Volume 102, Issue 04
Washington, D.C.
September 21, 2017
Dick Gregory: 1932 - 2017
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CAMPUS
Students Hold Candlelight Vigil for Chicago Teen By: David Robinson Jr., Campus Reporter
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“The outcome tonight was very shocking to me and also heartwarming because we don’t get a lot of support because people are very ignorant to things that happen [in] Chicago,” said Kyler Hughes, a senior and Quad Resident Assistant. “They don’t know about any of the politics that’s put in place that keeps the people of Chicago from reaching success, so I’m very happy that we had a very big turnout and that people were here to support Chicago and specifically Miss Kenneka Jenkins.” A song immediately followed to break the silence, as a wave of Howard University students gather at a vigil for Kenneka Jenkins on Wednesday, Sept. 13. emotion filled the crowd. With only Members of the Howard University community the lights of the candles illuminating the crowd, the gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 13, to commemorate brick base of the flagpole became a podium for students the life of Chicago teenager Kenneka Jenkins. A to speak. Howard students took the opportunity to candlelight vigil was organized in honor of the 19-year- speak about the dangers that Jenkins faced. It led to a old, who suddenly passed away on Sept. 10. Despite not greater conversation about the responsibility everyone personally knowing Jenkins, residents of the Harriet faces to look out for others in their community. Tubman Quadrangle came out and shared sentiments with fellow members of the Howard community. According to the Chicago Tribune, Jenkins was found inside a walk-in freezer in the basement of the Crowne “I was surprised by how many people showed up and Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center in I appreciate everyone saying the things they had to Rosemont at noon on the day of her passing. Jenkins say and being respectful to one another within our attended a party at the same hotel. Her friends community”, said Amber Cooper, a freshman student reported last seeing Jenkins in the hotel’s hallway from Chicago. around 4 a.m. The atmosphere was somber as a tight-knit circle formed around the flagpole on The Yard of the Upper Quad. Small candle jars were dispersed throughout the large crowd. After members of the Quad dorm thanked all of those that came, the quiet voices in the crowd were hushed immediately to pay respect.
Senior Stephanie Washington responded to the incident. “We must hold each other accountable,” said Washington. Flames from the vigil were extinguished by 9 p.m., but the students in attendance felt a new spark of hope.
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Same Fruit, Different Tree: The Quintessence of What a Howard Student Can Do By: Christian Anne Capers, Campus Reporter
A screening for “Same Fruit, Different Tree,” was held in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications on Sept. 13. Directed by junior TV & Film major and photography minor Mansur K. Rashid, “Same Fruit, Different Tree” deals with mature themes and source material that resonates with black youth living in the world today. The plot sees the sheltered protagonist Trey living a simple life, when he is suddenly exposed to the chokehold video that caused Eric Garner’s death in the streets at the hands of white police officers. Similar versions of this death haunt Trey constantly, culminating in tragedy.
of police brutality even existing–I didn’t even know police brutality was a thing until Trayvon Martin happened,” said Rashid.
The story behind “Same Fruit, Different Tree” is relevant today in an era where the likeliness of an unarmed black man to get shot by law enforcement is at an all time high. Rashid, a fellow man of color, has enjoyed many creative accomplishments in his field while also combating the statistic. His lack of knowledge on the issue is actually what inspired the direction of his film.
“I’m hoping that somebody takes notice. I have some other projects in the tank.”
Rashid produces, writes and edits his own content under his company M.K. Studios and has made both a positive and passionate impact on the Bison community. His success has proven well-earned, as he remains humble and eager to see where his path takes him in the future. In hopes of impacting his student body and surrounding community, Rashid plans on directing more projects.
In addition to inspiring students on campus, the short film has gained much success elsewhere. “Same Fruit, Different Tree,” was featured at the Denton Black Film Festival and the National Black Film Festival, to name a couple. Rashid’s perseverance is proof that students at the Mecca are able to follow their dreams “I grew up overseas, so I was completely unaware with the right amount of passion and hard work.
