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sentinel of black and marginalized voices at N.C. State since 1992.
Letter from The Editor
“We [Black people] have always used our creativity to battle and we're not the only ones.” - Nikki Giovanni
Y’all ever had a monopoly on frustration? Probably not and you may be wondering: what the f*** does that even mean? Same, but don’t worry about it, just know that The Nubian Message is always fighting for the right to be treated equitably. With Trump’s inauguration right around the corner, devastatingly on MLK day, it’s important to cherish our role as one of the few newspapers for Black and marginalized students.
This issue we are covering important topics such as domestic terrorism, homlessness in the Triangle and the passing of Nikki Giovanni (my queen). After your quick read, lighten the mood with our new word search section, and check out The Nubian Message’s LetterBoxd. (yayy!)
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.
Emelle
Emma Hamrick
Emilia Rivadeneira
Melanie Sierra
Adriana Hernández
cover photo BY William flathmann/Staff Photographer BrassiousMonk sings during his performance during the House of Art Benefit Show at The Pour House on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. The show was organized
NC GOP strips gubernatorial power
Leaders of the North Carolina executive branch are now pushed to find new ways to implement policies for the state. Both former Gov. Roy Cooper and current Gov. Josh Stein have faced pushback from Republican lawmakers.
With 2024 coming to a close and the new year beginning, Gov. Cooper has left the office and Gov. Stein has taken his place. However, the transition was different for Stein as he had to face the consequences of a new bill upon entering office.
Cooper first received the bill before leaving office. This bill is Senate Bill 382, entitled, “Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes.” Contained in the bill is the intention to limit the powers of executive officers, including the Governor position now held by Stein. The bill also aims to limit the powers of the Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor. Cooper vetoed the bill on Nov. 26, however, it was ultimately overridden by the Republican-majority legislature on Dec. 11.
The hurricane relief in SB 382 is written to provide $227 million from the Savings Reserve to a new ‘Helene Fund’ intended to provide funding for disaster relief. However, as mentioned in the bill, “The funds shall remain unspent until appropriated by an act of the General Assembly.”
Cooper expressed his disagreement with the bill saying, “This legislation is a sham. It does not send money to Western North Carolina but merely shuffles money from one fund to another in Raleigh.”
The bill, now law, lacks key provisions that would make significant changes to the lives of those in Western North Carolina. The bill does not specify a specific form of housing assistance, rental assistance or eviction prevention for victims. It also does not outline plans to implement recovery programs.
Under Senate Bill 382, the Governor’s ability to appoint people to the State Board of Elections and County Board of Elections is now the responsibility of the State Auditor. Judicial appointments are also affected. Two elected Supreme Court judges will be removed and the Governor is now limited in who he can select to fill Judicial positions.
“Finally, it plays politics by taking away two judges elected by the people and adding two judges appointed by the legislature, taking away authority from the Lieutenant Governor and the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and more,” says Cooper. It gives Republican officials more power and an advantage when it comes to making big decisions. Power is not only stripped from politicians, but also from the people.
Regarding mail-in ballots for elections, ballots have to be requested by the second Tuesday before the election. All ballots have to be completely counted within three days after Election Day. The time for fixing any ballot mistakes is also limited to three days after Election Day.
These changes could have a significant impact on future elections. The new time constraints for counts increase the possibility of inaccuracy and more unintentional errors. While constraints on fixing ballots could lead to many citizens losing their vote if not done in time. The next election could come with even more difficulty for those wanting to cast a ballot. Cooper and Stein united to file a lawsuit against Republican legislators over the new law, hoping to secure executive duties. The two argue that it is unconstitutional and limits the separation of powers. The lawsuit was initiated specifically due to the part of the bill that brings changes to the State Highway Patrol.
The State Highway Patrol has now become independent and no longer functions under the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Stein is now unable to appoint or remove the Commander of the State Highway Patrol, even if criminal activity were to arise. The Commander will continue to serve and will only face removal in the event of incapacity or death.
The lawsuit states, “The legislativelyappointed commander may feel empowered to delay, modify or flatly reject the direction that he receives from the governor, since he is legislatively mandated to serve until at least July 1, 2030.”
Despite these new limits to his power, newly elected Gov. Stein has signed five executive orders to address Hurricane Helene, which struck Western North Carolina in late September 2024.
Hurricane Helene replaced Hurricane Florence to claim the title of North Carolina’s deadliest hurricane in history, damaging over 70,000 homes, causing nearly $53 billion in damages, according to a report by Gov. Cooper.
There were 104 confirmed reported deaths related to Hurricane Helene and
there is still a lot of work needed to repair the damage it caused.
Gov. Stein’s five executive orders are meant to combat the long-term impacts of the hurricane. They are: ‘Increasing Temporary Housing Supply in Western NC’, ‘Repairing Roads and Bridges’, ‘Reorganizing Executive Branch to Meet Needs of Western NC’, ‘Establishing Advisory Committee on Western NC Recovery’ and ‘OSHR Exceptions - Helene Relief’.
The first two executive orders focus on supplying people with more temporary housing and providing more funds for repairing damaged roads.
Executive order three creates the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) and is tasked with developing recovery plans and providing updates on their progress.
