Ego magazine spring 2016 by Southern Digest

Special Edition

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

4 Racism in Spanish Town 8 Black Entitlement 16 Dear Stacy Dash 18 Black Girl Magic 26 Black History Abstract Art 36 What Would We Do Without the Blue? 40 A Note of Appreciation 44 Black Hashtags

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

Greetings Jaguars,

worldliness that is #BlackGirlMagic. The idea of

When the idea of a Black History themed magazine was brought to the table, my staff and I knew we had to go all out. As students at an Historically Black College or University, we felt it was our mission to pay our respects to those who came before us. But like most ideas, there was room for revision. Instead of Black History, we discussed the many concepts of Black Power. We eventually settled on the different aspects of Black Culture. This special edition of EGO Magazine is a depiction of

Black entitlement. Our content is vast but our recurring theme is Black. EGO Magazine has covered topics of Blackness before, but with the help my staff we kept the content modern and fresh. We touched on issued that have emerged in our lifetimes. To help shine a light on these ever occurring issues, the stories are accompanied by complex graphic designs and a plethora of color layouts. Featured on the cover is Nia Pearl. Crowned fierceness with a head of locs and skin of cocoacolored melanin, she radiates Black Girl Magic.

Blackness from a studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perspective. The plague of colorism in the Black community. The history

Alliyah MOORE

of Black music from the origin of Blues. The other

Fall 2016 EGO Staff

Tamia Little Staff Writer

SKyler Franklin

Morgan Becnel

Don Green

Jori Lacour

Staff Writer

Staff Photographer

Staff Writer

Treasure Dotson Staff Writer

Kayla FOster Staff Writer

Marcahndrea Seals Staff Writer

Joshua McKnight

Managing Editor/Staff Photographer

ABOUT EGO

The EGO Magazine is the official student magazine of Southern University and A&M College, located in Baton Rouge. It is written, edited and published by members of Southern University A&M College student body and is published two times a year: once in the fall and once in the spring with a run count of 1,500 copies per issue. The EGO Magazine is a publication of the Office of Student Media, a Division of Student Affairs. Our office is located in T.H. Harris Hall, Suites 1064 & 1062. Articles, photographs, and graphics are property of EGO Magazine and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without written permission of the Editor-In-Chief and the Director of Student Media. Articles, features, opinions, speak-outs, and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff, or student body. EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Copyright Southern University Office of Student Media, 2015. Director of Student Media - Heather Freeman Director of Sales/Advertising - Camelia Jackson Publications/Graphics Manager - Jermaine Proshee

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Quotes from Our Leaders “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” --- Maya Angelou, Poet/Author “We should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudices.” --- Carter Woodson, Author/ Journalist/ Founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”--Coretta Scott King, Author/Civil Rights Leader “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” --- Martin Luther King Jr., Humanitarian/Civil Rights Leader/Activist/Baptist minister “For I am my mother’s daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart.” --- Mary McLeod Bethune, Educator/Founder of National Council of Negro Women “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” --- W.E.B. Du Bois, Sociologist/ Founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” --- Dr. Mae Jemison “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” --- Marcus Garvey, Political Leader/Journalist “Don’t be in such a hurry to condemn a person because he doesn’t know what you do, or think as you think. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”--- Malcolm X “If you’re not careful the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” ---Malcolm X “ If the Negro in the ghetto must eternally be fed by the hand that pushes him into the ghetto, he will never become strong enough to get out o the ghetto.”--- Carter G. Woodson “The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness” --- Marcus Garvey “I’m grounded in who I am and I am a confident Black man. A confident, Nigerian, Black, chocolate man.” --- John Boyega, Actor

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Maya Angelou Poet/Author

Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Leader/Activist

Mae Jemison First Black Woman Astronaut

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Carter G. Woodson Journalist/Author

Corretta Scott King Author/Civil Rights Leader

Mary McCleoud-Bethume Educator/Founder of NCNW

W.E.B. Du Bois Sociologist/Founder of NAACP

Marcus Garvey, Political Leader

Malcolm X, Human Rights Activist

John Boyega Actor

Racism in Spanish Town

Should I be offended?

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Spanish Town?

Spanish Town is a historic district anchored by Spanish Town Road in Baton Rouge, the capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is wellknown for its annual Mardi Gras parade, which is the largest in Baton Rouge. Spanish Town was commissioned in 1805.

