2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

2

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

3To All My Nubian Brothers and Sisters

“What’s Up?”

Kierra LeggettCurrent Editor-in-Chief

Tony Williamson Founding Editor-in-Chief

Originally published

Nov. 30, 1992

By: Tony Williamson

I am proud to present to you the

first issue of the Nubian Message,

NCSU’s first African-American

newspaper. It’s been a long time coming,

but we’re finally here and yes, we’re here

to stay!

Despite the enthusiasm most of us

have regarding the newspaper, there are

many people, all different racial groups,

who either do not understand the purpose

of the newspaper, or are simply totally

against it. Realizing that we can’t please

everyone (nor will we ever attempt to), I

hope that I can reach some of these

people by explaining briefly the

reasons for

creating and the

purposes of the

Nubian Mes-

sage.

As many people

know, African American stu-

dents across the country have

been speaking out against what

we feel to be unfair conditions

on our campuses. At N.C. State,

one of our main concerns has

been unfair and unjust media

coverage of the African Ameri-

can community on this campus.

As hard as we have tried, our

cries for justice have not been

heard and our proposed

solutions to our media problems have not

been accepted thus far. Rather than sit

around and wait for some fair coverage by

that other paper on campus, the Nubian

Message has been created to represent the

African American com-

munity at NCSU totally,

truthfully, and faithfully.

In doing so, we shall cover

every aspect of African-

American life at NCSU.

The vision I have

for this news-

paper,

which is

shared by everyone involved with it, is am-

bitious, but not unrealistic. The Nubian

Message should and will be the media

voice for African –Americans at N.C. State.

It will be a publication in which people can

learn about different aspects of our culture,

as well as find useful information about

State’s campus. With the concentrated ef-

forts of our people, this vision can become

a reality very soon.

Finallly, it is important that

every one realize that this

newspaper is not a racist

publication. We are

not seeking supe-

riority, nor

segre-

gation; all we want is an equal voice on

this campus and with the Nubian

Message, the door is open for us

to have that voice.

I n 1992, Tony Williamson set

out to create a newspaper that

would provide Afrikan-American

students at N.C. State with an outlet to have their

voices heard. Twenty years later, I am proud to say that I

have had a stake in helping to keep both that outlet and Tony’s

legacy alive.

During the six months that I have spent as editor of this publica-

tion, the Nubian Message has managed to secure a special place in my

heart. Though there are many sleepless nights, stressful days and countless

hours spent preparing this paper each week, it remains for me, a labor of love.

In 1992, the greatest challenge surrounding Tony, the Nubian Message staff and

Afrikan-American students at N.C. State was proving to the rest of the campus that

there was a need for the Nubian Message, I think the greatest challenge now, lies in

proving not only to the greater campus but also the African-American students at

this university that there is still, very much a need for the Nubian Message.

When this newspaper was founded, it served as a uniting force for the Afrikan-

American students on this campus in their fight against inequality. However,

because we are not presented with blatant discrimination and disrespect the way previous Afrikan-American students

were, the current Afrikan-American student body of N.C. State has become apathetic toward the Nubian Message

and perhaps even worse, the idea of black unity on our campus.

Unlike Tony Williamson and black students on N.C. State’s campus during the early 90s,

we passively allow things to happen and when incidents do occur, much like the hate speech found

in the Free Expression Tunnel in October, we take a reactive stance, most of the time only expressing

our discontent on Facebook and Twitter.

Afrikan-American students have become so comfortable on this campus that the idea of the Nubian Message

being dissolved into only a weekly section of the Technician doesn’t even cause them to flinch.

To all of those students, I ask, had it not been for Tony Williamson and the founding Nubian Message staff would your

position on this campus be as comfortable?

By: Kierra Leggett

Multicultural Student Affairs would like to wish Nubian Message a very happy 20th Anniversary!

The Nubian Message

Look for the Symposium Edition on stands

1st Nubian Message issue August 22nd

Nubian Messagewww.thenubianmessage.com

919.515.2411

Best wishes on your continued success!

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of the Nubian Message.Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan: Dr. John Henrik Clark: Dr. Leonard Jeffries: The Black Panther Party: Mumia A.

Jamal: Geronimo Pratt: Tony Williamson: Dr. Lawrence Clark: Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon: Dr. Wandra P. Hill: Mr. Kyran Anderson: Dr. Lathan Turner: Dr. M. Iyailu Moses: Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who

accompany us as we are STILL on the journey to true consciousness.

KIERRA LEGGETT EDITOR - IN - CHIEF

DEERRICKA GREENMANAGING EDITOR

STAFF WRITERS

RYAN BARNES TORISHIA DOZIER CHELSEA GARDNER TRAVIS GATLING AUSTIN GREEN RACHEL JORDAN

CHRISTOPHER LYNN SEHDIA MANSARAY ROBERT MARSHALL

DESTINY MCNEILSHAWN MURRAYDEJA WILLIAMS KALI SCURLOCK

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

4

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

51889

1953

1960

1967

1970

1988

1991

Nubian Message starts publication

1956

1957

1958

1962

1966

1969

1973

1974

1975

1990

Former enslaved African-American begins 50 year career at university

First African-American graduate students admi ed

First Afrcian-American undergraduate degree conferred

First African-American football player

African American Cultural CenterNC State fails to comply w ith Civil Rights Act of 1964

New African American Cultural center

NC State recognizes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

African-American Cultural Center opens

First African-American undergraduate students admi ed

First African-American graduate

First African-American academic sta� member

First-Americcan American faculty member

First female African-American undergraduates degree recipient

March to support African American employees

First African American Miss NCSU

First feamle African American Ph.D recipient

A� rmative Action plan acceptedNC State hires Dr, Law rence M, Clark

First African-American sorority

Students march against racism

Brain Nixon a acked

1992First African-American Dean

1995Student Center Annex named for Dr. Augustus Witherspoon1998

Students rally in support of A� rmative Action

2005Student chapter of NAACP re-forms

2006First African-American head basketball coach

2008Racist grafi i directed at Obama

2010Racial epithets painted in Freedom Exprerssion Tunnel

2012Nubian Message 20th Anniversary

Red ,

& BlackTour Map

to student protests alleging racial bias by the Technician. Tony Williamson served as the new

Williamson stated his intention to "totally, truthfully, and faithfully…cover every aspect of African

Nubian Message become "the media voice for African Americans at NC State…a publication

about State’s campus."

