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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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REAL TALK 8 ARE CARTOONS OF TODAY TOO PROVOCATIVE BY JANAYA GREENE 9 ENERGY VAMPIRES BY DONNA GARY 10 ARE WE OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES BY KAYLYNN HARRIS 11 TEEN EMANCIPATION BY DONNA GARY 12 IS ATHEISM TRENDY BY JANAYA GREENE OUR JUDGMENT DAY BY AMANI EL-MOGABER 13 TEENS LOOKING FOR JOBS BY JERMAINE COLBERT
GIVING BACK 14 OWNING YOUR FUTURE WITH OWNING IT BY JAMELIAH SALTER CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY: COMMUNICATION, MEDIA ARTS, & THEATER BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL 15 CHI ARTS HIGH SCHOOL BY SHAQUILLE ROBERTS LOTTERY PICK BY JANAYA GREENE
TECH 16 WHY CHESS IS COOL BY KARL THOMAS
FASHION 18 TRUE STAR MOGUL DAVEY HINES & LERRON BONNER OF LTR CLOTHING TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
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FALL 2012
ANTI VI PSI
KARON “CARLOS” SMITH OF RAGGS BOUTIQUE BY KAYLYNN HARRIS 20 THE ABCS OF “BACK TO SCHOOL COOL”
38 A LESSON IN LOCKDOWN: GANG VIOLENCE DOESN’T PAY BY JESSICA JACKSON 39 ARE YOU BORN ANGRY? BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL 40 TRUE STAR JOINS STATE FARM IN CELEBRATE MY DRIVE ACTIVITIES
COVER STORY 26 DWYANE WADE: THE UNFINISHED PRODUCT BY KAYLYNN HARRIS
INSIDE AND OUT 43 YOU’RE A “NATURAL” BEAUTY: TIPS ON TRANSITIONING TO A NATURAL STYLE BY TAELOR SMITH
THRU DA WIRE 28 THE REAL COCO JONES BY BRAYLYN BROWN 29 KHLEO THOMAS BY SUBRIA WHITAKER 30 ERICK SERMON: THE OPTIMIST OF HIP-HOP BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL 32 IN-ZO BY KIA “KWEEN K” SMITH
YOUNG LUV 44 DATE RAPE BY CARLA GIPSON 45 THE DAY AFTER BY CAMILLE COTTON 46 FORCING A RELATIONSHIP THAT WON’T WORK BY BRITTNEY MCCLENDONE
UNDER THE RADAR 34 CHICAGO’S RISING STARS
ON THE COURT
TEEN BIZ
47 CPS SPORTS CAMPS BY KHALIL BECKWITH 48 2012-13 CHICAGO BULLS TRUE STAR PREVIEW BY CORNELL JACKSON, MCKINLEY NELSON, MICHAEL WALTON II, SUBRIA WHITAKER 50 THE ALLURE OF THE DUNK IN BASKETBALL BY MICHAEL WALTON II
36 IT DOES NOT COST A FORTUNE TO BE FABULOUS BY CRYSTAL STONEWALL HSBC: THE COST OF COLLEGE AND PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE 37 BEING HEALTHY FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY BY DARIUS CLAY THE WAR ON TEEN EMPLOYMENT BY TANESHA JORDAN
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Editor’s Letter I hope everyone is back in school mode, but if you’re not now is the time to get focused! If you are a CPS student, I know it may be hard to get refocused mentally for school because of the strike, but it’s important you do now in order to avoid the consequences later. Fellow athletes, go hard athletically too. Colleges are looking for hardworking students to give scholarships to. Go just as hard in the books as you do on the court or field. Also, remember you can increase your literacy skills and vocabulary by reading True Star articles, which contributes to getting that “A” in English you want so bad. But enough with my preaching and let’s get down to business. Have you guys ever been in a science class when they talk about evolution and you’re like “that’s not what the Bible says?” If so, make sure you check out the “Is Atheism Trendy” article in our Real Talk section. Another interesting article is “Energy Vamps.” It tells you all you need to know about consuming energy and why you should care. Are you tired of hearing the same ole’ people on the radio? I know I am. I mean, if I hear “I Don’t Like” on the radio one more time I might just go crazy. Good thing True Star always provides us with up and coming artists to check out in our Under the Radar section. Plus old school hip-hop scholar, Erick Sermon, will give you his opinion on the state of hip-hop and how things have changed since his days in EPMD. We also got the opportunity to talk to Disney’s Coco Jones and the illustrious OMG Girlz, not to mention True Star got the opportunity to sit down with Chicago’s finest, Dwyane Wade, to talk about his journey and how he was able to persevere despite growing up in an environment full of negative influences. But just in case you’re not a big Heat fan, we also have some insight on our very own home team in our On the Court section titled “2012 Chicago Bulls True Star Preview.” Over the summer True Star teens have been grinding, using every resource possible to produce the best articles for you to read. I’m not going to give all the details and spoil it for you, but this issue is chock full of interesting and insightful reads. Have a great and productive school year, and most importantly STOP THE VIOLENCE! Best,
McKinley K. Nelson HIT UP TRUE STAR ONLINE
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRUE STAR MAGAZINE Letters to True Star • 1130 South Wabash • Suite 302 • Chicago, Il 60605-2717 Letters become the property of True Star and may be edited for publication. EMAIL soundoff@truestarmagazine.com
Photography Altgeld Gardens Instructors DeShaun Adams Shasta Bady
Graphic Design Corliss Polina Zionts Student Art Director Channa Smith
Lynn Bass Taleya Beck Natrese Bedell Aaliyah Cobb Brian Collins Victoria Dowells Eric Erving Jovanna Fefee Terrice Harrell Katrina Jones Crystal McQueen Trevon Miles Nolan Muhammad Sierra Robinson Chashe Thornton Darrian Tiggs Henry Tiggs Kamiya TImms Tashara Wade Wakisa Walker Maurice Wilburn Shania Williams Jamonay Wise Kevon York Sharon Young
Flecisha Brown Antonio Campbell Brandon Johnson Mariah Lacy Tiwane Lewis Warren Littlejohn Jaylin Lovinsky Matthew Moore Michelle Mosley Kayla Neal Anderson Potts Damarco Thurmond Lanizah Weary Noah Williams
Bloggers Shaquille Roberts Erika Davis Chioma Nkwocha Chris Brown Ikea Johnson Channa Smith Stanesha Rivers Khalil Beckwith Tia James 6 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
A’myrikal Adams Dashaun Adams Tyme Anderson Quinton Ellis Tyshonda Gibson Janaya Greene Tyeisha Johnson Dejah Jones Nesita Lipscomb Shazea Nathan Mary Phillips Elaine Phillips Audrienna Ramsey Monique Robinson Bernard Sanders
Digital Media Corliss Instructors True Star Freelance Jeneba Koroma Graphic Design DarShon Gibbs Team Assistant Polina Zionts Dawn Williams Senior Student Art Director Jason Archibald Anshaunti Hillery Tiffany Boozer Brianna Fox Isaiah Griggs Courtney Henderson Darius Hillery Kiara Hickman Devanta Hillery Denialle Johnson Frederick Jones Pierre Seaton Shirlena Jones Channa Smith Shakita Kinds Joseph Lewis Photography South Shakesha Parker Shore Dakota Starks Instructor Ezekiel Towner DeShaun Adams Brian Alexander Assistants Moesha Willis Shelby Brown Darius Woods Trent Sapp
Editorial South Shore Instructor Marti Parham McKinley Nelson Braylyn Brown Camille Cotton Donna Gary Carla Gipson Jessica Jackson Janise Lane Courtney Penn Shaquille Roberts Kia Smith Taelor Smith Alexander Stockstell Tina Turner
FACEBOOK: TRUESTARIS MYSPACE.COM: MYTRUESTAR TWITTER.COM: TRUESTARIS Laurice Skinner Richard Skinner Benjamin Smith Gloria Stanley Darrys Stephens A’Shaki Stoner Tamara Triplett Sariah Vance KeShawn Walker Minnie Wiley Beyonka Williams Kameron Winn Sales & Marketing Instructor Joi Mitchell
Jelyn Andrews Nyia Fairley Editorial Dearborne Homes Jamel Jackson jr. Fredrick Jones Instructors Veronica Harrison Deja Mannie Destiny McClendon Ashley Hill Charles Mombo Tari Rye Antoinette Baker Victoria Scott Brianna Beal Mahogany Sherman Jermaine Colbert Johari Sherman Braxton Clark Kayla Smith Heaven Davis Subria Whitaker Charles Dotson Jelani Williams Amani El-Mogaber Sierra Gillespie Sports Writing Briana Graham Instructor James Hobbs Jack Silverstein Devian Hughes Dominique Hughes McKinley Nelson Rhonda Leavy Khalil Beckwith Gretchen McClendon Ahmad Garner Chijioke Obilor Cornell Jackson Grayland Reeves Michael Walton
Radio Broadcasting Chicago State Univ Instructor Shannon Brazier Assistant Ermina Veljacic
Executive Directors J. Na-Tae’ Thompson DeAnna McLeary
Devon Frazier Kendall Gaines Shermona Harvey Tedranaey Hill Britni Hudson Julian King Samantha Labranche Alexis Penn Osborne Maleyia Porter Kennedy Pulliam Erika Rios Folasade SnowdenAkintunde Lasandra Spencer DeQuann Vaughn Larry Wong
Art Direction Design and Illustration Angel D’Amico-Bauer
Managing Editor Edgar Molina
Photo Coordinator Mireya Acierto Student Design Director Polina Zoints Copy Editor Marti Parham Promotions Manager DeShaun Adams Special Projects Managers Philistine Thompson Web Content Manager Joi Mitchell Celebrity Booker Randy Bonds Assistant Editor Alexander Stockstell Promotions Assistants Cozene Williams Ermina Veljacic Web Content Assistant Henry Collins Tashay Dennie
CONTRIBUTORS 1. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR? 2. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONLY ONE CLASS TO TAKE WHEN YOU GO TO SCHOOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? 3. DO YOU THINK THE TEACHER’S STRIKE WILL HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE EFFECT ON CPS STUDENTS? Samantha LaBranche Junior Percy L. Julian True Star Radio 1. My goals and expectations for this school year are to maintain an A and B average, be on time for each and every one of my classes, continue working with True Star Radio and possibly play volleyball for my school. 2. If I could choose only one class it would be between math and music. Math because I love dealing with numbers. Also my dad is an accountant so I learned a lot from him as well. And music because music is my life, it expresses me in a lot of ways. 3. The teachers strike will have a negative and positive effect on kids. Positive because you get to learn more and have more time to do what you have to do. Negative because in a child’s mind, we don’t want to be in class that long. Tyme Anderson Freshman South Shore International College Prep Photography Team 1). One of my goals and expectations for the upcoming school year is to stay focused on school and to maintain my grades in the IB program at South Shore International College Prep. 2. I would choose to take whatever math class I have because even though it can be challenging, math is everywhere and is the universal language. 3. If the teachers go on strike I think it will have a negative effect on CPS students because teachers have a huge task of preparing their students for the future; thus going on strike will only set us back by postponing our ability of being educated. Taelor Smith Senior Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory High School Southside Editorial 1. I plan to just have a great year. I’m going to work really hard to get the grades I want and hope I get accepted into the colleges of my choice. Also, I’m totally looking forward to prom! 2. I would want to take gym because I like to get up and be active. I don’t like sitting down for long periods of time. 3) I think it might negatively affect CPS students because with them striking during the school year, education is being wasted.
