Thirty, Flirty & Thriving

Letter from the editor

To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters – “What’s Up?”

This issue, much like my salutations, pays homage to the history of Nubian Message. On Nov. 30, 1992, Nubian Message released its first issue. Tony Williamson, the first Editor-in-Chief of the paper, and many others worked hard to get NCSU’s first Black newspaper up and running. I am grateful that I can be a part of the legacy.

On Dec. 1, 2022, thirty years later, the Nubian Message still stands as a newspaper written for underrepresented people about underrepresented people. The goals of Nubian Message have changed and evolved as different people have joined the organization;referring to Black people as ‘nubian’ has fallen out of style is a testament to that fact. Yet, the need for Nubian Message has not dissipated.

Many people forget the reason Nubian Message was formed was in response to Technician publishing derogatory remarks about NCSU’s Black student body. Technician’s Editor-in-Chief at the time recently applied for a role with NCSU that would have given him supervision over Nubian Message. This is not simply a bump in Student Media’s history, but a continuous oversight of the importance in journalistic integrity.

Thank you to all the people who contribute to Nubian Message, by being supporters. The paper would not have lasted this long without an audience. A special shout out to the people who get sucked into Nubian Message their freshmen year and never leave. You are the glue that makes deadlines manageable.

That being said, there is an awesome issue ahead of you. We have news, we have features, we have opinions, we even have commentary on podcasts. I hope you enjoy the hard work that went into this issue.

Wish Nubian Message a Happy Thirtieth!

Warmest regards,

Jaz Bryant

THIS ISSUE

Editor-in-Chief

Jaz Bryant nubian-editor@ncsu.edu

managing Editor

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu

Copy Editors

Jeanine Ikekhua

Jo Miller

Milan Hall

Layout designers

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe

Abigail Harris

Milan Hall

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of Nubian Message:

Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan, Dr. John Henrik Clark, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, The Black Panther Party, Mumia A. Jamal, Geronimo Pratt, Tony Williamson, Dr. Lawrence Clark, Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon, Dr. Wandra P. Hill, Mr. Kyran Anderson, Dr. Lathan Turner, Dr. M. Iyailu Moses, Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are still on the journey to true consciousness.

ethan rimolt

Past nubian message staff & crew Past nubian message staff & crew

Dear Nubian, You were my first (and only) love on that wretched campus. Two weeks into my freshman year and I knew. I always knew it was you. It was the first time I felt like I could actually explore and grow as an individual. The first time I felt like being me was enough. Within those 4 walls, I never had to pretend to be anything else. You were not only a newspaper, you were home. You gave me family, helped me build lifelong relationships. You made me push myself to challenge the systems, to be the voice that the people needed. You helped me see the value in my voice, even if no one else wanted to hear it. You made me a poet again. You equipped me with the resources I needed to grow. You gave me the space to share my vulnerability with the world. You taught me that all I had to do was stay Black and die.

Four years, six positions, endless (and sometimes unpaid) nights, death threats, tears, triller videos, hella awards and endless laughs. I honestly do not think that I would be half of the woman I am today without my time at Nubian Message.

These 30 years would not have been possible without the ones who came before me. For that, I am grateful and I honor you. I am forever humbled to be able to build on the legacy of the ones who came before me. To add onto the dreams and aspirations of my Founder Tony Williamson and his hopes for Nubian Message. Nubian Message is ours, always and forever. To the ones who will come after me, the sky’s the limit. Here’s to another 30!

I am Keilah Davis, a 4th year physics PhD student at Louisiana State University. (Pray for me y'all.) I like remembering how I started at Nubian Message: finding an interest meeting flyer on the ground near the free expression tunnel in spring 2016. It’s amazing how a seemingly small moment had such a huge impact on my life. I spent 2016-2017 as a staff writer, 2017-2018 as managing editor and 2018-2019 as editor-in-chief.

As managing editor under then-EIC Anahzsa Jones, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Nubian Message with a special issue and small party in the African American Culture Center. It feels weird that 5 years has passed so quickly. So much has changed! So much about the paper has grown and evolved beyond anything I could’ve imagined or predicted. I recognize few faces in the office. There are more staff now than I ever saw in my 3.5 years there. Nubian Message has a TikTok now. It makes me proud and honored to have had a role laying the foundation for this growth.

At a point where I was questioning whether I’d made the right choice to come to NC State, Nubian Message gave me a home. I learned how to write, talk to strangers, ask good questions and defend my ideas. It gave me a place to try (and sometimes fail at) being the kind of leader I wanted to be. I learned the importance of institutional knowledge and passing it down. I learned that sometimes the best way to train new layout designers is replying “ask your friend” to their questions (#iykyk). Even my current interest in science writing and communication can be traced back to my experiences at Nubian Message.

Keilah Davis Editor-In-Chief, Managing Editor, Staff Writer 2016-2019

It’s an absolute joy to be a part of Nubian Message’s 30th anniversary! I’m Kennysha Woods, and oftentimes, I think about the time I spent at Nubian Message as a staff writer in 2017, and then managing editor in 2018. I remember the nerves I got every time I interviewed someone and the long, long, long nights of editing an issue right before the publishing deadline. (Safe tosay that even in adult life, procrastination has yet to best me.) Even after moving across thecountry to Washington state, the memories I have of Nubian and all the laughs and struggles our staff shared– they ring so clear as if they just happened yesterday.

My time at Nubian prepared me for professional life in more ways than I could’ve anticipated before. Mainly, all that writing truly pays off. I’ve been in customer-facing roles, background operations roles, and across different industries and companies and even independent work,and my writing skills have always been an imperative skill at every turn. As I’ve found, people will always have a lot of things to say but seldom do they know how to say it right with pen and paper. Nubian was instrumental in making effective writing almost innate to my person and, in turn, my greatest professional asset.

One thing I will fail to express is my love for Nubian because words really cannot describe it. I can only hope that you all feel the same affection as I do for Nubian, as well as everyone on the team now who builds upon Tony Williamson’s legacy of making this paper a platform toshowcase the beauty of student life.

Elikem dodor

Editor-In-Chief (twice), Managing Editor, Social Media Manager, Photographer, Layout Designer, Copy Editor

Kennysha Woods Managing Editor, Staff Writer 2017-2018

Past nubian message staff & crew PT.2 Past nubian message staff & crew PT.2

Though my time with the Nubian Message felt short, it had a profound impact on me. The opportunity to serve as Editor-in-Chief during my last year of college undoubtedly helped launch my career in journalism and provided me with invaluable skills that went far past writing. Not only did I learn how to apply the technical knowledge I was learning in classes, I got real-life experience in how to source stories, follow leads and network to get interviews.

I also gained the skills needed to lead a team — something that helped me land my first job as an associate editor and communications manager at an award-winning marketing agency. The hiring manager was wary about putting a 20-yearold in charge of a team of experienced writers, but I was able to speak to the challenges I faced and successes I saw while leading the Nubian. My experience with the paper truly provided the foundation I needed to enter the field of journalism.

What I really gained from the Nubian though was a sense of culture and identity. Growing up in mostly white communities and mostly white schools often left me feeling isolated and ‘othered.’ While I was excited to attend NC State, I figured being at a PWI would feel much the same. When I found the Nubian and got connected with the African American Cultural Center, it felt like I had finally found my people and my place.

Nearly seven years later, having been through four different organizations and countless meetings where I was the only brown face in the room, I still have that sense of unity and togetherness with me and often draw on it for comfort. I have the Nubian to thank.

Congratulations to every staff member who has made this paper what it is today.

Happy 30th Anniversary, Nubian! yes,we’re here to stay!

Jillian Smith Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer

Dear Nubian readers and staff, Congratulations on 30 years! When I was a staff writer from 2012-2014, we put together the 20th Anniversary paper. To see that the paper has made it to 30 years is amazing. The friends I made while on staff are those that have persisted, we have the same group chat going 10 years later!

During my tenure under the leadership of Editor-In-Chief, Kierra Leggett, the Nubian got it’s own office, not just a small room in the Technician's office. We started printing issues in color, we wrote about Obama’s second election, and we covered the start of Movement for Black Lives, also known as #BLM.

We were also coming to a point where some within the Black community at NC State questioned whether or not a paper focused on the Black experience was even needed. Some felt that we were past needing a “Black voice.” As an alumna, that is no longer up for me and my peers to decide but I bet you can imagine what I think.

The Nubian Message has such a strong history and it is up to those that care for it to continue to tell the story. Tony isn’t with us anymore to be our elder so the history must be shared so that we don’t forget.

Since I graduated from NC State, I’ve gone on to work professionally at colleges. I’m honored to be able to dedicate my life’s work to helping college students graduate and achieve their dreams. I am because you are. Please continue making good trouble. All of my best,

I express my sincere congratulations to all of the publishers, editors, writers, photographers, readers, and supporters who have been involved with the Nubian Message for the past 30 years.

I started my journey with Nubian in my sophomore year at N.C. State. A brief interest meeting led to a position as a writer. As my passion for the newspaper grew, I rose through the ranks, acting as Managing Editor in my junior and senior years. Little did I know that the experiences, skills, and relationships that the Nubian gifted me would be everlasting.