The Hilltop Staff Jazmin Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief Almani Jackson, Business Manager
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT: Shai Vaz, Assistant Business Manager Brittany Read, Executive Operations Manager Jerry Augustin, Sales Account Executive
CREATIVE DEPARTMENT:
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT:
Kimberly Nnorom, Senior Copy Editor Bria Horsley, News Editor Kai Sinclair, Assistant News Editor Clarice Metzger, Life+Style Editor Lawrence Dow, Sports Editor
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Interactive Discussion with Moreira Chonguica, Mozambican Jazz Musician
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#BISONLEAD : Annual Student Leadership Conference
Date: 09/21/17 Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Location: Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center
Date: 09/24/17 Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Location: Inclusive Innovation Incubator (IN3DC)
Howard University vs. Bethune Cookman: Home Football Game
You Ask. Nick Cannon Answers.
Date: 09/23/17 Time: 1:00 p.m. Location: Greene Stadium
Date: 09/25/17 Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Howard University School of Business Auditorium
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NEWS
Dick Gregory’s Life Honored with Tribute Parade and “Celebration of Life” Service By: Kamilah Tom, Campus Reporter
@adventourouskam
Members of the public trailed down T Street in Northwest Washington, D.C. as a part of the Dick Gregory Tribute Parade. The parade concluded a weekend long celebration of Dick Gregory, a civil rights activist, comedian, writer and more. Photo by: Blairre Perriatt
Dick Gregory, the legendary comedian and activist who shed light on the black experience in America, was honored last weekend with a “Celebration of Life Service” and tribute parade in Washington, D.C.
office as Mayor of Chicago against Richard Daley. A year later he ran for president of the United States and received 200,000 votes as a write-in candidate with the Peace and Freedom Party.
Crowds gathered from the Howard Theatre to Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street for the New Orleans style parade to say goodbye to a man that many felt connected to. “Dick Gregory is American history. Dick Gregory is history,” said Jacqueline Manning, a D.C. native and parade attendee. “From his life I learned to not be afraid.”
Gregory lectured at many universities, informing young of the injustices faced by people across the world. He regularly fasted to bring attention to global issues, such as women’s rights, the Apartheid in South Africa, police brutality and American Indian rights.
Parade attendee Saleem Gyau calls Gregory “Baba,” which means father. “Baba has impacted my life Born Richard Claxton Gregory on Oct. 12, 1932, in St. greatly because of what he sacrificed for all of us,” Louis, Gregory began his comedy career in the early said Gyau. “He sacrificed his life… hunger strikes and 60s after performing at Chicago’s Playboy Club as a protests. He was definitely on the front lines.” replacement act. He was a pioneering black comedian who found success with the white crowd and became Others have recently been introduced to Gregory’s life a national comedy headliner. Through his success, and impact since his passing. Gregory paved the way for other African-American comedians, like Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby. “After going to the funeral and hearing everyone speak about him at his funeral really motivated me His satirical commentary on the life of a black man in to participate and be more active in the movement America led him to becoming a prominent leader in because of his example,” said funeral and parade the Civil Rights Movement. In 1967, he ran for public attendee Leah Hoxie.
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Howard University Moves Up 14 Spots on US College Rankings By: Skylar Parker, Campus Reporter
Howard University recently boosted its national ranking with an increase of 14 spots. U.S. News & World Report announced that Howard stood among 2018’s top #110 universities in the country. With an overall score of 48 out of 100, Howard is the second leading historically black college. It stands right after Spelman College, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Howard’s allowance for change and growth has contributed greatly to its overall success and higher ranking. This year, Howard accepted its largest incoming freshman class in history. The class of 2021 carries a total of 2300 freshmen, all possessing a high level of academic standing. The class has an average 3.52 grade point average and an average 1200 SAT score. “It is because of our community that Howard remains one of the nation’s best universities”, said President Wayne Frederick in an email released to students. “The value of Howard University’s impact on the
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nation and the world is evident in our competitive students, faculty, staff, and our many stellar alumni.” With the help of the remarkable reputation of Howard University School of Business, Howard was also able to raise five spots on the listing of Best Undergraduate Business Programs, moving to #128. Howard gained the #137 spot in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs with the indisputable contributions of the university’s College of Engineering and Architecture. Originally established in 1867, Howard has been able to achieve great amounts of success in all aspects, one being the recent historic victory of Howard’s football team over the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With these achievements, the iconic Howard slogan is reinforced: excellence, leadership, truth, and service. With the performances of high academic accomplishment and full force unwavering dedication among the Bison community, Howard’s success is only headed in a direction of positivity.
