sentinel of black and marginalized voices at N.C. State since 1992.
VOL. 32 ISSUE 2
5 THE CULT OF TRUMP
Likening Trump and his supporters to a cult
7 DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM AT NC STATE
A conversation with YDSA Co-Chair Ennis Wells
8 NUBIAN: NEXT CLASS
Get acqauinted with The Nubian Message staff
13 GROWING PAINS
Campus overpopulation increases problems with transportation, housing and parking
Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of The 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.
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Letter from The Editor
Dearest readers,
It is with great joy and gratitude that I reintroduce you to THE Nubian Message.
Over the last thirty years, this newspaper has witnessed massive change at NC State.
Among these changes is the withdrawal of “The” from our title, for the sake of modernity.
No matter our title, the mission remains the same: to uplift, inspire and highlight the experiences of marginalized communities on campus.
Yet, by returning “The” to “Nubian Message,” we are undertaking the legacy of those who came before us and demanded the equality we so rightly deserve. Rather than reinventing, we are rooting this newspaper in its rich history as the sentinel of the Black community at NC State. We don’t write for Nubian Message, we write for The Nubian Message. Its a respect thing.
Enjoy the read, Alianna Kendall-Brooks <3
Editor-In-Chief
Alianna Kendall-Brooks nubian-editor@ncsu.edu
Managing Editor
Isaac Davis
nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu
Photo Editor
Kaela Belingon
Multimedia Editor
Abigail Harris
Social Media Manager
Micah Oliphant
Ross Emelle
Shaere Delgiudice
Emma Hamrick
Emilia Rivadeneira
cover and gallery photography BY Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor
Group portrait of staff of The Nubian Message outside Witherspoon Student Center on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
Gallery design by lauryn henderson/Layout Designer Yearbook by leah Tierney/Layout Designer
NC STATE SG PASSES CEASEFIRE ACT
Shaere Delgiudice Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the NC State Student Government held its first meeting of the school year. Students, alumni and community members packed the room to capacity, with some having to wait outside. Normally Student Government meetings do not attract this level of attention; however, these guests were waiting for one item on the agenda: Resolution 29.
Resolution 29 (R29), is officially titled the “act to promote peace and human rights by advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, condemning hate speech, enhancing educational resources on Palestine and Israel” and its corresponding sponsor is Senator Naila Din, a third-year studying microbiology and current Chair for the Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach.
R29 was co-signed by Senator Alisha Khan, Senator Aisha Aleem, Senator Nicholas Cooke, Senator Zainab Aleem and Senator Shatha Boaj, with 34 signatories including the Graduate Workers Union, Progressive Students Task Force, Black Students Board, NAACP at NC State and more.
The resolution was originally read on April 17. Failing to fast-track, it was presented for second reading on Wednesday.
The resolution states that the NC State Student Government “supports the release of both Palestinian and Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire.” It also “formally acknowledges the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a direct result of actions taken by the Israeli Defense Forces” and calls on the university “to disclose the recipients of their investments and divest from groups that direct their funding towards Israel.”
R29 also urges the university to provide students with a comprehensive educational resource link, as it did for the RussiaUkraine war, to give students a “historically accurate education on the matter,” and acknowledges “the mental and emotional toll on all students affected by the aforementioned atrocities.”
The first speaker, a representative from the Pre-Med club, highlighted the atrocities that have taken place in historic Palestine since the bill’s first reading. “Since the R29 bill was tabled in April the death
toll in Gaza was at 40,000, with many unaccounted for and still under rubble,” she continued, “now accounting for diseases, lack of supplies and infrastructure, the true death toll is estimated to around 186,000.”
She noted that while some may think the passing of the resolution will not be beneficial, “the vast majority of protests throughout American history have roots in student activism” and said, “what’s happening in Gaza is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian crisis.”
Eli Edds, a fourth-year Jewish student said “I don't think anyone disagrees that the situation in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe, I don't think anyone would disagree with a ceasefire, but what some of us do disagree with is the language used in this resolution."
Edds said that “instead of focusing on trying to solve intricate overseas conflicts by passing exclusionary resolutions, the senate should focus instead on trying to join the student body together and create peace and progress here.” Edds shared his own experience of being “screamed at” on campus.
A Palestinian student echoed the sentiment of feeling fearful in the current environment, saying “I wish I could say I felt protected and safe as a Palestinian student on this campus but that’s never been true.”
Samantha Madison, a Jewish student majoring in international studies acknowledged that it all has been “really challenging on both sides” and said that not passing this legislation is the way for Jewish students to feel safe on campus, adding “Here, right now, Jews don’t feel safe.”
Noor Hakim, a Ph.D student in biomedical engineering, said that she’s always been proud to be part of the Wolfpack but was embarrassed to find out that this legislation was contentious. Although she empathizes with Jewish students, Hakim stated the bill had no mention of Judaism except to call out antisemitism. She said conflating Judaism with criticism of Israel and the Israeli Defense Force does a “disservice” to Jewish students, adding that she encourages them to talk to the university about passing a resolution to ensure safety for students of all religions, saying “I would stand by that 110 percent.”
Following the end of the public comment period, it was time for questions from the
senators and for amendments to the bill to be heard, with most of the amendments that passed relating to increasing the neutrality of the legislation’s wording. Once all amendments were heard, it was time for formal debate between senators to begin.
Secretary Carter was the first senator to speak during the debate period, leading off with con-debate for the legislation saying, “This body is not chartered to mediate international disputes,” to which Senator Lennon argued, “Although we are not able to get the North Carolina state government to do anything we are representative of the student body.”
Senator Pittman said the resolution “will only push our fellow students further apart” and urged his fellow senators to “vote your conscience and vote no.”
Some argued that student government typically remains apolitical; however, Senator Williams said “This absolutely is a time in which we should break our precedent,” continuing, “We have to realize that we are dealing with a genocide here… I speak from a point of privilege if I just said no on this bill and moved away then I get to keep living my life but that is not a reality for so many students at our university...”
Senator Baker, the senior-most member of the student senate, said “Like many of you I am frankly horrified by the loss of life, the atrocities, the suffering.” She said that a ceasefire is not controversial in her mind, but the issue at hand for her was about “the role and responsibility of our student senate.”
