02-19-2020

Wednesday, Feb. 19 - Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 106, Issue 23 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

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News

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

BRC still recovering after racist incidents

by Daniel Guerrero SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The spring 2019 semester was grimly defined by multiple incidents of racism that included the vandalization of the Black Resource Center, a viral video capturing the yelling of a racial slur outside the center by a passerby and a racist Snapchat video threatening a black student.

In response to the racist incidents, the black community held a rally last April in front of Hepner Hall demanding change from San Diego State officials to address the issues of racial intolerance.

A year later, the black community at SDSU is still recovering from the events and fighting for change in the community.

“So right now, I would say we’re largely still in a space of recovery, and that leaves us in a position where we’re still organizing around how we need to continue that fight and what that needs to look like — because the work is not done,” Africana Studies junior Tamiel Mckee Bey said.

Mckee Bey, a frequent visitor of the Black Resource Center, has leadership roles with a number of student organizations, including serving as the vice president of both the student African American Sisterhood and the African Student Union at SDSU. She said some of the changes the black community called for from the university following the protest last April have not been met. This has left the black community in a continued state of advocacy following the racist incidents that unfolded almost a year ago.

“A lot of the things that we asked for in the protest in regards to our demands, some of them were implemented,” Mckee Bey said. “Some of them we still are actively working to hold the university accountable for.”

The Black Resource Center demanded several changes from university administrators following the series of racial attacks against the center that included more protection for faculty and staff who speak out to support students of color, a research symposium for faculty of color and student involvement for the hiring of faculty. One of the changes the university has addressed is the addition of security cameras for the center after it was vandalized last April, resulting in $400 in damages.

Sociology sophomore and Black Resource Center community member Kynya Whitted said the addition of the cameras may not have been installed if it weren’t for last year’s vandalism to the center.

“I feel like without that happening, a lot of changes wouldn’t have been made from then until now,” she said.

Whitted said the vandalism brought the community closer together.

“It’s not something that happened to one particular individual, it was us as a whole in a center where we all come and gather,” she said.

The black community faced burnout after the continual incidents last semester.

Mckee Bey described the feeling as “putting yourself on the line when you have nothing else to give.”

Sister to Sister Luncheon provides community, unity

by Katelynn STAFF WRITER

Robinson

A Sister to Sister luncheon, hosted by the Black Resource Center, was held in the Tula Community Center on Feb. 14.

Female members of the black community were invited to connect with peers and hear from guest speaker Patrice Washington, a personal finance expert and best-selling author of books such as “Real Money Answers for All Women: How to Win the Money Game With Or Without A Man.” Washington is an advocate for emotional well being, preaching that true wealth doesn’t reside in money or material.

“I am here to talk about redefining wealth,” Washington said. “My whole mission in life is helping people redefine how they see wealth and understand that it is more than money and material possessions. The true definition of wealth is well being.”

The event was held on Valentine’s Day, a date Washington said was important for refocusing the conversation surrounding love for self.

“I think Valentine’s Day is an awesome time to talk about well being because it makes you focus on self love and self care and defining that for yourself,” she said.

The Women’s Resource Center and the Center of Intercultural Relations helped the Black Resource Center co-host the event.

The event featured an art gallery that displayed some of the most influential black women in history, along with many independent black businesses.

Psychology sophomore Yasmine Shead said the art gallery was based off of a gallery in the south.

“We have a lot of pictures of the professors that work here that are black women because there’s not very many, and it is very inspiring to see that we can do it

whether there is a lot or a few we can do it,” Shead said.

Shead also said the photos depicted diverse scenes to show the strength of black women.

“There’s activism pictures and LGBTQ picutres, it’s just to show all the different places you’ll see black women,” Shead said.

“Even though they might be pushed under the rug or brushed off, we are still there and we are still showing up.”

SDSU alumni and part time Africana studies lecturer Bonnie Reddick began the event with a welcoming speech.

“The Sister to Sister Luncheons are our opportunity for all of us just to engage with each other, to fellowship with each other to eat some good food,” Reddick said.

President Adela de la Torre also attended the event and gave a brief speech at the commencement of the lunch.

“If we look around our campus today and who we plan to be in the future, when we look at our students of color and our women of color who play critical roles in leadership,” de la Torre said. “If we look at our faculty and our staff of color they also are increasingly playing critical roles.”

De la Torre acknowledged several different women during her speech including campus professors and faculty.

She credited the black community on campus with her large amount of support.

Shead, one of the students who organized the Sister to Sister Luncheon, said she thinks it’s important for the women of the black community to be united.

“I got put on the sister to sister committee because I’m a femine identifying cultural peer educator at the (Black Resource Center), and my passion is kind of just getting us all together in one place and allowing us to be vulnerable and have a sisterhood within each other without having to be in Greek life or in a student org,” Shead said.

The Black Resource Center also called for many changes to policies in response to the racism.

She also said the feelings of burnout caused many black students to fall behind in classes and even miss their final exams in the spring.

Coming into the fall 2019 semester, Mckee Bey said it was tougher for students in the black community to return prepared for the new school year.

“A lot of our students were beat,” Mckee Bey said. “A lot of our student leaders did not have the space to heal in the ways that they needed to and did not have the

File photo

support systems or the resources to be able to make them come back this fall semester and succeed as students first because that’s what gets forgotten is that we’re students first.”

Interdisciplinary studies senior Imani Sumter said the incidents have made the black community more aware of the issues of racism on campus.

“I think we’ve always felt like we were on defense a little bit,” she said. “I feel like we’re on extra defense now.”

3 News SDSU students studying abroad in Asian countries deal with uncertainty following coronavirus outbreak Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

by Brenden Tuccinardi INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

SINGAPORE – As the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus continue to rise globally, San Diego State has been quick to address the concerns of students, faculty and staff locally.

Yet the university has provided minimal assistance to students currently studying abroad in parts of Asia, where clusters of the novel coronavirus have emerged.

In a campus-wide email sent on Jan. 29, Dr. Cristina Alfaro, interim vice president for global affairs at SDSU, detailed the university’s decision to suspend all international programs to China for the spring semester.

“There is no immediate threat to our campus community and SDSU does not currently have any students studying in Wuhan, or the Hubei Province,” Alfaro said in the email.

However, according to the AztecsAbroad database, SDSU offers more than 60 other programs across Asia, including in Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

According to the World Health Organization’s Feb. 18 situation report, 72,528 cases of coronavirus, also referred to as Covid-19, have been confirmed in China. After China, the second-highest

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number of cases is in Singapore with 77, then Japan (65), South Korea (31), Malaysia (22) and Vietnam (16). There are an additional 454 cases confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined in Japan.

According to the same situation report, WHO assessed the regional risk as “high.”

When asked if SDSU will bring home students currently studying across Asia, Associate Director of SDSU Study Abroad Inemesit Williams said the office was keeping its eye on the region.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and act as needed and recommended,” she said.

On Feb. 12, Williams sent an email addressed to “SDSU travelers” with tips for traveling during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The email advised students to refer to an infographic from the Overseas Security Advisory Council, as well as resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for safe travel practices.

Biology junior Gabriella Duran doesn’t know if she received this email. Duran, who is currently on the Spring 2020 voyage of Semester at Sea, where students travel between multiple countries while living on a ship, said she cannot access her email when she is not in port.

After setting sail from San Diego in January, the ship Duran is on was

scheduled to make stops in Malaysia and India but is now skipping these locations altogether, although several ports in Africa and Europe have been added to the itinerary, Duran said. “(Semester at Sea) is just trying to keep us out of Asia now because countries are not accepting international vessels that have been to Asia within a certain timeframe,” she said.

However, the ship had already stopped in Japan and Vietnam.

“Immigration gave us masks when we got off the ship (in Vietnam),” Duran said.

“They also checked all our temperatures before we got back on the ship.”

All the information Duran has received about the virus has come from Semester at Sea officials, not the SDSU study abroad office.

For communications junior Grace Han, who is studying at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Williams’ Feb. 12 email was the first time she had heard from the study abroad office regarding the outbreak, even after the situation in Singapore was quickly escalating.

Just days before the email from Williams was sent, Singapore’s Ministry of Health elevated the city-state’s Disease Outbreak Response System Condition to level orange, designating the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore as “severe” on Feb. 7.

The government also implemented mandatory 14-day quarantines for people who have traveled to mainland China in the past two weeks and established compulsory temperature checks at workplaces and schools, according to the Ministry of Health website.

“I find myself constantly checking the news to see where the new cases are appearing,” Han said. “My first thoughts are how to protect myself, how this will affect class schedules and how to still enjoy my time abroad.”

