Nubian Message, Aug. 29, 2019 — Kicking off the school year the right way

NUBIANMESSAGE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM | THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019

KICKING OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR THE RIGHT WAY

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Letter from the editor I hope that your first few days of school have been productive and filled with classes that will get you one step closer to reaching the ultimate goal: that degree. To the seniors, (Shout out class of 2020) we’re almost done -- do not let the senioritis make you lose your motivation.

Remember the goal: that degree.

I also want to thank everyone who supported our previous issue. It warmed my heart to see multiple people post the cover on their IG accounts in support of our cover artist (Shout out to Je’wel Lucas). One of our many goals this year at the Nubian Message is to be a platform for Black and Brown artists on campus, whether or not they are musicians, rappers, singers or painters. Feel free to email or DM us if you would like to be featured, you may end up being on our next cover.

This goal is one part of my larger goal as Editor-in-Chief, which is to document and act as an archive for the Black and Brown students who will come after us. I want students 50 years from now to be able to look at the Nubian Message and see #BlackExcellence through photos of their grandparents strolling, planning events, fighting for equal rights on campus and just being great overall. In this issue, you will see some of that Black Excellence that hopefully our children can look at and be inspired by in the future.

To start, there is a news article on the African American Cultural Center. I sat down with the staff to discuss upcoming events and plans for this school year. See page two for the details. Flip the page and you’ll see all of our photos from this year’s Back 2 School Jam. It was an amazing event and it was so heartwarming to see all of Black NC State in one space.

On page six, you’ll find two opinion pieces. One on the infamous #ChickenSandwichWars and how there is a deeper message behind it all. The other discusses equal pay in honor of the National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day that occurred on Aug. 22.

Finally, on page seven you will notice something new. We are excited to announce the beginning of our community calendar. The calendar will be featured in one issue each month and in it, we will do our best to list out all of the events on-campus, in Raleigh and in Durham that surround topics that may be of interest to Black and Brown people.

If you have an event that you would like us to include in our upcoming October community calendar just let us know! Remember that the Nubian team is only an email or DM away.

With lots of love, Yesenia Jones

THISISSUE 3

UPDATES ON AACC

6

WHO MADE IT BETTER

6

CLOSING THE PAY GAP

Upcoming events and programming Chick-Fil-A vs Popeyes

The fight for Black women’s equal pay.

cover photo BY elikem dodor/Nubian Message Toinette Powers, a third-year double majoring in Global Perspective and International Studies. Powers is a member of DanceVisons Dance Company.

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

314 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 office 919-515-1468 advertising 919-515-2411 online thenubianmessage.com

Yesenia Jones

Editor-in-Chief

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Managing editor

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general manager

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Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of 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.

news

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What’s on the table? : updates on AACC yesenia jones Editor-In-Chief As generations of NC State students have come and gone, the African-American Cultural Center (AACC) has remained a consistent stronghold for the Black community on Campus. The Nubian Message sat down with Interim Director, Sachelle Ford, and Programming Coordinator, John Miller IV to discuss upcoming community events and updates on this campus staple.

NM: What events can students look forward to this Fall?

Miller: What’s on The Table starts on Friday. It’s one of our signature programs.

If you’ve ever been to one it’s really like an intergenerational conversation. Just about life and allowing everyone to come into the space and share everything from how Beyonce, though the triple threat that she is, can’t act. All the way to Jay-Z and the NFL, to things that are happening on this campus and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Everyone brings in their expertise in a power-neutral environment. Vulnerability too.

Ford: One of the most powerful things about that space is people really being vulnerable...

Miller: And humanity while still having the practice of centering Blackness. But then again it’s still open to everybody. Then we have the gallery exhibit. We have a new exhibit that was just installed downstairs called “Mental State.” The artist is Telvin Wallace. He is a recent Central [North Carolina Central University] grad and an amazing artist. His work is about mental health within society that affects Blackness. It really focuses on his mental health experiences... he will be giving an artist talk on Aug. 29 in the gallery.

