Without Black Creativity, Where Would We Be?

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

MAGAZINE

without black creativity ...WHERE WOULD WE BE?

FEBRUARY 2022

The 101 Staff A

S T U D E N T

R A N

M A G A Z I N E

Bria Scott EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kennedi Armour Nylah Lee Nyah Hardmon CREATIVE DIRECTORS Essence Wiley ART DIRECTOR Alesha Cesar Taylor Nash AUDIO PRODUCER India Bookhart Nyah Hardmon WEB EDITORS Kynadi Hyde, Braxton Babb, Semira Robinson, Laniyah Collins, Ashleigh Fields, Micah Washington STAFF WRITERS Aliyah Thompson, Jason Ponterotto, Micah Washington, Kayla-Ajanae Archer-Buckley, Rainee Wilson, Fatou Drammeh COPY EDITORS Alex Williams, Monet Bowen, Ravyn Hardwick, Kynadi Hyde, Rainee Wilson, Aaron Blount, Taniyah Keve, Rachelle Smith ADDITIONAL STAFFERS Ericka Blount PROFESSOR Yanick Rice Lamb PROFESSOR AND FOUNDER Ingrid Sturgis ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CHAIR Jami Ramberan ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND ASSISTANT CHAIR Gracie Lawson-Borders, Ph.D. DEAN Tia Tyree, Ph.D. INTERIM ASSOCIATE DEAN HOWARD UNIVERSITY Cathy Hughes School of Communications Department of Media, Journalism and Film 300 Bryant St. NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 806-7927 101 Magazine 101magazine.net 101magonline@gmail.com Copyright © 2022

contents 03

Editor's Note

04

Power of Black Media

06

BHM Campaigns

07

Dimplez 4 Days

09

Amir Locke

14

Super Bowl LVI

16

Slugging: The New Skincare Trend

19

Rags to Riches: JayZ and Kanye

22

Leading the Village

24

The Rappers That Die Behind the Music

26

The Right Way to Talk Mental Health

27

The Right Way to Talk Mental Health

29

Capitol B

30

Euphoria: The Show That Unifies

editor's note SPRING. IS. HERE. and I am so excited to welcome you to the first Spring edition of 101 Magazine! The team and I have been working so hard to create a meaningful publication for you all, despite the circumstances of this year. For those of us that remember the pre-panorama (Pandemic, lol), spring always brings so much excitement. The freshman have their first Howard spring to look forward to, sophomores are going bigger than last year, juniors are just hanging on by a thread and seniors are crawling to the finish line.

Regardless of the category, there is always something to look forward to, come warmer days. Another major moment to celebrate, um HELLO, Black History Month! The 101 team and I have gathered the best pieces to bring you all a special Black History Month edition. There are so many interesting pieces here, that I

am sure you

will find the one just for you!

Here's to another 101, and being extra Blackity, Black, Black, Black!

Bria Scott Editor-in-Chief

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THE POWER IN BLACK MEDIA WRITTEN BY JASON PONTEROTTO

We are in an environment now in which there is a massive need for Black-owned media to filter through the wave of right-wing misinformation and disinformation being disseminated to the Black community.

platforms committed to true journalism such as " "Roland Martin Unfiltered," hosted and created by longtime journalist Roland Martin, can not be understated. Just this past Wednesday, an absurd headline was circulating that the Biden Administration is providing ‘’crack pipes’’ to people.

One of the original sources of this story is the ultraconservative news site, The Free Beacon.

There is serious harm with misleading headlines that begin as right-wing propaganda being passed as news to the Black community through social media.

We have seen the effect of misinformation and disinformation with platforms like Facebook in recent years and how it has reached Black audiences on issues such as the Covid-19 virus and the safety of different vaccines. In this era, the importance of Black-owned media

This story was spread by right-wing media such as Fox News of which various Black media platforms include on their gossip pages, The Shade Room is a gossip site that has millions of Black followers and reposted under the headline, ‘’Biden Administration Reportedly Finalizing $30M to Give Out Crack Pipes to Drug Addicts.’’

The goal of these false headlines and propaganda has always been to misinform audiences and dissuade them from voting for their betterment.

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THE POWER IN BLACK MEDIA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

The truth behind this story is that it has to do with the Harm Reduction Grant Program, a part of Biden’s American Rescue Plan, and is a part of drug overdose prevention. Additionally, this is the kind of program many states, including Republican-led states, have always implemented. More can be read about the aspects of this program and what the grants are for on the HHS.gov website.

But for any Black media platform specifically, this could be particularly damaging to the already disenfranchised African American community. These platforms have a massive responsibility and are doing the exact opposite of upholding the legacy and critical work that Black media has been committed to for generations.

The history of Black media with the various Black newspapers across the country throughout the 19th and 20th Century were dedicated to providing the news of importance directly affecting the Black community, and informing and educating readers on the implications of what was happening.