Nanyang Technological University has mandated all classes with more than 50 students move online, has canceled several large events and set up temperature checks and has established a quarantine center in a graduate student residence hall, an email from university administrators said.

Han is taking her own precautions to stay healthy.

She wears a mask and avoids being in large crowds to reduce her chances of contracting the virus, but even while being careful she is making the best out of a precarious situation with friends she has made while abroad.

“Although we are staying careful, we are still enjoying our regular lives,” Han said. “It’s just when you cough in public, everyone avoids you like you’re parting the Red Sea.”

Black Resource Center hosts renowned attorney, civil rights activist

by Charlie Vargas STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 18, the Black Resource Center invited renowned attorney and author Benjamin Crump to speak at Montezuma Hall Theatre about his achievements and work.

Crump’s history as an attorney includes high-profile cases involving civil rights. He represented the families of Alesia Thomas, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice.

Crump also spoke of his book, “Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People.”

“The title of the book was intentional, and I am unapologetic because it makes a point,” Crump said.

Crump explained that he decided on the name of the book after the events in the killing of Michael Brown. He said he was inspired by the way the case was handled by law enforcement and the court, such as the dismissal of the 14 witnesses who saw Brown put his hands up before being killed.

This and other events around the case led him to think about the ways that the justice system is complicit into an issue he equates to genocide.

“It is more important how they kill us every day, in every city, in every state (and) every courtroom in America,” Crump said.

Crump also said the book serves as a continuation of the actions of black leaders Paul Robeson and W. E. B. Debois, who submitted a petition to the United Nations in 1951 asking for recognition of black genocide in America. Their petition based its argument on lynchings, legal discrimination, police brutality, inequality of health and life conditions prevalent in black communities.

Crump’s book extends the conversation of genocide to modern times.

The concept of what Crump refers to as “legalized genocide” involves a subtle form of causes of death, different from

the lawyer who led the victory of Brown V. Board of Education. Crump gave an anecdote about how he and his friends could not afford to buy lunch and instead relied on the free lunch program. The realization of unequal opportunities motivated him to fight for his community’s future, and he hopes to continue passing on his knowledge and motivation.

Some of that influence was present in the crowd. At least four students in the audience who asked Crump questions in the open forum were applying to law school.

Fourth year interdisciplinary studies major Isaiah Hardy received his first acceptance letter for law school within the last week. He said he was inspired by Crump’s achievements.

“It was great to see another black man like myself,” Hardy said.

Associated Students (A.S.) is currently accepting applications for the following volunteer leadership position: Photo by Charlie Vargas

Renowned attorney and author Benjamin Crump spoke about civil rights and his life as an attorney at Montezuma Hall Theatre on Feb. 18.

cases that involve police brutality and excessive force. One of these methods Crump said is through environmental racism.

As an example, he compared the air quality of Santa Monica and South Los Angeles to indicate how affluent communities have access to cleaner air while underserved communities of color live in pollution.

Crump also talked about the consequences imprinted on the lives of convicted felons when released from prison.

“You can’t vote, serve in the military or serve in a jury,” Crump said. “That’s just

the tip of the iceberg.”

Crump explained how the consequences of being caught in a legal system that continues to punish individuals after serving their time in prison is confining. He said being a convicted felon restricts various financial aid programs and consideration for employment, while the expectation of paying for probationary and drug testing fees persist.

“It’s almost like you’re caught in a trap,” he said.

Crump said his aspiration to become a lawyer started in the fourth grade. He was influenced by Thurgood Marshall,

JUSTICE Applications can be picked up in the Associated Students Office, located on the third floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

DEADLINE: THURS., FEB. 27, 2020 @ 4:00PM

619-594-6555 as.sdsu.edu

Opinion The media needs more black journalists 4

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Devin Whatley STAFF WRITER

When I arrived at San Diego State as a journalism major, I set myself out to become what I quickly noticed there was not enough of in the media world: a black journalist.

With Black History Month underway, I want to take a moment to make a statement: there should be more African Americans and black people involved in the journalism-related fields.

On local television, I notice a lack of minority representation among journalists, and it is time for a change.

Having more African American journalists in media jobs brings diversity, equity and inclusion where there isn’t enough of it.

I want to say I am for and encourage people of all identities and backgrounds to come into the world of journalism. In fact, it is essential and welcomed.

Having more black journalists can provide new perspectives on a myriad of issues, especially

those that touch black people on a personal level such as criminal justice, race, social injustices and so much more. Having black journalists can open up new discussion points for people when they watch the media, it can make them think from a perspective they were not exposed to before.

Having more black journalists also inspires people, especially younger people who want to pursue this career to think about one important word: hope.

There’s a famous picture in the White House of former president Barack Obama bending his head down so a young African American child can touch his head because the child didn’t believe that the president of the United States had the same hair as him.

The picture represented a symbol of hope for many black people, especially the younger generation. Many people believed if a black man can become president, then they could be it someday too.

If there were more black journalists, imagine the feeling

Black representation matters

by Ellyse Logan STAFF WRITER

The media reflects the values of the society around it. For the longest time, black voices and stories were not valued or represented. As representation started happening for the black community, it was filled with hurtful stereotypes and far-off misconceptions. Within the last five years we’ve seen more representation of the black community and actual value has been placed on the stories being told.

Representation matters within the slightest things, but affects our entire psyche. When we were children, we looked to society and the pop culture around us to begin to form our own identities and find our niche in the world.

However, when all we’re shown are different depictions of whiteness, it subconsciously tells us that we aren’t enough to be a part of the majority.

In recent years, Hollywood’s push for diversity has seemed insincere and usually ends up with a multitude of characters playing a stereotype rather than an actual depiction of black and minority voices.

For me, learning about my culture and taking a deep dive into it has been extremely enlightening. It took me longer than it should have for me to want to learn about my culture and actually begin to research the lies and half-truths about history and blackness that are still thrown around.

James Baldwin was the first black artist that I could identify myself with in his writings. After I found out about his work, I looked into other prominent black figures and I curated my own list of black artists whose work is important to me. I was able to see myself in the world around me as

more than just a character added for funny commentary. I learned that just because the media or society didn’t value an accurate story about a black woman’s experience in America doesn’t mean I should discredit my own or other girls’ like me.

Lately, accurate depictions of black people and minorities have been seen more in media and the arts which is really amazing to see. I’m grateful that black kids will be able to see themselves in Oscar-winning movies and shorts and envision themselves as an important main character — not just an add on.

I think it’s a glimmer of hope for where our society is heading.

There’s so many people I look up to because now their voices are able to be heard and validated.

It makes you feel like you can do what they are doing and that is exactly how it should work to influence a new generation. Often these voices are still drowned out and I think it’s important for us as supporters to share what these voices have to offer.

Being able to identify with someone is a crucial part of our human experience. It is unfortunate that so many people don’t grow up seeing themselves in much of anything. I love that as a society we see this and are able to make strides to improve on representation for generations to come.

We shouldn’t always have to go hunting to be understood. Since I experienced the difficulties that I went through to see myself, I do strive to be a role model for the young kids in my life. I think it’s incredibly rewarding and allows you to see the influence of accurate representation on the young people of today.

Ellyse Logan is a sophomore studying international business.

Follow her on Twitter @ellyselogan.

of hope that would be instilled in young black children. When they see people who look like them and who came from a background like theirs, it may encourage them to want to do the same thing, pursue the same career. It can inspire people and motivate them to want to become a journalist, just like how I felt.

This doesn’t take away from the great work black journalists, such as Ida B. Wells, Gwen Ifill, Ed Bradley, Bill Whitaker and April Ryan, have done and are doing in order to pave the way for others to become successful in the journalism world. I am just saying it is important, especially in today’s world where the profession is always delegitimized and attacked, to have diversity, equity and inclusion in newsrooms.

This can be started by encouraging and educating more African Americans about the value journalism has toward society and how they can become an important contributor.

Look, the media has made immense progress over the past few decades in establishing

more diversity in the world of journalism. It is stronger than it has ever been before. But there is still progress to be made in terms of bringing in more black people into the world of journalism.

A famous quote from James Baldwin motivates me everyday to become a trailblazer of my profession for myself and for others around me.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced,” he said.

As Black History Month comes to a close, Baldwin’s words echo true. The lack of black journalists is an issue within the profession that has to be challenged.

I encourage black people to explore the world of journalism more, and the value it holds toward the black community, the media and the democracy of our country as a whole.

Like the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword.

Devin Whatley is a sophomore studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @DevinWhatley.

Take the initiative to educate yourself on Black History Month

by Trinity Bland STAFF WRITER

Black History Month is among us and as a black woman, it is truly an honor to have a month dedicated to my history and culture. I was raised to take it seriously and not only celebrate all of what makes me who I am as a black person in the month of February, but all year long too.

