INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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FEATURES RU Student Profile: Avatara Smith-Carrington - p6 Kiyanna Stewart Constructing Her.stories: Recognition & Reappraisal - p8 Nakeya Brown
SEMETER in Review Latin Images Looks to Unite Diasporas - p12 Anthony Pizzo #BlackLivesMatterRU and The GOYA Project - p12 Host “The Black Experience at Rutgers” Kesia Somerville The Long Shadow of Watts: Policing, Violence & the - p13 Persistence of Black Inequality in the United States Paige Botjer
EDITORIALS Black Women and the - p26 Superwoman Syndrome Nana Afrifah National Denial/Community Paranoia? - p26 Jasanna Sevier Opinion: A Moment of Self - p27 Examination is Needed Tobi Raji Do Black Lives Matter To You? - p28 Eman Osagie
POETRY Untitled - p19 Laurette Telemaque Untitled - p20 Laurette Telemaque
Verbal Mayhem Pays Homage To History - p14 Anthony Pizzo
Paul. - p21 Alyea Pierce
Africana Studies & PRCC Celebrate Robeson’s Birthday - p14 Seree Joseph RU Wanawake Hosts 2nd Black Dynasty Banquet - p16 Jasmine Eaton
Letter To A Black Man - p22 Alyea Pierce Untitled - p23 Nakeya Brown
Spotlight On: Rutgers Future Scholars Program - p17 Samaiya Sanders Cover Photograph by Joel Plummer, Professor of Africana Studies Free E-Book available at WWW.BLACKLIVESMATTERBOOK.COM
Untitled - p24 Nakeya Brown
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Dear Beloved Reader, Thank you for reading! BVCL has been through a lot of changes in the past year. We changed Executive Boards. We put out three magazines last semester. Then, I left to study abroad in Australia this semester and we launched our web/online platform at (BlackVoiceCartaLatina.com). The amazing Kiyanna Stewart, Assistant Director of the Paul Robeson Center agreed to preserve BVCL’s legacy in my time away. Finally, the Black Lives Matter Spring 2015 issue has arrived! It was a total labor of love and I hope you like it! The one thing that has really stood out to me since I’ve been in Australia is the overall disposability of black lives. I’m not just talking about being black in America because we all know that struggle. I am talking being black, internationally. I’m talking about the Indigenous population in Australia - the black sheep of the country. They’re called the nword and have tragically low health statistics. I’m talking about Brazilian Black. They are hunted by the police (who wear body cameras, but what does it matter?), shot down, and make up the majority of the nation’s prisons. I’m talking about African Black. It seems like no matter where they go, in their own continent or overseas, they are not welcome. I am talking about Black and all shades of dark skin. Generations stolen, histories abandoned, lies infused. While America and the rest of the world has their similarly-themed demonstrations, riots, protests, and dubious debates, I just wonder: Why don’t we help each other? So, keep your activism going. I don’t care if it’s starting a Facebook debate, posting #BlackLivesMatter, protesting on campus or writing a letter to Obama. When you do, keep your brothers and sisters next door and around the world in mind, because I am tired of the world being silent as we die. Stay thinking. Stay loud. Stay blessed. Ijeoma Unachukwu, Editor-in-Chief To the Rutgers University community of students, staff/faculty and alumni, It’s a wonderful feeling seeing this issue of Black Voice/Carta Latina come together, particularly at this moment – in the thick of the #BLACKLIVESMATTER movement and as protests, demonstrations and community organizing permeates our nation. As the newly-hired Assistant Director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center here at Rutgers University, I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to serve the population of students of color at my alma mater, challenging you all to ask critical questions as your formulate your identity and politics and encouraging you to take advantage of the abundance of resources here at Rutgers. It’s been a great pleasure for me to put this BVCL Spring 2015 Issue together and I’m grateful to the students, faculty/staff and alumni who made this work possible. This issue came to fruition because of community. This issue rests in your hands and nestled between your textbooks because of the will of an intergenerational group of folks who care about preserving a Rutgers literary tradition. On a daily basis, black/brown intellectual thought, cultural production/art and livelihood is co-opted, disregarded, stolen and manipulated – so, I encourage you to take Black Voice/Carta Latina and other conduits of black/brown life and dialogue seriously. Seeing you all protest last/this semester was beautiful and inspiring. Being in a position to support and guide you through the process of sociopolitical organizing has been a pleasure. As I focus on the functions and operations of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, I implore you all to use us as a resource, visit us, hold your events with us, use us as a sounding board, and to rethink the role you play in our community. But - first and foremost, enjoy this issue of BVCL and share it with your peers, colleagues and families. I hope to meet each and every one of you this fall and look forward to innovative ideas, continued community fellowship and lots of learning. Enjoy your summer and keep on pushin’! 4 - BVCL MAGAZINE || SPRING 2015 Kiyanna Stewart, Paul Robeson Cultural Center
QUOTE OF THE SEMESTER "CaRiNG FOR mYSElF iS NOT SElF-iNDUlGENcE, iT iS SElFPRESERvaTiON aND THaT iS aN acT OF POliTical WaRFaRE."
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features
RU STUDENT PROFILE: Avatara smith-carrington
K iyanna: So, can you start by telling us what it means for you and for others to “queer things up”?
“DEFiNiTiONS bElONG TO THE DEFiNERS, NOT THE DEFiNED.” – TONi MORRiSON, BElOvED
Avey: When starting this project, I was grappling with the idea that those who have control of narratives are often not the ones who the narratives are about. So, my vision for To Queer Things Up was to provide a platform for people to speak about their authentic self, share their truths in a way that did not take away from their story or paint them in a stereotypical or stigmatized light. At the same time, I really wanted to provide a definition of queerness that was outside of what you see in the media, read in dictionaries or find online. I noticed that every time I would talk to my friends about what it meant to be queer or how we defined our queerness, it was always changing; and it was very complicated in a beautiful way. So, I decided to create this and make it a dictionary because I wanted people to define who they were for themselves. There’s a Toni Morrison quote that says, “Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” I wanted to really reimagine what it is to define yourself outside of like all that has been placed on people by certain influences.
K iyanna: So, what is queerness to you? Avey: What is queerness to me? What?? [gasps] I guess queerness to me is like everything that is other than the typical. In terms of how I define queerness and have been using it lately, I think of it as – again, another Toni Morrison quote (I love Toni Morrison), but in The Bluest Eye she talks about “funk”, what “funk” is and how it has always been seen as something really beautiful while other people seen it as something negative. To Morrison, funk is about complicating the norm and being who you are. So, I believe queerness is to me just like that funk; it’s me understanding that my gender and sexuality are fluid and there is nothing stagnant about it. You know, queerness is mad hard to define. Like if you had talked to me freshman year, I would have never identified myself as queer. I would have said I was gay, but as I started to come in contact with other ways of identifying one's self, I found queer and I think the reason why I chose it is because I recognize that the way that my identities mix with each other - the way that my race intersects with my queerness and my gender and my sexuality and my politics, I think that is what queerness is to me. It’s freedom to live in that complicated, out-of-the-norm state of being. That's what my queerness is. It’s mad complicated. It's mad complex, but it’s beautiful at the same time.