“

“YOU ARE HERETHE BRICKYARD

Red , White & BlackApp

Obama Got His Second Term, Now Give Me My 40 Acres and a Mule

Does President Obama Owe Black America?

With a second presidency

under his belt, some

Afrikan-Americans believe

Barack Obama owes his re-election to

them, rather than his own merit. With

about 16 million registered Afrikan-

American voters, and roughly 93 percent

of them voting Democratic, does he really

owe the Presidency to blacks?

Back in 2008, when Obama first got

elected, I was the first one jokingly saying,

"Now, give me my 40 acres and a mule

!" As a sixteen-year-old, non-registered

voter at the time, I did not have the right

to be peaking on reparations. While I no

longer feel this way, it seems some Black

Panther leaders do. According the New

Black Panther Party Chairman, Malik

Zulu Shabazz, the Panthers "delivered"

Obama into office and Obama "owes" the

Black Panthers "some favors."

Along with those great radical leaders

of the New Black

Panther Party is

Ricky Donnell Ross,

better known as

Freeway Rick Ross, a

former drug lord who

feels the same. With

his ears to the street,

Ross says that Obama

"energized the

streets to take part

in politics, leading

gang members, drug

dealers, and hip-hop

stars to turn out at the polls." With such a

great turn out, Ross wants to see more ac-

tion from Obama for Afrikan-Americans

in his second term.

Black America deserves to be a

primary focus in this term with targeted

social and economic programs in their

communities, though this is not to say the

President should solely focus on Afrikan-

Americans. Gary Younge of the Guard-

ian newspaper shares similar sentiment

saying, " Obama should do more for black

people – not because he is black but be-

cause black people are the citizens suffer-

ing most. Black people have every right to

make demands on Obama – not because

they’re black but because they gave him a

greater percentage of their votes than any

other group, and he owes his presidency

to them. Like any president, he should

be constantly pressured to put the issue

of racial injustice front and center and

if black people aren’t going to apply that

pressure then nobody else will."

Afrikan-Americans are not the only

minority group staking their claim in

Obama's win. There are many Latinos

who say their votes put Obama over the

top. More than 70 percent of the Hispanic

population voted Democratic in this elec-

tion. With more than 93 and 71 percent

support of groups that occupy 13 and

16 percent of Amerikkka respectively,

I'm not so sure Barack Obama owes us

anything. Sure 16 million Afrikan-Amer-

icans and 12 million Hispanics voted for

Obama, but 28 million does not equal the

60 million total votes he received.

President Obama made a staggeringly

accurate prediction during the presiden-

tial race saying, "Should I win a second

term...a big reason I will win a second

term is, because the Republican nominee

and the Republican Party have so alien-

ated the fastest-growing demographic

group in the country, the Latino commu-

nity." Many voters, in the Latino Deci-

sions poll, said the critical concerns in

this election were the economy and jobs.

35 percent of these voters specified im-

migration reform as their main concern.

Eliseo Medina, secretary-treasurer of the

Service Employees International Union,

said Latino voters had a message for

Obama, "We expect leadership on com-

prehensive immigration reform in 2013.

To both sides we say, 'No more excuses.'"

Instead of looking for what Obama

can do for us, we should also be asking

what can we, as Americans do for him?

Being first at anything is difficult. Though

we sarcastically say Bill Clinton was our

first black President, Barack Obama is our

actual first Black President, who faces im-

mense pressure on a regular basis. Being

first, carries the weight of everyone before

it. Obama is shouldering the aspirations

and dreams of all of our ancestors, who

fought and died for us. Not only that, he

took on the remnants of the Bush Admin-

istration, which left the economy in the

worst state since the Great Depression of

1929. More than 800,000 jobs were lost

during his presidency.

During Obama’s first year as President,

the American Recovery and Reinvest-

ment Act generated and stabilized 2.1

million jobs, boosting the economy by 3.5

percent. Also, in the 2008-09 academic

year, Pell Grant consumption was about

$18 billion; in 2011-12, Obama doubled

it to $36 billion. Sponsored by the U.S.

Department of Education, the Pell Grant

Program provides need-based financial

aid to college students.

With Obama saying recently that "we

need to seize the moment" and tackle

the issue of immigration, he is taking his

second term with full force.

With Afrikan-American undergradu-

ate enrollment percentages rising to 14

percent and Latino undergraduate enroll-

ment rising to 13 percent in 2010, as well

as Afrikan-American unemployment fall-

ing 1.4 percent and .7 percent for Latinos

from August to September, I think we

may owe Obama something.

So, you can keep your 40 acres and a

mule, I’ll take my second four years of the

presidential workhorse.

WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 12 | 2008

inside thisedition

Students discuss possi-ble action plans for in response to the Free Expression Tunnel in-

cident

NUBIAN MESSAGESENTINEL OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT NC STATE SINCE 1992 ISSUE 9 WWW.NCSU.EDU/NUBIAN

Kishea Phillips | Editor-in-Chief

November 4th marked a monumental event in our nation’s history when Barack Obama became the first African-American elected into the presidential office. Although this feat alone made national head-lines, perhaps the greatest significance is the impact the win had on not just African-Americans, but mi-nority citizens of this country as a whole.

“It was breathtaking, I’m still stunned” said Jerry Bettis a senior in chemistry. “It’s all attainable. You

truly can be whatever you want to be ” he said. Even though there is no statement in our country’s

constitution that says otherwise, societal pressures and invisible racial boundaries existed, that kept any-one but Caucasian men from the presidential seat. Obama’s win signified that a system, that seemed to have been put in place to keep minorities from pros-pering in the U.S., is beginning to crumble, and our nation is uniting. Or is it?

Early Wednesday morning, words that threatened the president-elect’s life along with other racist and

threatening messages were found spray painted in black in the Free Expression Tunnel. The comments caused an outcry by students and staff on campus, blurring the lines of what is considered free speech, hate speech, and speech that is criminal. The mes-sages pushed the University to clarify the difference between the three without compromising the safety and respect of the student body. All over campus, students expressed their feelings about the incident, meeting formally in organized sessions, spontane-ously in brickyard debates or Atrium discussions over lunch.