Working with the Nubian allowed me to attend my first professional conference, and receive my first meaningful award for writing. I helped provide a media voice to some pivotal aspects of African American life at N.C State - the re-election of President Barack Obama in 2012, the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Nubian. The Nubian inspired me to become an attorney to pursue the fair and just advocacy of our people professionally; an assignment for the newspaper served as the foundation of my law school personal statement. Most dearly, the staff members with whom I formed working relationships transformed into best friends ,and are now lifelong family 10 years later.

Every time that I read a new issue, I am proud to see that the Nubian Message continues to represent the African American community at N.C. State totally, truthfully, and faithfully today. It’s been a long 30 years, but the Nubian has proven Tony Williamson’s ambitious vision true - yes,we’re here to stay!

t.

Managing Editor & Staff Writer

To my Nubian Family, Congratulations to 30 years of Black Excellence!

My name is Devonte Keith, and I was a contributing writer for the Nubian from 2012 to 2014. I never would have dreamed to be part of NC State history while learning how not to “bury my lede,” and the painstaking process of getting the culmination of our research, thoughts, and talents into the hands of the Wolfpack masses week in and week out.

After graduating in December, I utilized my experience gained from my training in “The Black Cave” to become an English teacher. Little did I know that everything I learned writing for the Nubian became second nature to me. Writing and communication became second nature, so I made it my duty to make sure the generation after me would have a chance at being even better writers and communicators.

Seeing the Nubian still going and growing strong ten years after my first article gives my heart so much joy. To the branding, social media presence, and web development, I appreciate all the contributions that the new Nubian Elite have given, and I am excited to see how it will grow in the future.

Please continue to provide a voice and an outlet, and continue making me proud.

Keep going and best wishes,

Amanda McKnight Stevens Staff Writer

2012 – 2014

De’Erricka

Green

2012-2014

Devonte Keith

Staff Writer

Past nubian message staff & crew PT.3 Past nubian message staff & crew PT.3

To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters, When I reflect back on my time as a student at N.C. State, undoubtedly, the experience that impacted me most, was my time as Editor-inChief of the Nubian Message.

The Nubian provided me with community, purpose, and because of my dedication to representing its legacy to the best of my abilities, the courage to sprinkle Black Girl Magic, throughout the bricks of North Carolina’s largest public university.

Almost 10 years later, I’m still thankful to the Nubian Message for helping me see that I was deserving of a magic wand and capable of some pretty potent spells. The Nubian helped mefind my voice while simultaneously amplifying the voices of Black students on our campus and Beyond.

Of the many lessons that I learned at the Nubian Message, the most powerful and applicable throughout my post collegiate career have been: Others will continually underestimate you, prove them wrong.

As a leader you create impact through your ability to be inspired and also your ability to inspire others.

Until the lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter — African Proverb

I am forever grateful to be among those who have contributed to the Nubian Message and more so, to be an extension of founding editor, Tony Williamson’s legacy. From the sidelines I watch in admiration as the Nubian continues to blossom and with pride, celebrate the paper’s 30 years of advocacy and representation.

With much love and respect,

Editor-In-Chief (twice), Staff Writer

2011-2014

Dear Nubian Message,

I can’t believe that we are approaching the 30th anniversary of this wonderful newspaper. Serving as the Managing Editor in the Spring of 2016 and the Editor-in-Chief for the2016-2017 academic year remain some of the best experiences of my college career and frankly, my life.

This paper taught me the importance of legacy, commitment and the telling of our own stories. It taught me how to operate in duality. We can choose to shed light on the injustices our community faces and simultaneously illustrate the excellence that radiates from our community. Being part of the Nubian Message staff allowed me to understand how minoritized people are tied not only to our respective communities but to each other. It also taught me valuable leadership skills, accountability, and teamwork. Something about production nights until 6:00 AM and last minute breaking news bonds you to folks for life.

Learning to work under deadlines and manage people have served me well in my career in higher education but the biggest takeaway I have from my experience with Nubian is that, whether or your realize it or not, you are part of something so much bigger than yourself. The legacy that the Nubian Message has created is part of the fabric of history at NC State. It’s been such a joy to watch the Nubian grow and expand under new and innovative leadership and I can’t wait to see where this newspaper is in another 30 years.

With Love,

2015-2016

I would say that the Nubian Message taught me a lot about time management skills and the importance of meeting deadlines. It also taught me leadership skills as well that I have applied to my professional life.

Current Job: Software Development Engineer/ Tester at T-Mobile

One of the most memorable moments for me at the Nubian Message was having the opportunity to cover then President Obama’s appearance on campus. Also, I loved being able to increase the Nubian Message’s online presence which we received an award for. The Nubian Message for me was an important voice for the African American community on NC State’s campus. I felt that we had a platform on campus to address issues that were not being discussed in other areas. Also knowing the history of how the Nubian Message came about, it was important for me to do whatever I could to keep it going. There were many late night hours spent at Witherspoon working to get the paper out the next day.

Editor-In-Chief, Layout Designer, Staff Writer 2010 – 2012

CJ Guion

Stephanie tate Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer

Kierra Leggett

A look into then and now

Milan Hall Staff Writer

The Nubian Message has been around for 30 years. As we’ve grown and changed as a publication, so has the world around us. I would also like to make note that the opinions of one individual does not reflect the opinions of everyone on our team. So let’s look back at some of our predecessors' opinions, and give some of our own.

Separate but equal Students are dividing themselves by race (Madavia Johnson Feb. 27, 2009)

“ …Think about it, when you walk into the Atrium you see people sitting with their ethnic group. This is something that I call “self-segregation,” because we tend to separate ourselves from others who look different than we do, choosing instead to sit with people who look just like us. It is not such a big deal to most people I guess because it comes so natural, but yet we are not taking advantage of the dream and hope of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other equal rights activists. I know that we feel more comfortable talking to people who we believe can relate to our situation, but in reality we all have the same problems. Everyone is so much alike, the only difference is our skin color and personality. We should not let these differences keep us divided, because deep down we all go through the same problems, such as exams, relationships, schedules, and classes.” - Madavia Johnson

I feel that there is a lot to unpack with this one. Firstly, I don’t think wanting to be surrounded by those who share similar cultural experiences is disregarding the work of civil rights activists. Secondly, something people need to accept is that some experiences are not shared. A lot of aspects that make up a person are going to be heavily influenced by the culture they grew up in. Yes, students attending NC State will face struggles that come with being a student, however not every student on NC State campus is going to deal with microaggressions or racism.

I also find it odd that this opinion mainly seems targeted at Black people. I understand this may be because Black people were the target audience, but why are we always the ones who have to build bridges? I just find it interesting that non-

Black people are not expected to diversify their social life as much as Black people. Also I think most Black people already go into PWI’s knowing they will have to interact with people outside of their race. I don’t think people “self-segregate” simply because we believe we're “different”, I believe that it is more out of a concern for one's own safety. You will never know if someone is actually racist until they let you know, whether that be from an ignorant comment, a microaggression or by straight up calling you a slur. Most people may already deal with that in class or at work; so when it comes to moments that are supposed to be relaxing, I think it is okay for people to want to be surrounded by their own race and culture every now and then.

The Gospel Truth & Black Mental Health (Amanda McKnight Jan. 23, 2013 )

“Is the prayer mentality advocated by the black Protestant faith causing more harm than help? In the past, access to proper mental health care was not an option for a majority of the black community. The church house was the only place that provided solace in a world full of duress. Lack of funds, time and trust were also factors for people in seeking health care. Due to medical misconduct, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment wherein groups of African Americans were purposely refused treatment and misled about their syphilis diagnoses, there is an entire generation of African Americans who do not trust doctors. These individuals feel as though they are being taken advantage of and swindled; this mistrust is then transmitted onto the next generation, and so on. Today, we do not have to live our lives in fear of health providers. Overall, they are trained professionals who know how to diagnose, treat and provide care for their patients with minimal impact upon daily life. No more is your pastor or an elder in the community the only option when it comes to taking care of your mental health.”-Amanda McKnight I somewhat agree and disagree with this one. The stigma around mental health in the Black community needs to be addressed. Thinking about the history of Black people and healthcare in the

United States, I don’t think it is shocking that most people, especially older ones, would want to stay away from doctors in all fields. There does come a point where religious culture may be doing more harm than good for one's mental health, despite religion being a comfort for some people. That being said, I don’t think that we should totally disregard concerns that come along with seeking professional help. Many people in the Black community have come forward about their struggles when seeking mental health help. The Black community still holds very negative feelings towards healthcare professionals. I am not a mental health professional, but I think Black people have every right to be cautious, and I think the way to handle it is by staying well informed and looking for Black professionals in the field.

Bite Activists, They’re Hungry For Attention (Shawn

Murray Feb. 13, 2013)

“Because of this desire to be down for a cause, many in the college age group are standing for something that they are not fully informed about. Even more so, it has become a common practice for students to take a phrase and run with it, using it in various contexts in which it does not belong. Ashley Davis, a senior studying Political Science, created a term for this phenomenon. She calls it, “sound bite activism”, in which people take something that they hear, and if it sounds good, relate that idea to situations in which it is not applicable.”-Shawn Murray

I love the term soundbite activism, and despite this article being written in 2013, I think the point still stands today. When I think about the pace that the media moves today, I think “soundbite activism”now has the perfect breeding ground. It takes only a second for an important movement to get watered down. A perfect example of this would be Instagram infographics. A lot of these infographics can bring light to important issues, but I feel a lot of them lack the necessary context and history that is needed to fully understand an issue. I also feel this form of activism is comparable to virtue signaling. People just want to show that they're on the “good side” without actually wanting to contribute or be progressive.