Ford: On Aug. 27 we have a faculty fellowship presentation by Derek Ham, Ph.D., of the design school. His talk is called “Can Virtual Reality Cure Racism?” He worked on the “I Am a Man” exhibit with us last year. He’s also been approached by different groups. A church in Virginia and the Raleigh Police Department… asked can we use your immersive experience to help train and teach what the experience of belonging to a marginalized community is like. It’s really asking can VR experience allow people to step into each other’s shoes and can it do something about working on race relations?

Can it do something about empathy? That’s the first of four faculty fellowship presenta-

tion coming up this semester.

Miller: Harambee is on Sept. 5. Harambee is Swahili for let us come together. It’s been happening on campus for decades at this point. And letting the folks, especially new faculty, staff and students. But really being open to everybody to come in and learn who their network is and what their networks are. Being able to get to know about what the community has to offer as far as resources. Not only where those resources are on-campus but how can I actually get connected to those resources… We can all come together and center our humanity.

Center our Blackness. Learn more about the history of NC State. That is the kickoff of us embodying our theme for the year.

Our theme for the year is Stories of Home: Telling and Retelling Narratives of Blackness Locally and Globally. Being able to focus on what is home will hopefully further position the Cultural Center as a home for students, faculty and staff. This being your home away from home.

Ford: It’s an opportunity for us throughout the year, in all of our programming. You’ll see this in the gallery with the local artists.

You’ll see this in aspects of the film series.

You’ll see it in the way we are pushing the MLK celebration this year. We are partnering with the scholar in residence, Jason Miller, Ph.D., who is examining Dr. Martin Luther King’s trip to Raleigh and the way he was received here. This is an opportunity for us to examine Raleigh and North Carolina.

And even the Southeast and understanding the specificity of this region and its history.

Learning about legacies of the past and how they materialize and manifest for NC State students today is one of the ways we are thinking about home.

NM: What changes have you seen with students utilizing the space since it was renovated last academic school year?

Ford: I think one of the biggest things we hear from students now that the space has been renovated is that it’s much more welcoming. They enjoy being here and feel at home here. I also think we are intentional about making it a space in which students can understand how much we value them.

In terms of the structure of this space, having that wall come down means that we have this open living room. That is huge for What’s On The Table. What’s On The Table has really grown. Now we’ll set up the entire living area around the whole perimeter for What’s On The Table. Last year when the

david tracy/Nubian Message The African-American Cultural Center gets renovated on Monday, July 23 at Witherspoon Student Center. Much of the renovations happened on the third floor.

wall came down, we had the first Faculty and Grad Student Mixer and we held about 80 people up here which we could have never done before the renovation. So it allows us to engage more with the community. To have the community come out in large numbers. To be able to do things and see each other during events without a big structure in the way.

This room [Witherspoon 356] was key also. This room was utilized heavily last semester by DeLeon Gray, Ph.D., who every Wednesday brought his Ischolar research team. They held their lab/team meetings here on Wednesday’s. It’s cool to be able to devote space to Black scholarship. Also for our student’s to see Black Scholarship happening in the center. To see a team lead by a Black faculty member leading a team of oftentimes Black graduate students and resources for the Black Community.

Ford: Residential executive board meetings happen here too. So we support Black leadership on campus through that.

Miller: We have people who come and use this as a study space. We have people who come to practice presentations. This really becomes a more open space. It’s now reservable. So you can reserve it like available space. We were able to open this center up as more functional space.

Ford: We are going to open up the library too. So the library will be reservable now as well.

Miller: You can find the reservation system online through our website NM: For the new students that are coming in, how do you hope they will receive the AACC? Miller: Hopefully they will come in and see this as a place for learning, a place for rest and a place for joy. This place has always been a place for people to rest. I think there is a human element here. You can learn to understand that you are a scholar and hopefully what you take in here, you take out to the rest of the world.

Ford: Come when you’re feeling great, come when you’re feeling like a hot mess.

We see you and we see your humanity.

