MeccaMorphosis: The Evolution Issue

101

101 MAGAZINE PRESENTS

THE MECCAMORPHOSIS

THE EVOLUTION ISSUE

LOOKING BACK AT FALL 2023

MECCA MORPHOSIS Captured by Phenix Halley

Inside the

1 | Table of Contents

Contents & Masthead Editor’s Note An Ode to Howard Ushering In the Next Generation of Bison Howard Speaks: Upperclassmen’s Views on Yardfest Experience What‘s All the Bison Madness?

Students Share Insight on Ticket Distribution HU HOCO Style Guide A Glance Into HBCU Drip Homecoming at Howard: “The Revival“ of Generations HOCO Weekend Kick-off: Yardfest Day 1 HOCO Step Show Brings Night of Nostalgia Howard Football Ends Homecoming In Spectacular Fashion Game Day at the Mecca Photography Alumni Relive the Mecca at the Revival Homecoming at Howard: “The Revival” of Generations Straight Outta the Mecca: HOCO Fashion Show A Declassified Guide to Being Outside Men’s 101 Homecoming Styles

M O R E

CONTENT

SOC Professors Excel

HU Social Justice Consortium

Outside of the Classroom

Fellow Unveils “Centuries” Art Exhibit In NOMA

Howard Soccer’s Team Best Ever Finish In NEC

How HU Students are

Simone Leigh Brings Black Feminism and Artistic Rebellion to D.C. In New Exhibit

Boycotting and Protesting for Palestine

Who Will Win These

The Aces Parade Showed Why They Have Tapped Into The Villain Role

Categories from the 2024 Grammy’s?

10 Songs to Add to Your Fall Playlist

Howard University Football Clinches Their First Celebration Bowl Appearance

Looking Ahead: Post-Grad

Five Books to Cozy Up With This Fall

Five Things to Do In the DMV

Life for College Seniors Amid Looming Recession

Four Thanksgiving Day Episodes to Lighten the Holiday Season

Black Nativity Review

New Blue Sun: Andre 3000

Beckham: A Review & Commentary

An American Holiday with a Multicultural Dinner Plate

Navigating Uncertainty: The Graduating Class of 2024

Copyright © 2023

Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications Dept. of Media, Journalism, and Film 300 Bryant St. NW Washington, D.C., 20059

Fall 2023

MASTHEAD JADA INGLETON

DARLINE WASHINGTON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

IMARA MOORE

MANAGING EDITOR

ASSITANT Editor

JUAN BENN JR.

Eliana Lewis

HEAD CREATIVE DIRECTOR + COPY EDITOR

Creative Director + Event Planner

Amber Smith

Autumn Coleman

Creative Director + Staff Writer

Creative Director + Staff Writer

Toussaint Fancher

Azaria Jackson

Creative Director + SPorts Editor

Creative Director + SOCIAL MEDIA

Ebenezer Nkunda

Joy Young

Creative Director + Staff Writer

Web Editor + Copy Editor

Myahna Alston

Badi Cross

Web Editor + Copy Editor

Staff Writer + Sports Writer

Alecia Taylor

Davis Dailey

Staff Writer + Social Media

Sports Writer + Graphic Designer

George Hamilton III

JASPER SMITH

Sports Writer + Copy Editor

Copy Editor + Fact Checker

Ginger Mattison

Ayo Olagbaju

Audio Producer + Marketing

COpy Editor + Social Media

Mekala Seme

MYA TRUJILLO

Copy Editor + Social Media

CONTRIBUTING STAFF WRITER

Phenix Halley

Lauren Smith

Contributing Photographer

Contributing Photographer

YANICK RICE LAMB

ERICKA BLOUNT

INGRID STURGIS

GRACIE LAWSON-BORDERS

FOUNDER

PROFESSOR AND ADVISOR

DEPARTMENT CHAIR

DEAN

101magazinehu@gmail.com

101magazine.net

Letter “THE MECCAMORPHOSIS” IS NOT SIMPLY JUST A PLAY ON WORDS-IN REALITY, IT’S IN EVERY STUDENT WALKING ON CAMPUS.”

from the

Editor To the beloved Bison community, Hello, and a happy holidays to you! Thank you for choosing 101 Magazine to be your digital escape into the reality of a Bison.

Let’s face it, sometimes the end of fall semester sneaks up on students. By the time you hit Halloween or Thanksgiving, you might as well be saying, “Happy New Year!” and preparing for spring break. Coupled with a traditional cultural celebration and the beginning of the end of undergrad for graduates, the fall is a crucial time for realignment and exemplary contributions throughout the university. Historically speaking, we have watched the fall semester bring on multiple developments — whether it be innovative projects around campus, or students exemplifying their version of “Truth & Service” with powerful protests and demonstrations.

As a graduating senior myself, I know three things to be true: 1) Nothing is funny in November (except for the amount of things on my To-Do List); 2) Howard is a pivotal monument for education and self-discovery; and 3) there is no place like home.

With this edition, we aim not just to please, but also to showcase the multigenerational impact of Howard University, and the many ways it has welcomed reinvention and growth.

Stories such as “The Revival: Generations of Howard” begs the question: What does it mean to be a Bison as an alum? In “Students ‘Charge’ University with Genocide by Calling Out Howard’s Ties to Israel” we revisit the rich history of Howard’s campus as a stomping ground for changemaking and advocacy.

And then, of course, we had to give you some holiday specials to truly wrap the year up in a blue, red, and white bow! “An American Holiday with a Multicultural Dinner Plate” celebrates Thanksgiving traditions across the Yard and inspires readers to dive into their own familial experiences and values.

In our look back at the fall semester, we encourage readers to celebrate the fellow Bison who have represented and been part of the evolution of Howard. “The MeccaMorphosis” is not simply just a play on words. In reality, it’s in every student walking on campus. We dedicate this issue to alumni and to ourselves. For 156 years of Truth & Service. For 156 years of Black excellence.

With love and the highest regard, For nearly 100 years, multiple generations of Bison have traveled near and far, bus or plane, to honor a university that might just — in hindsight — give back even more than they seamlessly can take.

Jada R. Ingleton Proudly serving as Editor-in-Chief for the 2023-24 school year

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AN ODE TO HOWARD

By Mya Trujillo

As the months count down to the day when I proudly hold my degree in hand.

Summer sun begins to freeze over, and the frigid winds roll in.

The end of my transition into true independence quickly approaches I sit on the Yard watching sunset-colored leaves slowly gliding through the air, gently kissing the grass upon landing.

I wonder how four years sped by faster than a Challenger down Georgia Ave Four years since I first stepped foot on your campus Four years since I first looked down onto the Valley in awe As I dreamed of the endless possibilities you could offer Even though my time here is coming to an end, I still wonder Why does the mere whisper of your name cause ears to perk up like those of a doe at the sudden rustling of autumn leaves?

Why do those seven syllables ring bells that clang louder than the clock tower at noon?

Is it the various philanthropic gifts you receive each year?

Is it your close relationship with the nation’s government?

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No.

It’s because of the world-changing work accomplished within your walls, and the rich histories Bison before me have created.

It’s because of your ability to stand tall at the doors of opportunity, waiting to hold them open for the world’s Black minds.

It’s because of the legends that have graced your campus.

It’s because of the 9,689 students working diligently to achieve their ancestors’ wildest dreams.

Yes, you give us the space to be a community that glimmers with excellence, but we are the greatness you are constantly associated with.

We lean on each other and create steadfast foundations, giving each other the strength to hold our heads high when the world wants us to hang them low.

We come together in desperate times, amplifying each other’s voices so they echo throughout the heavens.

It is our constant conviction, and our zealous ambitions That truly makes you what you are.

We are what make you illustrious.

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USHERING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF BISON

BY AMBER V. SMITH

Tamara Atkins (2nd from left) and her daughter, Morgan (middle), met up with other alumni and their families outside of Douglass Hall before the football game. (Amber V. Smith/101 Magazine)

Homecoming weekend for many Howard University alumni serves as an opportunity to reunite with their former classmates, relive their favorite pastimes and enjoy a party or two. For other alumni, specifically those with children, it’s also an opportunity to expose the next generation to the culture and excellence of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Children of all ages have always been welcome at homecoming festivities, but this was the first year an event was catered specifically toward younger children. Howard’s television and radio stations, WHUT-TV and WHUR-FM, hosted the firstever “Fam-Fest” during Saturday’s homecoming activities. It was the perfect event for the small attendees to enjoy music, bouncy castles and face painting, and an opportunity for parents to introduce their children to their first HBCU homecoming experience.

Howard alumna Sharise Whitfield ‘19 was excited the university organized an event for younger children to enjoy this year. Whitfield has brought her two sons, ages 7 and 9, to Howard’s homecoming since they were toddlers, as she wants them to attend a Black college or university. She said it is important for young children to see what is possible at an early age and homecoming events allow them to do just that.

Big Tech's top 5

“We’re starting early,” Whitfield said. “The earlier the better so [it is] already ingrained. We’re talking about college [and] good grades. We’re talking about what it takes to get here. So, MONTH YEAR we’re showing them the football games and the bands, and we want them to be excited about it.”

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Whitfield said her goal is for her sons to understand the importance of HBCUs in hopes they find enough pride in the culture that they will want to continue the legacy.

Similarly, fellow alumna Tamara Atkins ‘97 harbors the same desire. Although she and her husband, who is also a Howard alum, have brought their daughter Morgan Atkins, 16, to the university’s campus several times prior, this was her first Howard Homecoming experience. Atkins believes alumni must teach their children to embrace HBCU culture to uphold it for future generations.

“We want our children to know how important it is to us and how important it is for the next generations,” said Atkins. “We want to [ensure] we pass along the knowledge, the wit, the security, the encouragement of every person who has stepped foot on an HBCU campus.”

The early exposure could be the reason HBCUs across the country have seen a spike in enrollment. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment at HBCUs increased by 57% in 2022, compared to predominantly white institutions where enrollment declined by 10% overall. Howard’s enrollment, specifically, increased by 32% between 2019 and 2023. While some experts may attribute this surge to the effects of COVID19, others believe Black students are flocking to HBCUs for the culture and sense of belonging.

“I definitely encouraged both of them to attend Howard right from the start,” said Blackstone. “My oldest got a full scholarship, so it was an easy decision for him. And then my youngest decided he wanted to come here after visiting his brother for homecoming.”

Today, they are both Howard alumni. In fact, her oldest son, Dr. Jeremy Blackstone, is an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Architecture.

Dr. Blackstone confirmed how early exposure founded his connection to Howard and recalled a campus visit that cemented his decision to attend the university.

“Howard provides you with a home, not just an education,” he said. “[I remember] my mom introduced me to the department chair for Computer Science at the time and he provided himself as a resource the way a family member would. That connection continues to this day and he, as well as other faculty who I met as I matriculated through the program, have served as mentors to me in every step of my career.”

Blackstone said she and her sons try to continue the tradition of attending homecoming every year because it’s important to maintain that connection.

“They had their choice to go anywhere else, but I told them there’s nothing like an HBCU,” she said. “There’s nothing like Howard.”

Alumna Sharise Whitfield and her family enjoy Saturday’s homecoming events. (Amber V. Smith/101 Magazine)

“That is the case at least for Atkins’ daughter, Morgan, who said she’s strongly considering The Mecca as her top choice after attending homecoming.

It’s been beautiful to see so much affinity [for our culture],” she said. “I’ve seen so many different people, but we’re all connected on that same level of the Black American experience. It’s been beautiful to see, and I do see myself here.”

Beverly Blackstone can attest to the power of exposing young children to HBCU culture. She attended Howard during the 1970s, and while she did not graduate, the university has held a special place in her heart ever since.

Beverly says she’s brought her sons to every homecoming event since they were toddlers. When it was time for them to decide where to attend college, Howard was the obvious choice for both of them.

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Big Tech's top 5

MONTH YEAR Beverly Blackstone continues her tradition of attending Howard’s homecoming parade. (Amber V. Smith/101 Magazine)

UPPERCLASSMEN GIVE A THUMBS DOWN TO YARDFEST CONCERT EXPERIENCE

By Badi Cross

On Oct. 25, 2022, following homecoming, the Howard University Student Association (HUSA) and Undergraduate Student Assembly (UGSA) penned an open letter to the Howard community, explaining that neither the 61st HUSA senate nor the 49th UGSA was involved in the planning or choosing artists that performed at Yardfest. Not receiving input from these organizations means no direct or indirect input from the vast majority of the student body.

Historically, Howard University’s homecoming has been one of the most famous, sought-after, storied events in the entire country.

When people think of an HBCU homecoming, Howard is the one that comes to mind. Celebrities pop out, the modeling organizations put on their fashion show and the Greeks have their step show. The main event for many people is The Yardfest, the concert hosted on The Yard by the school every year. This Howard tradition has brought some heavy hitters in the past, from Notorious B.I.G. to Drake; and even the likes of Jay-Z, DMX, and Kanye West in the mid-2000s have all graced the stage at past Yardfest concerts.

All of this came crashing down after the COVID-19 pandemic shut the school down in 2020 and forced the 2021 concert to Cramton Auditorium. This caused many people to miss out due to limited seating. Many of the upperclassmen today experienced their first fully in-person homecoming in 2022, with their final undergraduate concert being this year.

“My experience at Howard [Homecoming] has been a little bit conflicting,” said Wallace.“Going to homecoming last year, I already knew what to expect from Howard, so I wasn’t really surprised with being disappointed with the artists. I feel like it only caters to one group in the Black community that listens to a certain type of rap. It doesn’t really cater to people who listen to other genres of music.

There are so many great [artists] out there, but they only give flowers to a certain genre–rap music, trap music.”

For the 2022 Homecoming lineup, the concert featured Flo Milli and Glorilla, two rising rappers in the music industry. A lot of their music garnered major attention after going viral on the social media app TikTok, catapulting them into stardom. While their music might not be described as “trap” music, per se, they certainly have a sound that a mainstream audience has latched onto, and it’s a sound that students like Wallace may not be interested in.

“I feel like that’s kind of what people expect younger Black people to listen to without understanding that there are other great artists like Saba, Smino, and Isaiah Rashad, who all create different genres,” Wallace said.

The burning questions that have risen from the current situation are: How has the Yardfest experience been for upperclassmen?

Have the one or two homecoming concerts they’ve attended on campus lived up to their expectations? And who would they like to see in what could be their last homecoming experience as undergraduates?

Something that many people may not think about when it comes to Howard’s homecoming are the demographics it serves. The school is predominantly Black, but Black people are not monolithic. There are over 9,000 students that go to the school, and some of these individuals may have different tastes than what the university typically presents its students during its concerts, including junior journalism major Kayla Wallace.

Wallace hails from Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she developed her love for music by listening to artists who fall into the realm of alternative rap, neo-soul, and Africana music.

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Amari Green, a senior architecture major from Chicago, shared a similar dissatisfaction with her homecoming concert experience, but for different reasons. Green has only been able to attend one of Howard’s homecoming concerts, and she was not enthused about the caliber of performers that Howard brought in.

“I, personally, was very underwhelmed,” Green said.

“Especially in comparison to other HBCUs and who their lineup was and what they were getting. I feel like we were very much beneath that.”

Last Homecoming season, social media erupted after artists such as Drake, 21 Savage, and Lil Baby all performed at other HBCUs, including Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Florida A&M University.

While Howard has already seen some of these artists perform on campus, the expectation from many students for these big-name artists to come every year seems to have caused some disappointment over time. Green expressed interest in seeing artists like Beyoncé, Chief Keef, and Nicki Minaj as her ideal, (if not realistic) homecoming concert.

If Howard wants to cater to its students and help create good memories rather than bad ones, it’s imperative that the school listens and receives input from them. How does it look on the university if they have large numbers of students (soon-to-be alumni) who feel like their homecoming experiences were cheapened by lackluster performances?

Homecoming should be one of the best experiences an HBCU student has, not one to be looked back upon sourly. It’s not practical to simply assume that alumni or university administration can accurately perceive the wants and needs of students without hearing from them at all. Not only would this be helpful in solving students’ displeasure with the event, but it would also be far more inclusive of all views, including ones like Wallace's, that haven’t typically been represented in the Yardfest concert at all.

“I don’t think [our concert] even compared to theirs,” Green stated. “That being said, I enjoyed the rest of homecoming. It was just the concert that I wasn’t a fan of.”

A differing perspective comes from senior supply-chain management major Anthony Smiley, who was grateful for his concert experience.

“Given that I know the people that put it together personally, I was really appreciative of how they were able to bring those artists together,” said Smiley.

The Orlando native said that so much of the concert experience is just about seeing what you’re looking to get out of it. A lot of his enjoyment was derived from being around friends outside and the artists’ energy.

“I feel like it’s more about what the artists bring than the crowd,” explained Smiley. “A lot of artists say, ‘I’m going to give back to you what you give to me,’ and a lot of people are out there, scared to have a good time. If you’re just there for that good time, then you’ll have a good time,” said Smiley.

Smiley said that some of his most desired artists to perform would be J. Cole, Lil Durk – who just performed at Howard’s Springfest concert in 2023 –Lil Baby and SZA --“for the ladies.”

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Crowd at Yardfest 2023. (101 Magazine/Badi Cross)

Images depicting the night of Bison Madness. Courtesy of Creative Agency 4812. Collage by Davis Dailey

Welcome to Bison Madness!

This highly anticipated Jordan brand sponsored pep-rally took place on Monday night October 16 in the Burr Gymnasium at 7pm. The event brought out a full house, as the stadium filled up quickly with both students and athletes.

The event is a pep rally for students to get excited about Homecoming week and all the fun activities and events the school holds for seven days.

The event began with flashing lights and music from artists such as Lil Durk. There was a palpable excitement that another homecoming week was set to get started.

By Toussaint Fancher and Davis Dailey

A pair of guest celebrity appearances set the tone for the night. Renowned NBA and WNBA shooting coach Chris Matthews – affectionately known as ‘Lethal Shooter’ – and PValley actor, J. Alphonse Nicholson, served as the hosts and primary speakers of the event. The two served as the hype men for the night, and they brought crazy energy. They were able to keep the crowd engaged as the night wore on with intense energy.

After a few minutes of addressing the crowd, the fun began with the introduction of the Howard Showtime Marching Band.

The band played for a few minutes in different formations.

They performed in a block band formation and played classic standard tunes which are tunes that are usually played during football games that are meant to hype the crowd. The music was meant to be loud and in-your-face. To compliment this – a mix of cheerleaders, dancers, and drum majors danced and performed for the homecoming crowd.

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Drummer and band member Quinn Buckley said, “I really enjoyed playing in Bison Madness, it's always one of my favorite performances of the year, it's fun to perform all out inside of a packed Burr.”

After the band, the atmosphere shifted; as the band exited the court the arena surged with red, white, and blue fog. The intense music started up, and ‘Lethal Shooter’ and Nicholson began to introduce the men’s and women's basketball teams one by one, with the women's team at the forefront of the presentation.

Each player and coach walked out to a song of their choice – some dripped down in props like sunglasses and chains – and danced to hype up the crowd, while hundreds of supportive fans filled the arena with cheer and Bison spirit.

As soon as the two teams were announced, the crowd got on their feet and showed out for the swag surf. The popular HBCU gathering dance, “Swag Surfin’” has been known to improve energy in the crowd, increase participation, and display HBCU culture and pride.

Then, it was time for the basketball scrimmages.