“As far as his chances of winning the Republican presidential candidacy and possibly the presidency, chances are slim to none. In fact, Trump has no chance at all. Trump and his supporters are pushing him way too hard. It’s ridiculous that he is playing this game with fellow Tea Partiers regarding the notion that President Obama is a scary non-American foreigner who has illegally taken the White House. This would sound good in the ears of the Tea Party folks and others but overall, it does not serve well for Trump. It could hurt him politically and it could hurt his business.”Sampson

Bloh

It’s almost hard to read something that has aged so poorly. Reading this in the Biden administration while there are still people who want Trump to run for 2024, I find that Bloh’s reasoning for Trump’s slim chances of winning are exactly why he won in 2016. It was the sheer ridiculousness of it. I mean, a television host spitting hateful rhetoric about other groups. Nobody thought he was gonna’ win so people wasted their votes on a dead gorilla or Kanye West. But the people who didn’t find it ridiculous were his supporters that would hang onto every single word he said. Donald Trump may have been ridiculous, but he gave bigoted people a space to also be ridiculous and hateful. Trump supporters are dedicated regardless of if what they are saying or supporting is based in reality, and it’s how he won the 2016 election. People around the country were faced with the harsh reality that the ridiculousness had won.

Donald Trump’s Ridiculous Run for Presidency (Sampson Bloh Apr. 28, 2011)

an era of global resistance

Jo Miller Staff Writer

In less than 15 years, the numbers of protests and uprisings around the world have more than tripled. Two of the largest movements ever recorded in human history have all occurred within the last ten years including 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests and India's 2020 Farmer protests.

Everywhere around the world there are people organizing collective action to resist the many ways in which governments fail us. Even with social media strengthening citizens' voices around the globe, there’s still many acts of ongoing collective resistance that news agencies fail to cover.

So here are four active demonstrations determined on returning power back to the citizens:

Iran’s Revolution: “Mahsa Amini Protests” began September of 2022

On Sept. 13, 2022, a 22 year old Kurdish woman, named Jîna ‘Mahsa’ Amini, was arrested, brutally tortured and killed by Iran’s morality police for not wearing her hijab in exact accordance to the government's strict standards in Tehran. This ignited protests in the Kurdish parts of Iran, then spread to the whole country.

Tens of thousands express decades long frustration with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s regime controlling hand. The Islamic Republic of Iran ousted the prior shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979 during Iran’s Islamic Revolution. This shifted the country’s culture and political structure, purging any non-Islamist governmental influence that wasn’t considered radical enough.

Since then, citizens have been met with pushback and violent government suppression, causing the death of at least 402 protestors so far, 58 being minors. They’ve beaten protestors in the street, killed online activists and journalists and turned off the country’s internet. This escalated into riot police shooting inside Tehran’s top university as well as killing young children who participated in any capacity.

Iranian sport stars and teams, actors and actresses and social media influencers have

been endangering their lives to openly stand against and bring attention to the situation.

Protests have taken millions of different forms of resistance, even the smallest acts have gotten one killed. Handing out chocolates. Student strikes. Refusing to wear a hijab. Marching. Chanting in the streets, Iranians shout, “Women, life, freedom.”

Sudan’s Revolution: “Millionman March” began June of 2020

On Oct. 21, 2020, nearly a million prodemocracy protesters gathered on the street to show their collective resistance and resilience as a message to the military.

On Oct. 25, 2020, the military portion of Sudan’s militia-civilian coalition seized full control and power from the country as it was going through a governmental transition period. They claimed it was to protect the integrity of the country in the time of vulnerable hardship; in attempts to avoid accountability for violence against protestors and advance their own personal gain, they have failed the Sudanese people.

Their economy is devastated and Sudanese people’s rights are under civil and political restrictions. Security forces have been accused of forcefully disappearing, torturing, killing and raping dozens of anticoup protesters while arrested hundreds more. Currently, more than twenty former officials are on trial for a military coup that occurred in 1989.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens from the general public are still protesting the slow transition of giving the power back to the civilians and demanding accountability for the violence against protestors. Citizens have been saying “The people are stronger and the revolution will continue.”

In this complexity, Sudan’s resistance organizations have been creating blueprints with the goal of establishing a feasible and civilian focused government foundation. Neighborhood groups have been coordinating countrywide marches and every year on the anniversary of the Million-man March and coup, refusing to back down.

“We know the security forces are trying to put us through all sorts of pain … to

make us wonder whether our cause is worth suffering for,” said Dania Atabani, “But we have reached the point of no return.”

In Myanmar:

“Coup Protests”

which began February of 2021

On Feb. 1, 2021, the Burmese military orchestrated a coup and ousted the democratically elected civilian government. Myanmar's military Commander-in-Chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, has been in charge and has been receiving international condemnation for creating a humanitarian crisis.

Since the start of the military rule, there’s rapidly produced a civil war, fragile economy and an extreme humanitarian crisis. General Hlaing has targeted ethnic minorities, shot ammunition at protestors, destroyed entire villages and killed more than 2,100 people.

In rejection of the military coup, opposition activists have been forming different groups to address different areas of the fight. Opposition activists have created a People Defence Forces to attack military convoys and assassinate officials, and Campaigns for Civil Disobedience where they organize mass protests and strikes.

Tens of thousands of citizens have been attempting to reject the military’s rule and return to their desired journey of democratic reform. However, humanitarian groups are preparing for a serious influx of Myanmar refugees. The severe crackdown of protestors has forced many residents to flee the country for safety, clearing out towns with tens of thousands.

In Lebanon: “October Movement” which began October of 2019

On Oct. 17, 2019, three years ago now, Lebanese citizens gathered in the streets demanding the downfall of the governing structures that’s been in place since 1990. Earlier on that October day, Lebanon’s financial cabinet implemented more taxes. It included taxes on tobacco, petrol, and a tax on Whatsapp voice calls, which charged users to use the free worldwide app.

Lebanon was experiencing an economic crisis, severe income inequality, high unemployment rates, a massive issue with political corruption and nepotism at the time.

So the Whatsapp tax felt symbolic for the long-term failure and weakness that the Lebanese government were letting go unacknowledged, while these governmental officials avoided any sense of accountability for their personal failure of the nation.

Lebanon’s largely peaceful protestors have been met with excessive force in many regions of the movement, killing hundreds and injuring thousands of individuals with arbitrary arrests, teargas, beatings, rubber bullets and live ammunition. It has been documented that security forces and militia has been kidnapping, torturing and forcing confessions from many protestors, journalists and activists.

Since the protests began, the Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned in 2019. However, things didn’t change and protests continued under his successor, Hassan Diab, whose government resigned in 2020. To this day, governmental authorities are trying to negate and ignore the severity of the movements and their failures by trying to place blame onto the protestors themselves for the state of the economy.

Over one million people have been continuously gathering together to make their demands heard for the end to the corruption, resignation of all political representatives and economic rights.

Citizens are still currently attempting to create feasible, structurally sound solutions to fix the socio-economic failures and financially aid the public that would allow citizens afford the costs of living.

Every moment, everywhere around the world, people are demanding for change. Moments of collective action are often the main focus of study for organizing together in attempts to highlight inequality and bring attention to ongoing injustices. We are currently living in a period which is currently laying the foundation for the 21st century to be considered an era of global resistance.

Post-Primaries: Where your Party Stands

Jaz Bryant Editor-In-Chief

On Nov. 8, North Carolina held their midterm elections. Earlier in the year, North Carolina had a court-ordered congressional district map drawn up to be used for the 2022 election. This, coupled with the increase of tech jobs in the state put pressure on North Carolina for the midterm elections. Additionally, this midterm election has been highly contentious on both sides. With 14 U.S. House of Representatives seats, one U.S. Senate seat, local judges and prosecutors, county sheriffs and commissioners, and many other state offices up for election, the results were highly anticipated.

In thirteen out of the fourteen districts in North Carolina, the incumbent parties held their positions. In the 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 14 Districts, Democrats held with Don Davis, Deborah K. Ross, Valerie Foushee, Kathy Manning, Alma Adamas and Jeff Jackson respectively. Democrats flipped in the thirteenth district with winner Wiley Nickel. In the third, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh districts, Republicans held with Gregory Murphy,

Virginia Foxx, David Rouzer, Dan Bishop, Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry and Chuck Edwards respectively.

Incumbent and Republican Tedd Bud won the race for North Carolina Senate against major opponent Cheri Beasley. Overall in the Senate, Democrats flipped control through the reelection of Arizona and Nevada incumbents Mark Kelly and Catherine Cortez Masto. Additionally, Democrats flipped Pennsylvania with John Fetterman. The Georgia Senate race has gone to runoff with the elections being held Dec. 6. In this race will be Democratic incumbent, Raphael Warnock, and Republican Herschel Walker.

Republicans have flipped the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time since 2018. Currently, the seats are divided with 220 for Republicans and 213 for Democrats. Democrats lost nine seats while Republicans gained eight. The most competitive House of Representatives races were in New York and California.