The Shade Room has subsequently deleted the original misleading story following and posted an updated story referencing the misleading reports. Folks on Twitter (who tend to be more politically inclined users than the much larger Instagram audience that The Shade Room has) let their voices be "Roland Martin Unfiltered" appears to be heard about the recklessness of what The one of if not the only Black-owned news Shade Room posted. platform with a large following to be continuing in that rich legacy of Black One user responded to their Twitter post newspapers. His show airs on Youtube and said ‘’Your website is a detriment to every weekday from 6 pm to 8 pm. EST. our community and you should be banned from Twitter for spreading It is essential that we continue to uplift misinformation that could be harmful to Black-owned media like "Roland Martin people and their health @Twitter.’’

Unfiltered" and especially continue to hold Black media platforms whether Any type of ‘’journalism’’ that simply they have huge followings or not to give regurgitates misleading right-wing truthful news and not dangerous headlines and disseminates it to misinformation. We must also hold these audiences is incredibly dangerous and is platforms accountable as this is critical a disgrace. work that affects the community at large.

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HOW EFFECTIVE ARE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CAMPAIGNS? Written by Alex D. Williams Image Courtesy of August de Richelieu via Pixels

As the month of February marks the historic celebration of Black History and Black culture, globalized brands and companies, including Bath & Body Works and Amazon have often released statements standing in solidarity with the community, or have found unique ways to market their brands/ black creatives during this month.

Target, which has an expansive audience around the globe has continued with its Black History Campaign "Black Beyond Measure. " The company’s campaign highlights and showcases black businesses and designers throughout the month of February. As featured on the website, "Celebrate Black History Month: Target."

In addition to this year’s campaign, HBCU Students were also allowed to participate in an HBCU design challenge, where their designs would be featured in a collection in-store and on the store's website.

However, this prompts the question, how effective are these black history month campaigns?

Some companies have made the mistake of believing that releasing a Martin Luther King Jr. quote or statement about equality for all would be the satisfactory fix for the month.

Target showcased more than just clothing apparel from famous designers, but also from designers that share the unique perspective of students at colleges that were made for and contribute to the success of black people.

Black History Month is not a month to profit off of the creativity and innovation of black people, but it is a month to highlight all of the pioneers, educators, and changemakers that make this country what it is today.

Without black people, this country would not be half of what it is, and that alone should be the intent and message that companies worldwide, including Target, emphasize when trying to market and capitalize off of a month solely dedicated to the greatness of black people.

This year, Target found a unique way to showcase talent from students at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). But, last year Target faced an extensive amount of criticism from the 2021 Black History Month campaign: Target's Black History Month Merchandise Faces Backlash: 'Pain, Suffering and Stereotypes' (newsweek.com) With an attempt to “honor” and celebrate this important month for the Black community, some of the apparel and work that was featured in the collection rubbed some consumers the wrong way, as was featured in the article from Newsweek.

While it is nice that companies are trying to do a better job of showing love to black creatives, this does lead many to wonder if this is out of genuine desire for diversity or just for profit? While creatives are given access and privileges to use Target’s platform for this month, who does this really help more? Is this just profit for Target or an actual celebration for black creatives and designers?

Image Courtesy of: Jonathan Weiss/ Shutterstock.co

Black History Month is not a month to profit off of the creativity and innovation of black people, but it is a month to highlight all of the pioneers, educators, and changemakers that make this country what it is today.

Without black people, this country would not be what it is, and that alone should be the intent and message that companies worldwide, including Target, emphasize when trying to market and capitalize off of a month solely dedicated to the greatness of black people.

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Non-profit Dimplez 4 Dayz helps students smile WRITTEN BY ASHLEIGH FIELDS PHOTOS COURTESY OF FOX29 AND DIMPLEZ4DAYZ.COM

There is no greater personal statement than that of a smile for 19-year-old Howard University student and Gates Scholar Akayla Brown. At the young age of 13, she saw way too few smiles in her Philadelphia neighborhood. Violence, poverty, and other hardships plagued families stuck in the same situation year after year. But Brown knew there were opportunities for positive change.

“I want to save kids from the mentality that the streets are the only way to go when they are lost, because honestly the streets love no one, and we see that every day with all the killings that are occurring,” said Brown.

Currently, Brown has a brick-andmortar location that welcomes students to complete their homework after school. The quiet space offers computer resources, desks, and tutoring to ensure that children are able to meet their academic goals.

“I have to give back to my community, if not me then who’s going to do it,” said Brown in an interview with Good Morning America.

In 2016, she founded Dimplez 4 Dayz, the only youth-led 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the youth voice and reducing youth violence in Philadelphia.

“I want to save kids from the mentality that the streets are the only way to go when they are lost, because honestly the streets love no one, and we see that every day with all the killings that are occurring,” said Brown. Currently, Brown has a brick-and-mortar location that welcomes students to complete their homework after school. The quiet space offers... *Continued onto page 7*

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 computer resources, desks, and tutoring to ensure that children are able to meet their academic goals.

To date, her organization has served over 10,000 families in the state and continues to partner with organizations to support regional and global causes with an overlapping mission. In the future, Brown does hope to expand her organization.

“My nonprofit right now is only in Philadelphia, and we have done an amazing job of being a resource to the families. But now is the time to expand and Washington, D.C. is a perfect starting point to do so,” Brown told ESSENCE in an interview.