Students found out Thursday that the four students responsible for the messages would not be charged and their names would not be released.

“It’s a hate crime, it’s messed up. The First Amend-ment isn’t exactly what it says; it has limits like every-thing else” said Charles Woelfel a senior in computer science.

“It makes you really think said Elana Turner, a freshman in philosophy. What are the cameras in the tunnel there for, if not for things like this?“ The prob-lem needs to be exposed. Whenever a black [person] commits a crime its widely viewed and this is the second time a hate crime has been reported and the culprits don’t face repercussions” said Jasmine Brown a freshman in political science.

“Something has to be done” said Genesis Atkins, a junior in accounting adding what she felt about the students’ words on the tunnel walls as well as other racially charged hate speech she’s heard. “They’re an-gry because they can’t continue to hold people down. People only react out of hate because of fear” she said.

Regardless of race, political views, classification, or any other divisive factor among the student body, the incident motivated students and staff alike to ask

Continued on Pg.2

Now is the Time for ChangeStudents face trumph and challenge after historic election

CHASS suffers budget cutsMallory Richardson | News Writer

The national economic crisis has now begun to affect our students more di-rectly now, due to several budget cuts requested by Governor Mike Easley. Interim Dean of the College of Hu-manities and Social Sciences, Jeffery Braden said, “Bad economic times for the nation and state exempt no one.” In light of the current issues with federal and state debt to the government and other key lending institutions, some outside the United States, all universi-ties operable by any state funding were asked to decrease their budgets by up to 5 percent less of the total appropri-ated funding for the entire academic year. According to Braden, CHASS

was asked to submit a reversion budget rather than merely cutting the funds in-definitely which gives them the oppor-tunity to re-earn the allotted amount for further use at a later date. As a result of the newly suggested budget, admin-istration has frozen new hire positions, current recruitment for position open-ings, the number of CHASS staff, and all faculty travel expenses. “We really have nothing else to cut,” says Dean Braden, when talking about potential other avenues to conserve funds.

The CHASS administration had be-gun asking the specific departments to aid in this effort by potentially cancel-ing their individual commencement exercises, and combine their efforts to just participate in the college’s ceremo-

ny. However, Braden is very doubtful that this request will be implemented by the department. “99.8 percent of the state appropriated money is allocated to personnel on campus, mostly instruc-tional,” said Braden. “Most institutions average between 80 and 90 percent of budgets for personnel,” says Braden, which is further indication that North Carolina’s and NC State’s strategies to retain optimal faculty and staff mem-bers within the university system. The design school has reported a $140,000 cut in funds, while CHASS, which is substantially larger, has had to endure a must larger cut in funds, although no direct figure has been tabulated. Braden said, “CHASS alone is the size of Wake Forest University,” which

shows the large numbers of students that attend N.C. State are humanities students. The urgency of re-budgeting the college’s funds, students, alumni, faculty and staff were not able to aid in an effort to raise money to help support the college; hopefully, CHASS will be more prepared if this happens next school year. “We pay money, to earn money back,” said Braden by focusing on the investment the university com-mits to each student, and their com-mitment to serving a larger community in the future.

Although, no courses have been cut to date, several sections of English and history courses have been removed from the spring course listing.

Continued on Pg.

Barack Obama spent half of his time at the Fair Grounds on Tuesday night answering questions from eager voters.Christopher LynnStaff Writer

Design by: Rachel Jordan

President Obama at NC Central 2007 | Archive Photo

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

6

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

7

IT’S CRAZY LIKE

November 30,2012 11AM-9pmNC STATE BOOKSTORE

A PACK OF SEAGULLS GOING

AFTER AHALF EATENFRENCH FRY

H A R R E L SO N H A L L

Zoe Saldana, Black Enough to Play Nina Simone?

Singer, songwriter, musical visionary, regal,

radical, civil rights activist and Afrikan

American pioneer- all wrapped up into the

woman known fondly as the High Priestess of Soul,

Nina Simone.

Since 2005, talks of a film depicting Simone’s life

have been floating around Hollywood with a script

written by Cynthia Mort, the writer and producer of

such hit shows as Will & Grace and Roseanne.

In 2010, word spread that singer Mary J. Blige was

slated to portray Simone. While the public’s interest was

piqued with this choice, many critics were skeptical as

to whether Blige had the expertise and overall character

to play the dynamo. Alas, the public did not have to

wonder about that for long, as the production ran into

financial problems, forcing a delay in the project for

more than a year. Blige subsequently dropped out of the

film.

This left people to wonder who could play Simone;

bloggers and Simone fans campaigned for actresses

and entertainers that they felt would be more of an

appropriate fit for the role. Names such as Viola Davis,

India Arie, and especially Adepero Oduye, star of the

widely acclaimed film Pariah, were all thrown out as

logical choices.

However, feelings of confusion and outrage bubbled

to the surface when The Hollywood Reporter made the

announcement in August that Zoe Saldana had been

made Mary J. Blige’s replacement.

As cringe-worthy as it is to say that the public’s

backlash stems from the idea that Zoe Saldana is not

“black enough,” despite her Dominican background,

it is true that Simone’s looks were as relevant and

powerful to her influence as her music.

Born in North Carolina, Simone aspired to be

a concert pianist. As a young woman, her musical

dreams were briefly put on hold when she was denied

a scholarship to the prominent Curtis Institute of

Music in Philadelphia, despite an exceptional audition.

She was later told by someone working at Curtis that

she was rejected because she was black.

Simone later cited this as one of the incidents that

contributed to her eventual involvement in the Civil

Rights Movement, especially in her music.

She famously addressed the racial inequality in

America in the song “Mississippi Goddam” (1964),

her response to the murder of Medgar Evers and

the bombing of a church in Birmingham that killed

four black children. She also performed and spoke at

many Civil Rights meetings, such as at the Selma to

Montgomery marches. In contrast to Dr. Martin Luther

Kings non-violent approach, Simone advocated violent

insurgency during the civil rights period, and she

hoped that African-Americans could form a separate

state.  Simone left the United States in the 1970’s,

making roots in Barbados, Liberia, Switzerland and

the Netherlands, before finally settling in France. She

suffered from breast cancer for a number of years (in

addition to being diagnosed with bipolar disorder),

before passing away in her sleep in 2003.

