bl ack sta r spring 2013
ARêTE
CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE DO EMORY PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICES TARGET BLACK MEN?
MAGAZINE
MEET 2 OF EMorY’S MOST STYLISH STUDENTS HOW TO GET OFF CAMPUS & EXPLORE ATLANTA
HOW WILL ENDING NEED-bLIND Admission AFFECT BLACK STUDENTS AT OXFORD?
SPOTLIGHT ON: THE CLASS OF 2013
Black Star Magazine Editor-in-Chief: Hugh Hunter Managing Editors: Web - Malaika Nicholas, Print - Samantha Scott
staff & Contributors SPRING 2013
Business & Operations Manager: Briana Keith
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Arts/Entertainment Editor: Arie Pascale Lesperance Lifestyle Editor: Kimberly Herard News Editor Hugh Hunter Sports Editor: Jaye George Photography: Melanie Smith Layout: Janessa Aneke, Jasmine Cohen, Derek Kirland, Samantha Scott Writers: Jordie Davies, Ibrahima Diallo, Stella Fagbemi, Jaye George, Michael David Harris, Kimberly Herard, Michael Johnson, Johnny Pham, Tichelle Porch COVER PHOTO: SIMI ALALADE TAKEN BY MELANIE SMITH
A Letter From the Editor... Arête is a Greek term with a definition too complex to translate into English neatly. In essence, the word gets at the virtuous nature of an upstanding citizen. Having arête means having courage, leadership, and achieving excellence in one’s endeavors. Ideally, this is something we all strive for, but every generation has its shining stars; those who embody the ideas of the people, lead the vanguard, and produce the moments and melodies that future historians mark as defining moments of an epoch.
Here in the Emory Bubble, we have truly exhibited our capacity for excellence during the 2012-13 academic year. Facing the trials and tribulations of this year with courage and resilience has not gone unnoticed by our peers and predecessors. I personally hold a sense of pride knowing that we claimed our worth in a trying time. This year has been monumental with our Black Student Alliance being featured on Huffington Post Live, the establishment of Lambda Theta Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma on campus, and all of the work surrounding making this community a home for diversity, and not simply a harbor for it. Aristotle insists that excellence is a habit as opposed to an act; a product of tireless devotion and fostering of a particular craft. Looking at those we consider excellent today, we must praise them not only for crafting their habits, but for the creativity they possess which allowed them to be innovative at a point in history where we’ve seen it all before. The muses are truly smiling down upon select members of our community, and as they continue to blaze the trail of arête, they cannot help but challenge us to look within ourselves and to precipitate our fullest potential. If excellence is a habit, arête is a state of being, a state growing in inhabitance and proudly represented. Yours,
Hugh Hunter Editor-in-Chief
Arête : BLACK EXCELLENCE SPRING 2013
Although minorities have staked their claim to success in entertainment and athletics for ages, the true spectrum of our success has been much shorter than that of our counterparts, historically. Over the last century, however, we have proved able to achieve great success in areas that ignorance and stereotypes had convinced the world we had no prowess in. Thus this particular issue seeks to highlight not only black royalty in music, entertainment, and the arts but in areas like business, humanitarian efforts, politics, and so forth.
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TABLE OF ON THE COVER
7 EXAMINING OXFORD 9 ARE EU PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICES TARGETING BLACK MEN? 18 ESCAPING THE EMORY BUBBLE 20 STYLE STALKER
FEATURED 10 black student Activism at emory 12 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
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CONTENTS NEWS
7 EXAMINING OXFORD 9 ARE EU PUBLIC SAFETY NOTICES TARGETING BLACK MEN? 10 BLACK STUDENT ACTIVISM AT EMORY
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT 12
CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2013
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CONTENTS CONT. SPORTS
14 PROFESSIONAL BROTHERS
LIFESTYLE
16 LOVE LOST...LOVE FOUND 18 ESCAPING THE EMORY BUBBLE
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 19 IMAGES OF BLACK ROYALTY 20 STYLE STALKER
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Examining the Black Experience and Culture at Oxford College AS Oxford EndS Need-Blind Admission Michael David Harris Amidst heightened racial tension at Emory, a little-known policy change occurred this year at Oxford College. At the intimate liberal arts institution of about 900 first- and second-year students, the need-blind policy for admissions was abandoned. This means the financial need of students will be taken into consideration for admission decisions. Most top universities have need-blind admissions because it ensures a student’s incapacity to immediately pay tuition is not the basis of rejection from a school. Why was this disbanded at Oxford? It seems that so many low-income students were applying and being admitted into Oxford that the college’s financial aid budget became unsustainable. Low income students are often thought of as the first to pursue pre-professional tracks; this suggests a genuine liberal arts education like Oxford’s is reserved for students of high socioeconomic status. While the black population at Oxford and Emory is economically diverse, the policy change’s negative impact for black applicants is undeniable. Currently, black students are proportionally greater at Oxford than Emory, but without need-blind admissions this may soon no longer be the case. Now is the time to reflect upon the black experience at Oxford and realize what this small liberal arts
