TREND
Online. February 2021
Black History Month
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CONTENTS
1
Importance of Black History Month By Sierra Hoeger
7
Colorism in Pop Culture By Julia Meehan
11
Sneaker Culture
By Sierra Hoeger
15
Disparities of Mental Health within the Black Community By Hannah Scott
The Importance of Black History Month By Sierra Hoeger
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Black History Month is celebrated throughout the entire month of February, which also happens to be the shortest month of the year. This well-known fact has been presented multiple times before and during February, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself beyond these 28 days. The origins of Black History Month are three-fold, but each holds importance to the observance of celebrating and raising awareness towards Black history. Carter G. Woodson, American historian and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is also considered the “father” of Black History Month. In 1926, Woodson established “Negro History Week,” a week-long celebration occurring the second week of February, the same week both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were born.
Then, in 1970, professors and students at Kent State Universitycelebrated the entire month of February as Black History Month. It wasn’t until 1976 when President Gerald Ford declared it so, did Black History Month be established as a national annual observance. Since then, Black History Month has evolved to be a month that celebrates accomplishments while also remembering the obstacles the Black community have overcome and are still overcoming today. “Black History Month as a tradition, I think it’s about remembering the past for people of color, their families and ancestors who have experienced these things,” said Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator at the African American Museum of Iowa. “I would argue that this probably starts when Carter Woodson does this, that’s what he’s celebrating, he’s teaching these stories to people who need to remember them.” Donaldson emphasized the fact that the tradition that continues to persevere throughout the years is the sharing of history that Black History Month allows us to remember. Black History Month holds new weight this February after the Black Lives Matter protests of
2020 and the recognition of racial injustice in America. “There are more people talking about Black history than we’re used to seeing,” Donaldson said. “More people I think, trying to learn a little bit more, trying to be aware of themselves and that the gaps may be in their own knowledge. I think that that’s been really great, just seeing this expanded awareness and understanding.” Whether it be taking the time to research and seek out Black history via podcasts, literature or having difficult conversations with those close to you, celebrating the Black community needs to be a year-round celebration rather than one that just lasts throughout the month of February. “Black people exist every day of every year,” Donaldson said. “Their stories and their experiences exist every day and every year, so it is not a history we should be ignoring. It is instead something I would argue we should be working
to incorporate into our daily understanding of history. Moving toward our history, an accurate and inclusive representation of the past to inform a better tomorrow.” Allyship is vital for helping to raise awareness and create a better understanding for those who aren’t part of the Black community. Seeking out tools to further your education and taking the time to listen to experiences different than your own is important when wanting a deeper understanding. “One of the things that we can
all do pretty easily during Black History Month takes time to listen,” Donaldson said. “I think there are so many Black artists and authors and all of these things who have made a great culture of contribution to our society but they don’t often get the same push from the same audience that a white creator might.” Donaldson noted that choosing to amplify Black creators and consume pieces created by them year-round is an opportunity for allies to seek a deeper understanding of Black
history. Public education has a set curriculum and often skims over most of Black history, with some shortening slavery to one sentence. Seeking out “honest history” is a large step in the right direction. Donaldson highly encourages individuals to seek out these types of media, like literature and history year-round, not just when it’s a trend to do so, specifically in the month of February or this past summer, when the Black Lives Matter movement was gaining traction.
Donaldson is the Museum Educator for the African American History Museum of Iowa (AAMI), located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The museum is open for in-person tours, walkthroughs and visits, however, there are digital tours available on their website. The AAMI also offers programming
for adults and youth, to further their education and knowledge on Black history, whether it be the origination of jazz music and its roots or learning more about Juneteenth. “We love these monumental figures who overcame odds,” Donaldson said. “And I think Black history as a whole is a story of overcoming odds. I think that within that overarching arc, there’s a lot of stories of great success and impressive contribution. In Iowa, we have
the stories of being the first in the nation to desegregate the schools, we have sit-in protests in Des Moines, Iowa, we have a Civil War Unit that petitions for the right for suffrage for Black voters. We have all of these really impressive stories that affect us everyday, so why wouldn’t we celebrate those stories more than once a month?”
Colorism in pop culture By Julia Meehan
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n the pits of a racial reckoning, Black people are retouched in magazine covers, advertisements and many other forms of media. Have you ever gone through a department store and counted the number of times you saw white models compared to Black models and while you’re counting, how many of those Black models are dark skin compared to fair skin? This is a prime example of colorism. Colorism means if you are a person of color, the fairer your skin is the closer you are in the essence of being white. Therefore, you receive more advantages and are perceived differently than those darker than you. “I think colorism can impact how people view other races and ethnicities in a negative way by ‘pitting’ one race against one another because of skin color,” said Alissa Stoehr, an assistant teaching professor in sociology. “This is also a very racist way of holding on to the white standards of beauty and ‘accepting’ people with lighter skin tones.”
