Voice Magazine: The Unapologetic Issue (February 2016)

VoiceMagazine

FEATURING: # Bl ackGir l Magic # Car ef r eeBl ackBoy For mat ion:Beyonce's LoveLet t er Themagical bl ack women of r ut ger s

2 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Tab l e of Con t en t s

Tabl eof Cont ent s 4

Fr omt heEdit or Ev ent s

5- 12

Feat ur es

13- 25

Ar t s and cul t ur e

26- 30

BSU Opening Ceremonies

Cory Booker Visits RU

Edit or ial s

Page 6

Page 11

31- 35

Magical Black Women at RU Page 20 Sister Souljah Visits RU

Race and Digital Feminism

Page 10

Page 8

Formation: Beyonce's Loveletter

Page 23

Dear America, I am not going to apologize for terrorism Page 33 Hometown Hero: J.Cole

Page 28

BSU Opening Ceremonies

Page 6

Dear America, I am not going to apologize for terrorism Page 33

4 | Voi ce M agazi n e | From t h e Ed i t or

f r omt heedit or Dear Reader, Wel come back! It ?s nice t o have you back again af t er a brief wint er break hiat us. So much has happened since our l ast issue, it woul d t ake several l et t ers so get it al l down. The most import ant t hing t hat has happened is t hat Voice Magazine is back in print ! If you?re physical l y hol ding a copy t hen I suppose you al ready knew. If you?re reading t his digit al l y, pl ease go t o your nearest Rut gers newsst and and pick one up.

Thank you!

The t heme of t his issue is ?Unapol oget ic?. Here we observe what it means t o be unapol oget ical l y who you are in every sense. Our f eat ure phot o spread ?# Bl ackGirl Magic? and ?# Caref reeBl ackMan? embodies t his sent iment , as t hese Rut gers st udent s f ul l y embrace who t hey are wit hout any t hreat t o t heir f emininit y or mascul init y. Let ?s be honest . We l ive in a worl d t hat want s us t o apol ogize f or who we are, whet her it be our race, nat ional it y, et hnicit y, or even rel igion. Apol ogizing f or who you are t akes many f orms. It ?s beginning a heart f el t comment wit h, ?I?m sorry but ? ?. It ?s saying your l ong et hnic name t o a new person, having t hem mispronounce it , and t hen saying, ?Yea, sorry it ?s compl icat ed. Cal l me [insert monosyl l abic name here]?.

It ?s t oning down your ?l oudness? so peopl e don?t st ereot ype you. It ?s apol ogizing when somebody wrinkl es t heir nose at your ?smel l y? et hnic f ood. Readers! Apol ogizing f or who you are means denying who you are.

If you deny who you are t hen who are you? Be unapol oget ic! Be you! Everybody may not accept you, but t he peopl e who mat t er wil l . And t hat , dear readers, makes al l t he dif f erence.

St ay unapol oget ic. St ay unabashed. St ay unashamed.

Sincerel y,

Ijeoma Unachukwu Edit or-in-Chief Thank you once again for choosing Voice Magazine, the one and only magazine of the minorities at Rutgers. We?re your voice, your megaphone and your platform. A special thanks goes to my staff, the National Association of Black JournalistsRutgers Chapter staff, our wonderful advisor Kiyanna Stewart, and the select Rutgers administration and faculty who have continued to support this historical Rutgers publication. None of this would be possible without you.

**Cover art by Jasanna Sevier. Photos on pg 5,6,14-19 by Joyy Taylor. Art on pg 26 by Matthew Gamble.

6 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Even t s

BLACK STUDENTUNIONOPENSBLACK HISTORYMONTHCEREMONIES by LaToya Dove The Black Student Union hosted their annual opening ceremonies on Saturday, January 30th.

Minority organizations convened to ring in Black History Month.

This year?s theme, ?The Re-revolution?.

The ceremonies opened with a welcome from BSU president, Dionne Higginbotham followed by the Black National Anthem lead by the Liberated Gospel Choir.Several organizations including Douglass D.I.V.A.S., Black Lives Matter, Palestine Children?s Relief Fund, and the Mountain View Project gave presentations on people who have made great contributions to society that they thought should be recognized during Black History Month.

"You can?t understand what?s going on around you unless you understand what happened before."