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K iyanna: Talk to me a little bit about the importance of language and the act of naming in relation to TQTU. Avey: Language is important (laughter). In terms of accessibility, I ask who determines what language we use and I think that's what I've noticed over time with this project. The term queer is still used and seen as a derogatory term. People say it’s a generational thing. I've noticed that people in my age group use it as the q-slur. So, that's been very interesting because in reclaiming language, he conversation always becomes, who gets to reclaim it. I think that that’s what To Queer Things Up is meant to do. It is to be a space where we can have conversations about the queer identity and about the language that we use. Because what I often see is that queerness is very academic. I came into contact with queerness in academic settings, but thinking about who has access to those spaces, that language is not always accessible and queerness can be something else for those folks. It might not be even labeled queerness. I don’t want this project to be inaccessible to folks, so I’m always negotiating language. The whole goal of TQTU is to be able to reach out to people and for people to use it as a way to build and find community. And I mean, you can't build and find community if language is a barrier to that. K iyanna: How do you personally identify? Avey: How do I identify? (laughter) I identify as a Black, queer, transmasculine boi (b-o-i, not y). Uh, that's about it, I mean my pronouns are they, them and their. I don't identify with binary pronouns like he and she. I feel like gender is too fluid and too complex to do that. Sometimes, in certain spaces and to make it easier, I say that I'm gay but that's so bland and boring for me personally. K iyanna: How does your identity inform the project? Avey: Well, um, because my identities are mad complex and there are so many of them that are marginalized. I stand in positions of both marginalization and privilege, so I’m still figuring that out. Most of the identities that I do hold are in positions of marginalization. So, I guess that's why when I’m working on this project, I look for people that I don't see. I started this project because I couldn't see myself in the media and I needed to see better representation of queer people outside of, you know, homonormative, cis-gendered, able-bodied folks. Socioeconomically too; they’re always more wealthy when you see queerness in the media too. So, I started because that was all that I was seeing. And I wanted to provide a platform for people to continue talking about who they are, outside of all those dominant identities that are mass-marketed for people to consume and essentialize.
K iyanna: Tell me about your team. Who’s on your roster? Avey: Squad! They’re mad cool. So, Jamie Delia-Deradorian is an awesome person, who has been editing the episodes. So every episode that you have seen, she has edited. She's been behind the camera and is the Creative Director of the project. I pretty much just tell her how I want things to look, how I want the story to flow and we edit the stories together. I always make sure that I participate in editing the stories since I'm the only one on the team who identifies as queer. The two other people who joined later in the process would be Gaby, who actually cut the promo and Jelan Coley, who has been spectacular. We are done filming the second cycle and she was pretty much the second camera. So, moving forward, we are going to have more views to a person because we felt like what we were seeing was a little onedimensional So, Jelan helps us see our featured folks in all of their multi-dimensional glory. Small team, I know – but, we’re growing. K iyanna: What has the community reception been like? Avey: Oh my god, it’s been great! It makes me so happy. I want to clarify that I did this purely because I had a dream. I met someone who could help me turn that dream into a reality. There have been a lot of people that have seen it and have lots to say that’s really affirming. We have been going to conferences lately and the last conference we went to let me know that what I am doing is valuable. The last one I went was a Trans Youth Forum at Princeton University and folks were so positive; it was really a special group. K iyanna: So, what does it mean for you to be working on this kind of project and working with other students, in your last year of Undergrad and as you transition into other things/spaces? Also, what’s your message to newer students who are looking for ways to make an impact, apply their academic work outside of the classroom and carve out space? Avey: Well, firstly – this project is a labor of love. Nothing has come easy for this project; there have been some uphill, downhill and very low points of this project, particularly in terms of the impact it’s had on our academics. So, we’re learning lessons about balance. However, it’s been a labor of love that has brought me great happiness. I tell people that for a long time, I felt like I was just going through the motions of school and life, in general; you know, just doing what I’m supposed to be doing because I’m supposed to be doing it and ever since I started doing what I really love to do, I’m happy. I feel like this project has helped me grow, mature and find myself. So, I want to thank the folks who have participated because they’re an integral piece of me becoming the person I am. Secondly, to people who are first and second years - and even super seniors – think outside the box. We really get stuck in academia and in classrooms, in four walls and in this bubble, which we’d like to think is the “real world” but it’s really not. I think that once you start to chip away at that idea and use what you’ve learned in your classes to formulate a better and more inclusive understanding of the world we live in, you’ll see that it’s really beautiful. I’d push people to really be open. I know we always say be open-minded and I feel like sometimes, that comes with conditions for some people (like, I’m open to a certain extent), but I say, push yourself PAST comfortable. (cont’d)
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Once you push yourself past that and into the space where you want to have genuine conversations with people, you learn so much more than you would ever learn in some overpriced book. A lot of my learning has come from sitting down with people and having genuine heartto-heart conversations about our identities and where we see ourselves and our futures. Kiyanna: What would you say to students or folks in general, who don’t necessarily identify as queer, but want to support and be allies to the queer community? Avey: The greatest way you can be an ally is to not take up space and let us speak for ourselves. Allies are important, but we can tell our own stories, we can articulate our own oppression, as well as they ways we’re marginalized. That’s my biggest thing – like, let us speak for ourselves because we can. I feel like this is really important also, but there are lots of folks of color who are part of the LGBTQ community. If you can think about how there are white allies to the Black Lives Matter movement and you’d expect them to give us the space to be present and communicate, there are also black and cis folks who can give us the space to fight on our front. And let’s be real about the statistics of trans-women of color, who are facing large amounts of not only state-sanctioned violence, but also interpersonal and intraracial violence as well. We know these acts are being committed by black cis-males. So, you can be an ally by recognizing your positions of privilege and use your privilege to help others who are marginalized take up more space. That’s one of the best ways to be an ally for our community. Kiyanna: You talked a little about what’s next for you, but what’s next for TQTU? Avey: Ah, we’re filming this summer! We’re done with the 2nd cycle, so we’re going to edit those up and begin the filming for our 3rd cycle, which will be closer to six episodes. So, we’re growing in terms of the amount of content. And also – we’re just trying to talk to folks with more identities. I’ve been thinking about possibly producing a documentary, so I’m kind of interested in the US’s new relationship with Cuba, as well as sexuality and gender in Cuba. I saw that for the first time in Cuba, they’re producing a musical and they chose to put on Rent at their State Theatre. I think that’s a really interesting musical to pick because of the narratives concerning sexuality, gender and politics. So, I’m curious about what’s going on with that. Kiyanna: Is there anything else you want to leave folks with as we wrap up? Avey: YES! That you don’t need to be queer to watch, enjoy and support To Queer Things Up.
Follow TQTU!
www.toqueerthingsup.tumblr.com
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LOOKING FOR WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, EDITORS and GRAPHIC DESIGNERS. Email us at BVCLrutgers@gmail.com if interested.