Baker called it a “direct threat to our standing with NC State and a dangerous gamble with the political capital of the entire student body.” She said “Everything in higher education is political” and added that “While we as a student group aren’t directly bound to the university’s institutional neutrality policy this resolution effectively backs NC State administration into a corner,” saying, “we’re forcing them to choose between appearing to endorse our stance on a highly contested international issue or publicly opposing the voice of their own students, either way, we lose.”
Baker continued, “If NC State remains silent, they risk violating their own principles, UNC policy, and potentially state law, if they speak out against us, we’ve handed them a reason to dismiss
student voices on future issues, we are not just burning bridges, we are absolutely destroying them,” adding, “we are trading our seat at the table for a momentary gesture on an issue far beyond the scope and expertise on this body.”
She advocated, instead, for focusing on tangible, material ways to support students on campus affected by the ongoing conflict.
Senator Aleem followed up with prodebate for the bill saying “I cannot sit back and just let this happen while we fear for what the administration will do because this is human life, we, again, represent students.”
Senator Boaj then called out some of her fellow senators saying, “Your arguments are backed by your concern for the standing of student government, this reflects your indifference to tens of thousands of lives that have been lost due to genocide,” saying that their “privilege” is what allows for them to have this stance.
Corresponding sponsor, Senator Din, responded to the argument made by some of her fellow senators by refuting the label of the conflict as “foreign policy.”
“It is not foreign policy when I’ve heard direct accounts of Palestinian students, NC State students, saying they are suicidal because their university and peers do not care that they’re being genocided and are actively trying to silence their voices, specifically with trying to silence this legislation that they support.”
Din pointed that Student Government organized a march in the 1980s to protest NC State’s financial involvement in South Africa’s apartheid that set a precedent for R29.
Following the end of the debate period, a roll call vote was held on the legislation.
With 30 senators voting yes, 16 voting no, and zero abstaining, Resolution 29 had a simple majority. The Call For A Permanent Ceasefire Act was passed, causing an eruption of cheers from the audience.
In the coming months the Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach, chaired by Senator Din is tasked with advocating to the Raleigh City Council and North Carolina legislators “about student concerns on campus related to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the ongoing repercussions for Palestinian Americans.”
Election History: Look to the Past to guide the Future
Adriana Hernández Correspondent
This November, we stand on the brink of a historic turning point. As the presidential nominees continue to gather supporters, we can explore some career highlights from each candidate.
Current Vice President Kamala Harris is the first woman of color to hold the position of Vice President and the first Black and Asian American woman to receive a major party’s nomination. Prior to taking on the role of Vice President, Harris was renowned as a diligent prosecutor and held the positions of attorney general and senator in the state of California.
Former President Donald Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony, let alone 34, and the only president ever to be fired from “The Celebrity Apprentice.” NBC called for his dismissal following comments he made about Mexican immigrants during his 2016 presidential campaign: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”
With Election Day drawing near, we must ask ourselves who truly has our best interests at heart. One effective way to determine this is by reflecting on previous races to understand the gravity of the upcoming 2024 presidential election and its impact on our collective future.
2000 Election
The 2000 election marked the first time this century that a president rose to office without winning the popular vote. This election is also remembered for its prolonged resolution, extending five weeks beyond Election Day. The race was between Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush.
Al Gore gained popularity among voters due to his environmental advocacy and association with President Bill Clinton. Following Clinton’s second term, Gore announced his candidacy, garnering significant support from Democrats. Similarly, George W. Bush had deep political connections, being the son of
former President George H. W. Bush. On Election Day, Gore secured the popular vote by over 500,000 votes. However, the key to victory was the Electoral College. Throughout the night, the results hinged on Florida, where the vote was too close to call. Eventually, Florida was awarded to Bush, giving him a narrow five-electoral-vote lead.
Although Gore initially conceded, he later requested a recount due to various voter irregularities including improperly punched ballots, missing names and targeted ID demands from minority voters. After five weeks of legal battles, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened, halting the recount, citing that the process was unconstitutional, effectively securing Bush's victory.
2016 Election
In 2016, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran against Republican nominee Donald Trump. Trump ultimately won the election, becoming the oldest person to be sworn in as president at that time. He was also the first president in more than 60 years with no prior experience in Congress or as a governor.
The 2016 election was notable for being the fifth time in U.S. history that the winner of the Electoral College did not win the popular vote. This outcome was attributed to Trump’s success in mobilizing white voters and lower-income groups.
Leading up to Election Day, Clinton faced scrutiny when emails from her personal server were leaked. In July 2016, authorities suggested that the emails might contain compromising information regarding her tenure as Secretary of State. Although the investigation ultimately found no evidence of improper use, the controversy arguably set the tone for the remainder of her campaign.
The scandals surrounding the election did not end there. Trump himself faced controversy after a 2005 recording resurfaced in which he made demeaning remarks about women. In the clip, he can be heard saying: “Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.”
Following Trump’s inauguration, an FBI report confirmed that Russia interfered with the election. Dissatisfied with the findings, Trump fired the FBI Director and appointed a new one to launch a second
investigation. Ultimately, the interference was confirmed, though no concrete evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia was found.
“ You can do anything. Grab them by the p****. You can do anything. ”
Back to the Present
The 2024 election has all the makings of a historically significant event. The current state of politics is reminiscent of previous elections in many ways. Mirroring 2016, Donald Trump is once again running for president against a female Democratic nominee. Once again, Trump continues to make inflammatory statements against various ethnic groups and women, most notably regarding the race of his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
As Election Day approaches, parallels also can be drawn to both the 2016 and 2000 election. Following Clinton, Kamala Harris is the second woman in history to receive the Democratic Nomination and is a popular Democratic nominee. Harris is also coincidentally , the Vice President while running, similar to Al Gore in 2000 and Joe Biden in 2020.
Now, as the public, we face the challenge of not allowing history to repeat itself. Like Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris is persevering in an environment that has historically worked against women and people of color. Through social media platforms, Harris’s story has resonated with people from diverse walks of life, making her particularly relatable to younger generations.
As a new wave of voters joins us at the polls this November, a common quote comes to my mind: "The past shows what you've done – the future will show what you learned." Have we, as a nation, learned from our past?
image from creative commons Image of man voting at polls
America's Most Conspicuous Cult
There is a high-profile cult currently festering in America. It is perhaps the most conspicuous cult of this day and age, yet its members do not consider themselves a part of a cult at all. Rather, they consider themselves to be supporters of Donald Trump.