The infamous Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade was held on on February 6, 2016 in Baton Rouge, LA. A father and son attempts to enjoy the parade, while a guy expresses his freedom of expression as he waves the Confederate Flag. Photo: Don Green

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Should I be offended, as I watch a father try to find the words to explain to his child about how some people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about our feelings? Photo: Don Green

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A float sponsored by “Wasted Krewe” decided to decorate their Float with #PinkLivesMatter and #allflamingosmatter. It attempted to marginalize the Black Lives Matter Movement. Are Flamingos Lives more important that Black Lives? February 6, 2016 , Spanish Town Mardi Gras. Photo: Don Green

Pictured is a racially provacative Rebel Gay Pride flag laying atop a float during the 2016 Spanish Town Parade. It’s combined conotation stands to make one believe that even southern gays, a marginalized oppressed group, also hates Blacks, another marginalized oppressed group. Photo: Don Green

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Colorism by: Morgan Becnel

Colorism has been described as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group. The idea of colorism dates back to Slavery where one man named Willie Lynch, first introduced the methods for control of slaves. In 1712, Willie Lynch was invited to the colony of Virginia to give a speech on something that he was passionate about. That speech would forever change the lives and history of Black people. The Willie Lynch letter focused on “The Making of a Slave.” Making a slave is the study of the scientific process of manbreaking and slave making. In this process, Lynch compared Blacks to horses. When teaching wealthy whites how to break a man, or an animal, Lynch instructed wealthy whites to “Keep the body, and take the mind.” If you capture the mind, then the body will remain idle and therefore, the will to resist will be broken. Two cardinal principles for making a Negro consisted of “The one drop rule” and “Divide and conquer.” Lynch felt as though it’s critical for the white man to pay close attention to the Negro women, and her youngest offspring. He felt that it was important to concentrate on future generations. Lynch believed that if the woman was broken, she will break the offspring in its earlier years of development. As compared to a horse, Lynch stated that one must “Completely break the female horse until she becomes very gentle, whereas anyone can ride her in her comfort. Breed the mare and the stud until you have the desired offspring.” He went on to say, “She will eat out of your hand, and in turn train the infant horse to eat out of your hand also.” By paying such careful attention to the Negro women, and following the careful instructions of Mr. Lynch, Crossbreeding was in session. The One Drop Rule became prominent in the man breaking process because it was initiated to mix bloodlines between decedents of Africa and those of Europe. The one drop rule by definition describes a social and legal principal of racial classification that

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was historically prominent within the United States. Any one person with as little as one ancestor from the Sub-Saharan region was considered to be Black. Divide and Conquer is the policy of maintaining control over one’s subordinates or subjects by encouraging dissent between them. Lynch paid attention to detail when creating his list of differences when dealing with the Negro population. He noted that there are significant differences in Blacks. Those differences are based on complexion, age, size, sex, status, and height, and having fine or coarse hair. The kit that was used for control was simplistic. Slave masters were instructed to disrupt the sense of community on the plantation by turning the dark skinned slaves against the lighter skinned slaves. The Black men were to be turned against the Black females to deter the family unit. It was essential that the Blacks felt the need to depend on the overseers and their families. The objective was to implement fear and distrust. Lynch made it apparent that overseers should never miss an opportunity. Colorism is the ideology that was forced upon us by Mr. Willie Lynch himself. He taught wealthy whites and their families how to slaughter the Black community one person at a time. He assured the oppressor that his techniques would last three hundred years. Here we are over 150 years later, and still in bondage. As Black people, we are still battling with the destruction of the family unit, jealousy between different shades of the same race, and lack of respect for our people as a people. Lynch said it best, “Distrust is stronger than trust and envy stronger than adulation, respect or admiration.”–Willie Lynch

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***DISCLAIMER*** This article should be read with discression as the Willie Lynch letter has been proven to be a hoax, and therefore treated a conversational piece rather than an explanitory article. 13

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by: Kayla Foster/ EGO Staff Writer

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Throughout my years as a young African American, I have become aware of the problem of black entitlement. According to conservapedia.com, “Entitlement mentality is a state of mind in which an individual comes to believe that privileges are instead rights and that they are to be expected as a matter of course.” In my opinion, the whole concept of one demanding that he or she is entitled to something because they’re black is absurd and here’s why: Let’s take the black lives matter movement for example. Black lives matter is a statement often misinterpreted. It is a title used to represent the lack of equality, yet seen to some as a dramatic call for attention from the Black community. Instead of progressing, we now have to deal with the retaliation of the counter-phrase, “All lives matter” among others. This is ridiculous because blacks are well aware that all lives matter, but are others aware? Are others aware that all lives matter? African Americans are denied basic everyday privileges like respect and not worrying about consistent harassment. Blacks are being taken advantage of or killed not because of their actions, but for the color of their skin. Equality is the goal and the dream, yet it is being denied. Although racism still exists, it is not an excuse as to why we can’t get ahead in life. We have fallen into an entitlement mentality. To demand you deserve something that should be earned, because of your skin color is one of the many problems of today. Instead of moving forward, it actually sets us back. Many will be quick to argue about our past mistreatment, during enslavement, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights era. It should never be forgotten; however it cannot continue to be used as a crutch. We as a people will not progress if we cannot find a way to step forward and make an effort to live in harmony. This is a new time and we have been blessed with many opportunities. Whether you have brown, blue or green eyes with blond, brown, straight or natural hair, you should work for everything you want. Everything is not a race issue. We have to better ourselves as a community. We have the potential to work and achieve goals. We are driven enough to demand our rightful place in today’s society, instead of expecting it to be handed to us because of our complexion. I encourage our community to excel beyond expectations and my peers to become familiar with our career services so that we can learn to sell ourselves. We are not today’s statistics with a troubled past. We are future leaders who deserve the same treatment as the rest of society. So if we are entitled to anything we are entitled to natural rights, freedom and equality.