@rutgersBVCL
BVCL – Black Voice/ Carta Latina
@rubvcl
Constructing Her.stories: Recognition and Reappraisal By: Nakeya Brown, Alum
“Everybody knew what she was called, but nobody anywhere knew her name.” - Toni Morrison, Beloved
This quote strikes a cord that is deeply personal, deeply political and is directly connected to
my work as a POC artist. It’s a testimony of our invisibility, which correlates to the way in which America treats the contributions Black women have made to aid in the progression of our nation. It’s important that in the various sites of our lives, we do not remain nameless, invisible, or without recognition. I often think about the ways in which Black women’s survival is rooted in labor. We operate in the labor of doing things such as tending to our studies, physical work within the home and professional work outside of the home. We operate in the divine nature of birthing life: a mental, bodily, and emotional labor that requires intense vigor unlike any other physical act. We operate in the labor of crafting visual and literary creations about the condition of Black women’s lives. We operate in a labor of love extended to family, friends, and the self—often times in that respective order. From the commencement of the abolitionist movement occurring in the early 19th century to the Civil Rights movement during the mid 20th century, we have and continue operate in various forms of labor, necessary to our survival. More often than not, we are in operating in some form of labor to obtain affirmative recognition and equal rights. It is within these spaces of labor lies a road worth exploring by women of color to combat the prevailing stereotypical, racialized ideologies used in the construction of Black womanhood. Nina Simone's "Four Women" poetically charts the feminine archetypes created by centuries of racist and sexist thought. She takes these figures and gives them agency, through recognition lined with empathy, and reappraises them with words of encouragement. We must continue the practice of providing black women with recognition and reappraisal. In our womanhood is a wellspring of stories deserving a fresh reassessment. My artistic mission is to visualize blackness and womanhood with an emphasis on African American hair politics and culture. I want to tell our stories, which I termed her.stories in the title of this essay. I explore the multiplicity of African American hair through presenting it in various states. Whether braided, weaved, straightened, or natural, I am intrigued by its ability to communicate dual messages about a woman’s relationship to herself and to society at large. Within my work, the fraught notion of beauty and the Black female image is continuously explored. (con’t )
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In “if nostalgia were colored brown” each photo exhibits what I term “black feminine spaces” illustrating the admission of the Black female image into popular taste. I consider the record to symbolize commercial potency of "black is beautiful", black girl cool, and the black feminine image in mainstream American culture. Hair and hair gadgets such as the hot comb, shower cap, hair dryer, hair bonnet, and hair roller are utilized to envision a space of beauty rituals and self care, often inciting and assortment of positive and painful memories. The Refutation of “Good” Hair directly references Black lexicon to re-conceptualize racialized beauty standards. I take hair as an agent in formulating definitions of beauty, power, and race and combine it with interaction of soul food and utensils to visualize our consumption of ideas. In “Hair Stories Untold” I tap into a collective memory to reveal private moments of hair maintenance and rituals. My work, along with the work of other notable Black female photographers of the African diaspora such as Maxine Walker, Ingrid Pollard, Carrie Mae Weems, and Lorna Simpson write Black women and the familiarities of our lives into her.story. Together, we create a visual archive of representative imagery that crosses multiple themes, from race relations, identity construction, and beauty culture, to love, colonialism, power, and social positioning. The complexities and beauty at the intersection of blackness and womanhood are recognized and reappraised when we operate in the labor of creating our own narratives to aid in our survival.
To learn more: www.nakeyab.com || www.nakeyab.tumblr.com
SEMESTER IN REVIEW
Latin Images Looks to Unite Diasporas On Saturday April 4
Anthony Pizzo
, 2015, Rutgers Latin Images, a living When asked the importance of the African and Latin communities learning community on the 3 floor of Frelinghuysen Hall - which is uniting, Yazmin, an African-identifying student, stated that “both the stepping stone into the Latino community on campus, hosted its minorities are seen as separate cultures, but really our cultures are 38th annual banquet at the Cook Campus Center. Former E-Board interconnected. We have to come together to fight the same struggle member Kelly Lopez started the event off by stating that, “even of being falsely and underrepresented”. In response to the same question and the idea of all of the though this is a formal event, it is a room full of friends, and even living learning communities being in the same building next year, beyond that, it is family”. The night continued with a performance by Ivanok stated, “in the beginning all of the minority organizations had a few members of the RU Salsa team. Ivanok Tavarez, the President of an individual focus, but over time, America has developed into having Latin Images, followed the performance with a speech on how L.I. is a home away from home. Ivanok, who grew up in New Brunswick, hybrid cultures. We can only be as diverse as we are exposed too. The decided that rather than commuting, he wanted to have the college importance of LI merging with other living learning communities is that experience and live on campus. L.I. has given Ivanok everything he it can be used as a stepping stone into the other communities on could have ever asked for in college, and he is proud to be the campus. So it is an opportunity for the African community to step into, president of such an impactful organization. Ivanok also mentioned learn more about, and collaborate with the Latin community. LI is in a that next year L.I. will be relocating to the new Bishop Quads. This position to expand its purpose, already being one of the cultural new renovation will allow students to walk straight from the Center for organizations that cross ethnic lines, having people of African, Asian, Latino Arts and Culture to Latin Images, and will provide air and European descent live on its floor every year. It now has an conditioning, more lounges, rooms and overall space for students. opportunity to morph into a multicultural community on campus, Along with Latin Images, the Paul Robeson, Asian American Images, which will only give more power to these students and communities. I and French Language living learning communities will also be housed personally believe this is an opportunity to gain from each other so that we can all have a concrete vision for what we want to see and in the Bishop Quads. After the president’s speech, there was a moment of silence accomplish at the university on a political, social, and individual level”. Some people may believe that the cramping of all of the held to commemorate all of the great memories that LI had in Frelinghuysen Hall. Attendees were asked to share their favorite LI living learning communities into one building is a negative thing, as it moments, and many touched on the fact that LI is a family, and not takes away from their uniqueness in a way. However, as Ivanok stated, just another college dorm floor. The dance floor was then opened up this can serve as an opportunity for people to unite, learn the as DJ Sonic Boom handled the turn tables. Sonic Boom added that interconnectedness of their struggles, and therefore gain more power one of the reasons he came to Rutgers was because of an overnight for all of the people in these respective communities. th
rd
visit to LI, where he got to experience their family, firsthand.
#BlackLivesMatterRU and The GOYA Project Host “The Black Experience at Rutgers”
Kesia Sommerville
On Friday, April 3rd, 2015 the newly formed organization, #BlackLivesMatterRU and The GOYA Project held a panel discussion
regarding race relations at Rutgers University today. The event was held in the Busch Campus Center and was keynoted by renowned civil rights activist, Larry Hamm. This extremely important discussion follows the issue of police brutality in America. Although Blacks and other people of color have been targeted at a higher rate than their white counterparts, people all over the country and the world are now able to view the murders of unarmed Black men and women through this generation’s increased use of social media. Today, not only are people of color being shot and killed at a higher rate than any other group, but there has also been an increase in evidence pointing to the wrongdoing of many white officers. Nevertheless, Black men and women still fall victim to the unjust “justice” system in our country. Due to the failure to indict the police officers whom murdered Michael Brown and Eric Gardner (as well as other countless victims) students at Rutgers University against the murder of Black individuals came together, and formed #BlackLivesMatterRU. When #BlackLivesMatterRU was formed, citizens all over the United States, as well as students all over the country, had had enough. #BlackLivesMatterRU began by having a series of rallies and protests—along with the NAACP and the Peoples Coalition for Police Brutality, they shut down Route 18 in New Brunswick, which is major highway that runs through the city. But, as a way for students to come together, strategize their next steps, and vent their frustrations as Black individuals at the university, both the GOYA Project and #BLMRU held this panel for students of color to attend. At this panel discussion, not only did #BlackLivesMatterRU address race relations in America, but they also addressed institutional racism that affects the students and faculty at Rutgers. The six panelists, two of whom were professors in the Africana Department (Professor Ramsamy and Professor Plummer), were individuals who consider themselves to be activists on campus. Led by Fawzan “Fez” Lari, the panelists were asked a series of questions regarding the history of the Africana Department, its next steps, and what students on campus could do to support the Africana Department as well as the movement against police brutality. In addition, student leaders of many organizations addressed working on several events together in order to strengthen the Black community at Rutgers. They also spoke about giving back to the New Brunswick community, as New Brunswick is comprised of many individuals of color. By the end of the discussion, students walked away feeling both empowered and inspired, thinking about how to bridge the gap between organizations that 12 - BVCL MAGAZINE || SPRING 2015 represent students of color.