“These young brothers are about to put it all on the floor and give y'all a taste of what you’ll witness this season,” said Nicholson.

Tip-off was held with the red team winning jump ball and starting the competitive game with a ferocious slam, going up 2-0.

It was a fast-paced first half and looked like a slasher’s playground as the players were able to drive right to the rim with transition dunks, alley-oops, and acrobatic finishes. By the end of the half, the score was 17-15 with the red squad leading.

The second-half was slower-paced and involved more shooting. Half-court shots and three-pointers were attempted repeatedly by the blue team, but it didn’t pull the win as the red team maintained the lead, winning 2924.

The end of the match meant the perfect time for fans to participate. Two opportunities for student ticket raffles were soon presented, with one being for a $1,000 prize. The

each other in a close eight-minute scrimmage. They

first challenge was a team three-point shootout relay.

Two raffle-winning students from the crowd were put on

split into two teams, one in red and the other in blue; and both teams played hard down to the wire. After nearly seven minutes of gameplay, the score was 1713 in favor of the blue squad.

separate teams: “Team Swish” and “Team Tre-Ball.”

Accompanied by players from both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, “Team Swish” accumulated 6 points and won the shootout.

Both squads put up more last minute attempt shots, but the score remained the same and the blue team eventually ended up victorious with a score of 17-13.

The last event of Bison Madness was a mystery raffle halfcourt shot for $1,000. Somewhere in the crowd, two yellow tickets were located under arena seats and those people got the opportunity to shoot. Both students got one shot each, but both missed and did not get the prize money.

However, Jordan Brand still rewarded their efforts as both participants received a brand new pair of Jordan shoes, sending both students jumping up and down in jubilation.

First, the women's team players faced off against

From there, an intermission was held between the women’s scrimmage and the men’s, as the widely admired dance team, the Bisonettes took to the court to perform. Known for their beauty and elegance, the Howard University dance team didn’t disappoint.

The lights dimmed and the group strutted out in style with choreographed dance routines that ignited the crowd into cheers and outward support for the group.

By the time the performance was over, the men’s basketball team quickly went to the court to warmup and, similar to the Lady Bison, they were divided into red versus blue before playing an eight-minute scrimmage with four-minute halves.

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Photo Courtesy of Howard livestream

“That’s one thing about Jordan, they're always taking care and everybody’s a winner,” said ‘Lethal Shooter’.

Bison Madness came to a close, but the festivities continued as Jordan Brand hosted an afterparty with free food, a DJ, and dancing, allowing students to have a great start to their homecoming week.

STUDENTS SHARE INSIGHTS ON TICKET DISTRIBUTION

BY AZARIA JACKSON For past homecoming events, students have had to stand in line in order to purchase tickets during a specific day and window of time.

With on-campus events coming up, students have shared their perspectives, experiences, and ideas about the current ticket distribution system, particularly for major events like Bison Madness, the Homecoming football game and the fashion show.

Ari Bonds, a sophomore Honors English major from Detroit, Michigan, has hopes for improvements in the ticket distribution process.

She raised concerns about waiting in line, disrupting class schedules, and the potential for a more streamlined, online solution.

"Personally, I feel that given that students have class and the times that tickets are distributed, it should be more online-based, with more tickets available online, especially for students who have class and live off-campus,"suggests Bonds.

For past on campus events such as the Springfest concerts, Bison Madness and movie premieres, students have had to wait in lines across campus to get tickets. Nia Baptiste, a fifth-year architecture student, recounts a past experience of waiting during her freshman year for the “Queen and Slim,” movie premiere event.

“It was just too crazy, the line stretched all the way to the Yard past Locke Hall," she explains.“I’m not doing that again.”

Students, Essie Johnson and Caleb Smith, both advocate for online ticket distribution to simplify the process.

Griffin Herlong, a senior Health Management major, suggests implementing a registration system “where the seniors get first priority, juniors second, and so on.”

Students lineup for homecoming tickets. (Azaria Jackson/101 Magazine)

It was just too crazy, the line stretched all the way to the Yard past Locke Hall.

Taylor, a senior psychology major from Dallas, Texas, favors a "first come, first serve" online system for ticket distribution. Natalia Allen says, “I wish the price of tickets were lower and they didn’t have us scavenge for tickets.”

Some students suggested a combination of online and in-person ticket distribution and also proposed sending registration links to students.

“Instead of having us stand in line, I wish they did online distribution with our emails,” suggests senior TV & Film major, I’Ziae Frazier.

“I think there’s two ways to look at this, one side is looking at the safety for the students and the other is collaboration with the community we feel like we are at this point right now where we can’t have one without the other and with instances such as the incidents that occurred at the surrounding HBCUs, proves why we have to be secretive about ticket distributions, ” the actor major shares.

As fashion show chairwoman, Amaya explained how she is able to consider both student safety and accessibility.

“I think having an opportunity to be in the position that I am in allows me to not only see this from the students perspective and advocate for the student body,” she said. "I think even releasing tickets for two of our big events earlier than the day of is a lot more beneficial and it is kind of a step toward better ticketing.”

Quincy Amaya, junior acting major and Homecoming Fashion Show Chairwoman, highlighted the complexities of ticket distribution.

Students lineup for homecoming tickets. (Azaria Jackson/101 Magazine)

101 Magazine

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Men’s 101

Howard Homecoming/Fall Style Guide

By Davis Dailey Graphic designed by Davis Dailey

If you're looking to become a fashion demon or upgrade your style for Howard University’s homecoming or for the upcoming fall weather , then you’ve come to the right place, my guy. Though the days are counting down fast, there’s still time to get the items you need. Welcome to a men’s fall and homecoming style guide detailing popular men’s fashion, where to buy them, and budgetfriendly alternatives.

Fashion is heavily ingrained into Howard culture, especially during homecoming week, which allows many people to pull out all the stops and the hardest ‘fits they can put together. Over the years, several styles and trends have walked through the yard. Because crowds from surrounding communities come to Howard’s homecoming every year, the fashion tends to be a melting pot of styles from various eras.

“If I had to describe Howard's homecoming fashion in one word, it would be eclectic. Homecoming is for the whole community, drawing out people of all ages and generations.

There are a variety of styles and everyone always dresses from their era,” said Isaac Vergun, senior journalism major from Seattle and a member of campus modeling

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organization, Models of the Mecca.

Gen-Z and What to Expect This era’s fashion has a “cherrypick” aspect to it, with Gen-Z being infamous for cherry-picking inspiration from previous generations and incorporating it into current styles. In a day and age where everyone has a unique flair for how they dress, there seems to be some universal inspiration.

The Year 2000 (Y2K), Skater, and Designer styles are the foundation for many outfits worn in this era, which people then build upon to make their own. Additionally, the theme of vintage wear, baggy pants, oversized sweatshirts, and workwear mixed with minimalistic designed shoes, and a spotlight on accessories is proving to be quite popular right now.

Clothing Thrifting Thrifting has become a popular hobby for many and is a conservative and affordable means for acquiring vintage, stand-out clothing pieces. Washington, D.C. has several thrift shops to check out.

and help create a tough clothing collection for the low. Though not every thrifting day is successful, if you search hard enough you’ll come across some hidden gems.

Many of the items discussed in this guide have a high chance of making their way to your local thrift store.

Prime Thrift on Georgia Avenue is a reliable, local thrift store, with specials like “Student & Teacher Discount Days” and “Super Saver Sunday,” where you can get three color tags 50% off. If you’re in need of something quick and trendy, make sure to head down there and cop yourself a few pieces before homecoming.

Tops Howard Merchandise Items like vintage sweatshirts and Howard jerseys are some highlights that play well with the baggy, oversized Y2K look. You can find pieces like this at the Howard University Barnes & Nobles Bookstore or by thrifting in the area surrounding the University’s campus.

Basic and Graphic Tees T-shirts are a classic piece for every outfit, but it’s not really a priority piece. Nowadays, there seems to be more of an emphasis on outwear

Tops

1.

over anything else; so going all out on tees isn’t quite necessary, but if you are going to wear them, solid-colored tees that can be worn with anything are the way to go.

Say you're trying to go for a skater look, large, printed vintage graphic tees over a long-sleeve shirt, or underneath a flannel, would be ideal.

For this, thrifting is 100% the way to go. Almost everything you find will have that vintage or worn look, and will be low-priced

Pants Workwear

1. Courtesy of Micah Akins on YouTube 2. Prime Thrift on Georgia Avenue.

Photo Courtesy of Primethrift.com 3. UNIQLO’s Airism shirt. Photo Courtesy of Uniqlo.com

Fall’s arrival means cooler weather and a desire to stay warm, which signifies workwear is going to be huge. Workwear brands like Carhartt, Dickies, and Levi’s are what to look for; and not just for their pants, but for their outerwear as well. The materials of these brands are high quality and durable since they are made for construction workers.

Plus, their workwear jackets have have a baggy look and will keep.

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Where to shop - Howard University Bookstore - Prime Thrift

Shoes Rick Owens If you’re trying to be a“fashion demon” this homecoming, you’re probably looking at a pair of Ricks.

Rick Owens shoes have been extremely popular recently, being worn by several modern-day rappers and artists, like Destroy Lonely and DC the Don. The minimal design and color scheme of the shoes goes great with almost any style; but the only issue is the price. You may want to take a look at some budget-friendly options like Converse to achieve a similar look.

Balenciaga Runners With the “dad shoe” look growing in popularity, the Balenciaga Runners are seeing a rise in popularity. You’ve probably seen them before and couldn’t tell they were Balenciagas due to the design. Just like Ricks, these can be quite expensive, but luckily there are brands like Saucony and Asics that

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Where to shop - Uniqlo ($10-$25) - Prime Thrift - Carhartt

4. Graphic tee, long-sleeve combo.

Photo Courtesy of Soletal.com 5. Ye wearing a workwear jacket at Howard homecoming 2019. Photo Courtesy of Rap-up.com 6. Vintage workwear pants (Dickies, Carhartt, Wrangler). Photo Courtesy of Etsy.com

- Dickies - Levis - MNML

mimic the inspiration for the Balenciaga shoe brand. “Stick to the basics, rock some Asics,” Vergun said.

Doc Martens 1461 Oxford These boots seem to be universal for many people’s collections. Featured in a plethora of designs and color schemes, the 1461 Oxford style in black looks great on guys. The smooth black leather allows people to pull off many outfits, and the low cut makes Dickies or any similar pants lay over the shoe perfectly. The best part about this shoe is that you can either dress it up or dress it down.

Lifestyle New Balances If you’re from the Northeast or MidAtlantic, you know that New Balances are a cultural sneaker. Typically worn with sweatpants, a hoodie, and a bubble coat, the new editions of New Balances have a more modern wearability to them, allowing many Y2K outfits to be worn with them.

Being that this is a signature DMV look, and Howard is in the heart of the DMV, they had to make the list.

Alternatives to Rick Owens Boots DRKSHDW Converse | $170 Any Converse | $65-$90

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Accessories

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While accessories aren’t going to make or break your outfit, they definitely can help.

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Doc Martens 1461 Oxford These boots seem to be ubiquitous in many people’s collections.

Featured in a plethora of designs and color schemes, the 1461 Oxford style in black looks great on guys. The smo-

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7.A pair of Rick Owens Ramones sneakers. Photo Courtesy of Orimono.eu. 8. Doc Martens 1461 Smooth Leather Mens Oxford. Photo Courtesy of Tillys.com

Belts As Y2K themes are ever so prominent in current fashion, big buckles, rhinestones, and studded belts are making a significant return in the fashion community.

oth black leather allows people to pull off many outfits, and the low cut makes Dickies or any similar pants lay over the shoe perfectly. The best part about this shoe is that you can either dress it up or dress it down.

Jewelry Once more, the respective Y2K and skater aesthetics have brought out many fashionable elements from the past. Rings, bracelets, and wallet chains are a nice way to add some visual appeal or make your outfit pop. wear fit, or a new Where to shop age Howard ‘90s take with a - Hard Jewelry letterman jacket - CRAFTD London one thing's for certain: Howard homecoming will bring out everyone's authentic style and taste, and make you think deeply about your fashion choices.

Remember, you don’t need the most expensive pieces to craft a nice outfit.

It’s not the price of the items that make the ‘fit, it’s who’s wearing it. Get that fresh fade, gather your toughest pieces, and prepare for the Revival: Howard Homecoming 2023. Hope this guide helps, fellas.

The Guide to A Howard GLANCE Homecoming INTO Fashion HBCU ‘DRIP’

By Imara Moore

HBCU homecomings are known for being a captivating, week-long experience of tradition, talent, style, and community. At Howard University, this event is one of the main fashion hubs of the year, with alumni and visitors traveling from all places to participate in the grand reunion and represent the Bison spirit.

Dressing up for homecoming has a deeper history, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s when Black HBCU students strategically used fashion for protection and respect. During that era, wearing nice attire challenged the societal stereotypes about Black people being “lazy” and “undignified,” and instead showed that Black people deserved respect and equal treatment.

Fashion remains a core component of HBCU culture, serving as a sentiment of creativity blended with heritage.

“Pop-out culture,” which is Howard slang for stepping out in your best outfit for a special event, has become a societal norm for HBCUs and redefined what fashion means. While Howard's homecoming inevitably offers historical value and significance, one key part of the week is the runway it provides for fashion enthusiasts.

Let’s dive into some fashion trends.

Chrome is Everything Chrome, especially in accessories and statement pieces, dominated the looks at this year’s

chic leather mini skirts, hard-edge moto jackets, or knee-high boots. This fabric will add the perfect flair to your outfit.

I.Am.Gia. and Aritzia sell iconic faux leather set looks.

Denim on Demin Denim is one of the most popular looks at HBCU events because you can mix and match different shades and textures. Step out in classic True Religion or Levi’s jeans, or explore different ways to ets, Canadian tuxedos, baggy jeans, and denim maxi skirts.

Hitting up the thrift store for denim at an affordable price is one of the best

Photos courtesy of Pinterest

homecoming. Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour theme of silver heavily inspired this metallic look’s Chrome, especially in accessories and statement pieces, dominated the looks at this year’s homecoming. Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour theme of silver heavily inspired this metallic look’s resurgence. Stores like Pretty Little Thing, Zara, and FashionNova sell various metallic pieces, including pants, aviator jackets, and two-piece sets.

Leather is Timeless & It’s In Leather is such a classic staple in the closet; its versatility makes it a timeless piece. With leather pants to style denim, some of the most fashionable looks are denim cors-

ways to go. Shop for unique denim pieces at Prime Thrift on Georgia Ave., Georgetown Flea Market, or any Goodwill in the area.

Cozy Streetwear Since the weather in the DMV is a bit unpredictable, cozy streetwear looks are in this season. From the soughtafter Mea Culpa beanies to faux fur coats, there will be a mixture of style and warmth.

Afghan coats, faux fur boots, fuzzy mini skirts, and bright, fuzzy bucket hats will keep you warm while making you stand out in the crowd. Stores like Princess Polly, Boohoo, and Asos offer comfy, trendy items, as well as fast shipping options.

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Showing Off Your School Spirit Howard pride is everything, and nothing says “I love HU” like Letterman jackets. This is the perfect fall attire for homecoming, especially for tailgates and football games.

Supporting Black businesses that sell HBCU 3. merch is one of the best ways to celebrate.

Shop for Howard crew necks and shorts 2.

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from LegacyHistoryPride, as well as Greek life attire from HBCUTrue.

Customized Howard apparel, some even made from vintage t-shirts, is available for purchase at Tongutied and Etsy. These pieces are in a class by themselves, so you’ll definitely make heads turn.

As you prepare for homecoming and fall festivities, consider these options. If nothing else, remember that fashion isn’t just clothes, it’s how you express yourself.

1,2, 4-7. Photos courtesy of Pinterest. 3. Photo courtesy of LegacyHistoryPride

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M O ING C E M AT O H OWARD

H

“The “Revival” of Generations

By Jada Ingleton

In the early ‘70s the concept of Howard Homecoming had barely evolved to the must-see cultural celebration that it is now–where people from all over the nation travel by bus, train or plane to partake in an immersive experience. In the late ‘90s, Yardfest-goers boo’d an up-and-coming Maxwell off the stage as he sang the words to his debut album. In 2023, homecoming celebrates many traditions from Howard’s timeline, culminating in a highly anticipated week of events and a look-back at how far the institution has come.

For seven days in October, generations of Bison travel home to reminisce and revisit their HU experiences. This year’s theme of “Revival” seemingly spoke to a new era for the University, coupled with a new president and a large audience that flooded the streets and reflected decades of impact.

In individual candid conversations, three generations from The Mecca sat down with 101 Magazine to reflect on the past, present and future and shared their testaments about what it meant to be a Bison at the “Revival.“

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The Rise of

Roger Glass on the steps of the Fine Arts building, Class of 1975

THE MECCA Roger Glass, graduating class of 1975, remembers homecoming to be much different than what he experienced this year. For starters, he doesn’t recall a week consisting of fashion shows, fraternity and sororities step shows, and tailgating, and says he would remember a hype concert closing out the festivities. While it has always been a safe haven for alumni, Glass observed a tremendous growth in the event that he feels has made returning home a necessity.

“I'm happy. I think it's good, certainly for alumni to return and be a part of the Howard community, but also for students to come in contact with alumni,” Glass said. “As a result, more and more of my contemporaries are coming back to homecoming. It's a big deal for us. As we get older, it's gotten more important to come back.”

The New York native also commends Howard “WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME TO BE A HOWARD for continuously emphGRADUATE IS TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT OUR PEOPLE. asizing the importance TRUTH IN SERVICE…THAT’S THE MODEL THAT I THINK of community amd THAT MYSELF AND A LOT OF MY CONTEMPORARIES friendship, a theme that was evident throughout HAVE TAKEN TO HEART AND CARRIED ON, this year’s homecoming PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE ERA WE WERE AT celebration. He smiled HOWARD, WHERE BLACK NATIONALISM AND “BLACK as he recalled partying AND PROUD” WERE REALLY AT THE FOREFRONT.” with classmates he parti-

A radio broadcast major, journalism minor, Glass spoke fondly of his experience on campus, a time where the fight for civil rights and Black activism was at its peak. Glass was an active member in a number of organizations, including Howard’s Civil Rights/Black Nationalism Movement–a foundational experience that he is extremely proud to have participated in.

Epitomizing Howard’s motto of truth and service, Glass went on to accomplish a list of contributions advocating for the community, including co-founding Concerned Black Men and serving two years as president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists in the mid-1980’s. Today, Glass hosts the “Back Together Again” party, an organized event consisting of classes from the ‘70s and ‘80s whose mission is to raise funds for the university and offer scholarships to students in financial need.

“What it means for me to be a Howard graduate is to continue to uplift our people,” Glass said. “Truth in service…That’s the model that I think that myself and a lot of my contemporaries have taken to heart and carried on, particularly in light of the era we were at Howard, where Black nationalism and “Black and proud” were really at the forefront.”

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- ROGER GLASS

ed with 50 years ago, and

shared his excitement over reuniting with his “HU Tribe,” a group of friends whom he met during his first week in the Cook Hall dorm.

Glass said he felt uplifted when he witnessed the love and solidarity among generations of fraternities as they lined up to step at this year’s homecoming. As the alum put it, “the revival is about the people,” and it showcased decades of blossoming between the university and the communities surrounding it.