However, it can be a bit frustrating at times when others who do not look like me are often insensitive to the fact that we celebrate elaborately all month long and continue to disrespect us, invalidating our celebration.

We celebrate our brothers and sisters. We celebrate our stories of the past and dreams of the future.

We celebrate our innumerous forms of expression. We celebrate the many inventions that have been produced by our ancestors.

We celebrate our freedom that is seemingly so close yet extremely far. We have come a long way, but still have a lot more progress to make.

It was when I came to college that I realized that people who don’t identify as black or African American will not understand that and will never understand that. Honestly, it can be tiring to educate my friends and explain certain topics that they should already be aware of when it comes to culture in general.

The term, “woke”, gets tossed around so loosely, but I have learned the ones who use it the most don’t know the first thing about being “woke.” I know I should be full of pride when I educate my friends on certain issues that I feel they should know already at this point in their lives, but it frustrates me to know they aren’t culturally aware. This reality completely hurts me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love talking about what makes me who I am as a black woman. However, there is a point in my life where I really begin to question how some of my friends think when it comes to who I am as a person of color, and more specifically, as a black woman.

Sometimes, it hurts even more when I begin to take a deeper look and it becomes very evident that they don’t. It may not be intentional, oftentimes it’s not, but it is always out of pure ignorance.

I can’t even begin to count the number of microaggressions that I have directly encountered over the course of my college career, they can happen as often as every day. In my experience, there have been times where the microaggressions have been unintentional, other times, it has not. Either way, it becomes exhausting to call them out when they occur.

There are many factors that we can blame the ignorance of others on including the public school system not being up to par, the area in which they grew up may not have been abundant with other ethnic communities represented, the way their family dynamic is, etc. However, it should not be an excuse to remain in a fixed and ignorant mindset which can result in the chance of hurting someone.

This month, I challenge you to commemorate Black History Month. You can do this by being slow to speak, eager to understand and open to learning in order to properly honor those around you who identify as African American.

We want you to celebrate with us, but we want you to respect us during this month and beyond.

Trinity Bland is a sophomore studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @trinityaliciaa.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Bella Ross MANAGING EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Little ASST. NEWS EDITOR Michael Cline OPINION EDITOR Catherine Van Weele MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Diane Lopez ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ceighlee Fennel SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Roxana Becerril PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jack Molmud GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Burgess

STAFF WRITERS Trinity Bland Jason Freund Ryan Hardison Breven Honda Adriana Horne Ellyse Logan Lucelis Martínez Shalika Oza Katelynn Robinson Devin Whatley Charlie Vargas SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Cristian Alvarez Daniel Guerrero Johann Derek Oribello CONTRIBUTORS Aleah Jarin Flower Smith INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT Brenden Tuccinardi ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond ________________________________

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Opinion 5 Black communities still suffer from police brutality Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

by Shalika Oza STAFF WRITER

Policing in America has been a controversial subject for decades.

The blatant, unequal treatment of people of color has been gaining more and more traction, and many are demanding change. Race, discrepancies in training and biased judges and jurors are just a few reasons why unarmed black men in America are unfairly treated, shot and killed.

The debate has become polarized with the sentiment of either supporting the Black Lives Matter movement or standing with police officers, also known as “Blue Lives.” The Black Lives Matter movement has brought a great deal of attention to these types of shootings in the last couple of years, when this issue was previously ignored by the in.

Black people in this country have been the subject of racial profiling ever since they were forcibly brought to America. The treatments and inferior status heaved upon them for their skin color have followed black people into the modern era.

The shootings and deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and, unfortunately, many more have sparked public outcry and calls for change.

These killings have all been devastating, and many families are still fighting for justice.

An instance where one family was able to see justice was in the case of Botham Jean. Dallas policewoman Amber Gyuger entered an apartment, mistaking it for her own and fatally shot Botham Jean, whom she believed

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to be an intruder.

The Dallas county in which Guyger was tried had seen a similar case before and set precedent, allowing the jury to find Guyger guilty.

The Jean family had been waiting an entire year and finally received the justice they rightfully deserved.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for many other families.

Many police shootings are justified using “stand-yourground” laws, which, in some states, allow people to defend themselves with lethal force if they believe they are in imminent danger.

This justification has been overused and continues to allow cops who have killed innocent black men back out on the streets. The issue with all of this is said to boil down to race.

Moreover, with case after case, similar to Botham’s, it seems to be the only plausible argument.

Police officers go through extensive training to be able to take down suspects in both nonviolent and lethal manners.

A Netflix political comedy show, “Patriot Act,” breaks down some of the training that police officers receive.

The host Hasan Minhaj reveals that many officers are trained to fear the communities they are supposed to be protecting.

He uncovers the staggering difference in the amount of hours of training for conflict de-escalation versus weapons and fighting (eight hours versus 129 hours). These discrepancies allow us to assume that when officers rely on their training while dealing with a conflict, they

are going to be more inclined to use lethal force or some form of fighting.

Because of the way police officers are trained and known to act, many people fear the police.

Innocent people flee a situation or try to remove themselves from being surrounded by police because they are afraid of what can happen to them.

These people are correct to assume this as officers are instilled to use their weapon, rather than talk things out.

Understandably, talking through things is not helpful in every situation, but as officers are trained to be observant, why is it challenging for them to tell apart violent black men versus innocent black men?

An article from the New York Times further delves into why race matters when it comes to policing. The article writes, “The Supreme Court has made clear that simply being in a ‘highcrime area’ can be a factor in determining whether a person is armed and dangerous.”

The article writes about racial profiling and Judge Shira A. Scheindlin’s ruling that the New York Police Department’s stopand-frisk practices violate the Constitution. However historic this ruling is, racial biases do not disappear when a ruling has been made.

First off, high-crime areas are predominantly black and Latino because of the racial biases in this country, but can also be attributed to the wage gap.

According to the Economy Policy Institute, in 2018, black people in America, on average, made 27.5% less than the average

white person. That number has increased by about 6% since 2000. High-crime areas are often the only areas black people can afford to live.

This does not automatically mean they are more likely to be armed or dangerous. We have given white people every opportunity in this country and found multitudes of ways to hold black people down.

This has led to death after death and no justice for many families.

Another reason the issue prevails is because many times, the court and its subsequent jurors are more amicable to police officers as the police do uphold the law. The same New York Times article writes, “Courts and jurors defer to police judgments, even if those judgments are inflected by racial stereotypes that inevitably render an unarmed black man more dangerous than an armed

policeman.”

This bias toward police frequently makes cases of excessive force extremely difficult to win. This is an issue because the court and jurors are supposed to be an unbiased third party that can examine the evidence presented to them and make a decision based on the evidence.

If the race was reversed, and an unarmed white man was shot by a police officer who had been using excessive force, the country would be in an uproar. However, due to the status of black men in America and how much racial biases still exist, lawmakers are not so evident about policing in America.

Black men are not different from the rest of us. They are humans too and deserve the same treatment as any other.

Shalika Oza is a sophomore stuyding journalism.

Graphic by Emily Burgess

Latinx community should rally behind black-led movements

by Charlie Vargas STAFF WRITER

As I watched the Super Bowl Halftime unfold, I faced a wave of conflicting emotions. On the one hand, it was delightful to have two Latina women headline a show of that style to Miami, a city that has a significant Latino population, and share it with the world. On the other hand, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s performance turned away from Colin Kaepernick’s ongoing protest, with the help of Jay-Z and Roc Nation.

Assistant professor of American Studies at Wellesley College and author Petra RiveraRideau wrote an article for the Washington Post that summed up some of the lingering feelings of the night. An essential point that Rivera-Rideau addressed was how both artists called for unity but failed to extend that sentiment to Black communities.

Latinx people aren’t represented enough as it is in Hollywood and other media fields.

Hence, whenever there is a moment of seismic representation, our communities erupt with glee and validation, which is a legitimate reason for

Graphic by Tobias Graves-Morris

rejoice. However, it is worth reflecting on what this particular celebration shrouds. The failure of their solidarity leaves room for improvement among celebrities but also fans of the stars and the NFL. One way to do this is by taking note of the impacts of coalition-building led by The Black Panthers in the late 1960s.

The Black Panthers helped to

organize and inspire Latinx movements such as The Brown Berets and The Young Lords as well as other minority groups that became part of the Rainbow Coalition. The aid of The Black Panthers revolutionized the way communities organized free breakfast programs for children, clothing drives and other community events. Without the help of black communities to pave the way for Latinx people and other minorities to organize, it would have likely been a lonely and uphill battle.

Recognizing their struggle as a broader one, The Black Panthers offered their hands with a vision of a unified future.