Ezekiel Towner Junior Percy L. Julian High School Digital Media 1. I’m going to play some sports such as basketball, cross country, wrestling, and baseball. I’m planning to bring my GPA up and I want to socialize more. 2. If I could choose only one class it would be gym because I like to run and stay in shape. 3. I think it would take a negative effect on the students because if the strike isn’t settled, the school year could be postponed for a while and students would have to wait to go back to school to learn. I also think it’s unfair that the teachers aren’t getting paid more for the upcoming longer school days. Kaylynn Harris Sophomore Whitney Young Freelance Editorial 1. My main goal for this school year is doing much better than a 3.6 GPA. I feel that I can surpass anything I have done in the past if I just apply myself. 2. If it was up to me, the only class I’d take would be English. I like to read and have the biggest passion for writing and only doing that everyday sounds like heaven. 3. I believe the strike will hurt the students. It’s understandable why they want to but at the end teachers play the biggest role in our success. The strike would interrupt our learning process. Isaiah Griggs Senior Corliss High School Graphic Design Team 1. My goal for the upcoming school year is to finish my senior strong with nothing less than A’s and B’s. 2. If I were to choose one class to attend I would choose band over anything because I love music. 3. Honestly, the teachers strike should have changed the Board’s decision by now. Also, adding longer hours and more school weeks won’t make any of the students smarter. It takes the individual to push themselves. Devanta Hillery Sophomore Simeon Career Academy Graphic Design 1. Some goals and expectations I have for this school year are making sure I have all my credits and to be in the top 10 of my class. This is my 1st year in my major, so I’m hoping I like what I’ve chosen as well. 2. That class would have to be my major, which is carpentry because I am looking forward to building my skills and later having a successful career. 3. The strike would have a negative effect on students because if the teachers don’t get paid what they want they would probably do subpar work. I understand that people have to get paid, but the kids should also come first.
REAL TALK
Are CartoonsToo
PROVOCATIVE Nowadays? BY JANAYA GREENE, JUNIOR, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY DESIGN IN COLLABORATION WITH ANSHAUNTI HILERY, FRESHMAN AT WASHBURN CULINARY
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ack in the day, cartoons began as innocent fun-for-kids-to-watch-TV on Saturday mornings. But ever since “The Simpson’s,” they’ve now evolved into cartoons filled with adult content. Cartoons like “Charlie Brown” and “Scooby Doo” contained themes geared towards kids like friendship, sharing and responsibility. Now cartoons like “Adventure Time,” “The Regular Show,” “South Park” and “Family Guy” are riddled with sexual innuendos and racial themes, but kids still tune in. “The Simpsons,” despite being mostly for adults, became one of the most popular cartoons in the late 1980s when it premiered on FOX. As the seasons progressed and got more popular, more controversies were publicized due to inappropriate content. Parents complained about the role of the father, the disturbing personalities of the characters and the inappropriate language. What began as a healthy animation for kids transformed to a show that was more suited for adults. After “The Simpsons,” shows like “Family Guy,” “Robot Chicken” and “American Dad” were created in a similar form with new story lines. During this time period, these shows were already classified as inappropriate for kids. A turning point occurred when new shows like “The Regular Show” and “Adventure Time” that are directed for children, were created. These shows portray fantasy worlds with normal children going on daily adventures and living daily life. At first glance it seems harmless, but once viewed one can easily see how this content is inappropriate for kids. 8 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
On Commonsensemedia.org, a user commented on the “Adventure Time” show, “There is death, disturbing images and more. Although some episodes are funny and aren’t really bad for tweens, most of them are not. The show includes many sexual references and language. One episode had the word f*** in it.” Though there is a slim chance children will understand what’s being said, where will the boundary line be set for what’s suitable for young kids to watch? These shows are not vulgar enough for Adult Swim, but not innocent enough for daytime Cartoon Network. The coarseness of contemporary cartoons can form and deteriorate the quality of new generations as they grow older. Cartoons are even riskier for the children who are more advanced for their age. The more vulgar cartoons should be placed on a channel for strictly teenagers or adults without exposing unsuitable content to children. What children are exposed to at a young age can influence them their whole lives. This is why parents should do their job in limiting access to adult content and television networks should do a better job of clearly defining appropriate and inappropriate content for children.
Energy Vamps:
What You Don’t Know About Your Household Appliances BY DONNA GARY, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY M. YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
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t’s easy to plug an appliance into a wall without a second thought besides its immediate use to you. Certain appliances are easier to forget than others but not all continue to consume energy after being turned off. There actually is an official name for appliances that after being turned off still suck energy from the wall, unknowing to the previous user of the appliance: energy vampires. It’s important for teens nowadays to understand the importance of one less light switched off per day, or an appliance unplugged. These two simple steps could save you more than your energy bill. Besides an increased electric bill, electronic devices and appliances in households produce just over 12 tons of carbon dioxide into the environment and air per year. In Chicago, coal plants emit over 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. These statistics, despite the efforts of large organizations, aren’t disappearing fast enough to eliminate negative effects of global warming.
“...ONE LESS LIGHT SWITCHED OFF PER DAY, OR AN APPLIANCE UNPLUGGED. THESE TWO SIMPLE STEPS COULD SAVE YOU MORE THAN YOUR ENERGY BILL.” Besides the obvious prices for these things, the environment has to pay for us living so large. When we pollute the air, we not only make it uncomfortable for ourselves we also destroy habitats and whole species. Sophie Ostlund, a representative from the Alliance for Climate Change, an international program that educates teens about their part in global change, knows plenty about the difference one light less per day can make. The Biggest Loser Energy Competition, hosted by ACE, is a competition that challenges teens to get their schools to cut back on carbon production.
Most teens are too consumed by their own personal agendas to pay attention to something so seemingly insignificant as conserving energy. They are more
“These simple actions add up to make a huge difference. If just five classrooms cut their electricity use in half by using fewer lights and unplugging appliances at the end of the day, they can prevent thousands of pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.”
interested in having the nicest oil guzzling cars and having the fanciest new tablets and cellular devices. All of the previously listed need some kind of fuel and it doesn’t come cheap.
How can you make a difference? Enter in the Biggest Loser Competition and win your school 1,000! http://www.acespace.org/. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 9
Are We Our Own
WORST ENEMIES? BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY YOUNG
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t’s Friday and you and your team are about to hop on the “L” and head downtown. You update your Facebook and Twitter, letting your friends and followers know you’re about to “get it crackin.” This is a familiar event for the majority of teens residing in Chicago. Though it may seem like all fun and games, it’s not. Downtown is slowly turning into a boxing ring for the Facebook/Twitter famous. It may look like a good time from within butt in actuality many teens are sending out the wrong impression of our race and generation. Although there are plenty of people in these groups doing nothing wrong, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. Most teens nowadays have no code of ethic on how to act when in the presence of unfamiliar faces or in public places. As a teen myself, I know it’s hard sometimes not yelling out on the bus to a friend or laughing uncontrollably at a person who just looks down right ratchet. But, there is a line that should not be crossed. The actions of us teens have major effects not only to our generation, but to the everyday lives of the people in our city and our local economy. These groups and teens are eventually going to destroy downtown. The altercations between the groups make store owners close early to avoid the chaos. The fear of being caught in-between a flash mob of Facebook famous teens drive tourists away from our beautiful city and more sadly we are slowly venturing into the highly stereotypical image of the average African-American teen. 10 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
“I NEVER DID ANYTHING. BUT BECAUSE OF THE STUPID ACTIONS BY OTHERS I CAN’T ENJOY A DAY SHOPPING.” I can clearly remember the day I witnessed the one event that changed my whole perspective about being a teen. It was a hot Saturday right on the corner of Michigan and Chicago Ave. This is a very familiar place for a lot of us. Two groups of teens were fighting and blocking all pathways, scaring tourist and causing riots right in the middle of our beautiful city. But, the most horrible part about this was that just steps away was a Caucasian protester yelling “Let’s put the white back in White House,” while holding a picture of President Obama wearing a Hitler mustache. The fact that we are so easily moved to fight each other rather than metaphorically fight those who oppress us is puzzling. “If the children knew better, they would do better. It’s sad that they are not only making it bad for themselves but for everyone around them as well,” says Yolanda Grim, a concerned mother and community member. Her daughter Lisha Grim , 17, added “ I come downtown to shop and I can’t even do that because nobody wants a black teen in their stores anymore. I never did anything. But because of the stupid actions by others I can’t enjoy a day shopping.” Although there is a massive amount of talent, class, maturity and creativity within our generation, this kind of behavior takes precedence in the media and hence the minds of Chicagoans.
PHOTO BY AMYRIKAL ADAMS, SENIOR, VICTOR ANDREWS HIGH SCHOOL
To Be or Not To Be …
Emancipated BY DONNA GARY, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY M. YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
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ou’ve just had the biggest disagreement with your parents and have become so fed up that you’re ready to cut the theoretical umbilical cord between you and your parents permanently. In order to make the decision to go down the road of filing for a special emancipation, you have to first understand what exactly emancipation is. To be granted a minor emancipation is to be granted independence legally by a court judge after petitioning correctly by fulfilling all requirements such as ample maturity, self-support and permission of guardian(s), according to uslegal.com. Has it really gotten to the point where you, as a minor, are ready to support yourself (mentally, physically, financially), are sufficiently mature and separation from your legal guardian would be in your best interest? Like any other major decision of this magnitude, minor emancipation needs to be considered with a clear head and seen from as many perspectives as possible. Once you start this case, your family may never go back to the way it was before. Be sure that your guardian is truly in the wrong. Reassess the situation and ask yourself, “Could I have handled this situation any better or are my parents just looking out for my best interest?” Most importantly, never forget to at least try to compromise first. If you’ re not ready to let your support system fall back, pay your own way and except responsibility for all your future mistakes right now in your life,
emancipation isn’t for you. If your guardian doesn’t provide a stable environment and you think you can; if you’re an early graduate of high school and need an emancipation to go to college; if you’d rather care for your siblings than your guardians, then you’re the perfect rare candidate for emancipation. Just prepare yourself for a reluctant judge and hope your parent or legal guardian don’t show up to court. Judges in Chicago and across the country are extremely reluctant to grant special emancipation cases to minors and for good reason. Margaret Benson of Chicago Volunteer Services stressed that a minor granted emancipation may see it as gaining more, but on a more technical level that isn’t true. “What the emancipation does is it removes certain protections.” Before emancipation, “you’re completely protected from being sued, but if your emancipated, you run up your bills, they come after you and they can garnish your wages and they can sue you and get justice against you.” Although this may be seen as a small consequence to your freedom, these protections can potentially mean the difference between a timeout and hardcore jail. For the rare cases mentioned above, emancipation is possibly their only choice. You need to be the teen that can prove to a judge that by the way you talk, your attendance at school and your paycheck, you can do this on your own. For more information on emancipation, visit www.cvls.org/. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 11
Atheism:
A Choice or Trend? STORY AND PHOTO BY JANAYA GREENE, JUNIOR, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY
T
rends are generally a large aspect of every teenager’s life, but what happens when these trends begin to interfere with what you’ve been taught all of your life? When do you draw the line? While the ideas of atheism have been in existence for hundreds of years, there has been a recent uproar within the youth claiming to not believe in any religion. According to Dictionary.com, “Atheism is the disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.” While some teenagers may claim to not believe without any reasoning, some have justified explanations like: “How did a spirit create a whole planet?” “How do we know that the Bible is true?” or “How do we know this God exists if we’ve never seen or heard him?” Many teens with an interest in science, cosmology or other studies dealing with the creation of the universe justify this belief with theories such as the Big Bang Theory-- the belief that the universe arose by expanding from a compressed and hot state, which continued to expand to the size it is today. Some youth have also never grown to believe in any religion. Studies show that 15% of families in the United States raise their children to believe in no religion at all, according to a poll on www.gallup.com. When teenagers follow no religion and their peers become aware, it leads more teens to question if they should follow any religion at all. There has also been an increase in young atheists who are being raised in religious homes, all while keeping their atheist beliefs from their family. More teens are claiming this title without valid reasoning; just to be seen as “different.” Though this is what’s seen on the surface most can’t figure out why this is being seen as a cool trend. 12 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
“HOW DO WE KNOW THIS GOD EXISTS IF WE’VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD HIM?” Many factors contribute to the rise in atheism and its popularity. Overtime, it has become more acceptable to be homosexual, versus the past when most people hid this sexuality because it was considered “shameful.” The media has also played a large role in this increase. When rapper Nicki Minaj first debuted, she made it clear in her songs that she had a fetish for other women. Some of her female fans latched on to this idea and began openly claiming to be bisexual. Others stray away from religion because of personal experiences. “I’ve gone through so much and I was told praying would fix everything, but I always felt like there was no one there and I was just talking to myself. After a while I realized that I had no reason to believe in any religion. No religion would help me,” Ashley J. explains. Youth pastor of SBCOC House of Hope, Rev. Watson, tells True Star, “A lot of churches don’t allow time for teenagers to ask questions and actually engage in church, so it’s common that the youth are leaving with unanswered questions. But when they go to school they’re learning about evolution, which is being explained completely. People also see that churches are anti-gay, anti-abortion, etc. but they never see Christians as people of love or grace.” To believe in a religion should remain a personal choice, not something that’s influenced by your friends and peers or for show, but because you truly believe in the context of the religion. For more information on atheism, visit http://www. conservapedia.com/Teenage_atheism.