Oxford’s Seney Hall (photo via: Oxford.emory.edu)
community can teach about race and difference to Emory’s community at large. I should reveal that I write as an outsider to the Oxford experience. My first two years on the Atlanta campus were sometimes unsatisfactory. It was also hard for me to find a social niche, as I would make new friends one week and then not see them again for a month. With this in mind I chose to study abroad at a college with less than a hundred students. It was the most joyful time in my life, and left me wondering if my racial identity or childhood expe-
rience of life near the poverty line made the liberal arts experience more gratifying. I spoke to a few Oxford alums with perspective to evaluate how the black experience at Oxford is distinct from Emory. The assumption of many Emory College students is that those who attend Oxford are Emory’s rejects. My conversations revealed the opposite. Of the students I spoke to none applied to Emory College. Amber-Lee Leslie, now a college senior majoring in political science, said she found the Atlanta campus too intimidating and feared being overwhelmed by BLACK STAR MAGAZINE
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the voices and resources at Emory. “I wouldn’t have enjoyed Emory [College] if I came here first. I needed something to ground myself, [at Emory] there’s just too much going on.” Jocelynn Ramiah, who will also be graduating this year, noted that Oxford was her first choice school, and worried that at a place like Emory a student “may not have been able to make those really, really strong connections.” Students who want a small liberal arts education go in also wanting to be personally cultivated and grow in character. The voices I heard agreed that this element of education was achieved at Oxford. Most students at Oxford enroll in a freshmen seminar entirely different from what holds the same name at Emory. This single credit hour course features a curriculum on leadership and the practices and ideas of various cultures. The course is co-taught by faculty and a sophomore, allowing Oxford students to become teachers of diversity. This was one of the many bases of why seniors I spoke to felt race relations were better at Oxford than Emory’s main campus. The small student body does not just allow for greater student participation in small courses, it makes students feel more accountable to each other. Concerning race at Oxford, Amber-Lee stated that “the fact that we could talk about it, and [sometimes] move past it, and feel okay with it, goes a long way to talk about the administration, the students’ perception about how their voices are going be heard, and the way the community reinforces [its] values.” This captures how the black experience at Oxford was a unique one. Being black is not a primary marker of difference, as one student noted that at Oxford there was no need for a black space, but the basis for self-expression and community development. Imani Lewis, former president of Oxford’s Black Student Alliance, initiated discussion based meetings around HIV/ AIDS and the social implications of hip hop. Attendance, according
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NEWS
to her, was not mostly composed of black students. “That’s the thing about Oxford, everyone supports each other. We would support the African Student Union and the Muslim Student Association, and they would support us.” The students I spoke to expressed surprise in how race is dealt with and felt on Emory’s
“I sincerely hope that Oxford’s cultivation of black excellence through its curriculum and size can continue without being need-blind.” Atlanta campus. “I felt my blackness more here,” Imani said, “like, I became conscious of all this racial tension, which Emory doesn’t really know how to deal with.” Such feelings must be especially frequent this year, but one reason this may be the case is the lack
Photo via Oxford.emory.edu
of fraternities and sororities at Oxford. Instead, the campus has social clubs, which are regarded as diverse by all I spoke to. Therefore while racial difference is deemphasized at Oxford, black culture is broadly of greater value on the campus. African-American culture being particularly valued at Oxford is fitting considering the history of where it lies. Oxford’s relation to slavery and its postbellum black discrimination is not hidden but memorialized on the campus. This includes preservation of Miss Kitty’s Cottage and a cemetery featuring the burials grounds of slaves. Acknowledgment and memorialization of this history has not always been ideal at Oxford, but students inform me it is now integrated into the campus experience. I sincerely hope that Oxford’s cultivation of black excellence through its curriculum and size can continue without being need-blind. This would mean the current fourteen percent black enrollment at Oxford will not decrease. Otherwise, comments from black individuals such as “I just loved Oxford,” “I would [attend Oxford again], no doubt, I loved Oxford”, and “I loved Oxford. I really loved it, the good and bad” will not be heard so frequently.