For those who look back at history with the belief that they would have been on the side of advocacy and justice, your moment is not there — it is now. More specifically, the way that the Latinx population can show solidarity with Kaepernick and his advocacy for black and brown communities is by flexing its economic power.

Jay-Z and Roc Nation were smart in selecting Latin superstars and shifting the focus to a demographic that is also increasingly monitored by advertisers and music trends.

In a Forbes article released last year, Parker Morse wrote about the priorities of advertising and understanding Hispanic consumers. A 2018 Census report estimates that by 2060, the Hispanic population will be at 111 million.

The article foreshadows the changes of the Hispanic market in a drastic way. The extensive makeup of the Latinx population driving the market indicates it can be a tool for moments of solidarity, like in the case of Kaepernick’s boycott. If Latinx people refuse to support Latinx artists who perform at the NFL or withdraw support from the league altogether, it may provide increased pressure on them financially that could make a difference. Latinx communities should recognize that the power of the market is in our hands.

Jay-Z, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez have plenty of wealth, which allows them a place of privilege away from social issues like police brutality. The best way to get their attention is to go after what matters, which comes down to their wallets. If enough Latinx people came together and asked for the ears of their superstars and withheld their capital, the NFL might have to

restrategize to maintain support among viewers. Who knows, maybe instead of pretending to care about other social issues the NFL could rehire Kaepernick, the very problem it’s been so desperately trying to deflect.

Kaepernick and his advocacy are forgotten if Latinx populations and other minority groups let momentary representation become its end goal instead of building solidarity. Judging by the way people outside Latinx culture responded to the performance, Latinx people need all the support they can get, but it’s earned by showing up when no one else will and not for any self-serving purposes.

I know it’s challenging to go against the grain, especially when there are stars that mean so much to our communities. It doesn’t have to be an alienating road. I’d argue that there are already people standing with Kapernick, but the stronger solidarity operates across intersections of classes and identities, the stronger it will hold.

Charlie Vargas is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @CharieVargas19.

6

The Daily Aztec

Sports

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

‘Mo money, mo problems’ for opposition After losing leading rebounder to season-ending injury, senior forward Monique Terry has stepped up for the Aztecs.

by Cristian Alvarez SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Considering how last season ended for San Diego State women’s basketball, players and coaches alike felt there was unfinished business heading into this year.

Most of the team’s core remained intact even after a few roster changes, including the program’s all-time single-season 3-point record holder in Najé Murray who transferred to Cal. .

SDSU hasn’t lost focus of wanting to hang another banner in Viejas Arena.

Six games into this season, however, the Aztecs had a major setback.

A knee injury hit sophomore forward Mallory Adams, the team’s leading rebounder, sidelining her for the rest of the year.

Adams is expected to be ready by the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

So after losing a starter, the question then came for the Aztecs: who is going to step up in Adams’ absence?

Ask anyone and they’ll say the same two words: .

“Mo Money.”

Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson inserted senior forward Monique Terry into the starting lineup on Dec. 4 against Colorado State.

In 19 starts since, Terry surpassed her personal bests in points, rebounds, blocks and assists.

She had back-to-back career-highs in points against Utah State and Wyoming on Jan. 4 and 8.

Terry’s ability as a playmaker was on full display in the Aztecs’ first meeting against the Cowgirls.

Following a 67-60 win in overtime, Terry posted 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes for the Aztecs.

It didn’t take long to see what everyone was talking about.

The bank was open and “Mo-Money” was writing checks you could cash in.

If there’s one way to describe how the Aztecs’ opponents must feel, the Notorious B.I.G. “Biggie Smalls” may have said it best when he said, “Mo Money Mo Problems.”

Terry even has a sticker with the phrase posted on her locker room.

Her production may come as a surprise to some, but not for the Aztecs.

“Monique works her tail off. She’s in the gym every day getting extra shots before and after shootarounds,” Terry-Hutson said. “I’m really happy to see some of her hard work pay off. She’s been prepped and ready for these moments.”

Whether it’s knocking down shots, setting up plays or taking hard fouls, Terry contributes for her team.

Senior forward Monique Terry fires a 3-pointer over a Boise State defender during the Aztecs’ 69-67 overtime loss on Feb. 15 at Viejas Arena.

“It’s not about the way you played or how you did or what the stats look like,” she said. “It’s about if we won and if the team and coaches are happy about the win.”

Terry was raised in San Antonio, Texas to her two parents, Steven and Elizabeth Terry.

Back on Dec. 21, Terry and her teammate Sophia Ramos shared a special moment playing in their hometown against the University of Incarnate Word, winning 57-48.

“It was huge for us and huge for her,” Elizabeth Terry said. “The energy brought to the game from our family, friends, trainers, coaches and Ramos’ family was the most amazing thing.”

Her career started during her freshman year at Brennan High School after she tried out for the basketball team.

While playing for the Bears, Terry had accolades such as defensive player of the year and was the only player in District 27-6A to average a double-double during her junior year.

Teammates called her “Mo” which

turned into “Mo Money” because Terry has been known for hitting big shots during crunch time.

“You can’t just come up with your own nickname in any sport,” her father Steven Terry said. “Your peers, the people that you play, the people you’re with every day, they get to witness you on a daily basis, and that’s where the nickname comes from.”

Fresh out of high school, Terry was a McDonald’s All-American nominee who earned a scouting grade of 89 and was rated as a three-star recruit, according to ESPNW. Division I offers came, but after exploring all options “Mo Money” took her talents to the Mesa.

“Coach (Terry-Hutson) assured me how basketball was just a moment in life, but going to school would be more than just stepping on the hard floor,” Terry said.

“She told me how the educational part is what is really important because we won’t be running on the hard floor forever.”

Majoring in geological sciences, Terry’s game speaks in the classroom too.

Photo by Aaron Tolentino

She was on the Mountain West AllAcademic Team during her freshman year and earned an SDSU scholar-athlete distinction as well.

Terry’s mother said seeing her daughter succeed not just in sports but in education as well makes her a proud parent.

“We’re proud of all the work on the court,” Elizabeth Terry told The Daily Aztec. “It’s amazing to have those accolades and see her game blossom, but we’re even prouder of her classroom accomplishments because we know that type of work ethic is what’s going to lead into the later success of what she’ll see out in the real world.”

The Aztecs with three games left in the regular season before the conference tournament begins.

Terry and the Aztecs begin their quest for that coveted championship banner on March 1 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Cristian Alvarez is a senior studying interdisciplinary studies. Follow him @AlvarezTheViper.

Women’s tennis defeats Cal Poly to complete weekend sweep

by Jason Freund STAFF WRITER

San Diego State women’s tennis defeated the Cal Poly Mustangs 6-1 on Feb 16. at the Aztec Tennis Center, following a 4-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton a day earlier.

Head coach Peter Mattera recognized the importance of his home court and the effect it had on his team.

“It is a comfortable spot for us,” Mattera said. “We know the surface and we know the environment… it’s always easier to win at home.”

Despite Cal Poly drawing first blood on the doubles matches, San Diego State battled back to secure the doubles point on

consecutive come-from-behind victories.

Despite putting up a spirited fight, the duo of senior Mia Smith and sophomore Alicia Melosch fell to Mustangs senior Emily Monaghan and sophomore Emily Ackerman 4-6.

However, junior Tamara Arnold and freshman Julia Jordan surged from an early deficit to defeat the freshman pair of Delanie Dunkie and Melissa LaMette in a 7-5 match But the Mustangs duo of sophomore Kim Bhunu and freshman Dominique Stone were unable to prevent juniors Abbie Mulbarger and Nnena Nadozie from scoring a 6-4 victory.

Despite falling behind early, Nadozie felt that she and Mulbarger put up a good fight despite the difficult team they were

matched up against.

“It was definitely a tough match,” Nadozie said. “Abbie is a fighter, I love playing with her, so it really helped with our chemistry to pull through with (the win).”

After initial struggles in the singles sets, the Scarlet and Black turned up the heat to run away with the victory.

Setting off the winning pace was Arnold and Melosch, who won their matches 6-2, 6-2 and 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 against Monaghan and Dunkle respectively. Jordan faced some initial resistance against Bhunu, but recovered quickly to net a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.

Securing the win in singles was Mulbarger and Nadozie. Like her other teammates, Mulbarger dropped the first

set but overcame her opponent Ackerman with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.

Nadozie, on the other hand, wasn’t gifted an easy task against senior Susanne Boyden as the two volleyed back-and-forth, but Nadozie emerged as the winning player with a 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 win.

In her only match played, Cecile Morin fell to LaMette 2-6, 6-7 (7-4) despite forcing a tiebreaker match in the second set.