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News of the Week By: Kai Sinclair, Asst. News Editor
@kai_sinclair
United States
Our streets!” after the arrests. No demonstrations were held on Tuesday, but protests will [take/took] to the streets on Wednesday according to Fox News’ In his first address to the United Nations as president local St. Louis affiliate. on Tuesday, Donald Trump promised to “totally destroy North Korea” if the U.S. and its allies ever had to defend themselves. Delegates and world leaders listened in disbelief as Trump referred to North Korea’s More than 200 people are dead following the leader, Kim Jong-un, as “rocket man” on a “suicide magnitude-7.1 earthquake that rocked Mexico City and mission.” He criticized the Iranian nuclear deal and its surrounding areas Tuesday afternoon. The quake called the country a “murderous regime.” struck 75 miles outside the major city, but leveled at
Latin America
ESPN host Jemele Hill was under fire early last week for calling President Trump a “white supremacist” and “bigot” on her personal twitter. The tweets came when Hill, a black female SportsCenter host, engaged in a discussion with twitter users that began with singer Kid Rock’s possible run for U.S. Senate and ended with a series of seven tweets about Trump. A few days later, White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, called the tweets a “fireable offense,” and Trump tweeted a demand for an apology from ESPN. Hill clarified that her comments expressed her personal beliefs and not those of her company. She has not been suspended or fired. Protests in St. Louis [are set to] continue[d] into Wednesday following the Sept. 15 acquittal of a white cop accused of murdering a black man in 2011. For four days, protesters took to the streets in largely peacefully demonstrations and marches. Allegedly, agitators amongst the protesters vandalized property in a concentrated downtown area on Sunday, which led to the police arrests of more than 120 people. Multiple sources, including journalists and citizens, reported hearing police chanting, “Whose streets?
least 44 buildings. Children are of major concern to rescuers as many school were in session at the time of the disaster. Mexico’s federal government declared a state of disaster in the affected area and deployed over 3,400 troops to aide in the rescue process. The earthquake came on the 32nd anniversary of the strongest quake to hit the country’s capital caused thousands of deaths and widespread damage to the city.
The Caribbean Hurricane Maria ravaged several islands in the Caribbean, less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma hit the region. Dominica and Guadeloupe were the first to see the Category 5 storm, featuring winds of 160 mph on Monday evening. The storm was downgraded to Category 4 before making landfall in Puerto Rico on Wednesday. With wind speeds reaching 120 mph, Hurricane Maria is the strongest storm the U.S. territory has seen since 1932. The National Hurricane Centers predicts the storm will strike the northeast corner of the Dominican Republic before hitting the southern Bahamas and passing between Bermuda and the southeastern United States.
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Howard University Holds TedxTalk Series By: Justin Cohen, Assistant Copy Editor
@JustinThat1Kid
“All Things Glorious” was the theme for the third installment of the TEDx Howard series held last Thursday in Cramton Auditorium. TEDx Howard is an annual event that has the goal of spreading thought-provoking ideas about social and scientific topics that are gaining national attention. This year, students had the pleasure to hear from four speakers, discussing topics ranging from the rise in technology to the challenges of incarceration. Dr. Aprille Ericsson is an aerospace engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. She opened the evening with ‘Ice, Ice, Baby,’ a discussion centered around the current condition of our climate. Her speech was set to raise the audience’s awareness about the dangerous effects global warming.