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Dear Stacy Dash, I am well aware that a plethora of my fellow black sisters and brothers are beyond the point of disavowing you and would greatly appreciate your immediate banishment. Though I empathize with their frustration, I believe that there is an underlying issue that is greater than your absurd comments. At the root of your ignorant statements lies a profound unfamiliarity with the obstacles that African Americans must overcome in order to accomplish their dreams. You fail to recognize a puzzling entity called prejudice that births a wrathful ideology called racism, and therefore acts as a legitimate road block along the path to success for those of African heritage. The only means of avoiding this unfair and binding system is to be extremely beautiful with racially ambiguous features (i.e. light skin and/or eyes), to be overly conforming to white dogma, or to come from an exceptionally wealthy family. Luckily, you fulfill more than one of these classifications and allowed to sip from the fountain of white elites. Your

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looks, overt willingness to say what the white man won’t due to fear of being called racist, and the way you are perceived due to these attributes have earned you a spot to sit with the faculty of Fox News channel, but have removed you from a position of relatability and cognizance of your own people. Since the moment you were casted in the hit pop culture movie and series Clueless as the token black friend, who could have easily passed for a Caucasian teen with a really great tan, you were granted a ticket into the “you’re not too black to sit with us” club. As a result of your initiation, you have been provided with a multitude of opportunities that those with darker skin or a coarser grade of hair will never get. On behalf of my fellow black sisters and brothers, I present you with a call to action. I ask that you remove the blinders that being a well-known, attractive, light skin, white-ish, African American woman have placed on your judgement and awareness. Open your eyes and heart to the existent struggles of your people and join the fight for genuine equality. Earnestly, Your concerned black sister

by: Tamia Little/EGO Staff Writer

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

LACK

USINESS

ower:

2016 Nielsen Report: Black Buying

Power Has Reached Tipping Point, But How Will Black America Leverage it to Create Wealth? February 4, 2016 | Posted by David Love ; AtlantaBlackStar.com

A new report from Nielsen, “The Increasingly Affluent, Educated and Diverse,” explores the “untold story” of African-American consumers, particularly Black households earning $75,000 or more per year. According to the report, Black people in this segment are growing faster in size and influence than whites in all income groups above $60,000. And as African-American incomes increase, their

spending surpasses that of the total population in areas such as insurance policies, pensions and retirement savings. “These larger incomes are attributed to a number of factors, including youthfulness, immigration, advanced educational attainment and increased digital acumen. As these factors change African-Americans’ decisions as brand loyalists and ambassadors, savvy marketers are taking notice,” according to Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, Senior Vice President U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement, and Saul Rosenberg, Chief Content Officer at Nielsen. It is projected that by 2060, the Black population will increase from 45.7 million to 74.5 million, with 17.9 percent of the U.S. population. From 2000 to 2014, the rate of AfricanAmerican population growth was more than double the white rate of 8.2 percent, and 35 percent faster than the U.S. population as a whole. According to Nielsen, the “youthfulness and vitality” among Black consumers are being driven by a diverse influx of immigrants, who make up one in 11 African-Americans, or 8.7 percent. Further, there has been substantial education growth among Blacks, with high school graduation rates exceeding 70 percent, outpacing the growth for all students nationwide. In addition, Blacks are making gains in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, helping to fuel income gains. The largest increase for Black households was in the number of households making over $200,000, an increase of 138 percent compared to a total population increase of 74 percent. “The year 2015 represents a tipping point for African-Americans. As voracious media consumers, powerful cultural influencers experiencing burgeoning population growth create an unprecedented impact across

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a broad range of industries, particularly in television, music, social media and social issues,” according to the report. Black consumers are digitally empowered and well-versed in social media, helping to shape and shift the national discourse. And Black people are youthful — with an average age of 31.4 as opposed to 39 for whites and 36.7 for the total population — and rising in cultural influence, driving mainstream trends in music, television, music and other areas. Therefore, the report notes, those who market to Millennials and young people must reach Black youth. Other results of the Nielsen report include evidence of strong Black growth among income earners above $100,000 in metro areas of the South, such as Augusta and Columbus, Georgia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Aiken, South Carolina. The report also found that gatherings, festivals, reunions and other social events are popular among African-Americans. Further, Black buying trends show an emphasis on family and cooking ingredients tied to cultural traditions, and an expectation that the brands they buy will support social causes. According to Nielsen, “AfricanAmerican households spend more on basic food ingredients and beverages and tend to value the food preparation process, spending more time than average preparing meals. Other popular buying categories include fragrances, personal health and beauty products, as well as family planning, household care and cleaning products.” The authors of this report emphasize that as the social and cultural clout of the Black consumer is on the ascendancy, it is incumbent upon advertisers and marketers of consumer brands to develop a long-tern game with the Black community.