Former President Donald Trump is the current Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Although most Trump supporters would vehemently reject the label of "cult," their unwavering, and often violent, support for the former president strikes an undeniable resemblance to cult behavior.
A cult is a group of people dedicated to a philosophy, ideology or particular cause. Cults often have a leader at the center of it all dictating the cult’s beliefs. Some of the most infamous examples of cults include Heaven’s Gate, Peoples Temple, The Children of God and the Manson Family. In modern times, the term cult is used for a religious group that falls outside of the mainstream.
Trump’s second run for the presidency has shown a remarkable level of loyalty and dedication in those who support him. This intense fervor is leading some observers to draw comparisons between Trump supporters and cults.
After all, it is beyond bizarre that Trump’s supporters wore ear bandages in resemblance to him following his attempted assassination.
This unconventional behavior in the political arena mirrors the practices seen in traditional cults. Cults are known to demand high levels of loyalty from their followers, penalizing any criticism or doubt towards their belief system even when its flaws are blatantly obvious.
This is commonly seen within the Trump fanbase. Despite his many controversies, contradictions and hypocrisies, his supporters will defend him with every bone in their bodies.
More recently, pranksters confronted Trump supporters in viral videos revealing information that contradicts their praise of the former president. It’s so fascinating that people claim they would never want a sexual predator in office, but when told that the presidential candidate they intend on voting for is one, they suddenly don’t care so much.
It is entirely unbelievable and strangely fascinating to witness the cognitive dissonance – the mental discomfort in holding conflicting beliefs – that is so present in some of his supporters.
Trump has specifically and knowingly built a “cult of personality” around himself. A cult of personality is essentially excessive devotion to a charismatic leader.
Personality cults are generally built by political leaders, especially dictators and authoritarian leaders, and Trump is seemingly fostering one of his own.
Following the assassination attempt that took place on July 13, 2024, he used his miraculous survival to make himself appear as a sort of martyr for his cause and the face of American patriotism.
Trump has continuously framed himself as an outsider in the political spectrum, making it seem as if it’s him versus everyone else and his followers have seemingly adopted a similar school of thought.
Cults often cultivate a prominent usversus-them mentality, creating a strong division between the in-group and the out-group. Trump’s movement has adopted this dynamic – political opponents of Trump are seen as part of a corrupt, flawed establishment that needs to be dismantled.
Supporters of Donald Trump utilize terms like “fake news” and “woke mob” to describe their perceived adversaries, fostering the narrative that it is them against the political system and likely the rest of the world.
By presenting himself as opposed to the “corrupt establishment” and “deep state,” Trump has created a two-way narrative that frames his movement as a battle between the just and the corrupt. This narrative solidifies support and also demonizes those who oppose him, further entrenching the in-group’s loyalty and sense of purpose.
Trump is also hailed as a charismatic figure and is admired for his ability to captivate and engage with audiences. His media presence is prominent, and he’s built a strong and rather personal relationship with his supporters. This relationship often resembles the bond between a cult leader and their followers, characterized by emotional engagement and personal investment.
Charismatic leaders often have the power to inspire and mobilize their followers, but this influence can also lead to the dissolution of critical thinking and sound judgment among them. Some of his supporters view him as infallible, maintaining a commitment to him despite
his wrongdoings and ethical lapses in judgment. Some of this is due to their viewing of him as a messianic figure–a belief not uncommon among cults.
Trump’s cabinet members and allied religious figures believe he was appointed by God to be the president of the US. Some Trump supporters have adopted this line of thinking as well, believing his potential restoration as President is some sort of second coming. Such beliefs are symbolic of the messianic thinking often seen in cults, where the leader is regarded as a savior or divine agent.
The idea that Trump’s return to the presidency would represent a “second coming” or a fulfillment of divine prophecy highlights the immense level of devotion and faith placed in him by his followers.
In examining the dynamics of Trump’s support base, it is evident that there are substantial parallels to the basic structure of cults. The intense loyalty, the creation of an us-versus-them narrative, the charismatic leadership, and the divine beliefs all contribute to a cult-like aura.
The behaviors and attitudes exhibited by his supporters reflect an incredible degree of dedication that warrants scrutiny and criticism. The phenomenon of support rallied around Trump is more than a mere political following. It is a manifestation of intense devotion that, while not entirely fitting the classic definition of a cult, exhibits many of its pertinent features.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the impact of this movement on American politics and society is becoming more of a critical area of concern for the American people.
I hope that in laying this phenomenon out in writing, I will illuminate the parasocial dynamics of modern political allegiance. The allegiance of Donald Trump supporters sheds light on the potential consequences for American democracy.
The political landscape is getting more and more inhospitable, clouded with storms of misinformation and hatred. We should stay diligent in these trying times and try our best to avoid groupthink and polarization for the sake of our country’s future.
Nadia Hargett Staff Writer
image from creative commons
Stylized picture from former president Donald Trump
Harris Vs. Trump Debate Recap
Rebecca Hernández
Copy Editor
On Sept. 10, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump went head-to-head in the second presidential debate of this year. The debate marks the first time the two took the stage; however, this debate could be their last.
The debate began with both candidates walking onto the stage with Harris approaching Trump to shake the former president’s hand. Harris introduced herself as it was also the first time the two candidates met in person.
ABC News hosted the debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia with ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis moderating the 90-minute showdown.
When first asked about the economy and whether or not she believes the US is better off now than it was four years ago, Vice President Harris gave her intentions saying, “I intend on extending a tax cut for those families of $6,000, which is the largest child tax credit that we have given in a long time.”
Harris also highlighted her love for small businesses, discussing her plans of giving “a $50,000 tax deduction to start-up small businesses, knowing they are part of the backbone of America's economy.”
When answering the same question, Trump said, “We're doing tariffs on other countries. Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we've done for the world. And the tariff will be substantial in some cases.”
Trump continued by discussing the inflation rates, stating that today’s inflation rates are the worst we have seen in recent US history.
“This has been a disaster for people, for the middle class, but for every class.” Trump then added “On top of that, we have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums. And they're coming in and they're taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics and also unions.”
Former President Trump falsely claimed that immigrants are eating pets. According to Trump, “In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're
eating the cats. They're eating -- they're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country. And it's a shame.”