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features

back 2 school jAM

ELIKEM DODOR/Nubian Message Left: The Kappa Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated performed at the annual Back 2 School Jam on Wednesday, Aug. 22. Pictured is a Kappa Kane, traditionally used in throughout the fraternity. Middle: Marcus Tisdale. a fifth-year majoring in Mechancial Engineering. Tisdale is a member of the Eta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fratern ity, Incorportated. Right: Breonda Snead, a fourth-year double majoring in Paper Science Engineering & Chemical Engineering. Snead is a member of the Mu Xi chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incoporated.

ELIKEM DODOR /Nubian Message

Bottom: The Kappa Omega chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated at The Back 2 School Jam in Witherspoon Cinema on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

Features

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2K19 edition

YESENIA JONES /Nubian Message Top: On Wednesday, Aug. 22, The University Activities Board (Black Students Board) hosted their annual Back 2 School Jam. At the event, students participated in a game of musical chairs.

ELIKEM DODOR & YESENIA JONES/Nubian Message Left: On Wednesday, Aug. 22, The University Activities Board (Black Students Board) hosted their annual Back 2 School Jam. Maayan Eaves, a third-year double majoring in Communications and Art Studies, hosted the event along with Jordan Bullock, a third-year majoring in Animal Science. Middle: Bethel Getachew, a first-year majoring in Exploratory Studies, was among the crowd as students filled the Witherspoon Cinema to capacity. Right: Students waited in line to recieve tickets during the annual Back 2 School Jam.

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opinion

A One Hit Wonder vs. A Legend Chick-fil-a is known to be the most popular fast-food restaurant. From their great service to their delicious and healthy tasting food, Chick-fil-a has been the one to beat -- especially with their chicken sandwiches. But oluwaJoBa it looks like a challenge is Ogun underway as a well known Staff Writer fried chicken franchise has come out with their own spicy chicken sandwich. Will Chick-fil-a have to give up their crown and make way for a new champion?

Popeyes is known for their fried chicken, biscuits and salty fries. Their food resonates with the southern cooking of African-American families -- which also includes one important thing that blacks favor about their food: seasoning. Popeyes (as well as Bojangles) reminds us of the traditional flavors of black cooking with the seasoning of their chicken and fries. So when Popeyes came out with their spicy chicken sandwich, customers were quick to jump in line and try the anticipated meal.

Soon after its debut premiere, people then started to compare it to the famous Chickfil-a sandwich. Hashtags saying #Chick-fil-a vs. Popeyes started to boom all over Twit-

ter as well as video reactions to customers trying out the Popeyes sandwich. Responses to the comparisons have surprisingly been split up. It seemed as though Popeyes has astonished people with the new meal.

A food critic from Sun-Sentinel called the sandwich, “...a thick toasted brioche bun and a big, plump breast with thick batter with thick, garlic sweet pickles and condiments of mayonnaise and spicy remoulade; reiterating its similarity to a seasoned black meal.”

Though others continue to stand beside Chick-fil-a, praising its originality and simplicity, complementing the richness of its chicken and the consistency of its sweetness.

Another subtopic that is part of the Chick-fil-a vs. Popeyes conversation is the availability of the two restaurants. Chickfil-a isn’t open on Sundays because of its Christian background, which feeds way to go to Popeyes, plus who doesn’t like having a good lunch meal after church service right?

Also with the continuous discussion of the election, there have been many people boycotting places that support Trump or that are funding his campaign. Since Chick-fil-a is part of the affiliation, and we are in the age of equal rights and justice, everything opposite of Trump is good for business.

Back to the main argument: the food.

Popeyes and Chick-fil-a are from two dif-

ferent entities. One representing Southern cooking and goes hard on seasoning, while the other is on the healthier side; sweet, but not salty. The key point is consistency -- something that all fast-food restaurants should display in their food and service -which is something that Chick-fil-a constantly set forth.

