Nubian Message, Nov. 2, 2016 — T.I. gets political

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM | wednesday, NOVEMBER 2, 2016

T.I. GETS POLITICAL

wednesday, NOVEMBER 2,. 2016 | 2

Letter from the editor T

Heyhe fam, African American Cultural Center, which has I hope your homecoming week was phenomenal. been celebrating its 25th anniversary this year,One will of the focal points of the week was the homecoming host the annual Ebony Harlem Awards Sunday, May 1. concert. of It was headlined

by Clifford Harris, affectionately Because the big milestone the award ceremony’s theme known as T.I. I have to admit, I was surprised this year will be “25 Proverbs for 25 years”. that he was chosen to headline, especially since his most recentand per-the This year the African American Cultural Center formances have really exhibited his zest for social justice.

AYA Ambassadors partnered with the office of MulticulWhenStudent I applied to a PWI, I never thought T.I. would be tural Affairs to host the Ebony Harlem Awards, the main act for one of our homecoming concerts. which recognizes extraordinary African-Americans who excel in a particRegardless of whether or not was attending, I was excited to see his ular field, have a penchant for Icommunity-based activism that liftshow up the support of the Black Lives Matter movement would affect the atmosphere African-American community and are actively engaged in the centers. of the concert.

When I heard that students started to leave because T.I. Section Divider used expletives towards Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, “Ebony Harlem was conceptualized by the creators of the African and that even more students leftAugustus when he Witherspoon brought up police brutality and American Cultural Center Dr. and Dr. [Lawrence] other injustices within our country, I can’t say I was shocked.

Clark wanted to make sure that African-American students in particular Students at the NCSU love black and thetocontributions of black understood value of our using theirmen brilliance build their community students but continue to struggle with cultural competency.

Personally, and to promote the mission of the African American Cultural Center,” this says is“Mama” not surprising to me. the Thisprogram is nothing new. Many at NCSU love Toni Thorpe, coordinator forstudents the African American black bodies when they are providing them with entertainment in Carter Cultural Center.

Finley Stadium or PNC Arena, but remain silent when our black are Each year candidates are nominated for several categories suchmen as, art, slaughtered in the streets. photography, music, literature, leadership and academics. This year the this Our fellow signs Talleyyou as ifhave T.I. year’s theme:students “It is notremoved taboo toBlack to goLives back Matter and fetch thatinwhich orforgotten. their other favorite rap artists could not be turned into the next hashtag. ” Our fellow love of rap25music and love to use the N word in casual “We havestudents a collection proverbs that the community came up with conversation, but then ignore the cries of black people when we say that that symbolize the center, they represent our culture ” says the AYA Amblackface not acceptable. bassadorispresident Kinesha Harris.

Why is it that love seeing movies Witherspoon The night willour notwhite only counterparts include the award ceremony but in also dancing.

Student Center, but refuse to acknowledge that the building is the only s a time to get a greater appreciation from the outside community. ” one on campus named after an African American? Why do they only see Witherspoon Love, for the cinema but ignore the African American Cultural Center on the third floor?

InStephanie the words of Hunger Games star Amandla Sternberg, “What would America be like if it loved black people as much as it loves black culture?”

If you’re reading this, I would challenge you to have those uncomfortable conversations and get to the root of the issue as to why our peers would rather remain colorblind than stand in solidarity with us.

THISISSUE 3 EARLY VOTING ON CAMPUS Students utilize campus voting site

3 BLACK ON BLACK

Showcasing black talent through local art

4 T.I. ROCKS REYNOLDS

A look at the homecoming concert

6 ELECTION COMMENTARY Can Clinton sprint to the finish?

7 KENTON’S CORNER

Debunking ideas about black men

The Sentinel of the African -American Community at N.C. State Since 1992.

Stephanie Tate

Editor-in-Chief

Ashley Darrisaw

LAYOUT DESIGNER

Nothing but love, Stephanie

Anahzsa Jones

Managing editor

Allona Wilkerson

LAYOUT DESIGNER

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of the Nubian Message:

Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan, Dr. John Henrik Clark, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, The Black Panther Party, Mumia A. Jamal, Geronimo Pratt, Tony Williamson, Dr. Lawrence Clark, Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon, Dr. Wandra P. Hill, Mr. Kyran Anderson, Dr. Lathan Turner, Dr. M. Iyailu Moses, Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are still on the journey to true consciousness.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 3

NEWS

students take advantage of early voting CARL hintz Correspondent On Oct. 27 NC State opened an early voting site at the Creative Services building near the McKimmon Center. For many students like Kerri Johnson, a sophomore studying biology, early voting is a convenient option “It was a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Johnson said.