When asked about the issue of abortion, Donald Trump made false claims of executions occurring against babies after birth. Trump claimed that this was occurring in West Virginia saying, “the previous governor of West Virginia, not the current governor, who's doing an excellent job, but the governor before. He said the baby would be born and we would decide what to do with the baby. In other words, we'll execute the baby.”
The debate then moved to the IsraelHamas war. When asked about the conflict, Harris said, “What we know is that this war must end. It must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a cease-fire deal and we need the hostages out.” Harris stated she has “supported Israel and the Israeli people” throughout the entirety of her career.
During discussions regarding the healthcare system in the United States, Trump called Obama Care “lousy.” When discussing his plans Trump said, “I have concepts of a plan. I'm not president right now. But if we come up with something I would only change it if we come up with something better and less expensive. And there are concepts and options we have to do that. And you'll be hearing about it in the not-too-distant future.”
Climate change was a prominent part of this debate with Harris voicing her support of fracking saying, “I made that very clear in 2020. I will not ban fracking. I have not banned fracking as Vice President of the United States. And, in fact, I was the tiebreaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which opened new leases for fracking.”
The debate concluded with two very contrasting closing statements. Harris began her statement by comparing the two candidates, stating, “One that is focused on the future and the other that is focused on the past. And an attempt to take us backward. But we're not going back.”
Trump ended his side of the debate by questioning Harris saying, “Why hasn't she done it? She's been there for three and a half years.” Trump then said that we are “a nation in decline.”
NC Governer's race: Stein vs. Robinson
AIYANNA MOORE Correspondent
A recent poll shows Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein remains in the lead against Republican opponent Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.
Stein leads the polls by six points with 47 percent of voters, Robinson trailing behind with 41 percent. 11 percent of voters are undecided.
Josh Stein comes from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and attended Harvard University for law and public policy. He previously held positions as an attorney, deputy attorney general, and senator. In 2017, he became the NC attorney general, and earlier this year, Stein won the Democratic primary with 69.6 percent of votes.
Republican candidate Mark Robinson is from Greensboro, North Carolina, beginning his career in furniture manufacturing. In 2018, he gave a speech at a Greensboro City Council meeting advocating for the Second Amendment right to bear arms. A video of the speech went viral on social media, leading Robinson to run for NC lieutenant governor.
In 2020, Robinson became the first Black lieutenant governor of North Carolina, winning the Republican primary election for governor by 64.8 percent.
Despite the steady change in numbers regarding the polls, Robinson struggles to sustain a strong base of voters due to his many controversial statements. A Facebook video posted online on June 30, 2024, shows him passionately stating, “Some folks need killin’” while speaking at Lake Church in Bladen County. He later referred to it as a “matter of necessity” and said “we need to start handling our business again.”
Donald Trump endorsed Robinson for governor and referred to him as “Martin Luther King on steroids.” Martin Luther King III strongly disagreed saying, “My father would not support Mark Robinson, and Mark Robinson is nothing like my father.” In stark contrast to Martin Luther King Jr., Robinson has been known to insult the Civil Rights Movement.
Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized him for his remarks about the LGBTQ community, guns and abortion.
Stein is currently the most popular candidate among independents, with 50 percent preferring him over Robinson. Women and Black American voters also
prefer him over Robinson. As reported in the polls, 81 percent of Black Americans and 50 percent of women favor Stein.
Unlike his opponent, Stein supports women’s right to abortion and reproductive rights. Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic endorsed Stein back in Jan. 2024. In 2023, Stein released a statement concerning North Carolina’s abortion law, saying, “Women, not politicians, should be making these decisions.”
Contrarily, Robinson supports an abortion ban. He has previously made comments calling abortion “murder” and “genocide.”
If elected, Robinson would be the first Black governor of North Carolina. Stein, if elected, would become the first Jewish governor.
Robinson’s platform focuses on improving the economy, education system, veteran’s care and increasing public safety in the state. Stein’s platform consists of improving the economy and workforce, education, housing affordability, healthcare and women’s rights. North Carolina is one of only 11 states that will hold gubernatorial elections this year and has been named a battleground state for 2024. North Carolina’s status as a battleground state also holds weight in the 2024 presidential race. This year’s gubernatorial race can influence the turnout of voters in the election of Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump. However, predicting the outcome is challenging because of North Carolina’s history of splitting the ticket.
The North Carolina general election for governor will occur on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Mark Robinson will face Josh Stein in an attempt to replace current Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. Cooper is finishing up his second term as governor after serving as North Carolina attorney general.
The election ballot will also include Mike Ross (Libertarian), Wayne Turner (Green) and Vinny Smith (Constitution). The combined votes for these candidates currently sit at 2 percent.
The general consensus is that Robinson is the more extreme candidate, which may displease some voters. Stein is a less extreme option for those who prefer a more moderate candidate. Previously, seven out of the past eight governors that voters elected were democrats, but this election still has the potential to swing either way. Ultimately, the state’s future rests in the people’s hands.
A conversation with NC State's Young Democratic socialists
Julia Cox Correspondent
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, questions about the strength of our current political systems naturally rise.The election puts pressure on voters to align with one of two parties, leading to intense political polarization.
The Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) chapter at NC State argues for a different direction of political progress, focusing on deconstructing existing systems to emphasize the power of the people and our communities.
Despite negative connotations around socialism, the true purpose of YDSA is to stand as a pillar of democracy and human rights in America.
Ennis Wells is the co-chair of NC State’s YDSA chapter. Wells is a fourth-year student studying political science, and has worked with the YDSA since 2022. The Nubian Message met with Wells to discuss the organization's message and goals.
The Nubian Message: What is YDSA for those who are new to hearing about this organization?
Ennis Wells: YDSA is the youth section of the Democratic Socialists of America, which is a national organization promoting socialism in the United States. Our chapter at NC State is specifically focused on NC State, of course, and the local community. We have general meetings every week, but we usually encourage our members to attend a lot of [other] events throughout the week.
TNM: How was YDSA formed here at NC State?
EW: That's a good question, because I actually don't know. I heard last week that it started in 2014, but obviously, that one collapsed. And then there was another one, which we know from 2019 but then COVID killed that. The current one started around 2021, and I joined [around] 2022, so I knew some of the people. But, like every time, they have to rebuild the whole base again. Hopefully this one will last.
