Agora Zine - February 22, 2023

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

#2

What Black Joy means to me

Kiara Phillips MCCC Business Student

My self worth was tied to my hair because of how it defined my image. Learning how to remove societal scrutiny to develop a relationship with myself through my hair has brought so much fulfillment to my life as a Black woman. My hair taught me patience, it taught me to take up space and to be unapologetic about it. The way we style our hair, the way we dress, the way we talk and connect are all expressions of our joy.

Our joy is being around loved ones and honoring where we came from as well as who we are. It’s being a role model and a resource for Black youth; letting them know they are cherished and can achieve what they dream.

When you look up “Black joy” the first words that pop up are “Black joy is freedom.” Black Jubilation is our community taking a hold of our narrative, rebelling against a society built against us, and allows us to be ourselves in our own spaces. It’s in the way we love, share, create and heal.

Black joy entails embracing the “us” outside of the cruelties that are constantly highlighted, and instead writing in the history of Black people that goes beyond our suffrage. There is no wrong or right way to express the passion and pride behind being Black.

For me, a lot of my self expression is through my hair. The journey of learning how to take care of my hair has taught me how to love myself. I didn’t know much about my hair. I struggled in my youth with maintaining it, and didn’t have many resources to guide me. All I knew was my hair was the first thing people paid attention to, but it is one of my hardest battles in my day to day life.

Black joy is also in the simple things like the walk to the corner store with your cousins or being at the back of the bus singing and dancing after school with friends. The summer cookouts and celebrations, the solidarity between each other in spaces outside of our own. It’s creating spaces in other countries to connect while traveling.

Black joy is reflected in our passions, in our success, in our triumphs. Our ingenuity creates innovations. Black joy is loud, it’s unapologetic. The music is good and the food is even better. It’s the greatest form of liberation born from oppression. Nothing can take away our Blackness, and in that, nothing can take away our joy. It is ours.

The Big Gig coming to Monroe

MCCC will be hosting The Big Gig, Monroe County’s 36th annual Black History Month blues concert, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 in the Meyer Theater. The event is being held in collaboration with the Monroe County Library System, and admission is free. The gig’s headliner will be the R.J. Spangler Blues Revue, featuring special guest vocalists Tosha Owens, Sean Carney, and John “Tbone” Paxton. The show will be paying tribute to the Detroit blues sound of both past and present. The show will be opened by Rev. Robert B. Jones, who has opened the show since its establishment in 1988. After Jones, Chris Canas and his band will play the new generation of Detroit blues.

R.J. Spangler is a Detroit-based drummer who has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. According to his website, he has been active since 1976, earning his first Motor City Music Award in 1982. The opener, Rev. Robert B. Jones, is a native Detroiter. He has been active in entertaining and educating audiences for over 30 years. As said on his website, “His deep love for traditional African American and American music is shared in live performances that interweave timeless stories with original and traditional songs.” Jones has opened the show for over 30 years.

Staf f Adviser Editorial Policy

Chris Morgan

Rev. Robert B. Jones has opened the show for over 30 years.

Staff picks:

Chris Morgan Reporter

A veteran of stage and screen, LeVar Burton is probably best known for his role in “Star Trek: TNG,” and as Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking “Roots” mini-series. Along with his acting roles, Burton produced and starred in the popular ‘90s show “Reading Rainbow,” a show focused on encouraging kids to read and use their imagination, a cause that Burton is passionate about. He has never stopped trying to be a positive figure in entertainment and on his social media accounts.

Not only does Megan Pete, a.k.a. Megan Thee Stallion, make upbeat music, she also shines light on anxiety and talks about her struggles with mental health. Megan encourages all women to be confident in themselves and to chase their dreams. She strongly vocalizes her support for women receiving higher education, she even helps them pay for their college education by creating a four-year tuition paid scholarship. She is spunky, body positive, and an educated woman.

Kenna Preadmore Reporter

David Topolewski Reporter

Lil Wayne has been active in the hip-hop scene for nearly 30 years, and has been a prominent artist throughout that time. Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., Lil Wayne has released 13 albums and has been touted by rappers such as Ice Cube as the best of all time.