“When I was up on campus, there was a huge turnout. I think the only time I saw that turnout… the year 2000,” Glass recalled. “This year’s…increasingly more and more vendors. I mean, it's just phenomenal to see. The difference is the impact– not just the Washington, D.C. community, but the larger African American community.”

“it’s a m ajor

CULTURAL MILESTONE“ Jon Cook, a graduate of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications from the class of 2005 was an honorary Bison before he even attended Howard.

After serving time in the military, Cook attended Prairie View A&M University before transferring to HU in 2000. By the time of his acceptance, however, Cook was no stranger to the historic campus–he frequently socialized around the area during the late ‘90s.

WITH JON COOK

Q&A

In an insightful Q&A, Cook shared his 2023 “Revival” experience and offered a glimpse into his era in the early 2000s and what it means for him to be an alum coming back.

Q: What was homecoming like when you were a student?

A: I remember I went to a homecoming concert and Maxwell was there…and he got booed off stage. Ludicrous was definitely there on one occasion. The famous episode with Biggie hanging out on the Yard, I was there for that. LL Cool J, Foxy Brown, Jay-Z. You would see celebrities, not even necessarily performing, just kind of walking around, just on the Yard, just enjoying the atmosphere. And it was a lot of fun. It was a different era, definitely.

A: When I was there it was a big deal to go to everything. People will go to the fashion show…the coronation ball, you want to go to anything and everything. But the big deal was always the step show. Tailgating did not exist during that time. I don't recall tailgating existing until much later. And now that's my favorite part.

Q: Why is the tailgate your favorite part?

A: I enjoy that the most because that kind of brings me back to “old Howard.” In other words, on a Friday afternoon, the Yard would be packed full of people. And it was just kind of how it was. I recognize now how much the homecoming experience is really for alumni. I think that current students probably take it a little bit for granted, but there's a very special energy that Howard has, that when you get out into the world…you're not necessarily going to experience those things.

Q: What are some changes that you've noticed, specifically about Homecoming, from an alumni perspective versus as a student?

A: It's much more expensive, number one. I don't know how the students afford anything. It is less like a well-known event–it seemed to be a much more well-known established kind of thing…outside of people who went to Howard. Whereas now, I think it is much more internal and special for us, like students and alumni. But like I said earlier, I really wish there was some way that the school could better price things to make [it] more accessible for more of the students. If I could say, to the administration, anything: Definitely do what you can to open it up and make it as low cost as possible for not just the students, but for the alumni and the community. So we can all come together and enjoy…what should be a beautiful event.

Q: What is it about HU that alumni resonate with so much?

A: I feel like Howard really educates you and instills a certain energy in you. Something that me and my friends have been talking about as we get older is that our peer group is kind of reaching that pinnacle of your career. And that's the culmination of decades of work, of course, but it is 8 beautiful to see because we can see that person and you see the growth.

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A: (Cont’d) You remember more than 20 years ago, when they were a freshman, sitting in Cook Hall…And now here they are, 20 years later…just doing wonderful, fantastic things. Coming to Howard, where you are daily rubbing shoulders with people that are educated, they're driven, the best of the best, and you are in that number. It's an ego boost, almost.

Cook testified on how the illustrious institution prepares students for navigating the real world.

A: During my time, there were definitely instances where you just had to kind of persevere…

Getting your financial aid…was a haze. And a lot of people really just gave up. You just kind of had to learn that system, you had to figure it out. Sometimes you just had to be like, “I'm not gonna take no for an answer,” and figure out who you needed to speak to, or what you needed to do in order to take care of the business. If you have that kind of mentality, it is absolutely going to carry you far in life. Absolutely, 100%. Those types of lessons: how to speak to people, how to work within the system, how to navigate not just different social groups, but cultures. The first instance, that I can recall, of really running into Black people from literally all over the world was at Howard. There's something special about [it], and I think that even people who did not go to Howard would admit that.

Jon Cook, Cook Hall, Fall 2000

“AHOCO TROPHY FOR SENIOR YEAR“

For Lauren Smith, a senior audio production major, the "Revival" theme set the tone perfectly for the events in store. Smith’s acceptance into Howard came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was arguably the institution’s “revival” period after operating exclusively virtually for nearly two years following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having experienced the school in a vulnerable state, Smith was elated to have a final send-off that she could only describe as “a homecoming trophy for senior year.”

“I think the moment where I realized, ‘Oh, this is really a Howard Homecoming’ was the amount of people I saw for the homecoming game and tailgate.

Since I’ve been here, we've never seen that amount of people coming…in droves. Tailgates had to get shut down, block parties had to get shut down because that many people came back to support our school, to celebrate with our school,” Smith said with a grin she couldn’t contain.

The Texas-born photographer attributes a great deal of her enjoyment to going out and participating in most of the activities while being surrounded by people that made the adventures worthwhile.

Though she acknowledges that the university has come a long way in recent years, she believes that there is still room for growth when it comes to elevating the homecoming experience for everyone on campus.

“I would like to know more, if I can, in certain areas,” Smith said about information coming from the homecoming committee. “Having that more open communication with the homecoming committee [and students], us giving some more suggestions of stuff that we want to be different. There were certain points… where we didn't even know certain events were happening, because there wasn't a release schedule or anything like that. If you were there, you'd be there,” she explained. “The Homecoming committee is slowly paying more attention to what we want. Hopefully, they continue to do that and even expand more.”

With many favorite moments from the "Revival", Smith feels most thankful for

Lauren Smith at “The Revival”, Fall 2023

the networking opportunities that stem from each anniversary. She looks forward to returning to the next homecoming as a first-year alumna, eager to continue the method of building connections and blazing trails for those after her.

When asked what she would describe as the essence of homecoming, the soon-to-be alumna put it perfectly: celebration, freedom, art, and Black joy.

“We're able to celebrate those who came before us, those who are there and then those who are coming to us. It represents the past, present, and future.

And I think it just allows us to be free. We can express how we are and who we are through our clothes, through the fashion show, the football game. We celebrate every aspect of what it means to be a part of HBCU,” Smith said.

Each year, Howard’s homecoming serves as a reminder of the history and the growth of The Mecca, with new traditions – and often, older ones – being at the forefront of reunion, reflection, and celebration. Whether it be looking back decades or turning your tassel for the first time next spring, these generations of Bison would all agree that they’ll always find their way back home.

“Going to Howard legitimately changed my life. It's where I grew up, made that transition from young man to grown man, basically. It represents a really special time in my life that cannot be replicated,” Cook said. “It was not all great. I had definitely gone through some hard times; but overall, it had everything to do with the way I am now. The way that things are for me, right now, has come from those years that I was at Howard; and I have no regrets, I wouldn't change it. So that's why I will keep going.”

Jon Cook pictured celebrating Homecoming in 2023

Roger Glass gathers with classmates on the Yard during the tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 22

Rog er G lass the Fine (far Arts right) o Bui; ildin n the s g in t the eps of ‘70s .

oing to Howard legitimately changed my life. It's where I grew up, made that transition from young man to grown man, basically. It represents a really special time in my life that cannot be replicated,” Cook said. “It was not all great. I had definitely gone through some hard times; but overall, it had everything to do with the way I am now. The way that things are for me, right now, has come from those years that I was at Howard; and I have no regrets, I wouldn't change it. So that's why I will keep going.

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Photo of Memphis Bleek, JayZ and Beenie Siegel at Howard homecoming in 2000. Courtesy of @bisonhomecoming on X

REVIVAL RHYTHMS: DREAMING OF STARS AT HOWARD HOMECOMING 2023

By Azaria Jackson

With a homecoming theme of "Revival," and a history of a variety of performances in past editions of Yardfest, students at Howard speculated about the potential performers who may have taken the stage.

Over the years Howard University has hosted a range of notable artists. To name a few: The Notorious B.I.G and Puff Daddy in 1995; Jay-Z, Bernie Siegel, and Memphis Bleek in 2000; Drake, Fall Edition | 2023

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Pusha T, and 2 Chainz in 2012; and Lil Uzi Vert in 2016. What sets Howard apart from other HBCUs is the suspense surrounding the lineup–unlike schools like Florida A&M University (FAMU), North Carolina A&T (NCAT), Spelman College and Morehouse College, and Delaware State University.

Howard University does not reveal the performers ahead of time. Students are left in suspense, not knowing who will take the stage at the celebrated concert usually until the day of the event.

Homecoming 2023 Performer Announcement for the respective schools, North Carolina A&T (NCAT) Homecoming Performer Announcement, released Sept. 7, 2023. Courtesy https://ncat.edu/homecoming/ Morehouse and Spelman College, released Oct. 11.

Courtesy @iamflyguydc on Instagram

Ari Bonds, a sophomore honors English major at Howard, like most students was excited about what top-tier performers may be coming to campus.

"I came to Howard with very high hopes, considering what I have seen in the past,” she said. “But I just feel that since it wasn't announced, we kind of made up our own perception of what we thought would be there, and it was a larger letdown when we saw who it actually was.” As for this year's lineup, Bonds wasn’t sure about who would take center stage.

"I really don't have any clue, but based on what's trending right now, I would hope for maybe Sexyy Red, Pink Pantheress, and of course, Drake." Bonds said ahead of homecoming.

Her dream performer? “Beyoncé, of course,” she said.

Senior honors international business major Isaac Christian made his predictions.

"I've been hearing a little bit of Sexyy Red, a little bit of Ice Spice... I heard Gunna – which is pretty interesting – and Lil Baby,” Christian explained. “I'm very hopeful for Sexyy Red; I am a Sexyy Redd stan, believe it or not."

His ultimate wish is for a return visit from a past performer,especially after Drake’s recent album release.

"Drake or having another rendition of Sunday Choir by Kanye West." he suggested.

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Crowd at Yardfest 2013, headliners included: Big Sean, Juicy J, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, A$AP Ferg and Gyptian. Courtesy of Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images.

“I would love to see J. Cole, the City Girls, or Summer Walker,” said Howard senior Nigel Hodge, a broadcast journalism major and political science minor from Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I would want to see Lil Yachty,” said Essie Johnson, a senior nursing major with a French minor from Toronto, Canada.

Like the majority of students, junior nutrition major Jacob Duncansaid, “I would like to see Drake at homecoming.”

“I think if SZA came for homecoming I would love that,” smiled Kayla Cofield, a senior media management major from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The performers who ended up performing at Yardfest this year were Pusha T, Victoria Monet, Kalii and Offset.

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Victoria Monet In Howard apparel on the day of Yardfest. Courtesy photo

HOWARD KICKS-OFF HOMECOMING WEEKEND: YARDFEST DAY 1

By Jenelle Foster

On Oct. 20, Howard celebrated its second fully in-person homecoming since the start of the pandemic with the theme “Revival.”

This year’s theme served to revitalize school pride, allowing generations of Bison to reminisce on fond moments that make the university unique. Alumni, students, friends, and families crowded the Yard as they reunited through bellowing laughs and precious memories.

A couple of years ago, homecoming had a different energy on and around campus. It was hardly a time to celebrate when students were homeless and being hospitalized due to the poor conditions of the dorms.

The divide between administration and students strained the Bison pride spirit that alumni once raved

about. To add on, there is a long-running tradition called the “Howard run-around”, which seems to be part of every HBCU experience. Students share the common experience of jumping through hoops, hopping from building to building across campus, and being stuck for hours on hold trying to solve a problem. The list extends from financial issues, academic advising, to housing concerns. Since the housing protests, the administration and the student association have taken the initiative to rebuild the relationship with the student body, hence this year’s theme “Revival.” For Peace Arobieke, a 2023 graduate, her first homecoming as an alumna was nothing short of a truly memorable experience.

“It feels so good to see faces I haven’t seen since the spring and to be back at the Mecca, knowing that I graduated and survived the ‘Howard run-around,’ Arobieke expressed.

Electric performances of the concert included this year's headliners rising R&B star Honey Bxby followed by Rapper Kaliii and R&B star Victoria Monét. Pusha T, Offset, and Sean “Diddy” Combs later took the stage with a surprise performance. The day prior to the beloved tradition, Monét announced her HBCYOU Homecoming Tour stop at Howard University, which caused a surging buzz throughout the campus.

“Howard is known for not releasing the line-up so I really didn’t want to get my hopes up. It was already raining and on top of that, they had us waiting around for performers who were barely on stage”, said Octavia Berry, a Junior accounting major, “I was more excited to see my friends who graduated last year and everyone on the yard seemed to be having a great time despite the rain.”

Attendees’ voices rang through the Yard as they sang along with and cheered for the performers.

Phones rose in the air as attendees tried to capture the unforgettable moment. The crowd bounced up and down in sync as Offset was seen shaking his dreads and moving through the crowd.

Snake-like lines formed from different food vendors by people eager to get a taste of what the vendors had to offer. Space was cleared on the yard as sororities and fraternities reunited and strolled for all to see.

101magazine.net

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For freshmen Aaliyah Brown, Yardfest left her wanting more.

“I wish the performers performed longer, but I was definitely surprised by who they brought out,” she said.

Various food trucks and organizations set up shop on all sides of the Yard, and among them was NYX Professional Makeup. The cosmetic brand announced a sweepstakes with $25,000 available in cash prizes.

In a similarly generous fashion, Diddy presented a $1 million donation to his alma mater after a nostalgic performance. This gift fulfills a promise the artist made during his speech at the 2022 BET Awards, “Yall know I wouldn’t be here without Howard University… I want to donate a million dollars to Howard University” said Combs during his acceptance speech.

The 2023 homecoming celebration also welcomed surprise appearances from celebrities at the festivities. Some familiar faces spotted across campus included actor Boris Kodjoe, alumni and actor Lance Gross: best known for his role as Calvin Payne on Tyler Perry's House of Payne, actress Paige Hurd: best known for her role as Tasha Clarkson on Everybody Hates Chris and Lauren Baldwin in Power Book II: Ghost, actor and comedian Chris Tucker: best known for his recurring role as Carter in the Rush Hour franchise, and more.

Whether this was a person’s first homecoming or their twentieth, everyone had something to do and someone to see. Yardfest stayed true to its homecoming theme and ‘revived’ the Bison pride spirit. Students, family, alumni, and alike were thrilled to be around each other once again to celebrate what really mattered — each other.

Being in a space surrounded by driven and innovative individuals was inspiring for many.

“I was speaking with other alumni about businesses that they’ve started and even students who are looking to be entrepreneurs and you could tell how the Howard community is really here to motivate and uplift one another,” said Giselle Davis, a 2020 graduate. “The Bison spirit has definitely been revived and despite the hardships and runarounds, that spirit is what keeps bringing us back home.”

(above) Boris Kodjoe, Chris Spencer, & Lance Gross at Yardfest. Photo Courtesy Howard University Radio WHUR. Courtesy photo

(right) Paige Hurd photographed with fans taking a selfie at Yardfest Day 1.

Courtesy photo

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HU Homecoming step show brings night of ‘Nostalgia’ Ayo olagbaju

Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Beta Chapter posed in their “Incredibles”-inspired costumes at the 2023 Homecoming Greek Step Show. Photo courtesy of Dylan Thomas

On Oct. 20, Howard University hosted its annual Homecoming Greek Step Show, a beloved tradition held in Burr Gymnasium, is an event eagerly anticipated by the Howard community during homecoming season.

This year, the Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. were announced as the winning fraternity and sorority. Each team earned a $3,000 check for their chapter.

Several groups performed at the step show each year, from dorm teams to Divine Nine organizations. With each step, the groups demonstrated their creativity and charisma to the audience, and the winning teams were revealed at the end of the show.

Sheridan Charles – stepmistress and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – and Dylan Thomas – stepmaster and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – reflected after their victories, beginning with the creative process.

Charles said her group started

crafting their concept after receiving the theme for the 2023 show, which was titled ‘Nostalgia’.

“We make a script, a video concept, and figure out how we can incorporate things from our organization and our history into the theme that Howard gives us,” said Charles.

The winning teams took the ‘nostalgia’ theme and incorporated music, references and choreography from popular childhood films. The Alpha Kappa Alpha step team was inspired by “Twitches,” while the Alpha Phi Alpha step team referenced “The Incredibles.”

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After identifying their concept, teams created their step routines and picked out costumes and props. Both students describe step show preparation as “tedious,” but well worth it.

“Once you finally get to the point where you’ve figured it out, it's like, ‘I can't wait to put this on stage,’” said Charles.

Neither Thomas or Charles are strangers to performance.

Charles was once a competitive dancer and Thomas has a background in gymnastics. This gave both of them a sense of familiarity onstage, during long practices cleaning and mastering the routine.

With ten years of performing and understanding what form is, I understood blades before I got to step practice,” said Thomas.

“The cleaning that goes behind the show is something that I appreciate about the art form that it is.”

Aside from building the concepts and choreography, hours of step practice has also created close bonds for those involved.

“I personally love step because I feel like the bond that we create is just so strong. It just magnifies what sisterhood means,” Charles expressed. “We have to practice, so that's a lot of time we’re spending together. The different memories that we’ve created as a team have been great.”

On the day of the show, adrenaline was high. The tangible excitement was felt throughout the room, as the audience took in each precise movement.

The team instantly felt the crowd’s energy while performing, Thomas said.

“We got onto the stage, and everybody's gassed after the first step. It's like, wait a minute– this is why we were conditioning.

We were preparing for this moment,” he said.

Howard students, alumni and guests maintained that enthusiasm throughout the show, making it a memorable night.

Sheridan Charles (pictured holding check) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. members celebrate onstage after being announced as the winning team. Photo courtesy of @ohsootnokks on Instagram

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“That's part of the reason that I love Howard so much. People were gonna go crazy whether we had put all of that energy into the steps or not, but when you go up there and they're going crazy, it just makes you want to stomp that much harder. It makes you want to just put your foot through the floor,” expressed Thomas.

Charles echoed those sentiments, noting the strong sense of community she felt that night.

“I feel like the community is just so evident when you go to the step show, you can just see the love throughout the community of Howard,” she said.

And when the winning teams were called…

“I cried. There’s multiple pictures of me crying. I was so happy, I’ve been waiting for that moment. It just felt like all the work we put in came to fruition,” said Charles.

“To hear your name called is gratifying,” said Thomas. “No matter the results, we were super happy to even have completed what we thought we were going to do…and we did it well.”

People were gonna go crazy whether we had put all of that energy into the steps or not, but when you go up there and they're going crazy, it just makes you want to stomp that much harder.

It makes you want to just put your foot through the floor.”

Dylan Thomas Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Beta Chapter step team performing onstage at the 2023 Greek Step Show.

Photo courtesy of Dylan Thomas

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The Howard University football team runs onto the field before the start of the game. (Darline Washington/101 Magazine)

HOWARD FOOTBALL ENDS HOMECOMING In Spectacular Fashion

By George Hamilton III and Darline Washington

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Besides the annual faceoff between Hampton and Howard in mid-September, the most anticipated football event of the year is the Homecoming game, and this year’s game did not disappoint.

In a game full of twists and turns, the Howard Bison defeated the Norfolk State Spartans 27-23 in front of 7,684 fans at Greene Stadium in their MEAC conference opener.

After the 48-7 defeat at the hands of the Harvard Crimson last weekend, the Bison needed to win this game, not only to get back in the win column, but this was Homecoming weekend, so they couldn’t leave the fans going home disappointed, especially after winning last year’s Homecoming game against Delaware State 35-17.

With 1:17 left to go in the game, senior running back Jarret Hunter caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from graduate quarterback Quinton Williams to give the Bison a 27-23 lead.