Across North Carolina, the first day of early voting was October 20th. At the start of early voting, many voting sites saw voters standing in line for hours, but one hundred and forty-five new voting sites opened for the last ten days of early voting. These sites will allow higher voting capacity and will likely increase the amount of early voting.

The length of lines varies with the time.

According to the Wake County Board of Elections website, “voting lines are the longest on the final 3 days of early voting.”

For the on campus voting site on Saturday, Oct. 29 at noon, it took less than 20 minutes for voters to receive a ballot.

Wake County Board of Elections opened

an early voting site on NCSU’s campus at the Creative Services Building near the McKimmon Center. Christian Jones, a senior studying political science said, “It would be better if early voting was available at Talley, but it’s good that it is on campus. It’s really convenient. You just take the five from main campus.” Jones was referring to the the number five route of the Wolfline which will take students to the voting site.

The early voting locations were selected earlier this year by the three members of the county Board of Elections. Noor Azeem, a junior studying English who works with NC State Democrats to encourage early voting described her experience as a first time voter. “I was excited. As soon as I got the ballot I was so nervous.

I felt like I might pass out. What if I fill in the wrong bubble? It was OK though. I filled in the right bubbles.”

In 2013, the State Legislature passed legislation that restricted early vot-

ing from seventeen to ten days, eliminated same day registration and required voter IDs. Major parts of this law were overturned as unconstitutional in July 2016.

Even though the court ruling required that early voting be restored to seventeen days, the Wake County Board of Elections reduced the number of early voting sites for the first week of early voting. “It’s probably not a good idea. Restricting early voting makes it more difficult to vote. It might discourage people from voting,” Johnson said.

Some students expressed their concern that the Republican controlled legislature sought County Board of Elections Offices sought to gain a partisan advantage with their decisions. “It’s purely a strategy to prevent a demographic that would vote against you from voting. They were able to do it in a legal way,” Jones said. “Primarily those tactics prevent people who usually don’t vote from voting.”

A graduate student at NCSU who

wished to remain anonymous stressed the importance of voting. They said, “People have died and fought for the right to vote.

Many immigrants would love to vote but don’t have the opportunity to.”

Early voting on campus has proven convenient for students. “Not everyone can vote on election day. Most people don’t have off on election day,” Azeem said.

While the reduced number of early voting sites may prevent some from voting, restrictions sometimes backfire by motivating more people to use their right to vote. If early voting turnout is high at the on campus early voting site, it will be difficult for the Board of Elections to justify eliminating on campus voting in the future. “We need to show people that we are willing to use this opportunity, so that they don’t restrict early voting,” Jones said.

For more information on early voting sites near campus, head to the Nubian Message website, www.thenubianmessage. com.

local art exhibit features artists of color STEPHANIE TATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Visual Arts Exchange (VAE) of Raleigh is featuring black artists and their art in their latest exhibition, entitled “Black on Black.” The exhibit, which was created to give a voice to people of color, made its debut on Oct. 7 and leaves VAE on Nov. 4.

According to the VAE website, the goal of the exhibit was to accurately portray the plight of people of color and show that African Americans are indeed talented.

The exhibit questions the legitimacy of images of people of color by saying “History and society haven’t always been truthful or kind in the depiction of people of color. But whose depictions are they?” Linda Dallas, commissioner of the Raleigh Arts Commission and professor at Saint Augustine University was one of the co-curators of the event.

Dallas spoke on the need for the talents of communities of color to be exhibited. “We hope the exhibition will inspire other galleries to feature the artwork of the many, many talented

artists of color. Black On Black shows Community Programs committee to the wealth of creativity and talent in help us brainstorm ideas and guide us our community,” Dallas said. in developing relevant programs.”

The exhibit was accompanied by a Some events highlighted the imreception featuring the artists and a portance of history in the African number of other community events.