PHOTO BY TERRICE HARRELL
JOBS Affecting Teens BY JERMAINE COLBERT, SENIOR, DUSABLE HIGH SCHOOL
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ave you worked as a teenager? Was it difficult finding a job? Most teenagers today are affected by unemployment in many ways. Many teenagers get involved in crimes and drugs to support themselves because they have a hard time finding a job. When people do not have jobs they spend most of their time in the streets, which could then lead to violence and gang activity. David Gardner, a youth specialist for the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) said, “There would be less violence if teens had more jobs because of poverty and it keeps teenagers busy doing something productive with their time.” Unemployment also leads to domestic violence, which then leads to more unemployment. It gets worse than that because you will have a conviction on your record and that’ll make it even harder for someone to get employed. It also gives employers a reason not to hire you. Research has stated many young black males are negatively affected by unemployment and most are positively affected by employment. David Gardner also said, “Employment affects teens sense of work, enhance skills, build relationships and provide responsibility to understand the importance of money.” The reason for unemployment is the minimum wage is increasing and it destroys jobs for low skilled workers, while doing little to address poverty. When the wage boosts up, employers cut down on hiring teens because they are inexperienced and don’t have skills. For more information on teen employment visit the Teen Career Resources section at www.chicagojobs.org.
OUR JUDGMENT DAY: A Teen’s Perspective on Social Labeling BY AMANI EL-MOGABER, SOPHOMORE, SUNNYDALE ADVENTIST ACADEMY, (CENTRALIA, MO.)
I
t takes only a matter of seconds after meeting someone for you to subconsciously judge them. Social labels have been around since forever, but today’s society has taken them to an entire new level of prejudice. “Your opinion could have formed based on characteristics that really have nothing to do with their actual behavior whether that is their race, ethnicity, class status or gender” said Erik Gellman, a History and Philosophy Professor at Roosevelt University. Regardless, you have made a judgment built on nothing other than their appearance. It is in our human nature to judge, label and stereotype; everyone does it, although some are skeptical they do. Although there is no absolute reason as to why society judges, there are many theories. Social labeling is seen as a defense mechanism or a lazy way of meeting people. If you meet someone with a specific trait and in the future see someone with an identical trait, as a result, based off that one similarity they are the exact same person. In an individual’s mind, everyone is categorized into groups with the label that they are given. For example, all teens with tattoos are rebellious, all middleaged adults with a vintage car are going through a mid-life crisis or perhaps the more humorous stereotype that all blondes are airheads. In some cases these situations are actually true; this is more than likely how the label came to be. In the old flick “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The Illuminating Diary of a Professional Lady,” a blonde woman portrayed by Marilyn Monroe, acts as though she is
senseless. Many believe the film is the origin for the stereotype that all blondes are unintelligent. But should everyone suffer for a label that a few or even one person created for themselves? Stereotypes are often associated with being negative, although there are some that are positive. The subject is very controversial. Some wouldn’t mind if they were labeled in association with something good, while others would rather not be labeled at all. “Positive labeling a group of people is placing an unrealistic expectation on them,” adds Gellman. The stereotype that all Asians are smart is an optimistic tag that has been given to them. Although being called intelligent is a compliment, what if there’s an Asian who isn’t the brightest crayon in the box? The stereotype has placed an expectation on the individual and if they can’t meet the requirements, society is inevitably appalled. Most of us can’t help but wonder, will the judgment ever stop? Gellman voiced his opinion, “I don’t think we’ll ever stop judging people based on their actual behavior. I do think it’s possible and I’m optimistic…we can cut down on the amount of stereotyping and prejudice that occur. I do think that begins with every individual person who has to fight that urge to prejudge people.” Although judgment is definitely unfair, we all do it. Judgment will most likely never end, but the prejudice that comes with it can. Like Gellman said, “It begins with every individual. It begins with you.” TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 13
GIVING BACK TECH
Owning Your Future with OWNING IT BY JAMELIAH SALTER, SOPHOMORE, UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
W
hile driving in his car one day Nathanael Cole was consumed with a constant idea “to own it.” Soon that idea began to grow and thanks to his persistence, it eventually became a reality. Owning It was established October 2, 2011. Nearly a year running, Owning It serves as a career, talent, and mentoring program. They provide services to youth from ages 14-21 and operate Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. “Owning It teaches young people entrepreneurship through owning your career. You develop skills of owning your own business and the potential to be millionaires,” says Cole. More than anything he is excited to see his program expand, “I was able to talk to the principal of South Shore High School and that led me to talking to over 750 students telling them about my program.” Cole has been so dedicated to the program that he left his job of two years as a case manager to work full-time in the program. It won’t be long before he has his program settled in the Boston, Massachusetts area. What keeps him motivated? “When I hear the youth say things like they’re empowered to live and have a future, how they didn’t have goals before but now they know they have the potential to change their environment,” explains Cole.
If you have the drive to succeed and the will to overcome, Owning It is the place for you. Participants and leaders in the program have been currently preparing for Chicago BLAST, a citywide career entrepreneurship summit which will be held at Hyde Park High School from September 26-29. Further information can be found on thinkowningit.com.
Meet Chicago State University’s Program in
COMMUNICATION, MEDIA ARTS & THEATRE BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE
T
hanks to media sharing websites like YouTube, SoundClick and Twitter young adults can get their feet wet with media creation tools even before entering college. The youth in Chicago are blessed to have many schools in the area that excel in training students for careers in communication. However, Chicago State University’s programs in Communications, Media Arts & Theatre (CMAT) have set themselves apart from other universities in the region. Their department focuses students not only on creating media, but making work that is excellent, prideful and relevant to today’s ever-changing media environment. Meet Dr. Christine List, the Program Coordinator for Communications, Media Arts and Theatre (CMAT) at CSU. “We offer a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentrations in Media Arts, Public Relations and Theatre. We offer a hands-on approach to learning where students are given the opportunity to work with our CSU-TV, WCSU-Radio and CSU Theatre production teams to prepare for successful careers in the media industry.
the legendary Herb Kent. “What sets us apart from other Chicago college stations and commercial stations is that WCSU is the station of the rising stars. We play the hits but also feature local and underrated artists in Chicago and also host events with these artists as well,” says Tyler. WCSU streams on the Internet but is also an iHeartRadio station and can be downloaded to an iPhone or Andriod.
Students can also choose from courses including such wide-ranging topics as Hispanic Media or Sports Broadcasting, Screenwriting or Marketing for Public Relations to name just a few. Our professors have advanced degrees as well as industry experience, and they love what they do.”
CSU student Samuel Franklin, 21, is currently a senior in the CMAT department. “Dr. List’s guidance has brought me great opportunities.” He added, “One challenge I’ll never forget was to applying for the Louis Carr Internship Foundation paid internship through the BET Network. After investing weeks into preparing my application, I received the nationally prestigious internship in New York. The experience of my internship this past summer in New York was extraordinary.”
Meet Troi Tyler, a V103 radio personality, who can be heard every Sunday night on 102.7 FM Chicago. WCSU is the college radio station headed up by Tyler and
For additional information about enrollment in CMAT visit www.csu.edu/CMAT/ or contact the department at 773-995-2280.
14 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
LOTTERY PICK: Energizing Teen Athletes BY JANAYA GREENE, JUNIOR, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY
W
ith everything the average teen of today has to face, imagine how much harder life is for teens who are both students and athletes. Finding the energy to keep up with school and a sport poses serious obstacles. Lottery Pick, launched in 2004 by a group of men who recognize the struggle of today’s youth, encourage youth athletes to pursue their goals regardless. Lottery Pick recognizes that teenagers experience daily struggles that are far from easy. From school sports practices, late nights completing homework, to early morning bus rides to get back to school, the youth need something to help them prosper and remain awake throughout the day. “When you think about urban youth, a part of their obstacles are having the energy to be able to get through school, staying alert, sports, etc. A lot of the idea for our product is to motivate kids and provide them with an energy drink to help them both physically and mentally,” says Lottery Pick co-founder, Gerald Griffin. Not only does Lottery Pick hope to inspire the youth, Lottery Pick hopes to improve the physical state of teens. “Lottery Pick contains no sugar free, five calories, vitamin B3, 5, 6, and 12, as well as vitamin C. Compared to other brands that have an average of 10 calories, Vitamin B6 and B12,” adds Griffin.
CHI ARTS:
Lottery Pick contributes greatly to communities throughout Chicagoland. They are sold at your local Walgreen’s and Wal-Mart stores. For more information on Lottery Pick scholarship offers, visit http://urbanmotive.com/.
The High School for the Creative Kid At Heart
BY SHAQUILLE ROBERTS, FRESHMAN, COLUMBIA COLLEGE HOLLYWOOD
I
magine a high school that begins by providing you with a regular school education, but ends by helping you to develop a skill in the arts. Not many Chicago high schools do this. In fact, only one high school in Chicago helps a young artist perfect his or her craft, and that’s Chi Arts (Chicago High School for the Arts). “The mission of Chi Arts is for us to create talented students that are prepared for college while creating the next generation for Chicago artists,” says Jose Ochoa, Chi Arts’ Artistic/Executive Director. The idea of the school started seven years ago when the research of the professional music community showed that Chicago was the largest city without a public arts high school. This prompted the idea of Chi Arts. Like many other Chicago high schools, Chi Arts has academic classes (reading, math, etc...) that start at 8 a.m., but end at 1:45 p.m. Then, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. the students spend their time learning the arts. The school offers music, dance, visual arts and theatre programs for young artists. Unlike other Chicago high schools, there is a required audition before getting accepted into Chi Arts. “Every art is different and you can only audition for two areas. Once you’re accepted into the school that is your major. So, if you like dance, but then you get into the school and think, ‘Oh, I [want to] draw,’ you can’t switch. You’re in dance for four years.” If planning on auditioning for theatre, applicants have to prepare a one or two minute monologue. They are then put in an improv class with other auditioning
students. Music theatre applicants have to sing a song and are put in a dance class. Visual arts students bring pieces of art, and dance students prepare a 60 second solo. Ochoa ensures that the audition process is fair, but very competitive. Only 150 students are accepted each year. He also offers great advice when preparing for the audition. “People who practice at the last minute are less likely to be successful. Practice! Practice! Practice! And if you don’t know how to do something, just ask.” For more information about Chi Arts High School visit their website at www.chiarts.org. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 15
TECH
The Amazing Game of Chess BY KARL THOMAS, SENIOR, FOREMAN HIGH SCHOOL
C
hess, particularly chess clubs, have traditionally been associated with nerds. But as of recently, a lot of teens are starting to realize how cool the game really is. It is a game that challenges you to think of a defensive and offensive strategy that has nearly infinite approaches. With a little practice and determination, one can become a competent opponent to even some of the more skilled practitioners. There are six different types of pieces in the game, with the King being the most important of the pieces, followed by the Queen, the Rooks, the Bishops, the Knights, and lastly, the Pawns. You get one King, one Queen, two Rooks, two Bishops, two Knights and eight Pawns.