Despite her passing, Simone’s audacious character

and beauty have left a legacy that continues to resonate

with her fans, lifelong and new.

Besides her outspokenness and blatant “bump

society” attitude, Nina Simone’s name is synonymous

with her deep chocolate skin, full lips, wide nose and

tight fro. Throughout her career, Simone overcame

racist remarks and accusations that she did not have

the “right look” to be a star.

While we do live in a world where Ne-Yo claims to

have turned down the chance to play Dr. Martin Luther

King on the big screen because he refused to gain any

extra pounds before the release of a new album, is

it wrong for members of the black community to be

outraged that Hollywood wants to push a Nina Simone

that is fair-skinned, thin-lipped and narrow-nosed?

I guess if you look at Hollywood’s history of

casting black female roles, especially in biopics, this

controversy is not all

that surprising. With

a few exceptions-

Angela Bassett as

Tina Turner and

Halle Berry as

Dorothy Dandridge-

Hollywood has a long

standing history of

shafting the black community by casting white women

in the lead of films based on the lives of black women.

Yet, the Lifetime remake of Steel Magnolias caused

uproar. Alright Hollywood.

Since the announcement of Saldana as the lead in

Nina was made, a petition on Change.org has been

created, which demands that Saldana be replaced.

Supporters of the petition would rather that role go

to Adepero Oduye, India.Arie or Viola Davis. The

petition, however, has been met with criticism.

There are those who support Saldana, like artist

Jill Scott, who says that her “blackness” should not be

defined by the color of her skin or the straightness of

her hair. Scott said to Ebony that she felt “there should

be some work done [on Saldana’s appearance], like a

prosthetic nose…and definitely some darker makeup.”

Is that what a legend like Nina Simone deserves?

Someone of Simone’s influence and presence in the

black community should not have to settle for an

actress with a prosthetic nose and dark makeup. She

deserves an honorable tribute, not a game of dress up.

But the fact that Cynthia Mort initially wanted Mary

J. Blige to undertake the role, and it having been seen

that since Saldana’s replacement, the production’s

financial woes have been resolved, shows that one

thing is pretty clear about this production- the name is

more important than the accurate representation of the

legend.

DeErricka GreenManaging Editor

Simone fans upset with decision to cast Saldana in role

Zoe Saldana

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

8

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

9

The Best Hugger in the World

It has been more than a decade since Toni Harris

Thorpe joined the N.C. State family as program co-

ordinator for the African American Cultural Center.

While her job description does not include it, on a daily

basis Thorpe, or “Mama Thorpe,” a nickname given to her

by students, gleefully greets familiar and unfamiliar faces.

She engulfs every student who walks through the door of

the African American Cultural Center in a genuine and

warm embrace.

Her mission is to ensure that every person feels at home

and welcome in her presence. Because of her sincerity and

compassion,Thorpe is one of the most respected figures

within the N.C State’s African-American community.

Thorpe wasn’t the first “mama” at N.C. State. Dr. Iyailu

Moses, her predecessor, was known as “Mama Ilu.” Before

Thorpe knew it, students began calling her Mama Thorpe.

“I am so honored to have that title,” Thorpe said.

Though the nickname originated in the African-Amer-

ican Cultural Center, Thorpe’s nickname has grown to ex-

tend beyond the walls of the Cultural Center. Not only do

current students call her Mama Thorpe and occasionally

Mother Thorpe, but also alumni, faculty, and staff.

Former Director of Multicultural Student Affairs Felicia

Broussard said, “I think it is pretty obvious that mama is

not a typical title for any faculty member. As a grad student

and employee, I never would’ve referred to anyone that

way. But it is very natural for people to call Toni Thorpe

that, because of her nurturing way. She plays a motherly

role for students and coworkers. There are very few people

that she passes each day and doesn’t hug. It’s symbolic of

who she is. It doesn’t matter if you are a freshman, tenured

faculty member, or grad student – everyone refers to her in

that manner.” According to Broussard, the title is a compli-

ment because it describes what Thorpe means to people.”

“She’s a campus nurturer… and she’s earned that

[title] for who she is,” she said.

Thorpe has impacted the lives of many people at N.C.

State through her mentoring. “I couldn’t be a Mama Thorpe

without [the students],” she said. Thorpe feels that many

people underestimate the power of positive energy. “Some-

times you just need a hug” she said, “and more than that,

I have a responsibility to the best of my ability to help stu-

dents see their leadership potential, the beauty in under-

standing culture and love for life, and an appreciation for

what others have done.”

Sophomore Alexandria Pitts, like many other students,

understands how vital and imperative Thorpe’s role is on

campus. “Mama Thorpe is the type of person that you want

to know as soon as you see her smile, or get a warm hug

from her. It’s something about her spirit that is so nurturing

and motherly. She has a connection with each person she

meets, and it’s a connection you want to always have.”

Senior Tsekai English agrees. As an out-of-state student

she instantly recognized the supportive and encouraging

nature of Thorpe. She said, “Being around Mama Thorpe

makes home seem not so far away…she reminds me of my

own family.” Though Thorpe admits that everyone isn’t

fond of the title and that her relationship with everyone is

not on a Mama Thorpe basis, she still embraces the reputa-

tion in order to empower people to be the best version of

themselves.

“When I think about N.C. State, I see this role as a

mature, nurturing support system. I, by no means, have the

expertise of a counselor. In the role of Mother Thorpe, I

want students to know that they are not successful by them-

selves nor do they fail by themselves. That’s an important

component of understanding how you belong to a com-

munity.”

Thorpe is progressively working to grow in her role as

the community mother. She understands that the role re-

quires selflessness with a balance. She said, “People may

forget what you’re teaching but they’ll never forget how you

treated them.”

Chelsea GardnerStaff Writer As a part of this year’s Homecoming festivities,

N.C. State’s National Pan-Hellenic Council

hosted a stroll off event that featured stepping

from members of Divine Nine Chapters at N.C. State and

the surrounding community. Though it is typically the

first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a Di-

vine Nine Chapter, black Greek organizations do far more

than stroll and step.