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AMIR amir locke fatally LOCKE shot by police on 10-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death ESSENCE WILEY

J

In a 14-second video later released by the city of Minneapolis, Amir Locke is shown on a couch startled.

Just two days into Black History His head peeks from under a Month, 22-year-old, Amir Locke, was blanket as does the barrel of a gun awakened to die. before SWAT officer, Mark Hanneman, shoots him three On the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 2nd, times- twice in the chest and once Minneapolis Police Department executed in the right wrist. a no-knock search warrant in connection to an investigation of a January homicide Approximately 9 seconds into entry, in the area. In an incident report, MPD MPD claims they “encountered ​a claimed to have entered two downtown man holding a handgun pointed in Minneapolis apartments after “loudly the direction of officers.” announcing their presence.”

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At this moment, Locke joined what seems to be a never-ending list of black victims of fatal police shootings. The injured 22year-old was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Recently unsealed documents reveal MPD officers were investigating a shooting in which Locke’s cousin, Mekhi Speed, was suspected to be involved.

The sleeping Locke was not a target in the investigation. He legally possessed a gun and had no criminal record.

Locke’s family attorney released a statement emphasizing the public "must remain focused on the fact that Amir was an innocent young man of a raid gone terribly wrong, who is now the latest statistic and victim of the dangerous and intrusive no-knock warrant techniques that must be banned" the attorney of Locke’s family“ said on Feb. 8.

Meant to prevent the destruction of evidence, no-knock search warrants are exactly what they sound like: warrants authorizing police officers to enter certain premises without first knocking and announcing their presence or purpose. They faced nationwide scrutiny in 2020 after the death of Breonna Taylor- a 26-yearold black woman who was fatally shot in her home after police executed a no-knock warrant in pursuit of a suspected drug operation.

“As a Minneapolis native, it is heartbreaking to see my city get so much media attention for police brutality. I think before 2020, when George Floyd happened right in Minneapolis, people didn’t even know Minneapolis or Minnesota by name and now they do know us but for the wrong reasons, so it’s really sad,” says sophomore journalism major Ayo Olagbaju.

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Locke’s death occurred The fatal shooting of Amir barely two years after Locke comes nearly ten nationwide outrage over years after the killing of another unsettling death Trayvon Martin. at the hands of police: trayvon.

George Floyd, a 46-year- On the night of Feb 26. old security guard who 2012, Trayvon Martin was died back in 2020 after making his way home former MPD officer, Derek from a gas station in Chauvin, knelt on his neck Florida. Skittles and for 8 minutes and forty-six Arizona Iced Tea in hand seconds. and hoodie on, Martin walked through the Twin Protesters, once again, Lakes apartment began organizing in complex where he Minneapolis streets encountered neighborfollowing Locke’s killing. hood watch captain, George Zimmerman.

“I was proud of the youth, Minutes after reporting the community the teenager as “a real organizers who were suspicious guy⁠” to police, immediately speaking Zimmerman followed out on it, getting ready Martin through the to protest. To share neighborhood. Eventually, what needs to be done police advised Zimmerto make a change,” says man to stay put, and the Olagbaju. call ended, but that was only the beginning.

Amidst increasing civil unrest, Minneapolis A scuffle between the mayor, Jacob Frey, two took place and announced a new Zimmerman, then 28, moratorium, ending no- fatally shot Martin. knock warrants on Feb. 4.

Zimmerman was later Hanneman is currently on acquitted, causing a paid administrative leave. turning point in American history.

For many young black people, Trayvon Martin’s case was the first time they were forced to grapple with the harsh realities of being black in America.

Sophomore biology and mathematics double major and Howard University Student Association Senator, Aaron Johnson remembers feeling hurt and confused.

“Trayvon Martin is actually only one year older than my sister. I was like well somebody Cierra’s age just died- well not, died was murdered-and I was like, if it can happen to him, it can happen to my sister,” Johnson said.

Tyler Butler, a sophomore biology major, shared similar sentiments.

“Being that I was only like ten or eleven when it happened, I was really kinda like taken aback.

IIt was like what if I’m just walking to the store and somebody shoots me?”

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Not only did Martin’s death force black Gen Z-ers to question what their place in America was but it also forced many barely tweens to forgo a carefree freedom youth has to offer.

"the death of Trayvon Martin for my fifthgrade self made the world less colorful." says a dazed Johnson.

Coming to a similar realization, Butler remembers thinking, “Dang, we really have targets on our back because of our skin.”

Also ten at the time of Martin’s death, Janiya Lamiserre says she was disappointed and angry, saying Martin’s case made her realize “this country has a problem because for me to be that young, I remember feeling the anger and the sadness and the uproar.“ Optimism among those tweens who are now young adults seems to be fleeting as deaths like Martin’s, Floyd’s, Taylor’s, and now, Locke’s, continue.

“It's unfortunate that after Trayvon Martin, the list really just goes on,” says sophomore, Marlyn Reed.

Trayvon Martin photo courtesy of CNN.

“It saddens me and it just lets us know that we haven’t made as much progress as we think we have,” continues Butler. “All the stuff our ancestors went through is like… We’re kind of past it? But not really because y’all still killing us.”