As for the North Carolina State Senate, the Republican party has a majority with 28 members whereas the Democratic party

has 22. In Districts 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 21, 24, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 50 Republican incumbents held onto their positions including Norman Sanderson, Jim Perry, Robert Hanig, Michael Lee, William Rabon and Brent Jackson to name few. In District 4, Republican candidate Eldon Sharpe Newton III beat Democratic incumbent Milton F. Fitch Jr. In Districts 14, 15, 17, 20, 22, 27, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 49 Democratic incumbents held onto their seats including Dan Blue, Jay Chaudhuri, Sydney Batch and Natalie Murdock. Democratic candidate Kandie Smith won in District 5.

In the North Carolina House of Representatives, the Republican party has also taken a majority. In District 1, 3, 4, 7, 12, 14-17, 19, 20, 22, 26, 28, 37, 43, 46, 51-53, 55, 59, 62, 64, 65, 67-69, 74-77, 7982, 84, 85, 87, 89, 90-98, 108-111, 113 and 118-120 Republican incumbents won the election. Republican candidates Bill Ward, Ken Fontenot, Allen Chesser II, Frank Sossamon and others beat Democratic incumbents in Districts 5, 24, 25, 32 and more. Democratic incumbents held in

Districts 2, 5, 11, 18, 23, 27, 29-31, 33-36, 38-42, 44, 45, 48, 49, 54, 56-58, 60, 61, 72, 88, 92, 99-102, 104-107,112, and 114-116.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, many offices were up for reelection due to delays caused by redistricting. For the Raleigh City Council At-Large, nonpartisan incumbents Stormie Forte and Jonathan Melton were reelected. For Raleigh City District A nonpartisan candidate Mary BlackBranch won. In District B, nonpartisan candidate Megan Patton won. Nonpartisan incumbent Corey Branch won the District C Raleigh City Council election. Nonpartisan candidate Jane Harrison won the District D Raleigh City Council elections with nearly 56% of the vote. Lastly, nonpartisan candidate Christina Jones beat out incumbent David Knight in District E.

Now that midterm elections are out of the way, politicians are gearing up for primary elections in 2024. Be sure to stay up to date with upcoming elections and candidates.

The legacy of Artist Alma Thomas

Nadia Hargett Staff Writer

Various Black artists have made their mark on the creative world throughout history; unfortunately a large number of them are overshadowed by their white counterparts. One of the most prominent victims of this is Alma Thomas, an African American abstract expressionist artist and teacher. Thomas, also known as Alma Woodsey Thomas, was born on Sep. 22, 1891, in Columbus, Georgia. She was the oldest of four daughters. Her mother was a dress designer, while her father was a businessman . Thomas displayed many creative talents as a young child. She made small pieces of artwork such as plates, puppets and sculptures, all primarily made from clay.

When she was 16 years old, Thomas and her family moved to Washington, D.C. due to the growing racial violence in Georgia. Due to Thomas and her family leaving their upper-middle-class lifestyle and home back in Columbus, their socioeconomic status was lowered. Despite this, Thomas and her siblings were able to receive a good

education through the Washington public school system. This was an opportunity that the Thomas siblings didn’t have in Georgia.

At the age of 30, Thomas enrolled at Howard University to get a higher education in fine arts. She was taught by other Black artists; some notable ones including James V. Herring and Loïs Mailou Jones, founders of Howard’s art department. Thomas graduated from Howard in 1924, and was the university’s first Fine Art’s department graduate. Soon after graduating, she began teaching art at Shaw Junior High School where she maintained a three-and-a-half-decade career. Thurlow Tibbs, a D.C.based African American art dealer, described this era of teaching as a “fermenting period,” since she absorbed a lot of artistic ideas and was influenced by those around her.

Throughout her teaching career, Thomas continued to involve herself with the artistic community, as well as the African American intellectual community. She would travel to New York City to view different art museums and galleries.

During the summers of 1930, through 1934, she attended the Teachers College of Columbia University, where she earned her Masters in Arts Education.

In 1936, she created an organization called the School Arts League Project, which specialized in allowing children to have more artistic opportunities. She even aided in founding the first successful Black-owned museum, Barnett-Aden Gallery, alongside James W. Herring and Alonzo J. Aden.

Once Thomas retired from teaching in 1960, she began her full-time professional art career. She often worked in a small living room in her home, and would occasionally create art pieces in her kitchen. Her work commonly emphasized the concept of color theory, and she used abstraction to depict real-life things that would inspire her, such as gardens and even the moon landing of 1969. She had a particular mosaic style of painting that she’d carry out, using dramatic colors to create energy and contrast in her artwork.

At the age of 81, was the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition

at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She also had an exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery. Thomas gained notoriety within the art community after these exhibitions, and New York City critics began praising her artwork, saying that they were “expert abstractions tachiste in style, faultless in their handling of color.” She became an iconic figure for both Black artists and female artists alike.

Alma’s prosperous life came to an end on February 24, 1978, at the ripe age of 86. She had remained in the family house that she and her family resided in when they’d first moved to Washington, D.C. in 1907. Her reputation has grown since her death and her art has been displayed in various notable art museums, galleries and solo exhibitions. One of her paintings was even included in the White House art collection during Obama’s presidency. Though she passed over 40 years ago, she continues to inspire the minds and touch the hearts of many people to this day.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

In early October, Kanye ‘Ye’ West debuted a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt at Paris Fashion Week. He responded to subsequent backlash by writing mockingly on Instagram, “my one t-shirt took allllll the attention.”

Since the release of The College Dropout, the mega-rapstarturned-billionaire has laid his heart on the track while putting his reputation on the line by triggering one controversy after the next. Typical Kanye, right? From interrupting Taylor Swift’s award speech to crying during his 2020 presidential campaign about almost aborting his daughter, fans and media outlets have often dismissed Kanye’s behavior in favor of his powerhouse discography. Furthermore, many have sympathized with the passing of his mother, Donda West, whom his most recent album is named after.

“The giant looks in the mirror and

sees nothing,” Donda tells her son in his biographical docuseries, jeen-yuhs. Although some have found Ye’s egomaniac traits less palatable, his mental health crises acts as a scapegoat for his problematic behavior. Fans often disentangle the creative giant’s work from its creator or romanticize it as a work of crazy genius. Even after Ye suggested that 400 years of slavery was a choice, who was really skipping N*ggas In Paris?

Are we, as consumers, justified in continuing to find this problematic behavior typical? After relishing in controversy, the superstar succumbed to cancel-culture after claiming he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people,” and lashing out at the family of George Floyd. The possible downfall of yet another Black creative has prompted fans and haters alike to question if the man can be separated from the music? Or the art from the artist?

In the 20th century, this debate emerged as a form of objective literary analysis, by treating art as if it stands alone from the artist. However, drawing this line discredits the self-expression behind art and the legacies of minority artists who

utilized visual art, music, and literature to protest discrimination. In the modern era, this theory has been contorted to justify consuming art as if it takes on a life of its own.

R. Kelly and Chris Brown’s lustful melodies are rendered unconvincing in light of their despicable actions against women; yet, in an act of cognitive dissonance, people continue to listen to their music. Regardless of whether Bump N’ Grind was about illegal relations with a minor, subjectivity allows people to derive their own meaning from Kelly’s mind telling him no, but his body, his body telling him yes. Even after video proof was released, and a parody of his court case premiered in an episode of the Boondocks, R. Kelly was still very much present on many cookout playlists until recently.

Listen, no one is saying Chris Brown can't bust a move, but he did abuse multiple women, including Rihanna. Pushing his album Indigo to #2 on Billboard charts contradicts the woke mentality of those who shame him in public, but listen to him in private.

Most controversial of all is the King of

Pop, Michael Jackson, who was acquitted for charges of child molestation despite undeniably having slumber parties with adolescent boys. Jackson made multimillion dollar settlements to the families of said children, and defended his concerning relationships with young boys.

There’s no denying his smooth voice and moonwalk captivated a generation, but one also cannot deny the pop star’s pedophilic track record which would be far less excusable in the case of an average person. We have put these artists on a platform by enjoying the art and ignoring the man, but can the spheres of personal life and bodies of work truly be separated?

While this concept can be applied more directly to music, complicit consumption in all regards is often more troubling than we would like to admit. For example, it has been well documented that the harvesting of cacao beans, used to produce your favorite chocolate bar, is possibly done by child slaves in Africa. There are a plethora of companies that have shady labor practices, particularly fast-fashion brands like Shein and Fashion Nova.

article continued online

Alianna KendallBrooks Correspondent

Suffering from (black) Success

The aspect of success when it comes to Black people is one that’s layered with many nuances and gray areas. When I think of Black success, I imagine the endless amount of T-Shirts in large letter font that say “Black Excellence”, and twopiece H&M suits talking about brunch. Am I saying that this is a bad thing? Absolutely not. I think these things are needed in moderation and taking context into heavy consideration. A lot of the time when Black excellence and the concept of Black success come into play, I can’t help but see a Black person in a suit and tie. This was something that I had in mind when it came to being Black and successful when I was younger.

Black social media accounts showcasing these Black kids who would have these ridiculous GPAs or would invent some new product. They would talk about the various struggles that these children would face and how they were setting the standard for other Black kids. However, why does no one talk about what should be done to remove these barriers?