“It’s hard to beat Lil Wayne. It’s just hard,” Ice Cube said in an article from Revolt TV. “Lil Wayne—I just think he is great. His metaphors are otherworldly.”

I first saw Daveed Diggs in an video upload of “Hamilton,” as well as hearing him on the soundtrack. He was my favorite actor in that musical. His vocal performance was very impressive. He was also featured on “Sesame Street” singing “Rubber Ducky.” He has been in many movies and shows such as “Black-ish,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Soul.” Diggs meant a lot to me in middle and high school and his performances inspired me back then.

Jesse McDaniel Reporter

Black artists who inspire us

Lizzo, born as Melissa Viviane Jefferson, is a rapper, singer, and flutist from Detroit. She acted in the movie “Hustlers” and is best known for her song “About Damn Time.” I love Lizzo for many reasons including her musical talent, but her personality is what I admire the most. She has a beautiful outlook on life and reminds everyone to be more positive. She is extremely body positive and spreads kindness through her platform. She also makes cooking videos which I love to watch.

Detroit’s own J Dilla, born as James Dewitt Yancey, paved his own way in the world of hip hop production. Born to an opera singer mother and a jazz bassist father, Yancey was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, giving him a keen ear for samples to use. His health began to fail later in life, suffering from a rare blood disease and lupus. However, he did not let this stop him, as he toured Europe performing from a wheelchair in 2005. Yancey died in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2006, three days after his birthday.

Actor, writer, producer, rapper, comedian and more, Donald Glover has shown his talents in many areas of the entertainment industry. Glover got his start when Tina Fey hired him as a writer for “30 Rock” and he has only grown from there. In 2018 he released the song “This is America.” The song and the music video made to accompany it both cover the “Black Lives Matter” movement and other issues in America including racism and gun violence.

Jeremy Hunter is a 27-year-old musician from Florida who grew a following online through their ska covers under the channel name “Ska Tune Network.” Jeremy’s work on the YouTube channel focuses on a range of content from covers of emo songs, math-rock songs, to full videogame soundtrack covers and imaginative interpretations of cartoon theme songs. They currently play trombone in the band “We Are The Union” and release solo projects under the name JER.

Megan Kane Agora Editor

Lexi Greenwood Features Editor

William Johnson News Editor

Tyler Pennington Reporter

MCCC Library displays BHM books

There is a large display of books and movies for Black History Month in the MCCC Library. The Library is located in Room C-127.

Elizabeth Hartig, Faculty Reference librarian/ Public Services said the Library is offering many items for BHM. “The library has selected a wide variety of resources to put on display for Black History Month,” she said. “We have on display DVDs, history books, reference books, best-sellers, and others.”

Hartig said all of these items listed are available to check out.

The Library’s Winter hours are:

Mon. - Thur. 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed Sat. & Sun.

Some of the available books:

“Emmitt Till” by Devery S. Anderson

“To the Mountain Top” by Charlayne Hunter-Gautt

“We’ve Got a Job” by Cynthia Levinson

“Obama’s Race” by Michael Tesler and David O. Sears

“Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly

“A Voice That Could Stir an Army” by Maegan Parker Brooks

“The Undefeated” by Kwane Alexander and Kadir Nelson

“The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein

“Rosa” by Niki Giovanni

“Family Life in Black America” by Robert Joesph Taylor, James S. Jackson and Linda M. Chatters

“I may not get there with you” by Michael Eric Dyson

“A History of African Americans” by Robin D. G. Kelly and Earl Lewis

“Encyclopedia of African American History” by Paul Finkelman

“March” by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell

DVDs:

“The African Americans Many Rivers to Cross”

“The March: The story of the Greatest March in American History”

“I am not your negro”

Photos by Megan Kane

Black Bottom Jazz Showcase

Saturday, February 25 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Black History Month Films at Toledo Museum of Art

Friday, February 24 6:00pm - 7:30pm Saturday, February 25 12:00pm - 1:00pm Sunday, February 26 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Airey B and Her Blues Troupe

Tuesday, February 28 7:00pm