Despite this being a comical feud between

restaurants, this can show us the importance of originality and consistency. At NC State, as we go from writing many papers to studying for exams, let’s remember that the work that is put in determines the result, it doesn’t just take a one-hit wonder to change the whole game.

Amrita Malur/Nubian Message Chick-fil-A offers sandwiches, milkshakes and grilled items as part of their menu on Aug. 31.

Located on the lower level of D.H. Hill Library, the Atrium Food Court underwent wholesale changes including increased to-go food options and renovations to the facility.

We Must Continue to Fight for Equal Pay Last Thursday, Black women recognized Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. The day was held on Aug. 22 to showcase the approximate total amount of days in the kevin moye year a Black woman Managing Editor would have to work into the new year to make what white nonHispanic men made at the end of 2018.

Many white feminists will call for equal pay citing that women earn about $.80 for every dollar men earn, but neglect to bring attention to the massive rift between the earnings of women of color. Black women earn just $.61 for every dollar white men make with Native American and Latina women making $.58 and $.53, respectively.

The current pay disparity between Blacks and whites is reflective of our country’s

long history of exploiting Black laborers.

From the gross theft of chattel slavery and share-cropping to the gentrified exploitation of domestic caregiving and service work, Blacks -- particularly Black women -- have been robbed of the profits from our labor.

For Black women, this exploitation of their labor continues to persist. While outright discriminatory pay is still a factor in the pay gap, the problem appears to be much more systematic than that.

The problem stems from the societal undervaluing of the work Black women do in our country. Jobs occupied by the highest concentrations of Black women are the jobs with the lowest amount of compensation for their workers.

The legacy of racism has instilled a higher percentage of Black women to work in the service industry and caregiving jobs because of the historical background of women working these jobs. Caregivers, in particular, are becoming a job in increasingly high

demand as our population begins to age; however, the wages and benefits of these jobs continue to be poor.

Even when Black women escape this low-skilled labor, they are still followed by the pay gap. It is in higher-skilled work where the pay gap becomes the most pronounced. At higher levels of education, the pay gap only widens for Black women.

With less than a high school diploma, Black women can expect to make 23 percent less than white men, but women holding an advanced degree can expect a pay gap of 35 percent between them and their white male colleagues.

In order to help end this oppressive pay dynamic, Black men must show more solidarity in the fight to be compensated equally. While we are also not equally compensated for our work, we do benefit from the unjust system of male privilege.

Data collected by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that Black women

still make 11 percent less than their Black male counterparts.

Black women’s economic well-being is vital to the Black community as 80 percent of Black mothers are the breadwinners of the family. And with single mothers making up about 47 percent of households in the Black community, their pay is perhaps even more vital to the success of future Black generations than male income.

We must continue to fight for the economic empowerment of Black women to bring us closer to the liberation from white supremacy that has dominated the US economy since its inception. Undervaluing the work of Black women is tantamount to undervaluing the role of Black people in our society as a whole. Advocacy for equal pay cannot stop until Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is no longer a necessary day of advocacy.

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community calendar

September 2019 Here are a few events to look forward to next month tuesday

Wednesday

thursday

friday

saturday

4

5

6

monday

31

1

2

7

8

9

African American Cultural Festival (Downtown Raleigh)

3

sunday

Harambee!

(Sankofa rm)

botewa tryouts (carmichael)

10

National Society of Black physicists (riddick)

17

11

12

Slam Poetry (One Earth Lounge)

Colors of Culture (Stafford Commons)

18

19

13

14

25

The Suite Life (SI Suite TAlley)

Race-Related Stress & Coping: Is Activism an Answer? (AACC Gallery)

26 Assumptions (SI Suite)

16

Beginning of LatinXistence -- LatinX Heritage Month

20

21

22

23

27

28

29

30

uab fall concert

24

15

African Student union (TBd)

Pride: Durham (Duke University)

*Disclaimer: We understand that this is not a comprehensive list of all the events occurring in the area. If you would like your event to be featured in future community calendars please email us at nubian-editor@ncsu.edu. For more information about the events listed, please check out the online version of our calendar.