Modlin Staff Writer

As the years have progressed my perception of Black success has changed based on my experiences and who I have interacted with. One of the many things that have become a forefront in my life is what success means to me. Being a firstgeneration college student, my entire life has been dedicated to being successful. At the time, being successful just meant getting out of my city, and becoming a Jay-Z-like figure. For me, this meant that I had to be perfect in every single facet of my life. If I felt that I was being stagnant or not doing “enough” when it came to extracurricular activities or just careerwise, I was regressing and was failing.

This type of mindset is not farfetched when it comes to Black people’s perception of success and what it takes to succeed. Historically, much of what is perceived as success and how to obtain it is deeply rooted in whiteness. Now, while it is perfectly fine and admirable to hear stories of Black people succeeding against adversity, most of these stories are rooted in harmful ideologies of sacrificing your own mental health and physical health for success. Many of us can relate to hearing these stories from elders and the trials that they went through. With those trials and triumphs comes a whole new set of trials that are imposed upon us.

With the whole concept of success being centered around whiteness, there are people who think that a suit

and tie can save them from racism. Just because people try to force themselves to fit standards of whiteness, doesn’t mean that they’re safe from racism. All it means is that they sacrificed a part of themselves for the dream of 40 acres and a mule. One that will constantly be promised but never

given. What’s the point of putting so much pressure on Black youth to adhere to an outdated and biased standard when there are so many obstacles in play that hinder them from that?

When I was younger I would always see these articles from these pro-

Black kids shouldn’t have to do all these things while facing adversity. Black kids should be allowed to be kids. The trope of Black exceptionalism does nothing but ignore and, in some cases, applaud the toxic mindset of having to go through adversity for someone’s accomplishments to have merit. After a certain point, when does it go from giving Black youth their flowers to not allowing their lives to have worth if they aren’t excelling in every facet of life? This is just as damaging as the systems that make these stories possible.

As the years have gone by I have constantly thought about what Black excellence means to me. What should be the standard for it? How would I quantify it? I have slowly come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a concrete standard for Black excellence. Having these ridiculous expectations for Black people would do us a disservice and spit in the face of the many Black youth who could not outrace the systems that pin them in place. No one will be able to tell their stories, who will sing their praises?

There are endless amounts of systems developed to keep Black people in the same positions, yet no one really cares or focuses on these systems when these stories of Black excellence are told. There needs to be more conversations as to why these systems are still in place and how we shall dismantle them. They should not be used as companion pieces to these stories of Black success.

Black excellence is whatever it means to you. You do not need to come up with the cure for cancer or make a rocket at the age of 5 to have validity. Just like there’s no set character that defines Black people, there should be no set guideline to how valid your life is. Black excellence to me is doing your best to live a solid life amidst the systems that want nothing more than to use and discard us. Black people do not owe anything to anyone but ourselves. All that we have to do is be Black and die.

Image from creative commons Black woman screaming

Austin

YEARS

OF UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF BLACK STUDENTS AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

NC State Student Government would like to congratulate the for

We are proud to support an essential campus resource that works to ensure all student voices are heard.

p a s t i s s u e c o v e r s

WASSAPENED WHILE

On Sept. 7, Jocelyn M. Elders became the first woman and Black person to be appointed as the U.S. surgeon general 1993

On Oct. 25, a protest march for health care, education and self-help known as the “Million Woman March” was organized in Pennsylvania 1997

woman billionaire 2001

Rita Dove became the first African American woman, and the youngest person, named Poet Laureate of the United States

1993

With her appointment as Brown University's president, Ruth Simmons became the first Black woman to lead an Ivy League institution 2001

Vonetta Flowers became the first African American, and the first Black athlete from any country, to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics

2002

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe Managing Editor

Even In celebration of the last 30 years, I have compiled a list of significant moments in Black history since 1992.

I specifically focused on moments that highlight the success of Black American women. Despite simultaneously experiencing a unique combination of both sexism and racism, Black women are often not credited for their strength to overcome challenges and succeed. I chose our 30th anniversary to give Black women the credit they deserve and rarely get. Never forget that Black women are pillars of society who have played a pivotal part in establishing our world today, in more ways than many can fathom.

Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, became the first Black

WE BEEN HAPPENING

Karen Bass became the first African American woman speaker of a state legislative body in the United States when she became speaker of the California State Assembly 2008

With Cheryl Boone Isaacs’s appointment as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, she became the first African American to hold the position

On Jan. 20, Kamala Harris became the first African American and first Asian American vice president, as well as the first woman vice president

Barbara Hillary, at age 79, became the first Black woman on record to reach both the North and South Poles 2011

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Ph.D. led the team of scientists that designed the Moderna vaccine for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The Office of the Chancellor is pleased to congratulate the Nubian Message on its 30th Anniversary. Thank you for three decades of uplifting the voices of the Wolfpack.

Black Podcast Culture: Fresh and Wrong

is then up to them whether they want to change their mindsets or not. Hopefully they do.

Correspondent

Black Podcast Culture. This is a fairly new culture created to give Black people a platform to celebrate other Black people. According to The Black Detour Team, there are over 800,000 podcasts and over 30 million episodes recorded. Although this is the case, Black voices carry only a small percentage.

Thousands of topics are covered throughout the podcasts. These topics include, but are not limited to, Black history, therapy, politics, race, entrepreneurship, mental health, music and social hot topics.

My favorite Black podcast is called Therapy for Black Girls. This podcast can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist, speaks on mental health and personal development on this podcast. She gives tips and strategies on how to improve your mental health.

Dr. Bradford has succeeded in making her podcast a safe place for her listeners to ask questions. In her episode published on Oct. 5, 2022., Dr. Bradford talks with Dr. Shanita Brown, a professional counselor, about the signs of domestic violence. They speak on how Black women have fallen victim to domestic violence and how important it is to understand the context of power and control that is used in relationships.

One of my friends favorite podcasts is 85 South Show. It is a digital comedy that includes some of the most famous comedians of today. These comedians include DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, Chico Bean and Clayton English. Young Fly, Miller, Bean and English invite celebrities of today and yesterday to discuss topics that are meant to make you laugh. But of course, they added a twist to it. Each episode is filled with Black excellence and formatted in a way that Black people will understand, because we grew up in this Black excellence. Black jokes, Black people and Black fun is what they are all about. However, not all Black podcasts build up Black people. Some podcasters are ignorant enough to trash Black people. One in particular has risen to the limelight in recent years, Fresh And Fit. Fresh And

Fit speaks on topics of women, fitness and finance.

The following are some quotes Fresh and Fit have said:

“...if you want to date…Shaniquas, go for it man.” “Me and Fresh aren’t really down with the brown like that.” “Me and Fresh don’t dabble in the dark.” “Most Black girls are annoying [and] ratchet…you are not the stereotype.” These quotes can be found in No Jumper, another podcast led by Black men. No Jumper critiqued what Fresh And Fit said. In their opinion, Fresh and Fit are putting down Black women and putting all of them into one stereotypical group.

Now it's my turn. As a Black woman, this sh*t just pisses me off. These quotes are disrespectful and stereotype Black women. The fact that the hosts of Fresh and Fit told another woman that she doesn’t “fit the stereotype,” demonstrates they know what they said is wrong and hurtful, and yet they still said it with ease.

The woman that Fresh and Fit said does not “fit the stereotype” didn’t say anything in rebuttal about their bigotted words. She did not feel comfortable enough in the space to defend herself against two men with a large platform. Black Women should not have to experience scrutiny in spaces with other Black people, we should be uplifting one another.

Let’s start with “Shaniqua.” Fresh and Fit used a commonly stigmatized Black woman name to stereotype Black women. We live in a society that has taught us that it is okay to talk negatively about Black

women. This action is not acceptable and as Black men, Fresh and Fit should not feel comfortable talking negatively about the women in their community.

Many of us have heard the phrase “It is not what you say, it is how you say it.” Let us move on to “not down with the brown,'' and “don’t dabble in the dark”. Fresh And Fit thought they were being funny. The context that they used these phrases in, despite trying to be funny, caused these statements to be very offensive.

There is usually nothing wrong with having a preference. Preferences get controversial when they start to disrespect the person that is not preferred. Someone can say that they do not prefer a certain type of person without disrespecting them. This is a major problem that we face today. Many people think that it is acceptable to disrespect other demographics

Fresh and Fit said that all Black women are annoying and ratchet. According to Beal Frances, in her article Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female, this is a concept that the government has perpetuated to systematically oppress Black women. Many Black men have fallen subject to this perpetuation and the men in this podcast are a few of them.

This means that they are calling their mothers, sisters, aunties, grandmothers and daughters all “ratchet and annoying”. The situation is bigger than them and they do not see it. The best way to change their mindsets is for them to be educated on the injustices done against their people. It

We live in a society where more and more Black people are becoming financially successful. We have Black doctors, Black business owners, Black entrepreneurs, Black actresses, Black singers, Black musicians, Black senators and a Black president. We even have a Black vice president. And guess what? She is a woman. Black women are in all of these professions. All who have had to overcome stigmas and forms of oppression.Who have all gotten there with access to education, networking and being in the right place at the right time.

In my opinion, Black women are at the bottom of the totem pole. Why? Because we are women AND we are Black. We are supposed to be able to go to our Black brothers for support, yet some of them put us down.

You can blame some of Fresh and Fit’s statements on them, but not all of it is their fault. Our society is designed to make life harder for the Black man and woman. Systematic oppression is real and Fresh and Fit seem to not have educated themselves on this matter.