Gary L. Harris, PhD guides the audience through the 150 year history of Howard University at the Tedx Howard event. Photo by: Dr. Cherie Ward
discussion, “The Social and Political Implication in Technology,” focused on the increase in the use of technology in America. He delved into the shift in jobs Howard University Assistant Professor in criminology, and everyday life that will occur as soon as 2020. Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, followed with ‘Does the Apple Fall Far from Prison’? Muhammad discussed “I found it extremely informative,” said freshman the statistics of youth who end up incarcerated like Katherine Osere, who attended the TedX event. “I their parents. She also shared the impact of the media, learned about so many things I never would’ve given which broadcasts the negative side of these children’s much thought to in the past. When people leave, they lives instead of providing healthy coping mechanisms. leave enlightened.” “[Dr. Bahiyyah’s] section really relates to the social justice issues and activism problems that we have In addition to the presentations, the audience was today,” said freshman Brianna Nargiso. entertained with performances by the a capella Jazz Music group, Afro-Blue, and members of the Howard Dr. Joanna Jenkins, Assistant Professor in Strategic University Andrew Rankin Chapel Choir. Communications challenged students by ‘Reimagining the Revolution of Advertising.’ With the development Near the close of the event, Dr. Cherie Ward, executive of her new concept “Glorious Revolution,” Jenkins producer of the TEDx Howard, gave a powerful believes that consumers can influence the advertising speech about the change that will be among the future industry for the betterment of the community. The generations. She reminded that no matter what, final speaker of the night was civil rights attorney and remember to keep “all things glorious”. community activist, Donald Temple. His
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LIFE+STYLE Comic
By: Devariae “Yae” McDaniels “SHOULD I GO?”
@YaeTBG “WYA?”
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“eclectic”
Brooks Welch Freshman TV/Film Grand Rapids, MI
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“dapper”
Ayo Ajao
Freshman Finance Wilmington, DE by way of Lagos, Nigeria
By: Tanasia Smith, Fashion+Style Reporter @TanasiaSmith
“retro”
Jaeda Thomas Senior Fashion Design Jersey City, NJ
“bright & bold”
Najah Louis Junior English Orlando, FL
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KILL, DODGER.
By: Malcolm Wyche
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@ByMalcolm
God but never showed it. It seems to me that we take God knowing what’s in our hearts out of context. My life consisted of going to school— when I felt like it. Maintaining a C-grade average— which led to an extra semester. Getting drunk every weekend — just to complain about hangovers and repeat. I wasn’t taking my health or my finances seriously. Through all this, I kept asking for more. I wanted God to grant me everything I ever wanted without working for it. I say all this not to talk down on myself, but to rationalize. Often times we misguide ourselves, and then misguide others. Don’t get me wrong, I had a good run and I accomplished a lot of my short-term goals. I made friends, money, and I was content. Most would tell you that I was on my way to success because I’ve always been a hard worker. However,when you’re working without a purpose, then you’re really doing nothing. With everything I did, nothing stuck. I never committed myself to one venture because my heart wasn’t in it. I had been everything and nothing Photo via: BrainPickings.org at the same time. Everybody thought I was on my way to In August 2016, I accepted my own death. Exiting the success, because they saw something in me that I couldn’t corner store, one block from my apartment, I was stopped see at the time. at gunpoint. With a loaded pistol on my chest, and hands rummaging through my pockets, I slow my breath, close I was in the habit of making acceptable bad decisions — those decisions you know you’re not supposed to make, but find my eyes, and accept death. a way to rationalize why it’s okay to make those decisions. “The gun is going to go off, it might hurt, then it’ll be I decided I could have a healthy balance between good and evil, but I was catering to my ego. I was cultivating over. But you’re going to die today.” Dodger and leaving Malcolm out to dry. I’m 21 years old, haven’t graduated from college, and I feel disappointed. It’s one thing to think about your own The act of naming yourself is important. It is supposed to death; it’s another to the conclusion that in this very be an act of resistance, liberation, and change. Your name holds power. Your name contributes to the mold of your moment, you’re going to die. make-up. I named myself Dodger after a character that I didn’t know it then, but at that moment I met God — again. embodies a free-spirit with no worries, and while there is It was time to change my life. The feeling of dying a no problem with those traits, they were not meant for me. disappointed death is enough to make anybody want to I care deeply about the little things. I think too much make changes, radical changes. about life, and the choices we make, and how we can do From 2012–2017, I’ve been known as Dodger. This was better. I believe this shows in how I talk and write. But if a persona I created for myself. I was obsessed with the you met me between 2012–2016, you never would have allure of making it big. Everything I wanted out of life known that. The reality is, I wasn’t walking in my truth. was material. Sure, I wanted to help people but that came after my fame and riches. During that time, I turned my I say that to say this — there will come a time in your life back on my faith. When good things happened, I thanked where you must decide to be you — and nothing else.
