans are reclaiming their narratives and shaping their own cultural identity. As the world embraces the richness of African culture, it’s important to challenge outdated narratives and create a more authentic representation of Africa in the media and beyond. By amplifying diverse voices and narratives, we can celebrate the beauty and complexity of Africa and its people.

As Chanyalew said, “Everyone continuing to embrace their culture helps the next person. When other generations see us pridefully they also want to be proud of their culture.”

Image From creative commons Map of Africa