The highlight of the event was the keynote speaker, Lawrence Hamm. Hamm is a Princeton alum, activist, father of three Rutgers students (past and present), and much more. Hamm addressed the audience to encourage, educate, and bring fuel to the ?Re-revolution?. He spoke to the students about how to be in ?the fight?, but most importantly, having patience while in the fight because change doesn?t happen overnight. Hamm?s wise words resonated with the crowd, ?You can?t understand what?s going on around you unless you understand what happened before?.

Attendee Adeola Lawal was really inspired by Hamm?s address. She appreciated the knowledge that Hamm shared.

Hamm asked the audience if they knew about particular events, that didn't receive much media attention, and very few people

raised their hands. ?How are we supposed to fight for ourselves if we don?t even know what?s happening,? said Lawal.

Aside from speaking about the Black Lives Matter movement, Hamm talked about other issues such as high tuition rates and equality for students.

Olamide Gureje was moved by Hamm?s statements on tuition. ?My biggest takeaway is to more so, stand up for what we believe in,? said Gureje. ?For me personally, the tuition rates are extremely high and they continue to go high?. Gureje said she realized the importance of taking a stand against high tuition rates.

Hamm urged the students to not only remain informed, but stay unified.

This classy event was decorated by Rutgers Alumna Imani Johnson of Events by Imani. The soundtrack of the night included our favorite throwbacks thanks to Show Case.

78 || Ou d oor M agazi Oct t20 Voit ce M agazi n e n| eEven s 16

On February 15t h, 2016, t he Dougl ass Dean?s Col l oquium series host ed an event f eat uring Dr. Brit t ney Cooper, who is an Assist ant Prof essor of Women?s and Gender St udies and Af ricana St udies. Cooper is al so one of t he co-f ounders of t he Crunk Feminist Col l ect ive bl og and is current l y in t he process of compl et ing her f irst book Race Women: Gender and t he Making of a Bl ack Publ ic Int el l ect ual Tradit ion, 1892-Present . In

RACEAND DIGITAL # FEMINISM

by Martha Ugwu her t al k, Dr. Cooper expl ained t hat in t his modern day and age, t he vibrant act ivit y of f eminism is happening onl ine.

Wit h t he emergence of social media and bl ogs, f eminist s t oday are producing more cont ent t han ever bef ore. At t he same t ime, budding f eminist s al so have unprecedent ed access t o f eminist t heory t ext s onl ine and get t he most of t heir educat ion t hrough digit al media.

However, t here is a signif icant amount of women in t he academy who are al so engaged in f eminist st udies and part icipat e in t he f ight f or equal it y. The radical , unmoderat ed f orm of f eminism t hat is seen onl ine t ends t o have a st ronger f ocus on just ice, or issues beyond equal it y. The l iberal , academic f orm of f eminism aims t o achieve equal right s bet ween men and women. As a resul t , t he dist inct ion in t hese t wo kinds of f eminism becomes more apparent and can cause t ensions regarding t he overal l percept ion of f eminism in societ y.

Theref ore, t he main quest ion becomes how we can address t he t wo cont rast ing sides of f eminism and possibl y f ind some common ground.

Dr. Cooper?s next point f ocused on t he rol e of women of col or in onl ine spaces.

Their rol e is unique in t hat a majorit y of t he t ime, t hey are seen as t eachers, whose responsibil it y is t o educat e t he communit y on t he issues af f ect ing t heir race. However, t his can be a burden t o women of col or, who are f orced int o a

10 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Even t s 9 | Ou t d oor M agazi n e Oct 20 16

SISTERSOULJAH Busch student center?s Center Hall was humming with quiet chatter and excitement as over 200 people had gathered to hear Sister Souljah speak. There were people gathered in the front corner of the room and taking seats on the steps and floor because all the chairs had been filled.

She was dressed in all black, her dark hair swept into a high bun and her piercing eyes observing the crowd, as she sat waiting to give her speech.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Africana Department, in participation with the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, hosted a talk with Mayor Ras Baracka and the influential Sister Souljah on erasing the color line in society.Although people of various ages, titles and backgrounds congregated to hear her talk, Souljah?s address was for the black students in the room and focused on the responsibility that they held as community members, social activists, students and individuals. The author, who hailed from Rutgers University herself, opened her speech describing her humble beginnings in the projects of New York, her family?s move to New Jersey and her experience as an undergraduate student at Rutgers. ?It doesn?t make any sense to be at such a wonderful place lost and confused, when this is the exact place where you can gain the knowledge that you need in order to become conscious and aware, to liberate your mind, to cleanse out your emotions, to claim your history

by Aaliyah Roulhac and also their futures, whether that be for individual success or for social activism. ?I set my mind this way: what I want to learn is what I need to learn to become useful. Not what they require me to do, but what I require of myself and what I need in order to bring something back to my people that will help us break out of the current condition that we are in,? said Souljah.

