VOLUME 70 | ISSUE 4 October 11, 2017
THE TSU HERALD
CREATING CULTURE Black Media | Heartman Collection | Raisin in the Sun | NFL Protesting
UNDER THE COVER
EDITORIAL STAFF Todd Travon Rogers EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paige Hubbard MANAGING EDITOR Nicole Tall EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tasha Poullard Jabari Sherman Brandon Aninipot Kyndra Snoddy Wesley Harris III PHOTOGRAPHERS Mikol Kindle Jr. Kordell Tilley Josie Deese Akayla Harris GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kendrick Davis CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION Tiyosha Turner PUBLICATIONS MANAGER
FOLLOW US instagram.com/thetsuherald facebook.com/thetsuherald twitter.com/thetsuherald
The TSU Herald is published by the students of Texas Southern University. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration. The newspaper is printed biweekly, except during holidays and examination periods.
For additional information, call (713) 313-6710 2
CHECK OUT OUR LAST ISSUE
In our third issue, “LIVING LEGENDS” the TSU Herald highlighted Dr. Thomas Freeman and his many accomplishments on during his time on campus. Our hope with our previous issue was to inspire current students to look more into the history of Texas Southern University. Our belief is that once students connect with the excellence that has been bred on our campus, it will help shape their experience not only as current students, but active alumni and productive members of our growing community.
Send your ideas and comments to:
tsu.heraldeditor@gmail.com and we’ll respond in our next issue. The digital version of “LIVING LEGENDS” is now available at issuu.com
PRESIDENT LANE LEADS
LINKS CHAPTER OPEN
PANEL ON HBCUS IN TEXAS
HBCU INITIATIVE AT TSU
President Austin Lane participated in the 2017 Texas Tribune Festival September 23 in Austin. Lane was part of the Public and Higher Education committee and the panel What HBCUs Mean for Texas. The panel’s consensus was that HBCUs strengthen communities and lift up students and families by enabling educational attainment and opportunity. Lane was joined by Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell, Huston-Tillotson President and CEO Colette Pierce Burnette and State Representative James White. The panel was moderated by Texas Tribune Managing Editor Corrie MacLaggan.
While in Austin, President Lane took the opportunity to meet with the Texas Southern University National Alumni Association Austin Alumni Chapter during their chapter meeting. He shared his top priorities with alumni and upcoming initiatives with alumni including the 90th Anniversary celebration events, homecoming activities, the TSU license plates initiative, the Brick Campaign, and the 2018 Maroon & Gray Affair scheduled for April 28, 2018.
TSU President Austin Lane served as the guest speaker for The Links, Incorporated Missouri City Chapter as they launched their “Links Support HBCUs” initiative. The event was held at TSU’s University Museum. Dr. Lane’s address outlined the University’s recent successes, including increased student enrollment and funding, his top five priorities and the value of a TSU education. Deloris Smith, Missouri City Links founder, and Links member Jarmese Morris spoke about the role TSU played in their professional development.
Bobby Wilson. The Royal Court and other campus royalty were introduced. This year’s Miss Homecoming is Jessica Carter. The ceremony took place in the Student Center.
HBCU BUZZ A FULL RECAP OF CORONATION AND THE WEEK OF HOMECOMING WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT ISSUE RELEASED OCTOBER 25th.
“DAWN OF A NEW REIGN” “The Dawn of a New Reign”, the coronation ceremony of Miss TSU Tramauni Brock and Mister TSU Chad Zeno launched Texas Southern University’s Homecoming 2017 slate of events. Elegance, class and royalty was on display as Brock and Zeno were crowned as Homecoming King and Queen by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Interim Provost Dr.
Mr. TSU Chad Zeno and Miss TSU Tramauni Brock watch from their thrones.
Contributors this Issue
BRANDON ANINIPOT
KYNDRA SNODDY
NICOLE TALL
KORDELL TILLEY
Freshman BRANDON ANINIPOT is a California native majoring in radio, television, and film. He has previous background with the Black Press, contributing to the Oakland Post and is currently filming for a podcast.
KYNDRA SNOODY is a blogger, published author, and freshman continuing her education concentrating in Journalism with aspirations of becoming a Reporter.
NICOLE TALL is a senior in the School of Communications. She contributes to our weekly digital lifestyle news flashes and building the foundation for her personal brand.
KORDELL TILLEY is the TSU Herald’s newest photographer. He has contributed to our digital and print editions as photographer and production assistant during our video interview with Melinda Spaulding.