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Hip Hop Meets Humanity: Launch of Pitch and Flow By: Tia Lowe, Campus Reporter @TiaMLowe Taiyler Simone Mitchell, Music, Art, + Film Reporter @taivlersimone
There are four indisputable elements of hip hop: the DJ, the MC, the dancing and the graffiti art. Some say that the fifth element is knowledge, but Doug E. Fresh declared that the fifth element of hip-hop is beat-boxing and that he is “the originator of the fifth element.” On Wednesday, Sept. 13, hip-hop legend Doug E. Fresh taught these five elements to the crowd gathered at Pitch and Flow at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Hosted by the iconic MC Lyte, critiqued by commentators Stretch Armstrong, Melissa Bradley and Roc Nation’s Young Paris, and observed by an audience of hip-hop heads, Pitch and Flow combined the influence of hip-hop and the impact of social initiatives into a single event. The competition consisted of three rounds. Each round had a theme: Issue, solution and impact. Following each round, the audience participated in mobile voting to determine the winner. After a three-way battle to break a tie for second place, Samir Ibrahim, the entrepreneur behind SunCulture, and his emcee Professor Lyrical were announced as the winners. As the winners, both Lyrical and Ibrahim were awarded $7,500. “I had no idea I would get so far in the competition,” exclaimed Professor Lyrical, who earned his doctorate last year from Northeastern University and has been a full-time Assistant Teaching Professor since 2010.
Back row L2R: (commentators) Young Paris, Melissa Bradley, and Stretch Armstrong; DJ D-Nice. MC Lyte leans in towards DJ D-Nice. Photo by: Taiyler Mitchell.
making over $14,000 per acre per year.” Event commentator and Roc Nation recording artist Young Paris made remarks on the social impact of Hip hop. “It just kind of empowers a message through lyricism, and to use our platforms and basically say how we can get messages across through lyricism and also through style, and character and rhymes,” said Young Paris.
“Essentially, when you’re working as an entrepreneur, or when you’re creating a pitch, it’s about [...] dancing with words. When you add rap and you have to rhyme, you have to be so much more clever to how you actually still use words to convey the message. Samir Ibrahim, CEO & Co-Founder of SunCulture—an It’s just very creative to put a company’s perspective East African-based solar-powered irrigation solution onto an audience through rap.” distributor—expanded on the company’s goals after the win. “I think this should be a reoccurring event,” said Doug E. Fresh. “This is a different type of rap battle. “Our goal at SunCulture is to help smallholder farming Entrepreneurs and rap artists can do magical things households become much better off in an affordable when they come together and talk about things that and environmentally friendly way,” said Ibrahim. “We mean something. I call this the ‘Battle to change.’” sell them solar powered irrigation solutions, ongoing support, and financing that help[s] them Aidah Fontenot, 35, explained her reason for attending go from making under $1,000 per acre per year to the event. “It’s because I want them [her son and his
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friend] to see people that are young like them, that they’ll still think are cool, but that are doing things that are positive,” said Fontenot. “To show them that there’s a balance—that you can be cool and you can do good things for your community[...]. To give them a positive representation of what hip hop is, culturally, as opposed to what they see in music videos.” “I have heard the pitches a few times now and this [event] I think was the most effective because it really resonated with somebody who’s like a millennial[...],” said event goer Alexis Lennon. “To hear it in this way, it really made me want to go out and take action[...] and I thought it was really cool. I hope they can continue to do stuff like this.” Emcee Dumi Right agreed, “I think this is one of those repeatable models. I know they wanna do it again off of the success of this one [...]. It’s one of those ideas where people can take and do their own ‘Pitch and Flow’ type events[...]. Hip Hop is very topical and
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very subject-matter directed so it lends itself to doing these types of things.” Hip-hop was born to shed light on social issues. When the power of hip-hop is combined with social ventures, the impact needed for undertaking global challenges grows into something compelling. The power that music and entrepreneurship bring is unmatched.