As The Atlantic notes, Black buying power is expected to reach $1.2 trillion this year, and $1.4 trillion by 2020, according to the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth. That is so much combined spending power that it would make Black America the 15th largest economy in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product, the size of Mexico based on World Bank data. By comparison, in 1990, Black buying power was $320 billion. As the largest consumer group of color, in a nation that is becoming increasingly darker, this trend will only continue to have its impact on the U.S. But in the end what does all of this really mean? We know that the Black community has much money at its disposal. What is the end goal for Black consumers, to merely buy more “stuff” that depletes in value and gets us nowhere, or rather to invest, own and build our wealth?

As corporate America and the business community vie for the patronage of the African-American community, Black dollars must serve as leverage. Black consumers must use their resources wisely — reward friends and punish foes accordingly, support Black-owned business and those brands who are in sync with our interests, values and aspirations. People and forces outside of our community want our business, but many will do little to nothing for it, or more importantly, for us, with no investments in our community and no jobs for Black people. Consider that companies spend $75 billion a year on advertising, but only three percent of that goes to Black publications, Black TV and radio stations and the casting of Black actors, as Pearson-McNeil told Marketplace. And yet, Black folks don’t have jobs because they are creating so many jobs

Continued on page 22 EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

for other communities. For all of this wealth, we don’t feel wealthy because we are sending all of our money outside the Black community. As Dr. Boyce Watkins noted we need to harness that wealth. He said that with over $1 trillion, one can buy: 1,000 NFL teams; 3,000 predominantly white universities; the annual budget of 1.4 million charter schools across the nation; pay the tuition at Howard University for 50 million students for an entire year; buy 854,000 community centers; purchase NBC, ESPN and CBS and still have $1 trillion left over. “When you look at Black unemployment, you see that Black unemployment is typically twice as high as white unemployment,” Watkins said. “Ask yourself this: Why is it that we give away $1.1 trillion in spending power when that $1.1 trillion could, according to most economists, create 12.2 million jobs in the Black community?” He added: “So, the point of all of this, the 22

reason I’m telling you all of this, is because you have to understand one important, fundamental fact. Your money is your power, and you cannot give your power away.” Further, as Black consumers are not respected, they continue to face institutional racism, policies that undermine their families, brutal police harassment tactics and mass incarceration. If #BlackLivesMatter, it also means that they must matter to Black people and that we can no longer pay good money to finance our own oppression. Martin Luther King and others had the right idea with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, as Black people were disrespected and forced to sit in the back of the bus. Similarly, Adam Clayton Powell led his own bus boycott in New York because the Transit Authority did not hire African-Americans, and he was involved in struggles against Harlem Hospital, Harlem drug stores, and other businesses that refused to hire Black employees. This is what

economic boycotts and disinvestment in apartheid-era South Africa was all about. As the Philadelphia Tribune reported last month, there is a new movement to economically empower the Black community throughout the country. LetsBuyBlack365 is a national grassroots movement that utilizes the online community and local networking to harness Black buying power, with a goal to create jobs and resources to help Black people. The organization’s video tells us all we need to know: Nataki Kambon, a spokeswoman for the group, told the Tribune that this is a critical time for their efforts, as Black people watch with dismay as Black people are killed by police and the offending officers are not indicted. “What stands out most is that these things don’t happen in communities where they have political power. Political power comes from having economic power, through having businesses that can lobby and represent their interests,” EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Kambon said. “It puts empowerment on the individual to say, ‘What can I do right now? I can’t do anything about Sandra Bland, I can’t do anything about some of these other people but I can do something about political power in order to have some sort of social justice for the future,’” she added. “If our communities are to change economically, it is going to be up to the African-American community and business leaders lead the charge. We can help win the war on poverty in our communities,” said Chet Riddick, head of the Alpha Enterprise Group. Riddick told the Tribune that Alpha has formed a purchasing agreement with Let’s Buy Black LLC. “It is important for our African-American

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businesses to figure out how to grow to scale because if we grow to capacity, we can then hire more people from out of own communities. We would be able to train and hire people from our own community so they would be able to lead productive lives,” he added. Meanwhile, the Prosperity Foundation is creating a philanthropic vehicle to sustain and improve the state of Black America. “Leveraging our money to create any and everything to move our agenda and people forward — that’s the goal,” Prosperity Foundation founder and President Howard K. Hill told the New Haven Register. “We want to help as many of our people as possible, not just on the granting side, but as well as job creation.”