The Long Shadow of Watts: Policing, Violence and THE Persistence of Black Inequality in the US
Paige Botjer
On Wednesday, April 29, the center for Race and Ethnicity hosted the event “The Long Shadow of Watts: Policing, Violence and the Persistence of Black Inequality in the United States” at the Center for Race and Ethnicity on College Ave at noon. In the wake of the recent events in Baltimore, MD, this event was intended to educate students and faculty of the similarities between the Watts uprising fifty years ago in Los Angeles and the current Black Lives Matter movement today. The crowd packed the room and was Photo Credit: AP/John Minchillo made up of many different people from different cultures and races. The program consisted of a set of four panelists, Johanna Christian from Rutgers Newark, professor in the School of Criminal Justice; Patrick Carr from Rutgers New Brunswick, professor of Sociology; Melanye Price of Rutgers New Brunswick, professor of Africana Studies, and lastly Marie Gottschalk, of Rutgers New Brunswick, professor of political science. Each provided a different insight to the situation happening in Baltimore in regards to the Watts uprising fifty years prior. After an introduction of the panelists, the event went into full gear speaking about issues regarding police brutality and violence in the black community. Each of the highly educated panelists was able to come to the same conclusion: American politics is continuing to fail African Americans. The first to speak was Patrick Carr, professor of Sociology at Rugters New Brunswick. Being from the sociology department, Carr was able to bring a one of a kind insight to the discussion as he talked about the effects society has had on police brutality and how we have come to this point. The event also covered legal policies that target African Americans. Johanna Christian of the Criminal Justice Department in Rutgers Newark spoke about how so many rules work against the African American community. She spoke about her work with the African American community and those who had been incarcerated. Christian revealed that the numbers are sickening of how many African Americans deal with incarceration, either for themselves or for a family member, at some point in their lifetime. She asked the audience, “if things are this deeply imbedded, how do people respond to that? How do they deal with it?” There was no response to this question because this problem facing the African American community is just one of many. The room was packed with students and professors from all different departments at Rutgers. And, throughout the event students continued to come in regularly asking questions to the panelists about their opinions on CNN reports and also the riots in Baltimore. Marie Gottschalk, of the Political Science Department at Rutgers New Brunswick offered the audience some statistics between the Watts uprising fifty years ago, and the situation in Baltimore today. Gottschalk noted that it was a police encounter that started the riots in Watts, which left one hundred dead, and since that point, problems with police brutality have only grown. In 1965, the prison population of African Americans was fairly small. Today Baltimore Jail – which holds about four thousand people- has a population which is 90% African American and only about 10% of those people are accused of a violent crime. Melanye Price of the Africana Studies Department from Rutgers New Brunswick compared the Watts uprisings to the riots happening in Baltimore today. She noted that the two situations mirror each other in that that the Watts situation is very reminiscent of the Stop and Frisk policies today. And while society likes to think that we have improved upon race relations in the past fifty years, we have almost stayed the same. Price also made it a point to discuss about the Baltimore train station where cops were waiting for children who take public transportation to get home because there are no school buses in Baltimore. The police, in full riot gear, shut down the transportation hub and children were unable to get home. The children retaliated, throwing rocks at police and the police retaliated from there, throwing rocks at the children. This presented a message showing that the police didn’t care about the black children at the train station. When Price brought up the transportation hub in Baltimore, the conversation shifted to talking about a solution to this police brutality problem and what people are actually seeing and feeling when they hear things as such on the news. As one of the audience members brought up, the police officers who were throwing rocks at children have their salaries paid by the parents of those children. And this is not fair to anyone involved in the incident. Carr had a simple question in regards to this asking, “how do you institutionalize fairness?” Near the end of the event, the panel opened up discussion about black politics in America and how to solve or at least lessen the impacts of police brutality on African Americans. The event was mentally stimulating for all of those in the audience. It provided a unique insight into the events happening in Baltimore and around our country by comparing them to the Watts uprising fifty years ago.
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Verbal Mayhem Pays Homage to History On
Wednesday February 25th, One of the Rutgers Slam team poets, Michael 2015, Rutgers University’s Verbal Mayhem Anderson, gave tribute to many of the black Poetry Collective held a Black History men who have inspired him to become the Month-themed Open Mic to honor the person he is today - citing Martin Luther King, black artists and their campus W.E.B. DuBois, Huey P. Newton, Kanye West, contributions. At the start of the event, and many others. Hernan Ramos performed a Hernan Ramos, the co-host of Verbal poem that touched on the mistreatment, lack of Mayhem, made it clear that “every mayhem attention and lack of respect for transgender is essentially, a celebration of Black history, individuals. His piece referenced the killing of but we wanted to explicitly make the Jennifer Laude, a transgender woman who was theme of this night’s open mic about Black strangled by a U.S. marine in the Philippines History.” After co-host Alphonse Burley after the Marines found out that Jennifer was started the night with a spoken word poem trans. Hernan pointed out that even in covering about police brutality, crowd-favorite Shep the story, the media often has misgendered Glennon followed up with a poem calling Jennifer and that justice still has not been for peace amongst all people around the served in the case. Chris Etienne, A Rutgers senior, world. These two artists set the tone for the moving on to Graduate School at Columbia rest of the poets that followed. Many of the University, shared his story about being familiar faces of Verbal Mayhem were in incarcerated and then becoming a college attendance along with a special guest by student. After sharing his story with the room, the name of Assasin. Joseph “Assasin” Thomas may not have been one of the Chris performed a song about racial injustice. founders of Verbal Mayhem, however when Shireen Hamza, President of Verbal Mayhem, he was co-president from 05-06 he played performed a poem that shed light on the history an integral part in making Verbal Mayhem of the Livingston campus. She explained how into an official/registered organization on Livingston campus, named after slaveowner this campus. Thanks to the work of Assasin William Livingston, is still littered with racism, as and many others, the organization is now the buildings on the campus were built by a able to send a team of student-poets to the prison architect - presumably to restrict students College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational of color from organizing. She also explained (CUPSI), which is a national Slam Poetry how the campus was originally an experiment to
see if the “minority”students could adequately adapt to a college environment. As the poem came to a close, she roared with emotion as she stated that she and other students would not let this history be silenced and that they will leave their own mark at Rutgers. Mia Powell attends Verbal Mayhem almost every week, yet she does not participate in the performing aspect. Rather, she captures the moment of many artists’ performances by drawing a picture of what the artist was trying to convey in their performance. Mia does not get much time to express her creative talent due to the workload of her major, but everyone at Verbal Mayhem appreciates her contribution to the family. The last performance of the night was by another talented African-American woman who goes by the name of Jones. In her first time performing at Verbal Mayhem, she played her original piece titled “After the Storm” which was a combination of beautiful vocals and ukulele strumming. Jones stated that the piece was the first song she had ever written. “I thought I was afraid of failure, but then I realized I was actually afraid to succeed. That’s what has been so engrained in us, and that’s what we all have to overcome” she said, culminating the event by bringing the theme of the evening full circle.