Executive order four creates a committee that advises the Governor on community needs and secures relief funding from the North Carolina General Assembly.
The last executive order ‘OSHR Exceptions - Helene Relief’ increases the amount of community service leave that state employees now receive through the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR). Instead of the traditional 24 hours, employees also get an additional 16 hours of paid leave in order to bring in more volunteers to aid in the recovery.
Stein makes it known that Hurricane recovery is a top priority of his and will continue to be a priority regardless of the amount of time it takes.
Stein, in his inaugural address on Jan. 11, 2025, said, “Today we must overcome the unprecedented storm that ravaged our state and the everyday struggles that impact our neighbors.”
While addressing the General Assembly, Stein acknowledged the need for bipartisanship particularly during this time.
“We have real problems to solve, and we do not have time to settle petty political scores or fight divisive culture wars, I want to stand with you as we fight for our people, not with each other,” he said. Finding common ground with the Republican majority that satisfies both parties allows for less pushback and a greater chance at success.
Aiyanna Moore Correspondent
Griffin bryant/Senior Staff Photographer
Then North Carolina Attorney General, Josh Stein, speaks during the Kamala Harris campaign rally at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2024.
What's goinG on in darfur
Content warning: Genocide and seXual violence
Gire Nyara Correspondent
Since the country’s liberation from Great Britain in 1956, Sudan has been ridden with conflict. Despite the lack of media attention surrounding the ongoing violence in Darfur, Sudan, it has been the site of decades of atrocities.
conflict and Political Instability
Between 1958 and 1989, the Sudanese government experienced the installment of three military-backed political coups. These regimes each carried starkly different political ideologies, yet push for the Islamification of the country.
Tensions in the South where the majority of the population consisted of non-Arab Christians, who were persecuted by an Islamic Arab majority.
The tensions resulted in a Civil War between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the military forces of the Republic of Sudan and Sudan’s People's Liberation Movement/ Army (SPLM/A), the regime currently presiding over South Sudan.
Although most non-Arab African ethnic groups resided in the South of Sudan, there were still large populations mainly Masalit, Beja, Nuba and Fur in the north.
Between 2000 and 2004 the conflict in Southern Sudan progressed into secession to become South Sudan. Simultaneously, rebel groups in Darfur such as the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and a faction of the SPLM arose. In 2003, the progovernment Arab militia, Janjaweed, began mass rapes and executions of the Fur people who are native to Darfur.
The Janjaweed, mostly of SudaneseArab descent who resided in Darfur, later became the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an important actor in today's conflict.
In the same year, US Secretary of State, Colin Powell declared the happenings in Darfur a genocide. This subsequently activated the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions against those who violated the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement in Darfur. Along with this, the Council voted to refer actors who have committed war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.
Despite the UN’s efforts for peace as well as the signing of a peace agreement between SPLM and SAF, smaller militias refused to comply with the deal, perpetutaing the violence.
In 2010, JEM came to sign an agreement with the Sudanese government, prompting
President Omar al-Bashir of the National Congress Party (NCP) to declare the war in Darfur over. Similar to previous events, small rebel groups disagreed with the deal and fighting continued.
For the next decade, Sudan oscillated between periods of peace and conflict until the fall of President al-Bashir’s rule. This was brought on by a coup orchestrated by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a fellow NCP member. In 2019, the new government took office under Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Although the country was unstable due to constant conflict within the government, such as a coup performed by Bashir loyalists in 2021, Hamdok ultimately remained in power.
In 2023, fighting sparked in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, with the aggressors being the RSF and SAF against civilians, who resumed mass rape and killings in Darfur
Impact and Global Recognition
With the RSF’s motive being to permanently wipe non-Arab communities away from the Darfur region, the weight of decades worth of fighting and genocide has become insurmountable.
The war in Darfur has resulted in the displacement of 11 million people and left 750,000 people on the brink of famine since 2023. In 2024, the UN reported that 10,000 to 15,000 people had been killed in December 2023 alone, estimating the current death toll to be around 150,000 people.
For years, a lack of widespread media coverage of the genocide in Darfur compared to concurring events around the world has been an issue.
In 2024, Martin Griffiths, UN UnderSecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator stated, “It’s very, very difficult to get attention to Sudan, which, in my view, is a place of as great a suffering as anywhere in the world today.”
Despite this lack of coverage, the issue has often garnered attention from nations around the world, including the United States.
On Jan. 7, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken released a statement condemning the conflict between the SAF and RSF. Blinken went on to deem the genocide in Darfur, “the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe.”
Homelessness Hits Record High Increases Over 18% in the Past Year
Shaere delgiudice News Editor
Homelessness in the US rose 18.1% overall from 2023 to 2024, per a report released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Friday, Dec. 27.
This statistic is not only heartbreaking but record-breaking as well, as “the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024 was the highest ever recorded,” according to HUD.
Most of the individual categories recorded by the department also reached record levels.
“Homelessness among people in families with children, individuals, individuals with chronic patterns of homelessness, people staying in unsheltered locations, people staying in sheltered locations, and unaccompanied youth all reached the highest recorded numbers in 2024.”
Families with children saw the largest increase in homelessness of any category, with 39% more of these people experiencing homelessness from 2023 to 2024.