Majority of the Black podcasts out there are for Black people. They are there to educate us on matters that we might not know about. They are there to give us a platform where it is safe to celebrate Black excellence and Black culture. They are there to give us a place to listen to other people who know what we are going through.

There are not just Black podcasts educating Black people, there are also podcasts that educate white people about Black people. This may sound funny and weird to some, but I think it is a good thing.

Educating white people about Black people will allow white people to put their feet in a Black person’s shoes. Once white people are educated about Black culture, they might start to appreciate it more. This sounds like a long stretch, but we can remain hopeful.

The Black Podcast Culture is ever-growing. More and more Black people are wanting their voice to be heard and creating a podcast is a great platform to succeed in this. What is your favorite podcast?

Image from creative commons Microphone in front of podcast definiton

Eleanor Saunders

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: A Mastery Of Musicality

When I was younger, I remember taking car rides with my father around Greensboro. He always played great music by exceptional musicians, ranging from Lil Wayne to Adele. However, during one of these car rides, I heard a song that made my ears perk up. This song was “To Zion” by Lauryn Hill. This song was on her first and only solo album, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.’ It had a warmth to it that I couldn’t explain.

Since I was quite young at the time, it didn’t take me very long to forget who made the song, let alone what album it came from. Once I got older and reconnected with my dad, those car rides happened again and that song played again. After that, I made sure I remembered. I went to listen to the entire album on my own. I was obsessed with Lauryn Hill’s voice and the beautiful, homey melodies that were in each one of her songs. ‘Till this day, I revisit her album. The striking nature of this album is why ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ deserves its flowers.

‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ is a classic within the neo-soul and R&B community for a reason. It's a nearly faultless piece of art that does an amazing job of emphasizing the vocal talent and lyricism that Lauryn Hill possesses. Even though it came out over two decades ago, it has a quality about it that makes it timeless. The album’s lyrics touch upon her pregnancy and some of the issues she had with her former music group, The Fugees. They’re also laced with themes surrounding God, romance and heartbreak. The melodies and her styles of singing and rapping incorporate the music styles of gospel, reggae and hip-hop soul which help create a unique sound that is distinct to her.

I love every single song on the album, but there are a few that definitely stick out to me. The title track “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is my favorite. It’s an absolutely gorgeous song that highlights the vocal capabilities of Ms. Hill. It’s about her taking a step back to look at her life as a whole, questioning how her reality became

God allows her to understand that life is about more than shallow things.

In a quote from Ms. Hill herself, she says “The song is called, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’ and it has a lot to do with how I figured out some things from my life. It doesn’t necessarily mean miseducation like I didn’t do well in school– as I did do good in school– but it has a lot to do with finding out about your own aspirations and your own dreams, and not those dreams and those aspirations that some might have for you. It’s a song about movement and growth and inspiration.” With this kind of meaning behind it, it’s bound to touch the deepest roots of your soul.

Another personal favorite of mine is ‘Lost Ones’ which displays her rapping ability. It’s a diss widely believed to be directed at her former Fugees bandmate, and romantic interest, Wyclef Jean. While not calling him by name, she completely puts him on blast and emphasizes his loss of both a business and romantic partner. With lyrical warfare and a subtle sample from the dancehall classic “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy, it’s hard for this song not to

every track that follows.

Looking at the album as a whole, it’s impressive to see Ms. Hill addressing the turmoil she had with Wyclef Jean, her pregnancy and her close relationship with God altogether. It seamlessly flows together to create a masterpiece that radiates love and creativity. Her blended styles of hiphop, neo-soul, reggaeton, Motown and rhythm & blues make the entire album a diverse, introspective experience that communicates messages about heartbreak and growth. Despite this being Ms. Hill’s only solo studio album, it boosted her up as a female musician who could pave the way for artists on a similar path.

‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ is arguably one of the most influential neosoul albums of all time, and at the time of its release, it was considered definitive in bringing the neo-soul genre to light. It has rightfully been the subject of artistic praise and received numerous accolades, most notably five Grammys, which made her the first woman to receive five Grammys in one night.

community and is well-respected due to it specifically making the subject matter from the perspective of a Black individual, specifically of a Black woman. As a Black woman myself, listening to the album when I got older helped me appreciate and love my Blackness even more; as it has for various other Black women. It gives a sort of humanity to a Black woman’s narrative which is not often seen within genres of art.

The album is a sacred listening experience encased with a sense of Black womanhood and feminism, whilst also touching on the profound personal experiences that Ms. Hill had dealt with up until the album’s release. At only 23 years old, Ms. Hill released a mastery of musicality and lyricism that has motivated so many people, including me. Normani, Rapsody, Lizzo, Ella Mai, Teyana Taylor and other musicians have cited ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ as a source of inspiration for their artistry; and despite it being released over 20 years ago, I’m sure it will continue to inspire more people.

Nadia hargett

Correspondent

image from creative commons Lauryn Hill performing on stage

Fashion Through the Years: 1992-2022

include baby tees, low rise jeans, rhinestone everything, fur coats, color vinyl and much more.

oliphant Correspondent

Fashion was and still is a key component of African American culture. It gave way to self-expression within the Black community, creating iconic fashion trends and moments that we come to love today. Let’s take a moment to be reminded of the OG’s clothing staples from the ‘90s, the founding decade of Nubian Message.

Hats are more than just an accessory. They add a sense of pizazz to a fit. They make a bad hair day look intentional. According to 90s Fashion World, in the ‘90s, staple hat pieces included baseball hats and bucket caps— Kangol bucket hats to be specific. Leather and cotton “newsboys” were worn by icons including Janet Jackson and 50 Cent. Kofi’s were a huge staple as well. While in today’s time it would be considered culturally insensitive, it was a huge piece within the 90s.

Hats were essential in the early 2000s. A fit wasn’t complete if it didn't come with some kind of trucker hat or bedazzled baseball cap. Brands like Von Dutch, Ed Hardy and even New York’s interlocking “N” and “Y” were made famous for their use of their logo on trucker hats. You may remember the it-girl herself, Paris Hilton, rocking a Von Dutch in paparazzi photos and on her show The Simple Life. Graphic baseball caps with different decals and emblems on them were made by brands like Affliction, and were often worn by Black individuals in the grunge scene. A person’s individual style can be represented by the kind of hats they wear. Whether someone is rocking their favorite sports team or a cap with initials of a state they have never stepped in, fitteds are the way to go. Baseball caps are still in style, and I fear they will never go out of style. In the early 2010s, Pharell, Ne-Yo and many other Black celebrities wore fedoras; they dressed them up with suits and runway outfits, and them down with casual clothes. Balaclavas or ski-masks were often worn by Black men in different music videos, in a way they were reclaiming the head garment as a fashion piece, rather than a way of hiding their identity when doing unethical activities. Also, they are often rolled up to become a beanie.

Balaclavas have made their way into high fashion, with brands such as Stussy and Heaven by Marc Jacobs innovating their own spin on the piece. Ushankas are now worn by people within the African diaspora after alternative-hip-hop icon, Tyler, the Creator, wore it during the time period of his latest album, “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST”. Hats have evolved so much throughout the years, and have made their way from mainstream fashion to high fashion.

The 90s found a way to make clothing two sizes too big work. Baggy clothes were staples within hip-hop culture, shown not only in music videos but on the runway. Baggy clothes made way for stars like Biggie, Tupac Shakur and Ice Cube to have a spot within the fashion industry. It gave way for Black men to take part in fashion, and provided an avenue for men to express themselves in ways that the world didn’t allow them to— within societal limitations of course.

Another common outfit trend shown throughout the ‘90s is what I like to call

“little shirt, big pants.” Aaliyah is a great example of this combo. In her “One in a Million” music video, in one scene, she wore a rhinestone black bikini top and baggy faux leather cargo pants. This combo was made popular by many female ‘90s artists like Lil Kim, Destiny’s Child and many more.

According to Complex, other different fashion trends throughout the ‘90s included overalls, mainly with one or both straps off, JNCO jeans, “Manpri’s”, neon windbreakers, striped sweaters, distressed denim and much more.

When I think of the early 2000s fashion, the first moment that comes to mind is when Cam’ron wore the iconic baby pink furry outfit at New York Fashion Week. Cam’ron’s pink outfit was extremely monumental when it came to men stepping out of the box in terms of fashion.

Contrary to the ‘90s, in the 2000s everything was tight. Tight, small shirts. Tight mini skirts that “should be the size of belts” as said by the it-girl herself, Paris Hilton. Major trends around this time

In the present time, all the trends from the decades that were loved are coming back. The present is an age of recurrence; fashion trends from the ‘90s and 2000s are making a huge comeback in high fashion. Designer houses like Marc Jacob and Balenciaga are making pieces that seem almost like an ode to these decades.

Fashion trends, as of right now, include contrast stitch jeans, baby tees, graphic tees, corduroy pants, puffer jackets, oversized sweatshirts and open-knit sweaters.

The shoe game in the ‘90s was like nothing I have ever seen. If I could take one piece of fashion culture from the ‘90s it would have to be sneaker/shoe culture. Popular shoes often seen throughout the ‘90s were chunky sneakers from brands like Buffalo London, Doc Martin combat boots, Nike Air Max’s, platform sandals, heeled mary janes, Jordans and Reebok classic sneakers.