Chess is also, in many ways, mysterious; the history being one of them. Chess is a very old game dating back to 1200 A.D. and supposedly originated in either India or Afghanistan, according to worldnews.com. Chess became an interest outside of its origin and variations were made. One of the first being Shogi, which is most popular in Japan. There is another called XiangQi, which is China’s variation. There is also a variation for Korea. Many other variations are scattered throughout the world, most being in isolated rural areas. For more information about the history of Chess and important events, visit http://math.uww.edu/~mcfarlat/177hist.htm. Chess is being recognized by more and more people as a respectable, intelligent strategy game and is renowned for its uniqueness. Chess is introduced to young kids all over the world because it is a great way to stimulate the mind and get people to think outside the box.
Chess has many appealing attributes about it. The main being the rules and the strategies used to win the game. Players win the game by “checkmating” the King, which pretty much means you put him in a position where he has nowhere to run.
“Chess is like life, there are so many different twists and turns; so many decisions to make,” says chess expert Luis Cedeno, senior at Foreman High School.
This is done by positioning one piece in a position where he can strike the opponent’s King and position another one where they can strike at all other escape routes. This can be done in a variety of unique ways, depending on your overall strategy.
If you want to learn how to play chess, you can’t be afraid to lose. Like most things in life, the only way to get better is to learn the hard way. Also get involved in chess clubs at your school or locally or start by playing against a computer or online opponent at www.chess.com.
16 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
10
TOP MAJORS AT CSU.
Biology/Pre-med, Business Administration, al Communications, Computer Science, Crimin rmacy, Justice, Elementary Education, Nursing, Pha Psychology, Sociology
Study at CSU and Enter 2012's Fastest Growing or Highest Earning Careers Nursing, medicine and healthcare, executive-level business, psychiatry, pharmacy, and computer programming. -Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
csu.edu/admissions 773.995.2513 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 17
FASHION
True Star Magazine Presents
The Next “Star Mogul” BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY M. YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IN TODAY’S TIME THE AVERAGE TEEN SEEMS LIKE PUBLIC ENEMY #1. THOUGH THE MEDIA PORTRAYS US IN SUCH A NEGATIVE LIGHT, THERE ARE A FEW OF US WHO ARE ACTUALLY ON THE BRINK OF A RENAISSANCE. THESE TEENS ARE TECH SAVVY AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED. THEY EMBODY THE ELEMENTS OF A FUTURE RAGS-TO-RICHES STORY AND ARE LEADING A REVOLUTION.
Davey Hines/Lerron Bonner LTR Clothing (Lead The Revolution) TS: How did you guys start your business? L/D: We borrowed $200 from our parents and released our very first shirts. The shirts gained us a profit of $600, and then we released a line of buttons, selling 1,000 within two months. TS: How do you guys both manage the task of running the clothing line? Davey: I’m the lead designer. I have a passion for art, which I apply to creating new designs for the merchandise. Lerron: The other half of LTR is run by me, the salesman, in charge of promotion and marketing. I enjoy socializing with big groups of people, which makes me good as a salesman and a promoter. TS: Why did you guys Start LTR Clothing? L/D: The reason we decided to start LTR was for two reasons: one, because we were tired of being broke and wanted to find a way to make money while having fun, and two, because we were tired of people conforming to the fashion norms of society and wanted to give them a new, dope clothing line to wear. We never followed fashion trends and wanted to give a little bit of our style to the rest of the city. 18 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Karon “Carlos” Smith Raggs Boutique TS: How did you get into the fashion world? Karon: I was always around businesses and my mother just so happen to have a line. Fashion was always around; she was always sewing and cutting. She actually made my first couple of Halloween costumes. My mom even took to me to a clothing show called Magic. She just let me go on my own and I actually ordered my first pieces from Magic. Basically my mom introduced it to me. TS: What makes you different from every other teen with a clothing line? Karon: The business is what makes me different. I’m a business man first then I’m a Fashionisto. Business has always been second nature to me then it was fashion. I can put together an amazing outfit, don’t get me wrong, but I can do much better at the marketing and customer service aspect of things. TS: Without business or fashion where would you be? Karon: Well business has always been in my life since birth. But without the two I would mostly be on my way to becoming a lawyer.
The ABC’s of
“BACK TO SCHOOL COOL”
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT FALL IS BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING. FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO LOOK THEIR BEST IN THE COOL WEATHER MONTHS AHEAD, TAKE NOTE ON HOW THESE FASHION FORWARD TEENS WORK THE SEASON’S TRENDS OF COLOR, PRINTS AND DENIM INTO THEIR WARDROBE TO EARN AN A+ IN STYLE.
“ATTITUDE”
LARRY DEMONSTRATES THAT IS EVERYTHING, IN HIS BUTTON-FRONT SHIRT, NECKTIE, DARK DENIM JEANS AND METALLIC JACKET. Jacket, shirt & jeans from Akira Necktie stylist’s own Belt & shoes model’s own
ELIJAH SHOWS HIS
“ADVENTUROUS” SIDE BY WEARING A COLORFUL GEOMETRIC TANK WITH A SUBDUED SAFARI STYLE SHIRT AND CASUAL PANT.
20 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Shirt from H&M Tank top from Urban Outfitters Pant from Akira
Styling: Sam Ng & Dion Spencer Photography: Mireya Acierto Make-Up: Amanda Suggs, Courtesy of Marimarshe’ Salon Hair: Diamond Beach Location: 2010 Wabash
“ACCESSORIES”
ICEY IS PROOF THAT CAN MAKE YOUR FIT FUN AND PLAYFUL. HERE SHE ROCKS A DISTRESSED DENIM VEST WITH A GRAPHIC T-SHIRT AND DARK JEANS; AND ACCESSORIZES WITH AN INFINITY SCARF AND A VARIETY OF BOLD JEWELRY PIECES. Necklace & bracelets from Akira - stylist’s own T-shirt, denim vest, earring & scarf - model’s own Jeans from Dots
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 21
“BASIC BLUES”.
SAY BYE-BYE TO THE LARRY SWAPS A TRADITIONAL DENIM JACK ET FOR ONE WITH SYNTHETIC LEATHER SLEEVES. HE PAIRS IT WITH A GRAPHIC T-SHIRT, CUFFED DARK DENIM JEANS AND SNEAKERS. MAYA ROCKS A DISTRESSED STUDDED JACKET, PLAID SHIRT AND TEE WITH DARK RINSE DENIM. Maya: Denim jacket, shirt & wedge shoes from Akira Jeans from Dots Earrings - models’ own Ring - stylist’s own
Larry: Jacket - stylist’s own T-shirt & cap from Leaders Jeans from Akira Necklace, belt & sneaker model’s own
“COOL”
KNOW THAT BEING IS A STATE OF MIND. ICEY (LEFT) LETS HER COOLNESS SHOW IN THIS DENIM OUTFIT WHERE SHE MIXES AN ANIMAL PRINT TOP AND GRAPHIC STAR HOODIE, WITH A FLORAL PATTERN SHOE. DAKOTA DEMONSTRATES A MORE LAID BACK FORM OF COOL BY PAIRING COLORFUL FRAMED SUNGLASSES WITH THIS MILITARY INSPIRED JACKET, STRIPE T-SHIRT, SLIM JEAN AND BOOTS. Hoodie & sunglasses from Akira Denim jacket, leopard print top & jeans - model’s own Boots from Dr. Marten’s Dakota: Jacket from H&M Sunglasses, jeans & boots from Akira T-shirt - model’s own
“CUTE”
MAYA SHOWS THAT BEING IS AUTOMATIC IN THIS ANIMAL PRINT SWEATER AND BOLD JEWELRY. Sweater from Topshop Necklace, bracelets & earrings from Akira
“CONFIDENCE” goes a long way. Here, Dakota (left) expresses his individuality in a button front cardigan, plaid shirt and cuffed colored jeans. Elijah (right) shows no shame in this playful plaid hoodie, graphic t-shirt, bright denim and colorful sneakers. Erika makes a bold statement in these short overalls, which she sports with a studded shirt and multi-colored sweater. Her braided belt and bright socks add just the right amount of pop. Dakota: Cardigan from Zara Shirt - model’s own Pant & boots from Akira Elijah: Shirt-hoodie & pant from Akira T-shirt from Leaders Sneakers - stylist’s own
Erika: Blouse, sweater & shoes from Akira Overalls from Buffalo Exchange Earrings from Dots Socks from American Apparel Belt - model’s own
DWYANE
WADE:
THE UNFINISHED PRODUCT BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY YOUNG
T
alent is something that has always been God given, no matter if others see it or not. Dwyane Wade, shooting guard/point guard for the Miami Heat, has climbed his way to the top and his skills are world-renowned. Through trials and tribulations Dwyane has stayed on the steady path to success. With eight NBA All-Star titles, two NBA Championships, two bronze and one gold medal, D. Wade is still not a finished product. Starting from an early age the odds have always been stacked up against Dwyane. Being an inner city minority youth, just like many of us today, life wasn’t always easy breezy. Looking back Jolinda Wade, Dwayne’s mother, reflects on the moment she knew her son had talent. “When I went to one of his high school games and saw him play it was amazing. As I watched I sat back and thought, wow this kid has something special.” Dwyane explained that he never had the mentality of the streets. He was brought up with such negativity around him that he wanted to do better. Dwyane didn’t want to be a disappointment and become another statistic saying “I wanted to do something great, so I found my niche. It wasn’t easy to come by nor sustain but I never gave up.” Dwayne spoke on how crucial it was to never give up on yourself, especially when people expect you too. “I knew what was waiting for me in the streets if I ever stop striving to be great.” 26 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Many of us look around and are surrounded by poverty. So we come to believe that money will fix all of our problems. Dwyane once thought that as well, but soon found out he was wrong. “Money doesn’t make everything great. It doesn’t erase the past and what I’ve been through.” Dwyane talks about how finding a way out was so much better than settling. Now through his organization, Wade’s World, he shows teens how much more is out there if you just learn. “You look at me now and think I’m a finished product but I still go through things now. The biggest thing in my life is my foundation and making sure we educate kids. But not just on one thing. We want to educate them on the world, literacy, violence and everything else. Hopefully through that education they can find and better their niche to open more opportunities.” Today we got to see star Olympic basketball player Dwyane Wade, not as a celeb, millionaire, or athlete but as a person. Dwyane encourages himself and others to never stop going, “You have no other choice but to keep going. What else are you going to do? Stop? The world doesn’t stop, so why should you? We all have our tough days and if I stop I’m giving up on everything. I’ve come too far to just give up now, we all have. ”
“I KNEW WHAT WAS WAITING FOR ME IN THE STREETS IF I EVER STOP STRIVING TO BE GREAT.”