Photographer
Contributing Writer
Life & Style
Photographer
3
LIFE & STYLE
ARE NEGRO GIRLS GETTING PRETTIER? Students Critique the Narrative About Beauty of Black Women Written by Nicole Tall Editorial Assistant
Black girl magic or Black excellence are terms used as tools of expression to highlight talents within Black culture despite negative stereotypes. No matter the preference just be sure to put emphasis the word Black. People began to take notice to Black women around the 1960s and over time they have evolved and come into their own realm of beauty according to an article from EBONY magazine published in 1966. Women who were once described as having sagging breast, thin legs, and nappy heads are now more aesthetically appealing to the eye. Today Black women are more accepting than ever of their natural hair and melanin marinated skin. “I feel like there are definitely different standards of beauty for women of different colors. That is why black women will almost ruin the condition of their hair to make it bone straight, or bleach their skin to appear a lighter complexion. That is what the world has fed them to believe is beautiful,” Houston resident Angelica Clark said. In 2017, we see problems such as colorism prevails women find themselves subjected to prejudice based on the complexion of their skin. “We have to love ourselves because the world won’t always show you love. If they did, we wouldn’t be talking about how Black women have evolved. Last time I checked, my sisters have been queens since the beginning of time,” junior Dominique Lewis said. 4
ART & CULTURE
The Heartman Collection Archives with New Interactive Museum by Kyndra Snoddy Built on Historic Site Written Contributing Writer UNIVERSITY LIBRARY – There are so many different works of art that pertain to the Black experience that it would be an endless list of names, titles, and documents that would be relatively complex to keep up with. Thankfully, there have been many collectors over the years who have had the passion to preserve the invaluable ingenuity of the past which has become the premise for research today. One collector in particular, Charles F. Heartman, embodied this pursuit. Heartman hailed from Braunschweig, Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1911 after living in London, England. After working as a society reporter for The New York Herald, and later as a janitor, Heartman started volunteering for a book dealer and learned everything he possibly could regarding the book trade. In 1913, he held his first book auction, and his career was catapulted. Throughout his career, Heartman tracked down book stores, auctions, estate sales, etc., searching for uncommon books and manuscripts. His specialty was in rare Americana, which is considered his most significant contribution to the literary world. Heartman’s most famous collections are the African-American or Afro-Americana collection of which only two exist: one is at Xavier University in New Orleans and the other, the largest, is here at Texas Southern University. Texas Southern University is proud to have such a rare assembly and ensures the preservation of the collection which contains over 11,000 books, pamphlets, slave narratives, journals, musical scores, and other documents relating to the black experience in the United States and in the world. TSU acquired this comprehensive original collection directly from Heartman in 1948 for the amount of $20,000. The collection is housed in The Department of Special Collections which is located on the ground floor of the Robert James Terry Library and is looked after by library assistants, Mrs. Ruth Bledsoe and Mrs. Joyce Thomas. It holds published and unpublished materials that require special care and handling. Certain books and documents can be checked out, others cannot and must be utilized inside the building. The type of students who frequent this area of the library varies and depends on the student’s intent whether research or personal enlightenment. No matter the purpose, The Heartman Collection serves as a rich resource for increasing one’s knowledge in African American culture.
Top: Americana manuscript Bottom: Photo of Charles F. Heartman
ROBERT JAMES TERRY LIBRARY The Heartman Collection
Thanks to the Heartman Collection we can enjoy literary works including but not limited to, Edgar Allen Poe, Maya Angelou, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. These works allow us to not only look back, but rather learn and move forward. The Department of Special Collections will continue to purchase books that are culturally, politically and socially landmark works that interpret and preserve the African American experience. The collection now includes over 22,000 volumes. 5
MORE LIFE
Freshmen Rock the House
This year the 70th Student Government Association hosted the 2017 Freshmen Rock the House event on September 28, 2017 in Sawyer Auditorium. The 106 & Park themed show was produced by Aria Johnson, SGA Internal Vice-President. Photos by Kordell Tilley
Lane Meets with Black Press
On Tuesday, October 3, 2017 the Houston Black media met with Dr. Austin Lane and his administration in Hannah Hall to discuss his vision and potential community partnerships. Photos by Kordell Tilley
From top to bottomt: Organizations introduced their music video presentation is to a large live audience in segments named after the popular BET countdown show, School of Communications students Paige Hubbard (left) and Wesley Harris (right) collaborated as a hosting duo.