Additionally, “nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, reflecting a 33 percent increase (or 32,618 more children) over 2023.” The increase in homelessness among people under age 18 was the largest of any age group.
For adults, “about one in every five people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024 was age 55 or older. More than 104,000 people experiencing homelessness were aged 55 to 64 and just over 42,150 people were over age 64. Nearly half of adults aged 55 or older (46%) were experiencing unsheltered homelessness in places not meant for human habitation.”
The only population whose numbers improved were veterans, who saw a 7.6% decrease in homelessness.
Homelessness also continues to disproportionately affect Black people: “People who identify as Black made up just 12 percent of the total U.S. population and 21 percent of the U.S. population living in poverty but were 32 percent of all people experiencing homelessness,” though this did decrease from 37% in 2023.
Our Local Communities
North Carolina mirrored the national trend, with a 19.2% increase in individuals
experiencing homelessness.
In Wake County, just days before the release of HUD’s report was released, community members held a memorial to honor the 46 lives lost to homelessness in the county in 2024. They read the names of every person aloud, displaying a chair with a candle and rose on it to represent each person and added an extra chair to symbolize the unknown deaths as well.
As District 7 Commissioner Vickie Adamson said, “Each life we honor is a reminder that one loss is one too many;” however, Wake County organizers took the decrease in deaths – down from 75 at least year’s memorial – as a sign that recent efforts may be making a difference.
These efforts include the opening of the Bryant Center, a new emergency drop-in shelter in downtown Raleigh. The Cornerstone Service Center is also reopening following a $4 million investment and 11 months of renovations. The center now offers expanded services, with 20 units for those experiencing chronic homelessness.
Organizers also credit expanded harmreduction efforts, funded through the state’s opioid settlement, for the decrease in deaths.
In May, Raleigh City Council approved a $5 million “Unsheltered Homelessness Response Program.” The funding sets aside $1.9 million for “direct subsidies to unsheltered individuals living in camps” and $1.1 million for “administrative cost and staffing.”
The program means “as many as 40 households will receive monthly subsidies” aimed at helping them move into permanent housing. The program also puts $2 million toward expanding transitional housing options.
On the other side of things, the city of Raleigh recently faced criticism for forcing residents out of two different homeless encampments. Some residents said they felt there were few other places to go, with the average rent for an apartment at $1,575 a month according to RentCafe’s November numbers.
As the city and county work to improve affordable housing options there are a few things you can do to help.
The Future of puerto Rico's Energy
melanie Sierra Staff Writer
During a major blackout on Thursday, Jan. 2, the new Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón, took office.
Puerto Rico’s power grid has been in need of a major upgrade, particularly after natural disasters.
The Island’s power grid company, Luma Energy, stated that the nationwide blackout on New Year’s Eve was caused by longstanding underground cable issues.
Almost 90% of the island was without electricity on the morning of New Year's Eve. Luma Energy stated that almost 50% of the energy had been restored by that night, but would need about 48 hours for it to be fully restored.
Luma Energy is a private company that has been in charge of Puerto Rico’s energy since June 1, 2021. Their goal has been to recreate the old power system used before a category four hurricane demolished it.
Puerto Rico’s blackouts have skyrocketed since Hurricane Maria, the category-four storm from September 2017. Hurricane Maria destroyed the power grid, which took almost 11 months to fully restore, making outages a common occurrence.
Approximately 2,975 people died, mostly due to the effects of prolonged outages caused by Hurrican Maria.
Ruth Santiago, a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council in Puerto Rico, criticized Luma Energy’s progress. She stated that Congress had granted them almost $20 billion to fix the power grid and the money has not been wisely.
Despite the billions of dollars Luma Energy has received to solve Puerto Rico’s energy crisis, the problem has not been resolved at all. Their chief executive officer, Juan Saca, acknowledged the ongoing energy problems and issued a statement to defend the company’s credibility.
Saca’s reasoning for the lack of progress is the amount of time needed to complete the repairs and assured residents that they are constantly working to build up the power grid.
“These are long-term reliability investments, not quick fixes and making the necessary structural changes is a monumental and time-consuming task, but we are making significant progress,” Saca said.
Northeastern University doctoral candidate, Alaina Kinol, co-authored “Current Research in Environmental
Sustainability,” a research journal on the environment, mentions how sustainable energy infrastructure, such as solar panels, will be more efficient during major weather events such as Hurricane Maria.
“They are rebuilding their previous system, despite public calls for decentralized solar energy that would be better equipped to handle another hurricane in the future,” said Kinol.
Last year, González won the election by 40% beating out the other four candidates. This happened the same day that Donald Trump was elected for his second term on Nov. 5, 2024. González, who backs Donald Trump, is the first Republican Governor of Puerto Rico.
As the new governor, González has pledged to restore the island's power grid. However, some have no faith that she will keep her word. Before González’s arrival on the day she was sworn into office, a group of people protested at the Capital.
The group of protesters who were at the Capitol building only increased as the ceremony went on. Those who are frustrated with the energy crisis were among this group. They voiced their concerns to González during the ceremony.
González acknowledged the main issue at hand. “That is precisely what moves me to address that first challenge with a sense of urgency,” said González.