Africana Studies & Paul Robeson Cultural Center Celebrate Robeson’s Birthday Seree Joseph After attending “The Inaugural Paul Robeson Distinguished Lecture”, presented by the Africana Studies Department and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center on April 9th, 2015, I was given insightful information about the life and times of Paul Robeson. This event brought attention to the importance of a man, who is honored by a cultural center on Busch Campus. The program begin with greetings from a number of staff/faculty members, who were interested in creating a space to celebrate Robeson, Rutgers University’s most distinguished alum on his birthday. Vice President of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Jorge Schement and Associate Dean of the Office and Student Access and Equity, Dr. Eddie Manning, shared a few words with us. They brought attention to two major facts. Not only did April 9th mark Robeson’s centennial, it was also his birthday, thus making it a very significant day. They then played a selection from Rutgers’ song ‘On The Banks of The Old Raritan’ and talked about Robeson’s musicianship. Robeson was a Rutgers alumni who was a prominent scholar, valedictorian of his class, an athlete, a musical prodigy, spoke 25 different languages, and organized greatly to unite the African diaspora across the globe. He was also known for his excellence in academia. Robeson was ranked smartest at a time when they used a system of algorithm to measure your level of IQ rather than the Statistical GPA system. Rutgers graduate student, Alyea Pierce was next invited to the podium for a poetic selection. She admitted that her having to write this poem forced her to do research and learn more about Robeson, and for such, she appreciated the experience. Her poem resonated greatly with the audience and she was met with a roar of applause. Professor Edward Ramsamy then introduced this year’s distinguished lecturer, Dr. Bronner. 14 - BVCL MAGAZINE || SPRING 2015 (con’t )
Anthony Pizzo
Dr. Bronner outlined the life and times of Paul Robeson, as well as his accomplishments. Robeson was a man of many hats and used his talents/intellect to advance the African-American community in the global arena. Robeson was a man who was interested in the different cultures and their complexities. In the mid 20th century, it took courage to speak out regarding racial injustice and even more fortitude to place your intellectual life and credibility on the anti-racism movement. In terms of context, Robeson is situated at a time when the world was experiencing the Russian revolution, the European uprisings, lynchings, fascism, anti-imperialism rebellion in Africa and the Soviet Union’s spread. Bronner called Robeson the “American Leonardo DaVinci of our time.” Dr. Bronner then went on to point out what he claims is the ‘elephant in the room’ when discussing Robeson, which is Robeson’s ties to the Communist Party, emphasizing the amount of support the Communist Party gave to Paul Robeson at a time when other parties would not. Paul fought the stigmas that came with being a Communist and continued working to advance opportunities for black people. He and his party pushed for radical reform and a change in societal attitudes, despite his being “blacklisted” for his affiliations. Essentially, Paul became a prisoner in his own land and condemned by all of the communities, which he was fighting on behalf of and fighting for respect for. In 1950, he even met with Albert Einstein to discuss different various world peace proposals. Ten years later, in 1960, he performed one last musical tour and retired himself from the public in 1963. At the age of 77, Paul Robeson died in Philadelphia on January 23rd, 1976. His legacy lives, particularly here at Rutgers University where we have adopted his theory of inclusion for the benefit of the individual and the greater community.
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RU Wanawake Hosts Its 2nd Annual Black Dynasty Banquet On March 29
th
Jasmine Eaton
, RU Wanawake honored two Rutgers students based on their excellent academics, leadership, and service. RU
Wanawake was founded in 2008 at Rutgers University. RU Wanawake is a cultural and community service organization that focuses on spreading awareness of the improvements of the social and economic conditions of the Africans on the continent and within the Diaspora, as well as the conditions of Rutgers and the nearby communities. The aim of such an organization is to develop initiatives that assist women and men of all races, encouraging them to make an impact in society while overall giving them a reason to celebrate their womanhood/manhood. The organization also focuses on giving children the resources for excellent achievement and the tools to dream far beyond any limitation, especially African children. During the special night, there were several special guests including Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr. Felicia McGinty, who was the opening speaker. Dr. McGinty joined Rutgers in August 2013 and she provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the large and complex division of Student Affairs. Dr. McGinty encouraged students to take full advantage of their Rutgers experience and advised students to always have an “elevator speech.” According Dr. McGinty, The elevator speech should be used to attract mentors, which she believes are a necessary part of building a professional social network. Dr. McGinty maintains that there are 5 rules to follow when one in attempting a build a successful professional social network. The second guest speaker was Professor Bonadie of the Africana Studies Department. Bonadie believes that one of the legacies Africans of the diaspora should tap into is a culture of sharing. He maintained that is what African people have always been about. “It is important that one doesn’t just assume that blackness is skin color because that submerges African, Caribbean, and American culture,” said Professor Bonadie. The climax of the evening was the awarding segment, in which, two graduating seniors were recognized for their leadership and community involvement/service. Ms. Shaniqua Evans was recognized with an Academic and Community Excellence award. Evans majors in Public Health, served as a Peer Academic Leader, EOPSA E-Board President, Resident Assistant and an array of various different positions during her time at Rutgers. “I thank god for this award, it is he who has placed me here, [and] he uses me as a vessel to serve my community” said Ms. Evans. The second awardee, Christopher Etienne, studied Journalism and African Studies here at Rutgers. Mr. Etienne is the outgoing President of the National Association of Black Journalists – Rutgers Chapter and has worked alongside award-winning journalist, spearheaded numerous events for the Rutgers MountainView Project and was recently accepted to a graduate program at Columbia University. “I am so grateful for this opportunity and I am happy that to see 16 - BVCL MAGAZINE || SPRING 2015 that hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed,” said Etienne.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Rutgers Future Samaiya Sanders SCHOLARS PROGRAM Each
year, the Rutgers Future Scholars program (RFS)
introduces 200 first-generation, low-income and academically promising middle school students from school districts in our four Rutgers home communities of New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, and Camden to the promise and opportunities of a college education. The RFS program recruits the students beginning in the seventh grade. The students begin to experience the pre-college culture by going through events, programing, and mentoring beginning in the eighth grade continuing throughout their high school years. Mr. Aramis Gutierrez (Program Director), Dr. Eve Remsen Sachs (Program Coordinator), and Ms. Kim Williams (Program Coordinator) are staff members for the New Brunswick/Piscataway campus. The Rutgers Future Scholars program has many donors such as Ernst & Young, AT&T, Steve Colson, etc. To get a more in depth with the RFS program I interviewed the Program Coordinator, Dr. Eve Remsen Sachs. Dr. Sachs is a Charleston, South Carolina native who moved to West Palm Beach, Florida with her grandparents when her mother passed away at the age of four. She moved back to New Jersey around the age of thirteen and received a high school education at Princeton High School. She signed up for the Peace Corps and worked as a school teacher in Liberia. After working in Africa she came back to New Jersey, began working with migrant workers in Jamestown and became an EOF counselor at Rutgers University. In two years, Dr. Sachs was asked to become the Director of the EOF program for twenty-five years. After twenty-five years, she announced her retirement at Rutgers she went to Egypt and started American schools for Egyptian children. Finally, Dr. Sachs permanently relocated back to New Jersey and began working with the RFS program. Sanders: Who created the RFS program and what year did it do into full effect? Sachs: President Richard McCormick created the Rutgers Future Scholars program. I received a phone call from Courtney McAnuff asking to have lunch with him and he told me about the course in September 2007. I received more information about the program and my reaction to Vice President Courtney was that it sounded like an extraordinary perfect program to go early into seventh grade and get these wonderful students. Many of them would become EOF students eventually, so the same family backgrounds; first generation, low income. I was then asked to be the director but I didn’t want the job full time. But then I suggested that the director should be a male, primarily a minority male. So I eventually came on board and it started in October 2007. We then put out the job description and people were able to go online to look up the job subscription so then we selected Mr. Aramis Gutierrez to be the director in January 2008. In the summer of 2008 we managed to implement the program. We had our first group of scholars in the spring of 2008”. Sanders: How did you manage to convince the donors to invest in such a program? Sachs: It did not take much convincing, they got it. But what really convinced them was one of the very first meetings when we were looking at applications of the first group of seventh graders. We were sitting around the Board of Governors room in Winants Hall and we had a couple of donors there, superintendents of some of the schools, President McCormick. We had a discussion about how we were running the program, how we would work with school districts and I said “I would like to read to you personal statements that we’ve got from the seventh grade scholars”.