From top to bottomt: University president Dr. Austin Lane addresses Houston Black press during breakfast in Hannah Hall, Lane with Black Press representatives including the TSU Herald staff, Todd Rogers; TSU Herald editor, Dr. Austin Lane; University president, and Nicole Tall; Associate editor. 6
ENTERTAINMENT
A Raisin in the Sun Review Written by Tasha Poullard Contributing Writer
OLLINGTON SMITH PLAYHOUSE – The Texas Southern University (TSU) Theater Department does it again! Under the direction of Dr. Dianne Jemison Pollard, Lorraine Hansberry’s Pulitzer Prize winning play A Raisin in the Sun has drawn audiences into its emotional web.
sion of Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. The play takes place following the life $10,000 insurance payout awarded to the family following its patriarch’s death.
From the set design, lighting and sound to the powerful performances and impactful dialog that takes the audience back to the 1950s – university spectators rave after each performance to include a standing ovation for the portrayal of Hansberry’s iconic Black family.
Walter Lee (played by Anthony August), Ruth Younger (played by Micah MacDonald) and their son Travis (played by Donovan Hearne) along with Mama Lena Younger (played by Regina Hearne) and Walter’s sister Beneatha (played by Troysha Giggins) reside in a dilapidated two-bedroom apartment on the Chicago’s South Side.
A Raisin in The Sun is a Broadway hit named best play by the New York Drama Critic’s Circle in 1959. The title of the play comes from the poem “Harlem” also known as “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes. The plot follows the struggling life and times of a poor black family’s quest to better themselves while living the Washington Park subdivi-
When Walter finds it difficult to make a decent living as a limousine driver and wants to do more than just provide a content life for Ruth and his family, he plans to invest in a small business venture with Willy Harris and Bobo (played by Wesley Johnson), two of Walter’s street-smart acquaintances. The sense of entitlement harbored by Walter and his
Walter (August) makes an emotional plea with Mama Lena (Hearne).
sister Beneatha over the insurance money leaves Mama at odds when trying to decide the best options regarding the family’s next investment. She is torn between paying for Beneatha’s college tuition, assisting Walter with his business ventures, and moving her family out of Woodlawn and into a nicer home. Subplots include Beneatha’s love life as she juggles between the sensual advances of the rich George Murchison (played by John Cochran) and the African warrior for truth and honor, Joseph Asagai (played by Emmanuel Edwards). Cochran is suave in his role as the fully assimilated Black man while Edwards portrays Asagai as humble and wise. The climax occurs when Walter Lee’s quest for wealth and lust for money leads him down a winding path that not only costs him his marriage to Ruth, but his better judgement. As a shady business deal goes south, Walter loses his fam-
ily’s small fortune and leaves them in emotional disarray. This play is an emotional rollercoaster chronicling the lives of those who are doing what they can to get by in life and find a way to live the American dream. Hansberry’s work provides an accurate and realistic depiction that is relatable to most who reside in urban dwellings. A Raisin in the Sun demonstrates just how easy it is to become stuck and scared to take risks, or gamble on success. HARLEM (1951) What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? - Langston Hughes
Beneatha (Giggins) and Asagai (Edwards) discuss education for Black students.
7
TIGER CLASSIFIEDS
DATES TO REMEMBER HOMECOMING WEEK 2017 TIGER DYNASTY October 9-14, 2017 HOMECOMING HUMPDAY October 11, 2017 NOON Tigerwalk COMEDY SHOW October 11, 2017 8pm HPE BLOCK PARTY October 12, 2017 8PM Towers YARDFEST October 13, 2017 10AM University Plaza GREEK SHOW October 13, 2017 7PM Sawyer OVERNIGHT TAILGATE October 13, 2017 PARADE October 14, 2017 HOMECOMING GAME October 14, 2017 VETERANS DAY Campus-wide Holiday November 10, 2017 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY November 23-25, 2017
TALK ON THE WALK IS SEARCHING FOR HOSTS HIGH-ENERGY CHARISMATIC CAMERA FRIENDLY Contact Tyler Doggett tydoggetttsu@gmail.com
OPULENCE
Goddess Brows
WHIPPED LASHED BY V Licensed Lash Technician
Microblading
SPECIAL PRICING FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
SUBMIT YOUR 20 QUESTIONS NOW to the TSU HERALD
Photo g r aph e r ? The Office of Publications is looking for freelancers.