When protestors yelled things like, “Jenniffer, we came for you! Puerto is without power,” González answered, “I am not going to govern only for those who voted for me. I am going to be the governor of all Puerto Ricans.”
“I am not going to govern only for those who voted for me. I am going to be the governor of all Puerto Ricans.”
On Wednesday, Jan. 8, González appointed what she called an “energy czar” to take charge in fixing the island’s power grid. The nominee, Josué Colón, is the executive director of Puerto Rico’s Electrical Power Authority and said he is willing to step down to fill this new position. Colón will be in charge of power generation along with Luma Energy. González said that
Colón is what they need in order to finally get the aid.
Following the New Year’s Eve blackouts, González noted that the U.S. government had not yet given the $18 billion that is meant for the power grid.
However, on Dec. 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy stated that $365 million was provided to implement more sustainable sources of energy for Puerto Rico. $190 million is for installing solar
“Puerto Ricans pay about twice as much as people in the States for electricity, and it's only increasing.”
panels in resident’s homes and the other $175 million is for healthcare buildings.
Just last year alone, there was a almost 20% increase in how long each outage lasted per consumer. Puerto Ricans pay about twice as much as people in the United States for electricity and it's only increasing. All of these factors make it difficult for consumers on the island to switch over to renewable energy.
According to the “Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act,” 40% of the island must be switched over to renewable energy on or before 2025, 60% on or before 2040 and 100% on or before 2050.
Currently, only about 6% of the island uses renewable energy with 93% coming from fossil fuel power plants. Fossil fuels being the main source of energy on the island results in a pricier electric rate and a need for natural gas imports.
Failure to comply with the policy will further extend the timeline in which Puerto Rico’s power crisis finally gets resolved. Until significant progress is made, issues like electric rates will only worsen.
The prolonged energy crisis will remain a challenge as Governor Jenniffer GonzálezColón begins her term.
Critics and environmental specialists argued that the goal of rebuilding the fossil fuel-dependent power grid dismisses the call for renewable energy. Despite the billions of dollars in federal aid, not enough of the energy in Puerto Rico’s is renewable.
Although those promises have been made, significant progress will depend on prioritizing sustainable and renewable energy systems that tackle the island's vulnerabilities like natural disasters.
image courtesy of creative commons Woman with a Puerto Rican flag behind their ear recording a political demonstration.
A Review of DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Bad Bunny’s Most Powerful Work to Date
Rebecca HernÁndez Copy Desk Chief
On Jan. 6, 2025, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny won Dia de Los Reyes (Three Kings Day) by giving the world the best gift: a new album! DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I should’ve taken more pictures), is Bad Bunny’s seventh studio album and dare I say, his best and most powerful album yet.
“I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you. I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could,” “I thought I'd grow old with you. Maybe in another life, in another world, it could be. In this one, all that's left is for me to leave one day. And only see you in the sunset.”
At first glance, you may think that the renowned Latin Trap superstar is singing about a lost love, and you’re right, he is. The lost love in question: his home country, Puerto Rico.
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is proof that Bad Bunny is at the top of his game. With previous smash hit albums, Un Verano Sin Ti (A Summer Without You), YHLQMDLG (I Do Whatever I Want), X 100pre (Forever) and El Último Tour Del Mundo (The Last Tour of the World), DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is much more than his previous works. “At the peak of my career and popularity, I want to show the world who I am, who Benito Antonio is, and who Puerto Rico is,” he said in a press release.
Though he is a known entertainer, making music for the enjoyment of his fans, Bad Bunny has used his large platform time and time again to discuss issues of gentrification, colonization, politics and much more with his music. DeBÍ TiRAR
Not only do the lyrics tell the story of Bad Bunny’s lost love, but the visuals used throughout the album show you.
The album was released on YouTube with visuals including written histories by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, a professor of Latin American and Caribbean history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which highlighted different eras of Puerto Rico’s political past and its social justice heroes.
“At the peak of my career and popularity, I want to show the world who I am, who Benito Antonio is, and who Puerto Rico is...”
There was also a short film included at the very beginning of the album depicting an older man (portrayed by Puerto Rican filmmaker and poet Jacob Morales) as he experiences his ever-changing neighborhood fall victim to gentrification, being taken over by Americans. Morales appears in several music videos album, personifying Puerto Rico’s deep, rich and beautiful past.
Bad Bunny takes you on a musical journey through the different sounds and genres he uses throughout the album. He uses his classic Reggaeton sound, but it isn’t the only genre he focuses on. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS ties tradition and modernity together through musical genres of salsa, reggaeton, bomba, dembow and plena, showing the rich diversity of the island. Though he ventures into the various sounds of Puerto Rico, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS stays true to Bad Bunny’s musical roots: Reggaeton and Latin Trap. No matter where he goes, no matter what new sounds he experiments with, Bad Bunny will always find his way back home, whether that’s Puerto Rico or Reggaeton.
Production night jams
playlist by Nubian Message Staff
What we listened while makin' this week's issue
Bad Bunny has us all SOBBING to Reggaeton and I for one am here for it.
As a long-time Bad Bunny fan (been here since before X 100pre dropped), I have never loved a body of work by Bad Bunny like I have with this album.