The activist spoke on the importance of educating yourself when taking on injustice and the need for plans of action when getting things done as a collective. She was not afraid to critique today?s college students either, as she remarked that they are too individualistic and get too caught up on their own rise to success that they forget about their communities that need help. Souljah, who helped lead the anti-Apartheid movement at Rutgers in the 1980s, said, ?I am not advocating fear but I am advocating organization, intelligent planning, follow through study and sacrifice... When you sacrifice, all things that stimulate your own desires- that?s going to the party, going to the game, you?ve got to cut back on some of those things.? On that rainy Tuesday night, Sister Souljah inspired all of those who came to hear her speak and left, with the students, some of her wisdom in what it means to be truly ?useful? in today?s society.

12 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Even t s The Af ricana St udies Program at Rut gers Camden invit ed t he Nat ional Coal it ion of Bl acks f or Reparat ions in America (N?COBRA) t o speak st udent s Thursday night .

Prof essor Mahdi Ibn-Ziyad int roduced t he t opic of reparat ions being passed due t oward Af rican Americans.

The cl ass was spl it up int o f ive groups and each had a st udent l eader. Each group was assigned a t opic t o discuss, and one of t he f eat ure t opics was ?Reparat ions t o Af rican Americans have al ready been paid.? The group shared t hat reparat ions have not been paid. ?Wel f are was not creat ed based on race, so it is not a reparat ion? one of t he members said. ?There are more whit e peopl e on wel f are t han t here are bl ack.

We st il l haven?t got t en our 40 acres and a mul e.?

Resources are being hel d in banks, insurance companies and corporat e businesses.

Many businesses t oday were buil t f rom t he money of t he sl ave t rade. Many Af rican Americans are vict ims of consumer f raud f rom major banks, especial l y col l ege st udent s. St udent l oans are t aken out f rom banks t hat t hrived f rom t he sl ave t rade.

A power point l ect ure was present ed on t he hist ory of Af rican American sl aves. A report was shown t hat t he reparat ions has been given back t o ot her peopl e except bl acks. In 1830, General Wil l iam T. Sherman creat ed an order t hat l and grant s t hat woul d be given t o newl y f reed sl aves. It promised 40 acres and a mul e, but t hat order never passed t he House of Represent at ives. ?Bl acks who are el igibl e, shoul d be grant ed checks f rom t he money gained f rom t he sl ave

t rade,? anot her member said. ?Bl acks have t he right t o know which banks were creat ed f rom t he sl ave t rade so t hat t hey are aware when choosing banks.?

Money is not t he onl y f orm of reparat ion t hat was discussed. Educat ion and media pl ay a rol e as wel l .

St udent l eader, Dashel l Shaw, bel ieves t hat peopl e need t o be more educat ed about Af rican American hist ory. ?Text books need t o be changed because school s have eit her been al t ering hist ory or not going in dept h about t he t rut h,? Shaw said.

The media cont inues t o cont rol t he image of Af rican Americans. Af rican Americans are seen in a negat ive l ight and not al ways acknowl edged f or t heir work. The hasht ag # oscarsowhit e is a t erm t hat is t rending, not onl y because of t he unbal anced represent at ion but l ack of recognit ion f or Af rican American work. The right s Af rican Americans have gained t oday was f ought f or.

In order f or somet hing t o be a reparat ion, it has t o be given in benevol ence f rom

whit es. The head of t he Af ricana Depart ment , Dr. Kevin Green bel ieves t hat whit es owe reparat ions on a macro l evel . ?We are not l ooking f or reparat ions f rom any individual . It needs t o come f rom American businesses and corporat ions,? Dr. Green said. Af rican Americans who are ent it l ed t o reparat ions has t o be descendant s of sl aves. Anot her st udent l eader, Nairobi Col on bel ieves t hat t here shoul d be a dist inct ion bet ween which Af rican American get s reparat ions. ?There shoul d be a syst em creat ed t o make sure t he right peopl e are get t ing back what was t aken f rom t hem. It has t o be f air,?