On Monday, the Mu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma

Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted its annual Gift Wrapping Party,

with the gifts collected during the event going to the Gar-

ner Road Community Center. As one of the Greek orga-

nizations that makes up NPHC, this program was just one

of the many that Afrikan American Greek organizations

host as a part of their commitment to brotherhood and

sisterhood, scholarship, leadership, and service.

With N.C. State serving as home to seven active chap-

ters of the nine sororities and fraternities that make up

NPHC, Greek life has deep roots in its Afrikan American

community.

The Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Frater-

nity, Inc. was the first NPHC organization to charter on

N.C. State’s campus on April 7th, 1971. Daniel Stradford a

senior majoring in computer engineering is a member of

the Eta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Stradford is

a strong believer in the importance of Greek organizations

on campus. “I think Greek Life is the heart beat of the Af-

rican American community on campus. A lot of what is

expected of minority students is directly related to the

Greek community, and therefore we are held to a higher

standard,” said Stradford.

At N.C. State, 55 percent of Greek organization mem-

bers have a grade point average higher than the average

student body GPA. Ebony Baldwin, a senior majoring in

biochemistry, is a member of the Kappa Omicron Chapter

of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She feels her decision

to pledge AKA was one of the best she could have made.

“Personally since being involved in AKA I have grown

as individual,” said Baldwin. I learned how to be a bet-

ter sister, worker, and leader. I’ve learned that things go

beyond myself.”

While Greek life on campus is extremely important

she still feels that there is room for growth. “Overall I

think Greek life has a positive image on campus, however,

there is always room for improvements. People who are

involved in Greek life are leaders both on campus and in

the classroom,” said Baldwin.

“Work still needs to be done a s far as cohesion and

organization is concerned,” added Stradford, “but overall,

Greeks have shown flashes and more importantly, have

shown improvement towards reaching that full potential

I definitely feel more of a sense of unity between organi-

zations than in the past. It has become a goal for NPHC

organizations to move away from stereotypical norms and

work towards creating a unified bond.”

Deja WilliamsStaff Writer

Greek Life: Service, Scholarship and Strolling

Mrs. Toni Thorpe, Program Coordinator for the African American Cultural Center, gives out hugs at the MLK Service Challenge, which was held on the 24th of January 2009 in the Ballroom in Talley Student Center. | Demi Olubanwo

The Mu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. strolling at the National Pan-Hellenic Stroll Off on Friday Nov. 2, 2012.| Jasmine Jack

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

10

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

11

Nubian Message

Biggest Procrastinators

Most Likely to Dress Up for an eight

o’clock Class

Most Likely to Turn - Up

Chase Johnson &

Funniest Tweeters

Most Likely to be President

Lauryn Collier & Ryan Wilson

Paige Hardy & Joseph McRae

Sean Langston, Altarique Murphy, & Radiance Gibson

Most Likely to Be in D.H. Hill

Chase Johnson & Jewel Wright

Leesa Moore & Savannah Jordan

Qion Toney & Nadia Howard

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

12

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

13

From phrases like “We in there

'doe” to “I'm finna go to work,”

vernacular is a staple in Afrikan

American culture. It defines who we are

whether we want it to or not. Our slang

gives us a certain swagger that can't be

copied, and those who have tried have

failed. We as a community should accept

all aspects of our background, including

the way we speak.

Over the years the Afrikan American

slang has drastically changed, and in

honor of our 20th anniversary, we put

together a list to show the evolution

of slang from 1992 to 2012. Each term

says something about our culture and

gives insight into the Afrikan American

perspective.

Shawn MurrayStaff Writer

90’s Term Definition Example 2012 Translation

Audi 500 A phrase used to signify when one was leaving a location

“I’m audi 5000, I’ll catch you on the flip side”

Outtie/Out

Cheese Money “No, I can’t go out tonight

I’m trying to stack my cheese.”

Racks

Da Bomb The best, simply outstand-ing; no comparison or greater value can be placed to another

of similar type of manner

“The dinner they serve at Case is da bomb.”

Dope

Dawg Close friend or homie “Oh you know Mr. Wuf? Thats my dawg too!” Bruh

Flava What makes a person stand out, their uniqueness

Yo! Sista over there by the atrium got mad flava dawg!” Swag

Sweating Calling, following, and/or obsessing over someone

“She keep paging me yo, why is she sweating me?” Thirsty

The Nubian Message—the Afri-

kan-American student newspa-

per, formed out of extreme frus-

tration and desire for change—has now

served as the voice of Afrikan-American

student life and culture at the University

for more than 20 years.

Much has changed since black

students rallied in the Brickyard in late

September of 1992 to call for the forma-

tion of a black newspaper.

The University has seen four differ-

ent chancellors, Centennial Campus has

exploded into one of the best research

campuses in the country and NCSU has

become the largest university in North

Carolina by more than 3,000 students.

When the first issue ran Nov. 30, 1992,

few on campus or off could have pre-

dicted the successes and failures that the

publication would have in the decade to

come.

Formation

The events surrounding the formation

of the Nubian Message are something that

students on campus at the time, whether

black or white, remember vividly. Early in

the school year at both NCSU and UNC-

Chapel Hill, Afrikan-American students

protested and lobbied for Administration

at both institutions to build ‘free-stand-

ing’ cultural centers that could expand

knowledge and understanding of Afrikan

American culture.

The Black Awareness Council, a

student group at UNC, led the charge

in Chapel Hill, calling for a permanent

stand alone building that could be used

for the study of Afrikan-American

culture. Students at NCSU did the same,

claiming that administration in Raleigh

had promised the building of a cultural

center in 1987, a fact which campus of-

ficials never disputed.

With these calls for cultural awareness

as the backdrop, the actual event that set

in motion the formation of the Nubian

Message came on Sept. 23, 1992 when the

Technician ran a controversial column by

Steve Crisp. In his column, Crisp called

the activists at UNC racist and bashed

the rally which had taken place in Chapel

Hill. The response to this statement by

black students in Raleigh was nothing

less remarkable.

The next day, Sept. 24, some 200 stu-

dents rallied in the Brickyard to protest

Crisp’s column, even burning copies of

the Technician. Greg Washington, a leader

of the Brickyard protest in 1992, summed

up his feelings about what should happen

within Student Media with a fairly simple

phrase.

“We need a black paper on this

campus that will give coverage to a black

perspective,” he said.