THRU DA WIRE
Let it Shine with
COCO JONES BY BRAYLYN BROWN, SOPHOMORE, MORGAN PARK
M
ulti-talented young celebrity Courtney Jones, known to Disney fans as Coco Jones, is on the rise. Jones recently starred in the Disney Channel movie “Let it Shine” in the summer of 2012 and is now expanding into the music industry. Jones started her singing career when she had her first performance singing “America the Beautiful” to a packed auditorium of families at her kindergarten graduation. When she was 9-years-olds, she met the casting directors of Disney. In the next year, Jones competed on Radio Disney’s “Next Big Thing.” After being on the NBT, there was a lot of interest in the young singer. After building up her career up, she was featured on Disney show “So Random!” as herself. “Being on ’So Random’ was a blast! Honestly though, I was pretty nervous because it was my first time doing anything recorded and televised for Disney Channel besides NBT. It was my first time acting for Disney as well. I didn’t want to mess up, but the cast accepted me with open arms, so it went pretty good,” says Jones. Finally the great star landed the role of being a main character in the Disney Channel movie “Let It Shine” where she plays “Roxie,” a teenage singing sensation. Besides having her very busy career, Jones has fun hobbies too. “When I’m not working, I love to sew! I know that may seem corny, but a lot of my friends would be at school when I’m busy so that’s what I like to do to myself. Also I surf the web a lot, interacting with a lot of my fans and friends.” For more information on Coco Jones and what she’s up to nowadays, visit therealcocojones.com 28 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
KHLEO THOMAS
You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea BY SUBRIA WHITAKER, FRESHMAN, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
H
e might have been digging “Holes” on Disney Channel, but this roller-skater boy is no zero in the music industry. Not only is he walking tall on the movie screen, but I guarantee you this man is about to leave his mark in the music scene. Khaleed Thomas, better known as Khleo, has been dropping Klemix, afer Klemix and mixtape after mixtape since 2010. After doing my research and listening to almost every song he’s ever dropped, I can attest to the fact that Khleo Thomas is living proof that you don’t have to curse, be a thug or womanizer, or act “hard” to make good music. Upcoming or striving rappers and music artists out here need to take notes. This issue’s lesson comes from the book of “Khleology” and the first lesson is as follows: Talent is the new sexy. What I mean by this is that good music is more than just a good beat or song one can “twerk” off of. Good music consist of bars that contain thought, lyrical puns and metaphors on top of a solid beat and possibly a hook that tell a story, in order to make a complete song. Many artists don’t do that today.
“Music has always been a passion of mine,” says Khleo during an exclusive True Star interview that can be seen on www.truestaris.com. While some would think that the transition from an actor to a rapper would be somewhat “cursed,” Khleo testifies to his already established acting career as a gift and a curse. According to Khleo, those who knew of his gift and interest in music since day one “followed him” and watched as he recorded music on the ustreams while others may have perceived him as trying to be someone they think he isn’t. At the end of the day, he’s always stayed true to himself and instructs those out there to grind in order to make their dreams come true as well. After seeing or hearing bits and pieces here and there, you have to check him out! For everything Khleo Thomas, including music samples and what he’s up to nowadays visit khleothomas.com. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 29
ERICK SERMON: The Optimist of Hip-Hop
BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
“T
akin’ away your worries and cares, any problems, music will be right there, together match yo, we a perfect pair. Is that true Marvin? Yeah, Music!” These lyrics may sound familiar to you because they are from Erick Sermon’s hit record “Music” featuring Marvin Gaye. Sermon is more than just this one song. Sermon was one half of the EPMD hip-hop group from the 80s. Besides incredible lyrics, Sermon is known for his business moves in the hip-hop industry.
Getting a deal as a hip-hop artist in this new age is still possible, but the chances of you keeping creative control with a label are far more difficult than it was in the past. “That is how labels run these days. They have a say-so on everything,” says Sermon.
In the early 2000s, Sermon released two albums, “Music” and “React,” while establishing his Def Squad imprint with MoTown Records. From that point on Sermon has stepped aside from music and focuses solely on scouting new talent. Being an old school hip-hop head, one would think Sermon would be disappointed in hip-hop today but that is far from the truth.
“Most of these new rappers are fast-food rappers. Their content of money, cars, and strippers is what we have been listening to for the last seven years. Most of the time they don’t even rhyme. My son could write some of the songs they make. I care about the new artists who can be like SchoolboyQ; he helps fill out the side of hip-hop that the vets are most comfortable in. So it’s not “us against them,” it’s which one of them can rhyme and make music like us.”
“What are CDs anymore? It is all digital, you couldn’t pick a better time to be an artist now where your music can be easily accessible with a simple upload and a click of a button,” says Sermon on the opportunities in today’s industry. According to Appleinsider.com, in 2010 iTunes was currently out selling physical media by 26.7% on an upward curve. Sermon, just like the rest of us, sees this change and encourages artists to make their music available via the Internet. “Long are the days of hustling your demo on the corner or in the food and liquor stores. It is time to work smarter, not harder with your music.” A$AP Rocky and Mac Miller are perfect examples of artist who take advantage of viral instant hip-hop. Despite this fact, Sermon admits that labels are still important with music distribution. “Sure, the internet can be accessed by anyone all over the world, but if you have 1 million views on a video it can be from only the people from your area who watched it. Labels still have publishing and distributing power that can make an artist global on a physical level.” 30 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
But more interestingly, a climatic shift is coming to the hip-hop world. The veterans are aging and new competition is steadily flowing in with the ease of making music nowadays. So who has the upper hand, the vets or the rookies?
With that being said, Sermon does point out some bright spots in the new class of hip-hop. “I think Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole are dope emcees with all-around writing skills. I hope they stay in that lane though, because it is hard to stay focused once that fame hits you. The early moves an artist makes are his most crucial. Look at Kanye West and Jay-Z, two artists who patiently made lifechanging music so that they could have longevity without giving in to the fame. Some would argue that with me, but those are living examples of how not to live in the moment, but rather strive for longevity,” says Sermon. Sermon’s final words give us verdict on the state of hip-hop. “Everyone is asking this question, which means that there must be something wrong with hip-hop. I like hip-hop in the past and now, but the difference now is the lack of balance. If a party rapper makes it, a real rapper needs to make it right behind him; it can’t be disproportionate. Somebody has to speak up.”
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TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 31
NV
The One to Watch
NC
IN-ZO:
BY KIA “KWEEN K” SMITH, FRESHMAN, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
W
hat started as a mother’s instinct for her son’s hidden talent turned into a blossoming music career with a promising future. At a young age, In-Zo’s mother enrolled him in music school to nurture his untrained singing voice. Although musical training was unwelcomed at first, In-Zo, now 22, began to embrace it once he realized how good he was. “I hated music school. But as I got older, I appreciated everything it taught me, especially when I became serious,” he says. Years later In-Zo not only sings, but also raps, produces and is a graphic designer. “I’m versatile when it comes to making art” he says. “I don’t like to label myself as one thing, because I’m able to do so much.” Although he hails from Chicago, In-Zo, who refers to his genre as “nonclassifiable,” says he wants his sound to impact a range of audiences far beyond Windy City limits. “Saying I’m only a Chicago artist puts me in a box. The world is so much bigger with a range of people and platforms… I want to be seen as an artist from Chicago, not just a Chicago artist.” 32 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
“I’M VERSATILE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING ART” HE SAYS. “I DON’T LIKE TO LABEL MYSELF AS ONE THING, BECAUSE I’M ABLE TO DO SO MUCH.” In-Zo’s new single “Late Night” is burning up the Internet airwaves. He tells True Star that his latest project was inspired by his love life. “30 Days and Nights” is a mixtape that is based on all my ex-girlfriends and the trials and tribulations I went through dealing with them. All my music tells a story. It’s almost comic book-like. “30 Days and Nights” leads you into my next project, an EP entitled “Rebirth of Tomorrow.” Where will In-Zo be in five years? According to him, he will be an untamable entity in the music industry and in 10 years he’ll be untouchable – period. His drive and determination have led him to believe that music is his calling. For him, there is no other option.
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 33
Under The
Radar J. Styles MUSICAL STYLE I consider my style as vibe music.
Yung Star
What I’m feeling at the time when listening to a track is what I express in my songs. I try not to limit myself to the parameters of one genre or style but instead spread out and utilize sounds of other genres to get out my thoughts, while staying in the lane that’s parallel to my lifestyle.
UNIQUENESS
and positive music that will make you want to dance and smile. It’s for all ages to enjoy and keep you wanting to hear more.
My ability to stay true to myself. The way I speak my mind, state my opinion and invite my listeners to my way of viewing things opposed to just reciting a lot of rhymes. That’s what makes us all different, our subject matter and lyrical content. I speak from what I know and I speak about the things I want to obtain. Nothing else.
UNIQUENESS
GOAL
MUSICAL STYLE My musical style is rap, very fun
What makes me unique is I’m a writer. I’ve written all my own music. I’m writing my entire album and you can’t find too many teen artists that can both write and rap. I love dancing, so you will see me come out with dance music.
GOAL
My goal is to have everyone listening and enjoying my music 10 years from now.
INFLUENCE
Anyone who is positive, strong-minded, has goals and dreams which they have not given up on. To name a few, my Mom, Sister (Victoria), big bro Trevor Hill and celebrities that I have looked up to: Jay-Z, Roscoe Dash, Swizz Beatz and Kanye West. Contact Info: Facebook: www.facebook.com/yungstarmusic1 Twitter: www.twitter.com/yungstarmusic1 YouTube: www.youtube.com/yungstarmusic1 Website: www.yungstarmusic1.com Email: www.yungstar13dt@yahoo.com Artist Bookings Contact: Tasha B. 773-957-8977 34 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
I want to affect the way people think and view things. When it’s all said and done, I want people to be able to say I did more than just make good music for them to vibe to, but I’ve created a lifestyle for them to live by. I believe as artists we have the power to make those types of changes. Our music alters moods, and when you can make people FEEL a certain way you can make them ACT accordingly.
INFLUENCE Musically? Jigga, Ye, TI, Jeezy, 3 Stacks, Lauryn Hill and others. Their music talks to me, doesn’t matter how I feel I can pop in an album from any of them and be cool. My life influences will be my parents. I learned a lot through their struggles and just by observing them. And not to sound cocky or nothing, but I feel like I influenced me as well, if that makes any sense. Just having that will to do my own thing regardless of what society or my peers think. One of God’s greatest gifts to man is instinct and I roll with mine hard. For General Information: Website: http://jkingworld.com Youtube: youtube.com/bmbllctv Twitter: @Jkingthaprodigy
True Star Catches Up WITH THE OMG GIRLZ BY JANAYA GREENE, SOPHOMORE, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY
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onnique “Star” Pullins, Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Baby Doll” Womack make up the new and improved OMG (Officially Miss Guided) Girlz. While the OMG Girlz were still a quartet, their talent was first recognized on the 09’ BET hit reality show, “Tiny & Toya.” Former Xscape member, Tameka “Tiny” Harris started the group with her daughter Zonnique and Bahja Rodriguez. In 2011, the group added Breaunna Womack as their third and final member. Their careers were soon to transform when Streamline Records (Interscope Records imprint) founder Vincent Herbert, contacted them hoping to sign them to his label. “Star’s mom, Tiny, is very good friends with Tamar Braxton, who is Vincent Herbert’s wife. While they were down in Atlanta, he heard our songs and called with the news that he really wanted to sign us. We went to L.A. and that’s when everything got finalized. This year is when things really started to take off,” Beauty explained. Music has always been a passion of these three girls, “Since we were little, when we came out the womb, especially Zonnique with her background of music with her mother and stepfather as musicians” says Baby Doll. The OMG Girlz are releasing a new album for their fans that expresses the hardship of being a teenage girl, as well as the fun of it all. “We’re speaking for the girls our ages and younger. It’ll be good for parents to relate and see how girls feel if they can’t talk to them because we talk about what we feel. A mixture of reality and fun content as well, so we’re speakers for our Miss Guided,” Baby Doll tells TS. Not only does the album speak out for young girls, it has a new style that people
aren’t very used to. Bahja also tells, “I feel like our album is different from the albums that other girl groups have put out. You don’t just hear one sound. You hear many different genres and styles. We also have B.O.B on our album and he’s a totally different sound!” While these three moguls are making their own name, they are sometimes still tied to their adult inspirations, “It can be difficult at certain times. At first we were only known for a group that T.I’s daughter was in and thought we would never be able to get away from it, but once we started working harder and going on tours we were known as our own group,” says daughter, Zonnique. “We plan to be more than artists in the future and to have our hands in a little bit of everything, so we can become a brand. Have merchandise, act, and we even want to produce music, TV shows, and write music for other artists.” For more information on the OMG Girlz, visit http://www.omggirlz.com.