anybody – that guy who sits behind you in Bio with the dreadlocks and Air Jordans, that guy in the DUC listening to Jay-Z while picking out his afro with his fist comb, or any other black guy you’ve seen – literally anyone…who is black anyway. But thanks to the Emory alerts, you will be ever diligent and always vigilant on the lookout for this enigmatic criminal. Thieves are the problem, and the Emory alerts are the solution, equipping students with the information necessary to protect themselves. This is a sentiment that is shared by no one. Emory alerts are a bigger joke than the first half of this article; they’re more of a The description of the culprit of each of problem than they are a pragmatic solution. these infractions is so varying and vague When this ambiguous Apple assailant that everyone seen around campus is a always looks like me, it’s a potential suspect. He or she (he) could be It’s 2:30pm and the sun is beaming. Air conditioner broke and you hear your laptop screaming—alerting you with an email. It’s an Emory alert, the ninth one this week, letting you know that yet another one of your classmates had their irreplaceable Apple product stolen. Put somewhat at ease by the notification, you find solace in the fact that the employees at the Emory Emergency Alert System are working tirelessly around the clock to deliver this vital news of stolen iPhones to the student population. What you don’t take solace in is the description of the thief, due mainly to the ambiguity.
problem. When “me and the homies” can’t travel in too large a group without being asked to relinquish our Emory IDs, it’s a problem. When simply being present around fellow Emory students makes them fearful of losing their belongings, it’s a problem. It is a problem that is mirrored in the nation as a whole; approximately 12-13% of the American population is black – much like here at Emory – but they make up 40.1% of the almost 2.1 million male inmates in jail or prison (U.S. Department of Justice, 2009). Emory alerts haven’t prevented any crimes, they’ve only served to instill and perpetuate a fear of black males, further disconnecting the Emory student population.
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Jordie Davies On February 22, 2013, the new Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Exhibit opened at Woodruff Library, solidifying the relationship between Emory and the SCLC. The opening of the exhibit, attended by civil rights leaders, such as John Lewis and Dorothy Cotton was also a silent protest attended by Emory students and faculty in response to Emory University President James Wagner’s article on what he called the “pragmatic” 3/5ths Compromise. This exhibit and the presence of injustice at Emory compel us to reflect upon the past and present of black politics and black student activism. Historically, Atlanta was a hotbed of black political activity as the home of the civil rights movement. During the movement, African American students all over the city participated in sitins, protests, and marches. Even on Emory’s campus, black students were acting against the injustices around them. According to the Emory College African American Studies website, after being admitted to Emory in 1962, black students demanded that they provided an “education that included a systematic study of what was termed the black experience” which led to the creation of Emory’s African American studies department. This department was, and is, determined to impart the history and culture of black America, as well as promote racial dialogue NEWS 10
on campus. The department endured difficulties at first, as Dr. Dolores Aldridge notes in her report “A Decade of Struggle,” crediting the department with “surviving” its first ten years. Still the department overcame low numbers and a low budget and flourished on Emory’s campus as an agent of research and insight into the black experience. Thus, black Emory students’ role in the Civil Rights movement was to combat racial ignorance and discrimination with education and enlightenment. As evidenced by the protests at the SCLC Exhibit opening, student activism is still alive on Emory’s campus. In response to President Wagner’s column, students organized a Rally Against Racism, to protest racial insensitivity in addition to a myriad of other issues on campus, including labor issues, disparities in student conduct March on Washington (left) and outcomes, and the administrative process, Emory Senior Kala Hurst (right) according to the event’s Facebook page. The Rally Against Racism was an energizing “To me, student activism means actively event, where student speakers expressed identifying and removing the barriers that keep us their concerns to an empathetic crowd, from embracing ourselves and others. Given our sporting signs and showing solidarity. The world’s history of oppression in various forms, Emory Wheel quotes College Council Vice President Stephanie Llanes’ call for action, we must dig deep to uncover who we really are “Emory ought to be different because we as people, communities. I feel that part of my act,” says Llanes. “We want change.” purpose is to encourage others to soar freely in their own.
Only then can we progress together.” The Rally Against Racism is certainly not -Jovanna Jones the first large-scale protest this school year.
rights, disparities continue to exist in society. For example, in the great city of Atlanta, issues of race are embedded in problems of education and housing. Emory students of many races are actively working against issues of discrimination on campus, but Emory Political Science Professor, Dr. Andra Gillespie believes it’s also important for Emory students, black or white, to also be engaged outside of the university and give back to the city that has given so much “The events of this year have obviously to them. propelled us into one of the more active phases [of student activism],” says Emory “Since the Civil Rights Movement isn’t this senior, Bukie Adebo. “I’m happy to see generation’s lived experience, people think people bringing these issues to the forefront, history is far removed. [Students] have to but I would love to see more consistency change their perspective. It’s great that students get riled up about overtly racial moving forward.” issues, but it is important to get to know the Additionally, despite the fact that African community outside of Emory.” Americans have gained civil and political Protests against the departmental cuts, which some say disproportionately affect minority students and faculty, have been a major issue. Also, two community forums on campus issues of racism have been held this year, as an airing of grievances and an attempt to unite for social justice. Do these responses to racial incidents on campus indicate a greater culture of activism at Emory?