On Nov. 30, 1992, that “black perspec-

tive” was formed and the dreams of black

students were realized with the paper’s

first issue. In that first edition, editor-in-

chief, Tony Williamson, said the forma-

tion of the paper had been something

way over do at the University and also

spoke about the goals of the newspaper.

“The Nubian Message should and

will be the voice for Afrikan-Americans

at N.C. State,” he wrote. “It will be a

publication in which people can learn

about different aspects of our culture, as

well as find out useful information about

campus.”

The History of the Nubian Message

By: Derek Medlin

The Evolution of Why the “K” in Afrika ?

Most vernacular or traditional languages on the continent

spell Afrika with a K; therefore the use of K

is germane to us.

Reprinted from the Jan. 27, 1994 issue of the Nubian Message

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

14

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

15Bamboozled: Culture’s Not a Costume

In celebration of Halloween, junior members of

the Duke Women’s Lacrosse team hosted a party

and costume contest at head coach Kerstin Kimel’s

house. The women decided to dress as characters from

The Little Rascals. This meant someone had to portray

Buckwheat, which of course meant, that someone had

to be in blackface. Junior, Taylor Virden donned the

costume for the night.

Photographs of the rascals were uploaded to the

Duke athletic website, but were taken down earlier this

month. The team and coaches have since apologized

for the photo, Kimel saying that some of the costume

choices were “insensitive and inappropriate.” She also

commented that, despite the party being hosted in her

home, the team members should have realized how the

pictures would be viewed.

Blackface is traced back to the white working-

class during the 1820s. The performers who blacked

their faces and mimicked Afrikan-American dance

and music, laughingly perpetuated grotesque and

dehumanizing stereotypes of the people. The beliefs

passed on through minstrel shows spread throughout

the world, and even had a place on N.C. State’s campus

until as late as the 1960s. A group of wives of N.C.

State students organized minstrel shows as members

of “State’s Mates.” They portrayed Afrikan -Americans

by dressing in blackface and depicting stereotypical

caricatures such as the “Mammy.” They also portrayed

Native Americans as the “Wolfpack Squaws.” According

to the State of History website, which serves as a

digital history of student life based on the materials

of the Special Collections

Research Center, these

minstrel shows were “a

playful opportunity to

represent oneself as ‘others’”

and earned these women

“the good wife diploma.”

Almost 60 years later,

society has, arguably, not

come too far from this

point. Whether it’s the

entertainment industry

trying to be sensational or

white fraternity/sorority

girls and boys playing dress

up for Halloween, blackface

has not disappeared. It

is still about presenting

stereotypical, exaggerated “black

behavior.” The blackface itself

by whites, no matter if the intent is joking or not, is a

mockery of Afrikan-Americans because it reduces them

to one critical feature: their skin.

“Culture costumes” refer to one-dimensional

caricatures that are not authentic. They represent a time

when minorities were considered the “exotic” and the

“other.” They take distinct traditions of people such as

Native Americans, Hispanics and Asians, without taking

into account the origins of those traditions, then turn

them into sources of entertainment. What does that

tell us about our society that amongst scary costumes

such as witches and vampires, racialized costumes have

become a staple? These choices normalize “whiteness,”

because who dresses up as a businessman or a soccer

mom? These costumes do nothing but reinforce

inaccurate ideas about cultural communities and

dehumanize the individuals they attempt to represent.

“I’m a concerned Native woman who simply wants

to educate,” Brittany Hammonds, a member of Alpha

Pi Omega Sorority, Inc., a historically Native American

organization, said in response to this issue. “I want

people to be aware that my history is not a joke and that

my culture is not a costume. I do understand that there

will always be ignorance in the world, but as a Native

American, I plan on doing all that I can to ensure that

some of that ignorance becomes eliminated and, more

importantly, [people become] educated.”

There are those who believe that blackface is so of-

fensive it should be erased from the cultural record. It is

said to be an example of history that is “best forgotten.”

But the truth is that no history is best forgotten. It’s fool-

ish, dangerous, and insulting to censor historical events

society is not comfortable remembering. You’ve made

your bed, Amerikkka. Now you have to lie in it.

Take these historical truths and use them to educate.

Lack of education is one of the reasons people have no

idea why critics are being so “sensitive.”

DeErricka GreenManaging Editor

“A group of wives of N.C. State students organized minstrel shows as

members of “State’s Mates.”

The NCSU African American Cultural Center congratulates the Nubian Message on 20 years of outstanding service to

the university and to the community.

November 1 - December 7, 2012http://oied.ncsu.edu/aacc/?page_id=696

Remember, the AACC Library is a great place to study and prepare for finals!

For more information about AACC programs, please visit our website http://oied.ncsu.edu/aacc/

The African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State University will present, An Evening with Iyanla Vanzant, Celebrating the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 14, 2013 from 6PM to 8PM at the McKimmon Center on the campus of North Carolina State University. The event is part of the campus-wide commemoration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A ticket is required. Free to NCSU students, faculty and staff (with ID). $10 for public. All STUDENT TICKETS must be picked up at the McKimmon Center beginning at 4:30 on the day of the event. Must be picked up no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.

Tickets are available at NCSU Ticket Central.

http://oied.ncsu.edu/aacc/?page_id=741

Upcoming Events

Donate necessities and play items for local Raleigh area children during this cold winter season.

Reproduction of a 1900 William H. West Minstrel Show Poster | Originally published by the Strobridge Litho Company

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

16

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

17

The Haute Seat: 90s Faux-Pas

All 90s and late-80s babies have reminisced

on how great the 90s were, from the music,

television, movies and most importantly,

the fashion. All of these items blended together per-

fectly to create a cohesive look. The trends shown on

television and movies were all the same. Maybe this

was because most actors were rappers, or vice versa,

but nonetheless, the fashion was consistently great.

Well, for the most part.

Because of his role as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,

when thinking about great 90s fashion, Will Smith is

usually the first person who comes to mind. I must

admit, that at first glance Smith appears to be a good

candidate, but when you really look at his 90s style, it

is painfully obvious that he had some real hit or miss

moments. His collection of Jordans and snapbacks

make him a poster-child for good 90s fashions, but

those colorful prints on the other hand, don’t.