American community. Historian Tim Dallas spoke on Hancock led a why the curators walking tour that of Black on Black highlighted the decided to involve contributions of outside communiAfrican Amerity organizations. cans to the city of “We were clear Raleigh. Anoththat people of coler event titled, or would not flock Preserving Your to the Visual Art Family HistoExchange simry, was led by ply because the Chaitra Powell an gallery exhibited Sorena Dadgar /Nubian Message African American artists of color. We “A black male, wearing a dark hoodie, heavyset, Collections and extended the Black about 40 years old and bald” by Dare Coulter is Outreach Archivist On Black exhibition on display at the “Black On Black” exhibition. with the University experience into the of North Carolina’s community through pop ups, social Wilson Library, and Wanda Cox-Baimedia and helped spread the word ley who is a librarian with Richard B. about the exhibition by participating Harrison Library and president of the in community events. We formed a Triangle Chapter of the Afro-Amer-

ican Historical and Genealogical Society. This event focused on the importance of protecting valuables within the family such as photographs and important documents.

Other events were in line with the artistic nature of Black on Black.

Empower Dance Studio hosted an event titled Black Dance Matters that depicted the importance of movement in the black community.

Dallas expressed that African Americans hold an important role in supporting artists of color. “The African American community is searching for opportunities to celebrate the arts.

They are looking for art that gives voice to their life experience and their point of view. Thank goodness, we have so many talented artists in this area that doing just that. Artists of color are experiencing a true renaissance in the Triangle. I think the creativity was always there. It is wonderful that the talent is beginning to appear in so many venues.”

wednesday, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 4

features

T.I. fills Reynolds Coliseum for Homecoming BRIANNA LLOYD Correspondent Sunday Oct. 23, NC State kicked off its Homecoming for the year 2016. Students all got excited as they wore NC State colors and got ready for the fun week of activities ahead. The week had a lot of fun events planned such as Penny Wars, where money was collected for a good cause; Scream on the Green, where students were able to grab their blankets and watch a fun Halloween movie; and a Red and White Week pep rally where everyone got pumped for the homecoming game against Boston College that Saturday. It was only halfway through the week when one of the most exciting events happened, the homecoming concert headlined by T.I. That Wednesday night, hundreds of students stood outside in the crisp October air, as they waited for the time when people would be allowed in to claim their seats for the show. The doors opened around 7:30, and the crowd started to form a straight line for easier access to the doors. Students were frantically running up the stairs as everyone tried to grab the best seats that they could find.

As soon as people started getting settled in, a DJ walked onto the stage to play some music before the opening act came on.

He tried to get the crowd up and moving by playing a lot of current hits such as: ‘Needed Me” by Rihanna, “Broccoli” by D.R.A.M, and “For Free” by DJ Khaled featuring Drake. While some of the crowd was excited, a lot of it seemed to be dead.

The DJ then tried to switch things up by playing some older songs, which the crowd seemed to more. The started to stand up and dance along to songs such as: “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G, “Be Faithful” by Fatman Scoop, and “This is How We Do it” by Montell Jordan. Just as the crowd seemed to really get into the music, it was time for the opening act, Sonny Miles.

Miles really knew how to get the crowd excited. He sang a few of his own songs, but he got the whole crowd singing along when he sang his own rendition of Hotline Bling originally sung by Drake. He then brought out a young singer named Jasmine to sing a few songs with him. He decided to continue with Drake by singing one of his throwbacks, Sooner Than Later.

The crowd seemed to really enjoy hearing his versions of these songs.Miles left the stage after a few more songs, and another

DJ came on. The new DJ kept the vibe gotion. According to him, working hard to ing after the artist left by playing more old get a degree is one of the most important school songs such as “Poison” by Bell Biv things young adults can do.

Devoe. You could hear the whole crowd Harris went on to talk about the elecsinging along as he played “Caroline” tion. He prompted the audience to get out

by Amine. Concert attendees were only and vote and stressed the importance of able to hear a couple more songs before a single vote. Harris told the crowd that the next opening act made his way to the every vote is important, and how this stage. election is too important to waste our The next opening act was MadeinTyo, votes. He then expressed his disdain with a rapper signed Republican presonto T.I’s music idential nomlabel, Grand Husinee, Donald tle Records. He Trump. A large played a couple part of the auof his own songs, dience cheered then rapped a few in agreement, covers of songs but another part by artists like 2 booed him and Chainz. He endpreceded to leave ed his set playing the concert. his most popular One of the hit, “Uber Everymost controwhere”. versial parts Then the moof the concert ment everyone was when was waiting for Harris asked finally arrived: the audience Clifford Harris, to raise their most commonly hands if they known as T.I., felt that there came on the was injustice stage. Harris in America. He came out, mic in said that people hand, ready to should be treated start the show. equally regardHe got the crowd less of the color hyped by starting of their skin. out with some of He resumed his his older songs performance like “You Don’t when he sang his know Me” and song War Zone “Take it Off ”. from his latest Harris then got album that is the crowd singing centered around kai anthony /Nubian Message along by playing the Black Lives T.I., rapper, performs”Whatever You Like” during his 2014 hit song, the 2016 Homecoming concert.