While protests and marches may not be on the same scale as civil rights leaders of the past, Emory students continue to combat issues of race with education, discussion, and passion. Whether working against racism on campus or giving back to the community, students are working against the status quo with fervor. Black Student Alliance President Jovonna Jones reflects upon her purpose as a student activist. “To me, student activism means actively identifying and removing the barriers that keep us from embracing ourselves and others,” says Jones. “Given our world’s history of oppression in various forms, we must dig deep to uncover who we really are as people, communities. I feel that part of my purpose is to encourage others to soar freely in their own. Only then can we progress together.”
An image from CNN’s ireport by Emory student Ned Tadic
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Senior Spotlight Commending the Accomplishments of Black Seniors at Emory Stella Fagbemi
Ayanna Groves Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: Psychology Move over Venus and Serena, Ayanna Groves is coming through! As a sophomore at Oxford College, Ayanna finished second in the nation in the 2011 NCJAA National Tennis Championship. She, alongside the Oxford Women’s Tennis team also won the NCJAA 2010 National. Though Groves has since retired her racket she still plays recreationally. That, however, is not the only change she made. Oxford gave her a small campus environment and a close knit feel which is a big contrast to the world of Emory’s Atlanta campus. Between having new professors and making new friends, Ayanna had a big transition before her. Fortunately, she found a new family by following in the steps of her mother and becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. After graduation, she will be making her way to the bayou as a 2013 Teach for America Corps Member in the Louisiana Delta.
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Derek Kirkland Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA Major: Business Administration If you know Derek Kirkland, you know he loves the Tennessee Titans. Though it has been quite a while since they have done well in the league, Kirkland has stuck by them as a true fan should, holding on to the feeling he got when they made it all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. Another organization dear to his heart is Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity, the brotherhood in which Derek holds membership and the position of Vice President of Marketing for Emory’s Alpha Chi chapter. Though his position has allowed him a chance to exercise the skills he has learned in his classes, Kirkland values the experiences, friendships, and connections he has been able to make as a brother of AKPsi just as much. These new relationships have changed him into a person who values and appreciates other people and their talents. The skills Kirkland has refined in his years at Emory will certainly guide him well on his path to a career in sports marketing in one of the many cities across the country (like Las Vegas, Detroit and even here in Atlanta) he has applied for positions in.
Catherine Muse Hometown: Brunswick, GA Major: Sociology Catherine Muse is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and president of Emory’s National Pan-Hellenic Council. She finds her position as president to be “a blessing though it is also hard work”. Also in her time here Catherine (who likes to be referred to as Cat) has completed 300 hours of community service, through the Jumpstart program, a feat rarely accomplished. In addition to the lasting impact she’s left on the children and community affected by her work at Jumpstart, Cat believes that the Alpha Tau chapter of ZPhiB is a part of the legacy she has made in her four years at Emory. Her only regret in this time was not studying abroad saying, “I honestly believe I was too afraid to take the leap.” Perhaps Cat will get to make up for that regret or help other students “take the leap” as she works for Emory ResLife as an RHD fellow for the next year. After this “year off” she plans to continue her career goals of attaining a Master’s in higher education and continuing on to become a certified Mediator and Life Coach.
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Jaye George Meet Harry and Toney Douglas, brothers born exactly 1 year and 6 months apart. Talk to either one of them, however, and you’d think they were born on the same day, only minutes apart from each other in birth. Just as their birthdays seem to fall precisely in place, it should come as no surprise that both Harry and Toney Douglas are professional athletes in the National Football League and National Basketball Association respectively. Harry will be entering his 6th season in the NFL, all with the Atlanta Falcons. Toney has played for the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets and is now playing for the Sacramento Kings in his 4th season. While they both cite it as a blessing and privilege to play for their respective leagues, it seems clear that their upbringing has brought them to appreciate life outside the lines. Born in Tampa, Florida, the Douglas family moved to Jonesboro, Georgia, a city just south of Atlanta, shortly after the birth of Toney. It didn’t take them long to immerse themselves into the world of sports either. Harry started playing baseball at the age of four, basketball at the age of 5, and football at what Harry remembers as either 6 or 7 years old. Both he and Toney did travel baseball where they played over 100 games in a single season. Both with retired jerseys, Harry for football and basketball and Toney for basketball, Jonesboro High School is where they truly left their mark in Clayton County. In basketball, during Harry’s junior year, Harry and his teammates at Jonesboro defeated the number five team in the state at the time, Tifton County, who had not lost in
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their home gym for a few decades and went on to advance to the final four before losing to Lakeside. The following year, Jonesboro advanced to the state championship game where they lost to Wheeler. In that same year, the football team went to the state playoffs. Because there had been a long drought of not making the playoffs in both sports, Harry’s junior and senior year set the precedence for years to come in Jonesboro athletics.