Y2K, or 2000s fashion , continued many trends when it came to shoes. Women wore kitten heels, chunky loafers, ballet flats, platform shoes, heeled sandals and platform sandals. Y2K icons who I think had the best shoe game include Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj and Nelly.

Even today, shoes are everything to a fit. Most people within the Black community would say that they center their entire outfit around their shoes. Jordan’s have been a huge staple within the community, and will continue to be a huge staple. They show ultimate drip and come in every possible color; there isn’t an outfit that a pair of Retro Jordans won’t match with. Some of my favorite shoe trends of this recent decade include platforms, chunky combat boots, loafers and moon boots.

Clothes have been and will continue to be a huge part of Black Culture. It represents signs of wealth and allows people to express themselves in ways that the world hates to see us do. Most trends and iconic accessories have been coined by Black and Brown cultures. Clothes are more than just garments used to cover up; they are pieces of art used to bring people together.

graphic by abby harris Collage of fashion pieces

micah

Prevention Services Happy 30 years, Nubian Message!

HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED

Jeanine Ikekhua Staff Writer

Shanquella Robison

On Oct. 29, a 25-year-old hair braider and Winston Salem State University graduate, Shanquella Robinson, was found dead in her room while on vacation with her six friends in San Jose del Cabo. Initially, Robison's friends told Robinson's mother, Salamondra Robinson, that she had died from alcohol poisoning. Salamondra Robinson informed WJZY "They said she wasn't feeling well. They couldn't get a pulse. All of the people there with her told different stories." Earlier this week, a video surfaced of one of Shanquelle Robinson's friends physically assaulting her moments before her death. Shanquella Robinson's death certificate showed that she died from a spinal cord injury and atlas luxation, a form of severe neck injury. ABC reported that a medical professional advised Shanquella Robinson's friends to take Shanquella to the hospital, but they declined to do so. A warrant has been issued for Shanquelle Robinson's attackers and an FBI investigation is underway.

Nancy Pelosi Stepping Down

On Nov. 17th, Nancy Pelosi decided to step down as leader of the House Democrats, after more than 19 years in the role. After the 2022 Midterm Elections, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives with only a slim majority Representative Pelosi will remain as the representative of California’s 12th District. Nancy Pelosi announced her departure in a packed House, where she highlighted the legislative achievements she helped guide through Congress, from healthcare to energy and infrastructure. Many political experts were not surprised by her stepping down, since her husband was brutally attacked last month. The Democratic party has been calling for a generation of new leadership. Currently, the three top House Democrats are over 80, and two do not plan on keeping their position. In a statement, Joe Biden thanked Nancy Pelosi for her service and said the country owes her a debt of gratitude.

Raleigh Christmas Parade

On Nov. 19th, a 20-year-old driver allegedly lost control of a truck that hit and killed an 11-year-old girl during a Christmas Parade in Raleigh, NC. The truck was pulling a float that was in the parade behind the CC & Co. Dance Complex. According to police, the driver, Landen Christopher Glass, had numerous traffic violations on Oct. 30, including failing to have his vehicle inspected. It is unclear if the vehicle received the correct inspection before participating in the event. Witnesses told WRAL investigators that Glass was yelling to warn the group of dancers that something was wrong. Eventually, the driver hit and killed dancer Hailey Brooks. Glass is currently facing five charges, including misdemeanor death by a vehicle. Glass’s court date is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2023.

NightClub Shooting

On. Nov. 20th, a gunman opened fire at an LGBTQ+ club event in Colorado Springs, killing five people and injuring 25 others. Earlier on Saturday, Club Q posted that its Saturday lineup would be followed by a dance party and later on Sunday, they planned on holding a drag show for Transgender Day of Remembrance. Witness, Joshua Thurman, said he heard gunshots but thought they were a part of the music. Once Thurman heard more gunshots and saw the flash of a muzzle, he hid in the bathroom with friends. While Thurman was in the bathroom, he heard the shooter being beaten up. The shooter was confronted by two people who prevented him from killing more people. Once the police arrived, they found people holding the shooter down. The police detained the alleged gunman. Club Q released a statement describing the killings as a “hate crime.” This shooting was during Transgender Awareness Week, and just at the start of Sunday’s International Transgender Day of Remembrance.

big rail unions Split

On Nov. 21st, two of the largest railway unions split over a contract leaders of the union created with freight rail companies. The labor peace agreement ends in December and this split could lead to a possible strike. The SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) is the largest railway union under the agreement with 37,000 members and they rejected the deal. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Trainment, which represents 24,000 freight train engineers, approved the deal. These results does not directly mean there will be a strike, but the strike does put pressure on union leaders to rectify the situation before the end of December. SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson said in a Monday statement that he believes the dispute can be settled without a strike. If an agreement is not reached Congress will need to preventa disatrous hit to our economy with the potential to leave us at a loss of $2 billion a day

Chesapeake killing

On Nov. 22, a former Walmart manager entered a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia, with at least 50 people inside and began shooting. This incident occured less than an hour before the Walmart closed. The gunman went into the Walmart’s breakroom and started spraying bullets. Victims of the attack said the gunman looked like he was targeting people because he was looking at people’s faces. The gunman shot at least six people. The victims have been identified as Lorenzo Gamble, Kellie Pyle, Brian Pendelton, Tyneka Johnson and Randy Blevins. The shooter was identified as a 31-year-old man with a handgun. The 31-year-old man was an overnight team leader employed at Walmart since 2010. The FBI’s Norfolk division said the agency is assisting the Chesapeake Police Department in the investigation.

NUBIAN'S SUGGESTIONS TESTING SCHEDULE

Crazy Rich Asian (2018)

Kendall-Brooks/ Correspondent

Based on the popular novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians is a satirical romantic comedy that features and embraces the Asian diaspora. The movie depicts the journey of Rachel Chu, an Asian American NYU professor, as she travels with her boyfriend, Nick, to attend his best friend's wedding in Singapore. As she ventures from their modest life in America, Rachel soon comes to learn that her boyfriend’s family is incredibly wealthy and he is one of the most desired men in Asia. In Rachel’s struggle to acclimate throughout the film, Kwan critiques and highlights the dimensions of love and classism. Crazy Rich Asians is a heartwarming movie far from the typical cheesy and less-inclusive rom-coms.

Malcolm and Marie (2021)

Saunders / Correspondent

In the film directed by Sam Levinson, Malcolm Elliot, a writer-director, returns home with his girlfriend, Marie Jones, from a riveting movie preview. Hurtful words are recklessly thrown back and forth. A continuous pattern of arguing takes place. The movie Malcolm and Marie is a riveting display of emotions. It shows a successful Black couple using intellectual dialogue to delineate their thoughts. Be prepared to be taken through a day in Malcolm and Marie’s life, inflamed by two very different personalities clashing left to right.

Entergalactic (2022)

Nadia Hargett / Staff Writer

Entergalatic is an animated adult romcom created by Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Netflix, and released on Sept. 30, 2022. Surrounding it is the blossoming love between the main protagonist, Jabari, and his new next-door neighbor, Meadow. Throughout the story, Jabari attempts to make space in his life for this new relationship while striving for success in his career. With amazing comic-book-esque animation, a diverse cast of characters and fantastic soundtrack from Kid Cudi, this is a television special you’ll want to tune into.

Fake till You Bake it by Jamie Wesley (2022)

Jaz Bryant / Editor-In-Chief

In this novel, Jamie Wesley combines some of my favorite tropes—fake relationship, familial duty, powers outside of their control—to create this steamy, slice-of-life romance. Jada Townsend-Matthews is persona non grata after turning down America’s #1 heartthrob on a reality tv show.

Donovan Dell is a professional football player and owner of a small bakery called Cupcake Blitz. After a chance encounter in the bakery, the two swear they cannot stand each other. However, they are forced to work together after the owner of Donovan’s football team asks for a favor he cannot refuse. Closed spaces, lingering glances and begging exes come together to create this action-packed page-turner.

Eleanor

Alianna

Original Film Poster

Congratulations to the Nubian Message on 30 years of outstanding service to the NC State campus community.

Congratulations to the Nubian Message for 30 years of being the sentinel of the African-American Community at NC State.

A Justification, Since You Asked

Kendall-Brooks Correspondent

They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Rewind to Sept. 25, 1992, and you would find both at NC State’s Brickyard as some 200 students burned copies of the Technician in a rally for an alternative Black newspaper.

The protest came two days after inflammatory opinion pieces containing racial slurs—one of which suggested an impending race war—were written and published by white writers at Technician. While criticizing the demands for an African American Cultural Center at UNC Chapel Hill, their blatant ignorance and racism bled through the pages of NC State’s predominately white newspaper responsible for reflecting the views of the collective student body.

According to a Technician article responding to the alleged bias, one protest leader, Greg Washington, wittily pointed out, “How are we going to have a race war when the army is black?” Washington continued, “We need a black paper on this campus that will give coverage to give a black perspective…This is not separationist. This paper will give us a voice.”

Thus the Nubian Message was born with the release of its inaugural issue on Nov. 30, 1992.

“To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters, WHAT'S UP?” wrote the first Editor-inChief, Tony Williamson, in a message that cemented the goal of Nubian “to represent the African-American community at NCSU totally, truthfully, and faithfully.”

Henceforth, over the course of thirty years, the Nubian Message has blazed a trail for Black representation at NCSU uncensored by those simply unable to relate.