TNM: What kind of events do you usually have?
EW: We have stuff that's going on in the community. We try to promote it, even if it's not like our organization. Like this weekend, there's a farmers market and there's canvassing that we're trying to get involved with. There's always Meals for the Masses, food distribution every weekend and flyering for the Amazon union this weekend. So, whatever people are able to attend, it helps out.
TNM: What unique perspectives are discussed within YDSA in our current social and political climate?
EW: Our unique perspective is that we can change things and that we shouldn't sugarcoat our message or our demands to please anyone. You should ask for what you want; otherwise, you won’t get it. Obviously, we have a range of opinions in YDSA. We have communist socialists, democratic socialists, anarchists and probably a lot of liberals as well. We have interesting discussions, but generally, our perspective on major issues is the same, like we need to destroy capitalism, imperialism and oppression. So, a lot of our discussions are about the most effective way of doing so and how we can contribute to our communities.
TNM: What is your perspective on the relationship between capitalism and oppression?
EW: We believe that oppression is inherent to a capitalist society, as a capitalist society is individualistic and desires the consolidation of wealth and power into the hands of the few, rather than the many. Instead of seeking social equity, capitalism seeks profit and it requires a permanent underclass of laborers (typically immigrants, BIPOC, etc.). Socialism will not inherently eliminate oppression, yet oppression cannot be overcome without the advancement of people's material conditions and a true expansion of democracy.
TNM: Why is your message important?
EW: Our message is important because our socialist message is not what you're going to hear from the existing two-party system, nor is it what you're going to hear from university admin or anyone in power. They want to tell you that there's nothing that you can do about all these problems and you should either accept them or politely advocate against them. Our message is that there is a lot you can do to change material conditions and the perspectives of your community. You just have to get involved and make it happen.
TNM: What does the future of YDSA look like? What events or projects are you building currently?
EW: The future for YDSA is very busy because we're working on a lot of things. The most interesting thing for students on campus [coming up] is that we are definitely going to have another Resist Recruitment march at the Engineering Career Fair. A lot of the companies that they invite for students to speak with are building weapons for the current genocide of Palestinians. We think that students should not be participating in that, and NC State should not be promoting companies like Caterpillar, General Dynamics Northrop Grumman, Siemens, Hewlett Packard and General Electrics.
“
A lot of the companies that they invite for students to speak with are building weapons for the current genocide of Palestinians... like Caterpillar, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Siemens, Hewlett Packard and General Electrics ”
Another one of our unique messages is telling people that they're in control of
their own labor, and they don't need to wait on the government to take action, to [learn] what you're contributing to this world.You have power and responsibility over what you're doing with your life, and we encourage students to help us make it happen and attend because we are stronger when we have more people. Also, we're canvassing for Reeve Peeler and Mary Black for Raleigh City Council. We are continuing our campaign against the anti-abortion center on Hillsborough, supporting the labor union at Amazon and expanding our internal education because that's been something that's always been pushed to the side. This year, we finally have a program of things you want to discuss and learn, so that'll be very helpful to us.
TNM: Is there anything else you would like readers to know?
EW: My going-out message is the only reason that we feel somewhat powerless to these institutions and politicians is because we're not organized. If we're organized, we can get what we want and do what we want. And, I think at NC State, YDSA is a great place for students to get involved, even if they just use us as a launching pad. I believe we have a lot of great connections throughout the community to help people get involved in the causes they care about.
As a local political organization, YDSA focuses on engaging with the community at NC State through community events, canvassing for political engagement, food distribution and flyering for work unions. While YDSA members each possess a range of different political allegiances, they all believe it is necessary to dismantle our current political systems to properly serve communities through politics.
Class of 2024-2025
Blake Anderson
Kaela Belingon
Jett Buchanan
Julia Cox
Isaac Davis
Shaere Delgiudice
Ross Emelle
Emma Hamrick
Nadia Hargett
Abby Harris
Lauryn Henderson
Olivia Henson
Adriana Hernández
Rebecca Hernández
Arria Jones
Alianna KendallBrooks
Johnathan Lee
Aiyanna Moore
Gigi Nyara
Micah Oliphant
Kristopher Porter
Senait Richmond
Emelia Rivadeneira
Melanie Sierra
Nevaeh Sturdivant
Leah Tierney
Caleb Williams
Loving in a World of Color
Nevaeh
Sturdivant Correspondent
Does love truly know no boundaries? The answer seems elusive considering that our everyday lives constantly create boundaries for interactions surrounding love.
Society sets rules and regulations for what love should look like. In the past, these rules and regulations stated Black and white individuals were not allowed to love each other. Those who broke these laws were often subjected to legal repercussions. Yet, many people pursued interracial love affairs despite the risk.
Anti-miscegenation laws, present during the Jim Crow era, strictly prohibited marriages between Black and white individuals. These racist laws left Black people bearing the brunt of legal consequences while their white partners evaded similar punishment.
Between 1928 and 1934, Jesse Williams was convicted four times for breaking miscegenation laws. In 1954, Linnie Jackson served five years in prison for marrying a white man. And, in 1958, Richard and Mildred Loving were arrested for living together in Virginia.
This led to the monumental U.S. Supreme Court case of Loving v. Virginia. The court struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage and labeled miscegenation laws as unconstitutional.
Following Loving v. Virginia, The US still had a long road ahead before social integration. Even sixty years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, individuals still wrestle with the concept of interacting interracially, especially romantically.
I conducted an anonymous survey of 60 NC State students to help answer the question: What are the different perspectives on interracial dating on campus?
When I asked “Do you believe that racial or ethnic background should influence relationship choices? Why or why not?” participants had mixed opinions on the topic. Some participants bluntly said “No.” Many shared the same idea that the decision to date someone should be based on other qualities besides race. One participant, a 19-year-old white male, stated “If you’re in love, you’re in love.”
However, 29.5% of participants thought race should influence relationship choices.
Many discussed that race is a part of a person's identity and the impact race can have on relationships should be considered.
An 18-year-old Black, female participant stated “You can’t deny certain choices will be made because of race or ethnicity”
Another participant highlighted the fears surrounding dating outside one's race and how communication is important for safety. “I think yes, if you know your family is not very accepting, you owe it to your future partner to let them know.”