What Do I do SZA out of luck
boiled peanuts
Tkay Maidza
Doechii
i want you marvin gaye
disco inferno the trammps
bad girls donna summer
lo que le pasÓ a hawaii bad bunny
maria maria santana, the product g&b man at the garden kendrick lamar
midnight pretenders tomoko aran east coast alexgoffline
hoe-nouns smino, thundercat, reggie baile inolvidable bad bunny
air i breathe sondae, isabelle brown
b i g f e e l i n g s willow
On my mama victoria monÉt love me not ravyn lenae
A new thing madison ryann ward
'Boxd' Office
our favorite movies from winter break
wicked (2024)
Melanie Sierra / Correspondent
Wicked is a story with raw emotion and talent. Every minuscule detail has special meaning whether it is the nine million tulip field (yes they planted nine million tulips just for this film) or other fun little Wizard of Oz easter eggs like Galinda’s ruby slippers. One of my favorite things about the film is how it pays homage to the original Broadway leads who put on the show eight times a week. From the start, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande made it clear that they wanted to do all of their singing live. Erivo also performed her stunts, she made flying through the air while belting “Defying Gravity” look effortless and beautiful. On top of this, most of those colorful Ozian sets were made from scratch by the production team. Even those who aren’t familiar with the story can still find joy and entertainment in watching the colorful, emotional and heartwarming musical.
NOSFERATU (2024)
Julia Cox / Correspondent
Depth, horror and tension – what more could one ask for? Only a renaming: NosFREAKtu. This remake of the 1922 German film, Nosferatu, focuses on the relationship between women and social stigmas surrounding sexuality in 19th century Germany. Following a husband’s treacherous journey to support his hysterical wife, Ellen, Nosferatu displays an intricate story about the complexities of the forbidden. Ellen, portrayed by Lily-Rose Depp, is terrorized by her nightmares, remaining in the care of her husband’s good friend as her husband journeys to a faraway mansion to work for the dubious Count Orlock, who has a concerning affinity for Ellen. As it is revealed that the Count is Nosferatu, haunting Ellen's dreams and bringing plague to Germany, Ellen’s husband and others collaborate to destroy him. The film's gothic setting is heavily influenced by its filming locations. The majority of the movie was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic, whereas Nosferatus castle, in Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, Romania. There's pestilence and passion, and the symbolism of them intertwines, creating a great watch with many opportunities for personal interpretation. The attention to historic detail and artistry of the film is truly exemplary.
carry-on (2024)
Blake Anderson / Correspondent
Carry On is a great thriller, exploring the vulnerabilities of TSA and how it questions the dependability of airport security measures that are carried out by everyday people which can be compromised through personal leverage and manipulation. Thus the movie keeps you guessing on what actions the protagonist will take next, will he act selfishly or will he act on behalf of the greater good? Standard TSA procedures, such as removing shoes, laptops and liquids, are designed to detect threats but what can be done when all the power lies on the agents to enforce these procedures? The film exploits human nature. TSA agents, like all of us, have a life and emotional attachment to people and/or things outside of their profession. By taking advantage of these vulnerabilities, one could manipulate others to act out of character. Thus, the movie raises the question: what prevents someone from carrying out a domestic attack through an airport? Carry On is a well-crafted movie on the exploration of the limitations of airport security when human consciousness is involved.
sonic the hedgehog 3 (2024)
Johnathan Lee / Correspondent
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a culmination of what most fans were waiting for from the threequel with the classic Sega feel, great casting and fan-favorite character interactions. The movie keeps classic visual elements like the chaos emeralds, rings as a method of transportation and comic-like quips that we came to love from the original Archie Comics Sonic. On top of this, the movie does a good job of keeping the original elements of Sonic soundtracks through mixing and modernizing them into cinematic pieces. Jim Carey to play Dr. Eggman, Keanu Reeves for Shadow the Hedgehog and Idris Elba for Knuckles the Echidna. These casting choices bring the energy we love to see in video game adaptions. They also help to deliver some fanfavorite interactions. The complicated relationships between Sonic and Shadow as rivals shines through with Keanu Reeves. Jim Carey also helps solidify that Dr. Eggman is not necessarily a villain you hate, but a lovable humorous enemy.
Original Movie Poster
Original Movie Poster
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Original Movie Poster
The Legacy of Nikki giovanni
Blake anderson Correspondent
Nikki Giovanni, an inspiration to many for the wisdom and knowledge she passed down as an educator, poet, mother, lecturer and activist, passed away at the age of 81 on Dec. 9, 2024. Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in June of 1943, during the later years of World War II. It was a time of rising racial tensions fueled by Jim Crow laws, segregation, black codes and racial violence. Giovanni’s upbringing inspired her commitment to the Civil Rights Movement and the advancement of people of color.
Giovanni’s poems oftentimes eluminates her experiences as well as the experiences of many other African Americans, discussing subjects such as the carefree wonders of adolescence, the theme of her 1994 poem “Knoxville, Tennessee.” The racist bigotry of the American public and government against African American communities is a theme featured in works such as “Black Power” and “Black Judgement.” In her 1968 poem Nikki-Rosa and 1976 Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why) Giovanni professes the unique beauties of being black.