In the year of its 30th anniversary, Nubian’s impact has proven to be everlasting and expansive, offering a diverse range of content with inclusive coverage for all minority groups. Even in 2022 you’ll feel a bit of nostalgia as you open up to a Letter from the Editor by our current Editor-in-Chief, Jaz Bryant, and come to know exactly Wasappened this week with Managing Editor, Ugonna

Ezuma-Igwe .

Nubian continues to keep it real with NCSU from current news to hot takes and everything in between so whether you like it or not, you’ll know what’s up. No matter the subject, this publication has been a platform for marginalized students to express themselves authentically and truthfully, and continues to amplify voices that may otherwise go unheard.

While great progress has been made, the issues that sparked our birth a mere 30 years ago continue to run rampant in society and on campus; such as the lack of Black faculty members at NC State. According to the previously cited Technician article, Washington and other protestors also shared discontent with representation in faculty 30 years ago, “They lied to us five years ago about hiring more Black faculty and professors,” said Washington.

NCSU is a predominately white institution, meaning a majority of its faculty are also white. However, I was not prepared to walk into classes such as African-American Cinema and find a white professor explaining “antiquated language” to my majority white class.

According to an article by INDY, “Black faculty are most present in the lowest levels of academia [about 1 percent of assistant

professors at NC State are Black] and least present at the highest levels [only 0.4 percent are full professors].”

Black and minority educators have been resigning from NCSU at alarming levels, with at least ten Black professors leaving just this year. Representation for minority faculty, who often do not receive tenure at the same rate as their white counterparts, is unsurprisingly on the decline at State. Making it clear that the issues of the past have persisted into the present.

The lack of minority faculty means it is important to celebrate those that not only teach, but often carry the incredible burden of representing minority students.

Let's go back in time once more to Augustus M. Witherspoon, the second Black student to earn his Ph.D. at NCSU and then returned to become the first Black professor in NCSU’s history in 1971. While producing groundbreaking research in his field, Dr. Witherspoon also helped found the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first Black Greek Letter Organization on NC State's campus. He spearheaded efforts to break down racial barriers and went far beyond his teaching duties.

In 1994, the Student Center was renamed in his honor and the “Witherspoon” building is now a beacon of community

for Black and POC students. Home to the Nubian Message and the African American Cultural Center, first-years (not me of course) can get embarrassed by upperclassmen in a game of Spades at the AACC, then vent about it in an article for Nubian.

Some may wonder if Nubian is still a necessary publication, and to those readers I pose this question: is it not only natural to seek representation for the communities you align with? Whether it be religion, gender, sexuality, or even robotics club, we all have facets of our identity we wish to see represented not only on campus but in society as a whole. When our sense of belonging is stifled especially by discrimination, change is not only necessary but inevitable.

NC State has made admirable progress in diversifying the university, such as the recent freshman class of 2026 being the largest and most diverse in history. According to University Communications, “about 30% of incoming first-year students are people of color, more than half are women and almost 19% are first-generation students.” However, every year the graphics for incoming freshman classes read the same in touting and possibly overrepresenting the true amount of BIPOC students at State. “The number of students of color in the new[2026]cohort represents a 21% increase over last year,” but how is this possible if last year BIPOC students were said to represent over a quarter of the 2025 incoming freshman class.

The university has a clear interest in pushing diversity rates, but it is true that PWIs across the country are becoming more representative for BlPOC students than ever before. While deserving of some praise, this trend should continue to be the standard for incoming students and professors whose diversity statistics are much harder to find.

Thirty years ago and long before, revolutionaries had to demand the change we see today. The Nubian Message quite literally emerged from the flames of oppression as 200 students stood their ground on the Brickyard and fought for equal representation at State. Their efforts were not in vain and never will be as Nubian continues to represent Black and minority students totally, truthfully, and faithfully.

Image from Nubian Archives Nubian Message first issue cover

Alianna

THE nubian messagE STAFF & crew

LAYOUT DESIGNERS Milan Hall and Abby Harris

COPY EDITORS

Austin Modlin, Jo Miller, Jeanine Ikekhua and Milan Hall

MANAGING EDITOR & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe and Jaz Bryant

WRITERS

Milan Hall, Austin Modlin, Micah Oliphant, Eleanor Saunders Jeanine Ikekhua, Alianna Kendall-Brooks and Jo Miller

NOT PICTURED: Nadia Hargett & Jacori Crudup

LEADERSHIP STAFF

Ethan Robinson, Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe, Jaz Bryant and Milan Hall

Photos by Ethan rimolt / Staff Photographer

Congratulations on 30 years, Nubian Message!

At the NC State Counseling Center, we commit to the values of Community, Cultural Humility, Accountability, Compassion and Quality of Care with a lens of social justice, anti-racism, and anti-oppression.

We strive to live these values as an investment in our individual and collective well-being so that we may better serve the mission of the Counseling Center.

Learn more: counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu

Thank you for 30 years of amplifying the voice of the Black community at NC State.

do we want to see Nubian in the future?”

-the CURRENT nubian

message staff & crew

"

I want Nubian to be a place where underrepresented people on campus can see their stories being told by people who care about them. I like that there are stories that focus on fashion, politics and pop culture. I hope that diversity in writing continues to develop as the paper grows. I want Nubian to expand to producing larger issues on a regular basis. Most of all, I want Nubian to be a place where there is no topic too taboo to write about."

– Jaz bryant, Editor-in-chief

“In the future, I want to see that Nubian's impact has grown beyond the NC State community and that our work has poured into the lives of others beyond. I want Nubian to have the respect and standing it deserves, allowing it to be a significant stepping stone in the lives of future staff members. My prayer for Nubian is for it to continue being a home for those who long to be heard, pray for a voice and search for a community of their own.”

– Ugonna ezuma-igwe, Managing Editor

"I want Nubian to be in the hands of every person of color at NC State’s campus. I often hear people talking about Nubian and its impact but I don’t hear enough about people reading Nubian. I hope that more people read Nubian in the future and value the stories within each article. Lastly, I want Nubian’s staff to grow beyond just writers and designers. I want Nubian to be the go-to space for Black creatives that want to expand into media platforms such as podcasting and video production"

– Jeanine Ikekhua, copy editor

“ In the future, I hope Nubian will be widely known and acknowledged as a well respected publication here at State. I hope that it becomes something that future freshmen hear about, from its legacy of uplifting persons of color voices in journalism to professional media. I’d like for people to regularly grab our paper to read what we have to say; I’d like for Nubian to be a known space for genuine and impactful engagement and conversation/feedback to grow in an individual and professional capacity.”

– jo miller, copy editor

“In the future, I want Nubian Message to be known, not just by people of color, but by every single person on campus. I want Nubian Message to inspire everyone to be their best selves. I want Nubian Message to be a voice for everyone who feels their voice is not being heard. I want Nubian Message to be the voice for those who have unfair disadvantages due to the society that we live in. I want Nubian Message to not only be known by the staff and students on NC State’s campus, but the rest of the world too. I want Nubian Message to have a platform similar to and better than The New York Times and The Guardian.” – eleanor Saunders , writer correspondent

“I hope that Nubian will become an outlet for the creative minds of Black and brown students on campus, and for their ideas to be seen and heard by their fellow classmates. As a creative person myself, I always try to find new ways to express myself and I hope future Nubian members will do the same; whether that be taking on tasks outside of their comfort zone or learning new skills throughout the year. I want Nubian to be a place that plants seeds of creativity and provides the environment for them to grow.”

– abby harris, layout designer

“ In the future, I hope to see Nubian Message as a space where marginalized groups can come to express their thoughts. I want more NCSU students to be a part of this organization. I heard about Nubian from the student media stand at the student involvement fair during orientation. I felt happiness and comfort knowing that there is a space within NCSU that was created by people who look like me for people who look like me. In the future, or even now, I want everyone to feel that sense of comfort Nubian gives me."

–

micah oliphant, writer Correspondent

"In the future, I want Nubian Message to grow more as a space where the untold stories of disenfranchised people are told in every news publication. "

–

Austin modlin, Staff writer

“In the future, I hope Nubian will be seen as more than just a Black publication that is easily dismissed by the majority of the student body. Although Nubian is tailored towards marginalized groups, and rightfully so, there is an endless and varying amount of knowledge to be gained. We are not a box to be checked for meeting NC State’s diversity quota. Nubian is a body of work curated by dedicated staff members who have sought–and will continue to seek–equitable representation. We are not limited to our past and our future potential awaits.”

– alianna kendall-brooks , writer Correspondent

“I would like to see Nubian flourish into a publication that reaches people outside of NC State’s campus. Not only that, but I’d like for Nubian to be taken more seriously by the other student media outlets here on campus rather than being dismissed and pushed to the wayside. Finally, I’d like to see Nubian’s staff continue to evolve and change throughout the years, and I’m hoping for Nubian’s longevity.”

– Nadia hargett, staff writer

“ I want Nubian to grow and be more respected on campus. I want people to understand the importance of Nubian on NC State’s campus and why showcasing underrepresented voices is beneficial to everyone. I don’t just want people to see us as a gimmick or as a niche paper but for what we are, a paper that benefits everyone. Nubian acted as an anchor for me during my time at NC State and I hope that we can provide that to others.”

– milan hall, Layout designer

“Where

30 YEARS

THANK YOU

to the Nubian Message for being a strong, consistent advocate for Black voices at NC State.