reiterated idea that seems to motivate Harry to become a lawyer after he retires from football. The Douglas’s teachings to Harry and Toney did not stop at an emphasis on education. The Douglas brothers are and have always been close, “best friends”, and they may have their father to thank them for setting the foundation. Harry remembers this specific lesson from his father, “My dad taught us to never fight your brother. You never shut your brother up, especially in front of other people.” Harry proudly takes on the role of setting the example for his younger brother Toney, while they both make a conscious effort to support each other during their respective seasons. For Toney’s birthday in March, Harry flew out to Los Angeles to watch him play against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. In turn, before the NBA season kicks off, Toney has come
More important than all of the sports accolades and triumphs, Harry and Toney have always enjoyed the support and guidance of their parents. Harry attributes much of his and his brother’s success to the many sacrifices their parents made on their behalf. As for setting priorities straight, Harry and Toney did not have any problems, because their parents were strong advocates of education. It truly showed in a younger Harry, a political science major and graduate of Louisville Harry “HD” Douglas first acquired the nickname from his high University who could have easily school history teacher. Aside from his first and last initials, HD decided to forgo stands for “high definition,” or “High Def.” his junior and senior year for “...And as I started playing through the years, a lot of my the NFL Draft. teams called me that. A lot of my teammates called me that. “No one can take A lot of teams called me “HD TV.” your degree away or your education away, so don’t be that one person labeled as an athlete,” a
to Atlanta to see Harry in action at the Georgia Dome. When they are not traveling to see each other play, the two brothers talk every day, and they can fully appreciate their relationship as brothers and best friends because of their chosen professions. Harry spoke about these advantages having a brother in a professional sport, “It’s great when you have another brother that’s in a professional sport because we can always relate no matter what. When nobody else can relate to me and him, we can relate to each other. It’s great that we can be brothers and best friends at the same time. It’s stuff we can talk about stuff no one else can relate to because we’re only in that situation. I love my brother the dearest.” No matter how far away the sports business may separate them, Atlanta versus Sacramento now, it is through their love and respect for each other that there is always a connecting line of support for each other. While Toney still has a little less than a month of the NBA season left, Harry has taken full advantage of his offseason as a man on the move. He has done numerous community service projects, especially anything that might involve working with children or young people in general, because it resonates well with his childhood. In meeting younger fans, Harry often reflects on the days when he was that kid aspiring to play football one day, “My favorite childhood memory was me and my brother and my cousin traveling with my daddy to college football games and tailgating, and actually, me running around with the football through stadiums… pretending I was this person, making moves, the whole
nine.” However, out of the multitude of fans Harry has met over the course of his young NFL career, one fan named Brandon Williams made a lasting impression on him at a practice during his rookie season in the NFL. The young boy was suffering from cancer, and doctors predicted he would not live longer than 2 or 3 weeks at the time. “I used to go over to the hospital to see him, call or text him,” Harry remembers, “and he actually lived another year and a half or two years.” Above all else, Harry says he will always remember Brandon and he is always willing to help others partly because of the golden rule, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you,” and his upbringing. “I was always taught that you never know whose life you may save by just communicating with them or being there for them during their hardest times,” Harry added. Looking ahead, Harry still believes he and his Falcons have much to prove this year after they were only one win away from the Super Bowl. Not that he needs any more motivation to drive his passion and will to win on the field, but he and his teammates are all eager to begin optional offseason team workouts on April 22nd. Recognizing people who have doubted his physical prowess because of his 6’0, 183 pound frame surely also adds an additional fuel to his fire. Harry also prides himself on becoming more of a cerebral player over the years and learning to trust his preparation. In terms of personal growth, he is now looking forward to this summer when he is set to marry his girlfriend whom he met at Louisville. Most importantly, Harry is much obliged for the
The Falcons selected Harry in the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Players who do not attend the Draft in New York are contacted via phone, instead. He provieds a Harry “TiVo replay” of the moment when he was drafted: “I
was very excited, because
I grew up a Falcons fan. I went down to the game in ‘98 Super Bowl. When I [had] seen my phone, I [had] seen an Atlanta number. I looked at my mom. My mom already knew, because she said she dreamed about it, so I look at it as a blessing and I thank God every day for it. For a lot of people it can be a distraction, but for me it’s a blessing, man, and I enjoy it, because it’s nothing like playing inside a dome I grew up in.” when we played in the
position he’s in as a professional athlete. As Harry once alluded to one of his pastor’s sermons, “We should share our blessing or it’ll hinder other people’s blessings. He already has our plan laid out. We just have to follow it.” From these astute two brothers in two disparate professional sports, we finally find a tangible and genuine example of what interests us, the sports fans, about the statistics tallied, records broken, and championships won after the final buzzer sounds.