The foundation plans to create a statewide African-American community foundation in Connecticut, which they hope to duplicate nationwide. “In many areas of our community there are often times layers of distrust which prevent us from moving forward as a collective unit. It’s a result of living in America, where we’ve been systematically oppressed and encouraged not to be a unit,” Hill added. “We have a lot to heal from and creating something for ourselves for future generations is going to be a very difficult process,” he said. “It’s a process we need to continue to work at in order to change the outcomes for our community.”

by: Tamia Little

EGO Staff Writer

The word black is often coupled with ordinary words in the not so coincidental creation of a new expression that holds an obvious negative connotation. As a result, in the English language, black is commonly reduced to all things abhorrent and evil. Black magic is the invocation of wicked spirits, so your black skin is a sign of immorality. Blackmail is extortion, so your black skin makes you villainous. Blacklists are for individuals who are suspicious or disfavored, so your black skin means you are rejected. Black market transactions are illegal, so your black skin makes you sneaky and untrustworthy. A black sheep is a disgraceful member of a group, so your black skin means you do not belong. But contrary to what the tyrants of European decent who composed majority of the dictionary would like you to accept as absolute truth, black is much more than the root word of a copious amount of undesirable terms. It bears meanings much greater than those used as a scheme to further oppress you. Black is what you see when you close your eyes: all that you have witnessed and all that you have yet to observe. Black is the dense and fruitful soil that mothers the marvelous flowers that bloom in the spring. Black is the tranquil night sky that signifies both the beginning and end of all that is. Black is the trunk of the tree, deeply rooted with the wisdom of time and a past that can only be seen when its rings are cut into. Black is the essence of life, death, and everything in between. Black is more than what they want you to believe it is and nothing like what they claim it to be. Black is sophistication, power, and royalty, so your black skin makes you a god. 24

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Movinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; o u by: Tamia Little/EGO Staff Writer

n p

When a valorous being awakens in a plumetless gully His immediate concern is how he will rise up. He finds himself surrounded by darkness with no tools in sight, so he searches for a key within. Shackles clench around his ankles limiting his progress, however, short and concise steps make the journey more striking. His back, a canvas painted with gaping wounds, but whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a warrior without scars? His stomach a desolate pit, yet knowledge and freedom are his only cravings. Indigenous to subjugation and injustice, the odds are formulated to be against him. Though the world is set on holding both his mind and body captive.

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Nothing can stop this courageous heart from movin on up. 25

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The subject of today’s lesson: Black. Girl. Magic. I’ve heard it called Could it be the curl of my lip Or the twinkle in eye? Maybe the twist in my hips as I strut on by. The kink of my hair or my soft, gentle touch. This passion he claims to love so much. Magic, they call it. Can’t explain how we make full bellies with a third of a gallon of milk and only the ends of loaves of bread. No cash to pay electricity so oil lamps light worlds instead. 48 hours worth of work in one day, Just to wish she could rest because help’s on the way. Magic. They call it. And rightfully so The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces. Define magic. Sorcery. Enchantment. Voodoo. Hoodoo. Mojo.  Give me synonyms for magic.  Tell me how to define  Black. Girl. Magic Strong. Courageous. Dangerous. Intelligent. Creative. Protective. Passionate. Soulful. Loyal. Honest. Selfless. Independent. Beautiful. Fearless. Liberated.  Unexplainable  And I could talk in hopes that I’m provided more tocs than tic But infinite time is not enough to cover a subject such as this Black. Girl. Magic. 101 Class dismissed By: Corrinne Vaughn Contributing Writer

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by: Treasure Dotson, EGO Staff Writer

Love 32

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Jaguar Nation, In the past it has been said that we were inadequate; that we did not fit the mold; that we at the very least do not deserve a proper education. Well now is our time. Now is the time that we place our beautiful minds on display for the world to see. Not to just defy the odds, but to prove to ourselves that we can be the generation that can change the face of society. I am aware that this quest is not new. Many have pursued this goal, but have failed due to overlooking of the ONLY solution that has ever worked. The solution has brought great inspiration to great leaders down through history. The solution is and always will be “Love.” A force so great that it causes walls to crumble and can mend more than a lifetime of pain and despair. A force that can only spew from the inside out. We must neutralize society’s discrimination and racism with love. We must fix the commodities we didn’t break as well as the ones we have, that have held us back for long enough, and strive to bring our communities to a standard of royalty. We must no longer be held stagnant by the hazed effects that society has placed us under. A haze that has left us blind to the fact that we are descendants of great people, who established civilizations; which have set the blueprint for civilizations today. This haze has caused us to believe that killing, stealing, court visits, handcuffs, the back of police cars, gangs, drugs, the list goes on; are not beneath us. These effects can be reversed by us continuing to use our talents to give back to our community. This is the key to us becoming more than an endless sea of words, instead scholars should unite; with one motive. A motive to spread Love throughout our campus and community. By identifying what our communities really need and pouring our all into it. This road will not be easy, but when it is all said and done we will have begun a new era. An era where they would have no choice but to listen. Lets become the change we hope to see.