Col on said. Dr. Green says t hat ent it l ement shoul d be a gl obal process. Each count ry shoul d have it s own syst em of handl ing reparat ions. ?Bl ack peopl e, anywhere are ent it l ed t o reparat ions if t heir ancest ors suf f ered sl avery. It shoul dn?t onl y be l imit ed t o Americans, because sl aves were scat t ered al l around t he worl d. Those who never got it are ent it l ed t o it .?

r ut ger s camden speaks out about r epar at ions Af r icana St udies pr ogr am r aises awar eness on l ack of r epar at ions as a cr ime against humanit y

by Chi Chi Obi

14 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Feat u res

Bl a c c a l B

Bl a c c a l B

#Bl a c kGir l Ma gic

20 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Feat u res

W K C A L B S L R A E C I G T G U A R M F E O TH # Bl ackGirl Magic. We?ve seen t he hasht ag, read t he t weet s, ogl ed over t he Inst agram pict ures. You yoursel f may have used t he hasht ag f or yoursel f or your Woman Crush Wednesday. Being magical is more t han just t aking amazing pict ures and smil ing t hrough t he gl it t er. Bl ack girl magic is t hat amazing resil ience, t hat power t hat breeds success in t he f ace of adversit y. This issue, we int erviewed t wo magical bl ack women on campus t o f ind out how t hey use t heir powers t o empower ot hers.

Donna Aust on Professor Donna Auston is a force to be reckoned with.

Standing at five feet and five inches, you may not assume so, but looks can be deceiving. This anthropology PhD candidate has been through the Ferguson riots, protests, and teach ins and has been documenting them for a while now. Auston?s primary focus is Black Muslim activism in the context of the Black Lives Matter Movement as well as the overall portrayal of black Muslims at the moment.

While at least a full third of American Muslims are Black, making them the largest racial group within the American Muslim population, often times their stories are erased from the narrative. ?When we think of Black Muslims, we often think of voluntary immigrants from Africa, but many of us were not voluntary immigrants and that?s not necessarily what I?m looking into?, said Auston. According to Auston, Black Muslims are also overlooked when talking about Black religious

W K C A L B S L R A E C I G T G U A R M F E O TH

22| Voi ce M agazi n e | Feat u res

invisible. Studies looking at incarceration, mental health, and education mostly focus on Black males and not their female counterparts. It is only recently that researchers have begun seeing Black women as a worthy subject. According to Dr. Cooper, Black female schoolchildren are suspended six times as often in comparison to their white counterparts. This can be due to the fact that they?re seen as overly aggressive and have higher of sexual harassment or abuse.

Unfortunately, this has negative outcomes on their achievement or their behavior.

While th is phenomenon is not new, the research is.

Black women deserve to be heard in any way they know how, demands Dr. Cooper.

These sentiments bore the beginnings of her crunk feminist movement. The movement began in Cooper?s undergraduate days at Howard University. A group of outspoken, unapologetic women who enjoyed jamming out to crunk music decided that they did not have to put what they love aside because it does not fit exactly into feminist politics. ?There is a feminism of shaking your ass in the club. It?s how we can work out our trauma and how the music fits its way into the body. It?s unapologetically us. We?re not interested in being polite,? said Dr. Cooper.

According to her, black women since the 19th century could be described as crunk, although not in the modern sense. While they held fast to some of society?s standards, they completely rejected others

to fight for the well-being of their race.

Together, they created spaces for black people to survive. That, Cooper explains, is the essence of crunk.

Some other role models include her mother, Ida B. Wells, Paula Murray, and a list of others because she refuses to pick just one. ?It?s impossible to pick just one because that was never a sustainable role model for how black women effect change.

They always had a crew and they always worked together. Even me, I?m not here because of my own steam. It?s because I had black feminists before me and guiding me, ?said Dr. Cooper.

So what makes black girls so magical?

Cooper describes it as the way black women and girls can make a way out of no way. They can look at anything and build something out nothing and soul-food out of scraps.

?The worl d can t el l us we?re not hing, but we st il l wal k around l ike we?re t he shit ?, said Dr. Cooper.

This crunk feminist just wants to leave one legacy: Be unapologetic. Never apologize for who you are or how you do things. Make sure you?re the best at it and that?s it.

24 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Feat u res

hands up in unison. A bl at ant ref erence t o ?Hands Up, Don?t Shoot ?. The scene t hen t ransit ions t o a wal l wit h graf f it i pl eading ?St op Shoot ing Us?. The l ines in t he song are f il l ed wit h st rong inspirat ion such as ?you just might be a bl ack Bil l Gat es in t he making? and ?now l et 's get in f ormat ion? and ?t he best revenge is your paper?. The obt ainment

of educat ion, weal t h and success as a Bl ack person is t he best revenge against syst emic racism and Whit e supremacy.