Matter movement, “No Mediocre”. He and the different slowed it down a little by playing “Whatsocial injustices. When the chorus came ever You Like”. Then Harris brought the on and he repeated the words, “hands up, speed back up with, “Bring em Out”, and can’t breathe,” even more people began to kept up the energy with his popular song leave in large groups.

“ASAP”.

It was obvious that Harris did not care Harris then took a break from singing that people were leaving his concert. He by talking to the audience. He exclaimed had a message that he wanted to get out to to the students how he was proud of every the world, and he wouldn’t let a few people single last one of us for getting our educawho disagreed stop him. Some people in

the crowd complained that he should not have been allowed to come. People seemed to be blaming NC State for allowing him to be our headliner if he was going to be political. Majority of the crowd stayed and enjoyed the rest of the concert. Harris decided to lighten the mood by playing his song “Live Your Life”, which has won multiple awards. He then almost made the standing audience into a mosh pit as he sang his Grammy nominated song, “What You Know.” He left the stage after that song, only to reappear and sing “Ain’t About the Money”, bringing the show to a close.

There were people in the crowd wearing shirts from NC State alumni Arlin Wallace’s clothing line “The Movement Merchandising” that said “Young, Black and Educated.”

The Union Activities Board (UAB), the board who planned the concert, did a lot of research before choosing who would perform at homecoming. UAB had been planning this concert for months. Jordan Williams, UAB concerts and entertainment vice chair, said “We got down to business in July. [We] had to get approval.”

Kamrie Risku, Executive Vice President of the UAB, said, “We had to go through varying channels to make sure our artist was approved.” NC State’s Union Activities Board has worked hard to make to make a concert that everyone would enjoy.

Majority of the crowd stayed and enjoyed the rest of the concert. Harris decided to lighten the mood by playing his song “Live Your Life”, which has won multiple awards. He then almost made the standing audience into a mosh pit as he sang his Grammy nominated song, “What You Know.” He left the stage after that song, only to reappear and sing “Ain’t About the Money”, bringing the show to a close.

Risku and many others wanted to show solidarity with Harris. She said, “Rap is such a cool thing that people love and appreciate, but often the people that are those rappers are not appreciated for their skin color and who they really are.” She wanted to take the opportunity to make a statement, which she and the rest of UAB did by wearing shirts by Wallace. “I’m young, black, educated, and I just want people to know that those three things can go together.”

features

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 5

kai anthony /Nubian Message “The Movement Mechandise” shirts are sold outside of Reynolds Colliseum before the 2016 Homecoming concert on October 26.

kai anthony /Nubian Message Sonny Miles, singer, sings a cover of Hotline Bling during the 2016 Homecoming concert sponsored by Union Activities Board in Reynolds Coliseum on Wednesday October 26

kai anthony /Nubian Message Madeintoyo, rapper, milly rocks during the 2016 Homecoming concert sponsored by Union Activities Board in Reynolds Coliseum on October 26.

kai anthony /Nubian Message Madeintoyo, rapper, performs during the 2016 Homecoming concert sponsored by Union Activities Board in Reynolds Coliseum on October 26.

kai anthony /Nubian Message T.I., rapper, makes his way across stage during the 2016 Homecoming concert sponsored by Union Activities Board in Reynolds Colliseum on October 26.

kai anthony /Nubian Message T.I. has two American Music awards, three Grammy awards and nine BET Hip Hop Music awards.

wednesday, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 6

OPINION

Election Round-Up Early voting in the state of North Carolina is coming to a close this weekend, and despite Democrats having an early lead in voter turnout, their numbers have begun to slow as Election Day nears. dion According to the figueroa North Carolina Board Correspondent of Elections around, 1.5 million North Carolinians have taken advantage of the overall convenience and shorter waiting times of early voting. The bigger question is whether or not the Democrats will be able to stay ahead while the party’s African-American voters have lagged behind when getting to the polls. CNN poll analysis shows that at this point in the 2012 election African-American voters made up 30% of the Democrat’s Electorate, this

cycle only 24%.

A month ago the thought of North Carolina being a true battleground state seemed highly unlikely. As the finishing line approaches, Hillary Clinton’s supporters in North Carolina are not just putting up a tough fight any more. It’s actually beginning to look like a win for the Blues, making North Carolina, which was formerly a historical Red state, a Blue state for the second time in three election cycles. Hillary Clinton, her husband Bill Clinton, President Obama, and even First Lady Michelle Obama having been making a round of last minute and impromptu rallies around the Raleigh area.