With social media becoming a prominent platform in raising awareness about fatal shootings and black death, Lamiserre says she’s becoming desensitized since she “keeps seeing it over and over.”

Faith still lingers in some.

“I thought our country would’ve learned from Breonna Taylor as it relates to no-knock warrants and police shootings when entering homes but clearly that hasn't happened so I’m praying and hoping that from this situation policies can be made to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” says Olagbaju.

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"Trust can only be broken so many times."

Black Lives Matter protests occur across America, demanding change.

Photo courtesy of University of Chicago News.

In the fall of 2020, the city of Minneapolis did vow to “limit” the use of no-knock warrants. Today, they have apparently been eliminated altogether, but many are questioning what will be done about the actual behavior of law enforcement.

As a Minneapolis native and a black woman at an HBCU, Olagbaju recognizes that law enforcement’s overall relationship with the black community is rapidly depleting."

“At this point, I think it's hard for black people to hold out hope or to continue to trust the police when they’ve proven time and time again that our lives are not valuable to them,” she says.

“Trust can only be broken so many times and so until we see what we’re hearing, I don’t know what's going to happen.”

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Super Bowl LVI: THE Student Expereince

BY MONET BOWEN

On Feb. 13, 2022 I had the opportunity to witness the Cincinnati Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, take on the L.A. Rams in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on an 82-degree day in Los Angeles, California.

But if that wasn’t enough, I was able to experience the pre-game work on the days leading up to the game - which as an aspiring sports journalist was almost as thrilling as the clincher touchdown that sealed the Rams win.

On Thursday and Friday, my mentor Anthony Smith allowed me to sit in while the Entertainment Partnerships & Cause Initiatives worked on sets. During my first full day on set, I watched the creation of the Super Bowl Pepsi Halftime Interview, with musical artists Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and BigBoy. I watched as the production crew set up chairs, tables, and audio and camera equipment in less than 20 minutes. From there, I listened to BigBoy conduct the actual interview.

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Once that interview was completed, we traveled to a second location to prepare for the Generations shoots taking place on the following day. The NFL Generations shoot features a current NFL star and an NFL legend and they sit down and watch a film together. Being that this shoot is a lot more intimate, the production crew took a long time preparing and setting the scene for the shoot. We worked with various lighting combinations, furniture, and camera positions which took about three hours. Once we received the final approval from my mentor, we had a hard stop at about 7 p.m.

Cont.

The next day we had a 10:30 a.m. call time. Since we prepped the set the night before, we just did a few run-throughs to prepare for the segment with Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and former running back for the Seattle Seahawks Edgerrin James. Once the two arrived, the shoot lasted about 30 minutes.

From there, we all went on break before the segment with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana. The two of them arrived and their shoot took about 45 minutes. Once that shoot ended, my weekend began.

On Saturday, I went sightseeing in the city because I wanted to have a calmer day before game day. Once Sunday rolled around I spent my entire day preparing for the game. Around noon, I got dressed and headed to the shuttle to the stadium. Once I got there I was able to get through security fairly quickly and then I stopped by some of the fan pre-game parties. By kick-off time, everyone was in their seats for the start of the game.

The Rams were off to a hot start but the Bengals quickly put the game back into reach. The first half flew by and the Pepsi Halftime Show started. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and 50 Cent all put on a great show. Every fan received a lanyard that lit up during the halftime performance.

The second half featured a lot of thrill and the fans were really excited and into the game. The Rams ended up winning in stunning fashion to claim their second franchise Super Bowl victory.

I’m happy I was able to witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience in person.

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SKINCARE HACK OR STOLEN BEAUTY SECRET? “SLUGGING” & VASELINE’S SIGNIFICANCE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY

BY FATOU B. DRAMMEH

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

Whether we’re aware of them or not,

Despite the widespread occurrences,

there are a number of pop-culture trends

Black America arguably experiences

with roots in communities of color.

cultural appropriation on one of the

Cultural appropriation along with terms

largest scales. Whether it's braids and

like “culture vulture” became

long, intricate nail art or AAVE-derived

commonplace in recent years through

lingo and closely-held music genres,

criticisms of celebrities like Kim

mainstream culture has a clear pattern of

Kardashians for taking cultural markers

adopting our unique identifiers and

like cornrows and repackaging them as

selling them as the hot, new thing. The

“boxer braids,” for example.

latest piece of Black culture to be co-

This phenomenon happens across many

opted? Vaseline.

communities of color. In fact, Kim Kardashian was also in the news in 2019

Beauty communities on TikTok and

for nearly naming her shapewear &

Reddit buzzed over a “new trend” at the

loungewear brand Kimono, only three

top of 2022 that involves ending your

years after her ‘boxer braid scandal.’ It

skincare routine with a layer of Vaseline

wasn’t until she received backlash and

or petroleum jelly to lock in moisture and

criticism from social media and even the

allow for your skin to better repair itself

mayor of Kyoto, Japan, about the tone-

overnight. This practice is colloquially

deafness of the name that she changed it

referred to as “slugging,” but is officially

to SKIMS.

called “occluding.”