So I read some statements and I read a statement of a girl from Newark who described lying down on the floor when the bullets came through the windows of their apartment. Another student whose mother was working three or four jobs just to keep food coming in the family and I continued reading what these kids wrote. At the end of reading them President McCormick said, “We should admit her now”. So how did we convince them...? We didn’t the scholars convinced them. Every time they heard these stories, and we got very smart we used the scholars to sell the program. When we would meet up with these donors and big shots we would bring scholars. Every time one of the scholars spoke everyone would be taping their eyes with tears, wiping their tears because this program sells itself. As soon as they meet these scholars, see how fine, how bright and some of us tell you where you come from; father in prison for many years, raised in foster care…it sells itself. Sanders: In what was does RFS contribute to the low class communities? Sachs: By offering them faith, hope and charity, the good ol’ bible ways. Faith that you can do it, hope that there is a future for you, and charity that in the sense that if you can’t afford it we are going to find the money for you to afford it, you do the work and we’ll see you get paid. That’s why I’m so glad that we get to pay our undocumented students’ tuition because they are not eligible for state or federal aid. We have private money that will pay their tuition because we can get in trouble if we used federal money for undocumented students. Sanders: What do you love most about the RFS program? Sachs: I love the scholars. I ask Mr. Colson (one of the donors) if he’s worried about the money [referring to the money he has donated to the program] and he says “No I’m not worried, I have twelve hundred scholars who’s going to take care of me.” So what I love, is I love you [referring to the scholars] and I love the fact that we have kids. If you call or if you need us we’ll do stuff for you. I’ve done more stuff with scholars that you wouldn’t even believe. It’s a joy to have kids you love. Sanders: Can you give a brief overview of the activities the students participate in during the summer? Sachs: The main focus is: Identification formation as being in a Rutgers Future Scholars Family. Number two, is to focus on academic achievement throughout high school and we develop courses that we think help students achieve the goals of being good academic scholars in high school. Our third goal is to prepare them for admissions and good successful performance in college so that they graduate with a degree. This summer, the rising seniors will be taking a public speaking course. Sanders: What keeps you coming back and recruiting more students? Sachs: This year we have one thousand one hundred sixteen future scholars and with the recruitment of seventh graders this year we will have eighteen hundred scholars. Not only do we recruit students and adopt future scholars who are in high school and college, the mission of this program is to ultimately see that a movement to be started in the United States of America where all the major universities have an equivalent of the Rutgers Future Scholars Program, so that they offer opportunities as early as the 7th grade. You have opened up the opportunity to every young person in the United States who could not otherwise afford education for who are bright and who have potential. What we do here [Rutgers University] should be done in every university in America.
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THE POETRY PAGES
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Untitled by Laurette Telamaque
Hate is what I am feeling now But I am too numb to realize As I sit here and write Knowing that there’s a life to live tomorrow And a need for my presence in my own world I have taken a back seat Sneaked into the back corner of my mind Where the anger and the spilt ashes of you remain As I sit in this space I think of all the things you took from me From us Things you thought you had right to But never was right to Have, take, and keep Like comfort, trust, ease, sheer innocence Things you took without permission I am rightfully selfish Give me my shit back Niggas see your life as an unlocked door Walking in and out when they please As they see fit Taking your shit Talking your shit to whom ever they please The worst part of it all The one that’s hardest to digest Is the fact that after all this is done All our jewels, rubies, and gold kings are gone In his bed lies peace And you You’re the one up at four in the morning Trying to make enough sense of it all And call it a poem
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The combination of all flavors Good, bad, nasty, and sweet The accumulation of all talents set into one color One being One body One culture BLACK Untitled I like putting on Black Fuck your normal Fuck your craves to dehumanize me I want to stay with my Black I want to wear my Black Until I’m squeezing into it Like a tight a pair of Babyphats Until I can’t fit no mo Until I can scramble enough money After we pay the light bill and the landlord to buy a new pair And that new pair will be black Cause that’s all I ever wear And that’s all I ever want to wear They envy us cause we’re the trend without trying Effortlessly excelling in spaces they rack their simple minds to uncover It’s jealousy They itch to be us Tap their feet to Rock, K.Dot and Q Swing their sorry excuses for rhythm to hip hop and blues O they wish And what frightens them even more Is that their children are enamored with us Style, wild, out of this earth O they wish That’s why I put on my Black proudly I stuff my hips and fat ass Shaped from rice and beans Into those jeans And I wear them Just how I like them Cause that’s what I always wear Black
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by Laurette Telamaque
PAUL.
“As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this.”
by Alyea Pierce
- Paul Robeson
You see, “all God’s chillun got wings” and Paul, He was blackbird; Feathers, dark like ebony and felt like royalty. Wings, as vast and as bright as the futures of our children who will walk on the backs of them, Giants. A voice, a force to be reckon with. His voice, a booming baritone singing some of the sweetest black spirituals this world has ever tasted... but This world don’t take satisfaction in the aftertaste this black left on their tongues. Don’t revel in the flavor of black metamorphosis hanging in the back of their throat; how black transforms Its fear into fight, Misery into music, This blackness into beauty. Don’t fancy how all this black fills their bellies of hope and Freedom and Justice and Peace and Courage and Dignity and Voice and Voice for the unheard and Voice for the whole world Voice for the whole of people, Legend-“ greatest defensive end to ever trot the gridiron” Legend-“his Othello, was the longest run Shakespeare play in Broadway th th history” Legend-20 Century Renaissance man and one of the greatest Americans of the 20 centuryAn athlete receiving 4 varsity letters, a human connector through the waves of 15 languages, international actor and singer, lawyer, activist, national symbol, cultural leader, role model, he set peace free from its cage tonight. Legend- sacrificed his fame for the rights of each and every one of us Legend- “I must keep fighting until I’m dying” Legend, Legend, Legend. Blackbird’s wings, oh, his wings stretched wide and deep like the parted sea. You see, “all God’s chillun got wings” And blackbird saaaaang. They tried to hide blackbird’s voice from history, quiet blackbird, throw storm like rocks, but Blackbird soars, Black man soars, Paul soars. His body, a body built from the bones of a revolution, A walking museum risen from the ashes A gallery of monumental moments painted along these walls, along these scarlet streets His story, underappreciated, ostracized and caged like this black was animal, but blackbird can’t stay caged forever. Paul can’t stay caged forever. Paul, you are sun and moon, never asking for more than what God has given us. Paul, you are giver, making life from every moment you gave until your last breath. Paul, we remember. We are love. We remember. We are strength. We remember. We are doing. We are pushing. We are fighting. We are Future. We will always remember. Here, was where he stood, Here, is where we stand, Today, Paul stands with us.