Following the often ugly first two debates, the third was surprisingly calm.

Fox News moderator Chris Wallace did his job admirably, keeping not just the two candidates, but also the crowd, in check throughout the final debate. In the opening minutes Trump came out fairly strong, keeping his composure, and

showing a more relaxed and not so angsty side of himself. However, his lack of understanding of any policy allowed Clinton to maintain a slight edge for most of the night. Late, “The Donald” began to show his true self, consistently interrupting the former Senator with his childish antics of saying “wrong” when Clinton made any sort of accusation. Mr. Trump simply cannot remain civil for an entire debate, leaving him looking more petty as time goes on. In a year wherein we are seeing a massive uptick in approval for President Obama, Trump needs to come up with a better campaign motto because, “if you vote for Her you’re getting another four years of Obama,” doesn’t sound too bad right now.

Throughout the General Election, hesitant voters have been searching for reasons to like Clinton, but every time she seems to be making progress, something comes up, sending her approval ratings plummeting. The irony of the matter is

that Trump has proven to be such a polarizing candidate and, at times, has almost assured that Hillary Clinton will win the Election come November 8th. But the Democratic nominee seems determined to stand in her own way consistently. Roadblocks such as the her infamous E-Mail scandal make her a very difficult choice for undecided voters. The fact that she enlisted the help of CNN’s Donna Brazile for help during the debates makes it even harder to like her. Our potential future President was so eager to win that she felt the need to cheat in order to maintain an edge over her terrifying opponent, and that is not okay. It’s Hillary Clinton’s race to lose, and even though she seems a shoein as of now, one more scandal before Election day could swing some momentum in Donald Trump’s direction and make the outcome a bit more uncertain.

Remember to go out and vote! Take the time to voice your opinion in how this country should be run.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 7

don’t believe the hype: black men love our queens There are so many lies uttered about black people as individuals it becomes hard to understand what the truth is. For example, there are the ideas that there are more black men in prison than college. That is kenton not true. According to gibbs Politifact, “the latest Staff Writer federal figures we found show 75,000 black males in [the college] age group who were in prison in 2013 and in the range of 690,000 to 779,000 who were in college.” Another example is the myth that black women are uneducated, but on the contrary, by race and gender black women have the highest percentage of current college enrollment.

However, the propaganda being levied against us may be the most intense in the area of family relations. Outliers are used and pushed as the norm which simply is not an accurate depiction of what the data says in various areas of family life. An example of this is the use of Mike Colter and his wife being juxtaposed with his role as the bulletproof black hero, Luke Cage.

The same is done with almost every high profile black man with a wife of a different race.

Then there are those few memes and videos that show D list black male celebrities slandering black women. Like the recent remarks of Trick Daddy saying via Instagram, “These Spanish and these white h**s getting very spiffy on y’all. They f**k around and learn how to fry chicken you h**s is useless.”

It’s constantly pushed that all black men share the deplorable and nonsensical

hate for black women that he does. Well, I personally do not associate with any man who sees a woman’s entire purpose as “being spiffy” and knowing how to fry chicken. Furthermore, the facts show that this attitude towards black women is held by a slim minority of black men. The overwhelming majority of us love our queens.

That truth is reaffirmed by statistics.

Kanye West said in the song Gold Digger, “So, stick by his side/ I know his dude’s balling but yea that’s nice/ And they gone keep calling and trying/ But you stay right girl/ But when you get on he leave yo ass for a white girl.”

It may have been life imitating art as he went on to do that exact same thing by marrying Kim Kardashian, who is of Armenian descent. However the stigma of successful black men ditching their black wives is simply false. According to research by Dr. Ivory Toldson and Dr.

Bryant Marks, 83 percent of married black men who earned at least $100,000 annually got hitched to black women. That’s four out of every five.

The problem is that these types of conversations normally start from someone saying something outlandish. It’s hard to see the fact that black men still do love black women when the only time black love is spoken about it’s in context of a reaction to an ignorant and hate-filled rant from a black man. These voices may be the loudest but they aren’t representative of the group. There will always be Trick Daddys of the world who would say any and everything to demean, belittle and devalue black women. But idiots who make these baseless claims and their attitudes will always be outnumbered by black men who see black women as more than their sexual prowess and cooking abilities.