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“Slugging can be extremely beneficial for those

“I have been slugging my face since middle

with dry/dehydrated skin, damaged barriers, and

school,” says Haitian content creator Joanna

sensitivity,” says Hadiyah Daché, a licensed

Georges. “I have friends who have also been

esthetician based in Oakland, Calif also known

slugging forever . . . I believe it probably was

as Fairy Glow Mother. “The biggest benefit of

appropriated as many popular beauty trends

occluding is preventing trans-epidermal water

are.”

loss (TEWL). Other benefits include blocking pollutants, inhibiting bacteria from spreading,

Many Black women have long raved about the

and (for some occlusive agents) calming

many uses of Vaseline in their households that

inflammation.”

were passed down to them by the women that

Some have expressed concern about slugging or occluding due to some reports of it clogging the skin’s pores and in turn, causing breakouts.

Though everyone’s skin is different, this occurrence is mostly a myth.

“Ideally, when you press and pat it into the skin, you won’t run into any risk of clogging pores.

Scientifically speaking, occlusives can’t clog pores as the molecular structure isn’t small enough to penetrate the skin and seep into the pores,” says Daché. But she does warn that slugging is not a one-size-fits-all practice.

“Slugging has the potential to be harmful in a routine that utilizes a lot of actives and exfoliants, so it’s best to do it following a strictly hydrating routine.”

The verbiage used to describe slugging comes from the slimy appearance your face will have after applying a coat of an occlusive, similar to that of a slug. But despite the East Asian background of the trend specifically, Vaseline and the slugging practice at its root have been staples in Black households for generations.

As the trend made its rounds on various social media platforms, the discussion points varied.

Some expressed irritation over yet another Black beauty practice being pushed as something shiny and new, while others simply found humor in the fact that white people “finally discovered Vaseline.”

raised them, and that they are now passing down to their own daughters.

“It was affordable, it was readily available, and it worked wonders most importantly. And it was multipurpose,” award-winning actress Viola Davis shared with BET in 2017. She named relief from burns and irritated, cracked skin as a couple of the solutions she used Vaseline for growing up. “I still use it to this day on my daughter and on the bottom of my feet. It’s my go-to product.”

“I keep Aquaphor in my treatment room as I have a few protocols that call for it. But primarily I use it to demonstrate proper application to my clients,” says Daché. “At home, Aquaphor is a staple in the winter and I apply it all over my body before I hop on a flight.”

“I use it for everything honestly, as a lip balm, as an additional moisturizer to my lotion, hand cream. I love Vaseline,” Georges says.

Although Black Twitter getting ahold of the slugging trend sparked a conversation about the appropriation of beauty practices, even Vaseline as a brand has long acknowledged that much of their success since their inception can be attributed to Black customers. In December of 2020, Vaseline announced their new collection which was “co-created with influential black women” and “fused their knowledge on the unique needs of melanin rich skin with the heritage Vaseline.”

P A G E &1 expertise 7 • W I T H of OU T BLACK CREATIVITY

In collaboration with beauty creator Shalom Blac, tennis player Sloane Stephens and artist Cristina Martinez, Illuminate Me by Vaseline was developed with melanated skin in mind, from the cocoa and shea butter-based formulation of the Whipped Body Butter and the earth-toned flecks infused in the Shimmering Body Oil, to the imagery of a Black woman used to brand the collection’s packaging.

A month prior, Vaseline addressed the systemic implications of racism on skincare through the launch of their “Equitable Skin for All” campaign. which “focuses on the advancement of training, providing resources and education to better equip dermatologists and medical practitioners to accurately treat, diagnose and care for skin of color.” Vaseline partnered with actress Regina King on this campaign, bringing her aboard as a creative director and brand ambassador. “Inherent biases and healthcare inequities negatively impact Black and Brown communities, and skincare is no exception,” King stated in an October 2020 Instagram caption.

Though the implications of slugging trending online the past month may go over the heads of some, the bright side is that there is an influx of people discovering an age-old practice that could save their skin, especially in these bitter winter months.

Trends will come and go, but community staples like that of Vaseline have proven that they will always stand the test of time — especially if they continue to honor and support their loyal Black consumer bases, just as Vaseline has.

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RAGS TO RICHES: KANYE WEST AND JAY-Z’S SUCCESS SURROUNDING THE BLACK COMMUNITY

BY ALESHA CESAR

After four kids and nearly seven years of

Their brotherly love bond had Jay-Z and Kanye

alternate bliss and insanity with former wife

amped when they were producing their hit

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West's career, mental

single “Never Let Me Down.”

health issues, and his billion-dollar platform

First I snatched the streets then I snatched the

on social media have been the center of

charts… First I had their ears, now I have their

discussion over the past year.

hearts, says Jay-Z as he starts the song. These

Meanwhile, what flies under the radar are his

lines represent the growth and connection that

actions around charity work.