Giovanni, an incredible orator, gave many notable lectures and speeches and spoke powerfully in numerous conversations throughout her tenure at Virginia Tech. Some of her most impactful words were spoken during the 46th Annual MLK Day Celebration, the 2007 Virginia Tech Convocation and a viral video of a conversation between Giovanni and James Baldwin.
From her wise and experienced background, Giovanni spoke charismatically, intellectually and proudly, but also softly like a nurturing grandmother who only wants the best for her most important audience, her grandchildren. With an emphasis on uplifting the youth, Giovanni encourages use to effect change and maintain the same fighting spirit of her generation.
In the 2012 Convocation Memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Giovanni spoke on the lack of recognition for the Pullman Porters, a group of African American men who played a significant role in propelling the Civil Rights Movement. Nikki Giovanni emphasized the Pullman Porters to remind audiences of the breadth of the Civil Rights Movement, which was driven by the everyday efforts of countless
African Americans whose work, sacrifice and resilience laid the foundation for social change.
“With an emphasis on uplifting the youth, Giovanni encourages use to effect change and maintain the same fighting spirit of her generation.”
In the 2007 Virginia Tech Convocation, Giovanni spoke with strength and wisdom to the faculty and student body in the aftermath of the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 32 people. Her words helped them process the sorrow and bestowed upon listeners the knowledge of how to move forward with resilience. Giovanni said, “We are Virginia Tech. We are sad today and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on; we are embracing our mourning…” She made it clear that mourning is a necessary process, and something to be fully experienced and respected, not rushed or dismissed.
Giovanni also provided an important insight into the nature of tragedy. She continued, “We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does the child in Africa dying of AIDS…” With this comparison, Giovanni placed the Virginia Tech tragedy in a broader context. She highlighted that suffering, while often deeply painful and unjust, is not unique to just one community. People around the world face various forms of hardship and loss, and they, too, mourn. Yet, despite these experiences, they do not allow sorrow to define them. They persevere.
Nikki Giovanni gave many impactful speeches like this throughout her career. She even spoke here at NC State on numerous occasions, immersing herself in the rich Black organizations we have here on campus, Such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, of which Giovanni was granted an honorary membership in August of 1973.
Additionally, Giovanni augmented events hosted by the Black Student Board (BSB) leaving a profound impact on those who heard her speak. Antoinette Norton, Administrative Support Specialist for the Women’s Center, spoke highly of her
experience at the 45th anniversary of PanAfrikan Festival Week where BSB hosted Nikki Giovanni as a guest speaker, “Having Nikki Giovani’ even her presence here at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), being invited by the Chancellor [Randy Woodson] was a great experience for me as a black woman… Her experiences and how she embodied her blackness, her culture and how she spoke volumes and truths about her blackness.”
Even after hearing Giovanni almost a decade ago, Norton spoke incredibly highly of her experience hearing the powerful words of Nikki Giovani, yet for those who have only read of Nikki Giovanni the power of her message and the volume of her character will forever impact many.
More recently, the African American Culture Center Library hosted a celebration to commemorate the legacy of Nikki Giovanni. The Nubian Message spoke with Wynter Douglas, Interim Library Coordinator, who shared a statement about the powerful celebration.
“On January 6th, the AACC Library hosted a celebration of life for Nikki Giovanni in the form of an immersive exploration of her works - as well as our autographed copies- housed in the AACC Library as well as archival materials from the Special Collections Research Center in the form of past editions of the Nubian Message and the Technician to showcase articles that were written about Nikki Giovanni’s multiple visit to the NCSU campus throughout the years. This event included a community poetry reading followed by a viewing of the documentary ‘Going to Mars’. Throughout the event, a slideshow with Nikki Giovani quotes was displayed on one of the AACC Gallery walls to showcase her witty personality. There was also a wall to write a note to Nikki where many people wrote gratitude and farewell notes to the poet.”
Nikki Giovanni has immortalized herself in black history through her influential role in the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni’s work demonstrates a bold, unapologetically black attitude, which has made her a lasting figure in history. Her legacy continues here, at NC State, as black students continue to create space for themselves at PWIs.
Image courtesy of creative commons
Nikki Giovanni delivering a speech.
The military Bowl An Upset by every defintion
Hamrick Staff Writer
On Dec. 28, NC State’s football team competed in the Military Bowl against East Carolina University in Annapolis, Maryland.
The game ended poorly for NC State, who lost 26-21. But, that wasn’t the most upsetting part. Similar to the events of the Duke’s Mayo Classic at the start of the season, many ECU fans exhibited poor behavior towards the NC State marching band and other spirit teams. The game left a sour taste in my mouth, and turned me off from attending bowl games going forward.
Let me explain.
First of all, NC State football has a history of performing terribly outside of the regular season. It doesn’t matter whether they won every single game or barely enough to qualify for a bowl game; they will find a way to lose. For those of you who do not know, to meet the requirements to attend a postseason bowl game, you have to win at least six games during the regular season.
At the end of the regular season, NC State had five wins right before our game against rival UNC-Chapel Hill. After an exceptionally close game — per usual for the Wolfpack — NC State was able to pry the win from the Tar Heels, 35-30. With that win, the Wolfpack became eligible for post-season bowl games.
NC State football consistently stumbles its way into bowl games only to consistently lose them. This pattern has led fans to call for Head Coach Dave Doeren’s replacement. Out of the nine bowl games that Doeren coached over the past ten years, he has only won three, with his last win being six seasons ago.