According to Novotny Lawrence, an associate professor at Iowa State University, colorism can come in two forms: in-group and out-group. It’s not only groups on the outside looking in but can occur from within. In-group members that are Black people evaluate each other based on their color complexion. “Colorism gives some people privilege over others and that ultimately is when hurt and problems arise,” said Lawrence. “When you start privileging certain people based on their looks over others it leads to a myriad of problems for the people that don’t fit what is valued as beautiful. That can affect folks socially, economically and politically.” Colorism dates back to the Civil Rights era, specifically with the brown paper bag test. The brown paper bag test was a test practiced in the Black community. It compared an individual’s skin tone to a brown paper bag. If a person’s skin was the color of the bag or lighter, they were allowed access to churches and organizations and
if a person’s skin color was darker than the bag, they were restricted from coming in. Currently, this may impact who stars the roles in movies and television. “We live in a racist society, so colorism becomes a part of that ideology,” said Stoehr. In a sense colorism is an extension of racism and discrimination. It is shown in a different aspect, particularly with pop culture and media. “We have done a very poor job historically in this country talking about and teaching about and coming to terms with racism in our society,” said Lawrence. “Things like colorism is an extension of our failure to reconcile with racism in this country.” An example of colorism portraying in pop culture is when O.J. Simpson was on trial. TIME magazine released an issue with Simpson on the cover that appears to be altered to make his skin tone darker. The darkened ambiance around Simpson makes him appear more sinister. After receiving backlash from readers,
TIME magazine republished with the correct skin tone. “They [men of color] are shown as being darker than they are which plays into the racialized stereotypes of who society associates with criminality,” said Stoehr. In our society, we created this norm that if you are of a lighter skin tone, you are superior to those of darker skin tones. “It [colorism] makes me feel terrible because beauty comes in so many different forms and we have to get out of this idea that somehow being fair skin is more beautiful than not,” said Lawrence. “We are a range of different people, a range of complexions and a range of identities that in all of that there is value and beauty. I speak to you as someone who is fairer skin and as a Black person, it’s ridiculous and unfair. I wish we didn’t have to grapple with it to this day.” Because colorism is a conscious racist thought, it takes the social change at the systemic and institutional levels.
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“Quite honestly, it’s like anything else, first and foremost you have to admit that [colorism] is a problem and that it exists,” said Lawrence. “All too often I think people can go through society with blinders on.” Stoehr thinks we need a clearer definition of what colorism is and then explore what ways to combat it. Take into question who is it that gets opportunities versus others and what do they look like? Are we seeing images of more prominent complexions like fair than those who have darker complexions? If so, speak up, educate others on colorism in the media, continue to make noise on racism and provide real equity at higher levels in media like CEO positions, Editor-in-Chief and television producers. As Audre Lorde said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.”
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Sneaker culture puts a name to the appreciation and understanding of a quality sneaker. Originating in the Michael Jordan era, sneakers such as the Air Jordan’s won’t be making their last dance anytime soon. Perhaps it’s the controversy of the sneaker after it was first introduced. Or the numerous logo changes the sneaker has undergone. Either way, sneakerheads unite over a shared passion for collecting rare finds and making statements. In 1985, Michael Jordan, in collaboration with Nike, released the Air Jordan I following gold medal status at the 1984 Olympics. While the Air Jordan quickly became popular among those who idolized Jordan, the NBA banned players from wearing them during games due to strict policy on coordinating colors and uniforms.
he wore his signature shoe, it didn’t put a damper on the player’s performance or repertoire. Later that season, Jordan was named Rookie of the Year. “I would say [Michael Jordan] made a legacy for sneakers, but the youth of hip-hop made sneakers what [they are] right now, the streetwear it is now,” Oludamola Ajayi, senior studying aerospace engineering said. “Hip-hop and media also had a part in it. Especially before social media, everyone had their friends’ styles. Media had a big part in it because people saw things they’ve never seen before and they adopted different styles.” Sneaker culture origins can also be traced back to when hip-hop music first became popular and mainstream in the 1980s and ‘90s. Run DMC released a song titled “My Adidas” in 1985, which fueled the flame for one of the first collaborations between a shoe company and a hip-hop group.