We all know the Fire Red and Metallic Jordan Vs

that Smith had were at the time fire, and still today

considered classic and iconic, but even they couldn’t

rectify the Zubaz Pants trend that he so willingly

embraced.

For those unfamiliar with Zubaz, they are tapered

pants, similar to “ Hammer Pants,” with the outer part

of the leg longer than the inner part. With an elastic

waistband which allowed for greater flexibility and

movement, Zubaz were almost always bright, flashy

and just downright gaudy. The pants were originally

created in a zebra print, but later began to be sold in

almost any print imaginable. With the already eclectic

style of his neon shirts and hats, Will Smith wearing

Zubaz pants often made him look like a Kaleidoscope

Pauper instead of a Fresh Prince.

Not to be outshadowed by the men, the women

of the 90s also held down their respective fashions.

Along with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single

was a great staple show in the 90s. Another rap-

per turned actor, Queen Latifah, was noted for her

fashion. While Afrocentric clothing was a major hit

with the Queen, chunky heels unfortunately were

not. Chunky heels of the 90s were like the platforms

of the 70, need I say more as to why they were a style

faux-pas? Chunky heels were on everything: strapped

shoes, pumps, boots, sneakers. There was no escaping

them. With anything you wanted to wear, there was a

chunky heel for that occasion. Not to say these shoes

were limited to Living Single, but if I were to see a

“prospect” wear these shoes, I’d be sure to leave them

living single.

The Evolution of the R&B Diva

On Nov. 19, Rihanna released her 7th album,

Unapologetic. This project delves into the pop

star’s life, especially her highly publicized

relationship with Chris Brown. The album exemplifies

her unapologetic attitude, as shown in “Phresh Out The

Runway”, “Pour It Up”, and “Nobody’s Business”. Receiving

good reviews, Unapologetic met Madonna’s chart record

for female artist with the most consecutive number one

albums. Billboard dubbed Unapologetic as Rihanna’s “most

confident, emotionally resonant work since ‘Rated R’”,

highlighting “Stay” and “Nobody’s Business” as must hear

songs. CNN however, saw the album in a different light,

giving the CD a B+ grading overall. “The album is less

defiant than its title suggests, with many lovely moments by

the piano.”

Billboard projects Unapologetic to sell 260,000 records

by the end of Black Friday weekend. That amount of record

sells is pretty impressive given that former-Queen of Pop

Christina Aguilera’s newest album, Lotus, sold barely

79,000 copies. I find it interesting that such an iconic voice

who once ruled the nation with her high belted notes and

scandalous tracks, is now running behind a rookie in the

game.

This generation of musicians is considerably different

than that of twenty years ago. I will be the first to vouch

for Rihanna, but I can see the difference between her and

Whitney Houston. Twenty years ago, records like “I Will

Always Love You” made the world want to fall in love,

and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” immediately drew

listeners to the floor. Mariah Carey likewise, produced

meaningful hits like “Hero”, and backed up her messages

with impressive vocals.

The topics in the songs now and twenty years have not

drastically changed, but the way the message is conveyed

has. Now it is all about being bold, different and making

yourself the best person you can be as a brand. Twenty years

ago, vocal ability and relation to the everyday person was

important to ensure a rise to fame. Today is a different day

and different world than twenty years ago.

Destiny McNeil Staff Writer

Congratulations to the staff of the Congratulations to the staff of the Nubian MessageNubian MessageNubian MessageNubian MessagePast & Present Past & Present

hhHappy 20Happy 20thth AnniversaryAnniversaryBest Wishes for continued success!!Best Wishes for continued success!!ff“The most important thing to remember is this: “The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what youTo be ready at any moment to give up what youTo be ready at any moment to give up what you To be ready at any moment to give up what you 

are for what you might become.”are for what you might become.”― W.E.B. Du Bois― W.E.B. Du Bois

Christopher LynnStaff Writer

Rihanna’s Top 5 Songs1. We Found Love

2. Umbrella

3. Disturbia

4. Take A Bow

5. Rude Boy

Whitney’s Top 5 Songs1. I Will Always Love You

2. I Wanna Dance With Somebody

3. Greatest Love of All

4. All the Man That I Need

5. I’m Your Baby Tonight

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

18

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

19

CYPHER The N.C. State

Photo Courtesty of Andrew Weaver

Mike “Mic Live” Greene spends his days work-

ing at the Trader Joe’s on Wake Forest Road

in Raleigh, but every Monday at 11:30 p.m.

he can be found underneath the railroad tracks at the Free

Expression Tunnel.

The 27-year-old emcee, is one of many people who

congregates at the entrance of the tunnel on Monday

nights to showcase free style (improvised) raps at what

has come to be known as, the N.C. State Cypher.

The N.C. State Cypher was founded in 2010 by Mic

Live and his friends who call themselves Uno Cero.

Initially consisting of about 10 local rappers standing in a

circle and “spitting bars,” the N.C. State Cypher has grown

in proportion, with an average of 30-40 spectators and

rappers showing up, weekly.

“I like that everyone continually raises the bar, but at

the same time ain’t no real crazy sh*t popped off,” Mic

Live said.

Cyphering, a fundamental aspect of hip-hop and rap

culture, began as a way for rappers to lyrically battle one

another and discover whose poetic prowess was best. A

breeding ground for creativity, the cypher has often been

viewed and depicted by mainstream media as an incuba-

tor for rap beef and confrontation.

Despite the deviant stigma often associated with the

cypher and underground rap movement, the N.C. State

Cypher completely undermines this stereotype.

“it’s a judgment free zone. If you want to recite poetry, if

you want to rhyme, if you even just want to say some-

thing—we’re open to expression,” said Farouk Bseiso who

goes by the stage name Say So.

Since its humble beginnings in 2010, the N.C. State

Cypher has become a movement with the social net-

working site Twitter providing for it a lot of momentum.

Twitter is also where music industry executive and N.C.

State alumnus, Patrick Douthit learned about the N.C.

State Cypher.

Douthit, who goes by the stage name 9th Wonder and

attended Monday’s cypher, has produced

records for some of hip-hop’s finest including

Jay-Z, Nas, Drake, J.Cole and Ludacris.