The video ends wit h Beyoncé l aying on t op of t he f l oat ing pol ice car and sinking int o t he wat ers, assumedl y t o her deat h. Symbol izing t he l oss of l ives due t o Hurricane Kat rina and t he f ail ure of t he pol ice and government t o t ake act ion.

Anot her import ant el ement is t hat t his video f eat ured many Bl ack peopl e f rom various backgrounds in Sout hern Bl ack communit ies. This video succeeds in paint ing an ext remel y accurat e depict ion of Bl ack cul t ure as it real l y is, f or it is not a monol it h, f or we are al l

diverse and unique f rom one anot her as any ot her race. However, despit e t he dif f erences, we al l share a cul t ure, hist ory and a l egacy and f ormed a communit y. Beyoncé is cel ebrat ing al l t ypes of Bl ackness and is represent ing every side of Bl ack cul t ure t hat is marginal ized.

Cont roversy around t he song arose most l y due t o t he Super Bowl perf ormance.

The imagery of t he perf ormance f eat ures Beyoncé wearing a bl ack l eat her jacket which serves as a t ribut e t o Michael Jackson?s jacket t hat her donned f or his Dangerous t our. Whil e her backup dancers have af ros covered wit h bl ack beret s which is a t ribut e t o The Bl ack Pant her part y whose 50t h anniversary was t his year.

Much of t he backl ash t owards Beyonce has been f rom Fox News.

Former mayor of New York, Rudy Giul iani said it was out rageous t hat she used t he Super Bowl t o promot e an ant i-pol ice agenda. Bit t er viewers have t ried t o st art a movement cal l ed # Boycot t Beyonce. Making cl aims t hat she is racist , ant ipol ice, and t hat t he song is a f orm of ?hat e speech?.

Many peopl e, f ans, and crit ics have praised Beyoncé f or being unapol oget ical l y Bl ack and support ing Bl ack Lives Mat t er. In f act , Al icia Garza, co-f ounder of Bl ack Lives Mat t er, personal l y t hanked Beyoncé and

26 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Art s & Cu l t u re

Ar t s and Cul t ur e

28 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Art s & Cu l t u re

I?m not going to change, I wil l be humbl e to mysel f and my cit y.

On Jan. 9, HBO premiered the ?J. Cole Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming? concert documentary after teasing fans for weeks.Directed by Scott Lazer, the 90-minute special is the fifth and final installment of HBO?s ?Road to Homecoming? series, with half-hour segments feeding hungry fans with glimpses of the rapper?s life on his recent ?Forest Hills Drive? tour. While Cole gifted his hometown with unmatchable energy and authenticity, the focal point of the documentary was not the concert. In fact, it wasn?t even about the music.

Described in the press release as ?part concert film, part backstage pass,? it comes at no surprise that a solid album, performed live by a solid artist, would produce a (you guessed it) solid concert film. But subtract the music, and you?ll still be able to appreciate ?Homecoming? for the nostalgic, inspirational work of art that it is. Cole?s performances are intertwined with vignettes of Fayetteville life, broadening the scope of the film and building a storyline outside of the music. ?I feel like Fayetteville is a microcosm of America,? says Cole of the starkly different perceptions of the town. ?You got people struggling and suffering on one side of town, and on the other side of town, they?re totally oblivious.?

An upbeat resident featured in the film described Fayetteville as a wonderful place to live in, a description juxtaposed against a group of women detailing the senseless crime that plagues the town. Plenty of opinions fill the spectrum in-between, but Cole?s voice triumphs over all.

He intimately reveals what Fayetteville, flaws and all, means to him and why selling out the Crown meant more than selling out the entertainment mecca, Madison Square Garden.

30 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Ed i t ori al s 31 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Art s & Cu l t u re

The Love Fr om a Black Woman The love fr om a black woman Runs deeper than stony mountain Gets you higher than ecstasy Pulls you closer than magnets Takes you in , consumes you in ways you can't fathom That Ebony Majesty Speaks to your soul and not just your body Captur es you, Holds you in spir it and blows your mind. It opens your eyes.