San Diego State will remain at home for its next match and welcome the University of Hawaii to the Aztec Tennis Center on Feb. 19.

Jason Freund is a junior studying journalism.

Follow him on Twitter @jason_frings.

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

7

Column: Defense propelling Aztecs for strong finish to season

by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER

San Diego State women’s basketball is known for its shooting, but it is the defense that has kept the team in games.

In SDSU’s last five games, they are 3-2, and those two losses have come down to the final seconds.

On Feb. 8 against Air Force and Feb. 15 against Boise State, SDSU lost in the final seconds. However, on Jan. 29, the Aztecs won with less than 10 seconds left in the ballgame.

Sophomore guard Sophia Ramos said despite losing two close games, the Aztecs’ defense is something they continue to work on every day.

“We’re doing great on the defensive side,” Ramos said.

“We’re getting in our gaps when we need to be, we’re guarding the players like we’re supposed to be.

Our defense has been something we’ve been trying to emphasize.

We’re finding the groove again and holding teams to less points than they’re averaging, which is fantastic for us.”

A big part of defense is rebounding.

Head coach Stacie TerryHutson sets the rebounding scheme where players like senior forwards Monique Terry and

Photo by Aaron Tolentino

Sophomore guard Sophia Ramos grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds during the Aztecs’ 69-67 overtime loss to the Broncos on Feb. 15 at Viejas Arena.

Baylee Vanderdoes and senior center Zayn Dornstauder box out the bigs and guards like Ramos and senior Taylor Kalmer can fly in and grab the rebounds.

Ramos has taken pride in her rebounding over her last five games, averaging 9.4 rebounds, including a career-high 14 boards against the Broncos on Feb. 15.

That is credit to the post players boxing out.

Ramos said she also focuses on her rebounding game with

the injured sophomore forward Mallory Adams out for the season due to a knee injury.

“I’m just trying to step up in Mallory’s absence,” Ramos said.

“The posts are doing a great job blocking out. Baylee and Monique are blocking out some tough rebounders, so I get to do the easy part, kind of fly in and find the ball.”

There are players in the Mountain West Conference who the Aztecs focus their defensive

game plan around.

Last Saturday against Boise State, it was Broncos junior center Mallory McGwire, who stands at 6-foot-5.

McGwire played 22 minutes and scored 13 points.

Terry-Huston said she knew McGwire’s talent and had to critically defend the Oregon transfer.

“Our goal was to always make it hard every time she touched (the ball),” Terry-Hutson said.

“We wanted to discourage the ball from going in. For the most part, when you hold a player like that to 13 points, you give yourself a good chance to win.”

Ramos added that her teammates playing the center position did well covering McGwire.

“You are never going to be able to stop her, but you definitely can slow her down,” Ramos said. “All of our fives, for the most part, came in, did their job against her, which is all you can ask for from them.”

With the conference tournament less than two weeks away, the team’s goal is to get hot near the end of the season, which is now.

Terry-Hutson said the games before the Mountain West Conference tournament will help them when they could face a team for a third time, like the Broncos.

“Our team is confident that they can matchup and play against anybody, so I think that’s what you need going into the conference tournament,” TerryHutson said.

The Aztecs hold their opponents to 64.5 points per game, ranking as the fourth-best defense in the conference.

Breven is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @BrevenHonda.

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Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Cómo cuidarse del coronavirus SDSU por Adriana ESCRITORA

Horne

Coronavirus o 2019-nCoV ha afectado muchas partes del mundo incluyendo el condado de San Diego. Por error, el Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) dio de alta a la primer persona infectada de coronavirus en San Diego.

Hasta el momento, el paciente se mantiene anónimo y ya está de regreso en la base de Miramar.

Ya son dos casos confirmados del virus en San Diego y hay un tercer caso, pero el hospital UCSD aún continúa en espera de los resultados.

La Estación Aérea del Cuerpo de Marines de Miramar (MCAS Miramar) es una de las cuantas bases que está siendo utilizada como cuarentena para los estadounidenses que viajaron a China.

Muchos no saben qué es el coronavirus o cómo se originó, es por eso que es importante saber cómo prevenir el contagio.

De acuerdo con Rory Brening, doctor del Centro de Calpulli en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, hay siete diferentes tipos de coronavirus. Cuatro de estos virus causan gripe y los otros tres infecciones.

“Es un virus común en los animales y poco común en las personas”, explicó Brening. “El virus puede ser leve a severo en una persona. Todo depende del sistema inmunológico de la persona y cual de los siete tipos de virus adquiere”.

Algunos síntomas que se puede presentar son resfriado común, tos y dificultad de respiración.

Según CDC señala que este virus es transmitido de persona a persona y ocurre entre contactos cercanos (aproximadamente de 6 pies). Además, se cree que la propagación ocurre principalmente a través de gotitas respiratorias producidas cuando el infectado tose o estornuda.

Es dicho que estas gotas pueden caer en la boca o en la nariz de una persona. CDC asegura que no está claro si una persona puede obtener el virus al tocar una superficie u objeto infectado del virus, para después tocarse la boca, la nariz y posiblemente los ojos.

“Con la mayoría de los virus respiratorios, se cree que las personas típicamente se contagian más cuando son más enfermizas”, dijo CDC. El coronavirus ha sido declarado una emergencia de salud pública a nivel global.

El virus ha causado un total de 1,107 muertes en solo un mes y por lo menos ha infectado un total de 43,090, así lo dio a conocer el portal de CNN. Libby Skiles asegura que la universidad

está preparada si el virus se llegase a propagar.

“La universidad tiene estructura y equipos de manejo de emergencias incluyendo a nosotros mismos”, comentó Skiles. “Hay una cantidad de otros socios del campus que están monitoreando; cómo lo haríamos con cualquier otra enfermedad”.

Actualmente, el campus está colaborando con socios de salud del país, el Departamento de Salud Pública de California, el Centros de Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) y la Universidad Estatal de California.

“Responderemos apropiadamente y efectivamente hacia los estudiantes”, aseguró Skiles.

Sin embargo, esto ha alarmado a muchos alumnos de SDSU, pero, acorde a Dr. Brening y Skiles no hay necesidad de alarmarse.

El Dr. Brening aconseja que los estudiantes hagan normalmente todo lo que hacen para protegerse tales como, lavarse las manos, utilizar desinfectante de manos, no tocarse la cara y evitar contacto con gente que está enferma.

Skiles menciona que si hay dudas, los alumnos recibirán mensajes directamente de la universidad.

El público se ha quedado con la duda si las máscaras desechables son efectivas.

Skiles no aseguró que estas máscaras sean o no sean efectivas pero, explicó que SDSU

“La universidad tiene estructura y equipos de manejo de emergencias”.

– Libby Skiles, Directora de Servicios de Salud

es una comunidad diversa que muchos vienen de culturas diferentes. Es importante reconocer que en algunas partes del mundo es común utilizar una máscara desechable cuando uno no se siente bien.

“Los alumnos pueden contactar servicios humanos. Nosotros estamos preparados para contestar y asistir con preguntas”, dijo Dr. Brening. “Al igual que se pueden meter en comunicación a CDC y al Departamento de Salud del Condado de San Diego”.

Las redes sociales como Instagram, Twitter y Facebook pueden proyectar que este virus es el fin para todos, cuando en realidad, los países están haciendo todo lo posible para proteger a los ciudadanos.

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Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundo azteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

9

El voto latino importa más que nunca por Lucelis ESCRITORA

Martínez

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego ofrece una educación de culturas diferentes a estudiantes, una de las más prominentes en el campus es la hispana.

En la tabla de etnicidad publicada en la página oficial de SDSU, describe que durante el 2019 cerca de 8,876 estudiantes de primer año se identificaron como latinos.

Como punto de comparación, el grupo más grande es el de los estudiantes que se identificaron como caucásicos, este grupo se conforma de 10,294 estudiantes. O sea que únicamente 2,000 alumnos separan a la mayoría étnica en SDSU de los hispanos.

Sin contar que hay personas que se identifican como caucásicos, pero también son hispanos.

Con un grupo tan grande e interesado en prosperar y aprender, es muy importante que decidan y se registren para votar en estas próximas elecciones, especialmente si son hijos de padres indocumentados.

Algunas de las propuestas en la elección

“Cerca de 8,876 estudiantes de primer año se identificaron como latinos”.

– Lucelis Martínez, Estudiante de periodismo presidencial primaria de California afecta a las comunidades directamente.

Uno puede argumentar que todas las propuestas afectan a todos los californianos aunque algunas de ellas afectan más a ciertos grupos.

excluidos del derecho a votar de diferente maneras.

Hoy en día es tan fácil como hacer una búsqueda en internet y tomar un Uber a una oficina electoral.