Two of the most recognizable black hip-hop

Jay-Z has amassed in recent years. Both men

artists, Kanye West and Jay-Z are emblems of

are constantly evolving as rap artists. Kanye has

black success in their communities.

a specific phrase in which he raps about the struggles his mom and grandfather endure,

"[Hip-hop] was that voice that America

I get down for my grandfather who took my

couldn't control...it was that voice of the

mama, made her sit in that seat where white

streets that they didn't know what the next

folks ain't want us to eat, he raps, in his

line was gonna be and that scared them.

opening lines: At the tender age of six, she was arrested for the sit-ins, and with that in my

"Because we spoke our own unapologetic

blood I was born to be different. .

truth. We spoke about environments that were overlooked, that didn't have a voice,

When it comes to principle roles, Jay-Z and

that didn't have a say, that didn't have pretty

Kanye West share many similarities as they are

much anything”, said Detroit rapper Royce da

most recognizable for their commercial

5’9.

successes, but most importantly giving back to their community.

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RAGS TO RICHES CONT.

Jay-Z is a prime example of the rags-to-riches American Dream as he was originally a crack dealer. As the first hip-hop artist to become a billionaire he has put a lot of his investment into brands such as Armand de Brignac, D’usse, Peach Credit, Savage X Fenty, Promise, among others.

Jay-Z has worked with the New York Times to promote a video called “The War on Drugs is an Epic Fail”, which raised awareness for past drug laws that disproportionally affected African American youth. Jay-Z used his company, Tidal, to donate 200,000 pounds of water, diapers, batteries and other supplies to Puerto Rico when they were impacted by Hurricane Maria.

Kanye West was born in Atlanta, but raised in Chicago by his mom after his parents were divorced. West produced beats for many toptier artists such as Beyoncé and Ludacris, and knew he wanted to be more than just a producer and was soon signed to Roc-A-Fella Records.

West has been a major help to his Chicago community . He’s collaborated with "We Women Empowered," where three meals each day are being distributed to the elderly. He has also provided assistance to black-owned businesses in Chicago who are enduring hardships, particularly during the pandemic.

West has led powerful church services that enabled a plethora of black people, some who have never been to church, attend his worship.

A juggernaut of multiple platforms, West has the capability to lead a nation that will aid African Americans to victory against those who feel superior to them.

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LEADI NG THE VI LLAGE THAT RAI SES A CHI LD

BY LANIYAH COLLINS

With Nick Cannon recently

Self-esteem, morality, problem-

announcing that he has another

solving skills, effective

child on the way, making him a

communication and listening, and

father of eight with five mothers

simply learning about a person

of his children, it has sparked

does not happen overnight and

conversation on how and if you

requires extreme forms of

can be an active parent with

dedication from a parent to their

multiple children in different

child. This dedication requires

households. The Transition House

time and with everyone having 24

defines an active parent as “a

hours in a day and for most

technique based on

parents having to work in the

psychological principles that

midst of those 24 hours, it can be

promote positive interactions

extremely difficult to tend to five

between a parent and a child.”

different households each day.

The healthy interactions between the parents and children have to be consistent in order to have a long-lasting positive impact.

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CONT. Furthermore, although there

Overall, Nick Cannon is not

are 7 days a week and in

the first parent to have this

theory, each household can be

situation with their children

visited at least once a week,

but with him being a public

that still is not enough time to

figure, his situation has

ensure that all eight kids are

brought this conversation to

receiving the dedication that

the forefront and has

they would need to actually

required people to possibly

have an active father. Also,

shift their thinking on

with Nick Cannon having a

whether or not they can be

career that requires frequent

an active parent with the

travel and not having all of his

circumstances they have.

children living in the same

Children deserve love and

state or city, this presents

dedication from the people

even more difficulty for him to

who are responsible for

be present consistently and

bringing them in this world

effectively. This can cause

and those parents have to

issues with the children

ensure they can give that to

feeling inferior to their other

their children.

siblings if they don’t receive the same treatment.

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BLACKFISHING DURING BHM? THE CONTROVERSY AROUND KIM K’S NEW VOGUE COVER

By Fatou Drammeh

As the most recent cover girl, Kim Kardashian sat down with Vogue's Jen Wang to discuss her life as a "mogul-mom." Though the feature article mostly detailed her experience with motherhood, marriage, and running multiple businesses, the photos used for Kim's cover far overshadowed the story's contents.

Kim's photoshoot for Vogue's March 2022 issue slated her as a trending topic for something that the mega-celebrity has long been made familiar with — "blackfishing."

Coined by culture journalist Wanna Thompson, blackfishing is a subcategory of cultural appropriation, defined as "white women 'cosplaying' as Black women on social media."

With "extensive lip fillers, dark tans and attempts to manipulate their hair texture" cited as a few forms of evidence of this phenomenon, the ladies of the Kardashian clan have all come under fire for varying degrees of this offense.

The photoshoot associated with the Vogue feature depicts Kim in several hairstyles and poses likened to Black cultural icons like Beyonce, Nina Simone, and Naomi Campbell.

Courtesy of Vogue

Not only have individuals identified the imagery of Black women that seems to inspire this photoshoot — search engine algorithms have done the same. Alternatively, some have displayed confusion for equating Kim's deeper makeup shade and posing to her "channe[ing] her inner black woman." Comedian KevOnStage states in his response video to commentary on the cover that "bronzer ain't Black." Based on Kim's ongoing comments about her blackfishing and cultural appropriation accusations, it's possible that she feels the same way. Whether this is due to a lack of deeper cultural awareness or "an act of self-preservation," as Wang puts it in the Vogue article. "She doesn't devote much energy to analyzing her effect, for better or for worse, on the culture," the article deduces.