This love fr om a black woman is deeply r ooted , as we find time to er ase society lines of how we define the love for our selves , we have tr ouble finding the love for our selves and when we do , we ar e able to shar e it with you, That's a passion that can't be ignor ed That's a passion wor th being explor ed and ador ed For it doesn't occur that often The love of a black woman Many will downplay Cast in the shadows Abandon in the mountains But we still find our gr ound Picking up pieces fr om our cr own Allowing r oyalty to speak thr ough our souls, our bodies, Without making a sound And still find time to love you The love of a black woman is vulner able Yet indestr uctible, undefinable, unconquer able, and undeniable You have to see it to believe it Don't be afr aid to be a witness.

Essence Jar r ell

Essence Jar r ell

34 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Ed i t ori al s

the chances for Guillain-BarrĂŠ syndrome - where antibodies attack its own body?s nerves in an autoimmune reaction - which can cause mild to severe cases, possibly leading to paralysis.

Meanwhile in El Salvador, more babies are being born with microcephaly, which could be linked to vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of the disease. Microcephaly is an incomplete brain development and abnormal smallness of the head, commonly linked to drug abuse of the pregnant mother.

In this case, BBC has reported scientists finding Zika in amniotic fluid, but research is ongoing. Dr. Bruce Aylward, executive director ad interim of the WHO?s Outbreaks and Health Emergencies cluster, noted that they are trying to rule out other causes, which may take another 6-9 months.

El Salvador is a conservative, religious nation, with over 50% of their population of Roman Catholic association, and women here have been urged to try not to get pregnant until 2018 (not a recommendation by the WHO). Vanessa Iraheta tells the New York Times, ?It?s not up to the government; it?s up to God,?

speaking for many women questioning whether their rights are truly present. This matter has begun involving the Catholic Church and its stance on birth control under certain conditions. A drastic decision for women in El Salvador to avoid pregnancy

depends on other key factors, such as causation and if the epidemic is at its peak.

Thus far, there is no treatment or vaccine available for the Zika virus and the WHO advises prevention from mosquito bites bug spray, avoiding travelling to countries seeing cases of Zika, and protected sex.

Usually-mild symptoms may include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and malaise or headaches. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that only 1 in 5 infected actually become ill, symptoms usually appearing for only 2-7 days, if appearing at all.

As far as the Rio Olympics are concerned, the CDC has advised pregnant or potentially pregnant women to avoid travelling to areas with Zika outbreaks, including Brazil. During the Olympics, Brazil will be in its winter season, which may reduce mosquito prevalence, but if patrons contract the virus and return to their homes in the heat of summer, it can be transmitted throughout many of their countries. Other areas to avoid include Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, HaitĂ­, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Suriname, Samoa, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.

36 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Ed i t ori al s

victims.

So no, I will not apologize or suffer the consequences of the disgusting actions of others. Followers of Islam? 23 percent of the world?s population? are punished by stereotypes that are perpetuated because of those who just happened to call themselves Muslims, and that?s ridiculous.It?s 2015, people.

How much longer will we judge an entire group based on its vocal minorities, or perpetuate double standards against entire cultures, or preach tolerance and equality while discrimination clearly still runs rampant? We?re not sorry for making noise about injustice, for getting angry about the hijab ban, or for being on the right side of history.

According to the US media, Muslim lives matter only if they are the ones on the shooting side of the gun, the triggering side of the bomb? not if they are the ones being killed, not if it is their families that are being torn apart by raging bullets.

I will not apologize for my faith because of the actions of radical terrorists. It is grossly unfair to label an entire population on the basis of the actions of a few. Islam is not only a religion, but also a culture, deeply rooted in the values of love and peace and caring for one another. These terrorists have twisted and skewed the words of the Quran to justify their actions by saying they?re carrying out their duty as Muslims, when, in reality, they?re not truly Muslims at all, and do not represent our beliefs in the slightest.

Th

t S e

g n ro

For centuries, black women have consistently been torn down, whether it?s from oppression or by our own community. There is much talk about the struggle of black men and their identities by which many black women stand by. A black woman has always been the backbone of a black man, especially during the brutalities of the past and present. Black men don?t usually have to worry about the women not taking their side. History has proven time and time again that women have and still continue to stand by their men.

o W k c Bl a h

By Chi c

n a m

i Ob i

When it comes to the survival and the identity of black women, rallies of black men are nowhere to be found. There are many injustices toward black women that have not become nationalized or even recognized. The only major conflict that was known is Sarah Bland. Black women have always been killed, beaten, and raped by officers but the struggle continues to go unnoticed. The hashtag ?# sayhername? was created to raise awareness for brutalities against black women but it really hasn?t caught much press.

Oklahoma City police officer,

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