Para los estudiantes hispanos que se sienten frustrados por nuestra situación política e intolerante, este es el momento de actuar. Cada voto cuenta.

También, para los estudiantes con padres indocumentados, sus votos cuentan el doble, ya que son un mensaje para la presidencia y para EE.UU. en general, sus voces no serán disminuidas.

Si no alcanzaste a registrarte para votar este próximo 3 de marzo, lo podrás hacer provisionalmente hasta el día de la elección.

Foto de archivo

No olvides registrarte para emitir tu voto.

Por ejemplo, la proposición 13 autoriza el uso de bonos gubernamentales para reparar instituciones de educación desde preescolar hasta el nivel universitario.

Una tabla publicada por la página de kidsdata.org, para el año escolar 2015 enseñó que solo el 10.7% de estudiantes que no se graduaron de la secundaria, eran hispanos. Tal vez la proposición 13 es una buena solución para que pueda ayudar a resolver este problema.

A la misma vez, una proposición siempre tiene su lado contrario.

El uso de bonos gubernamentales es una

manera para suplementar una educación más avanzada.

Un bono gubernamental se compone de dos partes; el precio del bono y la tasa de interés, el cual tiene una relación opuesta. Por ejemplo, si el precio sube, el interés baja y viceversa es por eso que es importante entender estos números.

Yo aprendí mucho sobre estos temas en mi clase de macroeconomía AP. Es crucial que todos los estudiantes puedan votar para participar directamente con la sociedad que los rodea.

En el pasado, muchos grupos fueron

Foto por Lucelis Martínez

Boleta de votaciones de California de 2020.

Líderes en la universidad que aspiran a un cambio positivo

Foto por Emily Burgess

El profesor Brown tiene siete años como brindando clases en SDSU.

por Diane ESCRITORA

López

El mes de febrero se celebra y se reconoce los logros de los afroamericanos y sus líderes que dieron forma a la historia.

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego tiene cientos de líderes en todo el campus que representan a la comunidad afroamericana.

Muchos profesores, estudiantes y miembros de la facultad van más allá de su trabajo en clase, es por eso que para muchos ser un líder y una persona que motiva a su comunidad es muy importante.

Ajani Brown, profesor en el Departamento de Estudios de Africana, desea que la experiencia de sus estudiantes sea mejor, comparada a la de él cuando fue estudiante.

Brown mencionó que los universitarios son su motivación principal.

"Quiero ser un punto de referencia, específicamente para la comunidad afroamericana, pero en general también para todos los estudiantes del campus”, dijo Brown. "En cuanto a liderazgo, se trata de saber qué se necesita mejorar y ser la persona lo suficientemente grande como para hablar sobre ello y encontrar los recursos que hacen un campus mejor y más inclusivo para todos”.

Al ser parte de la comunidad afroamericana en el campus, Brown explicó que la representación siempre puede mejorar porque no es numéricamente igual.

"Si observan los porcentajes de profesores, tiene un 66% de profesores blancos en comparación con un 3.8% de profesores de

color", aseguró Brown.

Por lo tanto, espera ser una fuente de información para todos los estudiantes en el plantel y específicamente para aquellos de la comunidad afroamericana.

Shane James, uno de los educadores para el Centro del Orgullo, también conocido como Amber St. James, ha creado un impacto en el campus al presentar las voces de los estudiantes de color queer porque James dice muchas veces quedan fuera de la conversación sobre la raza, justicia social e intersecciones.

No solo es formar parte de esta comunidad, sino también de la comunidad LGBTQ +, que lo ha motivado para ayudar a los estudiantes a encontrar un lugar seguro y que sus voces sean escuchadas.

James ve el Mes de la Historia Afroamericana como un mes para celebrar comunidad.

"Somos de color los 365 días del año, pero durante un mes representamos más, nos aseguramos de que estamos celebrando y arrojando luz sobre nuestra gente y nuestra historia", dijo James. "Solo tenemos un mes, vamos a ir con todo porque ya lo estamos haciendo increíble durante los otros días".

Khalil Adisa, quien pasa una gran parte de su tiempo en el Centro de Recursos Afroamericanos, también proporciona a los estudiantes un lugar seguro para expresarse libremente como lo sintió cuando entró por primera vez al centro. Para él, poder hacer eso con otros estudiantes es un impulso hacia su comunidad.

"Cuando los universitarios acuden a los eventos, cuando los ves sonreír, cuando los ves involucrados realmente absorbiendo información, hablando de cosas que nunca le dijeron a otras personas porque se sienten tan seguros en nuestro grupo, señaló Adisa.

“Te da una sensación de orgullo, realmente estoy ayudando a alguien más".

Adisa manifestó que cuando se trata específicamente de la comunidad afroamericana en la universidad, muchas veces piensan que no pueden hacerlo porque no ven a su comunidad en posiciones liderazgos.

Sin embargo, su objetivo es cambiar esa narrativa y dejar que los estudiantes sepan que pueden estar en esas posiciones y recibirán apoyo en cada paso del camino.

Los estudiantes también son una motivación para Christian Onwuka, presidente de la Asociación de Estudiantes, quien dice que su motivación es saber que está ayudando a los alumnos.

Estar en varios puestos de liderazgo le ha dado a Onwuka muchas recompensas, pero dice que todavía se ve como un hombre afroamericano ante los ojos de los demás. Ha estado en lugares donde recibe miradas "extrañas", pero tan pronto como se presenta como el presidente de AS, Onwuka asegura que el estado de ánimo de las personas cambia y considera que esta es la parte más frustrante de ser un líder en la comunidad de color.

Onwuka opinó que debería haber un énfasis en los líderes de color todos los días,

“Ser un líder afroamericano viene con varios orgullos”.

– Christian Onwuka, Presidente de la Asociación de Estudiantes

no solo durante febrero.

“Ser un líder afroamericano viene con varios orgullos”, explicó Onwuka. “Hay much fatiga porque no solamente me represento a mi mismo, represento a todos los afroamericanos en el campus”.

10

The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Black leaders on campus try to create and inspire community

by Diane Lopez ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR

Black History Month recognizes the achievements of African Americans and the black leaders that shaped history.

San Diego State has hundreds of leaders throughout campus that fit this bill. Many professors, students and faculty members go above and beyond their coursework.

For many of these people, being a leader and a motivator for their community is their top priority.

Ajani Brown, a professor in the Africana Studies Department, wants his students’ days on campus to be better than his own experience. He said students are his number one motivation.

“I want to be a point of reference, specifically a point of reference for the black community, but in general for the campus community as well,” Brown said. “As far as leadership, it comes with

knowing what needs to be improved and being the person that is big enough to speak up about it and finding those resources that make the campus better and more inclusive for all students.”

Being part of the black community on campus, Brown said the representation can always get better because it is not numerically representative.

“If you look at the percentages of professors, you have 66% white professors compared with 3.8% black professors,” Brown said. “It is not statistical equality.

So until you get statistical equality, you won’t have equality at all.”

Shane James, a peer educator for the Pride Center, also known as drag queen Amber St. James, has created an impact on campus by bringing the voices of queer black students forward. James says a lot of times they are left out of conversations about race, social justice and intersectionality.

Being in not only the black community,

Photo by Lauren Mapp

but also the LGBTQ+ community has motivated James to help students find a safe spot and have their voices heard.

James sees Black History Month as a time to celebrate community.

“Yes, we are black 365 days a year, but for a month we put on extra. We make sure we are celebrating and shedding light on our people and our history,” James said. “ It was less of ‘Oh, we only get one month.’ It was, ‘This month we are gonna go hard, because we are already doing amazing for the other 365 days.’”

Khalil Adisa, who spends a lot of his time at the Black Resource Center, also provides students a safe spot to express themselves freely like he felt when he first came into the center. To him, being able to do that with other students is a push toward strengthening the black community on campus.

“When the students come to events, when you see them smile, when you see them actually involved soaking in information, talking about things they never told other people because they feel so safe in our group, it gives you a sense of pride,” Adisa said. ”Like wow, I’m really helping somebody else out.”

Adisa said many African American students on campus can doubt themselves when they don’t see they don’t see others in the black community in leadership positions. His goal is to change that narrative and let students know they can be in those leadership roles and will receive support every step of the way.

“We made strides through everything,” he said. “We dealt with tragedy, we persevered through pain and just with what we have done with what has been against us is so much more than one month.”

Student activists hold signs in front of Hepner Hall at San Diego State during the rally on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Legendary musician’s album gets remixed

by Ryan Hardison STAFF WRITER

Nine years after his death, Gil ScottHeron is still an inspiration to many black musicians.