A part of the issue taken with women accused of blackfishing or cultural appropriation is the failure to pay homage or acknowledge the origins of their style of hair or dress, or in this case, the creative direction of a photoshoot.

In the article, women who have artificially adopted the tanned skin, long dark hair, and curvy figure that Kim Kardashian dons are referred to as "Kimitators" and "symbol[s] of the mogul-mom's impact on the culture." Major players in the fashion industry share similar sentiments. "I think for many, many years, there hasn't been anyone who has redefined the standards of beauty, of feminine beauty, as much as Kim has," Balenciaga's creative director Demna tells Vogue." She redefined our understanding of what beauty is." Occurrences like this are not new to Kim or the media in general. Mainstream trends are often just a repackaging of age-old Black cultural staples, and we've seen evidence of this as far back as the popularization of rock music and as recently as the resurgence of Y2K-inspired looks in fashion. But the release of this cover during Black History Month begs the question: was this an oversight due to a possibly lacking diversity on the team involved with this Vogue feature, or was this a conscious choice for clicks?

The People That Die Behind the Music

"Rap Beef" and Mockery of Gang Culture ByTaylorNash

In XXL Magazine’s most recent post, staff writers covered the “beef” between Chicago rapper, Lil Durk, and Louisianaraised, NBA YoungBoy. They explore the assumed details of the beef between the two rappers from their social media posts to the lyrics in their respective music. While hip-hop has always originated with themes of violence, to what extent do journalists remove humanity from these rappers’ real lives for the sake of an awaiting audience eager to observe a beef?

In the past three years, notable rappers ranging in age have been killed in the hip-hop scene. Los Angeles-born Nipsey Hussle and Drakeo the Ruler, Memphis native, Young Dolph, and Chicago-raised King Von were killed because of gun violence. These were real people, with real lives, real families, and real communities; this is the reality.

Drill’s immediate popularity owed to two of hip-hop’s most prized values: authenticity – or realness – and storytelling.

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CONT. "The stories told by drill artists were unbelievable. Lots of them were true,” BBC writer, Sam Davis, says. "This fascination is what caused hip-hop to grow into what we know of it today. The beat sets the tone; it jars our lips and scrunches our faces; the lyrics cause us to embrace, to live through the rapper’s eyes."

But this fascination grew into commercialization, which makes the stories of these rappers and their lives consumable. In the age of social media, there is a thin line between recognizing the art and purposefully showcasing the violence, removing humanity, and treating the subject like a reality TV show only adding gas to the flame.

" " PAGE 25 • WITHOUT BLACK CREATIVITY

When The Going Gets Tough, What Should You Say?

BY LANIYAH COLLINS

With the recent passings of Cheslie Kryst

and Ian Alexander Jr., these unfortunate incidents have sparked a conversation about suicides and how they should be discussed, especially on social media. Losing a loved one is tough and discussing their passing can be extremely difficult. When people

However, it would be okay to wrap the story up with the suicide hotline and warning signs for someone who may be contemplating dying by suicide.

There will be real people who

pass tragically the discussion of their passing, especially on large platforms, can be triggering for some people and this is why the proper etiquette for these situations

have to read these stories and they could possibly be battling with issues that have made them

should be widely known.

contemplate suicide, so it would

First, GoodTherapy (goodtherapy.org)

resources that could help them.

be helpful to provide them with

shared that the suicide method shouldn’t be shared because it could possibly cause a

Overall, death is difficult and grieving is strenuous, so the least journalists and the public can do

suicide contagion and no one should be

is honor the deceased in the way

stating that someone else “committed”

they speak on them.

suicide, suicide is not a crime. The better way of saying it is to say that they died by suicide. Then, only share that suicide is the cause of death if it is relevant to the story or if the family insists on sharing that information. Additionally, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) stated that if the deceased left a note, don’t disclose what was in or call it a “suicide” note. NAMI

"There will be real people who have to read these stories..."

if you or someone you know IS struggling, please call 800-273-8255

also shared that in stories where one is sharing that a cause of death is a suicide, don’t disclose that it was a suicide in the headline.

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NBA

The Howard Bison celebrate winning the inaugural NBA HBCU Classic on Saturday.

Courtesy of NBA.com

HBCU CLASSIC

BY MONET BOWEN

On Feb. 19, Howard University’s men’s basketball team will take on Morgan State in a showcase game during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in Cleveland as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary. The game will be played at the Cleveland State Wolstein Center. The NBA has recently been looking to expand efforts and show more support of historically Black colleges and universities in the country.

In recent years, supporters of HBCUs have spoken out about the discrepancies that HBCUs face in regards to representation. Mekhi Abbott, student-athlete at Howard University, looks at this as a great opportunity for Black institutions.