I have attended NC State football games since I was a kid, but I only remember the team under Doeren’s leadership. The best way I can describe what it is like to be an NC State fan is this popular quote from an interview with an Louisiana State University student: “I am paying 46,000 dollars a year and we are god-awful at football.” It truly is hard to be a Wolfpack football fan.
Regardless of the game's score, other problems arose, making the whole experience even less enjoyable. I won’t even mention the 40-degree temperatures, constant drizzle and ever-wet socks.
The rivalry between NC State and ECU has always existed but has not always been apparent. The two teams don’t play each
other often in any sport and the Military Bowl was one of the first times the two teams went head-to-head in quite a while.
Many NC State fans argue that there is no rivalry between the two teams because ECU is in the American Athletic Conference while NC State is in the Atlantic Coast Conference. ECU fans were especially worked up because leading to the game a few NC State players said that ECU wasn’t their “rival.” Regardless of rivalries and trash-talking players, some of the behavior exhibited by ECU fans was not acceptable.
I am an NC State marching band member, and I got a front-row seat to both the game and the ECU fanbase’s harsh words. Sadly, the crowd’s treatment of the marching band and other spirit teams was quite reminiscent of the Tennessee fans at The Mayo Classic.
After a nearly two-mile parade, myself and other members of the band had to make our way back to the busses to retrieve some equipment. To get back to the busses, we were forced to walk through a parking lot full of tailgates from both NC State and ECU fans. Most of the ECU fans were kind or playful with us, offering drinks or hotdogs. Occasionally we would get confronted or cursed out, but nothing that seemed too dangerous or concerning. When we got back to the rest of the band,
they told us that during our adventure, we had missed a group of ECU fans who had walked past the band and done much more heinous things. They were screaming expletives and throwing up ill hand gestures. Some fans even spitting at the members of the band. Luckily, no one experienced anything quite as bad as what took place at the Mayo Classic, and the members of the ECU marching band were very kind.
The relationship between the two bands was quite good. In fact, we warmed up in the same location before the parade and watched each other rehearse. Sections of the NC State band were taking pictures with their Pirate counterparts. At one point, right before the start of the parade, the two drumlines even had a drum battle and gathered quite a large crowd. It was all in good fun and everyone got along very well.
That is one thing that is pretty consistent throughout college football games: the spirit teams tend to support each other. Even during big rivalry games, it is highly unlikely that any of the marching band, cheerleaders or dance teams will have any issues with one another.
Unfortunately, due to the dangerous actions experienced at Duke’s Mayo Classic and the fact that the ECU fans stormed the
field after their win, the NC State Marching Band was stuck in the stands for over an hour after the game ended due to the risk of being assaulted by overzealous fans.
If you didn’t know about the rivalry between the two teams, the massive brawl towards the end of the game should tell you everything you might need to know. The fight got so big that the referees got involved, getting directly into the line of fire. One referee even walked away with three large gashes across his face afterward. The brawl resulted in eight players, some from both teams, getting ejected from the game.
“If you didn’t know about the rivalry between the two teams, the massive brawl towards the end of the game should tell you everything you might need to know.”
The game itself was pretty entertaining, and I was on the edge of my seat watching every play. The rivalry really reared its head during this game. Luckily, the NC State football team won’t have to wait long to take their revenge on ECU.
In a few months’ time, the football season will kick back into gear. The two schools have agreed to face off every year, and next season, it happens to be at NC State for the season’s opening game. I can’t wait to see how that game turns out, especially now that quarterback C.J. Bailey and the rest of the NC State football team have the motivation to beat their rivals from Greenville.
Bowl games, in theory, should be fun. It’s a chance for your team to play against a team they have few opportunities to compete with. But with all the mess that happened during this game and the previous bowl game this season, I don’t think I ever want to attend a bowl game again — not as a student, a band member or a fan. I will settle for just watching it on TV in the comfort of indoors. At least that way I will have dry feet and no fear of getting spat on.
Emma
Image from creative commons
The American Flag stretched across a football stadium before a game.
violence and democracy
Nevaeh sturdivant Correspondent
“Political violence is never, ever acceptable in the United States political system. Never, never, never. It has no place in a democracy,” said Joe Biden during his first campaign speech in the 2024 election year. Yet, the U.S. constantly perpetuates the notion that violence equates to systematic, societal and political change.
The storming of the U.S. Capitol, the event Biden is referencing, occurred on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of Trump supporters descended on the Capitol building to prevent the certification of Biden's election win in November of 2020.
The riot was encouraged by Donald Trump and his allies'after claiming election fraud. Although the rioters did not accomplish their goal, this event led to many changes in government. There was amendment to the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022. Raising the threshold for members of Congress to object to electoral votes and judicial oversight were among key reforms to protect the election process.
Though this is one of the most infamous events of political violence in the United States, it is not the only time violence has pushed change in one of America’s systems.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced a new policy for anesthesia coverage that issued a limt for which anesthesia would be covered based on clinical guidelines. On Dec. 5, 2024, after the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, the policy was reversed.
While the reversal did not entirely depend on Thompson’s death, it did spark numerous conversations surrounding the U.S. healthcare system, which brought the new policy to light, though it was announced back in November 2024.