Until next time, Treasure X

Yours EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

The Return of Glory by: Treasure TreasureDotson X EGO Staff Writer

Since Goree Island One of the world’s most prestigious ethnicities Have been belittled and brainwashed Made to believe that they we’re And never will amount to anything. Thus, stripping them of their glory. Sold into slavery, killing them slowly; freed, Just to be killed anyway, Stringing Our CEOs from wood, Just to ensure that we view Ourselves the way they see us. PUPPETS! Because the Return of the Glory Was too much of a threat. They took us from whips and chains to whips and chains, Just to maintain a profit. Then came our leaders, Those whom God anointed with the scissors Many lost everything, In an attempt to maintain blissful ignorance: But one can Never hider God’s plan Especially when the Return of the Glory is at hand. Fast forward to our generation, A generation anointed with the eternal fire A fire to incinerate the strings, The Powers have utilized To control us for centuries, Never to bound us again. What you are now witnessing is the: Return of the Glory. 34

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1868 Louisiana Lieutenant Governor,

Oscar James Dunn

by: Jori LaCour Ego Staff Writer

Post Civil War, Oscar Dunn began his first venture by starting an agency in which freedmen who were, “good servants and field hand” were hired out to residents of New Orleans and surrounding parishes. Working with the relatively new freedmen gave Dunn an opportunity to be an advocate for land ownership for blacks, education for all African American children, and equal protection laws under the fourteenth amendment. He became the secretary of the Advisory Committee of the Freedmen’s Saving and Trust Company of New Orleans. Following this major accomplishment, in 1866 Dunn structured the People’s Bakery, which was an enterprise owned and operated by the Louisiana Association of Workingmen. The enactment of Reconstruction Acts (1867) called for five military districts with commanders and the registration of blacks as voters as well as a new state constitution—with federal approval. Louisiana and Texas encompassed the Fifth District, with General Philip H. Sheridan as commander. In August of that year, Sheridan selected Dunn to the Board of Aldermen of New Orleans. It was Dunn’s expertise as a councilman that brought about public education for the city and later for the state. Dunn oversaw a committee in charge of amending Article 5, which centered on the enrollment age of children attending public schools and placed responsibility for education on the Board of Aldermen. Although the resolution was laid on the table, his move to enact such a decree was realized in the Constitutional Convention of 1867-68, when a similar law was enacted and become one of the most progressive actions taken in opening all schools to all races. Other issues Dunn took on incorporated the establishment of an efficient firefighting system, the requirement that qualified electors should hold appointments, a reconfiguring of the chain of command at City Hall to place it under the general supervision of the mayor, and the establishment of council rules for operation.

In 1868, Oscar J. Dunn would become the candidate for lieutenant governor along with the well-known, octoroon Francis E. Dumas—the highest ranked non-white officer in the Union Army. Dunn was drafted into the race and placed on the ticket with gubernatorial candidate Henry C. Warmoth. Warmoth and Dunn won the election solely on the freshly enfranchised black voting block and the exclusion of former Confederates of the polls. After taking his oath on June 30th, Dunn led a movement to incorporate an additional oath for new legislators; he wanted state senators to take a test oath to assert that they had not fought against the United State in any way. President Ulysses S. Grant concluded the matter by necessitating only the oath in the Louisiana Constitution to be used in the swearing in of the legislature. Dunn was not only honored for his duties as lieutenant governor, but also as president of the Metropolitan Police. In addition to those positions, Oscar Dunn was also a member of the Printing Committee and president of the Board for the Distribution of Pensions to Veterans.

Oscar James Dunn

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At the fall of Governor Warmoth, Dunn stepped in and handled the role so well that his enemies even had to commend him for his efforts. Warmoth’s lack of control over the Executive Committee placed leadership into the hands of Oscar Dunn. His incredible leadership skills led many to believe he would become the next Governor of Louisiana in the 1872 election, and from there, be elected to the U.S. Senate. Unfortunately, on November 20, 1871 Dunn became extremely ill. Two days later, Oscar James Dunn was no longer a living man. Many speculated that he was poisoned but all doctors who examined Dunn named the cause of death as congestion of the brain. In his forty-five years of life, Oscar J. Dunn managed to pave the way for African American men in Louisiana politics and politics itself. 35