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Dear Black Men, You do not have to be a knight, Castle, Or anything fairytale. You do not have to save this woman from evil. You have a body built of butterfly, And they’ve tried to catch you in glass jar before. Because the secret, to turning this place into peace lies In your every wrinkle and Every flaw and Every dark patch that makes your skin black. All things we don’t call beautiful. But, I will be your protector. Slay every dragon who knows not your name, Tries to burn your dreams at the stake, and Hang them from the tallest willow tree; On days like this, when the word ‘hero’ is too heavy to say, I will be there to remind you, that you are all things real and divine The day, I heard my grandfather cry for the very first time, was the day Vinyl records of Louis Armstrong’s voice and red wine filled the air just enough before it would pop. It was the only day, I was not scared of his iron eyes and charcoal skin because even though he was Lion Soldier Stallion and King to me, All things we call holy and strong. We, too often, forget Black Men need prayers too.
Letter to A Black Man. by Alyea Pierce
I am sorry that in those moments when you hold your head down, you may feel like an army of one. This world expects so much from you, while Whipping you with its words and Breaking you down into a sea of sand and expecting you, to blow yourself into glass. Don’t man up this time. Don’t speak. Call on every man, your father, grandfather, Martin, Malcolm & Mandela to hold you with arms, and Cry a sea of tears that would make Poseidon jealous. In those moments when it is easier to climb the highest mountain and Scream out every time she hid her purse, they followed you in stores, and crucified you nigger, Don’t let them see you fall. You are Obama, Denzel, Idris Elba, Trayvon, Mike Brown, Sean Bell, Tamir Rice, Emmett Till. All things Zion. You are the one making all things possible from the bones of nothing. We choose You. Allow me to take off your armor tonight. Dim the lights and whisper masterpiece onto your back. Kisses will sail along your spine and scratches will be your breadcrumbs back to this temple. There is such thing as perfect love. Smile. We need to be reminded that this world does have miracles.
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black over woman woman over black black over woman woman over black each night, I twist my two-strands
by Nakeya Brown
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Â
Â
Indian hemp. 100% I surrender to her fragrance as she permeates my senses. Her waxed texture coats my hands and, In her presence my palms grow slick. Buttery. My brown skin glistens with her residue. Every night we play, as I penetrate her form. My fingers swirl in her moist cream. My scalp swallows her nourishment. My follicles are silken strands.
by Nakeya Brown
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EDITORIALS
Black Women and the Superwoman Syndrome MYTH by Nana Afrifah
Last year, I stumbled upon a
class being taught by ODASIS (Office of Premature births are the most frequent cause of death for babies
Diversity in the Academic Success) Director, Dr. Khamal Khan called “Health Disparities in the African-American Community.” As a future healthcare provider, I was intrigued by the title so, I registered for the class via WebReg. But little did I know that this class would begin my journey of selfreflection and pushing awareness. Statistics only represent a small part of the African-American story however, I could not help but wonder why certain populations were more vulnerable to specific illnesses than others. Did you know that infant mortality, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death for AfricanAmericans? How many of us have lost loved ones to AT LEAST one of the illnesses mentioned? I know I have. But that is beside the point. The point of bringing this up is to enlighten our community to consider is the types of lifestyle and choices we make that attribute to the premature death of people in the Black community. Speaking of premature death, African-American women have a highest rate of high risk pregnancy and birth complications in the country.
The Superwoman Syndrome and the often mocked expression, “I am a strong Black woman who don’t need no help,” proliferates the unhealthy complex of internalizing problems.
under a year old and the infant mortality rate among Black women is almost 2.5 times that of white women and 2 times that of Hispanic women (Center of Disease Control). Researchers have suggested that health disparities in African-American women can be explained by one source: stress. Consistent with research, racial discrimination is a chronic stressor that negatively impacts the heart health of African Americans. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate become drastic and the way AfricanAmerican women deal with their experiences and stress perpetuate a phenomenon dubbed “The Superwoman Syndrome.” The Superwoman Syndrome and the often mocked expression, “I am a strong Black woman who don’t need no help,” proliferates the unhealthy complex of internalizing problems. Low rates of treatment correlate with the way Black women cope: handling problem alone because superwoman can handle everything by herself. Although Black women have the lowest suicide rates, they also have the highest numbers in depression because they fear getting help. The fear and stigma associated with mental health in the black community serves a detriment to society because many family dynamics, health and social interactions suffer from poor or no treatment. We have to think about the consequences, the damage, or influence we have on those around us and how our decisions affect them. It’s all about self-love. I just want people to know that it is okay to need help and it does not make you weak. No one has to face life’s problems alone. In lieu of finals season, make sure to put yourself and your health first. Do not be afraid ask for help if you need it.
National Denial or Community Paranoia? by Jasanna Sevier
For decades now there has been this ongoing debate about racism in America. For some, it is believed that the Civil Rights
Movement effectively eliminated racism from the country while others believe that the movement was just the beginning of what needs to be done to remove racism. Today, America has a black president that has held office for 2 terms. There are currently 43 African Americans in the House and 2 in the Senate. But is this evidence that blacks and whites are looked upon as equals? Even with an increasing number of black officials, the community cannot seem to break away from stereotypes and fear from other races. With protests popping up everywhere as a result of police brutality of African Americans, I believe that there is need to visit the debate about racism in America. Activists around the world are screaming to the government that #BlackLivesMatter. They strongly believe that the lives of the 13.2% of African Americans in the country are not seen as important as White Americans. They are being targeted by police and nobody seems to bat an eye. On the other side of the argument, people say that it is the black community to blame as they are not using all of their opportunities and that is what makes them turn to crime and get arrested for it. How can one event like an unarmed black man being killed on camera by police bring two very different opinions? I believe that this comes from the miscommunication of the public and the misdirection of the media. It only takes one leading statement by a political leader or reporter to cause a ripple effect. It only takes one stereotypical feature of Black people to be regarded as a “thug” or criminal and with that, the life of the victim is degraded. This view of African Americans, I believe, is easily spread through a community, whether it’s a joke, a gesture, or an occurrence. Although things like “Black Twitter” is supposed to be viewed as funny as black youths joke about black on black fights, ignorance and stereotypes, it does not just stay in the black community. It spreads and can have a seriously negative affect on how blacks are viewed in communities around the world. It can affect how a non-black person feels when they see a black person walking down an empty street at night. A question I ask myself is whether or not the black community to blame for their reputation or should the rest of the country have the moral sense to know that black people are still people? Should it matter how someone is dressed, what their language or criminal background is in order to determine if his or her rights have been breached? Racism is not just about regarding 26 - BVCL MAGAZINE || SPRING 2015 one race as lower than another, as it comes in different forms.
