SHAILA MENTORE

Kafilat Abdul (KA): When were you the President/Editor-in-Chief of Black World?

Shaila Mentore (SM): I was the Editor-in-Chief of Black World during the 2002-2003 academic school year.

KA: What motivated you to join Black World?

SM: There were many motivators for me to join Black World. First, I wanted to make sure that everyone heard the voice of Black students. There’s nothing like the Black experience, and when I saw the content Black World was highlighting, I knew I wanted to be a part of that. The second thing was I wanted to get better at my writing. Being an English major with a minor in journalism and wanting to support the Black community on campus, Black World allowed me to grow as a writer while simultaneously supporting the Black community.

KA: What were your goals for Black World under your tenure?

SM: My goal was to ensure the paper was printed so we could keep Black World alive. I remember wanting to ensure we stayed caught up so the legacy would continue. As far as the content, I wanted to create a community. Black World was another space representing the Black voices at Stony Brook.

KA: What was the climate like for Black and Latinx folks during your time at Stony Brook?

SM: I was a student at Stony Brook from ‘99 to ‘03, and during that time, we had connections that made us constantly work together. Even though clubs were doing their things, we would still come together for major events and to support one another. Having Student Polity (student government) during that time was a big deal for the campus because it gave the students a voice. Ultimately, we tried to stick together because we were the minority.

KA: How did this organization’s actions influence the environment on campus at the time?

SM: At the time, we didn’t realize the power and resources we had as a student newspaper. We were so focused on just printing the paper we didn’t recognize the impact we could’ve had. We decided to influence the campus via this publication by publishing what affected our community. We didn’t do much in terms of campus involvement but chose to write and how it affected the Black students.

KA: What impact did Black World have on your academic career and campus experience?

SM: Black World taught me the importance of telling our own stories. Being able to write and share from the perspective of a Black woman was empowering, and having the ability to share that with my peers was impactful. I learned while at Black World that ensuring your community has a voice is vital. In everything I’ve done post-college, I have had Black people on top of my mind, and I’m always thinking of ways to uplift my community. I currently serve as the Chair of the Women of Color Business Resource Group at the company where I work because it’s essential to create spaces where people of color and women feel safe and have a community.

KA: What advice do you want to give future successors on what it means to be Editor-in-Chief/President?

SM: To be an EIC/President of Black World is a responsibility to the Black and Brown communities at Stony Brook. It’s an opportunity to allow our voices to be heard. This space and resource support the community in ways we may not know. Understanding you are responsible for telling our story in the most authentic way possible.

KA: What do you wish for the future of Black World?

SM: I wish that Black World will continue to be a staple in the Stony Brook community and that it grows beyond anything we could’ve imagined. Our work over the years is essential to Stony Brook’s history and should be noticed. I want our stories to make history on the campus and have the name “Black World” known for a long time.