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 35
TEEN BIZ
It Does Not Cost a Fortune
TO BE FABULOUS
BY CRYSTAL STONEWALL, SOPHOMORE, CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL FOR AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
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As Treasurer of the City of Chicago, I am often asked what young people can do to start saving money and building their money smarts. Now that the weather is getting warm, it’s time to start thinking about landing a summer job, and banking that summer money. Your best option: open a bank account and then arrange to have your paycheck directly deposited into your account. This will not only save you hundreds of dollars in check cashing fees, but will also protect your money from theft or loss. Then you should start putting a portion of that money into savings, and that’s something you can also do automatically every paycheck. Pay yourself first and you won’t be tempted into spending it on shoes or makeup or video games. And you can save up for something that really matters to you: a big trip, a college education, starting your own business, or even a car. Studies show that children who learn to manage their money at an early age do better financially over the course of a lifetime. College students with their own savings are 30% more likely to graduate from college, and children with a savings account show a better grasp of basic financial principles than their non-saving peers. College costs more than ever, and costs continue to rise. Student debt in America has surged past $1 trillion, surpassing even credit card debt. The average college senior is now graduating with $24,000 in debt, and facing the bleakest job market in more than a decade. This means students and families have to work smarter than ever at planning for a college future. Remember, it’s your money, your choice.
Stephanie D. Neely Treasurer, City of Chicago
girl should be two things: classy and fabulous” stated Coco Chanel. This wonderful quote basically sums up the way most teens feel about their sense of fashion: it has to be 1) fashionable and 2) presentable. As a teen, I cannot help but try to fit in with the latest fashion trends, whether it is colored skinny jeans, UGG boots, fashionable graphic tees or just a cute spring jacket. There is nothing wrong with fitting in with the trends or just simply dressing nice. The problem arises when teenagers believe that ‘the more expensive things are the more fashionable it is.’ According to an anonymous teen, “Fabulous is dressing in high cost brands such as Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, and True Religion.” However, Stephanie, an intern at On the Money, has a very different perspective. Stephanie believes, “Fabulous represents anything someone is comfortable in.” As anyone can clearly see, both teenagers have different perspectives of the word “fabulous.” The anonymous teen believes, the more money you spend, the more fabulous their outfit is. While Stephanie believes, fashion is more than skin deep.
According to Marketingplace.com, parents spend an average of $915 on their teen’s clothing annually. After seeing the excessive amount of money spent on teen clothing, I now wonder how wisely that money is being spent. There are strategies you can use to reduce your fashion costs. According to a 2009 study done by Seventeen Magazine on the spending habits of teenagers, 55 percent of teens wait for clothing items to go on sale before buying them, and 57 percent save money for clothing and fashion items. Also, according to a study conducted by Scarborough Research in 2009, 48 percent of teen shoppers say that they are using more coupons at the mall then they have in the past. By using coupons, waiting for sales and saving up, teens are spending less money on items that can cost “an arm and a leg.” Remember, it does not cost a fortune to be fabulous as long as you establish a budget, use coupons, look for sales, or even save money for periodic expensive item purchases.
The Cost of College
and Planning for Your Future P lanning for your college experience can be an exciting time. Moving from the comforts of high school into a world in which you may be on your own for the first time can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. You’re about to put your intellectual and social skills to the test! As you go about choosing a college or university, keep these points in mind as they relate to your finances:
Completing the FAFSA (or Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the way to kick-start the process of finding out what is your expected family contribution (EFC), and what types of financial assistance may be available to you. Schools use the information on your FAFSA to help determine any tuition assistance they can offer, based on the income and assets of you and your parents or guardians. You may qualify for financial assistance in the form of grants, student or parental loans, or campus–based aid such as a work-study program.
It has become difficult for many families to pay for higher education in full without grants, scholarships, or loans. As you think about which school to attend, be sure that the cost of an education at that school and your eventual degree are consistent with the likelihood of finding a job in your chosen field, and at the salary you expect. Some student loan debt may be fine, but too much can put a strain on your finances for years, which can impact other financial goals. Winding down your high school years and beginning your college education is likely to be an exciting time in your life. In order to make the transition as seamless as it can be, make sure you understand the impact higher education will have on you and your family’s finances. Getting the degree you want, from the college or university that best fits your needs – career path and financial, alike – can help make the next stage of your life that much more rewarding.
Be sure to visit www.YourMoneyCounts.com for more information on saving, budgeting and planning for your finances.
36 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
SPONSORED BY
Being Healthy Financially & Physically BY DARIUS CLAY, SENIOR, CHICAGO TALENT DEVELOPMENT HIGH SCHOOL
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lanet Fitness tells you to “Burn Calories. Not Cash.” Are they really cheaper than other gyms? I researched several different gyms and their price ranges and found a way to slim YOU down and not your pockets. There are over 29,000 health clubs or gyms in the United States [2007 Health Club Industry Review by Active Network]. Almost 65 million people visited a health club last year. Saving money on gym memberships could make a big impact nationally. Every ten dollars saved by each person would equal 650 million dollars saved a year!
Gyms can be more motivating by offering training with people that you’re comfortable with. However, they might not have as much advanced equipment as other gyms, and they often don’t offer seven days a week/24 hours a day schedules. Chicago has 15.1 % of its population that has memberships to fitness centers. The average for the United States is 15.5 %, so we’re right on track and this is an important issue in Chicago and in the U.S. overall.
Let’s take our first sample gym, LA Fitness. LA fitness is one of the best gyms in the country. They offer state-of-the-art equipment and cardio area, indoor heated lap pool, whirlpool spa, kids club (babysitting), saunas, juice bars, etc. They are open seven days a week; with some locations open 24 hours. Most of these qualities are not available at your neighborhood health center. The second gym, Planet Fitness, comes quite close to L.A Fitness when it comes to special features and qualities that are not available at your neighborhood gym. Planet Fitness specifically emphasizes that they don’t bother with all the extras like juice bars and kids club (babysitting) that drive up costs and can make a gym membership seem more like a car payment. They are also open seven days a week; with some locations open 24 hours. Neighborhood gyms require the least amount of transportation. Neighborhood
The War on Teen Employment BY TANESHA JORDAN, JUNIOR, NORTH LAWNDALE COLLEGE PREP
Student: “Hello are you hiring?”
Manager: “Sorry, not at the moment.” This is a conversation most teens know all too well. If it came down to an adult being chosen for a job or a teenager, the adult generally receives the job because they are better prepared for it. There is a lack of jobs for students because they are competing for them with adults and because teens don’t know what it takes to fill out a job application. Things may seem tough right now, but there are still ways to make you look more attractive for a job. First, try building up your résumé. Volunteer work looks great on a résumé. Of course, volunteer work does not pay itself, but it could be what separates you from other applicants for a later paid position. Second, network. Facebook and Twitter are more than just social networking sites. Many companies have pages and these can be quick and easy ways to get in touch with businesses and see what they look for in job applicants. According to Jill Lederman in Your Future magazine, “One reason the number of employed teens has decreased is that in these tough economic times, teens are competing with adults for the same jobs. Older more experienced workers who
have lost their jobs now are willing to look for, and accept, lower paying jobs…” A simple way to combat the growing competition is by talking to your school about internships specifically for teens that are available through your school or other programs such as On The Money, Girl/Friends, NaNoWriMo, etc. Teen employment is important. According to Lederman’s article, “Teens unemployment can also hurt the whole family in this recession.” Teens sometimes look for work to help their families. As a result, teen unemployment often hurts low income households because of many reasons, but can be eased if the teen knew how to combat it by building a stronger more effective résumé. So get busy building your résumé to make you a stronger candidate for employment! TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 37
TEEN VI ANTI BIZPSI PHOTO BY WAKISHA WALKER - SENIOR AT PROLOGUE EARLY COLLEGE
A Lesson In Lockdown:
Gang Violence Doesn’t Pay BY JESSICA JACKSON, SOPHOMORE, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
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veryone thinks they know about gangs, but what they fail to acknowledge are the consequences of being in one. When LaTonya Johnson was 9 years old she joined a gang on the city’s South Side because she felt by being affiliated with a gang it would guarantee her protection, respect and power. Not long after that she began smoking marijuana, stealing from her family, robbing people and liquor stores. By the time she was 15 she caught a murder wrap for killing a 17-year-old girl “due to gang affiliation.” Johnson, now 17, said “I relied heavily on the gang for physical and emotional support...The gang was my life, all the things that they taught me were all I knew. They were my family.” Johnson was sentenced to three years in a juvenile delinquent center and ordered to take anger management and therapeutic sessions. Darryll Wallace, a CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) officer with the Chicago Police Department, says, “Every year … Chicago police arrest over 20,000 gang members, affiliated with drugs/ narcotics, gun possession, murder wraps and much more. Consequences are almost a certainty; many consequences result in death.” 38 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
“IF I COULD DO MY LIFE DIFFERENTLY I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN THE GANG PATH… I WOULD HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON SCHOOL.” While Johnson is still dealing with the consequences of the life she chose, she is fully aware that things could be worse. “I could be dead,” she says. “By me coming to this facility for troubled teens, it has changed me as a person… As of now I have a 3.8 GPA, and I’m looking forward to applying to college this year. I want to be a lawyer. If I could do my life differently I would not have chosen the gang path… I would have focused more on school.” For anyone considering the gang life Johnson offers this advice: “The gang mentality leads to nothing more than violence. Remember, always stay true to yourself… take responsibility for your actions.” By being isolated from society Johnson realized how her actions affected others and accepted that the idea of gangbanging is wrong. Luckily, for her, she got a chance to learn from her mistakes.
PHOTO BY DESHAUN ADAMS
Are You Born
ANGRY? BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
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nything can send you over the edge. Someone bumping into you on accident on the train will cause you to confront them with rage. People fear you in school; they fear that you may rob them so they distance themselves from your gangster presence. You are more willing to grab a gun before fighting with your hands in order to solve a dispute. In your mind no one cares for you and you are as hard and invincible as a rock. If this description doesn’t fit you chances are there’s a young person in your family or someone that you know in school that fits this mold. The reason why these youth are angry is not something that is in their nature, but according to experts, the behavior is trained into the brain. One of the first symptoms of an enraged youth is if the child experienced child abuse. Professor Harry J. Gaynor, Ph.D., a member of AAETS (The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress), speaks on the behavior a child abuse victim displays as they grow older. “The aggressive response [of a] person is generally reported to be preoccupied with selfish behavior, that person displays a lack of concern for the impact anger will have on the recipient. Behavior includes verbal and physical attacks on others, labeling others, putting others down, teasing, humiliation of others and sometimes blatant sarcasm. Any one or
combination of these traits is a “red flag” when searching for a motive in cases of child abuse [by burning], or any act of physical violence.” A direct result of childhood abuse or neglect of any kind is a cycle of violence it creates. In the 90s a study conducted by the National Institute of Justice did psychological analysis of U.S. inmates and a connection to child abuse. There were 301 subjects in the study (56.5% African-American, 24.3% Latino, 17.6% White, and 1.7% other). Overall 68% of the inmates reported some form of childhood abuse before the age of 12. It has been proven that violent children are a result of violent environments especially starting in the homes. This learned behavior is extremely difficult to work around but there could be a possible solution for schools. CPS already has counselors in school and the stereotype of them being “unused” is no secret to the administration and students. A mandatory weekly meeting with a counselor under a confidentiality agreement for at risk students could be a big first step. If these afflicted children are given a chance to speak out on what happens to them outside of school it could be a way to nurse the wounds of abuse and possibly end random acts of violence towards others. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 39
True Star Joins State Farm in Their
Celebrate My Drive Festivities
BY BRAYLYN BROWN, SOPHOMORE, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
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ar crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. The first year for a teen driver is the most dangerous on the road. So to educate and celebrate these inexperienced drivers State Farm debuted a teen driver safety event called Celebrate My Drive on September 15th across the United States and Canada. Celebrate My Drive is a special one-day event for communities to rally around teenagers as they earn their driver’s licenses and prepare for the road ahead. By celebrating the drive with teens and their parents and providing safety tools and resources, State Farm is working to prevent teen crashes, reduce injuries and save lives. In Lombard, IL, Celebrate My Drive took place at Yorktown Mall. The event was filled with fun attractions like car crash simulators, interactive driving courses, key chain makers, flip book generators, live performances by Chicago artists, and a visit from celebrity guests Taj Gibson from The Chicago Bulls, American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart, and Miss Illinois 2012 Megan Ervin. Also, there were multiple giveaways of State Farm’s Celebrate My Drive Gear, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, gift cards and much more. Not only did attendees win prizes, everyone who registered for Celebrate My Drive was entered to win a brand new new 2013 Chevy Sonic. Surrounding high schools also had the chance to vote for their schools to win a $100,000 grant. 40 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
True Star asked some of the special guests at the event to give their opinion on Celebrate My Drive and to offer some advice to teen drivers. “Celebrate My Drive is a wonderful event for the young drivers. Back in my day, teenagers didn’t have an opportunity like this to simulate their mind on the rules of the road and such. So State Farm’s take on this event gives these teenagers a greater knowledge and cool memory to go by through their driving career,” said The Secretary of State, Jesse White. “If I would’ve experienced a Celebrate My Drive event when I was first getting my license, driving would have been so much smoother with the instruction and advice from State Farm,” said Ervin. Overall, Celebrate My Drive was a huge success. Thousands of teens came out to celebrate with State Farm. Thanks to the insurance company 14 schools will receive $100,000 grants and 14 lucky teenagers will win their brand new 2013 Chevy Sonics during National Teen Driver Safety Week, which is October 14th through October 20th. Even though the celebration events have past, it doesn’t have to be over. Make sure to like State Farm’s Celebrate My Drive page on Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/CelebrateMyDrive to see pictures from Celebrate My Drive events all over the Unite States and Canada.