Of the 60 randomly selected participants, 60.3 percent reported having dated someone outside of their race. When asked why, participants described various reasons, such as physical attraction, emotional connection and their upbringing. Most said that race was not a factor. “It wasn't really something I decided, it just happened…If I like them I like them and I try to embrace differences rather than let them come between us.” said an 18-year-old female. Another participant, a 21-year-old white male, responded “I decided to date my girlfriend because she was very attractive, funny, kind and did not involve race at all in my decision.”
I asked those who had been in interracial relationships to describe their experiences with dating outside their race. Many participants highlighted situations in which they had to explain part of their culture to their significant other. Some described this situation as awkward, while others described it as a bonding experience being able to share their culture with someone they love. Many described the importance of not ignoring your differences but rather acknowledging them to further the closeness in the relationship.
Cultural expectations were also a common theme. Participants mentioned that their significant others commonly had cultural expectations that were enforced by their family which was often difficult for both sides of the relationship. “I've dated 2 people outside of my race and the most frequent problem is that someone in their family did not approve of me because of my race and/or they were insensitive to my heritage” described one 19-year-old Hispanic participant.
Of the 39.7 percent that reported to have not dated outside their race, 13 percent said they would not date outside of their race, mentioning a lack of attraction to
other races or expressed discomfort with dating outside of their race. “I have had experiences with the LGBTQ+ community here at State, which is very white and I have heard very ignorant statements. Therefore, dating would make me feel like a token,” says a 21-year-old Hispanic male.
72.4 percent of participants believed that the societal attitude towards interracial relationships was neutral or overall positive. Participants were asked to identify what challenges, if any, they think interracial couples may face in society. Many of the responses included a sense of alienation, whether prompted by racism, stereotyping, familial input or cultural differences. Participants also discussed differences in values and cultural clashes that could affect the relationship. One participant acknowledged the stigma of dating a white person as a person of color, stating, “ I personally have heard how if a family member is dating a white person, that they are trying to be white or are somehow abandoning their background.”
In their final statements, many participants reiterated their thoughts on the media’s depiction of interracial couples. It was highlighted that the media has affected their perspective of interracial relationships, especially content creators who base their content on being a racially diverse couple. “...those people who make their entire relationship dedicated to them being an interracial couple. [I know] that’s not most of them though. Sometimes I also wonder about the concept of fetishism,” said one individual.
Many describe this trope as weird, fetishized and attention-seeking. Another concept commonly mentioned was the fear of fetishization within interracial couples.
One participant shared details of their personal experience from familial connections, saying: “...part of the reason they broke up was my cousin's infatuation and fetish for Asian woman, as well as how he would insinuate that she wasn't ‘Asian enough’ for him.”
A 21-year-old Black respondent expresses her grievances with the white women fetishizing Black men. “I hate to see white women who date and have physical relationships with Black men with no intention of pursuing a serious relationship. They have sex with Black men acknowledging they would never really
marry a Black man.”
Another participant even stated how people of their race weaponize interracial dating to insult them: “I believe that sometimes people in interracial relationships can begin to shame women (who are the same race as them) and compare them to the women (who are of another race) that they are dating.”
NC State overall has complex thoughts about dating interracially. Some simply say “Love is love,” while others still have worries about interracial dating including media projections, fetishization, societal acceptance and familial approval.
“ NC State overall has complex thoughts about dating interracially. Some simply say “Love is love.” while others still have worries about interracial dating including media projections, fetishization, societal acceptance and familial approval. ”
Yes, society is still pushing boundaries on what is socially acceptable, especially when it comes to love. Although we are not perfect, and there are still worries in society about interracial relationships, I still have hope. In these anonymous responses, I was able to gather that everyone alluded to the idea that education is the basis for deep social integration, even though it may be uncomfortable, hard and unwanted.
With that said, you make a difference. Participants described how sharing and explaining their culture in relationships, both platonic and non-platonic, can help alleviate some of the tension within interracial relationships. Consider this a call to action to educate others around you about your culture.
Learn, get uncomfortable and be an educator.
Could college athletes make millions? Name, Image and Likeness
EMMA
HAMRICK Staff Writer
“Revenue sports” is a term you will hear everywhere within the sports world. If you don’t know what that means, it is referring to sports that bring in the most amount of money, such as football and basketball. These two sports are what mostly get broadcasted on television, sell the most tickets and have the most merchandise. Even though women’s college basketball is technically considered a revenue sport, it still brings in considerably less money than men’s basketball. When I say considerably less, I mean 500 times less.
Take a moment to consider the different sports teams that we have here at NC State. All of the 19 other varsity sports teams at NC State, even women’s basketball, are not considered “money making sports.” These athletes who are all working hard, putting blood, sweat and tears into their craft, aren’t getting paid equally or equitably.
“These athletes who are all working hard, putting blood, sweat and tears into their craft, aren’t getting paid equally or equitably.”
Do you think the number one athlete from the women’s golf team is paid as much as the number one athlete from the men’s basketball team? Or how about the benchwarmer who hardly gets any time on the court? Or what about that athlete from Europe, how much do they get? Well actually they get nothing…
Athletes who are not US Citizens are not eligible to receive N.I.L. (name, image and likeness) deals. Remember Mohamed Diarra? One of the top basketball players from the 2023-2024 season, wracking up assists in the double digits nearly every game and regularly getting double-doubles. Despite all of the amazing statistics, because Diarra is French, he did not
make any money from playing collegiate basketball.
Among the top 100 N.I.L. players at NC State, 96 are football players. The other four consist of three men’s basketball players and one women's basketball player. When you look at the specific basketball players on the list you may be shocked.
Of course DJ Burns is towards the top of the list at number four. Then there is DJ Horne towards the bottom of the list at number 99. But the shocker is the fact that MJ Rice came in at number 74. MJ Rice only played in a handful of games during the 2023-2024 season due to a personal matter that left him in redshirt the rest of season. Saniya Rivers is the only woman to make the list, coming in at number 96. What shocks me even more is that there are only three men’s basketball players on the list, and one of them barely played! The NC State men’s basketball team won the ACC Championship and made it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament! Where is Michael O’Connell? Casey Morsell? Ben Middlebrooks? Those guys were some of the best players on the 2023-
2024 team! Not to mention the fact that we have Olympians in our athletic department, and none of those names are on the list either!