This feat capped off a 75-yard, 10 play drive that took 4 minutes and 41 seconds off the clock after the Bison took the ball with 5:58 remaining in the game.

The Spartans would take the ball at their own 49-yard line with 1:08 remaining after they returned the kickoff for 35 yards.

After having an incomplete pass, Norfolk State quarterback Otto Kuhns was sacked for a seven yard loss. He would then complete a 16-yard pass on 3rd and 17 to complete a one yard pass on fourth-and-one.

With 14 seconds left and no timeouts, Kuhns took the snap and threw the ball towards the end zone, but the pass was intercepted by senior defensive back Kenny Gallop Jr., sealing the win for the Bison. When officials confirmed the interception, the crowd cheered with jubilation.

The game started with the Spartans running five plays before punting the ball down the field. The Bison would march down the field on an 83-yard drive to score the game’s opening touchdown.

The final score on the scoreboard that showcases Howard defeating Norfolk State 27-23. (George Hamilton/101 Magazine)

Howard was energized to start the third quarter, as the Bison took two minutes and 45 minutes off the clock on an eight-play drive, resulting in a 31-yard field goal from Bickerton to make the score 1712.

From that point forward, the Spartans would take control of the game. They would score a field goal after the Bison’s The Bison defense stifled the touchdown drive to make the game 6-3. Spartans, forcing them to punt on both of their drives, with the After a series of punts from both teams, first drive only being four plays followed by an interception from the while the second drive resulted Bison, Spartans running back Xevion in a three-and-out. The King would score a touchdown on a five Spartans kicked a field goal yard run to make the score 10-6. early in the fourth quarter to make the score 20-12.

The touchdown in the second quarter capped off a 12-play, 76-yard drive that On Howard’s next possession, lasted almost six minutes.

Eden James took a short pass on the left side of the field 45 After another series of punts from both yards for a touchdown to make teams, which NSU’s punt subsequently resulted in a fumble by Howard during the score 20-18, capping off a seven-play, 63-yard drive. He the return, the Spartans would take a ran into his own man on the 17-6 lead on Kuhns’ pass to RJ Baker play, but he would not be from 14 yards out. denied as he broke a few Howard’s kicker Aaron Bickerton would tackles on his way to scoring. kick a 30-yard field goal to make the score 17-9 as the game went into halftime.

During halftime, the crowd witnessed the Howard University “Showtime” Marching Band perform, and saw the Royal Court walk onto the field for their coronation.

Howard would score on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 20. The Spartans would kick a field goal to make the score 23-20. With 5:58 remaining in the game, that set up Howard’s game winning drive.

Quinton Williams Quarterback

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(Darline Washington/101 Magazine)

Howard, for a lot of us, is where we have found our foundation, our village, and our voice. So, it’s instrumental for us to come back and get back to the place that made us who we are. “ Nadia Arhaman

It was the second game played at Greene Stadium for the Bison this season, with the other being the “White Out” game against Morehouse College in early September. This win gives the Bison an overall record of 3-4 with a 1-0 record in conference play.

This year, the Homecoming Community Parade and Alumni Tailgate preceded the Homecoming Game.

Beginning at 9:30 in the morning, the Homecoming Community Parade showcased participants from every age in the Howard Community.

Taking place from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon , the Alumni Tailgate welcomed alumni, current students, and their families and friends. Those in attendance ate varying prepared foods, watched different generations of steppers and strollers perform, and listened to music and danced together.

“Howard, for a lot of us, is where we have found our foundation, our village, and our voice. So, it’s instrumental for us to come back and get back to the place that made us who we are,” said alumna cheerleader Nadia Arhaman. “I started here over two decades ago, so the main thing is coming back and… being with your family here at the Mecca.”

Next year’s homecoming will mark 100 years of the favorited celebration.

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@_ren.productions

Game Day at the Mecca

Photographed by

lauren Smith

Mistrully

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‘STRAIGHT OUTTA THE MECCA’: HOWARD’S 2023 HOMECOMING FASHION SHOW

By Autumn Colem

an

With a 2000s cookout theme and the music to match, Howard’s hottest models came together to form this year’s Homecoming fashion show.

In an almost-full house in Cramton Auditorium, the audience was energetic and responsive to the different elements of art (music, fashion and dance) that came together to cultivate the night. From the set design to the DJs, the night was heavily influenced by nostalgia.

Throwback jams by Biggie Smalls, Missy Elliott, and Snoop Dogg were some of the hits leading the soundtrack for the night.

The fashion show was full of intergenerational community and nostalgia, with a special guest appearance from Howard alum and actor, Lance Gross. The “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” actor participated in a Kappa Alpha Psi shimmy with the School Of Communication’s very own Michael Taylor White. But the big names didn’t stop there. DJ Clue, DJ Envy and Lady London were also a part of the night, using their extensive backgrounds in music to curate the experience for the Howard community.

The looks mainly consisted of elevated streetwear styles.

Leather, denim, and puffer were fabrics that were reoccurring throughout the show. The styles matched the name of the event, “Straight Outta the Mecca”a nod to N.W.A’s album, “Straight Outta Compton.'' And the looks referenced the 90s/2000s undertone. The fashion looks from these decades are increasingly favored in pop culture and are imitated frequently.

Models from all the different modeling organizations on campus were represented on stage.

The student models strutted their stuff to the cheers of the crowd, wearing designs by students, faculty, and established designers including Professor Taylor, Mahlon West’s Basement Boy, Von Dutch, and Dickies. While the night was heavily focused on fashion, student performers also had their time to shine on stage. Joshua Hughes, a mathematics major who goes by the stage name Jus Josh, hosted the night and warmed up the crowd. Senior Jahim Carter, whose stage name is Freshgzz, performed.

Senior finance major, Katiana Carter, said, “It was great to see Howard talent on stage once again.

Especially to see my cousin [another Howard student, Jahim Carter] along with other HU artists performing their music at the fashion show. That was one of the highlights for me.”

Positive reactions to the models, such as cheers and claps, could be heard from the crowd. Although not all were positive. One audience member, who wants to remain anonymous, commented on the lack of significant body diversity amongst the models.

One of the sponsors for the show, Febreze, debuted the ‘Fresh AF’ dancers who danced periodically throughout the show. The group of nearly 25 student dancers practiced for more than a month for their performance. Their dancing often accompanied the models as they walked.

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Kareema Bangura, a senior journalism major, was one of the dancers. “Seeing a bunch of different people in all these different sectors, designers, stylists, dancers, choreographers. It was very fulfilling to be a part of that. And to be put into something as big as, like a Howard fashion show, it was beautiful,” Bangura said.

This year’s Homecoming fashion show was a multifaceted production. From the backdrop, the music, the theme, dancers and the clothes, the night didn’t disappoint. For $40 a ticket, the Homecoming fashion show was worth the money.

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A Declassified Guide to Being Outside Nightlife goers enjoy an event thrown by The Move Makers. Photo Courtesy of The Move Makers website. https://www.movemakerevents.com/

By MyAhna Alston

Looking for somewhere to pregame, afterparty, or even enjoy brunch following Howard University’s homecoming events? Here’s 101 Magazine's compiled guide of homecoming events where you can turn up off-campus with students and alumni to celebrate the right way and make memories that will last forever_especially, if you’re looking to be outside until the crack of dawn, or planning to grab bottomless mimosas with some fellow Bison and jam out.

Several alumni-based organizations, DJs, and party organizers have events lined up from Thursday, Oct.19 Sunday, Oct. 22. The party organizing group More Parties DC, is hosting a number of events during the weekend, including ones that are 18+.

Original image from The Movemakers via Facebook

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Friday 10/20

Original image from @morepartiesdc via Instagram

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Saturday 10/21

Original image from @theparkat14th via Instagram

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Sunday 10/22

Howard Alum, Friends, and more Come Home for the Revival It is no secret that many celebrities come to Howard for homecoming, hosting or attending events nearby in the process. Along with HU04 alum Lance Gross and Howard alumna Yandy Smith, a few additional celebrities are confirmed to be hosting club appearances near campus this year, including Trey Songz, Offset, and Paige Hurd.

To search for any additional scheduled homecoming-related events on Eventbrite that may not be listed in this guide, click here.

See the list below for the websites and Instagram pages of several party organizers that are featured in this guide: Howard Alumni | @howardalumni | https://www.homecomingathoward.com / The MoveMakers | @themovemakers | www.movemakerevents.com Homecoming at the Mecca | @homecomingatthemecca | https://www.homecomingatthemecca.c om/ Souled Out Dates | @souledoutdates More Parties DC | @morepartiesdc | https://www.instagram.com/moreparties dc/ Sounds By Tim Fields @soundsbytimfields

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ShowTime ShowTime ShowTime MECCAMORPHOSIS: THE EVOLUTION

Alumni drum majors participating in the Homecoming Community Parade (Darline Washington/101 Magazine)

Cheer Cheer Cheer Cheer

ALUMNI RELIVE THE MECCA AT THE ‘REVIVAL’ HOMECOMING Written By Darline Washington For the past 99 years, Howard’s homecoming has celebrated and welcomed alumni from far and wide.

With traditions, such as the homecoming community parade and football game, alumni who were once cheerleaders, majorettes, or in the band, have the opportunity to perform and participate with the current members of each team.

Alumni cheerleaders performing during the Homecoming Game. (Darline Washington/101 Magazine)

ShowTime ShowTime ShowTime

For this year’s homecoming game, the Bison played against the Norfolk State University Spartans. Howard emerged victorious, winning the game 27-23.The football players amplified the feeling of excitement, added to the pageantry of the game, and re-solidified the importance of community and togetherness of alumni. Playing in front of thousands of fans for the MEAC conference opener, the Bison managed to win the game with only minutes remaining by overcoming an 11-point deficit.

Homecoming allows the alumni to give back to the current generation of performers, while simultaneously building unexpected bonds and connections.

“I had amazing support from the Cheer Alumni Association during my time at Howard and felt that it was important to take care of the current generation [of cheerleaders… Homecoming is so special because it’s an opportunity to connect with people that you wouldn’t otherwise and would only be able to see on social media,” said alumni cheerleader Tracy Burns.

This year’s homecoming game, like the many before it, is a celebration of Black identity, reaffirmation of community, and a testament of tradition.

Alumni band performing alongside the marching band in the Community Parade. (Darline Washington/101 Magazine)

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HOMECOMING STYLES

Brothers Justin and Jaden Smith at Howard University’s Yardfest. Photo taken by Davis Dailey

By DAVIS dailey

Howard University’s 2023 Homecoming was over as quickly as it started.

The eventful week started with Bison Madness on Monday, Oct. 16, the student fashion show on Thursday, Oct. 19, Yardfest, and the Greek step show on Friday, Oct. 20, and concluded with the alumni tailgate and football game on Saturday, Oct. 21.

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These events brought out many visitors from the surrounding community. As you may have guessed, more people means more outfits and more outfits means more drip. Let’s take a look at some of the styles from this year's homecoming.

Justin Smith (left) and his brother Jaden Smith (right) are from New York, representing the Empire State through the pieces they wear. Their outfits not only have an early 2000s aesthetic, but also feature some pieces from New York brands, Supreme and Telfar. Justin is wearing the Supreme weather tee, baggy jean shorts, and New Balances. Jaden is wearing a Telfar Mesh shirt, baggy mid-wash jeans, and the Supreme New York Yankee Timberlands.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey

Julian Lee’s outfit features many of the modern day fashion trends discussed in the men’s “Howard Homecoming/Fall Style Guide,” including baggy pants and jerseys. His outfit features stacked blue denim jeans, Rick Owen Ramones, and an oversized NBA jersey that gives the outfit a bit of a Y2k flare.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey

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In this photo, musical producer and artist, Anexis, is wearing a sleek all black outfit with steampunk inspiration.

The jacket and pants are leather and paired with black boots. The outfit is topped off with glasses and a studded belt that make the outfit pop.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey

MJ Russell’s outfit features a unique pair of pants with a variety of patchwork ranging from light denim, blue denim, and dark denim jeans.

He finished the outfit by wearing a pair of Air Jordan 1’s in the Chicago colorway, and a pair of yellow lens black-framed sunglasses. The iconic red, white, and black color-scheme of the Chicago 1’s play off the graffiti red details in the flames on the shirt and outline of the smiley face. Additionally, the yellow lenses of his glasses are the balancing act for the yellow featured on this artistic shirt.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey

Chad (left) is wearing a hoodie from the popular brand Essentials and Bapestas on foot, while his friend Paul (right) wears black leather pants with classic white Air Force 1s. Glasses, chains, and wallet chains give their outfit a nice finishing touch.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey Photo taken by Davis Dailey

The Atlanta Braves fitted hat and letterman jacket combo give off a 90’s/early 2000’s vibe. This pairs well with the brown slacks and the Doc Martens 1461 Oxford in the platform version.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey

These two Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated men are seen in this photo sporting jerseys, letterman jackets, camo and khaki cargo pants, and blacked-out shades. The outfit on the left features the Kappa Alpha Psi colors of red, black, and white while both guys are repping the brotherhood.

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Photo taken by Davis Dailey

Caleb Glenn is rocking a jersey from the iconic show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” The vibrant colors of green and yellow over the black Champion hoodie make the jersey pop

Jeremiah “Jey” Sims is looking rather cool in a calm fit. He’s wearing a graphic tee with a Carhartt flannel over it, and the blue jeans paired nicely with the blue in the design of the shirt. Additional elements, such as the hat, wristwear, and chains add a visual flare.

Photo taken by Davis Dailey

Russell Antwi is sporting a clean, cultural inspired fit. While rocking the African-inspired letterman jacket, he’s also wearing a complementary pair of cargo pants and the popular Adidas Sambas in the black colorway.

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Photo taken by Davis Dailey

HBCUs have iconic fashion cultures, which allow many to express themselves through their clothes. In a sense, Howard’s homecoming can somewhat be seen as a fashion week of its own, allowing people to show off their personalities and best fits. These guys were no different as they were “dripped out” in their own way.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH FEATURES

Fall Events & Features

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Dr. Christine McWhorter teaching her Public Affairs Reporting class. (Joy Young/101 Magazine)

SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSORS EXCEL OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

By Joy Young

important,” she said.

Professors are the backbone of According to McWhorter, the Howard University, but what concept of critical race theory When it comes to critical race they pursue outside of the says that if you’re living in media literacy, the people classroom doesn’t always America, every part of what receive as much attention. Here you’re doing is affected by race writing our stories play a large are two professors in the School because America was founded part in its validity. McWhorter explained that it's important for of Communications that are on racist objectives and ideals people of multiple backgrounds working on passion projects to that are still carried out today. to write their own stories so that improve the awareness of their histories and narratives are topics that affect the black Critical Race Media Literacy community’s daily life. recognizes that the media also not erased, misused, absent, or incorrect. has an inherent bias and Dr. Christine McWhorter choosing to produce content currently teaches Broadcast that allows people to tell their Journalism and Public Affairs own stories.

Reporting this semester, while also working on a textbook “Writing this book is an about Critical Race Media opportunity to affect the real Literacy. Her book is intended world in a real way. I feel like I for the classroom, where she already get to do that with hopes she can simplify the ways teaching, but this book will that race intersects with the teach people to understand media that we consume and the some parts of media that some life that we live. people don’t really notice or find

“When a country can control the narrative through the media, they can easily paint themselves as the good guys. It’s connected because media is the way that this all occurs, and that includes books. We can’t let them revise and rewrite history in a way that’s not true,” she said. “When people of color are absent in the writing of their own stories, you can tell.”

McWhorter explains that oftentimes, the wrong thing is in our history books, in our films and in our social media, but when you involve the people that the history is about, it’s impossible to broadcast that incorrect history.

“It’s a fight that I hope more people get involved in, we can’t let people revise and rewrite history in a way that’s not true,” she shares. With this book, McWhorter intends to transform the distant concept of critical race media literacy from a theoretical concept to one that is practical and applicable.

She works with patients using a string of memory tests and other activities to help strengthen the neural pathways in the brain.

“I realized that a lot of people don’t know what we do, and a lot of speech pathologists don’t always get trained on how to work with concussions. The desire to educate people drove me,” she said.

Dr. Davis described a traumatic brain injury akin to shaking a bowl of jello. She explained that the brain is protected with fluid that keeps it from hitting the sharp walls of our skull. When we get a brain injury and our brain hits our skull, it can cause bruising of the brain, lacerations, and bleeding.

As it moves, it causes the neurons to twist and turn, leading to damage. She says that the frontal lobe, which controls executive She hopes that the accessibility of functions like problemWhen I teach my students information concerning critical solving and making journalism, I want them to do it race media literacy will begin to decisions, is most likely through a critical race media lens. I shape society, as people of color to be affected by want them to understand that Black consistently have the power to concussions. The more people and Black stories are claim their own stories and their concussions that one important. history. receives, Dr. Christine McWhorter the less neuroplasticity that the brain can “When I teach my students journalism endure, meaning it’s harder for the brain to I want them to do it through a critical race media bounce back and regain cognitive skills. lens. I want them to understand that Black people and “We hear about football because it's the most Black stories are important,” she said. popular, but it comes with any contact sport.

There’s about 1.6 million [concussions] sportsDr. Alaina Davis has many roles at Howard, but is best related concussions that happen every year, and known as a speech-language pathologist and directs for every two males there is one female that the Cognitive-Communicative Skills Clinic and experiences a concussion. For middle school and Research Lab. Outside of school, Davis focuses on high school it's 2:2. “ sports-related concussions and brain injuries as a Dr. Davis says that a lack of education in the black certified brain injury specialist and specialist trainer. community about head injuries has led to a racial disparity when it comes to receiving the appropriate treatment. “Black athletes tend to not Her business is called Overall Neuro Rehab, and she go to the ER or doctor after a concussion, but they holds webinars for speech-language pathologists and also might not get a diagnosis in the first place. A other professionals who are interested in sportslot of tests used in neuropsychology aren’t able to correctly assess black people.” related injuries.

She works to help patients regain their speech, memory, and attention patterns after a traumatic injury.

She hopes that her research and work will bring more attention to the importance of brain trauma and it’s seriousness, particularly in the black community.

HOWARD WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM ACHIEVES BEST EVER FINISH IN NEC

BY BADI CROSS

Senior day for the team. Courtesy of Howard Athletics

This year the Howard women’s soccer team reached new heights as they qualified for their first Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament and advanced to the semifinals.

This season was a complete shift in what audiences saw from the team in years prior. The team struggled in 2022, evident in their 3-11-2 and 2-6-1 records for the year and in conference play, respectively. This was a departure from the success the program had typically enjoyed in the past decade. Previously, the squad only experienced one other overall losing season, no other losing conference records, and an undefeated season in conference play in 2016. So what could have caused such a dramatic turn?

Many signs point to the recent conference shift that Howard undertook in 2020. Six of the university’s varsity sports switched to the NEC to circumvent the long, expensive road trips the teams had to take for away games. The women’s soccer team had previously competed in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which consists of HBCUs located in the southern United States. They dominated, winning two regular season championships in 2014 and 2016, and three SWAC tournament championships in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

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The move to the NEC has proven to be a bit of a speed bump for the team, but only temporarily. Despite going a combined 916-5 in the last two seasons (7-9-3 in NEC play), the team rallied to an outstanding 12-6-2 record, with a 6-3-1 record in conference play leading to a four-seed in the conference tournament.

This success was due, in part, to the play of freshman goalkeeper, Trinity Knox. She joined the team this year, looking to make an impact.