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 41
42 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
INSIDE & OUT BY EBONY TRIPPLETT, JUNIOR, HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE
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had been relaxed for as long as I can remember. My hair always flourished, grew, and was healthy, or at least appeared to be. My sophomore year of college was so stressful and overwhelming that it started showing in my hair. It became dry and brittle and soon after I had lots of breakage. I decided that it was time to cut my hair to get rid of the breakage and I decided that I would attempt to go natural as well. I was worried that I would have some wacky curl pattern but I figured if I didn’t like my natural hair that I could always relax it again. After transitioning for about nine months, using roller sets the entire time, I cut the relaxed ends off and was completely natural. I played around with several styles until I found a few that were low maintenance and really cute. I save lots of money on products. I recommend finding products that work well with your hair and stick to them. All natural shea butter and olive oil are staple products that I use in my hair regularly, but everyone’s hair is different. Personally, I feel that natural hair is more versatile and it feels healthier, grows like crazy and I enjoy not looking like everyone else. Initially, going natural has days when it gets really frustrating and you may want to give up and just go grab that box of “creamy crack” but just stick with it. After all of the transitioning and experimenting I have grown attached to my natural hair and I can’t imagine relapsing back to relaxed.
You’re a “Natural ”Beauty:
TIPS ON TRANSITIONING TO A NATURAL STYLE BY TAELOR SMITH, SENIOR, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY
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T’S TIME FOR A REVOLUTION! A new hair revolution, that is. Girls who have dealt with the cruel effects of a relaxer are now embracing their natural texture and joining the movement of Naturalistas. With the aid of these helpful tips and interviews, your transition will be much easier too.
Hair Care Regimen
“A common mistake that people make when they are transitioning is assuming that a relaxer instantly goes away, when it doesn’t. Becoming natural is also a lifestyle change and requires a lot of high maintenance. The most important thing with taking care of natural hair is making sure it is shampooed, conditioned, moisturized, and trimmed regularly.”
Buying Products
Having a hair care regimen is very important because it can give your hair health and strength while it is going through this transition. The first step is to learn about your hair. Senior, Morgan Williams, from Morgan Park, gives her testament:
Lots of people waste hundreds of dollars on many expensive hair care products. Affordable drug store buys work just as well, sometimes better. Here’s a list of the top five hair products that many Naturalistas think are worth the investment:
“My last relaxer was in May of 2006. I decided to go natural because of my mom and grandma. They had sister locks and I thought those were really cute so I decided to get them. If I could offer ‘transitioners’ any advice, I would say be patient because it’s a process. Don’t be afraid to try new styles, like dread locks. If I could do it all over, I would have never gotten a relaxer.”
1. Coconut Oil - $4.95 2. Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier - $7.00 3. Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner - $7.95 4. Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner - $5.00 5. Alaffia Virgin Coconut & Shea Enriching Hair Lotion - $8.95
Dont’s of Natural Hair Care
Because people believe they already know what to do when it comes to taking care of natural hair, they make common mistakes that can cause more harm than good. To avoid these mistakes, hair care specialist, Davita Jai, offers this advice:
Don’t be ashamed of who you are and don’t be ashamed of the hair that you have. Wearing your natural hair is a beautiful thing and should be embraced. Move forward with this process and never look back. It will definitely be worth it in the end. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 43
YOUNG LUV PHOTO BY NOLAN MUHUMMAD
Date Rape:
It Could Happen To Anyone BY CARLA GIPSON, SENIOR, MORGAN PARK
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n the spring of 2011 Maxine Jackson, 17, went to a party that was said to be “the party of the year.” While there, Jackson met who she thought was her ideal guy. She pursued a friendly relationship with him; but the friendship soon became a nightmare for her. On Jackson’s first date with her new acquaintance she was raped. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, statistics show that there’s a woman raped every two minutes. Like Jackson, 84 percent of those victims knew their perpetrator, and 54% were between the ages of 14-17. Jackson was encouraged to come forward after telling her best friend what happened. “In a way I felt like it was my fault because I think I should’ve seen it in his personality and looked for signs or something,” said Jackson who admits to have fallen into a deep depression. “I was carless as to whom I could trust. Mentally I was unstable at first but now, I guess I’ve learned to cope with it better because I’ve had help with dealing with the fact that I was raped.” Napatia Tronshaw, a Chicago therapist who specialized in sexual abuse, says that, “Mentally, dealing with rape is always hard. It can take a lot out of a person in terms of their sanity. There are people, like me, there to help you talk about it and mentally cope with it.” Getting a professional’s help is the best way to approach this type of situation because even though he or she may not personally know you, they can help you cope emotionally. 44 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
One thing Jackson believes that she did right was to tell someone what happened to her. “I waited a long time to tell my mom and the police. I was scared about what they’d think of me and wondered if they would even believe me. I’d tell anyone who has been raped to tell immediately despite what they may feel, so their perp can be found and convicted.” Jackson’s rapist was ordered to serve a 4-year jail sentence and must register as a sex offender. IT’S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO SPOT A PREDATOR, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN DATING: *START BY FINDING OUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THIS PERSON; QUESTION MUTUAL FRIENDS AND SEARCH ONLINE. *IF YOU DON’T KNOW SOMEONE WELL CONSIDER DOUBLE DATING. *AVOID TAKING DRUGS OR DRINKING ALCOHOL. THEY DECREASE YOUR ABILITY TO REACT QUICKLY. *LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS. IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME REASON CALMLY REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THE SITUATION. For more information on date rape precautions visit: www.teengrowth.com. *The name has been changed to protect the identity.
The Day AFTER BY CAMILLE COTTON, JUNIOR, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
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ou like her and she likes you. After lots of flirting an intimate act takes place. But instead of a happy ever after ending the two of you never speak again because of the awkwardness that occurred after having sex. Is there anything a guy can do to avoid this stage? Jacobi Cage, a junior of Morgan Park High School, said one of his sexual encounters became awkward because he wasn’t in a relationship with his partner at the time. He saw her as just a friend, but she was expecting a longterm relationship. Cage explained that after sex, his friend was too clingy and wanted kisses and hugs, which he felt was unnecessary. Cage believes, “It’s normal to feel awkward after sex because [for a guy sex is] the ultimate peak or prize. After it’s given away there’s no use to stick around because the challenge is over.” Relationship expert, Junice Rockmond, explains the difference in male and female emotions after sex. “In many cases, women tend to get more emotionally attached after sex. While many men, can remain disconnected emotionally, but still enjoy sexual intimacy.”
“ [FOR A GUY SEX IS] THE ULTIMATE PEAK OR PRIZE. AFTER IT’S GIVEN AWAY THERE’S NO USE TO STICK AROUND BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE IS OVER.” When taking a serious step toward intimacy the first step should be communication between you and your partner. Cage stated before intercourse he assured his partner she didn’t have to have sex with him if she wasn’t ready. But what he failed to do was talk about what would happen afterwards. Cage said, “[Afterwards] I realized we couldn’t be friends with benefits because she would call me hoping to be in a relationship. I answered, but I was resistant towards her. I should’ve told her what my intentions were afterwards, but I let her figure it out on her own. I stopped replying to her messages, phone calls, and avoided confrontation.” If you prefer there be a happy ever after between you and your partner Rockmond suggests that males as well as females talk first and act later. “One way to avoid ‘awkwardness after sex’ is to discuss your expectations with your partner. None of us are mind readers, so expressing what we need in each of our lives is essential.” TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 45
PHOTO BY AUDRIENNA RAMSEY, JUNIOR, JONES COLLEGE PREP
Forcing a Relationship
That Won’t Work BY BRITTNEY MCCLENDONE, SENIOR, SIMEON CAREER ACADEMY
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any people hold on to a relationship that is unhealthy partly because they fail to realize what is making the relationship go under. For those who just can’t seem to walk away ask yourself this: What caused you to want to end the relationship in the first place? Was there a communication problem? Was the union causing an emotional strain on the both of you? By answering these questions you could be closer to finding out whether the relationship is worth pursuing again. If you’re honest with yourself you’ll know right away if the relationship is doomed and should be left alone. Sometimes people don’t realize that by forcing love the results will only hurt them or their mate in the end. Dr. Amy Johnson, a Chicago relationship expert says “A forced relationship isn’t a real relationship. There is little honesty, real intimacy or closeness because both parties are acting out roles they believe will ‘make things work’ rather than being themselves.” 46 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Marquis Rowser, A CPS junior, recalls how a forced relationship can feel saying, “It’s an uneasy feeling because you know something isn’t right. Even if you convince yourself it’s real, your heart knows it’s forced. It hurts so much because you know the relationship is not a happy one, but you wish it was, and wish you could make it right.” Some say listen to your heart, but a sad reality is that the heart can be treacherous. It’s wise not to make a decision based on too much emotion; instead aim for the logical, sensible approach. So, before making that final decision to recommit with your ex ask yourself if you’re forcing the situation. Dr. Johnson offers this advice, “Dating is all about trying different people on until you find a good fit. There’s no need to force anything, because forcing things are never good for the relationship in the end.”
CPS Sports Camps
ON THE COURT
BY KHALIL BECKWITH, SENIOR, KING COLLEGE PREP WITH REPORTING BY MICHAEL WALTON & MCKINLEY NELSON
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here’s an odd, but not completely unexpected sense of informality at King’s Girls Volleyball Summer Camp. It’s not unexpected because it’s a sport with a devoted following (on the girls’ side, mostly). However, it’s odd due to it being so casual. The camp is comprised mostly of members of the school’s actual volleyball team, a group that won most of its games last year, so you’d think they would have an exercise regimen in place. “They’ll have a routine once they start practice on August 8,” says Coach Johnathan Dirkans. For now, they’ll have to work hard to compensate for the entire team’s relative inexperience. Dirkans states that the team is “looking to win, but we’re rough. We’re still young.” He’s referring to the fact that the seniors, the most experienced players, have graduated out of King. Last year, they were able to succeed in making it to the state competition.