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by: Skyler Franklin EGO Staff Writer

frican Americans have developed various forms of music that ultimately helped create music that is presently listened to today . Two of the first forms of literature and music for African Americans were the blues and spirituals. The spirituals focused mainly on the disadvantages of the slaves and their long to be free, while blues focused mainly on the secular aspect of the black population. Blues came alive when some slaves began to attain their freedom. The content describes the struggle of everyday life. Music has been a part of African Americans culture previous to the arrival of slaves. Tribal dances were conducted as a form of coming into adulthood. The traditions continued as Africans were transported to the Americas. Slaves sang numerous songs in order to get through what they were enduring at that time. On plantations, they would sing songs to keep them motivated during their dark times. These songs were called “work songs”. Work songs were adapted to fit the discrete kinds of labor required by the slave system, including gang slave work labor, task labor, and individual work. Around the time of the Emancipation Proclamation the blues sprouted from work songs. The blues was unique because it used a style that was new to music at that time. The first and second verses were the same but the third was different which created the rhyme scheme of AAB. The tradition of blues has an oral culture. This means that blues is not learned in books; it’s taught through passing of tall tales, legends, and techniques from person to person over many generations. The emergence of gospel is rooted from the blues where churches wanted a more modern form of music. Mahalia Jackson and Thomas Dorsey are credited with being the mother and father of gospel. From Gospel and Blues, Jazz was born in New Orleans around the late 1800s. Jazz was loved because of its unique rhythms and syncopation. (The stress of beats that are off rhythm). Some mentionable artists include Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, and Count Basie. Rock and Roll also emerged from rhythm and blues. Artist like Chuck Berry and little Richard developed and originated the sound while other artists like the rolling stones and Elvis Presley stole their music and received the credit. The smooth sound of Soul music came from the blues. Berry Gordy’s “Motown” featured Soul music that eventually turned into pop. Artist like Prince and Michael Jackson helped to spread this type of music. From pop, Hip Hop and rap emerged. This genre of music has grown from the little streets of New York in the 1970s to a worldwide phenomenon that is still evolving to this day. Artist like Kurtis Blow, Doug E Fresh, and Fab Five Freddy are amongst the first known rappers. More recent rappers include names like Drake, little Wayne, and Nicki Minaj . So what is it that we can conclude from this small history lesson? Without the blues we would not have many genres of music that we do today. EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

The Portrayal of Blacks in the Media by: Marchandrea Seals EGO Staff Writer In the 21st century, African Americans are still suffering from racism, poor portrayals and stereotypes in the different outlets of media.

black cartoon characters. The black cartoon characters were dumb, lazy, loved watermelon, pie, and fried chicken. Most of these characters barely spoke English, it was more of poor fragmented language. They sang happily, had bucked teeth, very

Television shows are one of the many media outlets that stereotype Black people. White actors would use coal and greasepaint to paint his or her face black, make-up to enlarge their lips, and wear head rags to portray a Black person. This was known as Blackface. Blackface was used in place of Black actors in theatres and television shows during the 1900s. When Blacks began to appear in television shows, they played the role of butlers and the “mammy” roles. The butler always obeyed and worked for his master while the mammy always cooked, cleaned and tended to the children. The mammy can also be known as the auntie. As time progressed, more Black actors were cast but as the angry black woman role, the Black single mom household, abusive relationships, the deadbeat father, and the struggling Black family. In early 1900s, children’s cartoon featured 38

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big lips and big noses. The black characters

sound â&#x20AC;&#x153;blackâ&#x20AC;?. These depictions are how the writers,

were not voiced by black actors

producers, directors and white America viewed Black

but

instead

Americans.

white actors

Along with television, there are poor depictions of

pretending

Black people from news outlets. News outlets mostly

focus on Black entertainers, Black athletes, crime, drug usage, gang violence, or anything against social norms that is related to Black people. Everyone watches, reads, sees and hears the news and these outlets influence the perception of Black people that leads racism and stereotypes. Social media is another important media outlet. Social media plays an important part in allowing people to freely express their thoughts, make posts, and share photos online and on different social networks. Social media aids in spreading hate but helps society become aware that racism still exists. Black people are encouraged to own their own networks and produce their own television shows to promote a more diverse workplace and help society understand Black Culture in a variety of positive ways.

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“The impatient idealist says: ‘Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.’ But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace.” -Chinua Achebe (No Longer at Ease)

by: Brittany Nixon EGO Staff Artist EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

by: Skyler Franklin/EGO Staff Writer

ey you , yeah you ! Have you wondered why there is

advocated for Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey. The Honorable

not a Malcolm X day but there is a Martin Luther

Elijah Muhammad appointed Malcolm as a minister and a

King Jr Day ? One things for sure, they both played

national spokesman for the Nation of Islam . He also assigned

a significant role in Civil Rights Movement . They were both

him with the task of building new mosques for the Nation.It

ministers, both went to jail , and both were assassinated. Perhaps

is said that with X’s help , the Nation of Islam grew from 500

it is the way each is remembered after their deaths that cause

members to over 30,000 members. Malcolm X’s philosophy of

one to have a nationally recognized holiday and the other to not.

protecting yourself “by any means necessary” caused him to

Malcom X and King’s philosophies were completely different .