A One-on-One with Harry Douglas JG: 1-on-1, who would win? You or Toney? HD: Toney. My brother is so skillful. He can do it all. JG: That infamous slant. If Matt Ryan threw it to you, would Toney be able to cover you? HD: Never. Not a chance. JG: March Madness. Who’s in your final four? HD: C’mon man. Who’s the number one team in the bracket? Ride or die Louisville, the only the team I care about. JG: Just a hypothetical situation. If Arthur Blank gave you money to start an NBA franchise, which superstar do you start your team with: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Chris Paul, or your bro Toney? HD: I watched my brother from the first time he played basketball, so I’ve got to take my brother. I take my brother and put LeBron around him in the Free Agency. I’d bring Chris Paul in also. I played against Chris Paul when we were younger. [We] went to a lot of the same camps and stuff too… Dwight at the 5. Lebron at the 3. CP3 at the 2, and KD as my four man. BLACK STAR MAGAZINE
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LOVE LOST... LOVE FOUND
Kimberly Herard
More than 60% of people find their find spouse in college, and about 70% of people have already met their future spouse. Do you think that Emory has the potential to provide a spouse with potential? Or is it just a lost cause?
Is Emory the place you plan to search for “the one”? Can you FInd love here? Survey Says: “Not Really. Small population of straight black men.” “There are great people here but many people that I’ve met never appealed to me relationship-wise, not because they aren’t great prospects, but just because it never crossed my mind. The pool of minority students is also very small anyway (not that one has to stick to their own race).” “I’ve found a lot of guys who are great hookups…but none of them were dating material.” “Emory has great guys, just not for me. They are too cocky, are creeps, are weak, or they could be great guys but just not what I’m looking for.” 16LIFESTYLE
“I think that Emory has plenty of beautiful women and men here. Personality-wise, I feel like I’ve met a lot of decent people. Once we can get past things like color and past relationship issues, etc. I feel like people would see that there are more options than they realize. Buuut, then there’s the issue of so many people not really being ready for relationships. Shoot, that was me! So, I’m not really sure, but it seems like the answer could be yes.”
“There isn’t a plethora of minority here.”
“Decent chance, but they are too lazy when it comes to going after the woman. A woman shouldn’t be making the first move.”
“Oh for sure, I mean have you looked in the mirror lately? We have an incredible selection, of males and females, from across the world. Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the US, India, we’re all represented! And those doing the reppin’ often times are very, very attractive.”
“I came here for a degree, not a man so...”
“Physically speaking, Emory is full of very beautiful people. I am just taking the time to get to know them.” “I think it depends on who you are. For me, not really because a lot of the males here have a complex and seem to be into random hooking up without wanting to be serious with girls.”
NEED: A man with confidence and personality, A man with ambition, attentiveness, gentle when needed, aggressive when wanted. Romantic, intelligent, playful and handsome. Clean-cut homeboy who is thoughtful and self-sufficient. A man who doesn’t act act thug, bark like a dog, or depend on others. Try to lie, I am a girl at Emory, I will find out. NO BASICITY. Play games on the court, not with my heart. I don’t like the anger, so keep it cool calm and bipolar-free. --Keeping Calm & Waiting On
FOUND: A traditional man with values who can balance out the ratchet in me. A man with a unique background, who can approach anyone with confidence. An intelligent man with good shoes. A man whose got a big ego ;-). A man who can spell like a college student and not a hoodrat. --Feet Do Matter
NEED: A man who is established in life, loyal, a man who isn’t afraid to get on his knees. A man whose hair isn’t longer than mine; that isn’t cute. A man who who has height and muscles (I will NOT be the only one lifting boxes) A man who is trustworthy, and sweet. A man who refrains from cockiness and has a plan for his future. A man who isn’t ignorant and rude; who doesn’t womanize like it is the 1920’s. A man who isn’t drug addict…no no no no! --Looking for Stability
NEED: A sexy female; fun, cool to talk to and fun to chill with; she down fo whateva if you catch my drift ;-). A girl who is on the same page, who can talk about her likes and dislikes, feel comfortable to talk to me about intimacy. Woman who doesn’t feel like she is above the world and everyone in it. A women who is attractive both inside and out. --Down & Dirty
FOUND: A woman with the voice of the flowing waters, where I can hear the rhythm of her heart, hear the hums of her soul. A woman who has scared me by the touch love, that even though I pulled away, she remained. A woman who is herself, remains positive, and challenges growth in us as people. A woman deeper than the sea, who loves unconditionally. A woman who loves God. A woman who with manners, a woman that is neat. A woman who can give and give without an end. --Poetic Justice
So... FOUND: A smile that brightens up the day, that mysterious man who has secrets I want to divulge. Secrets I want to uncover ;-) A man with a personality that isn’t bland like bran cereal. A man who can be my best friend, and lover too. A man who can spell and use his punctuation. Don’t try arguing with me while you spelling every word wrong. I will NOT take you seriously. Where they do that at? I need you to have PASSION and drive, not just be able to drive a car; don’t have me on the MARTA or Emory Shuttle. --Luxury Required
What are EMORY STUDENTS LOOKING FOR?