The Ferguson Unrest was a series of political strife in response to the court's failure to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown. Alongside peaceful protests, rioting, vandalism, looting, arson and gunfire occurred. This led the city of Ferguson to enact policies that addresses systematic issues. This included mandatory force policies, training on implicit biases, mandating body and vehicle cameras and eliminating practices that disproportionately affected low-income and minority residents.
Similarly, violent protests erupted following the murder of George Floyd eventually leading to the George Floyd Justice Policing Act of 2021. This federal bill
mandated body cameras, created a national database to track police misconduct, limited police immunity and banned chokeholds as well as no-knock warrants. These changes only occurred after more than 100 people protestors were shot in the neck or head between May 26 and July 27, 2020 following Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd.
America was born from political violence. In the years leading up to the American Revolution patriots protested by vandalizing and attacking loyalist stores, tarring and feathering representatives of the British Crown, throwing rocks at soldiers and stocking arms.
The effectiveness of political violence is non-negotiable. It creates a sense of urgency within political leaders to confront underlying issues that would have otherwise been ignored. Political violence not only gathers the attention of political leaders but also the media, who amplify the message to a larger audience.
While the violence itself may not be encouraged, it's causes are undeniable, provoking conversation for political change. Ph.D. student and instructor teaching history at NC State, Talia Brenner discusses this idea saying, “Activists in the [Civil Rights] movement were committed to nonviolent protest, so they would undergo training in how to not fight back, even when they were attacked by counterprotesters or law enforcement. Through mass media, they used their aggressors' violence to gain sympathy for the cause."
This relationship between political violence, media reactions and government response creates a vicious feedback loop. The public engages in violence to illicit change and the government responds by pacifying the efforts or implementing changes, both of which can calm or agitate the public.
“The public engages in violence to illicit change and the government responds by pacifying the efforts or implementing changes...”
So yes, political violence has a very prominent place in our democracy. The only time political violence will not have a place is when the United States begins to affirm the initial voice and not the last-ditch effort of desperate violence.
21st century Domestic Terror
Blake anderson Correspondent
Political tensions are at an all-time high as people fight for important issues such as abortion rights, racial equality, animal rights and climate change. Many go to extremes to ensure their voices are heard some resorting to domestic terrorism. Modern acts of domestic terrorism have made major headlines, especially for their scale and unprecedented violent nature. Demonstrations such as the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, the Bourbon Street crash on New Year’s Day, the Charleston Church Massacre threaten the safety of U.S. citizens
Between 2010 and 2021 across the US, all but eight states experienced at least one incident of domestic terrorism. Additionally, over the last 10 years, domestic terrorism-related investigations have grown by 357%.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations defines domestic terrorism as “Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
Acts of domestic terrorism in the U.S. date as far back as the 19th century and were a milder cause for concern. But in the 21st century, acts of domestic terrorism have grown increasingly prevalent.
Although these attacks are vastly different, they each share a distinct characteristic: intent. The individuals who play a role in the execution of these heinous acts want to send a message.
The Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2020, were incited by President Trump who speculated the validity of election results. He encouraged supporters to prevent the certification of the election results that would officially declare Joe Biden as president. Trump’s use of battle cries, like "We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore," led thousands of supporters to storm the capitol building with weapons, flags and foreign objects. They believed they were upholding the country's democracy, even as they tried to overthrow it.
On New Year’s Day, a driver intentionally drove through Bourbon Street killing 14 and injuring more, in the heart of a tourist hotspot in the New Orleans French Quarter home to Mardi Gras celebrations. Upon initial investigation, the FBI revealed the driver uploaded videos to social media expressing inspiration and admiration
for the Islamic State group militant organization, professing his “desire to kill.”
On New Year’s Day, guests at the International Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada reported the explosion of a Tesla Cyber Truck at the front of the hotel. Police would later identify the explosion as a premeditated attack planned by decorated Active Duty Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger.
Speculation concerning Elon Musk, Tesla’s founder and CEO, and his economic influence on the 2024 presidential election suggests some levels of corruption in our nation's democracy. Livelsberger left behind notes stating that the explosion was intended as a “wake-up call” to draw attention to the nation’s deepening troubles.
Additional letters and notes from Livelsberger elaborate on his fears of political unrest, social issues and international conflicts. He described the U.S. as "terminally ill" and converging toward an inevitable collapse - reflecting his belief that the country’s problems were so intertwined and severe that recovery was no longer possible.
Bold and blatant acts of domestic terrorism in recent years are stark reminders that public spaces in the United States aren’t as safe as they seem. If the Capitol, the symbol of the U.S. democracy and one of the most sacred and protected government buildings, could be susceptible to a domestic attack, what does that mean for the safety of the broader country? If Bourbon Street, immortalized in countless films as one of the most distinct and easily recognizable destinations in America, could be the target for a terrorist attack on a night when it's lined with thousands of onlookers, what does that say for the safety of citizens?
“Bold and blatant acts of domestic terrorism in recent years are stark reminders that public spaces in the United States aren’t as safe as they seem.”
These incidents call into question how well the United States can protect its citizens and what precautions must be taken to ensure that domestic terror has no place within America's borders.