“I feel…to have the opportunity to play as a freshman is already an honor in itself,” said Knox. “But to be a part of such big achievements means a lot to me.”

The Atlanta native received the NEC Goalkeeper of the Year award in her first season, making her the first and only Bison to win a major award in the conference. She was also selected to the All-Conference First Team alongside her teammate, junior forward Melea Earley.

“I think a big key to our success as a team this season was our chemistry, on and off the field,” she explained.

almost half of the team consists of upperclassmen who have been able to familiarize themselves with each other for the past few years. Knox explained that the team’s captains organized gatherings and made sure team morale was high throughout the year.

As for what needs to be done to put the team over the mountaintop and win a conference championship, Knox explained that she feels the team needs to play a full 90 minutes every game.“

There were some games we lost that were definitely winnable, we just did not play to the final whistle,” Knox said. “...I think if we sharpen that aspect, next year is most definitely ring season.”

Seeing as Knox’s best playing days are likely yet to come, her mindset and attitude may very well play a key factor in launching the program back into title contention.

Knox looks forward to what the next season has to offer.

“I honestly can’t wait to come back even stronger next season and do it all over again– and even go further than we did this season,” she said.

Howard Students Boycott Starbucks and McDonald's for Palestine

In Kelly’s letter, she states: “Some people are mistakenly tying these remarks to us, because Workers United, its affiliates and members continue to use our name, logo and intellectual property.”

She added that “Workers United, its local affiliates, union organizers and those who identify as members of “Starbucks Workers United” do not speak for Starbucks Coffee Company and do not represent the company’s views, positions or beliefs.”

As a result, Starbucks filed a

By Joy Young complaint against Workers United on Oct. 18 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Davenport, Iowa. The Buffalo, NY-based union represents 340 Starbucks locations and over 9,000 Starbucks employees, according to the Workers United website.

Bria Miller, a fifth-year architecture student and SJP member, was one of the students leading the boycott.

“We are boycotting Starbucks and McDonald’s. Starbucks specifically has loudly announced their support for Israel basically,” she said, referencing the cease and Howard students advocate for Palestine by speaking out against genocidal acts and desist letter. encouraging locals to join the boycott. (Joy Young/101 Magazine) McDonald's is also facing calls for a boycott after locations in Israel The Howard chapter of Students along with information announced they were giving away for Justice in Palestine (SJP) encouraging students to learn free food to Israeli soldiers after organized a “Chalk the Block” more about the boycott and the boycott of Starbucks and current political situation in Gaza. Hamas militants launched their attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

McDonald’s on Nov. 6.

The Starbucks boycott came McDonald's Kuwait said that the From 10am to about 6p.m. shortly after Starbucks chief actions of chains in Israel did not approximately 30 students partner officer, Sara Kelly, sent a reflect the overall views of the gathered in front of Starbucks on cease and desist letter to the company, writing, “What the Georgia Avenue and wrote words members of Starbucks Workers of encouragement and support for United, when the union posted the McDonald's operator did in Israel Palestine with chalk. The boycott message “Solidarity with Palestine” was an example of such individual action; it was not a global decision, was staged as an act of defiance on X, formerly known as Twitter against international companies on Oct. 9. According to USA Today, nor was it approved by any of the other local operators, especially associated with Israel's occupation the post included an image of a in Gaza. bulldozer tearing down a fence on those in our region.”

On Oct. 11, Starbucks also Messages such as “Free Palestine” the border of Israel. AP News expressed sympathy for the and “Boycott Starbucks” were reported the post was reportedly casualties taking place in occupied written on the sidewalk, deleted within 40 minutes.

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MPD was not able to provide Gaza saying, “As a leadership team, we want to again express further information on who our deepest sympathy for those made the call, and the officers declined to comment on why who have been killed, they arrived. wounded, displaced and impacted following the heinous As other students continued to purchase from Starbucks acts of terror, escalating during the boycott, Miller violence and hate against the innocent in Israel and Gaza this continued to tell those around week. Starbucks unequivocally her about the controversy involving Starbucks and condemns acts of hate, redirect them to Black-owned terrorism and violence."

Despite Starbucks’ comments, Jaliyaa Coffee, which promised to dedicate 25 percent of its Miller said that, “We are not proceeds to Palestine relief. supporting companies that support Israel who are raging a Sydney Thornton, a senior political science major from genocide against Palestinians Wake Forest, North Carolina, for the past 75 years.” established Howard’s branch of According to a part-time Howard student working at the Students for Justice in Palestine Starbucks location, the Georgia shortly after the attack on Oct. 7.

Avenue shop saw a decline in “I think a big issue that we’ve customers after the boycott.

“Today is the busiest day we’ve been having is making HU students care - its easy to get had in a while,” the student, wrapped up in your own who preferred to remain anonymous, said of the Nov 13 things,” she said, “but at the same time, we’re the number boycott. one black institution that is The student noted the supposed to represent environment inside of Starbucks the day of the boycott minorities and we can’t stand was “awkward,” especially for with our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are going those who knew some of the through a genocide right now?” students protesting outside. “I According to Thornton, the feel like a neutral party in goal of SJP at Howard is to something I’m not really bring awareness to the violence involved in, you know what I that Palestinians are facing in mean,” the student said. “You see posters online and you hear the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli air strikes and a about it all the time, you read the articles but like on my end, ground campaign in Gaza have I feel like there’s really nothing since killed almost 20,000 Palestinians, 70 percent of I can do.”

According to the Metropolitan whom are women and children, Police Department (MPD), a call since Oct. 7.

Amniche Guerin, a junior for service was made at 2225 sociology major and SJP Georgia Avenue at about 1:54 p.m., around the same time the member, supported the Starbucks-condemned unions. boycott was being staged.

Courtesy of Students for Justice in Palestine HU Instagram page

“I know that Starbucks, their union workers have shown support for Palestine, and Starbucks as a corporation denounced that support,” she said.

Victoria Koffi, a senior Biology major from California, said that she thinks it is important to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“I think it’s important that we voice how we feel as students, and fight for justice for all the people who can’t right now, she adds. “I don’t know if the people over there will see us doing this, but it's important to raise awareness and show them that they aren’t alone.”

Volume 10, Issue 3 March 2003

STUDENTS ‘CHARGE’ UNIVERSITY WITH GENOCIDE

BY CALLING OUT TIES TO ISRAEL

BY ALECIA TAYLOR

STUDENTS WAVE PALESTINIAN FLAGS IN FRONT OF THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. (ALECIA TAYLOR/101 MAGAZINE)

For weeks students have gathered at the flagpole to protest the millions of deaths of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7. During the latest protest, students marched to the administration building to directly “charge” Howard’s administration with genocide.

The Howard chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and Students for Socialism joined students across the nation to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and peace in the Gaza Strip. On Oct. 23, the organization held its first walkout to protest at the flagpole, calling out the university for its silence on the lives lost in the Middle East as well as the University's ties to corporations such as Nike, Google, Starbucks and other partnerships that have supported Israel.

“From Howard to Palestine, occupation is a crime!” the protestors chanted as they advanced toward the Howard administration building.

When students reached the steps of the building, they were met with five Howard University police officers who told them they

POSTER PROTESTORS LISTING CONTRACTS AND PARTNERSHIPS THE UNIVERSITY HAS WITH COMPANIES WITH TIES TO ISRAEL. (ALECIA TAYLOR/ 101 MAGAZINE)

could not proceed more than about five feet closer to the entrance. Yet, they continued to push the boundaries until officers told them they could not go any further.

The university directly responded to the Hilltop in an email, stating it “stands for peace and progress” and the university prays the “conflict” will end.

“Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Howard’s funding’s got to go,” they yelled, referencing partnerships like Boeing Business Jets, the FBI, CEI and the U.S. Airforce, all of which not only provide research and internship opportunities to students–but also have ties to Israel.

After marching, students took turns on bullhorns, calling out people from inside the building.

Days after the first walkout in October, the university released a statement, which protestors said deflected from the institution taking a side.

“Howard University stop acting as though you are unbiased,” said Aaron, a student protestor at the latest walkout on Nov. 15. “Not choosing a side is, in fact, choosing the oppressor. Howard University has chosen the side that [is] murdering Palestinians.”

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But this statement was not enough for some students and members of the Bison community.

“Instead of reconnecting with our local neighborhoods we became the first HBCU to partner with the Pentagon,” said Reaux, another student protestor.

The crowd responded with “shame!” as she continued. “Are we not supposed to be a lead for the Black community?”

Protestors listed numerous partnerships the university holds, including Boeing Business Jets, the FBI, CEI and the U.S. Airforce. All of which have internship opportunities for Howard University students.

Earlier this year, the university announced being the first HBCU to lead a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and the first center to be funded by the Air Force. The partnership, which has an annual price tag of $18 million, totaling $90 million after five years, has the university focusing on creating artificial intelligence that aids the Department of Defense’s “modern prioritization.”

While some partnerships present financial and career benefits like the UARC), students continuously pointed out the connections to supporting Israel.

As Reaux read the intentions of the partnerships, the crowd responded with “shame!”

“What you are hearing is the weaponization of modern innovation to better terrorize the people of the global south,” she said. “People like Palestinians.”

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Lloyd J. Austin III, the Secretary of Defense, expressed the nation’s stance on what he and others call the “Israel-Palestianian conflict.”

The secretary expressed his condolences and solidified the departments’ “ironclad support” for Israel in a statement on Oct. 13. The nation’s stance became clear when White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. had no intentions to put troops in Gaza now or in the future, according to Reuters.

Howard entered a partnership with Boeing Company, the world aircraft manufacturer, to provide an internship and a pipeline to careers with the company in 2018. Boeing recently expedited delivery of around 1,000 bombs to Israel and has been doing so since 2021, according to Bloomberg.

“It’s time to open up the room for dialogue,” said Aaron. “Are HBCUs underfunded? Yes, let’s have that conversation but let’s not try to make that funding up through genocide. It’s time to work with the people to find new solutions.”

As protestors shouted “guilty” every time a connection between the university and Israel was mentioned, more people gathered on the outskirts of Howard Pl. Among the onlookers were Howard faculty, Howard University Student Association (HUSA) President Nia Naylor, HUSA Vice President Murphy Jones and other students.

Despite the protestors’ initial peaceful gathering, the first set of doors of the administration building were locked

and security presence increased inside, including Marcus Lyles, the Howard University Chief of Police.

Potential campus tourists were evacuated from the building, and tours were moved to a different location.

Students advanced, stepping past police officers, shouting. Protestors yanked on the doors and called for officers and administrators to come outside to “talk” to them.

As the time began approaching the scheduled ending time for the protest, the leaders urged students to continue to spread awareness and calling for the university’s disinvestment in several companies.

“Our worst day here is nothing compared to those in Gaza,” said Jayla, a member of Students for Socialism. “The bare minimum we can do is have those conversations with our mothers and our parents and our sisters.”

Who Will Win These Categories For The 2024 Grammy Awards?

By George Hamilton III, Juan Benn Jr., and Badi Cross

ALBUM OF THE YEAR RECORD OF THE YEAR BEST R&B SONG BEST RAP ALBUM

On Nov. 10th, the nominees for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards were announced by the Recording Academy.

For the past 65 years, the Grammys have catapulted emerging and rising artists into superstardom. The stars who have captivated the hearts and minds of fans around the world for generations are able to continue to release new music for their fans.

These stars are recognized for their talent, artistry, and dedication to perfecting their craft.

Many popular artists that fans listen to return to the big stage every year, and this year is no different. SZA has the most nominations out of any artist with nine, followed by country singer Phoebe Bridgers and the multi-talented Pop and R&B artist Victoria Monet, who both have seven nominations. Taylor Swift has six nominations and became the first person ever

Graphic courtesy of the Recording Academy

to be nominated for the “Song of the Year” award seven times, breaking a tie with Lionel Richie and Paul McCartney, who both have six nominations in the category. She also has the opportunity to stand alone in the “album of the year” category. If her album “Midnights” wins the “Album of the Year” she would be the first person to win four awards in the category, breaking the tie with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon, who all have three awards.

For this story, we decided that it would be right to interview students to get their predictions on who they think should win.

The four categories we decided on were Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best Rap Album.

Here’s what our interviewees said.

Student Predictions Fourth-year architecture major Asiyih Lawrence said: “My prediction for Album of the Year is Taylor Swift's ”Midnights,” said Lawrence. “I did not listen to the album, I'm personally not a Taylor Swift fan, but I know that the Grammys love Taylor Swift. White privilege is real, and she's always winning, even when it's not deserved.”

What Lawrence is referring to is Swift’s various wins for Grammys in the general categories, especially her win in 2016 for her album “1989,” which won over “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar. The win was controversial, as many believed Lamar’s album to be far superior and only lost out due to Swift’s appeal to white audiences.

“Not that she's not talented, but I believe that Taylor Swift will win. I don't know who I think should win – somebody Black, probably. For Record of the year I think that Taylor Swift will win again because she always cleans up all the awards whenever she has an album out.”

“I think that Nas’ King's Disease III will win Best Rap Album because Nas is an icon, and it was a great album,” stated Lawrence.

Nas, a New York native, won his first Grammy in 2021 for his first King’s Disease album after over 20 years since his first nomination.

Junior Biology major Trey Bennett had a bit more of an optimistic attitude toward the awards, predicting it to be a very Black awards show.

“I think SZA will win album of the year,” Bennett said. “SOS was a really good album, and it was really popular.”

The #1 album from the St. Louis artist had six songs chart in the top 15, including #1 hit “Kill Bill”.

“I’m also going to say that Victoria Monet might win Record of the Year – she did her thing this year for sure,” said Bennett.

Monet broke out as an artist this year, releasing her debut album, “Jaguar II,” and charting the third single, “On My Mama,” on the Hot 100.

She’s nominated for the Best New Artist and Album of the Year awards as well.

Photo courtesy of Dalvin Adams via Harper’s Bazaar

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Photo courtesy of Cultured Magazine

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Cordeiro via NPR

“I think for best R&B Song, it’s going to be a toss-up between SZA and Victoria Monet. Those two are the only ones that make sense for that category,” explained Bennett. “And lastly I think Drake will win (Best Rap Album) because he’s Drake.”

Senior Advertising major Akira Lashley also had SZA winning Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album, stating that SZA’s album stayed #1 on the charts for 10 weeks after its release.

“For Best R&B album, I have to go with SZA’s “SOS” because not only did the album stay on the charts for 10 weeks, but many of the songs from the album went viral on TikTok. I also have SZA winning Best R&B Song for “Snooze,” which peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts alongside the album itself,”said Lashley Senior Strategic, Legal, and Management Communications major Eric Azike believes Victoria Monet will win for Best R&B Song, stating that the song’s sample of Atlanta Rapper Charlie Boy’s 2009 single “I Look Good” makes it timeless for our generation.

“I believe that the best R&B song may go to “On My Mama” by Victoria Monet because of how she made a sample feel like an original song. From the amazing visuals to the choreography, Victoria displayed that R&B is in fact not dead.”

For best rap album, Azike believes that Metro Boomin should win, which is honestly a different pick from many people who were interviewed. He said that the album was monumental for its different samples, especially on the songs “On Time” and “Superhero.”

“I believe that Best Rap Album is going to go to HEROES and VILLAINS because of how monumental that album was. From the Homelander sample in “On Time” looping into “Superhero” that made everyone go crazy to the hypnotic spell that “Trance” puts you in as you listen to Travis Scott’s voice at the end, it brought people back to wanting to stream the album.” .

Photo courtesy of Billboard Photo courtesy of Wireimage via Page Six

Photo courtesy of BFTV Photo courtesy of Wireimage via CNN

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Graphic courtesy of the Recording Academy

Writer Predictions Badi Cross In my opinion, I don’t see the Grammys magically changing their ways. I predict the Academy will have voted for Taylor Swift, as they’ll want her to snatch that record for Album of the Year wins and give her that Record of the Year award.

The Grammys are a bit of a popularity contest unfortunately in my opinion, and Swift has done an excellent job of staying in the news recently. That leads me to the next category, Best Rap Album. Although Drake and 21 Savage put out a very popular album last year, I think the hype and popularity of Travis Scott, who released the long-awaited Utopia this year, will carry him to the win. As for the Best R&B Song, I think Victoria Monet should win. I think the self-loving lyrics in “On My Mama” make it a great candidate, and at least one win for Ms. Monet, when she’s up against the music giant who is SZA, would be a wonderful achievement.

Juan Benn Jr.

Like Badi said the Grammy’s has a history of “snubbing” the most deserving nominees in favor of popularity or appeasing music label advocates. As much as I would like to see the Academy award Victoria Monet the Grammy for Record of the Year—her song, “On My Mama” was everywhere this year! The institution is more likely to grant it to pop musical mainstays, Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift, or their younger counterparts, Billie Eilish or Olivia Rodrigo.

If the Academy wants to be on the right side of history, I think they should give Janelle Monae the golden gramophone for Album of the Year. Her full-length LP, “The Age of Pleasure,” released in June, was a beautifully composed 14-track journey into an artist exploring their pleasure and imploring all of us to do the same.

There are many more awards that we did not get into, but if you want to see the nominees for each award, you can visit them here. Final voting will begin on Dec. 14, 2023, and end on Jan. 4, 2024, with the awards show taking place on Feb. 4, 2024, from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Stay up to date on the Recording Academy’s website and their social media pages as we count down the days to ‘Music’s Biggest Night’!

George Hamilton III For me, I agreed with Badi’s sentiment of the Grammys not changing their ways. In that instance, I have Taylor Swift winning Album of the Year for “Midnights.” As much as I think SZA should win Album of the Year, I don’t see Taylor Swift not winning because there’s so much history at stake should she win. That’s why I believe that she will also win Record of the Year as well. As Badi said, the Grammys are a popularity contest, and Swift’s new relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce has felt like the only thing the media have been able to talk about for the last month and a half.

Moving on to the next category, I believe “On My Mama” by Victoria Monet will win. The lyrics are catchy and captivating, and if you haven’t watched the music video, I suggest you watch it. She is going up against SZA and Halle Bailey in this category, so it will be interesting to see who the voters give the award to, but there will be a Black woman who will win this. SZA and Victoria Monet are two of the artists with the most nominations, so they have to win one Grammy, right?

The last category is Best Rap Album, and my heart wants to say King’s Disease III by Nas because that album was so good. Nas is an icon, and the first two King’s Disease albums were great in their own way. However, my stomach says that Utopia by Travis Scott will win because of how much hype that album had before it was released. It was a great album, incorporating different elements of Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, and Electronic music while featuring a multitude of artists including Playboi Carti, Future, SZA, Drake, The Weeknd, 21 Savage, Beyonce, and many more. With that being said, I have Utopia winning the Grammy for Best Rap Album.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL CLINCHES THEIR 1ST CELEBRATION BOWL APPEARANCE

By George Hamilton III This Saturday’s football game between the Howard Bison and the Morgan State Bears was one for the history books.

Although this marked the last game of the season for both teams, it wasn't just any ordinary matchup between the two schools.

The Bison defeated the Bears 14-6 to win the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title. Although they had the same conference record as North Carolina Central, they defeated North Carolina Central on Nov. 11, resulting in them winning the conference title.

As conference champions, Howard accepted the opportunity to play in the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl against the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on Dec. 16 in Atlanta.

This was the first time either team had a chance to play in the bowl game.