SOME STATS TO CONSIDER... • 40 million Americans use online dating services. That’s about 40% of the adult American single population. • 25% also say they use touch as a means of effective flirting. • 75% of people WILL get slapped if they touch someone the wrong way. • 23% of single people say that the best way to let someone know you’re interested in them is the old schoolyard method of passing word through
POSITION AVAILABLE: A man with spontaneity, loyalty to me and my heart, a man who can humour me, and a man who can teach me something new every day. A man who is far from arrogance, cockiness, and unwillingness to compromise. A man who remains away from smoking. Remains away from DRUGS. You will NOT be spending my money on some illegal substances when you probably won’t be sharing. --Molly Wanna
a friend…or just retweet their tweets, like their facebook stati, and like all of their Instagram photos.
And twerk on
them at the party.
• If you are a woman, you have 15 minutes to make a first impression. • If you’re a man, you have about an hour. • 43% of singles have Googled someone on the internet before a first date
- don’t act like you haven’t done it! • 53% of singles find a great smile the most attractive feature. Have you been flossing?
BLACK STAR MAGAZINE
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Escaping the Emory Bubble:
And STELLA FAGBEMI
IN
case you haven’t noticed, Emory isn’t exactly IN the city of Atlanta. I know; I know the address says Atlanta, but if you can see the skyline from your dorm room that means you’re not within the metropolis of the city. Emory understands this dilemma, and since it’s impossible to pick up our campus and drop it on the corner of Peachtree and Martin Luther King, they have provided us with FREE Cliff Shuttles. Nearly every student on campus is aware of the shuttles that go around main, like the C Route, D Route, Loop and even Toco Hills but past the ABC’s, there is a whole new world. Many of the frequent riders of the other shuttles are hospital employees, graduate students and staff but these shuttles are open to you too! The EUH/ EUHM (Emory University Hospital Midtown) shuttle for example, goes to the heart of Atlanta on the corner of Pine Street and Peachtree, just within walking distance of World of Coca-Cola, The Georgia Aquarium, and Gladys and Ron’s Chicken and Waffles. The Grady Shuttle takes students straight to Georgia State to visit friends and get a feel for the real nitty-gritty of Atlanta. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the shuttle stop is Anatolia Café and Hookah 18LIFESTYLE
Bar, a Georgia State hangout spot with decent prices and delicious battered fries. The Georgia Tech Stinger shuttle is meant for students in the dual degree program but anyone can hitch a ride and be a Ramblin’ Wreck for the day. Tired of Emory’s Frat Row? Take this shuttle and be immersed in a Frat City. Georgia Tech’s Frat houses take up three blocks of the campus and there is always something going on. Not a big partier? Take a nice stroll down North Avenue and have lunch at Atlanta’s famous Dive-In/Drive-In, The Varsity or cross the street and get a taste of The Origi-
nal J.R. Crickets, another Atlanta staple. Beware: these shuttles only run from around 6am to 6pm Monday-Friday so try not to get caught up having a blast in the city (keep track of the shuttles by using the transit tab on the Emory Mobile App)! If your weekdays are full of classes and extracurricular activities, don’t fret. Emory Experience shuttles run every other Saturday and go to the High Museum, Virginia Highlands and Atlantic Station for food, shopping and movies (Google Emory Experience Shuttle to see what adventures are in store this weekend). If this still doesn’t fit your schedule, invest in a Breeze card. These reloadable MARTA cards are $1 to purchase and you can load dollar amounts or rides so that you can transfer from bus to train or vice versa. Each trip is only $2.50. Just look for a MARTA Train station like the Peachtree center near Georgia Tech or the Arts Center next to the High Museum. Take it to the Lindberg Train Station (if you’re feeling leisurely walk down a block or two and peruse Lenox Mall before completing the last leg of your trip) and then hop on the 6 Bus to get back to Main campus! Before you know it you’ll be a city pro without having the proximity of Georgia State or the AUC.