gain a lot of attention from the media . Malcolm used different

X stood behind the teachings of the Elijah Muhammad and the

outlets such as the newspaper , radio and even television to

Nation of Islam, while King stood behind christianity and the

spread his message. Martin Luther King surfaced in the media

congregation of his church . There are many similarities in their

when the Alabama Bus Boycotts took place after a 42 year old

upbringings. You can conclude their reasoning for wanting to

woman, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the colored

change and lessen the oppression for African Americans. Some

section of a bus. The boycotts were a success , This allowed

of these similarities include the fact that both their fathers were

the civil rights platform to surface. After the boycotts, sit-ins ,

ministers . Martin’s father was a minister in Atlanta , Georgia

marches , and other non violent protest were conducted in an

and Malcolm’s father was a Baptist minister, who supported and

effort to integrate the south.With both men seeking change

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during 1950’s and 1960’s , you start to ask yourself; what is it that makes Malcolm X less qualified for a Nationally observed holiday as opposed to MLK. The most logical theory that I can conclude is that out of the two men , one of them is remembered for non violent and peaceful protest while the other is remembered for being feared; backed by the Nation of Islam and the Black Panthers and being outspoken and harsh . When you first hear the name Martin Luther King Jr , the first thing that comes to your mind is his famous “I Have a Dream Speech”. Although he gave many , Malcom X doesn’t have a speech or an event apart from his assassination that allowed him to be as loved as MLK is. Many

Fact:

Thus Malcolm and King each became a focus of one of the opposing wings of the movement for equality that swept Black America, and the country, in the middle of the last century. The titanic struggle shook the nation and the world, and its reverberations are still felt today. As for King and Malcolm, born three years apart, they would also depart three years apart, each assassinated in the struggle at age 39. (Malcolm in New York in 1965. King in Memphis in 1968.) - Blackstudies.net

feel as though Malcolm X should have a national holiday in his honor but you can see where the controversy and discrepancy lies in his legacy lies. Both men died for a greater cause though , look at how far weve come .

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A Note of Appreciation by: Morgan Becnel-Adams EGO Staff Writer

uring Super bowl 50, there were multiple upsets. For some, Beyoncé’s performance was more than bothersome than the outcome of the game. During the halftime show, the former lead singer of the group Destiny’s child performed her latest overnight hit, “Formation.” During the song, she said the word Negro on live television. That made audiences around the world gasp. What really got under the skin of millions was more powerful, a Black woman dressed in all Black singing to the world how proud she is to be a Black American. “My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana, you mix that Negro with that Creole make a Texas Bama. I like my baby heir with her baby hair and afros. I like my Negro nose with Jackson Five Nostrils.” That specific verse proved to the masses why Beyoncé reigns as Queen. Another thing that was found interesting about her performance during super bowl 50 was that her costume for the show was portrayed as militant. It was said that she chose to present herself as militant due to the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party. During the Grammy’s this month, Kendrick Lamar stirred some consciousness amongst a predominantly white audience when he recited a song off of his Grammy winning rap album entitled, “To Pimp a Butterfly.” The song that he recited was “The Blacker the Berry.” Kendrick approached the stage with shackles at his wrists and ankles. He performed the song as if it were initially written as a poem. The stage was set up as if he were imprisoned. There were cells, and prisoners, men locked up as if they were bound to cages. The song of choice was said to be one of the most prolific tracks on his latest album. The lyrics include, “You never liked us anyway, F*** your friendship, I meant it. I’m African American. I’m African, I’m Black as the moon, heritage of a small village. Pardon my residence. Came from the bottom of mankind, My hair is nappy, my D*** is big, my nose is round and wide. You hate me don’t you? You hate my people, Your plan is to terminate my culture. You’re f****** evil, I want you to recognize I’m a proud monkey. You vandalize my perception but can’t take style from me.” With lyrics so profound, and a name that is always in the spotlight, both Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar have made headlines with their performances this month. There is no irony in what these two masterminds have created. The constant chatter has had both the Black and white community in uproar this Black History Month. Black people nationwide have had someone to stand up for us as a people and make noise in both our honor and defense. For that, we are thankful. This has been a simple note of appreciation for Queen Bey’ and King Kendrick.

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A Note of Appreciation

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â&#x20AC;&#x153; 48

Hate groups are an ever more precent aspect of our present day society. It is important as traditionally marginaliezed groups, as Blacks, and as individuals to understand our enemy and those who would bring harm to us and our pursuit of happiness.

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is the credible source used to help us understand the hateful underbelly of the USA. As of December 2015 these are the stats. We emplore all readers to learn what the infomation intells for your self and how to use it.#StayWoke EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

All EGO Staff Members 49

This US map show all 892 hate groups in the United States of America. Every hate group is color and symbol coordinated. In our state of Louisiana alone there are 21 hate groups, some of which are Black Seperatist Nation of Islam, Neo-Nazi, and the Ku Klux Klan.

EGO MAGAZINE | Spring 2016

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