Entrepreneurs and the CEO of Unreasonable Group welcome emcees after sharing their platforms. Photo by: Taiyler Mitchell.
Stitched, Episode 1, Season 2.5: 4.0 SZN!
By Raaziq Brown, Contributing Reporter/Cartoonist
@RaaziqMasud
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The ‘Less-Chocolate’ City: Gentrification in D.C. By Raaziq Brown, Contributing Reporter/Cartoonist
@RaaziqMasud
significantly higher cost of living. In turn, many D.C. natives have been displaced. According to NPR, the median home price of D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood in 1995 was $147,000. While today, in 2017, the median home price stands at $781,000. Simultaneously, the average family income has increased significantly. Between 1979 and 2014, the average family income in the Shaw neighborhood has increased from $50,089 to $145,096.
Photo via: Janet Steinberg, courtesy of Tim and Julie Harris Real Estate Coaching
The changes that have occurred in D.C. are not solely fiscal. They represent a covert issue of racial and socioeconomic displacement. In 1980, the Shaw neighborhood was 78 percent Black. By 2010, the Black population decreased to 44 percent. With such a significant change in population, the circumstances imply that there is a correlation between the rise in family income and the decrease of the Black population in D.C. neighborhoods.
Gentrification is a phenomenon that is nationally altering urban communities. Portland, Minneapolis and Washington D.C. are the leading cities in which gentrification has a hold–the latter of which we, as Howard students, can see with our own eyes. A demographic analysis conducted by Governing.com concluded that between 2000 and 2013, 54 out of 179 census tracts in Washington D.C. have been Many D.C. residents feel as though The District has, gentrified. This number is a significant increase from in fact, lost its identity as “Chocola the five gentrified census tracts that existed between Javari Miller, a Howard fashion design student and 1990 and 2000. D.C.-based fashion designer, recalled the development “In 2000, I saw the earliest changes of gentrification,” of H Street. “There used to be crackheads down said Wanda Henderson, owner of the hair salon and H [Street]… a lot of hole in the wall places were barbershop Wanda’s on 7th. “10 years ago, in 2007, replaced by go-to spots for the young professionals,” I saw the beginning of redevelopment.” Over the said Miller. “The changes may be good for the city in past decade, many D.C. neighborhoods have changed terms of jobs and money, but it’s sad that it’s at the in appearance, both structurally and in terms of expense of D.C.’s Black culture”. population. With gentrification spreading without any signs The effects of gentrification on varying communities of stoppage, residents have mixed feelings and are both negative and positive. From the viewpoint of expectations for the future of D.C. “You can see the the community developer and residents of middle-to- diversity everywhere, and it’s not just white people… high socioeconomic status, gentrification is change for There are a lot more Latinos and Ethiopians,” said the better. Neighborhoods are given cleaner streets, Amir Edgerton, a Howard University senior and D.C. ethnic diversity, healthier food options and modern resident, in regards to D.C.’s promising future architecture. On the other hand, the residents of lower socioeconomic status may view gentrification as Miller also shared a similar positive outlook on what the reason for many of their monetary troubles. The the future of D.C. has to offer. “Our generation learned influx of renovation due to gentrification results in a from the older generation how to keep our culture
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alive, but we are more willing to change. The creative scene is only going to get better… I can see it turning into a mini-Manhattan. I just hope that the things that give D.C. its identity stay.” As a resident of D.C. for over 60 years, Wanda Henderson has been able to witness all of the changes that D.C. has gone through. While she states that she is looking forward to the future of D.C., she shows concerns for the displacement of people of color and low socioeconomic backgrounds. Government officials and developers should “work with families and members of the community, so that everyone can be included in the progress,” Henderson said. Alternative means of development that are centered around inclusion can resolve the issue of ethnic and socioeconomic displacement due to gentrification. In efforts to uphold the communities’ culture and allow long-term residents to avoid relocation, developers and leaders must take heed to Ms. Wanda’s advice: “Change is fine, but solve the problems first.” Photo via: 7th Flats
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