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“I hope the athletes take advantage of this opportunity and platform and more and more people continue to support and uplift the cause.” Initially, the Howard University Bison were expected to host the Morgan State Bears at home in the Burr Gymnasium. Instead, the game will be aired on a few networks. You can expect to watch the game between the AllStar Game practice sessions along with the actual All-Star Saturday slate. The slate includes the traditional skills challenge, slam dunk contest, and three-point contest.

The NBA’s Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum stated that “That rivalry between Howard and Morgan State, between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, we thought that was a great rivalry to take advantage of [for the inaugural event] and it wouldn’t require too much maneuvering from their regular schedule. “We hope to showcase and feature other schools down the road, but this seemed to be a pretty good one to start with.”

Leagues across the country have been making more efforts to recognize HBCUs. Last year, the NBA was forced to delay and relocate their All-Star Weekend to Atlanta due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league was able to highlight various HBCU initiatives in the process.

With the help of Chris Paul and the National Basketball Players Association, the NBA has been able to push for the inclusion of HBCUs while simultaneously raising $3 million for Black institutions and continue to make strides to generate even more money.

Abbot is happy to see future Hall-of-Famers support this push. “It’s great to see two legends in Chris Paul and LeBron James at the forefront of this fight” he explained. “Chris Paul is known for outwardly supporting HBCUs in a myriad of different ways and LeBron is doing a lot of great things with Florida A&M University.”

The NBA is currently making multiple efforts to highlight the history and legacy that HBCUs carry. The NBA has recently opened up an HBCU Fellowship Program for HBCU students aspiring to work in the NBA. The NBA, G-League, and Basketball Africa League have collaborated to host showcase events for HBCU players, coaches, and athletic trainers. The league is also looking to create training and educational opportunities for HBCU students and alumni interested in the officiating pipeline. These are just a handful of ways that the league has shown commitment to diversity and inclusion.

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capitol B

BY MICAH WASHINGTON

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Simone Sebastian as she began to think about the future that was ahead at her new job. It was just months ago that Sebastian left the Washington Post newsroom as a former Deputy America Editor on the National Desk to now become the editorial director of “Capital B,” a Black-owned non-profit news organization.

With reference to one of the AP Style Guide rules, The B in “Capital B” is more than just a letter, how Sebastian explains it is “the goal for Capital B is to speak directly to Black audiences with quality news that focuses both on national issues for Black folks, as well as local ones.” The Atlanta-based news organization launched their digital platform on Jan. 31, since then they’ve been producing articles nationwide discussing health, policing, equity, and more issues affecting Black communities.

“My main goal for capital B is for us to find the stories that affect Black Americans that are not already covered by the mainstream news,’ said Sebastian, ‘it’s my job to help define what those stories are.”

She works to define those stories alongside their reporters that are currently covering news locally in Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Their newsroom is made up of four national journalists who come from different backgrounds in their personal and professional careers and now join each other to bring their nontraditional way of traditional news to viewers like you.

Sebastian explained the reason for the news’ decision to be non-profit was due to breaking the traditional news norms by declining any financial interest. The focus is on the people; Capital B is hoping this decision will lead to building a Black audience and encourage them to engage with the stories. “ We write news that is focused on helping people, we are not so tied to reaching a huge audience…that’s what kind of drives sensationalized news,” said Sebastian.

Their goal is to actively hire reporters in various beats in hopes that they are able to expand their newsroom outside of the Atlanta headquarter. But, this start-up organization, they are driven to cover stories and know their stories are accessible for everyone and anyone.

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EUPHORIA

THE SHOW THAT UNIFIES

By Kennedi Armour “Euphoria,” the HBO television show which explores the realities of a group of teens, has accumulated a large audience and fan base. The show seems to appeal to audiences of various demographics, leading viewers from all walks of life to tune in every Sunday night. In fact, fans have begun to refer to Sundays as “Euphoria Day.” Fans live tweet and interact with each other by sharing their reactions, thoughts, and takes on the show. At the same time, fans have also seemed to find comfort in watching it alongside friends, family, peers, and romantic partners. It makes people wonder: “What dares fans to watch the show with other people?”

Most people enjoy watching their favorite show alone. That way they can enjoy it without distractions, interruptions, and obnoxious questions. Yet, this case is different considering people frequently watch “Euphoria” in the company of another person or multiple people.

Lately, the show has been receiving a lot of criticism; some critics believe the show glorifies the use of drugs. Others believe it is just demonstrating the realities that some people face.

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It seems as though fans are intrigued to see how Rue, the main character of the show played by Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, navigates her teenage life while battling with substance abuse. Rue’s storyline plays a significant role in the success of the show. It demonstrates the difficulties teens face regarding drugs, social life, romantic relationships, mental health, and family issues. Overall, the intensity of the show seems to urge fans to tune in together- whether it is on demand or in real time.

Here at Howard, many students prefer to watch the show with their friends so they can “unpack” and share the experience with one another. For some people, the show can be a bit overwhelming- which is why people find comfort in watching the show together. It is almost as if fans rely on each other for emotional support, company, and friendship when watching the show together. Some consider this a form of intimacy.

Nevertheless, “Euphoria” has brought a number of people together, and it continues to unite people with every new episode. It is, without a doubt, a form of entertainment, escape, and bonding time for a lot of people.