“Before record deals, World Starr, BET or

anything that’s where it all started, is rapping

in the park,” said Douthit. “The cypher—em-

ceeing is one of the four elements of hip hop,

so it’s always important to keep that going

and make sure students know that’s where it

all came from,” said Douthit. “For students

to do that… it’s kind of refreshing to see. It

seems like the cypher is almost a lost art, but

N.C. State is bringing it back.”

Freddie “Skyy Walker” Staton, a junior

majoring in anthropology is one of the origi-

nal N.C. State students helping to revitalize

the art form.

“I heard about the cypher through word

of mouth, and I just started going maybe the

third or fourth time they had it. Back then

there were only like five people who would be

out there,” said Skyy Walker.

A rap artist with a strong local fan base, Skyy Walker

has had to put his musical aspirations to the side in order

to focus on his academics. During this time however,

the N.C. State Cypher has remained his musical outlet.

“I took a rest from [rapping] because of school, but the

cypher helps me keep my love of music and also it helps

keep me focused on what I’m really in school for.”

The N.C. State Cypher has inspired the creation of

organized cyphers on the campuses of North Carolina

A&T State University and North Carolina Central Univer-

sity. Those students and local emcees who pioneered the

movement hope that it continues to spread.

“The Cypher is a type of culture that we have here at N.C.

State and it’s becoming a big thing,” said Skyy Walker. “It’s

living up to what culture does. Culture lives outside of

you and me, and [as it spreads] it’s living outside of our

campus now.”

“...the cypher is almost a lost art, but N.C. State is bringing it

back.” -9th Wonder

Kierra LeggettEditor-in-Chief

#NCSTATECYPHER

Above: Local emcee Mike “Mic Live” Green at the N.C. State Cypher on Nov. 26, 2012. | Kierra Leggett

2012

• Nu

bian

Mes

sage

20th

Ann

iversa

ry Ed

ition

20

On the night of March 2, 1991, Afrikan American male Rodney King, and two pas-

sengers were pulled over by four Los Angeles Police Department officers for speeding.

The officers used excessive force to arrest King, using a taser and giving him almost

56 blows to the head, ankles, knees, and wrists with batons. The confrontation was

recorded by a resident and went viral overnight. In April of 1992, the officers were

acquitted of the charges they faced for assaulting King. Following the acquittal, thou-

sands of people then rioted for six days throughout the city.

Rodney King and the LA Riots

“I realize I will always be the poster child for police brutality, but I can try to use that as a postive force

for healing and restraint.”– Rodney King; May 1, 1992

Top Five Moments in Nubian History

Founder of the Nubian Message, Tony Williamson, passed at age 23 due to

blood clots. Williamson was a true leader in the Afrikan American com-

munity at N.C. State. For an entire year, Williamson funded the Nubian

Message out of his own pocket to make sure that students received the

messages he felt were important. He would have graduated that same year.

His passing was a true tragedy for the Afrikan American community at

N.C. State.

Nubian Message Editor Tony Wiliamson Dies at 23, March 1994

“To us, he was more than the Editor- he was family. Always remember him, his

deeds, and especially his legacy, for it shall never perish. And through his

legacy, he shall live in our hearts from now on.”

– Jay Cornish; March 24, 1994 issue

The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by

George Zimmerman took place on the

night of February 26, 2012, in Florida.

Martin was an unarmed 17-year-old Af-

rikan American. Zimmerman was

the neighborhood watch coordinator for

the area in which Martin was temporarily

staying. When police arrived on the scene,

Zimmerman told them that Martin had

attacked him and that he had shot the teen

in self-defense. The circumstances sur-

rounding Martin’s death, the initial deci-

sion not to charge Zimmerman, and ques-

tions about Florida’s “Stand Your Ground”

law received controversial attention. Al-

legations of racist motivation for both the

shooting and police conduct contributed

to the public’s demand for Zimmerman’s

arrest. President Obama, speaking on the

case said, “When I think about this boy,

I think about my own kids, and I think

every parent in America should be able to

understand why it is absolutely imperative

that we investigate every aspect of this... If

I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.”

In October, Zimmerman’s trial was set for

June 10, 2013.

Trayvon Martin Shooting“You don’t need to be an Afrikan

American for your heart to go out to the family affected by this

heinous murder.” – Cordero Slash, March 21, 2012

issue

BSB/UAB Prepare for Pan Afrikan n 2

The Demonization of Trayvon Martin n 4

Interview with LifeKiT n 6

NUBIAN MESSAGETHE SENTINEL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, N.C. n VOL. X, ISSUE 17 n THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM n MARCH 28th, 2012

“We are Trayvon Martin”

“We Are TATE”

On Monday, many students wore hoodies around campus in support of 17 year old Trayvon Martin who was murdered last month in Sanford, Florida. The death of the teenager has sparked marches and rallies all around the

nation, and has reopened a big discussion about race in America. We have more coverage inside...

A Concert for Hurricane Relief was a celebrity benefit concert focusing on raising money, and providing

relief and awareness for those devastated by the events of Hurricane Katrina. The concert’s most notable

moment occurred when Kanye West was presenting on camera with Mike Myers. West swerved off script

and harshly criticized the government’s response to the crisis, stating, famously that “George Bush doesn’t

care about black people.” Bush later called the remarks “the worst moment in his presidency,” feeling he

was unjustly accused of racism. Reactions of the incident varied, most criticizers of the government’s

response to the hurricane feeling that West had no need to apologize.

“I hate the way they portray us in the me-dia. You see a black family, it says, ‘They’re

looting.’ You see a white family, it says, ‘They’re looking for food.’ And, you know,

it’s been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black.[…]With the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible. […] George Bush doesn’t

care about black people.”-Kanye West, September 2, 2005

Kanye West Infamously Declares that “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People.”

In the summer of 1995, the AIDS epidemic was on a steady climb

upward. This was especially true on college campuses and within

the Afrikan American community. Young adults were becoming in-

fected because they were misinformed and uneducated about AIDS

and HIV. Eric Lynn Wright, a.k.a. rapper Eazy-E, died on March 26

from AIDS-related illness one month after being diagnosed and by

the end of the year, 500,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the

U.S.

AIDS Epidemic“Aids is the leading killer of young adults in 79

cities, including Raleigh, NC.” – Tawana Myles, Summer 1995 issue