Chicago-based jazz drummer Makaya McCraven was given the task of adding new compositions to Gil-Scott Heron’s swan song album “I’m New Here,’’ released 15 months before his death. The result is an emotionally poignant 18-track collaboration, titled “We’re New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven.”

A talented musician himself, McCraven arranged the new orchestral production with the help of his frequent collaborators guitarist Jeff Parker, trumpeter Ben LaMar Gay, harpist Brandee Younger and bassist Junius Paul.

This album’s creation was very special for McCraven as he vividly remembered his father playing Scott-Heron’s music often during his childhood. “(Making this record) felt like bringing me home to my childhood, and that small apartment, with those records playing,” McCraven told Pitchfork.

“We’re New Again” shows Scott-Herron at his most vulnerable, often giving an emotionally gripping perspective on his struggles.

On the album’s standout anthem, “I’m New Here,” Scott-Heron is coping with the past, yet he still longs to make up for his mistakes. He poignantly hums, “No matter how far you’ve gone / you can always turn around,” showing hope for a better future.

Another highlight is the solemn track

“I’ll Take Care of You.” At the song’s climax, Scott-Heron painfully pleads, “You won’t ever have to worry / you won’t ever have to whine, for I’ll there beside you / to dry your weeping eye.” McCraven’s tearful piano accompaniment makes the track emotionally jarring but sentimental.

However, the most harrowing song is “The Crutch,” where Scott-Heron reflects on his damaging crack-cocaine use over Parker’s jolting electric guitar rhythm.

According to a 2010 New Yorker profile, Scott-Heron had a severe crack addiction for a large portion of his adult life, even when “I’m New Here” was recorded.

This context makes lyrics such as, “The savage beast that once so soothed his brain / has reared his ugly head and staked its claim,” especially heartbreaking. ScottHeron was aware he had lost control, yet substances were the only way to cope with his pain.

Throughout his artistic career, ScottHeron was known for his aggressive, politically and socially charged commentary which was just as urgent as it was poetic. This included tackling important social issues such as civil rights, the Vietnam War and his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Although he wasn’t a classically trained musician, ScottHeron had a distinct ability to emit anger, hope, happiness and humor through his rhythmic musings.

Besides being a musician, Scott-Heron was many things such as an activist, a poet, a teacher and a father. He was a complex public figure, but those close to Scott-Heron knew him as a troubled soul, trying to use his voice to change the

world. In an interview with the Guardian, close friend Al Nasir said, “He wanted to raise consciousness and make the world a better place.”

Without Scott-Heron’s spoken-word style, the landscape of hip-hop would look much different. Often cited as the “godfather of rap,” his music has laid the blueprint for conscious rap anthems such as Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” and the songwriting of neo-soul legends like D’Angelo and Raphael Saadiq. Even today, his influence is still alive and well in the popular works of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Drake.

“We’re New Again’’ is McCraven’s deeply personal tribute to Scott-Heron and it combines each artists’ struggles to create a passionate musical statement.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Gil-Scott Heron passed away, but his music lives on.

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Music highlight black struggles

by Johann Derek Oribello SENIOR STAFF WRITER

With the rise of rap as one of the most dominant music genres in the today, it’s important to acknowledge the influence of black heritage in mainstream, popular culture. Nevertheless, African Americans remain one of the most marginalized groups in the nation. In celebration of Black History Month, here are a few songs that highlight the struggles African Americans face and catapulted social and civil issues to the forefront.

“ALRIGHT” BY KENDRICK LAMAR It’s no secret that Kendrick Lamar’s music has impacted listeners as seen with his chorus of his song, “Alright,” being chanted across the nation at various Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The empowering motif behind the hook, “We gon’ be alright/ Do you hear me, do you feel me? We gon’ be alright,” served as a strong mantra displaying hope despite constant pain and struggle. Psychology sophomore Mikayla Brown said songs like this can serve as a strong vehicle to carry and promote messages resonating with the youth.

“Rap has been the most popular music genre for a while now,” Brown said.

“Kendrick is seen as one of the best in our generation so it’s not surprising to see songs like ‘Alright’ being used as protest songs.”

“BE FREE” BY J. COLE Released in 2014, shortly after the tragic loss of Michael Brown, J. Cole expressed his painful sentiment many young black men and women shared across the country. Michael Brown was an unarmed teenager who was killed by a police officer and sparked the “Hands up, don’t shoot” slogan for Black Lives Matter protests. The hurt and frustration is clear in J.Cole’s voice as he raps lines such as, “Can you tell me why/Every time I step outside I see my n—as die.” The inclusion of the eyewitness account sound clip from Michael Brown’s friend on the song further enforces the fact that J. Cole, like many African Americans, saw themselves as victims of police brutality like Michael Brown.

“LAND OF THE FREE” BY JOEY BADA$$ Joey Bada$$ made a strong political statement with the release of this song on President Donald Trump’s inauguration day. In it, he makes his stand against inequality in the country by showcasing strong imagery of the racism experienced

by African Americans daily. Lyrics such as, “They disorganized my people, made us all loners/Still got the last names of our slave owners,” demonstrate the lasting imprint racism has on Americans even today. Anthropology junior Dante Miller said it’s encouraging to hear musical artists politically address issues in their songs even if they’re not political.

“I think it’s important for artists to talk about what’s going on politically even if they don’t talk about it in their music,” Miller said. “Rappers like Tupac did in the past, so it’s cool to see people like YG and Joey Bada$$ do the same now.”

“COPS SHOT THE KID” BY NAS FEAT. KANYE WEST Last year, legendary rapper Nas dropped one of his most politically-charged tracks where he directly confronts police brutality. Over a minimalist beat laced by Kanye, Nas shares his thoughts on one of the most talked about issues currently in the nation. Lines like, “White kids are brought in alive/Black kids get hit with like five,” bluntly question the racial disparity often put onto young teenagers caught up by the law.

Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

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Fraternities and sororities Step into a part of black culture

by Devin Whatley STAFF WRITER

With Black History Month underway, one part of black culture that is often unknown or not recognized touches upon one word: dance.

Stepping and strolling are two different forms of performance routines commonly practiced and performed by black fraternities and sororities around the country.

At San Diego State, it is performed by multicultural fraternities such as Phi Beta Sigma and sororities such as Delta Sigma Theta and Sigma Gamma Rho. Stepping involves a sequence of various body movements such as steps, claps, hits and chants toward a certain beat created by the group.

Its roots can be traced back to the African “gumboot” dance by the Welly people in South Africa. It was first seen by the black fraternities going back as early as the 1940s and 1950s. It began to be performed by black fraternities consistently in the 1960s and 1970s, and then reached mainstream attention among all black fraternities, sororities and even the general public in the 1980s when it was used in movies such as “School Day” and “Stomp The Yard.”

Stepping can also involve the use of certain objects in routines. For example, Phi Beta Sigma sometimes utilizes sticks and Sigma Gamma Rho uses canes in their routines.

On the other hand, strolling is a routine where a group dances to music and is uniform in their movements. It is common in events where fraternities and/ or sororities perform outside of regular competitions, according to Associated Students President and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity member Christian Onwuka.

It originally started as the term “party walking” in the 1990s where it was common for greek parties to have groups dance with routines. It then got picked up by black fraternities and sororities and has become a part of not just their culture, but black culture as well.

“There are a few national songs that each frat and sorority all stroll too,” public health senior and Sigma Gamma Rho sorority member Taylor Dunham said. “It serves as a way of connecting with each other.”

Even though the routines have been common amongst black fraternities and sororities for decades, many of them have put their own modern touches on it, incorporating modern dance moves for stepping and using modern songs for sstrolling.

“We’ve put our own touch to it by incorporating modern moves and music,” Onwuka said. “For example, we’ve done a step that incorporated modern moves like ‘the woah’ and strolled to songs like ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ by Miley Cyrus and ‘BOP’ by DaBaby.”

Black fraternities and sororities on

campus perform these routines in many events and competitions as well. One well known event they showcase their talent at is the Yard Show, where all the black fraternities and sororities battle one another for bragging rights. It is usually held around homecoming weekend in November.

Many groups spend weeks to months preparing for routines. For the Yard Show, women’s studies senior and Delta Sigma Theta sorority member Rayne Lopez recalls spending months rehearsing routines.

“For that show we started practicing in August,” she said. “Our practices were for four days a week, and around three to four hours per week.

We would s t a r t around 9 p.m. and finish

Photo Courtesy of Julian Deguzman

around midnight or 1 a.m.”

For Onwuka, he strives to have his fraternity move as one unit and spends hours going through movements on his own so he can teach it to other members.

“We start by breaking it down piece by piece,” he said. “When everyone has learned the step, that first hill is done.