The Image of Black Royalty in Music
Ibrahima Diallo
W
hen you think of the term “Black Royalty” what exactly comes to mind? Is it an image of Prince Akeem and Semmi popping bottles while being showered with pink blossoms by a bunch of scantily-clad Zamundan flower girls? What if I were to tell you that you have witnessed this brand of regality in presentday America? There is an elitist Black society that exists within the entertainment industry, and it is present in Hip-Hop music. So, you’re probably asking what Hiphop’s royal family looks like. Drake would be the prince of clinical depression and drunken recorded phone calls. Then there’s Diddy. If you listen closely you’ll notice that he has ad-libbed on virtually every Bad Boy release. Check out his Diddy shimmy on music videos; he is gifted, and clearly deserves the title of the annoying uncle. Beyoncé is the Queen and would be described as your best friend’s hot mom, who you’re only friends with because of his
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
hot mom. Jay-Z is often described as the Hip-hop King that’s married to the woman that’s out of his league. Kanye West is the incredibly boastful, often inappropriate, possibly misunderstood, and former pink polo rocking Co-King of Hip-hop. He is also the King of highly publicized media blunders (George Bush doesn’t care about black people quote and Taylor Swift incident come to mind). Rihanna deserves the title of the princess of weird freaky fetishes (S&M anyone?). Birdman is just the uncle that rubbed you the wrong way (insert pigeon sound effect here). Last and probably least musically relevant is the uncle that we would all like to forget, 50 Cent. It is natural for hierarchies to exist because to create them is just human nature. A hierarchy has existed in Hip-hop since the dawn of the genre. However, the commercialization of “black music” has shifted the criteria for joining the upper echelon of the genre (well, at least socially). The stan-
dards are beginning to focus more on who is receiving the most media coverage rather than who is innovating the game. This media coverage can often be negative because they paint a vivid picture of stereotypical images that have been attached to Blacks. An image that is often perpetuated is the image of the angry Black man, particularly through Kanye West. This could potentially be detrimental to the portrayal of Blacks on not only a national level but also an international level, especially if the media is the only window into Black American culture for many individuals. On the other hand, the media coverage can often steer people into the direction of positive images, such as the seemingly healthy relationship between Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Healthy relationships between Blacks are rarely publicized, so maybe this type of coverage is needed. In what direction will “Black royalty” be steered: a circus of destructive stereotypes or a healthy image?
BLACK STAR MAGAZINE
19
Style Stalker TICHELLE PORCH & JOHNNY PHAM
TICHELLE: How would you describe your style? SIMI: Simple pieces, I gear towards the color black a lot. I definitely think my style is maturing a lot more, although my bank account’s not. T: Who would you say is your number one fashion inspiration/biggest influence? S: Karla Deras! And I love the stillettoaffect’s Tumblr. T: What staple item do you feel is essential to any outfit? S: It depends on the season. For winter I’ll always have a big chunky scarf and for spring, nice high-waisted shorts. T: How does your style change from casual days to a night out? S: During the day, I’ll usually have on my Doc Martens, with leggings, a flowing top and jacket in the winter and vintage, highwaisted shorts in the spring. At night, the goods come out! I definitely wear heels, but I’m not the type of person to wear a fitted dress. I prefer to wear nice materials, like silk, not polyester.
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T: Which decade of fashion inspires you the most? S: Current fashion. Generally, whatever they’re doing I like. I’m definitely more modern, with a little 70s. T: What are some tips would you give Emory students on keeping it simple, but fashionable? S: You don’t always have to dress up, throwing on cute jacket, scarf, or having one simple piece, like nice printed shorts can work. Find something you like and emphasize it. For example, I’m known for my Docs.
who: SIMISOLA ALALADE AGe/YEAR: 20/2014 From: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MAJOR: ANTHROPOLOGy AND HUMAN BIOLOGY
Chic, Consistent, and Creative describe Ms. Alalade and Mr. Jones’ individual styles. From fall, winter, to spring, Simi and Malcolm consistently show the Emory community what it means to be dedicated to their studies, while remaining two of the best-dressed on campus. Although Simi and Malcolm are students on a budget, their high fashion IQ allows them to create the most stylish outfits from the simplest of pieces. For tips and a peek into Simi and Malcom’s style checkout their interviews below!
Photos by Melanie Smith
JOHNNY: How would you describe your style? Malcolm: Lazy. J: Who would you say is your number one biggest influence? M: I wouldn’t say I’m influenced by specific people. I was watching Saved by the Bell yesterday and I thought these kids were pretty cool. Also shows like Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I like Kanye. He’s pretty effortless. J: What are some of your current fashion obsessions? M: I like patterns right now, I’m into beads. J: What staple item do you feel is essential to any outfit? M: Socks. Socks are essential and people be sleeping on these socks. J: How does your style change from casual days to a night out? M: I usually just put on pants and a jacket and that makes people think that you did a lot.
who: malcolm Jones Age/year: 20/2015 From: stone Mountain, GA MAJOR: biology/visual arts minor
J: What decade of fashion inspires you the most? M: The late 80’s-early 90’s because they were just all cool all the time. J: What are some tips you would give Emory students on keeping it simple, but fashionable? M: I just like it when people look like they’re not trying. Even though some people try to look like they’re not trying, I still like it. I just like when people look nice and pretty effortless. I would say my fashion inspiration is Sammie Scott. She always looks effortless, like she’s never trying, and she always looks good. BLACK STAR MAGAZINE
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