Yet somehow out of the 100 top N.I.L. athletes at NC State, 96 are football players. I would bet that if you asked any NC State fan to name as many football players as they could, they wouldn’t get anywhere close to 96 names. But still, all 96 of those players are making tens of thousands of dollars, if not more.
If you then look at the top 100 N.I.L. players overall there are only two athletes on the list who aren’t basketball or football players as of writing this article: Livvy Dunne (gymnastics) and Sam Hurley (track and field). What these two athletes have in common is their mass number of followers. Across all platforms Dunne has 13.2 million followers and Hurley has 4.9 million.
It’s easy to see there is a lot more involved in getting N.I.L. deals than just the athletes playing abilities. Social media following adds a debatably unfair advantage to certain athletes in this era. Livvy Dunne
and Sam Hurley reached online fame for one reason or another, but what about their teammates?
A good example, that is close to home, would be Jared McCain. McCain is an amazing athlete who was able to move on to the NBA as a sophomore in college. His athletic prowess is definitely one of the reasons that he reached such success during his college career, but there is also another reason for his fame.
The Duke basketball rookie went viral on TikTok for his dancing as well as some videos he made fighting the haters that say he, and all men, should not wear nail polish. Those videos earned him a N.I.L. deal with Sally Hansen.
Overall it is estimated that McCain made around one million dollars in N.I.L. deals. That was after only one year of playing college basketball.
Let’s compare McCain to another huge Duke basketball star: Kyle Filipowski. As one of the best players in the ACC, and a future NBA player, Filipowski made an estimated $795,000 in N.I.L. deals.
Athletes with large followings on TikTok are likely already receiving compensation through the Creator Rewards Program and are now receiving even more compensation through the N.I.L. deals they receive due to their massive following.
Obviously brands are going to want to sponsor players that can endorse their product on as big of a scale as possible. Because most N.I.L. deals involve social media posts of some kind, brands likely want to make deals with athletes that have a larger following.
So what does this mean? Any athlete that has a big social media presence is going to be getting N.I.L. deals. In short, yes. It seems like the only way an athlete can make big bucks from N.I.L. deals, unless they are a basketball or football player, is to have a large social media following.
Pay disparity in college athletics is not just about gender, nationality, social media presence or even about which sport you play. It is a combination of those three things and more. The intricacies of N.I.L. deals and the corporate dynamics that occur behind the scenes reveal matters we still have yet to fully understand.
Alex Manuel/Staff Photographer
Sophomore wide receiver KC Concepcion celebrates with the crowd after scoring his third touchdown during the game against Western Carolina in Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The Wolfpack defeated the Catamounts 38-21.
The Growing Struggle of Campus Navigation
Melanie sierra Correspondent
Transportation and parking are becoming increasingly difficult here at NC State. If the community continues to expand, so should the space.
Ten years ago, the 2013-2014 school year had 4,159 “full-time first-year (freshmen) students enrolled.” Fast forward to the 2023-2024 school year, there are 5,636 first-year students enrolled, a 35.5 percent increase in the past ten years.
The current Fall 2024 semester has over 7,200 first-year and transfer students enrolled according to the official NC State Instagram page.
With such a large increase in student enrollment, the university should provide more space for housing and parking. But the University has not opened any new residence halls since August 2013 when they first opened the Wolf Ridge apartments on Centennial campus.
I have encountered many instances where I needed to pay to park on either Hillsborough Street or at the public pay lots on campus since it has been rather difficult to get a parking permit. Even when I did get off the waitlist, it ends up being too much money that I cannot afford on top of all the other expenses needed to attend this school.
Many students including myself, on the free park and ride lots to get to classes. So far out of the three weeks in the semester, there have been five different times that the Spring Hill lot has been full. I have seen countless cars with parking tickets because the lot was full and they had to park along the curb and in unmarked spaces.
I have been bending over backwards trying to ensure that I have a way of getting to campus as well as being on time for my classes. I have already missed two classes so far due to a lack of parking spaces. But I am not the only person faced with this parking issue.
During the second week of the semester, I conducted a survey covering the topics of parking and overcrowding. One of the questions asked, “Has the overcrowding and/or lack of parking spaces (anywhere)
made it difficult or impossible to get to your class?” An overwhelming 77.9 percent of people stated yes in some manner.
I asked one short answer question, “Are there any other issues you've experienced so far due to overcrowding or lack of parking spaces?” one student had some things to say about parking writing, “To elaborate I have parked at Spring Hill once and I have had to pay for parking EVERYDAY just to attend classes. I'm out about 20 bucks just from the past week and two days. It’s even hard parking on Hillsborough because there is almost no parking.”
Data from the Fall 2023 semester shows the overall student enrollment, plus staff and faculty at a total of 48,480 individuals according to the University Data and Analytics - Fast Facts.
A Technician article states that in Fall 2021, there were just under 45,000 students, faculty, and staff with only around 20,000 available parking spots. It also doesn’t take visitors into account. This leaves over half of the total number of
students, faculty and staff without a spot to park.
Although the lack of parking spaces has made it increasingly difficult to arrive to classes on time, or even at all, it’s not the only reason. There are currently 11 Wolfline bus routes with around two to four buses each at peak hours. It’s not enough. You have almost 50,000 people who attend and/or work at NC State and there are only 11 different bus routes. With such a large and hilly campus, it can be difficult to get around only on foot.
In my survey, I asked, “Have you had to wait longer for WolfLine buses due to full capacity or any other reason?” 59.7 percent answered yes, 17.9 percent answered sometimes and only 22.4 percent answered no. Whenever I wait at the bus stop, more often than not some of the more popular routes (usually 41) will be at maximum capacity with the “drop off only” sign.
“Parking is impossible, housing is overflowing and it's causing apartment complexes everywhere around campus to hike their prices, traffic is insane,
classes are in random places (there is a Spanish and German class in one of my labs that contains expensive equipment that can get easily damaged or samples be contaminated) it's super frustrating overall because the administration doesn't listen to anyone, especially professors. this has had a trickle-down effect on students. I personally believe that freshmen shouldn't even be allowed to park on campus if they are required to live on campus,” one student wrote.