Howard were co-champions of the MEAC conference with North Carolina Central last season, while Morgan State’s last MEAC championship was in 2014.

From Howard’s perspective, let’s take a look at how they ended up here.

HOME OPENER AGAINST NORFOLK STATE The Bison opened their conference play during Homecoming weekend, as they defeated the Norfolk State Spartans 27-23. Howard would score the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, before the Spartans would dominate the rest of the first half, taking a 17-9 lead into halftime.

ttheir last drive to give them the win.

This win put them at an overall record of 3-4 with a 1-0 in conference play.

THE BISON BARELY DEFEAT DELAWARE STATE Howard went on to win their second straight game against the Delaware State Hornets on Oct. 28, by a score of 17-10.

This would be a tough game for the Bison, as the Hornets were coached by Lee Hull, who previously coached at Howard as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Both teams didn’t score in the first quarter, but the Bison took a 7-0 lead, scoring a touchdown early in the second quarter.The Hornets responded with a touchdown of their own, but the Bison kicked a field goal just before halftime, prompting a 10-7 lead.

After receiving the ball to open up the second half, the Hornets tied the game midway through the third quarter after taking close to seven minutes and thirty seconds off the clock.

The Bison would score a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter after both teams exchanged punts following Delaware State’s field goal in the third quarter. They took nearly seven minutes and thirty seconds off the clock on their second to last drive of the game.

Once the Hornets had the ball, they attempted to move it down the field before Howard would intercept them with about four minutes left. Howard essentially ran the ball to end the game, picking up three first downs in the process. This win moved the Bison to an overall record of 4-4 with a conference record of 2-0.

The catalyst for the Bison was their defense, as they slowed down the Spartans offense. Field goals were kicked by both teams, and the Bison scored their own touchdown late in the third quarter to tie the game at 20.

Bison quarterback Quinton Williams breaking a tackle in the open field. Courtesy of HBCU Sports

Norfolk State kicked a field goal to gain a 23-20 lead in the fourth quarter. The Bison scored a late touchdown in the fourth quarter before intercepting the Spartans on The final score on the scoreboard that showcases Howard defeating Norfolk State 27-23. (George Hamilton III/101 Magazine)

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Bison quarterback Quinton Williams throwing a pass against the defense of South Carolina State. Photo Courtesy of The Times and Democrat.

THE BISON SUFFER THEIR FIRST CONFERENCE LOSS On Nov. 4, the Bison suffered their first conference loss against the South Carolina State Bulldogs. Although the final score was close, the stats said otherwise.

Howard scored the first touchdown with 6:38 left in the first quarter following a punt from the Bison and an interception thrown by the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs responded with a touchdown of their own on a 48-yard run by running back Jawarn Howell, the first of three TDs in a careerhigh day. The score was 7-7 before South Carolina State kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Howell would score an 85-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 17-7 .

Bison running back Jarett Hunter scored a touchdown midway through the third quarter to make the score 17-14. With 4:37 left, Howell scored his third TD of the day to put the Bulldogs up 24-14, followed by a field goal that left the score at 27-14.

Bison quarterback Quinton Williams would throw a touchdown pass to tight end Gavin Harris early in the fourth quarter to make the score 27-21, with a field goal kick midway that brought the score to 27-24.

While the Bulldogs committed a ton of penalties late in the game, Howard did not have enough left in the tank to win the game. This loss gave them an overall record of 4-5 and a conference record of 2-1.

THE BISON DOMINATE NO. 7 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL On Nov. 10, the Bison played the North Carolina Central Eagles, the No. 7 ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). This was a rematch of last year’s MEAC co-champions. Although both teams shared the conference title, the Eagles beat the Bison 50-21 last year, giving them the opportunity to play in the Celebration Bowl.

The Bison scored the first touchdown of the game with 4:59 left in the first quarter, as quarterback Quinton Williams ran the ball for a 1-yard touchdown. From that point forward, the Bison never looked back.

Running back Eden James ran for a 45yard touchdown early in the second quarter to put the Bison up 14. The Eagles would score a touchdown to make the score 14-7 before Bison tight end Galvin Harris would catch an 18-yard touchdown pass from Williams to put the Bison up 217. The Eagles scored

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with 1:50 left in the second quarter (21-14), before Bison wide receiver Kasey Hawthorne caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Williams with one second left to give the Bison a 28-14 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Bison scored a touchdown towards the end to extend the lead to 35-14. However, the fourth quarter was much like the second quarter.

Hawthorne would catch a 65-yard touchdown pass from Williams 53 seconds in to extend the Bison lead to 42-14. The Eagles would score a touchdown with 10 minutes left, bringing the lead down to 4220. The game was essentially over at this point, but the Bison wanted to run up the score, as running back Jarett Hunter ran the ball for a 20-yard touchdown with 2:38 left in the game to extend the score to 4820. The Bison scored their two-point conversion, and the point was made.

Howard beat North Carolina Central 5020, just one point from the 50-21 loss they suffered from the team just last year. This win put them in sole position of first place in the MEAC, and gave them an overall record of 5-5 with a conference record of 3-1.

Quinton Williams 34-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Bison a 14-0 lead after the extra point was made.

Morgan State would score a touchdown late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 14-7, and the teams exchanged punts on their next four combined possessions. The Bison would run out the clock on their last drive for the remaining eight minutes of the game, picking up five first downs in the process. Howard would accept their Celebration Bowl bid in the trophy ceremony after the game, and they now await the winner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game between the Florida A&M Rattlers and the Prairie View A&M Panthers.

HOWARD CLAIMS THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT MEAC TITLE On Nov. 10, the Bison claimed their second straight MEAC title, defeating the Morgan State Bears 14-6. This game wasn’t as exciting as their game against North Carolina Central, but the Bison got the job done. Howard scored first at the 5:46 mark, as running back Jarett Hunter ran the ball for an 8-yard touchdown that capped off a 12 play, 81-yard drive that nearly took six minutes off the clock. After that, both teams didn’t do much offensively, and the halftime score was 7-0 in favor of Howard. Howard would score again at the 9:29 mark of the third quarter, as quarterback Head coach Larry Scott raising the MEAC Championship above his head. Photo courtesy of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

LOOKING AHEAD: POST-GRAD LIFE FOR COLLEGE SENIORS AMID LOOMING RECESSION

By Mekala Seme

Howard University Graduate, Braxton Babb (Photo by @shotnydeejay__ on Instagram)

When Braxton Babb graduated from Howard University in May, she packed her bags and moved back to her hometown Indianapolis, Indiana, with no job or a clear idea of what the future would hold. It wasn’t until August that the recent graduate would receive her first job interview.

Luckily for Babb, the interview led to her first post-grad job as a multimedia reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, the longest and oldest-running Black newspaper in Indiana.

However, in the months awaiting her next pursuit, she felt lost and often found herself comparing her success to her classmates online.

Amid a looming recession and rampant inflation, unemployment rates for recent college graduates have increased to 4.4. percent, higher than pre-pandemic unemployment rates according to a survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For graduating seniors, postgrad anxiety is imminent overhead.

Imposter Syndrome, Comparison, and the Post-grad Blues

Senior year was a difficult time for Babb because she hadn’t fully solidified her plans after graduation, and felt inadequate to her classmates who had received multiple job offers.

“Graduation for me was very hard because a lot of my classmates were getting job offers early on,” Babb said. “It was traumatizing because as much as everybody thinks they’re prepared to go out into the real world, they’re not when it's actually time to gear up and go.”

Among the post-grad frenzies and graduation blues, many seniors battle imposter syndrome.

Life after college looks different for everyone. Some students may be offered positions straight out of college, while others choose to pivot and attend a graduate program.

“I still feel like I struggle with imposter syndrome because everybody is moving at a different momentum,” said Babb.

Babb recounts posting her graduation pictures and found herself comparing herself to former classmates online.

“I graduated and on the day of my graduation, I packed and came home with no job, and was just living life. It wasn't until August when I had my first job interview,” said Babb. “Luckily I got the job, but everyone else was like ‘I’m going to work for this Fortune 500 company or I’m going to grad school on a full-ride in their captions,’ and I’m just posting my pictures because I look good.”

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Navigating Life After Graduation: Expectations vs. Reality Many college seniors anticipate a clear path following graduation. Evin Guilford, a 2023 Howard graduate from New Jersey, is among the students who realized graduation expectations don’t always mirror reality.

Interested in broadcast production, Guilford expected to direct or produce newscasts for a news station after graduation. However, life for Guilford has looked different. After graduating in May, Guilford moved back to New Jersey and began working at a public relations company.

“I graduated in May and a couple months later I got offered a job to work at a PR company back in Jersey and that’s what I’m doing now,” said Guilford. “It wasn't the exact post-grad job that I thought I would be doing, but I’m grateful for my job and the people I work with.”

Another reality recent graduates faced was coming to terms with their new identity as fulltime employees. In the corporate world, the daily consists of working from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a small window gap for lunch.

Graduate Evin Guilford (Photo by @visualizedbymalachi on Instagram)

“For me, I didn't think I was gonna experience the culture shock of not being on campus anymore,” said Guilford. “I definitely miss being on campus and being able to go to events and see my friends.”

Similar to Guilford, Babb also had to learn to adjust to the corporate culture and found the shift difficult in the beginning. At most universities, students could adjust their daily schedules to align with the freedom to create availability for leisure throughout the day. As an undergraduate, Babb created her class schedule so most of her classes were in the afternoon instead of the morning.

“I knew I wasn’t a morning person so I set my schedule up for my classes to be later in the day. Now I have to be at work at 8:30 in the morning and I struggle to get up at 7:00 a.m.,” said Babb. “There’s no break to go home and take a nap or go on the Yard and be with your friends at work, the break in between is your lunch break, and you’re back at work.”

Tips for Graduating Seniors Looking Ahead Over a span of months, both Babb and Guilford have settled into their new jobs. The transition from student life to the corporate world has been a learning curve, but as they adjusted to their new routines, they’re offering advice for anxious seniors.

“Have your portfolio be extremely tight. It should be flawless by the end of the senior year because that’s what gonna catch a lot of people's eyes when you’re applying for jobs,” Guilford said. “Be present and attentive in your courses. That was important for me and made the difference when I was leaving and graduating from Howard.”

“Moving to the beat of my own drum helped me a lot. Everyone is going to move at their own momentum so stay true to your path,” Babb said. If not, you’re going to get stuck with a job you really don't want or enjoy just to say ‘Oh I work at this company,’ but they don’t nurture you as much as the smaller company would’ve if you just stayed the course.”

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read it & weep.

REVIEWS FOR THE CULTURE

BLACK NATIVITY REVIEW: Fine Arts students takes Howard community to church in the soulful telling of the birth of Christ

By Alecia Taylor In their fall production of Black Nativity, students from the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts (COFA) transported me back to the church my Nana referenced throughout my childhood.

Originally performed on Broadway in 1961, this holiday musical was written by Langston Hughes to tell the holiday story of Jesus’ birth through Black art, music and culture. This year’s production, directed by Eric Ruffin and performed by Howard Fine Arts students, was no different.

The show began with Pastor (Kennedi Hendrix) and the ensemble narrating the union of Mary (Nia Potter) and Joseph (Yisrael Robinson) that started it all. With their voices and the projector screening black-and-white images of Black farmers, the Ira Aldridge Theater transformed. The narration was coupled with a captivating modern dance style, reminding me of the choreography from Alvin Ailey Dance Company. With sharp movements, intentional flex feet and jarring leaps, the Black dance company’s influence was very apparent.

Like the dance company, dance numbers are more expressive than traditional ballet and jazz dance. Movements tell a story from choreography, energy and facial expressions.

In ACT I, Potter and Robinson’s dance techniques embodied the Black dance expression. The leads leaped and glided across the stage illustrating the emotional hurdles the the biblical couple endured to bring Jesus into this world.

Though Black Nativity is about the birth of baby Jesus, the ensemble seemed to be the star of the show embodying the true correlation of religion and what it means to be a Black believer. They showed out with their impressive ability to narrate the story through good ole old-school Southern Baptist gospel while still keeping up with the choreography.

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The leads, who made an attractive couple, unfortunately lacked chemistry.

I could look at any member of the ensemble and believe every note and facial expression portrayed on stage was real. In some moments throughout the show, facial expressions were not upheld when the focus was on a different character singing or dancing.

The music choice was just as satisfying, including gospel songs stretched across generations.

There were some minor microphone issues, but nothing that directly impacted the powerful message the cast had to share. The issues only made one thing apparent: the mics were AWN! Arranged by Grammy Award-nominee, e’Marcus Harper-Short, the music had to be my favorite part of the show. Act I featured classic Christian songs like “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and “Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him.” As the story progressed, the songs, dancing and visuals on the screen reminded me of the role Black churches have played in the Black community. If you grew up in a Black church, you probably are familiar with their interpretations of Biblical stories and the “Black struggle.” Act II was less about the birth of Christ and more about salvation and appreciating his sacrifice.

Through gospel songs like “Lord Keep Me” and “Changed,” the cast almost made me forget I was sitting in a theater. The music encompassed the soul and gospel of my grandmothers’s church. Like the audience, I found myself clapping along and shouting out, ‘Go ‘head yall!’ While the majority of the cast were sophomores and juniors, their voices reminded me of the soulful church ladies from my childhood who were much older than the 19 and 20year-olds atop the stage.

As the ensemble’s vocals brought the crowd to church, the visuals of historical Black figures from Harriet Tubman, to Chaka Khan, all the way to Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas, flashed through the backdrop of the set. The images and music connected the historical struggles of Black people to the biblical struggle of Jesus' entrance to this world.

The scene was a reminder of how spirituality has been a reflection of the journey of Black people, globally. From Black ministries using their pulpits to speak out against slavery in the 1800s to religious leaders like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Black church has played a crucial role in Black liberation.

The casting of the ensemble was excellent. I was glad to see and hear familiar faces and voices from students like Courtnee’ Hood, who played Heather McNamara in Heather’s: the Musical, a dramatic tale of a high school girl named Heather and her murderous boyfriend.

The production introduced me to fairly new COFA talent such as sophomore Nathaniel Mitchel (Ensemble) and Mahlet Gebreyesus (Ensemble).

There is no doubt this production is only the start for many great careers.

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ALBUM REVIEW

By Juan Benn Jr. Andre 3000 plays the flute on the cover of his new album, Blue New Sun. Image courtesy of Pitchfork.

For nearly two decades, André 3000’s contributions to the music scene have mostly been confined to a few guest features here and there, and a few viral clips of the Atlanta rap icon toting around his flute in public.

After listening to the album’s eight tracks, one wonders, where exactly in the world did the wind blow André 3000?

Fans were shocked to learn André would be releasing a new album – his first in 17 years – and even more surprised to learn that he’d be delivering an experimental, jazzy, electronic flute album instead of a longanticipated rap project.

Not a single word is spoken on “New Blue Sun.” The album’s song titles are probably the only source of lyrical expression from André. The opening track titled, “I swear, I Really Wanted to Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” aptly sets the tone for the listener’s journey upon hitting play.

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Photo by Renell Medrano/GQ

Photo by Kai Regan/NPR.com

According to NPR, the album was born from an organic meetup with producer, Carlos Niño, after Dré moved to Los Angeles from the East Coast. More than that, however, the slow pounding drums and low humming flute on the album’s third track, “That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control … Sh¥t Was Wild,” feel native and familiar. Like I’ve heard them before, perhaps, in a past life. Then, other parts feel extraterrestrial–ATLien, even.

Sometimes weird, but always forward.

Despite the massive media rollout–André 3000 was the subject of GQ’s first ever Video Cover Story–some weren’t looking for anything new. They were expecting 3 Stack’s signature flow, but “Blue New Sun” was never going to be that. It was always going to the album that the wind blew André 3000 to make.

I don’t know about anyone else. But for me?

Mission accomplished.

On “New Blue Sun,” André is playing with new sounds and being the true artist that he is. In a way, the music invites other artists to do the same. On social media, writers, painters, and musicians alike said the album moved them to create when they weren’t before. A part of me wonders if André 3000 somehow planted a bit of his own creative spirit in the music to get stuck in the listener and give birth to something new.

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SERIES REVIEW

BECKHAM: A REVIEW AND COMMENTARY FROM A FAN PERSPECTIVE

By George Hamilton III

The first time I heard of David Beckham was in 2008, at the verge of turning eight-years-old.

I was getting into soccer or football, as it’s called globally, around this time due to one of my best friends. I was tired of playing American football, and I wanted to try a new sport, so I had my friend and his dad teach me how to play soccer. From that moment forward, I fell in love with the sport, paying close attention to teams and leagues around the world, while playing it at a competitive level for almost 12 years.

I had heard of players like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo Lima, and plenty of others, but David Beckham was the name who was famous in Los Angeles. He had just moved to L.A. from Real Madrid, arguably the most famous football club in the world the previous year. As a kid, I didn’t know who David Beckham was before he came to the Galaxy. Netflix’s four part series goes in depth on the man whose phrase “Bend it like Beckham” became a mantra and cultural phenomenon for kids around the world. Through the use of never-beforeseen-footage, the Netflix documentary titled “Beckham,” directed by Fisher Stevens, dives into the life and iconic career of the football star. From the perspective of Beckham himself, his parents, many of his former teammates and managers, and his wife Victoria, ‘Beckham’ addresses the trials and tribulations of stardom and fame from an early age, as well as the pressures that come with garnering fame as an athlete.

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Navigating Fame, Pressure, and the 1998 World Cup Incident Episode one, titled “The Kick,” serves as a double entendre for two of Beckham’s most famous kicks in the mid to late 1990s. The episode details how David Beckham garnered fame at the young age of 21. On August 17, 1996, Beckham would score one of the greatest goals ever seen, in a moment that would change his life forever. Setting the documentary in motion, Director Stevens documents Beckham’s childhood as a Manchester United fan, which came from his parents Sandra and Ted. His parents recount how Beckham, as a child, was focused on achieving his dream of becoming a professional football player. He would practice in the family garden for hours on end, whether it was raining or sunny outside. His parents highlight his commitment by noting that he wouldn’t attend parties, go out with friends, or spend time with girls.

At the age of 15, Beckham was dominating the youth level, and one man, in particular, wanted the emerging star on his team. Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United at the time, expressed his desire to give young players a chance, and to “develop a football club, not a team.”

From this point forward, some of Beckham’s former teammates, such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Eric Cantona, speak about Beckham’s rise to stardom at United and the relationship he had with Ferguson. On the other side of that fame came Beckham’s desire to build a brand off the field, including signing contracts with Adidas and Brylcreem. These off-field deals rubbed Ferguson the wrong way as he believed that one person was not above the team. However, as Gary Neville describes, Beckham had this switch where he could be focused on his personal and outside factors, while still excelling and focused on the field when it was time to represent Manchester United.

Beckham finally got the call to play for England before the 1998 World Cup. He would lead them to the 1998 World Cup, although he was benched for the World Cup opener by manager Glenn Hoddle due to Hoddle publicly criticizing Beckham’s “unprofessionalism” to the team. Beckham overcame the criticisms and demonstrated on the field that he was focused on leading this England team in the World Cup. They made it out of the group, but faced Argentina in the Round of 16, a match filled with animosity for soccer and culturally related reasons. The first reason was due to the Falklands War in 1982, which was a ten-week conflict where Argentina tried to reclaim two British territories by invading the territories due to Britain refusing to give the land back. The other reason was due to a quarterfinal matchup between the two nations in the 1986 World Cup, which produced one of the all-time great goals even though it's one of the most controversial moments in soccer history.