Although slavery ended more than 150 years ago, it took a long time for African Americans to actually get equal rights - And do we even currently have equal rights? The concern of the African American community now is that the government that once tied down every movement they attempted to make is still not helping the community today. Think about it in the sense of constructing a building. America has a foundation filled with white supremacy and power. The settlers used whatever resources and people they could to get the colonies stable and powerful in order to get from under British rule. America was being built off of free labor of African slaves until that was seen as inhumane and now the country is modifying the structure to accommodate equal rights for all. The structure of America will always have that initial foundation of the ideal of white supremacy unless some influential event bulldozes the whole building and we start anew. As the protests continue, will they spark a change that the country needs to remove white privilege and black fear?
by Tobi Raji
“Am I here solely to flex, to electrify others with my outward appearance or should I challenge myself to be electrified intellectually?” In light of the success of TWESE’s Annual Fashion Show, I would like to address the growing chasm between Black Rutgers and the plight of Africa and her people; perhaps better referred to as the chasm between the erudite and the disciples or even as the chasm between those who care and those who do not. According to their website, TWESE is, “…the organization for African students and friends of Africa.” The organization, founded it 1991, was designed to provide a safe haven for any student who identified with one of the 47 countries in Africa. It was also designed as an intellectual tool to facilitate academic discourse and rumination in regards to the Diaspora. TWESE has sometimes been criticized for a heavy focus on entertainment oriented programs however, at last year’s 24th Annual Pride Banquet, the members of TWESE attempted to fulfill provide some important insight about the continent through Professor Ebenezer Obiri Addo of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Unfortunately, as Professor Addo attempted to read African proverbs about power, poverty, and subjugation, attendees of the banquet slighted the erudite by speaking loudly. These tactless conversations increased in volume as the Professor read each proverb. This was shocking. Have we become so disconnected that all we are willing to pay attention to is entertainment? From this, it can be understood that those who were speaking rudely, showed, and may continue to show, little to no regard towards Africa and her rich history. I pose this question to you, reader: Why go to a banquet that celebrates African pride and unity if not to listen to the celebratory examples of African pride and unity? Perhaps the key to understanding your own plight is to understand that of Continental Africans. At that banquet, TWESE stepped up as an intellectual tool to be wielded against those seek to belittle and deride Africa and her people, including you. Unfortunately, this great opportunity was ethereal to most. Sitting in their formal wear it appeared that much of the audience was far more concerned about their outfits and shiny shoes rather than the professor. Before you come to an event that is about building solidarity and pride, ask yourself, “Am I here solely to flex, to electrify others with my outward appearance or should I challenge myself to be electrified SPRING 2015 || BVCL MAGAZINE - 27 intellectually, stimulating further interest in discourse and knowledge?” Do bett er.
DO BLACK LIVES MATTER TO YOU? I long for the day when I won’t have to worry about our future black sons and daughters being killed simply because the color of the skin. Yes, all lives matter; all lives have value, which is why we must proudly say with conviction that “BLACK LIVES MATTER” because the American system hasn’t held this truth to be self-evident in their long history with black people. Solidarity is the only weapon we have against the centuries of dealing with this stronghold we call racism; we as a people must work together. I saw the power of solidarity when I participated in marches across campus and discussions with black student organizations. There has been action and it must continue in order to break the chains of injustice. It stuck me as I stood in that group of over a thousand people who were ready to fight against injustice and join this movement, that so needs our commitment. I wanted to understand other’s views on the movement, so I asked. Hear their voices and formulate your own opinion, if you haven’t already.… -Eman Osagie
Black lives matter, because we are human beings. The saying means that we are people too! Our lives are just as important as any other persons. I think the current state of black activism is currently being revived for our generation. I’m seeing a lot more people who are proud to be black. However, to society, it’s almost like black lives only matter as long as there aren't too many of them. -Tyrone Logan, Major: American Studies 28 - BVCL MAGAZINE || SPRING 2015
There is sanctity of life that I regard as belonging to every individual who breathes on this earth. The color of one’s skin does not nullify or void this truth. The slogan “Black Lives Matter” is an affirmation of this. Many declaim its use as superfluous, and unnecessary, going so far as to edit it and re-post on social media platforms as “All Lives Matter.” All lives do matter. But our society has a severe case of selective amnesia when it comes to this and needs to be reminded that this security of life also applies to colored persons. – Ayodeji Folarin, Major: Biology
I believe that "Black Lives Matter" because it shouldn't be that our skin color determines the way we are treated as a people. The slogan "Black Lives Matter" means strength; it means defying the odds that are placed on our lives day in and day out. it means rising above. In the past few years, we as a nation have been gripped with the rise of the unjust murders of black peoples, and I find it scary that it’s at a time that we have an African-American President and there has been a spike. Black lives on college campuses matter because we the future of our people and are the links to creating a better future and changing the current events that are happening in our environment today.
No one should be targeted because of their race. A life is a life and it's not something that should be easily stripped away from someone. Black lives have always mattered and always will matter. They matter every single day at every single moment and all black lives have value. The slogan exemplifies unity within the black community. It shows a desire for recognition that our lives truly do matter and that we will not continue to allow our race to be suppressed.. It means that we know and value our worth and will not tolerate injustices any longer.
- Jimi Gbadamosi, Major: Information Technology & Informatics
-Ndeye Gueye, Major: Nursing
I believe that ALL lives matter. However, when it comes to the recent police brutality and discriminatory violent cases that has strictly targeted mostly African American men, it is obvious to say that "Black lives matter" because our lives are devalued by the system. Young African Americans have lost their lives due to excessive force, brutality and profiling. Most of these young men were unarmed and killed unjustly by law enforcement. To me, the slogan "Black Lives Matter" is a wake-up call to humanity and a message that racial injustice exists. As a people, we are making that very clear through the many protests that erupted around the world and on college campuses. We must stand together in order for change to manifest. - Faidat Gbajabiamila, Major: Public Health
We are constantly repeating the phrase "Black Lives Matter" because everyday we are faced with false propaganda suggesting that they do not. This biased information is instilled within the school system, media, and American history overall. #BlackLivesMatter is not only a response to the recent injustices, but it is a call to action for anyone that truly believes in equality and progression in the United States. There is tons of work to be done in regards to race relations, and since college campuses are building the future of the American workforce, there is no better place than here to place Black Lives Matter as a priority in our agendas. This university alone is saturated with leaders, artists, and innovators that have the passion to use their skills to create change within the nation. If we would all be willing to pool together our time, resources, knowledge and talents appropriately, America can look a lot different to our future children. -Joan Agbo, Major: Pharmacy
Being an African American woman, the current state of violence against black persons is deeply upsetting and intolerable. For decades black people have fought for the same liberties and rights of other races and as time progressed one would think we were close to achieving our goal; this new wave of violence, however, shows that there is much to be done. When hearing the slogan “black lives matter” (instead of “all lives matter”) it emphasizes how little progress we, as humans, have made. As it is, I am proud of the current state of black activism in the United States. To witness so many people take a stand to fight a battle that has never ceased (same battle that has been going on since before the modern Civil Rights Movement) is both inspiring and motivating. The youth has a really important stake in addressing and ultimately working to fix the current state of racial affairs. So, I think that raising awareness about racialized violence on college campuses would encourage more people to participate in the battle to put an end to a war that has been waged for centuries, especially since college students have specific access to folks of all different races and cultures. - Kirsten Richburg, Major: English
SPRING 2015 || BVCL MAGAZINE - 29
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Rutgers University’s Black Voice/Carta Latina meets every other Monday at 8pm at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Busch Campus. If you’re interested in joining our editorial family, email us.