This student covered some major points that have made attending NCSU more difficult. It has been so insanely frustrating and expensive trying to find a place to live every school year. My personal experiences with housing and rent have been exhausting. When comparing the rent from my time living at one of the nearby apartments to what it is now, there is about a $50-100 increase.
“It has been so insanely frustrating and expensive trying to find a place to live every school year. My personal experiences with housing and rent have been exhausting.”
Our growing population has caused limited parking, pricey housing and even difficulty navigating campus. As a student, I would like the University to expand parking, ensure affordable housing and hire more drivers to improve Wolfline services. Students will only struggle more if these issues are not properly addressed.
Patrick Freeman/Photo Correspondent Signs indicate blocked path due to construction near Kathrine Stinson Drive on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. A rise in construction across campus has raised concern for accessibility.
Food Culture Shock: Big back americA
Have you been called a big back recently?
Don’t worry you’re not alone. Being called a big back isn’t even offensive anymore. It's just another word in everyone's day to day vocabulary. As a friend of mine once said “it's not a size but a mentality.” Whether you eat 10 doughnuts or two fries someone out there will still say you’re a big back. Big back this and and big back that, but it makes me wonder about what creates a big back? Is it just personal choices or also a component of American food culture and regulation?
In America, growth hormones and chemical preservatives are used to produce larger foods with longer shelf life, often at the cost of quality of the food. Bread, for example, can sit on a counter for weeks and still be edible. This seems normal, but in many other parts of the world, food lasting months after preparation is quite unusual. In America, growth hormones and chemical preservatives are used to produce larger foods with longer shelf life, often at the cost of quality of the food.
To explore these differences, I interviewed two international students about their experiences with food in America. Yene Samuel is a third-year Business administration student from Ethiopia. She shares her experience in an interview with The Nubian Message.
The Nubian Message: How is the food in America compared to food in your country?
Yene Samuel: Firstly, food in my country, Ethiopia, everything is natural. It goes straight from the farm to the market, after packaging, nothing is processed and it doesn't last longer than it should; whereas here the bread in America lasts how many weeks? Everything is processed here, it has chemicals. I also notice the food in Ethiopia is light but the food in America feels heavy and I always gain weight. It's been almost three weeks and I feel like I’ve already started gaining weight.
TNM: How does grocery shopping in America differ in Ethiopia?
Ys: For starters the grocery stores in
Ethiopia are much smaller, and around the corner in every neighborhood. You can go buy fruits and vegetables and they’re very easily accessible. Here it's like a scavenger hunt, you have to search through all the aisles and there are a lot of options. Do I want quality or the cheapest thing whereas in Ethiopia I see eggs and I grab them.
TNM: What is the difference in food preparation?
Ys: The portions here are insane, they could be shared by two people. The way we eat we have different entrees on a big plate to share but here you put everything on your plate and that's it. We don't eat dessert as often after our meals like cake, we normally finish our meals with fruit. Dessert is saved for when we go out.
Jesy Mamputu is a third year exchange student from the University of Manchester, England. He shares his experience eating in America and compares it to his experience in the United Kingdom.
TNM: How is the food in America compared to food in your country?
Jesy Mamputu: The food here is very unhealthy. It doesn't feel like I'm eating food but like I'm consuming edible things. It also feels like a limitation to certain foods. For example, I’m lactose intolerant and there aren’t dairy-free alternatives here
and it cuts out many options. 100 percent, being lactose intolerant isn’t a major obstacle for me in the UK and I can cook for myself. The dining hall food is just cow milk everywhere, yuk.
TNM: What's the difference in how food is prepared that you’ve seen?
JM: From my experience here it seems like food is mass produced and it doesn’t feel like the food is made with love, it feels like it's made for the masses.
TNM: What about the accessibility of fresh food?
JM: One thing I've found is that fresh food I feel like is inaccessible and I don’t even know where the nearest place for me to get healthy fruits is. The Target on Hillsborough Street is not a proper Target. You have to go to Harris Teeter and Whole Foods which are the more expensive stores. In the UK you can go to the cheapest grocery store and it's like a class divide where if you don’t have the money your limited to fast food.
TNM: How is snacking in the UK?
JM: I’m actually worried about snacking here because the food regulations here are much looser. Here, I see all the options and it's hard to differentiate the healthy stuff and the unhealthy. In the UK those
things are sectioned out and in the UK you have to differentiate the calorie count and nutrition information. Popcorn is the only thing I feel comfortable snacking on.
TNM: Is there anything else you’ve noticed about food distribution in America?
JM: In the UK in grocery stores there are sections where you know all food in that section is gluten free or dairy free and I know it's made from products I can consume. As a foreigner I’m not sure what brands are dairy free and I need to do research. Coming to America has made my lactose intolerance a big part of my personality. I’m not used to it and all my friends now know. In Fountain, I basically live in the simply made section which gets rid of the top nine allergens but, if I don't want that what can I have? While I'm out here, there is so much I won’t be able to partake in because of the nature of the food making preparation here. The accessibility issue Mamputu mentioned is a widespread problem. The USDA reports that 23.5 million Americans live in "food deserts." These are areas where fresh, nutritious food is scarce or prohibitively expensive. This scarcity disproportionately affects lowincome communities, exacerbating health disparities.
The loose regulations Mamputu observed are also a matter of concern. The FDA has approved nearly 10,000 additives for use in food, many of which are banned in other countries due to potential health risks. For instance, artificial food dyes, common in American products, are either banned or require warning labels in the European Union.
The American food system, despite its abundance, is failing to prioritize health and accessibility. This calls for a reevaluation of our food policies, from production to distribution. We need a system that nourishes all Americans, regardless of their economic status or dietary needs.
Senait Richmond Staff Writer
image from Creative commons Seed samples of many different species of plants
I look at the world
I look at the world
From awakening eyes in a black face — And this is what I see: This fenced-off narrow space Assigned to me.
I look then at the silly walls Through dark eyes in a dark face — And this is what I know: That all these walls oppression builds Will have to go!
I look at my own body With eyes no longer blind — And I see that my own hands can make The world that’s in my mind. Then let us hurry, comrades, The road to find.
-Langston Hughes
The NEWbian Message
playlist by The Nubian Message Staff
Some new songs to celebrate the start of The Nubian Message's "rebrand" n95 kendrick lamar another life pinkpantheress, rema Neva Play megan thee stallion, rm let's go back jungle garden of eden rachel chinouriri