However, this specific matchup is memorable to soccer fans because of what happened in the game. Beckham would receive a red card after kicking Argentinian midfielder Diego Simeone. England would be eliminated in a penalty shootout by Argentina, and the nation blamed Beckham for the loss. As a result, Beckham would be subjected to death threats and abuse from an entire nation.

Photo of David Beckham signing his Manchester United contract alongside Alex Ferguson. Photo Courtesy of Netflix and Marca

Love Can Sometimes Be A Wonderful, Yet Complicated Feeling At the age of 22, I haven’t found that special person that I want to share my life with, and that’s not a bad thing either because I know I’m patient, and I know that time will come. On the other hand, at the age of 22, David Beckham was a star on one of the best football clubs in the world while starting a relationship with Victoria Adams, or “Posh Spice,” one of the members of the girl pop group “The Spice Girls.”

David Beckham and Victoria Adams back in the late 1990s. Victoria was a member of the all-girl pop group, “Spice Girls.” Her and Beckham’s relationship would be given the nickname “Posh and Becks.” Photo courtesy of The New Yorker

In episode one, Victoria and David recount their first encounter in 1997, when Victoria attended a Manchester United game with Melanie Chisolm, who was another Spice Girl. Victoria says “I wasn’t into football then, but I thought he was a handsome young man.” From there, the two narrate their relationship in the documentary, finishing each other’s sentences and using similar words to describe the early stages of their relationship..

Victoria then details the moment that changed the couple’s lives forever, when she reveals to David that she was pregnant with their first child, Brooklyn, the day before England played Argentina in the 1998 World Cup Round of 16 match. Beckham tells his side of what was going through his mind when Victoria told him the news, saying, “I wanted to be with her, but I couldn’t because we were playing in a major tournament.”

Together, the two navigate the fallout from the 1998 World Cup incident. At this point, the Beckhams were scrutinized by the British tabloids for just about anything they did.

Despite their efforts to protect their son from the media, they were the “It” couple.

The couple faced various media storms, but stood united, no pun intended. It’s important to note that during the 1998-1999 season, David faced heckling at every stadium he played, as the entire nation of England resented him due the previous summer events.

During the 1999 European Cup quarterfinal against Inter Milan. Gary Neville details how David was distracted because Victoria told him, in Neville’s words, “If you missed this birth, if you are not back,” to which Neville advised David to turn off his phone as the game was too important. The turning point for David was the United faithful chanting “There’s only one David Beckham.” This was a shock to Beckham, but it fueled him to get United the win and welcome him and Victoria’s first child Brooklyn.

David Beckham and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Photo courtesy of CBC

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Preview into later episode: David Beckham at his jersey unveiling and press conference for the LA Galaxy. On the left is Tim Leiweke, the man who took the biggest risk in MLS history, and turned it into the greatest move the league ever made. Photo courtesy of Bleacher Reports

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he episode also explores Victoria and her unconventional start to motherhood.

Victoria discusses being alone with Brooklyn while David was playing, as well as the abuse she endured from fans. Teammates observed that while David could handle anything as a player, reacting when fans targeted his family would be a natural response. So, David would go on to use the abuse as motivation to prove critics wrong. As David puts it, the abuse from the fans “spurred him on,” and he just started scoring goals, reclaiming his dominant form.

He would lead Manchester United to the Premier League title, then the FA Cup title, and then United would defeat Bayern Munich in the European Cup final to become the first English team to win the treble, a feat where a team wins their country’s league title, their domestic tournament title, and the European Cup, now known as the Champions League.

David and Victoria got married on July 4, 1999 in a lavish wedding, and David credits Victoria as the main reason he got through the challenging season. However, United Coach Alex Ferguson thought Victoria was a distraction to David, and the relationship between coach and player soured rapidly after a locker room incident. Episode three details Beckham’s life as a superstar player at Manchester United, the boot-room incident between himself and Ferguson, and the eventual transfer to Real Madrid. At this point, Beckham was the star at Manchester United and married to one of the Spice girls, so he and Victoria were attracting a lot of attention.

From late-night talk shows, to parties in London, the Beckhams were essentially royalty in England. However, Sir Alex Ferguson, dubbed “Sir” by Queen Elizabeth II after winning the treble in 1999, knew that United were the kings of English football, and he had a duty to maintain that status.

Ferguson wanted an equal playing field for his players. Although Ferguson loved Beckham like he was his own child, he wanted Beckham to focus more on football than the off-field aspect of being a celebrity.

After winning another Premier League title in 2000, Beckham received the call to captain the England National Team in the 2001 World Cup qualifiers ahead of the 2002 World Cup. In David’s words, he knew he had to rectify what he had done in 1998, and he showed his passion to be captain by working harder on the field than everyone else. Beckham would score the winning goal in England’s second World Cup group stage match against Argentina, cementing his status as a “national hero” for defeating the nation that sent them home in the previous World Cup. Episode three also garners an introduction to Carlos Queiroz, the assistant coach brought in by Ferguson. Queiroz sensed that something was wrong with Beckham, pointing to an advertisement for Pepsi where Beckham has to put four to five kilograms of muscle in his upper body. Queiroz details how the performance of the player could be affected if the body’s coordination was off. Both he and Ferguson could see that Beckham was not himself, and Ferguson detailed how the culmination of everything that has happened over the last two to three years led to the infamous boot-room incident.

Beckham, Ferguson, the kit man Albert Morgan, and former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjær tell the story of what happened in the dressing room after their FA Cup tie against Arsenal, and the events that followed, causing a media storm for United. This would include Beckham being dropped from the starting 11 against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal in April

2003, which infuriated him because every professional footballer wants to play against Real Madrid, let alone play for Real Madrid.

British sports and politics journalist John Carlin narrates how Madrid players Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, and Zinedine Zidane were the best players in the world. He also provides insight into Real Madrid President Florentino Perez’s motto of “if we buy the best players, then we will win,” mentality, which is the reason why all four players mentioned were all on one team. Beckham would make a late appearance in the game, scoring two goals, but Madrid would knock United out of the tournament. He detailed how Zidane came up to him after the game and asked him the question, “You come to Madrid?” From there, Queiroz and Ferguson finish the story of what happened after the game and how Ferguson made the decision to transfer Beckham to Real Madrid, a decision that Beckham did not want.

Episode three also garners an introduction to Carlos Queiroz, the assistant coach brought in by Ferguson.

Victoria illustrates the challenges that wives and girlfriends of athletes face due to the potential sudden transfers. During the press conference featured in the documentary, the audience can see Victoria’s dissatisfaction, a point David emphasizes in his narration of the clip. Victoria recounts an interview with Spanish Vogue, that falsely claimed “she hated Spain because it smells of garlic,” which is something she did not say.

However, as Carlin puts it, the most grievous offense to the Spanish community is to question the quality of their food, making Victoria public enemy #1 in Madrid. Victoria explains that she faced criticism for not being in Spain right away because she had Brooklyn and Romeo, and she needed to find a school for Brooklyn before she moved to Spain.

David, however, dives into being starstruck during his first season at Madrid. Playing alongside the likes of Carlos, Ronaldo, Figo, and Zidane, posed a challenge, particularly as both Figo and Beckham both played right midfielder.

To read the full review and dive further into Beckham’s story, visit 101magazine.net.

HU SOCIAL JUSTICE CONSORTIUM FELLOW UNVEILS “CENTURIES” ART

By MyAhna Alston and Joy Young Photographed by Joy Young

EXHIBIT IN NOMA In the heart of the NoMa, neighborhood under the 400-foot rail underpass on K Street between First and Second Streets N.E. in Washington, D.C. lies the K Street Virtual Gallery. The gallery is home to D.C/’s first public outdoor light art installation, where passersby can see public virtual art, made possible by 12 high-powered lasers firing in sync.

D.C. artist Nekisha Durrett, who has been named the 2023 Howard University Social Justice Consortium Fellow, unveiled her latest visual art exhibit, "Centuries," during an event hosted by the NoMa Business Improvement District on Nov. 2.

Her exhibit focuses on black women in the sport of cycling, taking inspiration from the story of five black women who cycled 250 miles from New York to Washington in 1928. Marylou Jackson, Velma Jackson, Ethyl Miller, Leolya Nelson, and Constance White embarked on their expedition to explore the National Mall and Howard University. However, they faced various challenges along the way, including rough and hilly terrain, cold and stormy weather, sundown towns, and hostile surveillance from spectators.

Nekisha Durrett in front of K St. Virtual Gallery. (Joy Young/101 Magazine)

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The K Street Virtual Gallery opened in April 2023, and has been home to two virtual exhibits since.

Durrett’s work can also be found in private collections and public institutions, including The National Museum of African American History and the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. “Nekisha drew inspiration from a number of things as she worked to create her piece. I think that one of them was the setting itself in NoMa’s underpasses that see a lot of traffic, including bicycle traffic,” said Maura Brophy, President and CEO of the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID).

“When the panel met to select the two inaugural exhibits for K Street, they very much had that community-mindedness in their mind when they're making their selections,” Brophy said.

During the exhibit, attendees of the event were invited to walk under the underpass in order to get a clear view of the art. Durrett led the crowd from one piece of art to another, explaining the significance of the women’s journey.

“I know this location is a hub for cyclists, and I wanted to make a piece that focused on cyclists, but specifically black cyclists. I am very interested in bringing forward histories and stories of people that are often overlooked,” said Durrett. “My goal was to create an artwork that when black cyclists that I know are out here, when they’re riding by, they can look at the wall and see themselves reflected.”

My Ly, a DC artist who was the first to project their art at the K Street Gallery, says that she hopes the exhibit will bring a new perspective to passersby.

I think residents will be inspired to take up a new hobby, to go cycling, to bring their friends here, and maybe learn more about the history,” said MyLy.

Projections from “Centuries” Exhibit. (Joy Young/101 Magazine)

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“One of the things I’ve been really dedicated to is sharing the stories of black women on bikes,” said Keisha Roverson, a member of the organizing committee for the art exhibit. “A lot of history books leave our stories out of it. For there to be an exhibit that highlights and shares us is powerful because we don’t have a lot of folks sharing our stories if it’s not us.”

The K Street Virtual Gallery is lit up daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. It is free and open for individuals who would like to visit and view art, including Durrett’s piece.

Durrett speaking at “Centuries” Exhibit. (Joy Young/101 Magazine)

To read more about NoMa’s art displays, including Durrett’s, visit the BID’s website here. For more information about Durrett and her art journey, visit her personal website.

The underpass where Durrett’s work is located, between First and Second St NE. (Joy Young/101 Magazine)

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SIMONE LEIGH BRINGS Leigh explained that “Cupboard,” like many pieces throughout the exhibit, was a reference to her “Jamaican BLACK FEMINISM AND middle-class practices.” “Slipcover,” found in gallery seven, is display of porcelain plantains contained in a plastic ARTISTIC REBELLION TO D.C. aslipcover.

Pink, brown, black and orange hues decorate the casted plantains in an assortment resembling the faces of IN NEW EXHIBIT porcelain dolls.

By Jasper Smith

Leigh’s exhibit ventures beyond physical sculpture and ceramic. In gallery 6, in collaboration with performer Liz Magic Laser and jazz singer and composer Alicia Hall Moran, Leigh displayed her single-channel video “Breakdown,” artistically capturing what she described as a plight of “women coming undone.”

In the video, Moran hysterically sings “I’ve been performing my whole life.” The performance chaotically blends melodies of Black American folk music and jazz riffs.

During the one-hour walk through of her exhibit, Leigh shared that many of her pieces were manifestations of her interpersonal relationships within the art world. “Sharifa,” a monumental 12-foot bronze sculpture leaning against the wall of the museum, was modeled after Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, a writer, teacher, and one of Leigh’s closest friends, according to a profile by The New Yorker.

From left, “Sharifa” and “Anonymous” by Simone Leigh. Photo courtesy of the Hirshhorn Museum

Drawing inspiration from her Caribbean background, Black American folklore and discourse on Black feminism, renowned artist Simone Leigh exclusively presented her eponymous exhibition at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum earlier this month.

Leigh was the first Black woman to represent the United States at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy, last year. Pieces from the prestigious exhibition will be displayed at the Hirshhorn Museum, joined by Leigh’s latest bronze sculptures “Bisi,” “Herm” and “One Foot,” from now until March.

The “Simone Leigh” exhibition – spanning the entire third floor of the museum with 10 galleries and an outdoor display – evinces Leigh’s artistic repertoire of ceramic, bronze and raffia materials.

The exhibit explores ideas of race, labor, beauty, rage and Afrofuturism through the Black female form.

“My time working in ceramics, one of the things that has kept me captivated in the material and process is that it often mimics identity formation where you change the object by changing the environment it's been in,” Leigh said to the room full of media reporters whom she led through the exhibit on Nov.1.

The opening gallery displayed “Cupboard,” a 12-foot stoneware sculpture draped with a raffia skirt – a dried palm material traditionally used in basket weaving.

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“The origin of this sculpture is a 20-year relationship,” Leigh, 56, said, gesturing to “Sharifa.”

Before the exhibition walkthrough, Hirshhorn Museum Director Melissa Chiu welcomed media and museum partners, calling Leigh’s return to D.C. a “Smithsonian homecoming.” As a college student, Leigh interned at the African Museum of Art. “Some might say that we’ve waited a while since her last extraordinary visit, but here we are,” Chiu said. “We are here to learn more about Simone Leigh’s very important artifactures.”

Chiu said that the exhibit will have an estimated 350,000 visitors.

“I always feel incredibly fortunate because it’s such a diary,” Leigh said of her exhibit, “To have these memories in a solid form, I’m very lucky.”

To young students, particularly Black women, seeking to pursue art professionally, Leigh advised them to “be disobedient as much as possible.”

“Often, the categories, the expectations, almost everything is wrong for what is expected for the way a Black woman artist would create, go through the world, express her ideas – almost all of it is wrong,” she said. “If you’re really cantankerous, it can be awful. I would say there’s no way to avoid hard work, trial and error.”

THE ACES PARADE SHOWED WHY THEY HAVE TAPPED INTO THE VILLAIN ROLE Championship parades are all about celebrating all the hard work the players put in, but they can also include a little bit of trash talk. The Las Vegas Aces parade was no different.

Some of the Las Vegas Aces players and Head Coach Becky Hammon on the bus during their Championship parade. Photo courtesy of The Las Vegas Aces

BY GEORGE HAMILTON 5

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Las Vegas Forward A’Ja Wilson celebrating with the WNBA Championship in hand during the championship parade.Photo courtesy of Associated Press

On Oct. 23, the Aces celebrated their second consecutive parade on the Vegas Strip. While the parade featured lots of laughs and smiles from the players, the Aces left a message for the entire league ahead of next season: we aren’t done.

"We coming back," WNBA Finals MVP A'ja Wilson said. "We're going to do this [expletive] again."

The Aces became the first team since the 2001-2002 Los Angeles Sparks to win back-to-back titles, defeating the New York Liberty in four games. Last year, the Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun in four games to claim their first title, which was also won on the road.

"It's hard to win a championship," owner Mark Davis said. "It's even harder to repeat."

The Aces took the ‘rivalry’ with the Liberty up a notch at the parade, trolling them a number of times during their speeches. Multiple things led up to the trolling at the parade.

On Oct. 19, Aces guard Kelsey Plum questioned the Liberty’s mentality throughout the series after the Aces Game 4 win.

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“We also knew that, as much as they’re a team, they’re not a team, if that makes sense.” Plum told Yahoo Sports. “They’re really good individual players, but they don’t care about each other. And you can tell in those moments. They revert back to individual basketball.”

She also questioned Liberty being a ‘superteam’ because she says they haven’t gone through any adversity like the Aces have over the last five years. Plum said, “This group has been through so much. But it’s here. And there was a lot of years that we weren’t so super. But you can’t build a superteam in a couple of months. It takes years.”

These comments prompted several Liberty players to respond during their end-of-season interviews on Oct. 20.

“I think it’s easy to kick people when they’re down and you’re up, and honestly to me, it felt classless,” New York Liberty Center, Jonquel Jones said, “You could celebrate with your 6 team, and instead you chose to essentially s— on someone else.”

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu also said this notion of New York not being a team “could not be further from the truth.”

Plum took to social media to clear up her statement:

“I’VE NEVER BEEN ON A TEAM THAT’S BEEN MORE COMMITTED TO ONE ANOTHER THAN WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE THIS YEAR,” IONESCU SAID. “WE HAD PLAYERS THAT CAME TOGETHER IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME… TO TRY TO WIN.”

“Since the media wants to do clickbait, imma cut this drama out right now so we can move on and be in peace,” she wrote on X. “What I said was taken extremely out of context. I was trying to articulate my teammates, and I have been through a lot, and we used our bond to get over the hump.”

She apologized for the comment, stating that she didn’t intend to “throw shade.”

“Never been the type to throw shade, quite the opposite actually,” she continued. “I see how it came off, never was my intention, and I apologize. Our game grew immensely from this series, don’t let this b—---- detract from the biggest win here.”

Many fans were upset with Plum’s statement. One user on X responded under Plum’s tweet, “Truth hurts & what you said was in fact classless.” Another user replied under Plum’s apology tweet saying, “You have tweeted multiple times throwing shade at Sabrina. Now when JJ [Jonquel Jones] have a response, all of a sudden you want to throw your hands up.

Stand on what you say at all times.”

At the parade, the Aces made sure to bring up the Liberty, with Ionescu and Liberty forward Breanna Stewart . In the midst of the Liberty’s Game 3 win, Ionescu hit her signature “night night” celebration after making a three-pointer to ice the game. Aces guard Sydney Colson mimicked the gesture after the Aces won the title,.But there was a reason behind it. Colson told reporters that Ionescu told her to “take her a– to the bench” earlier in the season. Colson mentioned the issue in a tweet, saying, “if you play in my face and start being disrespectful, then ima match that energy.”

The celebration was brought up again during the parade, with Chelsea Gray acknowledging Colson’s gesture.

“They messed up when they went ‘night night,” Gray said. “And Sydney said I’m sitting on that Sabrina!”

Aces head coach Becky Hammon would bring up Stewart’s 3for-17 shooting night in the closeout game. That stat line was primarily due to the defense played by the Sixth Woman of the Year award winner Alysha Clark, who was starting in place of Gray in Game 4 and was Stewart’s former teammate on the Seattle Storm from 2016-2020.

Liberty center Jonquel Jones guarding Aces forward A’Ja Wilson in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Photo courtesy of CBS Sports

“Alysha Clark was my rookie in San Antonio,” Hammon said.

Clark replied , saying: “Talk about it.” Hammon and Clark were teammates on the San Antonio Stars (now the Aces) in 2010 when Clark was a rookie trying to make the roster.

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“Three-for-17 is you [all] need to talk about it,” Hammon responded.

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(left) Photo of A’Ja Wilson and the shirt she wore during the championship parade. (right) Photo of Wilson with the MVP voting numbers.

Photos courtesy of A’Ja Wilson. Edited with Adobe Express

A’ja Wilson wore a shirt highlighting the regular season MVP votes she received. She finished third for the regular-season award behind Stewart and Connecticut Sun star Alyssa Thomas. Wilson received 17 first-place votes, 25 second-place votes, 17 third-place votes, and one fourth-place vote, with many players from the WNBA and NBA asking who in the media voted her fourth. She finished third overall behind MVP winners Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas. Wilson had the last laugh as she won the WNBA title and Finals MVP over Stewart. Wilson also called out the person who voted for her in fourth place, noting that she would use it as fuel for next season.