The second hill is to make sure everyone sounds the same when you do it. In the movie “Drumline” they say ‘one band one sound,’ but for us, it’s one step, one sound.”

Sometimes Onwuka admits he even will practice routines in his A.S. office when he has free time in between meetings.

“There are some times where I perform a step in my office so I can show it to the group when we practice,” he said.

Once the groups go from the practice floor to the dance floor though, everyone becomes locked in a certain mindset.

“Once it’s time to perform, I just zone out and look to put on a great show,” Lopez said.

For Durham, she is just thinking about hitting every part of the routine perfectly as a group.

“In my head I’m like, ‘don’t mess this up’ because if someone messes up then we all mess up,” she said. “But also I am encouraging myself and others because this is a performance, this is what we do.”

At the end of the day, stepping and strolling remain often forgotten by many people when they think of key traditions of black culture.

Durham hopes that can change someday.

Stepping and strolling is an art form for black culture,” she said.

“It is a major part of who we are as a culture. It would not be talked about by people unless you were in a black frat or sorority.”

Even though it is not well known, the fraternities and sororities hope to keep the tradition alive and a part of black culture for decades to come.

Blockbusters showcase black community with lead roles in film

by Flower Smith CONTRIBUTOR

In honor of Black History Month and celebrating the cultural contributions of African Americans, here are some films that represent black people in lead roles in the Hollywood film industry. With new multifaceted depictions of the black community, these are some standout films that are enriching to this community.

“QUEEN AND SLIM” (2018) This film confronts America’s racist legacy face on. It raises thought-provoking claims about the American justice system and how it is designed to maintain a social and cultural hierarchy between whites and blacks. It also demonstrates the harsh reality for African Americans when it comes to issues such as police brutality and the plight of black individuals.

The 2019 movie presents the issue of African Americans being treated as second-class citizens. With the renowned casting of Jodie-Turner Smith as Queen and Daniel Kaluuya as Slim, this piece can be described as protest art.

In an interview for The Oprah Magazine, director Melina Matsoukas describes the film as, “Black community, it’s about Black

love, not just in-front of the camera but behind it.”

Every aspect of this film is intended to showcase the black experience in way most movies neglect to.

“HIDDEN FIGURES” (2016) This 2016 film tells the untold true story of three African American women - Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji Henso, Dorothy Vaughan, played Octavia Spencer, and Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monáe - who served as the brains of NASA when it came to helping develop NASA’s space program.

Not only does this film represent black women overcoming gender and racial inequality, but it serves as an inspiration to many. This film is a great representation of becoming more racially inclusive in the media and film industry.

The defining film is based in Virginia when segregation was a normality. These three womens’ roles in NASA were to serve as human computers to conquer calculations in order to get to the moon.

Due to segregation laws, the women were forced to work in the “colored building.”

However, because NASA was so fixated on the idea of beating the Soviet Union when it came to getting to space, NASA

allowed the women to coexist within the predominantly white, male corporation’s building. These women were some of the key sources for the advancement of NASA in the 1960s.

This visionary trio crossed race and gender boundaries and have inspired many. They will continue to inspire generations to come.

“BLACK PANTHER” (2019) This Marvel film stirred the Hollywood film industry by introducing a new level of cultural appreciation for the African American heritage. The 2018 film was the defining moment with its majority-black cast.

Director Ryan Coogler wrote Chad Bosewick’s character T’Challa as the lead in the film. This was huge for black audiences due to decades of lackluster representation in the major media industry.

The film also brings a breath of fresh air to the perceptions of African women because Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o, Suri, played by Letitia Wright, and Okoye, played by Danai Gurira, do not fall into the stereotypical roles that most women are confined to in superhero films. They are independent and do not want to be

saved.

Every aspect of this film is to showcase the black experience.

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Feb. 19 - 25, 2020 Editor: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Students celebrate black pride and their experiences on s d o D

Black History Month is a special time to reflect, appreciate and celebrate the many achievements of black figures throughout history and those who are trailblazing today. An overwhelming sense of pride is felt among the black community on campus especially during this time. In honor of Black History Month, students talked to The Daily Aztec to share what black pride means to them and what their black student experience is like at San Diego State.

Black pride to me is just being proud of who you are, like with any race, whatever you are you should be proud of who you are because that’s the only thing you’re ever going to be.

As a black student at SDSU I’m involved a lot with the black community. I’m on the Afrique dance team, which is African style dance. I’m always in the BRC, I’m in ASU. I feel like we all just know each other. If we see each other out on campus, we always give each other a ‘Hey!’ even if you don’t know them, it’s a simple ‘Hey!’ So you always have somebody to have your back on campus. Everybody in the BRC is just proud to be black and we have our own little family here.

kinesiology, freshman

ck o l t Black hi

Kiyen

na

interdisciplinary studies, junior

n so

Ell i

To me, taking pride in all of the history and black excellence, how we’ve overcome challenges, what we’ve done to overcome them and taking pride in being unified as a community, specifically in the black community is black pride.

Overall my experience has been pretty good, I really appreciate how we have the BRC and black resources to turn to whenever we need or want because it builds a strong sense of community and family. I think being at a PWI (predominantly white institution) it is really important that we have those resources as it creates a more welcoming environment for us. I’ve been to ASU, the Student African American Sisterhood, I’ve been to the BRC a couple times. I was in the Harambe Program my freshman year and every experience that I had went to or been a part of was pretty open and welcoming.

psychology, sophomore

W a

“When I think about black pride, I think about being dynamic as a person and not holding that back. A lot of the times when you are the “only” in a classroom of any race or culture, or gender or sexuality you kind of have to mute certain parts of yourself in order to assimilate to the culture that’s around you. I think black pride and just pride in general, is being as dynamic as you are all the time and not turning it off simply because you walk into a different room. For my experience here, all my professors care about me. I’ve had fun in all my classes, I love the BRC, I think this is the best part of it. I also like it because not a lot of folks are actually here during the day. Like, there are spaces on campus where you feel as though you’re around folks but without feeling as though you’re in a group of folks. I feel like that is a really cool thing, like a lot of folks come to campus and they have their group of friends. But, I think a lot of times on campus having a place where you can be by yourself, but around others so you’re not alone is good for your mental health, and I think this campus is very good at that. There’s always people studying, laying around, that’s just the culture of the campus, and as a black student I very much enjoy that. Ultimately, no matter what race you are, I feel like you just have to talk to people. I think that’s the hardest thing is when you’re like 3% of campus, you have to know about other people and how they operate in order for you to get the full understanding and how to operate on your campus.”

s

interdisciplinary studies, junior

Mile s

in tk

Da hli a

B

a way of love and passion for me. Growing up and having a strong father and mother in the family, gave me a great upbringing. Also, coming from a good family and education, you really learn a lot about the things that come with being a black person. Whether that be learning about Malcolm X or Martin Luther King.

At first when I came to state, I felt a little lost before I found the Black Resource Center. But when I found the Black Resource Center, I found black women and men who are very highly educated and they gave me that support. It’s a home away from home and I love it. Black history is very important to me because I went to an all-white, private high school, so I wasn’t able to experience what black history month was like at an education institute like San Diego State. Being here and seeing how Black History Month is taken very important, is really heart-warming to see.

Africana studies, junior

pride just means being happy, content and joyful about where you are and who you came from, the past or the present. I know some of us don’t necessarily know our African heritage, but no matter if you don’t know exactly where you came from, I think it’s important just knowing that it’s a beautiful heritage. I think it’s also just being proud of who we are right now and I think it’s about cohesiveness, like trying to build each other up instead of tearing each other down. Black pride is just being proud of who you are and not conforming to what other cultural standards are.

The black community at State is a very large community, it’s bigger than I thought.

When I first came here my roommates and I went to the ASU meetings. Through ASU I was able to meet a lot of people. Somebody always knows somebody. When it comes to the black community compared to the rest of SDSU, I feel like there isn’t any direct conflict, but obviously the BRC has been vandalized and you know, sometimes you can definitely feel that you’re the minority in classes. I will say though that I’ve had really great experiences with meeting a whole bunch of people, I’ve met some of my best friends. There’s also a lot of black counselors, that’s what a lot of people don’t know.

My academic counselor is black, and then also, Dr. Martin, she is the head of the biology department and she works with a lot of science students. She’s also the head of the Black Student Science Organization. I feel like there’s a lot of resources we don’t know about as well.

W

Moha me Black pride to me is d

l uu

Aly s

sa

by Aleah Jarin CONTRIBUTOR

or just come for the prizes!

THURSDAY, FEB. 20 7pm-11pm, ENS 700 Field

Open for SDSU students, bring your Red ID. arc.sdsu.edu/promo/speedsoccer