King isn’t the only CPS school with a summer sports camp. Schools such as Simeon, Harlan, Dunbar, O’Keefe, Bowen, and Gary all house camps during the summer, where a variety of sports are represented. Smyth Elementary School, for instance, runs a popular -- and serious -- basketball camp. Not only do they teach the basics, but they impart the game’s intricate details such as ball screens and post moves. Head Basketball Coach Syvell Loury has kids from 1st grade to 8th working hard four days a week at developing skills. After the 5-week program is finished, the students will have developed some major strengths. That skill development is also present at King, where the amateur players and the more competitive ones mix. The camp’s biggest strength, then, is the faith the group has in itself; not unlike every CPS Sports Camp as they prepare themselves for the school season. When that time approaches, all of the students participating in CPS Sports Camps, be it basketball, volleyball, soccer or cheerleading will have benefited greatly. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 47
2012-13 CHICAGO BULLS
TRUE STAR PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT ON: Derrick Rose BY CORNELL JACKSON, JUNIOR, FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOL
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he biggest question going into this season for the Chicago Bulls is “When will Derrick Rose be ready to play?” Since Rose is the face of the franchise, every Chicago Bulls fan was heartbroken after seeing him suffer the way he did when he went down with the groin and ACL injury. With the loss of Rose throughout the playoffs, it became very apparent of how important he really is to the team. Chicago anxiously waits to find out the moves that the management will make with Rose. True Star was able to get an inside scoop while interviewing Bulls assistant coach Ron Adams. “Derrick is chomping at the bit now,” Adams said. “He will be back on the floor soon. Once he finishes rehab, that knee will be stronger than before.” He also went on to say, “The pressure is on for a premier player such as Derrick to return. A good well thought out decision will be made by all parties regarding Derrick.” From recently watching some highlights of Rose’s 2011 MVP season, I am only full of hope for his speedy recovery.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Marquis Teague BY MCKINLEY NELSON, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY YOUNG
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n Marquis Teague’s first professional game, he didn’t perform as well as people hoped. In 30 minutes of play against the Rockets, the rookie guard from Kentucky missed 13 of 17 shots and committed six turnovers with only one assist. Although Derrick Rose didn’t play well in his first game, (10 points on 3 of 8 shooting, with more turnovers than assists), he didn’t shoot nearly as much as Teague. 48 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
That’s a big difference, but there are some similarities in the two phenomenal point guards. Both played under John Calipari for one year, both can penetrate, dish, and create shots off the dribble, both can beat defenders with their quickness and handles and can flat out shoot, but are they comparable? There are a lot of guards who can do what Rose does, just not as efficiently. Rose takes a lot of shots, but he also nails them. Teague on the other hand misses a lot more than he makes, but the accuracy will hopefully improve with time. As college freshmen, Teague averaged 10 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.7 turnovers per game. Rose averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.6 turnovers. Teague isn’t the next Derrick Rose, but hopefully for the Bulls and their fans, he can play his role and exceed expectations. After this past NBA season, I’m surprised that the Chicago Bulls don’t offer medical insurance for season ticket holders. After losing Rose in the playoffs to a torn ACL and Noah and Rip to other injuries, most Bulls left the season with the thought that the worst had already come. Boy, were we wrong. Shortly after Miami received their rings, we lost Korver to Atlanta’s Hawks and failed to resign Brewer and Watson. Now I admit, trading Hot Sauce, was pure not sauce. But getting Hinrich back could actually be the key to our return. With Rose out, this will be a very interesting season, but keep reading for more details, in depth arguments and exclusive interviews.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The Core BY MICHAEL WALTON II, FRESHMAN, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
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or the upcoming NBA season, Bulls fans are (justifiably) freaking out over the loss of once dominant point guard Derrick Rose. Still, they should take solace in the fact that the team’s dominant frontcourt will be returning. The Bulls have had the best record in the NBA two seasons in a row not just because of Rose’s scoring, but also because they have been the top rebounding team in the NBA. The loss of backup center Omer Asik hurts the team quite a bit, but Deng, Boozer, and Noah form a frontcourt that, while not Bird-McHale-Parish, is still effective.
Within this one step, the coaches did a ranking of all of the free agents within the free agency; they then hand in opinions and discuss them within the coaching staff. But, like I said before, this is only one step. Thibodaux then meets with upper management and basketball operations, and “they determine for the most part, jointly, what player [they] would pick...or which player [they] would trade for whatever else, whatever the circumstances. That’s kind of how it works; [they] try to arrive at some sort of unity about the choice.” Worried yet? Oh, no… You shouldn’t be. Coach Adams continues to share the important variable and factors that go into building the team, that we as the fans aren’t always exposed to, or don’t even think about. Financial restrictions and differences of opinion on who can and who can’t play apparently leave the team with “healthy dialogue,” accorded to Adams.
The addition of Chicago-native Nazr Mohammed should help a little with the loss of Asik, though the biggest question mark for the Bulls this season will be Taj Gibson and his ability to lead the second unit. The NBA will be sure to underestimate the Bulls due to the absence of Rose, however the frontcourt will carry the team through this season. Joakim Noah said it best: “Right now, people are sleeping on us, and we’re all right with that. We know at the end of the day, come playoff time, we’ll be ready to go.”
Yes, Korver’s 3-point shooting was key, but Brewer’s defense was “very effective” as “many times, we finished games with our bench and not our starters.” Adams goes on to compare this past season’s Chicago Bulls, to the team of our beloved Chicago Blackhawks, after their championship season “where they had a fantastic team, and because of [cap] restrictions, had to let go of a number of significant players.” Although we did not win a championship last year, Adams assures us that with the new salary cap agreement, some pressure was put on [them] to make decisions for the future. Adams also assures us that Hinrich’s return and players like Asik, Deng and Noah will step up and that they will not let us down. We see red, of course, but this year, will it be in our own defeat?
SPOTLIGHT ON: Kirk Hinrich
SPOTLIGHT ON: The Bench Mob
BY AHMAD GARNER, JUNIOR, KING COLLEGE PREP
BY SUBRIA WHITAKER, FRESHMAN, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
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he Sioux City, IA, native isn’t the hometown hero, but Chicagoans are definitely excited to have Captain Kirk back in a Bulls uniform. His two-year absence hasn’t really hurt us, but it’s always pleasant to see a familiar face in a room of unknown people. Just as we’re thrilled to have Kirk back, so is he and the team’s front office. While the season is slowly approaching, Hinrich is preparing for the long journey ahead. Bulls assistant coach Ron Adams, who worked with Hinrich from 2003 to 2008, is looking forward to having Kirk’s defensive presence on the court. Although we all know he is worth more than a few steals, his role on the team might not be as colossal as we expect.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Ron Adams BY SUBRIA WHITAKER, FRESHMAN, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
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he Bulls are playing the only competition we see: The Heat, we’re down in the fourth and our starters are completely beat. Now, I’m sure fans of other teams caught in this situation would probably be freaking out at this point, but uh, hello – the Chicago Bulls have the Bench Mob!
nyone wonder how some of our favorite Bulls players that we’ve come to love and cherish are no longer in our vision to “see red”? Well I’ve come up with a theory, and in this theory, the Bulls office downtown has a large red phone only used in case of trading emergencies – and this quarter – their phone bill is off the hook!
Oops, I mean, Chicago had the Bench Mob. Honestly, it’s our duty as fans to stay true to our team through it all, but what are we without the Bench Mob? The point of a bench mob, meant that in case of an emergency, also known as when our top five starters can’t perform, we have an extra set of five men that can keep the tempo going and even lead us to the breakaway we so desperately need. That’s pretty much the Bulls’ daily game situation, so now what?
Luckily, Bulls fans can find both answers and a super hero in Defensive Coach Ron Adams. It’s okay, the question on how exactly the franchise managed to trade say, I don’t know, half of our team, has been answered. According to Coach Adams, “Tom Thibodaux, the head coach, gets the opinion of the assistant coaches on players.”
Even outside of the playing and the game, we as fans fell in love with the Bench Mob. They had nicknames, inside jokes with Stacey King and paraphernalia for crying out loud! The Bulls and the fans together were more than just a franchise and the costumers, but we were a family as well. I guess every generation has its time and change of players, and I guess our world really did end in 2012. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 49
The Allure of the DUNK IN BASKETBALL BY MICHAEL WALTON II, SENIOR, WALTER PAYTON COLLEGE PREP
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he slam dunk is a shot that has been around for a long time in the sport of basketball, but its origins are cloudy. According to ESPN.com, Georgeann Wells dunked in 1984, shocking the basketball world. The men’s game is a little bit harder to trace; most would credit center Bob Kurland. Kurland was the first man to dunk regularly in the game. At seven feet tall, he held an advantage over most players, and dunked for convenience more than flash. The dunk wasn’t an important part of basketball until the introduction of “Dr. J” Julius Erving. According to nbahoopsonline.com, in 1971 the lesser-known ABA (American Basketball Association) signed an athlete to the Virginia Squires named Julius Erving. Erving changed the game forever by dunking with flair. Dr. J added cradles, pumps, and even behind-the-back tricks to his dunks. Dr. J didn’t dunk for convenience; he dunked because he felt it was an art form. Five years later, the ABA introduced the Slam Dunk Contest, which put an emphasis on impressive dunks that were never-before-seen. Eventually the NBA (National Basketball Association) and ABA merged and Dr. J was finally a household name. In the 1984 NBA All-Star game, the Slam Dunk Contest was reintroduced and fans became infatuated with the “slam dunk.” In 1985, the NBA All-Star weekend was at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Slam Dunk Contest final was between Dominique Wilkins and a second-year player named Michael Jordan. Many regard this as the greatest dunk contest of all-time, as the soon-to-be household name Jordan excited fans with dunks they never knew possible. Jordan quickly gathered a following and even came out with his own shoes that eventually became the hottest product on the market. Jordan and his dunks marketability have stretched into modern times and even greatly influenced the teens today. If you look up highlights for the top three high school basketball players in the nation, you will likely see an assortment of impressive dunks and ridiculous athletic ability. This gets stuck into the heads of teens, and many young athletes feel that ferocious dunks are the only way to be noticed by scouts, forgetting to place an emphasis on fundamentals. 50 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Senior Perry Howell is a forward for the Walter Payton College Prep basketball team and started to dunk in his sophomore year. When asked why he dunks, Howell states, “Dunking just shows your skill level. I do it to pretty much say: I can dunk, you can’t.” While the dunk is appealing to athletes, it is even more appealing to non-athletes. Walter Payton College Prep senior Edwin Mendez says, “I’d love to be able to dunk because it is so hard. Not just anyone can dunk, especially over another person.” Kids in today’s society would rather dunk than hit a baseline jumper or execute a great pass, and who can blame them? The media has placed the dunk everywhere from commercials, to movies, and of course the aforementioned NBA Slam Dunk Contest. John Wooden was a coach known for loving fundamentals and a strong supporter of outlawing the dunk shot. According to digitalsportdaily.com, Wooden stated “I felt it was wrong when it was banned, but since then I’ve seen the wisdom of the ruling. It encourages showing off and it distracts from team play. It also will hurt the development of the big man. If they can’t dunk, they have to develop their skills around the basket, the short hook and jump shots. They won’t shoot as well because they won’t work on it as much.” The “slam dunk” has changed the game greatly from its humble beginnings. The dunk has also had many different views from critics. Over time, you’ve had Hall Of Fame coaches like John Wooden who absolutely hated the dunk, and even went as far as to outlaw dunks by his players because he felt there were to flashy. On the other side of the spectrum, you have people like former University of Houston coach Guy V. Lewis who according to yahoo.com, preferred dunks to anything else because they were “high-percentage shots.” While it is a fact that the dunk will be a part of the game forever as players get more and more athletic, it is important to make sure the dunk is a part of the game and not always the focal point.