“Whoever you are out there that voted me fourth, thank you. Thank you so much,” she said. “I wanna say I appreciate you because that just means I got a lot more work to do. And we coming back. We coming back baby.

We’re gonna do this s— again.” where is this? press conference?

Hammon stated that Wilson will be the “GOAT of GOATs” when her career is set and done.

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“Listen here, I’m an old ass b—-,” Hammon said. “I played against all of the GOATs. Oh, I’m gonna put it out there: This gonna be the GOAT of the GOATs. She don’t even know how I’m about to be on that a–, because she’s that good.”

She continued, saying that Wilson is “one of one” when trying to compare her to players of the past and present.

“I’m trying to think of a NBA comp, I’m trying to think of a WNBA comp. And there ain’t nobody in the world like A’ja Wilson, who willed us on her back.”

While the parade included good fun and a bit of trolling, the Aces are tapping into the ‘villain’ role when a team is reaching dynasty status. If they win the title next season, they will join the Houston Comets as the only teams in WNBA history to win three consecutive championships. With Wilson, Plum, Young, and Gray all under contract for next season, the Aces have already stated that they are aiming for title number 6 three. So the rest of the league has been put on notice seven months before the start of next season.

From

Us to You

Happy Holidays from 101 Magazine 82

10 Songs to Add to Your Fall Playlist

By Joy Young When the seasons change, so do the songs we listen to. Some might have songs they only play during specific times of the year, and others may have a select few that they listen to year-round.

Regardless, the shift in weather can bring up old memories, and what’s better than having a soundtrack to celebrate that nostalgia? Here are some songs to add to your playlist featuring a mix of R&B, Rap, Jazz, and Disco. Scan below for the Spotify playlist?

Summer’s Over Interlude - Drake & Majid Jordan Drake and Majid Al Maskati, vocalist of the R&B duo Majid Jordan, team up to make a melancholy goodbye to summer in this single. A bittersweet song and reminder of the passing of time, featuring Maskati’s entrancing vocals and somber lyrics as he yearns for better and warmer days.

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Autumn Changes - Donna Summer This is the only time disco is featured on the playlist, but highly deserved. This song is upbeat, flashy and truly an earworm; celebrating the new season with open arms.

Sweet November - SZA SZA has always been one of my favorite SZA albums, and this song is the icing on the cake. This track embodies 70s funk by utilizing Marvin Gaye’s “Mandota” as a sample. The bass guitars add to the song’s retro sound as SZA sings about personal growth, emphasizing that November represents a change in development.

Closure - Kelela Closure is undoubtedly my favorite song on Kelela’s newest album, Raven. Her vocals are hauntingly beautiful and sirenlike on this sultry R&B melody, paired with electronic elements. This song reminds me of closing one of life’s chapters and moving forward to the next.

Rainy Day - Minako Yoshida This song is entirely in Japanese, yet conveys a universal feeling of calmness and peace. Yoshida’s vocals remind me of Janet Jackson’s soft, gentle tone. The tranquil electric guitar riff and piano make this a perfect fall song. Rainy Day reminds me of a cold, rainy October night spent inside with a big cup of hot chocolate.

No Idea (Chopped and Screwed) - DJ Purpberry This song was really popular on social media platforms in the winter of 2019. I always think about it when the weather starts to turn cold. No Idea replicates the feeling of being inebriated, cold and slightly confused; representing the end of the fall semester perfectly.

October Song - Amy Winehouse In October Song, Winehouse sings about her beloved pet canary who passed away.

This song is upbeat, but the overall melody reminds me of a falling leaf gliding through the wind — as Winehouse’s voice swings up and down the music scale.

Fade Into You- Mazzy Star This is a great listen for when you are longing for someone. One of the more despondent songs on the playlist, Fade Into You radiates a dreaminess that can only be described as the autumn sun’s golden shimmer.

Fade Into You- Mazzy Star This is a great listen for when you are longing for someone. One of the more despondent songs on the playlist, Fade Into You radiates a dreaminess that can only be described as the autumn sun’s golden shimmer.

Cinnamon Tree - Esperanza Spalding This track reminds me of early fall mornings in my mom’s car on the way to elementary school. The windows are fogged up from the heat blasting and it smells like burnt wood outside. Cinnamon Tree is a soft, jazzy melody that feels nostalgic, earthy, and magical all at the same time.

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5 Books to Cozy Up with This Fall by

Courtesy of Chicago Public Library

Autumn Coleman

As the temperature drops, the time for fun in the sun comes to a close. The changing weather prompts a change in activity, too. For bookworms, cozying up with a good book is a welcomed alternative to long days formerly spent outside socializing. A good novel with which to pass the time is important to expanding one’s mind while stuck indoors. Here’s five great reads to get you started.

Girl, Woman, Other

by Bernardine Evaristo “Girl, Woman, Other” is on the longer side, but is perfect for a long fall day inside. Fall into the vastly different and complex worlds of each of the 12 main characters as they tackle Black and British womanhood. Evaristo, a Black woman, portrays the intersections of identity through a hopeful story of an interconnected group of Black British women. Her story paints a vivid portrait of contemporary Britain spanning multiple decades. Her book is all about the complex webs woven through the act of living life, offering life lessons and cautionary tales for her readers.

EITHER/OR

BY ELIF BATUMAN

“Either/Or” is the second installment in a series that follows Selin, a Turkish American entering her second year at Harvard University. Although it is part of a longer story, reading the first book is not needed to understand the second. Set in 1996, this coming-of-age novel takes the reader into Selin’s head as she asks herself lots of questions about her life – questions that don’t always have or need answers. Batuman, who is also Turkish American, wrote a gripping narrative that confronts the reader with questions that linger long after the last page.

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Born a Crime: Stories from A South African Childhood

BY TREVOR NOAH In this memoir, former “The Daily Show” host, Trevor Noah, offers readers a look into his life growing up in South Africa during and after Apartheid. Noah shares the stories of his youth, alongside nuanced commentary on racial dynamics, his relationship with his mother and what it’s like to be the offspring of a Black woman and a white man in a country where his existence is illegal. Told with the same hilarity that Noah is known for, the comedian shares with readers his coming-of-age story. By using comedy, Noah softens some of the harsher experiences of his life, imparting wisdom along the way.

Bluets

BY Maggie nelson Writer Maggie Nelson has fallen in love with the color blue. In “Bluets,” a book of poems, she uses the color to sift through her experience with love and the limitations of it. Each poem is connected by the color blue, in a literal and metaphorical sense. Throughout the book, Nelson references philosophy and media, leaving the reader to think about what it means to love something so much and the devastating effects love can have.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

BY Ottessa Moshfegh “My Year Of Rest And Relaxation,” by Ottessa Moshfegh, begins with the main character listing all the ways she should be happy, but she just isn’t. Convinced that she needs a year of sleep to fix her life, a young woman sedates herself for 365 days with prescription drugs and isolation.

Ottessa Moshfegh leaves the main character nameless and writes a story tackling grief, alienation and drug abuse.

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Apple Picking One of the most festive activities is picking your own apples at a local farm. Spending a few hours picking fruit with friends or family is such a fun autumn activity. Also, it makes for such a yummy treat if you decide to turn the apples into pie or even juice! Some places to pick apples nearby are Heyser Farms in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Common Good City Farm in Washington, D.C.

Explore the Wineries in Virginia

Photo Courtesy of Sea Of Blush

FIVE FALL THINGS TO DO IN THE DMV

BY IMARA MOORE Although winter is peering around the corner, there are still a few more days to be fall-festive.

Fall brings out the creativity in all of us, with different activities ranging from baking your favorite pie to visiting Salem, Massachusetts, for a witch-inspired trip.

With a college-student budget, you can still make the most of this season by exploring different parts of town. If you’re looking for a few fun activities to close out the month, check out these five ideas.

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For all the students who are 21 years old and older, explore the beauty of Virginia’s wineries.

Spend the afternoon taste-testing the best wine for your upcoming holiday party or simply enjoying the ambiance of the countryside.

Vino Virginia Wine Tours and Stone Tower winery are two places that offer an amazing vibe.

Art Walks Spend some time looking at new art pieces and meeting new people at the Dupont Art Walk. Each first Friday of the month, this art event takes place where a collection of galleries and performances are showcased. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new masterpiece for yourself or a gift for someone else.

Trying Out New Recipes Baking a pumpkin pie, crafting your own warm apple cider, heating up some squash, or making warm chocolate chip cookies is one of the best ways to save money while keeping up the festivities. Scrolling through Pinterest while playing your favorite fall tunes to find recipe inspiration can be a calming way to unwind on a Sunday afternoon.

Making New Goals For The Month With New Years goals rapidly approaching, it’s important to focus your attention on your goals and aspirations. Using time to sit and think about what you hope can come out of next month is healing. Visiting stores in D.C. like Jenni Bick Custom Journals and Fahrney’s Pens, offer many fun options to spice up your journal/goal list by selling bullet journals, stickers and more.

As we bid farewell to fall, tap into your creativity and embrace the rest of the season — all while saving money. Happy adventures!

FOUR THANKSGIVING DAY EPISODES TO LIGHTEN THE HOLIDAY SEASON

By Mekala Seme

While family is often the cornerstone of Thanksgiving celebrations, complicated familial dynamics spur up tension during the holiday season. The “Thanks for Nothing” episode of “Martin,” in season two of the show, only affirms the all-toofamiliar Thanksgiving Day family frenzies and represents a common thread in homes during the holiday season.

In this episode of the hit television sitcom, Martin’s relatives unexpectedly arrive at Thanksgiving dinner and get into an altercation with his partner Gina’s parents.

The episode begins with Gina and Martin’s mom in the kitchen as Mrs. Payne scolds Gina for her inability to cook to her standards.

The episode titled “Thanks for Nothing” captures the essence of Thanksgiving Day for families across the country. Outside of the holiday’s troubling historical ties, Thanksgiving Day is meant to serve as a day of gratitude and fellowship but often can open up old wounds, create drama, and leave people feeling lonelier than before.

In honor of Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 23, here are four light-hearted Thanksgiving episodes from Black television sitcoms that capture the candid nature of the holiday season.

1. “Feast and Famine” Martin Season 3, Episode 11

A part of the Thanksgiving tradition is a huge feast of an array of foods intended to feed family and friends, with plenty of food left over for the weekend. While much of the holiday is centered around food, the responsibility to prepare, cook, and present the food is usually placed on women.

In Season 3 of “Martin,” Tommy and Martin challenge Pam and Gina to a cook-off to determine which gender could execute the best Thanksgiving feast. For Tommy and Martin, preparing and cooking a Thanksgiving meal did not come as easy as they intended. The two guys began resorting to sneaky tactics once they realized the girls’ feast had eclipsed the dishes they prepared. The episode guest starred R&B and soul artist Millie Brown as Martin’s cousin, Florine.

“Feast and Famine” captures the complexities of preparing a Thanksgiving feast. The episode is a social commentary on gender roles during the holidays and how these norms can be challenged.

The episode also allows viewers to appreciate their loved ones for the level of dedication and effort it takes to curate the perfect Thanksgiving spread.

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2. “Fried Turkey” Girlfriends Season 1 Episode 9 In season 9 of “Girlfriends” Joan, played by Tracie Ellis Ross, has a Thanksgiving dinner date with a successful attorney.

Unfortunately, her dinner date took a turn for the worst. Joan’s friends, along with William, crash her date by engaging in an apology tour for how they treated her prior.

In “Fried Turkey,” we witness a common holiday conundrum take place. Although the holidays are a time to gather and appreciate relationships with family and friends, the holidays can often be a source of conflict for these relationships.

The holidays are a time for families and friends to reconcile with the past and break bread. The episode “Fried Turkey” is a reminder to look past the drama during the holidays and take the time to honor our relationships with family and friends.

banquet, the idea did not go as planned. Myra, the girlfriend of Winslow’s neighbor Steve Urkel, also decides to help out by volunteering to cook a stuffed chicken dish.

The night takes a turn when Myra’s dish explodes after she accidentally confuses Steve’s mini fireworks for pepper. In the closing scene, Carl becomes livid when Steve accidentally shoots the turkey he had prepared with a blunderbuss.

The scenes in “Chick-a-Boom” portray a common theme on Thanksgiving day. The feast on Thanksgiving day is one of the most important aspects of the holiday and can be a source of stress. At times, our Thanksgiving meals do not turn out as we hope, leaving us disappointed and upset with the outcome.

If anything, this episode serves as a reminder that mistakes happen, but we shouldn’t let them define our holiday experience.

4. “If you like Pilgrim Coladas” A Different World Season 2 Episode 6 Thanksgiving, like many other holidays, is centered around spending time with family and loved ones.

However, for college students, the holidays present a financial challenge forcing many of them to spend time away from home during Thanksgiving break.

3. “Chick-a-Boom” Family Matters Season 8 Episode 11 When Carl Winslow, the father of the Winslow family in the ABC sitcom “Family Matters,” sought to impress Police Commissioner Geiss by preparing a full-course Thanksgiving Day

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In season 2 of “A Different World” Whitley takes Kim to a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner as a remedy for her homesickness. Despite being homesick, the girls enjoyed a night filled with drinks, dinner, laughter, and memories to tell their friends.

This episode is a reminder that the holidays don’t have to be exclusively for families. Kim and Whitley’s relationship shows how college students can create memories and build community with the circumstances that surround them.

AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY WITH A MULTICULTURAL DINNER PLATE

BY JUAN BENN JR. AND JASPER SMITH

Photo Courtesy of Jed Owens/Unsplash

While Thanksgiving has often been associated with American-style foods – turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing – for Ife Onasonya, the holiday is an opportunity to connect with their Nigerian community and culture.

“What I enjoy most about celebrating Thanksgiving is just being around my family and family friends,” the senior psychology major said. “Every year we try to have all our small community of Nigerians come over at my house and we just have a really big feast together. It’s so much fun and I get to see people I haven’t [seen] in a while.”

The Nigerian cultural dishes that frequent the dinner table at Onasonya’s Thanksgiving celebration include efo riro, a Nigerian spinach stew; ayamase, a bell pepper stew; gbegiri, a popular Nigerian bean soup; and ewedu, a Yoruba jute leaf soup.

At Howard University, Onasonya is among many students from the African Diaspora who celebrate the holiday by cooking various cultural dishes. However, taking part in a holiday with such a complicated history, leaves room for students and their families to challenge conventional ways of celebrating Thanksgiving through food.

Growing up, Howard alumna Rhamaia Taylor, remembers her mother used Thanksgiving breaks as a time for the family to come together.

“It was a spoken thing,” she says.

“Where it’s like, you guys get these days off for Thanksgiving, and this gives us time, everyone time to, come and eat together.”

Thanksgiving at her mom’s house in Florida had a more traditional menu that many Black Americans would probably recognize: turkey, mac and cheese, collard greens, and “whatever desserts me and my sisters made together that year.” But sometimes, Taylor, her mother, and four siblings would drive to Georgia to spend the holiday with her Guyanese extended family.

They were “extravagant,” she says. “It was more West Indian-based foods.”

Instead of smoked turkey and dressing, Taylor and her family enjoyed jerk turkey wings and a Guyanese rice dish called cookup. They also had chow mein, a Chinese fusion noodle dish, and ate pine tart pastries for dessert.

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When people representing different cultures and backgrounds come together around the dinner table, it’s not only the food that is affected.

Jai Miller, an African-American senior fashion design major, describes an energy shift when he comes together with his Caribbean cousins, aunts, and uncles around the holidays.

“It’s still more of like a party, just like a bigger party,” he says. “There’s more games being played and kids running around.”

Mekala Seme, a senior journalism major from Boise, Idaho, shared that for many of her Thanksgivings growing up, her South Sudanese parents assimilated many of their dishes to that of American cuisine.

“But my parents also made it a point to incorporate some of our traditional dishes,” she said.

This year, Seme said she looks forward to eating salata aswad, an eggplant and peanut based dip; chapati, an east African flatbread; kisra, a traditional Sudanese fermented flatbread; and kamounia, a hearty stew made with lamb or beef with cumin as its main ingredient.

“Even though my parents have been in this country for a long time,” Seme said, “food is one thing that they won’t let go.”

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SEASON 23/24

NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY: THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2024

By Ayo Olagbaju and Nigel Hodge

Photographed by Phenix Halley This spring, the world prepares to celebrate yet another batch of graduates proudly flaunting their caps and gowns. Among these graduates are the high school seniors of 2020– a class that navigated a unique path to graduation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the graduating class of 2024 readies themselves for the big day, they carry with them a mix of emotions. Their journey to this point has been unlike any other: imagine looking forward to ending your high school career with prom and graduation parties, only to be met with an emerging, world-altering pandemic. Rather than putting on your cap and gown to walk the stage, you are forced to witness your graduation through a computer screen.

Then, after a summer of drive-by graduations and going months without seeing peers, you enter an entirely virtual freshman year of college. Entering college without the traditional experiences of living in dorms, attending parties and forming in-person bonds with professors and peers, was an unconventional start.

While the anticipation for spring graduation is high, this time is also a reminder of the unexpected turns

during the class of 2024’s last graduation season. To gain insight into how Howard University plans to celebrate and support the graduating class of 2024, 101 Magazine spoke with Walter Servance, Campus Life Director.

Servance highlighted the university’s commitment to commemorating this special occasion. “The Office of Campus Life will have a plethora of activities and programs to congratulate the class of 2024,” he said. These programs include the revival of traditions like the Greek revival of traditions like the Greek graduation ceremony, along with recognition of outstanding student organizations through Howard University’s annual Bison Ball.

Alongside the resurgence of COVID19, Servance emphasized safety being a top priority on campus. “We make sure that all of our students have a safe time at all our programs,” he said. He added that the university will collaborate closely with the Office of Residence Life to provide necessary and healthy support, including testing and isolation for students who need it.

Jahi Nixon, a senior at Howard University, pondered the lasting impact of his experience thus far. He believes that the class of 2024’s resilience will shape their generation’s outlook on education and future challenges.

“This class of 2024 will show that through all obstacles and circumstances, you can be whoever you want to be,” Nixon said.

Howard University senior Tomi Ijiyode looks forward to graduation this spring.

“I’m excited…it feels kind of surreal. It feels like it went really fast,” she said. “Overall, I am excited because this is an opportunity that my class and I have not gotten to experience yet. It’s something that we should be happy about. We should be proud of ourselves for doing something so momentous.”

As graduation day draws near, the class of 2024 holds on to their hopes and aspirations tightly. Their journey, marked by challenges and uncertainties, has forged them into a determined and resilient group of young individuals. They deserve the recognition and celebration that has been denied to them once before.

As they step into the world, they carry with them the lessons learned during the pandemic, and they are determined to make their mark on a future that is theirs for taking.

K N Y A O U H T L F A OF H E 10 B N 1 101 Magazine would like to thank the O following contributors for their photography and participation In the curation of this Issue!

Cover Page Photography Bison at Yellowstone National Park -Tom Murphy Photography Revival Shot - Phenix Halley

An Ode to Howard Mya Trujillo Cover Story Photography Jon Cook Roger Glass Lauren Smith

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Final Yardfest Day 1 Jenelle Foster Back Cover Photography Ericka Blount Phenix Halley Lauren Smith @8count__archives