That didn’t stop Jordan. Facing a Ajayi wouldn’t consider himself a fine of $5,000 per sneaker collector per se, although game in which he enjoys purchasing distinctive
pairs of sneakers to coordinate with his outfits. His interest in sneakers originated when coming to America from Nigeria in 2009. “Coming from Nigeria, we saw it on the media because it was so expensive to buy there,” Ajayi said. “With the sneakers, there are so many variations of colors or designs. It’s so easy to make it yours and make it your style.” When it comes to styling an outfit, the shoes must come first through the eyes of Ajayi. Styling an outfit is all about choosing a sneaker that matches his outfit and working his way up. “The shoe has to be vibrant, ostentatious and it has to stand out,” Ajayi said. “I hate going to places and I see somebody wearing the same thing as me. I like things that are vibrant and stand out in their own way.”
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The disparities of mental health within the Black community By Hannah Scott
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Mental health; it’s a topic that has been overlooked and undervalued by society. For many individuals, it can be a struggle to reach out for help when they are feeling unwell, but for others, the barriers to finding treatment can be even larger than what many can imagine. “Although there are over 13% of Black Americans in the United States, the American Psychological Association reports that only 4% of Black psychologists are in the workforce,” said Lisa Dazzell, graduate assistant in the department of psychology at Iowa State University. “This dearth of representation promotes a lack of cultural sensitivity, differential treatment, over-pathologizing of Black patients and stigma around mental health care”
The issue of mental health is stigmatized, but within the Black community, the stigma can often become even worse. For Black individuals, the struggle to reach out can seem like a challenge as a minority whose feelings are invalidated. It is also much more common for individuals living in these areas to reach out to others in their community such as religious leaders or friends instead of professionals. “I think the reasoning for this relates back to members of the Black community having mistrust in doctors, based on the disproportionate amount of Black deaths in hospitals,” said Alexia Stumpf, a senior in apparel, merchandising and design. “The same ideas are held around seeking professional mental health services and the fact that those services are unaffordable to a lot of people in the community.” The cost can often be another large factor as to why individuals decide to forgo professional medical treatment. Although some may want to reach elsewhere outside of their community to find somebody to talk to, it can be a challenge when you are living in an impoverished area and are struggling with finances in other areas of your life.
Within the Black community in the U.S., mental health has been on “Unfortunately much of the Black the rise as one of the largest issues community is impoverished and they simply do not have access many individuals face.
to services that could help,” said Janae Maurer, a car saleswoman from Kansas City, Missouri. “There is also a modern stigma that Black patients feel less pain or that Black patients lie, which is something that is obviously bad.” One of the hardest aspects of coming to terms with needing help with your mental health for so many people is the idea that it makes you “weak” as an individual. This can be especially hard within the Black community as there is often a sense of needing to be
“strong” or “tough,” especially among men. Much of this comes from the oppression of the Black community from outside forces and creates a feeling around Black individuals that they need to become hardened from pain. “When we work until we are tired, we are betraying ourselves,” said Dazzell. “In fact, when we overwork ourselves, we further invest in capitalism and white supremacy, which promotes the idea that we are only worthy when we labor. Therefore, I want all Black people to know that you are always worthy, whether you are laboring or resting.”
For many non BIPOC individuals, it can seem difficult to understand their roles in the systems and how to not only stop oppression but help individuals more easily be able to seek the aid they need and build themselves a better life. While the answers may seem simple, there are a few things that can be done to help the cause and break stigmas.
“I want all Black people to know that you are always worthy”
“The best way for non-colored individuals to be an ally for this issue would be to speak up against injustices,” said Stumpf. “See something, say something it’s as simple as that. The ultimate -Lisa Dazzell way to be an ally and help these communities would be to use your power to vote and overcome these invest in Black people and Blackdisparities by electing leaders who owned businesses.” share the same ideals.” Ultimately, one of the most However, you can also use your important aspects of becoming an monetary resources if possible to ally to any community is educating reach and help those in the Black yourself and understanding the community as well. struggles some may have to go through that you yourself have not. “Systemic poverty is a result of Keeping yourself knowledgeable is white s u p r e m a c y, only the start of making sure you which all can help and support others in non-Black minority communities. p e o p l e b e n e f i t “I think the most important thing from,” said individuals can do is educate Dazzell. “In themselves,” said Maurer. order to divest “Ignorance isn’t only bliss, it’s from this harm, it’s dangerous for many people always important to involved.”
C r e di t s &
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Chief Editors Ella Bream Izacc Quisling Olivia Fuegen
Styling Gabrielle Brainard Kaelyn Wright
Photography Jo Allen
Graphic Design Gabriella Saholt
Editorial Sierra Hoeger Hannah Scott Julia Meehan
Models
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TREND Magazine Onine. February 2021
